Join me for an interview with U.S. Army Colonel Nate Finney, an Army Strategist (FA59), discussing the roles and training of FA59 strategists, their relationship with FAOs, and the importance of building interdisciplinary teams. Finney shares insights from his career, including positions at HQDA, USARPAC, and Indo-Pacific Command, highlighting the need for strategists and FAOs to collaborate effectively. The conversation also explores Finney's involvement in founding writing and strategy-oriented organizations like the Strategy Bridge and the Military Writers Guild, emphasizing writing as a critical tool for professional development. The episode concludes with a discussion on recent changes in U.S.-China relations, China's military modernization, and the strategic challenges faced by the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region.
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1:27:56
#25 - COL Christian Werner
Join me for a conversation with Colonel Christian Werner, who currently serves at the U.S. Army War College. COL Werner shares his origin story of joining the Army influenced by his family's military background, his transition from Armor to FAO, and his extensive career path through various European assignments. He highlights his experiences in command and staff roles, the importance of language skills, and his impactful stint in Somalia as SDO/DATT. Werner also discusses his personal challenges, concepts like moral injury, and the importance of behavioral health. He explains the role and operations of the U.S. Military Observer Group and shares insights into SSC opportunities, language sustainment, and the rigorous BCAP/CCAP screening processes for command roles.
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1:39:47
#24 - CAPT USCG Aaron Delano Johnson
USCG Captain Aaron Delano Johnson is the U.S. Coast Guard Liaison Officer (CGLO) to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in Doral, Florida. IN this interview CAPT DJ provides detailed insights into his career, spanning multiple international deployments and engagement with various partner nations. He discusses the diverse roles and missions of the Coast Guard, including maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, drug interdiction, and international cooperation, particularly in the Caribbean and Latin America. Johnson highlights the specific challenges and interactions the Coast Guard faces in countries like Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. He also elaborates on the Coast Guard's involvement in broader security cooperation activities, security training, and humanitarian assistance. Beyond his Coast Guard duties, Johnson serves on the board of the Foreign Area Officer Association, promoting advocacy, professional development, and networking among FAOs across different services. The episode provides a comprehensive look at the strategic importance of the Coast Guard's international role and the value of strong inter-agency and international relationships.
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1:41:03
#23 - COL(R) Rick Cassidy
In this episode of the Foreign Area Officer Podcast, we hear from U.S. Army COL(R) Rick Cassidy. Cassidy shares a detailed account of his military career, beginning with his involvement in the ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and subsequent commissioning as an infantry officer in 1969. His military journey included assignments in Germany and a combat tour in Vietnam. Cassidy transitioned into the Foreign Area Officer (FAO) program in 1975, where ultimately focused on Japan. His language training included a year at DLI and the Foreign Service Institute in Yokohama, Japan. Cassidy recounts his experiences managing significant bilateral relations and intelligence collection, notably as an attache in Japan and Thailand. He closes with his post-retirement career as a defense consultant, sharing insights into the business practices and challenges in international military sales.
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1:29:38
#22 - COL(R) Denny Lane
This conversation with COL (R) Denny Lane covers his unexpected path to becoming a FAO, his initial appointment as a Southeast Asian desk officer at the Pentagon, and his subsequent assignments in critical geopolitical regions including Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia during tumultuous times. Lane details his work on the Yellow Rain investigations, his advisory roles in the Thai and Cambodian armies, and his linguistic prowess in French, Chinese, and Thai. The dialogue also covers his later roles in Hong Kong, Beijing, and with the United Nations Border Relief Operation (UNBRO) in Thailand, where he reported on the Khmer Rouge.Â
USA