Experience

Joint Multinational Readiness Center

• Germany
• Armed Forces
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Interagency Training Advisor

  • Aug 2021 - Present

  Coordinate the participation of U.S. and Allied government agency partners, international organizations, and NGOs in multiple brigade-sized multinational military exercises per year. Continuously assess the civil environment conditions under which conflict might occur in Europe and implement appropriate changes to the exercise scenario. Develop and provide classes to the military training units' key leaders, civilian agency partners, and permanently-assigned staff on best practices for civil-military cooperation, the civil implications of Russian hybrid warfare tactics, and the associated background scenario for each exercise.



The United States Army War College

• United States
• Armed Forces
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Assistant Professor

  • Jun 2019 - Jul 2021

  Assistant Professor and Director of African Studies in the Department of National Security and Strategy. Taught the courses War, Policy, and National Security; Africa Regional Studies; and the National Security Policy Program. Developed curriculum and co-led the African Regional Studies program. Advisor for seven student research projects on African affairs, including counter-terrorism, Chinese influence operations, and an award-winning project on developing African cybersecurity capabilities. Established the content, speakers, and metrics for the four-day, joint “African Alumni Symposium” involving 66 senior US and African officers.

• Graduate Student

  • Aug 2018 - Jun 2019

  Selected and mobilized by the Army Reserve to attend 1-year resident course at U.S. Army War College, leading to a Masters in Strategic Studies.



Cubic Corporation

• United States
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 700 & Above Employee

• Stability Operations Training Specialist

  • Oct 2015 - Jul 2018

  Led a team that creates and implements detailed background scenarios for eight brigade-size (3,000 soldier), multi-week military exercises per year, with a particular focus on replicating complex local political, economic, and social dynamics, training civil-military coordination, and Stability Operations tasks. Developed and conducted classroom instruction and role play scenarios for military units on how to identify and address Sources of Instability (SOIs), build rapport with local populations, conduct / counter information operations, and coordinate effectively with civilian partners. Identify and manage the involvement of civilian agency participants in each exercise.



Special Operations Command Forward - North & West Africa

• Stuttgart Area, Germany

• Civil-Military Operations Planner

  • Oct 2013 - Sep 2015

  As a mobilized Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel, developed strategy and oversaw implementation of Civil-Military and Military Information Support Operations (CMO & MISO) plans to build partner force capacity and counter the influence of Islamic State, Boko Haram, and Al Qaeda across 12 countries of Northwest Africa. Managed $1.7M in Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism Partnership (TSCTP) and DoD Humanitarian Assistance funds. Co-led planning, execution, and evaluation of CMO, MISO, and Info Ops for three annual iterations of Exercise FLINTLOCK, each involving over 1,000 troops from 20+ countries in Niger, Chad, and Senegal. Facilitated coordination with the State Department and USAID, including the first-ever liaison exchange between SOCAFRICA and USAID.



USAID

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• OTI Deputy Country Representative

  • Jun 2012 - Oct 2013

  Conceptualized, developed, and led the implementation of a new inter-agency strategy for countering violent extremism in Karachi, Pakistan. As part of that inter-agency initiative, established and managed a $10M/year USAID small grants program focused on reducing violent extremism by providing young people in Karachi’s most violent areas with positive alternatives to extremist influence and gang membership.

• Stabilization Program Specialist

  • Sep 2008 - May 2012

  As desk officer for Africa and Europe, coordinated USAID input to AFRICOM and EUCOM Theater and Country Campaign Plans. Subsequently transitioned to become a co-developer, instructor, and program manager for USAID’s District Stability Framework. The DSF is a stabilization methodology used by USAID, the U.S. military, and others in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and elsewhere to mitigate local/regional sources of instability using foreign assistance tools.



U.S. Department of State

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Pol-Mil Planning Section Leader

  • Aug 2006 - Aug 2008

  Coordinated and represented 15 different State Department and USAID bureaus to help shape over a dozen Department of Defense plans for regional engagement and contingency response, thereby laying the groundwork for field-level collaboration. Contributed to planning for the first-ever UN - African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, Sudan. Coordinated and represented 15 different State Department and USAID bureaus to help shape over a dozen Department of Defense plans for regional engagement and contingency response, thereby laying the groundwork for field-level collaboration. Contributed to planning for the first-ever UN - African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, Sudan.



U.S. Army Reserve

• Armed Forces
• 700 & Above Employee

• Civil Affairs Team Leader, Afghanistan

  • Apr 2005 - Jul 2006

  As a mobilized Army Reserve Major, supervised a 10-person Civil Affairs team assigned to the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. In collaboration with the host nation government and local communities, implemented $8.5 million in health, education, infrastructure, economic growth, and governance projects. Served as contracting officer for 40+ discrete projects worth over $4 million. Personally conducted on-site monitoring for over 50 capacity-building and infrastructure projects.



U.S. Department of State

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Coalition Management Deputy Section Leader

  • Jan 2004 - Mar 2005

  Developed and implemented diplomatic strategies to maintain and expand international troop contributions to civil-military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa. Discharged significant inter-governmental and interagency coordination responsibilities, organizing weekly briefings for over 60 Coalition Ambassadors in Washington and collaborating closely with other State, DoD, and National Security Council staff.

• Europe and Afghanistan Desk, Office of Contingency Planning

  • Nov 2001 - Dec 2003

  Developed interagency plans to address complex international crises. Represented the State Department in February 2001 meetings with the Afghan government that initiated development of the Afghan National Army. Co-authored the “Political-Military Plan for Post-Hostilities Afghanistan.” Performed two, three-month inter-agency rotations – to the Joint Staff Balkans Desk, and to USAID’s Iraq Office.



US Army

• United States
• Armed Forces
• 700 & Above Employee

• Lieutenant and Captain

  • 1993 - 1998

  Served as a platoon leader for mechanized infantry, armor, and scout units; as a company executive officer (second in command); and as deputy Division Civil-Military Operations (CMO) Officer. Conducted over 100 patrols, monitored return of displaced Muslim civilians, and enforced former warring faction compliance with the Dayton Peace Accords during NATO peacekeeping deployment to Bosnia. As a company executive officer, oversaw logistical support for 280 soldiers and 145 vehicles, as well as life support for 1,200 tenants of Camp McGovern, Bosnia. While a division CMO officer, helped plan and conduct civilian assistance during division- and corps-level field exercises.