Responsible for developing and overseeing marketing and communication initiatives across all platforms for one of the largest behavioral health organizations in the nation. About Pine Rest Pine Rest, one of the five largest free-standing behavioral health providers in the U.S., has served the greater Grand Rapids and national community for more than 100 years. It offers a full continuum of services including inpatient and partial hospitalization, residential and outpatient services, addiction treatment and recovery, extensive child and adolescent programs, senior care services, as well as specialized assessment and treatment clinics. Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services provides professional behavioral health services that are rooted in Christian values. In addition to the main campus in Grand Rapids, Pine Rest also has 16 outpatient locations throughout Michigan and two in Iowa. See more at: http://www.pinerest.org

Long term practitioner of foreign security cooperation and partner capacity building. Led a team of 34 talented professionals in planning, coordinating and executing U.S. Army international relations and security cooperation activities with 32 partner nations in Latin America. Provided cogent political-military advice and program management oversight on U.S. Army activities in Central and South America.

Senior Military Assistant to the Foreign Policy Advisor (POLAD) to the Chief of Staff of the Army. Prepared Strategic/Policy political-military guidance. Provided support and assistance to State Department political-military officials and executed global education/training outreach programs for the U.S. Army. As Military Deputy to the POLAD, facilitated interaction among the State Department, other agencies, Combatant Commands, Army Service Component Commands, and the Army Staff to coordinate all foreign policy issues impacting the U.S. Army.

Coordinated the execution of all U.S. Army operations throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean consisting of 32 countries and 15 territories. Supervised the Current Operations Branch, Counterdrug Branch, Training Branch, Future Operations Branch and the Rescue Coordination Center and the USARSO Command Center within the command. Executed and supervised all contingency and pre-planned operations. Maintained command, control and communications links with US Southern Command, Federal Agencies, US Embassies and Headquarters Department of the Army. Served as the operational tasking authority and published orders as required to execute operations.

Division Chief responsible for the successful planning and execution of the Western hemisphere’s largest and most complex CJCS-directed Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance Foreign Military Interaction and Operational exercise program in Support of US Southern Commands’ strategic goals and objectives. Overall responsible for exercise concept and design. Final approval authority for exercise support structures, scenarios and computer assisted simulation. Served as the principle negotiator with foreign authorities in host countries in support of the exercise program. Provided oversight for the quality training for the USG, Latin America, Caribbean, United Nations, and Non-Governmental Agencies exercise participants. Managed a multi-source code budget of $5.8 million and supervised a staff of 15 personell.

Worked directly for the Commander, U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation, U.S. Embassy Panama coordinating security assistance matters in accordance with U.S. national security interest. Served on a joint and interagency team developing long range security assistance plans and programs in Panama. Managed all security assistance training, foreign military sales and security related activities mandated by Congress or initiated by Presidential directives. Provided technical assistance and recommendations to the Government of Panama and the Panamanian Public Forces (National Police, Air Service and Maritime Service) for issues related to military training, exercises and foreign military sales.

Principle advisor to the Combatant Commander, U.S. Southern Command to develop and coordinate political-military and security assistance issues in Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico. Served as the regional expert and analyst on matters that encompass the political, social, economic, and military spectrums affecting relations and policies between the U.S. and regional countries. Planned and coordinated the Combatant Commander’s travel to assigned countries and dignitary visits to U.S. Southern Command in Miami. Served in an official capacity as a representative for U.S. Southern Command imparting and relaying policies, strategies, and programs for the command and U.S. Government. Prepared Combatant Commander’s policy correspondence and executed the duties and responsibilities of an action officer, escort office and interpreter.