Jesse Skates Email & Phone Number

Tokyo, Jp

Tokyo, Japan

Provide vision and direction to transform and modernize United States Forces Japan—creating the foundation for the US and Japan to work together in advancing regional and global priorities. Identify needs (governance, facilities, equipment, technology, communications, training) and produce strategic plans that accelerate progress while mitigating risks such as cyberthreats, natural disasters, and changes in the geopolitical landscape.Present bold yet pragmatic solutions, grounded in real-world information; this work has been featured in think-tank studies produced by RAND, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, and the Center for Strategic & International Studies.• Take the lead in structuring and building a robust, resilient, and agile organization—at scale.• Shape security policy for the US and Japan while developing strategies that impact over 100,000 US servicemembers and their families, plus 24,000 foreign-national personnel at 117 facilities.• Partner with executives in the US Departments of Defense and State, and Japanese Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs to coordinate foreign policy efforts including state visits and joint statements.• Specify requirements for high-value equipment and establish budget-aligned supply chain and procurement plans.• Manage training exercises and diplomatic engagements.• Guide the organization through transformation such as reorganizing processes post-pandemic.

San Antonio, Texas, United States

Developed strategic plans to boost safety and security, confront threats, and improve readiness for natural disasters for 31 countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Forged relationships with US Embassy and foreign-government officials—and built government-to-government alliances to cultivate trust and achieve shared successes. Provided guidance to 20 teams of advisors (hundreds of employees) in rotating deployments.• Played integral role in developing US defense policy in Central and South America and the Caribbean.• Created a five-year strategic plan for the first deployments of US forces to Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and Peru in 20+ years.• Facilitated training programs to engage and educate advisors, and bolster cultural awareness and understanding.• Led multiagency planning and coordination in response to natural disasters.

Newport News, Virginia, United States

Served on the start-up team for the Army Futures Command. Performed deep-dive assessments and analyses to develop the concept for how the military will operate in the future. Designated the systems, equipment, processes, and training required to ensure both readiness and success over the next 15+ years.• Drove start-up operations, then delved into the hard work of building the organization of the future.• Analyzed dozens of organizations and hundreds of ahead-of-the-curve systems to navigate a rapidly evolving world; offered insights that were written into Congressional policy and influenced spending at the highest levels.• Identified next-generation system requirements—and pinpointed the organizational changes needed to procure, receive, implement, and then train personnel on this new equipment. Worked with system engineers to plan the integration of leading-edge technologies into the existing infrastructure, including revamping or modifying 400+ major programs.• Recommended solutions to streamline R&D and procurement processes.• Published a study on military operations in urban environments, informing decisions around equipment and training needs, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief.

Fort Riley, Kansas, United States, Kuwait, And Iraq

Shaped the future and protected the present of the 1 st Infantry Division—staving off closure. Cultivated relationships at the local, state, and Congressional levels, and created interdependencies with the community to demonstrate the division’s value; this garnered support for its sustainability. Developed a clear, actionable plan to drive down costs.• Managed complex operations and logistics (including downsizing the workforce and realigning or closing some locations) to keep the division active while simultaneously planning overseas deployments to meet urgent and pressing needs.• Developed plans to deploy 12+ units to Africa, Iraq, Korea, Kuwait, and Poland.• Tapped as lead planner for two headquarters deployments to Iraq, involving in-depth training and support from the State Department, think tanks, and other agency partners. During the first deployment, helped launch a 23-country coalition and devise the strategy to defeat ISIS in Iraq. In the second deployment, assisted in implementing the final phases of that strategy.• Worked extensively with NATO and Middle Eastern allies and Iraqi officials to establish facilities, assign people to training and advisory missions, and equip Iraqi personnel for high-stakes operations.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Managed a 20+ team members in increasing visibility for the organization and onboarding new personnel.

Fort Polk, Louisiana, United States, Afghanistan

Directed start-up operations including building out facilities in Louisiana. Created curriculum and supervised the pre-deployment training of Army, Air Force, and Navy advisors—ensuring they were fully prepared to establish governance, security, and healthcare systems in Iraq and Afghanistan. Personally deployed to Afghanistan to assist the British Military in opening and running a training center that educated thousands of foreign-national law enforcement officials.

Seattle, Washington, United States And Iraq

Trained and led 32 team members in conducting high-risk operations. Headed logistics to move 62 people and all necessary equipment from the US to Kuwait and then Iraq. Directed teams at three US bases in Iraq.

Master Of Engineering - Meng, Systems Engineering

Master Of Science - Ms, Organizational Leadership

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Political Science And Government