One of the most important requirements and one of the greatest strengths of our soldiers in this command is that they have a deep understanding of their specific professions and their technical roles and responsibilities. But when I talk to special operations soldiers, they also have an understanding of the strategic value that they bring to their units and to special operations and in our mission. Professional development and education, along with advanced civil education, is important to enhance and deepen the understanding of how our work affects cultures and economics in the world that surrounds us. Anything that we can do to reach toward that objective, that deeper understanding of national strategies and the world in general, helps us do our job better.

 

ARSOF 2022 is the roadmap for USASOC in the decade ahead and is filled with concepts and ideas. What inputs were you personally involved in making to ARSOF 2022?

Almost right after I arrived, I started to participate in the planning sessions with Gen. Cleveland and our supporting unit commanders on the content of ARSOF 2022 and the six priorities that we’re undertaking. What really excites me about ARSOF 2022 is the vision statement, especially the part that talks about providing the nation with the world’s premier special operations unit. If you just stop there, that is a great vision and should compel us every day to work as hard as we can.

I don’t think that SOF has ever been any more relevant to the nation, important to the nation, than it is today. It’s a key partner in the joint and inter-agency efforts to win the current fight, as well as support our national security strategy in the future.

Members assigned to 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) prepare to enter a room in order to conduct room-clearing tactics during Exercise Fused Response 2014 in Belize City, Belize, March 13, 2014. The U.S. Southern Command sponsored exercise, executed by the Special Operations Command South exercise was designed to improve SOCSOUTH’s capability to respond effectively to time-sensitive contingencies as well as enhance interoperability, tactics, and training techniques between U.S. SOF and the Belize Defense Forces. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Roman Madrid

 

While USASOC and the rest of SOCOM have been enhanced and resourced in the years since 9/11, the current and projected DoD budgets mean this community is going to experience some austerity. How with your background are you going to help these people around you, the ones wearing the uniforms, squeeze every farthing’s worth out of a budget dollar? What are some of the things that you can do or recommend that can help them get better value from the dollars that are being invested?

When I talk to commanders about being more efficient and saving money, I don’t put it to them in those specific terms. What I talk to them about is increasing your buying power, so that you can strengthen your readiness. For every dollar we save we can reinvest that dollar into something that makes our soldiers and our units more prepared and more ready. When you put savings in that context, I think it resonates more with commanders than just saving money for the purpose of just saving money.

 

What is the inherent value of USASOC and the rest of SOCOM to the nation right now in 2014?

I don’t think that SOF has ever been any more relevant to the nation, important to the nation, than it is today. It’s a key partner in the joint and inter-agency efforts to win the current fight, as well as support our national security strategy in the future. We are not only a key component to win the nation’s wars, but we’re also the key partner in preserving the peace and strengthening our allies’ and our partners’ capabilities to strengthen their homelands. That’s a big part of the value we bring to the table.

 

Did you ever see yourself in this job or this place? Is this one of those unexpected, serendipitous turns that life has thrown at you that you didn’t expect?

It truly is. If you’d asked me two years ago if I were going to be sitting here today, I would say absolutely not. I could never have envisioned it. But, having said that, I couldn’t be happier. It’s a great command with great people and a wonderful mission.

 

Is there something that you think about in your spare moments that you say, “I want to make this thing happen?”

I think that making this office a valued member of the USASOC command structure is my first priority. Being that this is a new office, and a new position, establishing that credibility, trust, and confidence is one of my legacies. The second is making ARSOF 2022, and all the things that we have lined up in the next 10 to 12 years and beyond is really what motivates me. And, maybe the third big thing is just living in the moment and enjoying all the blessings that I have in this job. It’s really great.

 

Last question, sir. You know, at some point someone is going to walk in here, close the door, and “read you in” on something extraordinary. And they’re going to say, “We need your help, you can’t tell anybody about this, and if this works it’s going to be front-page news around the world.” What’s it like to know that somewhere out there that’s going to happen and you’re part of that team?

To be a part of that is exciting. It’s inspiring, but it’s also humbling, because I’m not going to be out there doing it. I’m part of the team that helped enable those brave young men and women to actually do it. It’s a mixture of emotions, but overall it’s the pride that I’m part of something bigger than myself, and very important to our country.