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News | Feb. 4, 2015

USSTRATCOM and UNO Kick Off the 2015 USSTRATCOM Strategic Leadership Fellows Program

U.S. Strategic Command Public Affairs

Omaha, Neb. – As part of a University of Nebraska program to enhance the management skills and technical expertise of civilians as they progress to strategic supervisory roles, 10 U.S. Strategic Command civilian employees were selected to participate in the 2015 USSTRATCOM Strategic Leadership Fellows Program. USSTRATCOM senior officials, civilian personnel, and academic professionals recognized the Fellows during a kick-off event at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Mammel Hall, Jan. 31.

The 13-week course provides students an opportunity to learn mission-oriented skills from national security and defense experts from the University of Nebraska in a classroom-based, hands-on environment.   

“This Program has become an important part of developing our workforce to better understand the challenges and create innovative approaches for 21st century deterrence in an extremely complex global security environment,” said U.S. Navy Adm. Cecil D. Haney, USSTRATCOM commander. “We began this graduate fellowship program with the University of Nebraska at Omaha last year, and it is already making a positive difference.”

During the keynote speech, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. James M. Kowalski, USSTRATCOM deputy commander, said USSTRATCOM will continue to invest in its people; noting that participants in the inaugural program reported an increase in mission awareness, problem solving skills and confidence in their leadership abilities.

“Adm. Haney and I are extremely pleased with the great feedback we got from the 2014 Fellows,” he said.

Mark Crown, USSTRATCOM Deterrence and Functional Plans Division, said he was humbled and excited for the opportunity to “look at security challenges through a different lens.” 

He has many expectations as he begins his time at UNO, both for himself and his fellow Fellows. But his main priority is “to come back to the Command and shared what we’ve learned.”

Susie Doyle, USSTRATCOM Capability and Resource Integration Directorate, said her participation in the 2014 Fellows program provided “an enhanced and supportive learning environment,” which helped strengthen her appreciation for working within a team atmosphere.

“The benefits of collaboration produce capabilities beyond what any person or individual can imagine,” she said.

The 2015 USSTRATCOM Strategic Leadership Fellows Program participants are:

  • Todd Ballou – J3, Cyberspace Operations Branch, Deputy Chief
  • Rachel Buckner – J8, Global Strike Capabilities Division, Program Analyst
  • Gregory Campbell – J6, Distributed Command Center Branch, Functional Manager
  • Brian Claus - J3, Joint Fires Element, Joint Targeting Coordinator
  • Mark Crown – J5, Deterrence and Functional Plans Division, Strategic Planner and Analyst
  • Harlan Fangmeyer – J5, JFCC Global Strike, Strategic Plans Analyst
  • Heather Kearney – J5, Deterrence and Functional Plans Division, Strategic Planner and Analyst
  • Randy Lay – J7, Lessons Learned and After Actions Branch, Lessons Learned Analyst
  • Daniel Lewis – J5, Strategic Plans Division, Strategic Planner
  • Ian Pelletier – J8, Global Strike Capabilities Division, Nuclear Weapons Analyst