2008 FAO Annual Conference

A conference from 10-11 April 2008 will convene at Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California to provide a forum on the direction and vision for DoD Foreign Area Officer (FAO) programs.  This conference will provide a forum for DoD leaders to present and discuss current FAO guidance, explore the impact of language, culture, and regional expertise on the FAO mission, and bring academics and FAOs together in a forum to explore regional issues, and showcase Monterey Area FAO training programs. The Interservice FAO conference will assist Monterey FAOs to prepare more adequately for their future assignments. Recognizing the added benefit outside experts contribute to the development of FAOs, the conference will provide a venue for “real world” education, information gathering, and networking. The consolidation of regional and topical experts with those in training will further enhance the skills/capabilities of interservice FAOs throughout their careers. Experts from around the globe in FAO related positions will be addressing the tools and information needed to enhance the performance of FAOs in operational positions to best support U.S. objectives.

Conference Registration - Click here

Conference Agenda - Click here (DOC)

FAO Conference Evening Social Event with Keynote Speaker (La Novia Room in Herman Hall) on Thursday, 10 April 2008 from 1830 to 2030. Tickets to the event will be available for purchase from LCDR Stacey Prescott. Stacey will be available for tickets sales on Thursday, 10 April 2008 from 1200 to 1730 in front of Glasgow Hall Room 102 (GL-102). For NPS students, Stacey will be selling advanced tickets to the social event on Monday, 07 April 2008 and Wednesday, 09 April 2008 from 1130 to 1300 on the 3rd floor of Glasgow in the Marine corner (nears the 3rd floor restrooms). Please bring cash and correct change to purchase your ticket, and please encourage your spouses to join us at the evening social event.

The Conference Staff is as follows:

• Jenny Jones - Conference Coordinator (jbjones@nps.edu)
• Bryan Kill - Russia/Europe Panel Coordinator (blkill@nps.edu)
• Corey Johnston -  NE Asia Panel Coordinator (csjohnst@nps.edu)
• Tom Price – South and SE Asia Panel Coordinator (tsprice@nps.edu)
• Rob Firman - Africa Panel Coordinator (rafirman@nps.edu)
• Eric Guttman - South America Panel Coordinator (eaguttma@nps.edu)
• Mafwa Kuvibidila - Middle East Panel Coordinator (mmkuvibi@nps.edu)
• Sarah Dachos - NGO Panel Coordinator (sadachos@nps.edu)
• Jim McMullin/Corban Spraker - Website Coordinator (jamcmull@nps.edu and cdsprake@nps.edu)
• Eric Tramel - CD and Picture assistant (eatramel@nps.edu)
• Jim McMullin/Matt Riderage - Conference Execution Assistants (jamcmull@nps.edu and TBD)
• Jessica Pinto - Conference Agenda Assistant (jjpinto@nps.edu)
• Kevin Minor - Comptroller Liaison with Jeff Kalhoon (kvminor@nps.edu)

Please contact LCDR Jenny Jones jbjones@nps.edu if you are interested in attending or contributing to the conference. Online conference registration will be available in February 2008.