Show Notes
This episode of the Foreign Area Officer Podcast delves into the unique background of LTC Lemar Farhad, USA, tracing his journey from a culturally diverse upbringing and Afghan heritage to his pivotal role in the U.S. Army. Lemar shares his transition into the FAO program, starting with his early assignments as an infantry and intelligence officer and detailing his first exposure to U.S. embassies and defense cooperation. Through captivating anecdotes, he highlights his significant assignments, including his work in Special Operations Command Europe, his impactful tenure as the ODC Chief in Kuala Lumpur, and his current role in Korea focusing on non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO). The conversation also explores challenges in leadership, the importance of understanding cultural contexts, and the value of reading to gain diverse perspectives. Lemar's journey exemplifies the integration of strategic thinking and operational expertise, emphasizing the art of diplomacy and the FAO community's crucial role in global defense and cooperation.
Articles: Reimagining Policing in America—A Complete Institutional Overhaul by LTC Lemar Farhad
Books Discussed: 2034 by Elliot Ackerman and Admiral (Ret.) James Stavridis USN 2054 by Elliot Ackerman and Admiral (Ret.) James Stavridis USN Ghost fleet by P.W. Singer
00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer 00:46 Meet the Guest: Lemar Farhad 01:04 Transition to FAO: From Field to Strategy 02:04 First Impressions of FAOs 03:33 The Path to Monterey 04:36 Language Training at DLI 12:12 Unexpected Assignment: Malaysia 13:34 Experiences at the Malaysian Staff College 14:35 Return to the U.S. and Grad School 19:33 First Assignment at CENTCOM 21:20 Challenges and Lessons at CENTCOM 26:21 Mentorship and Professional Development 34:16 Transition to J2 at CENTCOM 36:34 Introduction to Central Asia Desk 37:05 Building Relationships in Central Asia 38:03 Challenges of Language and Culture 39:16 Innovative Security Cooperation Programs 41:21 Impact of COVID-19 on Operations 42:39 Personal Heritage and Career Impact 44:00 Father's Academic Journey 46:40 Early Life and Cultural Identity 47:51 Deployment to Afghanistan Post-9/11 48:53 Unique Assignment with Special Forces 01:05:37 Transition to MI and Multiple Deployments 01:07:52 Reconnecting with the Intelligence Community 01:08:37 Special Operations Command in Europe 01:09:08 First Country Team Assignment in Malaysia 01:11:20 Challenges with a Difficult Deputy 01:14:22 Leadership and Team Dynamics 01:20:50 Current Role in Korea: NEO Operations 01:39:48 The Importance of Reading and Fiction 01:45:28 Final Thoughts and Reflections
More from The Foreign Area Officer Podcast
Back on the wire with retired Air Force Lt Col Dr. Brian Hobbs about his career as a Foreign Area Officer and his book, "US Defense Industry Offsets: The Presidential Exception for National Security." Hobbs traces his early exposure to Japan through an AFS high school exchange, Japanese study in college and ROTC, early intel assignments in Korea and Japan, graduate school and DLI language training in Chinese and Korean, teaching roles (including at the Korean Air Force Academy), and later work in SAF/IA implementing a more rigorous Air Force FAO (Regional Affairs Strategist) program amid institutional resistance. Post-retirement, he worked at DSCA, the F-35 program for Japan, and BAE Systems before completing a Virginia Tech PhD. He explains offsets as “side deals” in defense sales, outlines the U.S. hands-off policy with a presidential waiver, and highlights case studies on the UAE, Poland, and India.
This is the Man who Would be Khan. While a first-year Russian student at West Point, then Major Mark Derber dropped an article from The Atlantic on my desk, Robert D. Kaplan's "The Man Who Would Be Khan". It changed my life. 20 years later, you get to hear my interview with the Man himself. COL (R) Tom Wilhelm shares his path from West Point (commissioned infantry in 1980) through a dual-track infantry/aviation start, declining the new Aviation Branch, and entering the FAO program in the mid-1980s as a Soviet/Russian FAO. Wilhelm recounts an extensive Cold War-era pipeline (FAO course, DLI Russian—joined fully by his wife—graduate school, a summer in Leningrad, and the US Army Russian Institute/Marshall Center), then FAO work with OSIA conducting arms-control inspections (Vienna Document, INF, CFE) and the Provide Hope humanitarian mission in Tajikistan amid civil war. He describes a “knife fight” to regain infantry key jobs during post–Cold War drawdowns, deployments in Macedonia and Bosnia, being imbedded with a Russian airborne brigade, a later Tajikistan attaché tour with family hardships and evacuation, Marshall Center faculty/FAO mentorship, Mongolia as dual-hatted defense attaché/security cooperation chief, an Afghanistan/Pakistan tour, retirement, and directing the Foreign Military Studies Office. He emphasizes FAO risk-taking, networking, access, and conveying what partners think, not what Americans want to hear. To read the original Robert D. Kaplan article you can find it on The Atlantic's website. If you don't have a subscription, the WayBack Machine is your friend: https://web.archive.org/web/20121020120633/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/03/the-man-who-would-be-khan/302899/
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In this episode of the Foreign Area Officer Podcast five former Army FAO branch chiefs join me for an in-depth discussion on a range of topics critical to Foreign Area Officers (FAOs). The panel includes Eldridge “Raj” Singleton, Steve Browne, Luke Donahue, Wes Chaney, and Pete Roongsang. They delve into the FAO training pipeline, in-region training, common mistakes made by new FAOs, and provide practical advice for career management and PCS assignments. The conversation highlights the role of the FAO branch chief, the importance of understanding military assignments, and the critical aspects of mentorship within the FAO community. The episode wraps up with personal anecdotes and practical advice aimed at helping FAOs navigate their careers successfully, emphasizing the need for proactive career management, understanding the complexities of diplomacy, personal relationships, and the value of mentorship.
In this episode of the Foreign Area Officer Podcast, host Michael Hill interviews retired Lieutenant Colonel Bill Woods, an Eastern European FAO and current instructor at the Joint Military Attaché School (JMAS). LTC Woods shares his experiences and challenges faced during his career, including the undervaluation of FAOs in the past, his roles in Naples, Cyprus, and London, and the importance of building relationships in diplomatic and military contexts. The discussion also touches on the practical aspects of being an FAO, the impact of critical thinking and current doctrinal knowledge, and the unique experiences and opportunities presented by serving at JMAS. Bill reflects on the importance of having fun in the job and staying engaged in current assignments while planning for future roles.