The Foreign Area Officer Podcast. Interviews with Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine officers who serve as Foreign Area Officers (FAOs) throughout the world. This podcast serves to build a community of mentors and narratives to help build the community and communicate the value of the FAO corps to senior leaders in the interagency community.
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The Foreign Area Officer Podcast. Interviews with Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine officers who serve as Foreign Area Officers (FAOs) throughout the world. This podcast serves to build a community of mentors and narratives to help build the community and communicate the value of the FAO corps to senior leaders in the interagency community.
What crisis was central to your experience working at a U.S. embassy abroad, for better or worse?
Join me in a discussion with COL(R) JP Gresh to discuss his experiences in Russia, Ukraine, and the Balkans. The conversation highlights key moments such as the 2013-2014 Ukraine crisis, the challenges of security cooperation in Estonia, and the complexities of working in Russia. Additionally, Gresh shares insights into balancing professional and personal life with a spouse in the Department of State, and offers advice for future FAOs on training, career growth, and the importance of adaptability and maintaining strong interagency relationships. COL(R) Grech also serves as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the FAOA Journal.
Books/Organizations Discussed
Black Swan, Nassim Nicholas Taleb
All the Kremlin’s Men, Mikhail Zygar
Between Two Fires, Joshua Yaffa
Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible, Peter Pomerantsev
FPRI (Foreign Policy Research Institute), www.fpri.org
FAOA Journal, www.faoajournal.substack.com
00:00 Introduction and Disclaimers
00:46 Meet Colonel JP Gresh
01:33 Early Military Career
02:51 Discovering the FAO Path
03:51 Experiences in Germany and the Balkans
05:52 Reflections on Iraq
10:37 Ukraine: First FAO Utilization Tour
13:47 The 2014 Ukrainian Crisis
15:57 US-Ukraine Military Relations
19:52 Strategic Insights on Russia and NATO
29:44 Lessons from UCOM and Security Cooperation
50:54 Balancing Dual Careers in the FAO World
54:14 Reflecting on Professional Challenges and Lessons Learned
56:44 Navigating a Tandem Career in the Department of State
57:19 Insights on Managing Dual Professional Careers
59:33 Experiences and Challenges in Russia
01:01:10 The Complex Relationship Between the U.S. and Russia
01:05:48 Living and Working in Moscow
01:08:54 Surveillance and Daily Life in Moscow
01:12:46 Diplomatic Restrictions and Challenges
01:18:27 Family Life and Safety in Russia
01:23:33 Post-Retirement and Contributions to the FAO Community
01:28:28 Reflections on FAO Training and Career
01:44:22 Final Thoughts and Parting Advice
The Foreign Area Officer Podcast
The Foreign Area Officer Podcast. Interviews with Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine officers who serve as Foreign Area Officers (FAOs) throughout the world. This podcast serves to build a community of mentors and narratives to help build the community and communicate the value of the FAO corps to senior leaders in the interagency community.
