Join me for an illuminating discussion with Colonel Matt Kopp, a U.S. Army FAO. We explore Colonel Kopp's beginning as a 48B, focusing on pivotal partnerships in Latin America, particularly during the final phases of Colombia’s Civil War. Colonel Kopp shares insights into his transition to a 48J, concentrating on Sub-Saharan Africa, and the critical need to understand and respond to the human and institutional complexities in these regions. The conversation includes discussions on his operational challenges, such as managing high-profile visits and interagency coordination, and the role of psychology and sociology in his duties. We also touch upon his work with the Army Foreign Area Officer Association, focusing on mentorship, fostering academic discourse, and preparing FAOs for influential second careers.

Books Discussed

• Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman https://a.co/d/fNUHTUn
• Neither Devil Nor Child: How Western Attitudes Are Harming Africa, by Tom Young https://a.co/d/9yv70Z8
• On the Psychology of Military Incompetence, by Norman F. Dixon https://a.co/d/4nkJNIt

00:00 Introduction and Disclaimers

00:42 Meet Colonel Matt Kopp

01:01 Career Choices and Transitions

02:22 Experiences in Sub-Saharan Africa

03:39 Challenges and Responsibilities at HRC

08:23 PhD Journey and Research

15:36 Transition to Africa FAO

23:02 Building Relationships and Team Dynamics

31:07 Insights on Leadership and Collaboration

43:46 Psychological Factors and Broader Perspectives

48:18 Understanding Heuristics in International Relations

50:28 Managing High Operational Tempo in Kenya

51:00 Military Operations and Planning in Diplomatic Missions

56:26 Lessons from Secret Service and VIP Visits

01:04:04 Transition to Army Service Component Commands

01:13:01 Experiences in Latin America and SOUTHCOM

01:26:32 The Role of the Army Foreign Area Officer Association

01:33:31 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

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

Join me for a conversation with USAF Col. (Ret.) Matt Yocum as we delve into his unique career trajectory, starting from his non-standard background in the Air Force's acquisition and engineering fields. Matt discusses his pivotal assignments, including his time in Israel as part of the Engineer and Scientist Exchange Program and later as an Air Force attaché, where he navigated through significant events like the Second Lebanon War. This episode also explores his role as a Commander's Action Group (CAG) director at CENTCOM, where he was instrumental in providing detailed and narratively rich reports on international engagements. Matt reflects on the importance of storytelling in military communication and its impact on effective diplomacy. The talk also covers his post-military career as a writer of comic books and graphic novels, highlighting his passion for the art form and his current projects, including a biographical graphic novel on a notable Pakistani figure. Throughout the episode, Matt emphasizes the significance of relationship-building, effective communication, and relentless helpfulness in both military and personal endeavors.

Links:

www.Hangar19Consulting.com

www.MattYocum.com

Closet World Kickstarter

Books:

The Twilight War by David Crist

Brief by Joe McCormick

Lawrence in Arabia by Scott Anderson

The New Map by Daniel Jurgen

Power Broker by Robert Caro

The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert Caro

The Vision by King, Waltaand Bellaire

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by King, Evely and Lopes

Pluto: Urusawa x Tekuza by Nagasaki and Urasawa

Bone by Jeff Smith

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Disclaimers

00:46 Meet Colonel Matt Yocum

01:15 Colonel Yocum’s Air Force Journey

01:59 The Engineer and Scientist Exchange Program (ESEP)

02:44 Life and Work in Israel

04:42 Challenges and Experiences in Israel

09:01 Language Learning and Cultural Insights

34:58 The Second Lebanon War

39:35 Observations and Responsibilities as an Attache

45:31 Career Transitions and Future Plans

50:37 Arrival in Amman, Jordan

50:46 The New Normal: ISIS Crisis

51:44 Embassy Life and Community

54:02 Building Relationships and Cooperation

55:19 Information Sharing and Collaboration

01:03:34 Training and Equipping the Jordanian Air Force

01:18:44 Commander's Action Group (CAG) Experience

01:37:51 Decision to Stay in CAG

01:39:06 Balancing Family and Duty

01:40:43 Returning to JSO and Preparing for Retirement

01:42:14 Final Assignment and Retirement Ceremony

01:45:37 Reflecting on a Military Career

01:47:30 Challenges and Triumphs in Promotions

01:55:37 Post-Military Career in Comics

02:02:18 The Art of Storytelling in Communication

02:14:07 Recommended Reads and Final Thoughts