Page 4SecDef Panetta‘s First Guidance Memo
News from <strong>the</strong> Fleet … USN <strong>FAO</strong>s Page 5US Navy <strong>FAO</strong> Community Celebrates 5th BirthdayBy LTC Lester W. Grau, Army, 48E (Retired)On 8 September 2011, over 40 Navy <strong>FAO</strong>sand friends of <strong>the</strong> community held a dinner functionat Thaiphoon restaurant in Pentagon Row near <strong>the</strong>Pentagon to celebrate 5 th Navy <strong>FAO</strong> Communitybirthday. Distinguished guests included <strong>FAO</strong>Community Sponsor, RDML Rich Landolt and former<strong>FAO</strong> Community Sponsor, RADM Jeff Lemmons. At<strong>the</strong> event, Admiral Lemmons who is a Naval Aviatorwas awarded <strong>the</strong> designation of an ―HonoraryForeign Area Officer‖ for his ―steadfast leadership,tireless efforts, and unwavering service in <strong>the</strong>advancement of <strong>the</strong> <strong>FAO</strong> Community‖.to reach 400 officers by 2015. In 2010, RDMLDouglas Venlet, currently serving as <strong>the</strong> DefenseAttaché to Russia, was chosen as Navy‘s first <strong>FAO</strong>Flag Officer.Navy <strong>FAO</strong>s serve in 47 countries in everyAOR, and <strong>the</strong> <strong>FAO</strong> inventory includes conversationalcapability in 29 languages. Assignments are diverse,ranging from defense and naval attachés,representatives in offices of defense cooperation,policy planners, and regional desk officers on jointand major staffs.Today, Navy <strong>FAO</strong>s fill 40% of all navy attachébillets and nearly 80% of all navy security assistanceoffice (SAO) billets. Additionally, <strong>the</strong>re are over 50<strong>FAO</strong> billets s<strong>up</strong>porting OSD, JCS, COCOMs, NavyComponent Commanders, numbered fleets, andinteragency.In a recent Navy message (NAVADM 288/11)VADM Bruce Clingan, Deputy Chief of NavalOperations for Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3/N5) wrote ―happy birthday, <strong>FAO</strong> Community. I amproud of <strong>the</strong> service and <strong>the</strong> strong reputation youhave earned, in such a short time, as Navy'sinternational engagement experts.‖RADM Lemmons and RDML Landolt.RDML Landolt presented ―Honorary <strong>FAO</strong>‖certificate and plaque to RADM Lemmons.Officially, <strong>the</strong> Navy <strong>FAO</strong> communitycelebrated its fifth anniversary on 05 September2011. The <strong>FAO</strong> designator, 1710, established Navy<strong>FAO</strong> as a separate, independent community. Since<strong>the</strong>n, it has grown to over 240 officers and is on trackSenior-<strong>FAO</strong> (Honorary),RADM Lemmons, andJunior <strong>FAO</strong>, LT KimberlyManuel cut <strong>the</strong> Navy <strong>FAO</strong>birthday cake.Quotable Quote …“An armed society is a polite society.”Robert HeinleinBeyond <strong>the</strong> Horizon, 1942Share your quotes with <strong>the</strong> editor … editor@faoa.org
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