Military Advisory Board

Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen is a United States veteran who served in the U.S. Army for 43 years. His military career culminated with his appointment as the 59th superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He held this position for five years and retired in 2018.

Before this assignment, Lt. Gen. Caslen served as the chief of the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq, where he served as the senior military commander in Iraq after the drawdown of U.S. and allied forces in 2011. Lt. Gen. Caslen also served as the commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the commanding general of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth.

During his time in the U.S. Army, Lt. Gen Caslen held several other notable positions including commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division, commanding general of the Multi-National Division- North during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Commandant of Cadets for the U.S. Military Academy. He served as Chief of Staff of both the 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) and the 10th Mountain Division, where he also served as Chief of Staff of TF Mountain during Operation Enduring Freedom. Additionally, he was deployed in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, JTF-B in Honduras, and Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti.

His awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters. He also earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge and is Airborne, Air Assault and Ranger qualified.

A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Lt. Gen Caslen holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Long Island University and a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Kansas State University. He is a member of the Kansas State Engineering College Hall of Fame, recognized for a Life Time of Service Award from the American Red Cross, was selected as the Honorary Rock of the Year Award for his efforts in diversity as the Superintendent of West Point, and was recognized with an honorary Doctorate from Long Island University.

He has been married to the former Michele Pastin since 1977. They have 3 sons and 4 grandchildren.

Sergeant Major of the Army Daniel A. Dailey, U.S. Army retired is a native of Palmerton, Pennsylvania. Dailey enlisted in the Army in 1989. He attended basic training and advanced individual training as an 11B (infantryman) at Fort Benning, Georgia. During his career, Dailey held every enlisted leadership position in the mechanized infantry, ranging from Bradley Fighting Vehicle commander to command sergeant major. Dailey has served with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Infantry Divisions stateside and overseas. In March 2009, he was selected as the 4th Infantry Division command sergeant major, where he served as both the command sergeant major of Fort Carson, Colorado, and U.S. Division-North, Iraq. In 2011, Dailey was selected to serve as the command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). Dailey was sworn in as the 15th sergeant major of the Army on Jan. 30, 2015, and relinquished the position on Aug. 9, 2019.

In addition to four tours in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, Dailey deployed in support of Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. He earned the Bronze Star with Valor for his leadership during the 4th Infantry Division’s two-month Battle for Sadr City in 2008.

Dailey’s military and civilian education includes all levels of the U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer Education System, the Bradley Master Gunner Course, the Force Management Course, and the Keystone Course. Dailey is a graduate of class 54 of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, the Command Sergeants Major Course, the U.S. Army War College Senior Leader Seminar, and the Ranger Course. Dailey holds a Bachelor of Science (Summa Cum Laude) from Excelsior College.

Dailey has been married to his wife, Holly, for 27 years. They have one son, Dakota.

Lt. Gen. John E. Wissler is a United States veteran who served in the Marine Corps for 39 years. His career culminated in the position of Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command and Commanding General, Fleet Marine Forces, Atlantic, which he held until his retirement in 2017.

Previously, Lt. Gen. Wissler served as the Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force and Commander, Marine Corps Forces in Japan. During this time, he was twice activated as the Commander of Joint Task Force 505, conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in the Philippines after Super Typhoon Haian and in Nepal after the 2015 earthquakes.

His other General Officer command assignments include: Commanding General of the 2d Force Service Support Group and 2d Marine Logistics Group during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Deputy Commanding General for the Multinational Force West during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Deputy Commanding General II Marine Expeditionary Force; and Commanding General of the 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

Lt. Gen. Wissler holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He is a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the Amphibious Warfare School, the Armed Forces Staff College. He completed a year-long Federal Executive Fellowship in Foreign Policy studies at the Brookings Institution.

Sergeant Major Ronald L. Green is from Jackson, MS. He attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., in November 1983. Upon graduation, he was meritoriously promoted to private first class where he reported to Hotel Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, Calif., in March 1984, for duty as a field artillery cannoneer.

In September 1984, he was meritoriously promoted to lance corporal. Green moved to Okinawa, Japan, in November 1985 and was assigned to Delta Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment. He was then meritoriously promoted to corporal in March 1985 and sergeant in August 1986.

In October 1987, he attended Nuclear Field Artillery School and earned the additional military occupational specialty of Field Artillery Nuclear Projectileman. In May 1988, Green reported to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to serve as the tower operator for Southern Impact Area Control, also known as Long Rifle. Then in April 1990, he served as a drill instructor, senior drill instructor and drill master at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. In July 1992, while on the drill field, he was meritoriously promoted to staff sergeant. In September of that same year, Green reported to Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, for duty as a section chief.

He deployed to Somalia with Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), during Operation Restore Hope in 1993. Upon his return, he transferred to Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, as the battery gunnery sergeant.

From July 1995 to August 1998, Green served as the assistant marine officer instructor at Southern University and A&M College located in Baton Rouge, LA. During this period, he was promoted to the rank of gunnery sergeant. Green assumed the duties as the battery gunnery sergeant for Echo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, in October 1998. He was promoted to first sergeant in December 2000.

Green reported to Bossier City, LA, for Inspector-Instructor Duty with B Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, in April 2001. During this tour, he deployed to South America in support of Operation United Americas (UNITAS) for seven months. He was promoted to sergeant major in April 2005 and reported to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Pendleton. They conducted a seven-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006. In February 2007, Green transferred to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39. He assumed the duties of the Sergeant Major of Headquarters Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall, Arlington, VA, in June 2008.

He took the post of Sergeant Major for Marine Corps Forces Europe/Marine Corps Forces Africa, Stuttgart, Germany, in August 2010, where he supported numerous theater security cooperation and noncommissioned officer development efforts with partner nations. In June 2012, he returned to Camp Pendleton where he served as the I Marine Expeditionary Force Sergeant Major. Green was selected by the 36th Commandant of the Marine Corps General Joseph F. Dunford to be the 18th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps on January 20, 2015. Assuming his post in February 2015, Green was the longest serving Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps serving four years and five months. He served under the 36th Commandant of the Marine Corps General Joseph F. Dunford, the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps General Robert B. Neller, and briefly under the 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps General David H. Berger. He served in this position until July 2019. His personal awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with gold star, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with four gold stars, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars.

Sergeant Major Green holds a Bachelor of Science degree in cybersecurity and a Master of Science degree in cybersecurity policy and cloud computing architecture from the University of Maryland University College. He also holds multiple computer security certifications.

Vice Adm. Scott Van Buskirk is a veteran who served in the United States Navy for 34 years. His military career culminated in an appointment as the 56 Chief of Naval Personnel. He was sworn in on October 11, 2011 and served in this role until August 2013. Before assuming this position, Vice Adm. Van Buskirk was the Commander of the Seventh Fleet.

As a Flag Officer, Vice Adm. Van Buskirk served in several assignments including U.S Pacific Fleet Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff; Commander Carrier Strike Group Nine; Assistant Deputy of Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3/N5B); and the Deputy to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Effects for the Multi-National Force- Iraq.

A career submariner, Vice Adm. Van Buskirk served on board the following submarines: USS Seawolf (SSN 575), USS Salt Lake City (SSN 716), USS Tunny (SSN 682), and USS Georgia (SSBN 729-Gold). He also commanded USS Pasadena (SSN 752). Ashore, he commanded the Submarine Development Squadron 12 and served on various staffs including the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs and both the Submarine Force U.S Pacific and Atlantic commands.

Vice Adm. Van Buskirk is a 1979 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and holds a master's degree from the Naval Postgraduate School.

After his retirement from the U.S Navy in 2013, Vice Adm. Van Buskirk joined Oceaneering International Incorporated's Advanced Technologies Group, a global provider of engineered services and products for the oil and gas, defense, space, entertainment and robotic sectors. He currently serves as the Vice President for Strategic Program Development for the company.

Master Chief Petty Officer Rick D. West is a veteran who served in the United States Navy for 32 years. He was appointed as the 12th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy in 2008. Prior to that, he served as Fleet Master Chief for Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Pacific Fleet Master Chief. Master Chief West was the first senior enlisted leader to serve in this role for both operational fleets and be selected for Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.

Master Chief West served as the Command Master Chief onboard USS Preble, which was homeported in San Diego, where he deployed on the ship’s maiden voyage to the Persian Gulf and qualified as an enlisted surface warfare specialist. Prior to that, he held the position of Force Master Chief for Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Command Master Chief at Submarine Squadron ELEVEN.

Some of Master Chief West’s other assignments include Chief of the Boat aboard the San Diego-based fast-attack submarine USS Portsmouth; Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Staff, USS Tecumseh; Commander Naval Activities United Kingdom; USS Sea Devil; USS Thomas Edison and USS Ethan Allen.

His military honors include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, two Legion of Merit awards, three Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals, the Enlisted Submarine Insignia, the Enlisted Surface Warfare Insignia and the SSBN Deterrent Patrol Pin.

Master Chief West currently works in business development and client engagement for Progeny Systems Corporation. He is also a co-owner of Summit Six LLC, an organization whose mission is to improve the leadership abilities of America’s workforce, and co-authored a book on leadership with the five senior enlisted leaders who share ownership with him. Master Chief West and his wife, Bobbi, who is also a veteran, live in Poulsbo, Washington.

Lt. Gen. Norman R. Seip is a United States veteran who served in the United States Air Force for 35 years. His military career culminated in the position of Commander, 12 Air Force/Air Forces South at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, retiring in October 2009.

A command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours, Lt. Gen. Seip flew the F-15E in support of Operations Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He held the position of Deputy Combined Forces Air Component Commander for U.S. Central Command, and he had a direct impact in supporting combat operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. He has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing level and served on Major Command, joint, and Headquarters Air Force staffs.

Lt. Gen. Seip holds a Bachelor of Science degree in History from the United States Air Force Academy and a Master of Public Administration degree from Golden Gate University. He is a graduate from the Squadron Officer School, the Air Command and Staff College, and the Air War College.

Post retirement, Lt. Gen. Seip was a USAF Senior Mentor for six years involved in all aspects of operational level warfare and command and control.

His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Aerial Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, and numerous international awards.

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) James A. Roy is a United States veteran who served in the United States Air Force for 31 years. He served as the personal advisor to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and progress of the enlisted force. CMSAF Roy is the 16th chief master sergeant appointed to the highest noncommissioned officer position.

Chief Roy entered the Air Force in 1982. His background includes numerous leadership roles at squadron, group, numbered air force and combatant command levels. He served as a superintendent of a military personnel flight and a mission support group before becoming a command chief master sergeant at the wing, air expeditionary wing, numbered air force and combatant command levels. Before assuming his final position, Chief Roy served as the Senior Enlisted Leader and adviser to the U.S. Pacific Command Combatant Commander and staff.

Post-retirement, Chief Roy has held a series of progressively more senior positions at the Scientific Research Corporation, including Senior Program Manager of Air Force Programs, Director of Air Force Programs, Senior Director of Operation Testing, and Senior Director of Product, Sustainment and Instrumentation.

Chief Roy holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management from Park College in Parkville, Missouri, where he graduated with honors. In addition, he earned a Master’s of Science in Human Resource Management from Troy State College in Troy, Alabama. He has completed senior leadership courses at the Department of Defense and the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.

• Distinguished Service Medal
• Defense Superior Service Medal
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal
• Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
• Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
• Air Force Achievement Medal with silver oak leaf cluster

After serving for 35 years in the United States Coast Guard, Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara was sworn in as the 27 Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard on May 24, 2010. During her two-year tenure in this role, she served as the Coast Guard second-in-command, executing the commandant's strategic intent, managing internal organization governance and serving as the component acquisition executive.

Before becoming Vice Commandant, Vice Adm. Brice-O’Hara held several other flag level positions including Deputy Commandant for Operations, Commander of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District, Director of Reserve and Training, Commander of the Fifth Coast Guard District and Director of Personnel Management. In these positions, her assignments varied widely, from managing operations for over 12 million square miles of the Central Pacific Ocean to developing policies to recruit, train, allocate and support Coast Guard Ready Reservists.

At the time of her selection to flag rank, Vice Adm. Brice-O’Hara was the Commanding Officer of Training Center Cape May, the Coast Guard's only recruit training program. Before that, she held several other notable positions at stations across the country and at the Coast Guard Academy.

A native of Annapolis, Maryland, she graduated from Goucher College in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology, and she received her Coast Guard commission from Officer Candidate School the following year. She holds a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College and a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where she was named a Littauer Fellow.

Vice Adm. Brice-O’Hara's personal awards include the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal, a Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, five Legions of Merit, a Meritorious Service Medal, six Coast Guard Commendation Medals, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals and the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation.

Master Chief Jason M. Vanderhaden assumed the duties of the 13th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard on May 17, 2018. The MCPOCG is the highest senior enlisted member of the Coast Guard and the principal advisor to the Commandant on all enlisted personnel matters. MCPOCG Vanderhaden served in this role until May 2022, retiring from the Coast Guard after 34 years of service to the Nation.

MCPOCG Vanderhaden is a native of Tallahassee, Fla. He enlisted in the Coast Guard in May of 1988. Master Chief Vanderhaden’s previous assignments include Command Master Chief, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support; Command Master Chief, Pacific Area; Command Master Chief, 13th Coast Guard District; Command Master Chief, Base Honolulu; Chief Petty Officer Academy, USCGC Reliance, Station Ponce de Leon Inlet, USCGC Active, Air Station Humboldt Bay, USCGC Cheyenne, Air Station Clearwater, LORAN Station Iwo Jima, SS “A” School, Station Jones Beach and Station Short Beach.

MCPOCG Vanderhaden’s awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal and other personal and service awards. He has earned a permanent Cutterman insignia, Boat Forces Operations insignia and Command Master Chief (Gold Badge) insignia.

MCPOCG Vanderhaden is a graduate of Class 114 of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy; the Harvard Kennedy School, Leadership in Homeland Security Course; the National Defense University Keystone Joint Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course and other service-related schools. Master Chief Vanderhaden holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Excelsior College.

MCPOCG Vanderhaden is married to the former Amy Mathers and they have two adult children who currently serve in the U.S. Coast Guard.