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.

VADM Sean Buck served in the United States Navy for 40 years. He became the 63^rd Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy in July 2019, and served in this final command position until his retirement in September 2023.

As a Flag Officer, VADM Buck also served operationally as Commander, U.S. 4th Fleet/Naval Forces U.S. Southern Command (C4F); Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Force U.S. 5th and 7th Fleets (CPRF5/7); Commander Fleet Air Forward (CFAF); and Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group (CPRG). 

Shore Flag jobs included Chief of Staff, Strategy, Plans and Policy (J5), the Joint Staff (CJCS J5) and Director, 21st Century Sailor Office, where his portfolio included the Navy’s programs on sexual assault prevention and response, suicide prevention, alcohol abuse prevention, domestic and child abuse prevention and other human destructive behaviors.

Flying the P-3C Orion and P-8A Poseidon, VADM Buck’s early at-sea operational tours were with the “Fighting Marlins” of Patrol Squadron 40 (VP-40); a disassociated sea tour aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN71) as the catapult and arresting gear division officer; and a Department Head tour with the “Tridents” of Patrol Squadron 26 (VP-26). He subsequently commanded VP-26 and Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 (CPRW11).

His early shore and staff assignments include Air Test and Evaluation Squadron ONE (VX-1); Bureau of Naval Personnel as a Placement Officer; Joint Chiefs of Staff, J38 Operations; Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCNO) for Warfare Requirements and Programs N6/N7; and Deputy Director for Operations in the Strategy and Policy Directorate (J5), U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM).

VADM Buck completed an interim assignment with the National Reconnaissance Office. He is a member of the Navy’s Space Cadre. He also completed a special assignment as a Senior Fellow on the CNO’s Strategic Studies Group (SSG) in Newport, Rhode Island, an innovation think tank for the Navy.

A native of Indianapolis, VADM Buck graduated and received his commission from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1983, and he was designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1985. He earned a Master of Arts degree in International Security Policy from George Washington University and has completed studies at the College of Naval Command and Staff, U.S. Naval War College and the Armed Forces Staff College. He completed a fellowship with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Seminar XXI “Foreign Politics, International Relations and the National Interest” and executive certificate programs at both the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Graduate School of Education.

VADM Buck’s awards include the Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit (five awards) and numerous personal, unit and service awards.

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.

Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman (SEAC) Ramón Colón-López is a United States veteran who served in the Air Force for 33 years. In December 2019, he became the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the most senior enlisted service member in the U.S. armed forces. In 2007, he was awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal. He retired in November 2023.

SEAC Colón-López enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in December 1990. He graduated from basic training as a Transportation Specialist at Lackland Air Force Base. In 1996, he became a pararescueman and was assigned to the 48^th Rescue Squadron out of Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. In 1999, he joined the 24^th Special Tactics Squadron (STS) at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. While a member of the 24^th STS, SEAC Colón-López served as a Special Tactics Element Leader and was deployed to Afghanistan four times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During this time, he received his first Bronze Star Medal with valor for his actions under fire while protecting future Afghanistan president, Hamid Karzai.

While on a mission in Afghanistan, SEAC Colón-López’s helicopter was shot down. After crash-landing, SEAC Colón-López, along with two Navy SEALs, assaulted fortified enemy positions, killing five combatants and ensuring the safety of the remaining crew. His actions during this assault earned him his second Bronze Star Medal for Valor.

SEAC Colón-López was selected to create and implement a Personnel Recovery Advance Force Operations Team. On March 11, 2004, SEAC Colón-López, his team and elements of the Afghan National Strike Unit, participated in an operation which required the capture of a high-level target and a follow-on site exploitation with the intention of preventing the proliferation of chemical weapons. SEAC Colón-López continued on his mission in spite of hostile enemy fire, which resulted in two enemy kills, the capture of 10 enemy troops and the destruction of multiple rocket propelled grenades and small caliber weapons. In 2005, he returned to the United States and was named interim Commandant of the Pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer School.

In 2009, SEAC Colón-López returned to the 24^th STS as Senior Enlisted Advisor. In 2011, he became the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 1^st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field in Florida. In 2013, SEAC Colón-López was assigned Command Chief to the 18^th Wing at Kadena Air Base in Japan. In 2014, he was selected as Command Chief for United States Air Forces Central Command. In 2016, SEAC Colón-López served as Senior Enlisted Advisor at the Pentagon, then later that same year at the United States Africa Command in Germany.

In addition to the Air Force Combat Action Medal and Bronze Star Medals with Valor, SEAC Colón-López was also awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, along with numerous other awards, medals, badges and honors.

SEAC Colón-López holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland. He lives with his wife Janet in North Carolina.

Lt. Gen. William Liquori is a veteran of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, serving 31 years.

Lt. Gen. Liquori entered the Air Force in 1991 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at Boston University. His career has included numerous operations and staff positions in Air Force Space Command, National Reconnaissance Office, Air Force Secretariat, U.S. European Command, Office of the Secretary of Defense, White House and United States Space Force. Lt. Gen. Liquori has commanded a space operations squadron and the 50th Space Wing. He is a graduate and former instructor of the United States Air Force Weapons School. His operational experiences include operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom.

In 2020, Lt. Gen. Liquori transferred to the United States Space Force, was promoted to lieutenant general and served as Deputy Chief of Space Operations Strategy, Plans, Programs, Requirements and Analysis at the United States Space Force headquarters in Arlington, Va. As the Chief Strategy and Resourcing Officer, he directed the strategies, requirements and budget of the United States Space Force. He retired from active duty in August 2022.

Post-retirement, Lt. Gen. Liquori founded Polaris Strategic Insight, LLC, where he provides consulting and mentoring for aerospace organizations and individuals. In 2023, he joined the inaugural Board of Directors of Intuitive Machines.

Lt. Gen. Liquori holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science from Boston University, and a Master of Arts in Computer Resources and Information Management from Webster University. He is a graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Marine Corps War College, and MIT’s Seminar XXI.

His awards and decorations include the Gen. Jerome F. O'Malley Distinguished Space Leadership Award, Presidential Service Badge, State Department Superior Honor Award, National Reconnaissance Office Silver Medal, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Lt. Gen. and Mrs. Liquori were recognized as the 2015 recipients of the Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley Award.

Lt. Gen. Liquori and his wife Amy have three children, TJ, Greg and Alexa.

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.