What's New

After more than nine years of faithful service, Col Robert “Bob” Stratton retired this summer from his position as Vice President of the George and Carol Olmsted Foundation. Through his dedicated service, Bob helped shape and position the Foundation for a long and very successful future.

Congratulations to CDR Jonathan V. Ahlstrom (OSC 12, Aix-en-Provence) who has been selected for the highly competitive White House Fellows program! CDR Ahlstrom is a submariner who earned a Master of Arts in Geostrategy, Defense, and Security at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques during his time in the Olmsted Scholar Program. CDR Ahlstrom has been placed at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for his one-year fellowship as a 2018-2019 White House Fellow which begins this September. His selection reflects highly upon his leadership attributes and also upon the Olmsted Scholar Program!

Olmsted Scholar Lt Col David M. Manrrique recently took command of the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron, Offutt AFB. Lt Col Manrrique returned from Tel Aviv, Isreal last summer after earning an M.A. in Modern Middle Eastern Affairs. At the change of command ceremony, Manrrique gave thanks to those who "taught him how to be a better officer and leader" and recognized that their "mentorship and support has helped prepare him to assume the responsibilities of a commander in the Air Force." Congratulations to Lt Col Manrrique!

Col Clint R. ZumBrunnen is now in command of the 437th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Col ZumBrunnen studied at Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv, Israel as a member of the Class of 2007 and has logged more than 3,000 flying hours as a command pilot. Col ZumBrunnen is pictured below as he received the 437th Airlift Wing guidon from Lt Gen Gi Tuck who is the 18th Air Force commander. Congratulations to Col ZumBrunnen! (Photo Credit: Airman 1st Class Joshua Maund)

The Summer 2018 Olmsted Foundation Newsletter is available here: Summer 2018 Olmsted Foundation Newsletter (1011 KB)

COL David Elsen recently took command of the 500th Military Intelligence Brigade at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. The brigade and its four subordinate battalions provide multi-disciplinary intelligence support throughout the US Pacific Command area of responsibility under the operational control of US Army Pacific. At the ceremony, Elsen pledged to place the interests of the Soldiers, civilians, and families of the brigade above his own and to model selfless service and servant leadership in command. COL Elsen studied at Peking University as a member of the Olmsted Scholar Class of 2006.

Lt Col Paul Sebold, USAF, was selected as the top graduate from National Defense University's Eisenhower School at Ft. McNair, Washington, DC, on June 7th, 2018. Lt Col Sebold studied at St. Petersburg State University in St. Petersburg, Russia as an Olmsted Scholar in the Class of 2007. Lt Col Sebold was awarded an MS in National Resource Strategy, completing an in-depth study of the Information and Communication Technology sector of the world economy. His independent research focused on advances in Chinese surveillance technology and artificial intelligence and involved travel to Silicon Valley, China, and Korea. Lt Col Sebold will now move forward to USEUCOM J5P, Stuttgart to work contingency plans.

COL Joseph Hilbert will put both his leadership and language skills to use as he has recently taken command of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center based at Hohenfels Training Center. COL Hilbert studied at the University of Leipzig as an Olmsted Scholar in the Class of 2003. COL Hilbert most recently was the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division Artillery (DIVARTY) at Ft. Bragg, NC. Photo Credit: The Joint Multinational Readiness Center.

Olmsted Scholar CDR Emily Bassett who studied at the University of Cadiz as a member of the Class of 2009 describes the work it took to get the USS Manchester through commissioning which was held on May 26th and ready for service in the Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 1 in the following article. CDR Bassett served as the commanding officer of the USS Manchester through its commissioning.

Olmsted Scholar Lt Col Jamil Musa took command of the 7th Airlift Squadron based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. Lt Col Musa shared his vision of the C-17 as "nothing less than the modern-day manifestation of a bridge—a bridge of violence when used to deliver combat power in southwest Asia and as a bridge of hope when used to support recovery efforts such as those in Puerto Rico." Lt Col Musa looks forward to the tremendous responsibility of serving the brave men and women of the 7th Airlift Squadron, whom he credits with breathing kinetic energy into the C-17 aluminum bridge, therefore, providing a powerful deterrent and force projection capability for our country. Lt Col Musa studied at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco as a member of the Olmsted Scholar Class of 2011.