Col. George T. (Tom) Donovan, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, senior advisor to the ANA Chief of the General Staff, participated in a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable, Friday, May 21 at 10:30 EDT.
Donovan discussed one of NTM-A/CSTC-A’s top priorities, Ministerial Development, increasing the capacity of the Ministry of Defense to solve the complex and challenging problems it faces as it fights an insurgency and at the same time forms as an institution of the Afghan National Security Forces.
The Chief of the General Staff, the ranking officer in uniform within the ANA, supervises the ANA General Staff as well as commands the operational Army. In essence, he fulfills the role of the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army along with the role of a U.S. Combatant Commander, employing the forces in combat.
The role of the advisor to the Chief of the General staff is to develop the capacity of this key official to grow, improve, and sustain his organization during this complex and challenging time. He serves as a strategic advisor on issues of concern to the coalition as well as the ANA, acts as a liaison officer between the CoGS and the various major commands of ISAF, and assists the CoGS in performing his duties by providing feedback and insights into challenges within ANA systems and policies.
To listen to the interview, click here.
To read the transcript, click here.
Read the Defense.gov story, “Afghan Army Chief, Advisor Shape Growing Force”
Joining us on the call were Paul McLeary, Aviation Week and Andrew Lubin, militaryobserver.
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