UNCLASSIFIED//

ATTENTION INVITED TO  

ROUTINE

R 021422Z SEP 11 PSN 613019K20

FM CNO WASHINGTON DC

TO NAVADMIN
ZEN//OU=DOD/OU=NAVY/OU=ADDRESS LISTS(UC)/CN=AL NAVADMIN(UC)

INFO ZEN/CNO WASHINGTON DC

BT
UNCLAS
QQQQ

SUBJ: FOREIGN AREA OFFICER (FAO) COMMUNITY BIRTHDAY MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED/ PASS 
TO ALL OFFICE CODES:
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N3N5//
TO NAVADMIN
NAVADMIN 262/11

MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N00/SEP//

SUBJ/FOREIGN AREA OFFICER (FAO) COMMUNITY BIRTHDAY MESSAGE//

RMKS/1. ON 05 SEPTEMBER 2011, WE COMMEMORATE THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
ESTABLISHMENT OF NAVY'S FOREIGN AREA OFFICER COMMUNITY. PLEASE JOIN ME IN 
EXTENDING HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST BIRTHDAY WISHES TO OUR SERVICE'S 
YOUNGEST COMMUNITY.

2. THE FAO DESIGNATOR, 1710, ESTABLISHED NAVY FAO AS A SEPARATE, INDEPENDENT 
COMMUNITY. SINCE THEN, IT HAS GROWN TO OVER 240 OFFICERS AND IS ON TRACK TO 
REACH 400 OFFICERS BY 2015. IN 2010, REAR ADMIRAL DOUGLAS J. VENLET, CURRENTLY 
SERVING AS THE DEFENSE ATTACHE TO RUSSIA, WAS CHOSEN AS NAVY'S FIRST FAO FLAG 
OFFICER.

3. FAO COMMUNITY PERSONNEL SERVE IN 47 COUNTRIES IN EVERY AOR, AND POSSESS 
CONVERSATIONAL CAPABILITY IN 29 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
ASSIGNMENTS ARE DIVERSE, RANGING FROM DEFENSE AND NAVAL ATTACHES, 
REPRESENTATIVES IN OFFICES OF DEFENSE COOPERATION, POLICY PLANNERS, AND 
REGIONAL DESK OFFICERS ON JOINT AND MAJOR STAFFS.
TODAY, FAOS FILL 40 PERCENT OF ALL ATTACHE BILLETS AND NEARLY 80 PERCENT OF 
ALL SECURITY ASSISTANCE OFFICE (SAO) BILLETS.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE OVER 50 FAO BILLETS SUPPORTING OSD, JCS, COCOMS, NAVY 
COMPONENT COMMANDERS, NUMBERED FLEETS, AND THE INTERAGENCY.

4. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FAO COMMUNITY. I AM PROUD OF YOUR SERVICE AND THE STRONG 
REPUTATION YOU HAVE EARNED, IN SUCH A SHORT TIME, AS NAVY'S INTERNATIONAL 
ENGAGEMENT EXPERTS.

5. RELEASED BY VICE ADMIRAL B. W. CLINGAN, DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS 
(OPERATIONS, PLANS AND STRATEGY) (N3/N5).//

BT
#6623
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