PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

U.S. Colonel William Snow Shares Gulf War Experiences with Military Officers from West African States

Date: June 19, 2008
Venue: Abuja
 

Col. William Snow responds to questions during a Question and Answer session | Full Size

Leadership and critical thinking were two strategic tactics that Colonel William Snow discussed with a group of senior military officers at the Nigerian National Defense College (NDC), Abuja.  Colonel Snow is the Commander, 100th Troop Command, California Army National Guard, and was in Nigeria on the invitation of the Office of Defense Cooperation of the U.S. Mission in Nigeria as the keynote speaker to all 103 students that comprise Class 16 of the NDC.

Students at the NDC are predominately senior military officers from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air force, while others are senior Nigerian Police and civilian officers from the Ministry of Defense.  Officers from nine West African Countries including Ghana, Congo, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso were in attendance, as they are also students at the NDC.   This is the first NDC class to have a representative from Cameroon.

In discussing the role played by the United States during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, in Kuwait and in the Persian Gulf region, Colonel Snow reviewed many of the lessons learned during the deployment and redeployment of so many troops and their equipment.  His presentation highlighted the importance of logistics planning and coordination.  Colonel Snow also emphasized to the participants the need to consider the economic and socio-political impact resulting from military action.  

Snow holds a PhD in Psychology and is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College.  He has 19 Federal and State ribbons and medals including the Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and the Army Commendation and Meritorious Service Medals.

Before the lecture, Snow met with the Commandant of the NDC Rear Admiral G. Jonah and presented him with a set of books and multi media to strengthen the NDC library.  Admiral Jonah said in addition to building stronger U.S.-Nigeria military cooperation, the leadership seminar has strengthened relationships and interactions between participants from Nigerian and those of other West African countries.