FELDERMAN, Robert J.

FELDERMAN, Robert J. (Dubuque, IA-- ).

Introduction & Experiences of Brigadier General, U.S. Army (Retired) Robert John Felderman

Previous Duties and Experiences:  Served as the United States Deputy Director and principal advisor to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U. S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) Director of Plans, Policy and Strategy Directorate (J5), focused on mission to anticipate, deter, prevent and defeat threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories and interests within the assigned NORAD Area of Operations and USNORTHCOM Area of Focus/Responsibility (2007 to 2010, retiring 10/31/2010)

o Responsible to the Geographical Combatant Commander with focus on theater campaign and deliberate plans, policy and strategy for the safeguarding of the North American Continent (including 3 nations; United States, Canada, Mexico and Bahamas’) and the USNORTHCOM Area of Responsibility (including 6 dependencies; Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, Bermuda and St. Pierre – Miquelon Islands) via assigned missions of Aerospace Warning, Aerospace Control, Maritime Warning and additionally, programming the development, employment and sustainment of assigned Canadian and U.S. Forces at NORAD operating locations and bases; plus anticipate and develop USNORTHCOM strategy, policy, contingency plans, deliberate plans, theater campaign plans, and Security Cooperation with primary missions of Homeland Defense and Civil Support (Defense Support of Civil Authorities - DSCA).

o Advised senior leadership on matters concerning NORAD and USNORTHCOM Plans and Operations aligned with range of interests to include Homeland Defense, Civil Support, aerospace defense expertise, search and rescue, control authorities, unmanned aerial systems, ground based missile defense, USSOUTHCOM missions, protection of special missions, CBRNE plans and operations (including Weapons of Mass Destruction - Civil Support Teams, CBRNE Emergency Response Force Packages, CBRNE Consequence Management Response Forces, Quick Response and Rapid Reaction Forces, CBRNE Prevent, National Guard Response Forces and enabler teams, and mutual standing or situational Commander Critical Information Requirements), nuclear issues (weapons accident response, recapture recovery, forensics), Pandemic Influenza, Missile Defense, Space, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Counter Drug/Narcotics, Maritime Domain Awareness.

o Responsible for integration of planning, policy and strategy cooperation with combatant and functional commands (USSOUTHCOM, USSTRATCOM, USSOCOM, USEUCOM, USPACOM, USTRANSCOM, AIR FORCE SPACECOM, GLOBAL STRIKE COMMAND AND CYBER COMMAND); interagency and intergovernmental partners (such as Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, US Secret Service, HHS, Department of State, Department of Transportation, FAA, National Guard Bureau), and sub-ordinate commands or Joint Task Forces (Army NORTH, Air Force NORTH, Marine Forces NORTH, JTF-Alaska, JTF-North, JTF-Civil Support, and JFHQ-National Capital Region, USCG Pacific & Atlantic, Fleet Forces Command and NORAD Regions)

Successes in military:

 While serving as the NORAD and USNORTHCOM Deputy Director of Plans, Policy and Strategy Directorate (J5), provided leadership, mentoring, and managerial oversight for the 150+ military, civilians, and contractor personnel assigned to the Directorate. Ensured full integration of the planning processes, staffing considerations, force structure, doctrinal development, resource management, training requirements, and operational execution on matters requiring coordination and collaboration on domestic plans, operations and exercises. Conduct liaison visits; execute special projects, and other duties as directed by the Director J5 and the Commander

 As a joint assigned General Officer, served in 4-star Geographic Combatant Command and Bi-National Command as the USNORTHCOM Deputy Director of Operations for Land and National Guard Matters (2007), and the NORAD & USNORTHCOM Deputy Director of Plans, Policy and Strategy (2007 to 2010)

o Actively contributed to the success of the commands missions while serving as the Deputy Director of Operations (NC/J3), and the Deputy Director for Plans, Policies and Strategy (N-NC/J5). Specifically impacted multiple areas in both directorates to include contingency plans, NGB relations, Commander's State Leadership Engagement Strategy Team, Commission on the National Guard and Reserve, CBRNE Consequence Management, Combatant Command Organizational Mission Analysis and Realignment, Tri-Command Study (NORAD, USNORTHCOM, Canada Command), Theater Security Cooperation, Strategic Communications, Building Partnership Capacity (Canada, Mexico, The Bahamas’), and DOD operations and planning for actual events (including Nuclear Weapon Accidents and Recapture Recovery, Hurricanes, Wildland Fires, and National Security Special Events such as Presidential Inauguration, State of the Union Addresses, United Nations General Assemblies, G20, National Political Conventions, G8, Vancouver 2010 Olympics, Space, National Boy Scout Jamboree)

o Trained as an Integrated Tactical Warning Attack Assessor (ITW/AA) for NORAD and Domestic Attack Assessor (DAA) for USNORTHCOM

o Assisted in the national level re-write of the Nuclear Weapon Accident Response Plan, appointed as a senior member of National Technical Nuclear Forensics Senior Level Steering Group, adjunct team member to the Advisor to the President for Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism responsible for writing the 2006 White House Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina, alternate representative on Global Nuclear Defense Steering Committee

o Education included completion of National Defense University CAPSTONE General Officer Course, Defense Support of Civil Authorities Course, Nuclear Weapons Senior Executive Course, US Army Advanced Strategic Leadership Development Course, JTF Commander Course and Army General Officer Media Public Affairs Training. Completed commander directed training as NORAD Integrated Tactical Warning Attack Assessor (ITW/AA) and ONE Assessor, USNORTHCOM Domestic Attack Assessor (DAA), and NORAD public affairs spokesperson

o Duties at NORAD and USNORTHCOM included spokesperson or senior command representative at national and regional level; Ft. Leavenworth Combat Studies Institute, New York City and FEMA Region 2, Department of Defense (DOD) Senior Representative for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Hurricane Preparedness Exercises and Planning Conferences for five Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regions I, II, III, IV and VI, Nuclear Weapon Accident Response (NUWAX) Task Force, (RTF) Senior Energy Officials (SEO) Conference Panelist and Subject Matter Expert (SME), Pandemic Influenza speaker at NGB J3/5/7 Conference, Headquarters Department of the Army Hurricane ROCK Drill, Long Island Hurricane Seminar Panelist for Congressman Israel NY 2nd District, Rocky Mountain Special Agent in Charge Conference, FEMA Region 8 Regional Interagency Steering Council, Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Summit, Interagency Transportation conference, National Guard Space Symposium, Mexico-United States Border Commanders Conference, Unmanned Aerial Systems Summit speaker, AIAA Homeland Security Conference, U.S. Strategic Command Deterrence Conference, U.S. Southern Command Security Conference, U. S. Strategic Command Executive Deterrence War Game, DOD Nuclear Weapon Accident Incident Response Subcommittee (NWAIRS), Schriever 2007 and 2009 Space War Games, Pandemic Influenza briefer/participant at Japan’s National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS) and the Korean Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) workshop “The Military's Role in Responding to New Security Threats in the 21st Century," DOD National Technical Nuclear Forensics (NTNF) Working Group, Army War College Reserve Homeland Defense Civil Support (HD/CS) Symposium, NGB Hurricane TTX, State Guard Association of United States 2008 Annual Conference, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Regional Task Force and Senior Energy Official TTX, Joint Staff Talks with Mexico, Permanent Joint Board on Defense (PJBD) with Canada, NGB State Partnership Program General Officer Advisory Council, OSD Civil Affairs GOFO Working Group, DHS/FEMA Task Force for Emergency Readiness (TFER) with ASD(HD&ASA) and NGB, White House Principle Level Exercise (PLE) on Pandemic Influenza, White House Preparation PLE on HD/CS for Obama Administration transition, Stanford Law School Constitutional Law Conference on Germ Warfare, The Interdiction Committee, Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Board of Visitors, Global Nuclear Defense Senior Council Alternate (National Technical Nuclear Forensics, Joint Assessment Team, Recapture Recovery)

o USSOUTHCOM Caribbean Security Conference on "Illicit Trafficking in the Caribbean - A Regional Threat requiring a Regional Approach" (with Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago; Canada, CHDS, France, IADB, Netherlands Antilles Aruba, Minustah Force, USNORTHCOM, and Regional Security System); USPACOM Terminal Fury Senior Leader Seminar; NATO Nimble Titan Ballistic Missile Senior Leader Seminar (Netherlands); speaker at National Defense University, Joint Forces Staff College, and Naval Post Graduate School

o Joint Qualified Service Officer; with over 40 points, including Professional Military Education (PME 2) and graduate of the National War College Class of 2001. Over 20 months in state joint service assignments and over 48 months of active duty military joint service assignments

o Prior service and experience in the Air National Guard (weapons control systems mechanic), the Army National Guard (branch qualified infantry, armor, aviation, cavalry, medical service corps and National Strategic Planning), interagency (American Red Cross Board of Directors), non-governmental organization (education, strategy and foreign policy), and private industry as the owner operator of a commercial real estate brokerage and appraisal firm

o Experienced Geographic Combatant Command Operations and Command Center Director and trainer with knowledge across all domains (land, air, sea and space), and was the responsible officer to facilitate the initial effort that merged the NORAD and USNORTHCOM Operations Centers in 2006

o Served as NORAD and USNORTHCOM Command Center external affairs liaison to state, regional, national and international operation and command centers for continuity of operations and continuity of government

o Provided operational assessments and assistance to the National Guard Bureau (NGB) Joint Operations Center (JOC), the Joint Staff (JS) Joint Domestic Incident Response Team and the Canada Command (Canada COM) Joint Command Center

o Qualified as a Joint Task Force (JTF) Commander (January of 2007). Assisted in writing portions of the original JTF Commanders Course (2005), and performed duties as instructor (How to Stand-Up a Joint Task Force, and JTF Common Operating Picture) in several course iterations

o Provided strategic level planning for the National Homeland Defense Foundation (NHDF) Homeland Defense Homeland Security Symposium (2006, 2007, 2008), which included obtaining the 2007 Key Note Speaker (Ms Fran Townsend, Principal Advisor to the President on Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism)

o Served as the 2005 USNORTHCOM Liaison Officer (LNO) Coordinator for senior officers assigned to/from Pacific Command (PACOM), Joint Forces Command (JFCOM), Forces Command (FORSCOM), Joint Task Force North, Strategic Command (STRATCOM), Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Fleet Forces Command (FFC), FEMA, Homeland Security Operations Center, Transportation Security Operations Center (TSOC), Canada Command, Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), and the National Guard. Responsible for the first ever USNORTHCOM LNO Conference and wrote the USNORTHCOM Guide and Standard Operating Procedures for LNO's

o Coordinated USNORTHCOM operational efforts in support of Canadian Command (Canada COM) stand-up to Initial Operating Capability February 2006. Provided mentoring, briefings and recommendations for the new Canada Command Joint Command Center. Represented the USNORTHCOM Commander participating in first Canadian National Level Command and Control Table Top Exercise with participants from Canada National Defense Staff, Strategic JS, Canada COM staff, and Canadian JTF's (6 regions – Pacific, West, North, Central, East, and Atlantic)

o Special Projects included documentation of joint operations center training, new procedures, courses of action, continuity of operations and continuity of government. Trainer for General Officer and Flag Officer Domestic Attack Assessor (DAA) certification and validation. Organizational and business skills vital in the merging and coordination of DOD elements into the evolving USNORTHCOM mission, panelist at NGB J3 Operations Conference, participant and briefer on National Common Operating Picture for Army War College General Officer Reserve Symposium, and subject matter expert for Nuclear Weapon Regional Task Force Commanders and Senior Energy Officials Annual Conferences (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009)

o Served as the Director of the NORAD and USNORTHCOM Command Center (2005 to 2007);

 Routinely performed duties ensuring focus of the command center on the commander’s critical information requirements and operational actions, including coordination and teleconferences with elements such as OSD, JDOMS, defense and inter-agencies, subordinate commands (JTF-North, JTF-Civil Support, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region JTF-Alaska, Army North, Air Force North, Marine Forces North, and Fleet Forces Command) and Combatant Commands (USSOUTHCOM, USPACOM, USSTRATCOM, USSOCOM, USTRANSCOM, and USEUCOM)

 Assisted in creating new alliances with post 9-11 Federal agencies tasked with providing security and consequence management support; include Homeland Security, Transportation Security, FEMA, Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), United States Secret Service (USSS), and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)

 Responsible for liaison with over 150 national level operation and command centers within US Government; such as the National Military Command Center, Defense Threat Reduction Agency Operation Center, NGB JOC, and the DHS National Operations Center  USNORTHCOM Operations primary liaison to the National Guard, including coordination for Information Exchange Requirements with National Guard Bureau (NGB), Army National Guard, Air National Guard and state JFHQ’s, panelist at the NGB J3 National Operations Conference, briefer for NG State Engagement Program, NGB JS, Southeast and Northeast States Hurricane Working Groups, and New York Adjutant General Conference

 Fostered DOD relationships vertically and horizontally to ensure timely planning and execution of DSCA and HD missions. Involved in training exercises that seamed the two mission sets

 Led the USNORTHCOM Command Center for several years during multiple iterations of national level exercises ARDENT SENTRY, TOP OFFICIALS, NORTHERN EXPOSURE, VIGILANT SHIELD, CAPITAL SHIELD, GLOBAL LIGHTNING; Nuclear Weapons Accident Exercises DINGO KING and COMANCHE WARRIOR (with twenty-six North American Treaty Organization (NATO) nations and Russia)

 Led the USNORTHCOM Command Center during numerous real world military and civil support operations including wildland fires across the northwest United States, hurricanes during three seasons (including catastrophic Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Dennis and Dean), multiple Space Shuttle launches and landings, border and counter-drug operations, USCG Vessels of Interest boarding, President of the United States State of the Union operations, NORAD operations, National Special Security Event operations and National Boy Scout Jamboree operations

 One of three Strategic Level Geographical Combatant Command briefers who provided daily and/or weekly situational update briefings to COMMANDER NORAD and USNORTHCOM, sub-ordinate commands and other components, plus briefings to senior level (political and international) distinguished visitors during operations and command center tours

Military service other than NORAD and USNORTHCOM:

o Enlisted in the Air National Guard in 1975 and served as Weapons Control System Specialist (electronics technician) on the F-106 (fighter with nuclear strike capability), and achieved the rank of Senior Airman in 1977

o Served enlisted time in the Army National Guard, achieving the rank of Sergeant in 1977

o Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation as the Commandant's List at the Army Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia in 1977

o Graduated from Officer Rotary Wing Flight Aviation School at Ft. Rucker, Alabama in 1978

o Commanded at company (300+), battalion (1500+) and brigade (3000+) levels.

o Branch qualified Infantry, Armor (Cavalry), Aviation, Medical Service Corps and National Strategic Plans

o Master Army Aviator, with over 2,220 military flight hours throughout twentytwo years of military aviation duty (aircraft TH-55, UH-1H/V/M, OH-58A/C/D)

o Promoted to Major General, Iowa Army National Guard (11/1/2010) by the Governor of Iowa

o Brigade commander of a training brigade with an engineer, signal and medical battalions, and an Army band

o Battalion commander of an aviation intermediate maintenance battalion

o Aviation command and staff assignments at company and battalion level in assault helicopter, attack helicopter, air cavalry, medevac and maintenance

o Internal Control Officer for the Iowa Army National Guard

o Company commander (during Desert Shield and Storm active duty mobilization) of a medical helicopter company

Education:

o Civilian education includes:

 Master of Science Degree in National Security Strategy, National Defense University, Washington, D.C., 2001;  Certificate in Legislative Studies from The Government Affairs Institute of Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., 2000;  Bachelor of Science Degree with Aviation Management major and Flight Operations minor, University of Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa, 1988

o Military education includes:

 National Defense University CAPSTONE General Officer Course  National War College  Army Command & General Staff College  Joint Task Force State Commanders Course  Nuclear Weapons Joint Nuclear Surety Executive Course  Army Strategic Leadership Development Program  Defense Support of Civil Authorities Course  Combat Service Support Senior Commander Course  Armor Officer Advanced Course  Aviation Maintenance Officer Course  Medical Service Officer Advanced Course  Aviation Safety Officer Course  Aviation Maintenance Managers Course  Aviation Senior Commander Course,  Armor Officer Basic Course  Rotary Wing Aviator Course

Volunteer and Philanthropic Endeavors:

o Provided strategic planning for the National Homeland Defense Foundation - Homeland Security Homeland Defense Symposium with focus on obtaining speakers and panelists

o Served as Grand Marshal and Key Note Speaker for numerous Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day and 9-11 Memorial Day Events

o Served six years as national level Board Member of the National Guard Association of the United States (including National Awards Committee Chair and Strategic Planning Committee member)

o Served as National Guard Association of the United States national Chair of Resolutions (Joint, Army and Air), and was responsible for writing the first Legislative Standard Operating Procedures, Mission, Vision and Strategic Plan

o Served as Executive Board Member (Treasurer) for the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, non-profit focused on the awareness of film 2012-13

o Executive Board Member (local, county and state) Ancient Order of Hibernians (Irish AOH is oldest Irish Catholic organization in USA) Dubuque County #2

o Fourth Degree and Financial Secretary, Knights of Columbus Council 510 (Iowa’s oldest council founded in 1890) 2013-2014

o Dubuque Area Committee on Foreign Relations, since 2001, and doing business as Dubuque Irish Hooley Co-Executive Director since 2013

Awards and Decorations:

o Military awards include  the Defense Superior Service Medal,  the Legion of Merit,  the Meritorious Service Medal,  two Army Commendation Medals,  seven Army Reserve Components Achievement Medals,  the National Defense Service Medal,  the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,  the Armed Forces Service Medal,  two Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medals,  three Armed Forces Reserve Medals with Mobilization Device,  the Army Service Ribbon,  the Iowa Meritorious Service Medal,  the Iowa Commendation Medal,  the Iowa Humanitarian Service Ribbon,  the Iowa Force Support Package Ribbon,  the Iowa State Service Ribbon,  the Florida Commendation Medal,  the Hawaii Commendation Medal and  the Florida Active Duty Ribbon

o Civilian awards include  the Iowa Association of REALTORS Gold Achievement Award (multiple awards),  the National Defense University Writing Award,  the Iowa Association of REALTORS Good Neighbor Award,  the National Guard Association of the United States Distinguished Service Award,  Governor of Iowa Volunteer Award,  the Iowa National Guard Officer Association CW4 Bruce A. Smith Superior Achievement Award,  the Army Aviation Association of America Order of Saint Michael and  inductee into the Fort Benning Infantry School Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame

Publications, writings and interviews published:

o Combat Studies Institute Press, US Army Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, KS; published keynote speech and presentation “The US Army and the Interagency Process: Historical Perspectives, the Proceedings of the Combat Studies Institute 2008 Military History Symposium,” August 2008 (1)

o Interview Rolling Stone magazine “The Pentagon’s New Spies”, Robert Dreyfuss, April 2006

o Interviews published in USNORTHCOM Agora Magazine 2008 and 2009 (Pandemic Influenza), quoted in numerous national and international publications

o High Frontier magazine for Air, Space and Missile Defense Professionals, article titled “Political-Military Implications of Space Warfare on Homeland Defense and Allied Relations” published August 2009 (2)

o Independent Press Photographer and Writer for  Dubuque365/365INK3 entertainment online and printed magazine since 2010 (3)

 Julien’s Journal, a lifestyle magazine with articles on travel, policy, and opinion editorials since 1986 (4)

 In May, 2019 General Felderman (Ret.) wrote an editorial entitled "Peace in Afghanistan?" which was published in RealClear Defense. Online: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2019/05/22/peace_in_afghanistan_114445.html (5)

On May 22, 2015 Felderman saw a Western Express semi westbound on I-80 around 8:15 a.m. The driver allowed the vehicle to drift off of the right shoulder, striking the Dubuque Street overpass at mile marker 244, according to the Iowa State Patrol. Felderman saw the semi catch fire and with another bystander decided that they had to act before the fuel tank exploded. They saw one victim lying on the ground and pulled him away from the vehicle just as the fuel tank exploded. Felderman was optimistic they helped save a life; only one of the two victims in the crash lived, according to the Iowa State Patrol. (6)

In 2017 Felderman, owner, photographer, and pilot for General Bob Photography, was awarded third place in the 2017 Keep Iowa Beautiful photography contest for his drone photo, "Spring Planting." Beginning his professional photography career in 2012, Felderman earned the Professional Photographers of America Certified Drone Photographer designation and was a commercial unmanned Federal Aviation Administration pilot. (7)

Felderman was the first major general from Dubuque since Francis J. KELLY.

General Felderman is the son of John L. and Janet B. (Soppe) Felderman of Dubuque, Iowa. He is married to the former Nancy Said of Bellevue, Davenport, and Dubuque; has an adult son, Jacob (an attorney) who is married to Martina Proell of Austria, and they have two sons, Alexander Jacob Felderman and Simon Chase Felderman; an adult daughter Jamie Rae (a photographer) who is married to son-in-law Scott Borland, and they have two daughters, Adeline Rose Borland and Mirabel Amani Borland. He spends his spare time on traveling, writing, photography, and numerous philanthropic endeavors. He is the Past Commander of American Legion Post #6, a fellow with the American College of National Security Leaders, and many other veteran groups. (8)

Contact Information:

RobertFelderman@Gmail.com

Facebook - Bob Felderman

Twitter - GeneralBobPhoto

LinkedIn - Robert Felderman

YouTube - Robert Felderman

GeneralBobPhotography.com

Facebook – General_Bob_Photography

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Source:

Contributed material-General Robert Felderman, e-mail, September 18, 2014

Reber, Craig D., "Breaking the Chain of Command," Telegraph Herald, Nov. 18, 2010

1 http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/2008Symposium.pdf

2 http://www.afspc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-101020-017.pdf

3 www.dubuque365.com

4 www.juliensjournal.com

5. Felderman, Robert, e-mail, May 29, 2019

6. "Dubuque Man Helps Victim of Fiery I-80 Crash," KTIV.com. Online: http://www.ktiv.com/story/29133822/2015/05/Friday/crash-backs-up-traffic-on-i-80

7. "Felderman Takes 3rd in State Photography Contest," Telegraph Herald, January 12, 2018, p. 8A

8. Felderman, Robert, e-mail, May 21, 2019