Emerging Challenges Lead to Realignment of Regions
When the Department of Defense began reducing the number of troops by 10,000 in Europe, the Exchange responded by rightsizing operations on the continent and consolidating the Europe, Southwest Asia (SWA) and Pacific areas into a single OCONUS region in 2014.
At the time, that decision was the right thing to do. However, emerging international challenges in Europe and Southwest Asia required us recently to reexamine the Exchange’s overseas capabilities to ensure we can fully support the ever-growing number of important bilateral and multilateral military exercises and training involving thousands of additional U.S. troops.
After evaluating the present and future needs, the Exchange’s Europe/SWA region has been reestablished to allow for maximum responsiveness and service. Effective May 21, Jason Rosenberg became the senior vice president of the Europe/SWA region, and I can think of no better person to fill that critical position and work with our current Europe/SWA commander, COL Geoff De Tingo and incoming commander COL Scott McFarland.
A 28-year Exchange veteran, Jason brings experience at all management levels, which will be a significant force multiplier to the Europe/SWA Region as its associates support our Warfighters at the tip of the spear. Jason’s leadership and insight as a member of the senior executive team will bring added value to our entire organization.
Judging from the sheer number of service members returning to Europe and the Middle East as well as the increased frequency and scope of operations, reestablishing the Exchange’s Europe/SWA region was a critical and necessary step to ensuring we are fully prepared to support the ever-expanding overseas military mission.
As Jason and our Europe/SWA region team support operations from Norway to the United Arab Emirates 4,600 miles to the south, Karin Duncan, a proven leader with an amazing track record of success in the OCONUS Region, will continue to lead the Pacific Region, which is experiencing its own unique geopolitical challenges.
We thank Karin for her many accomplishments as the SVP of the expansive OCONUS Region, which stretches 8,000 miles, from Guam to Portugal. Her amazing leadership and passion for serving service members and their families is unmatched. She has established a tremendous foundation for Jason and the rest of the Europe/SWA team to build upon as she focuses her attention to the growing and changing military mission in the Pacific.
We are fortunate to have two highly seasoned SVPs leading two increasingly active overseas regions, who will serve and guide our operations as we support troops far from home with the service, support and tastes of home only the Exchange can provide.
We Go Where They Go!
Region SVP Europe/Southwest Asia Jason Rosenberg
Region SVP Pacific Karin Duncan
