Meet the Authors
|
0 Comments
ROBERT F. VICCI, LTC (Retired)
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Robert F. Vicci is a Veteran of thirty-four (34) years of Service, both Active Duty and the NJ Army National Guard, in the United States Army, and a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom 3. He is a vocal advocate for our returning service members, military veterans and their families, and as the CEO of VetREST he assists those who have served. Rob was commissioned from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1981 as an Infantry Officer and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. Rob, AKA “Veech” was also a four-year Army Football player and starting fullback for the Black Knights. Rob attended Rotary Wing training in Ft. Rucker, Alabama and was an Honor Graduate in late 1982. LTC Vicci attended many levels of military education including Air Assault School, Infantry Officer’s Basic Course, Army Aviation Rotary Wing School, Army Aviation Officer Advanced Course, U.S. Army Strategic Planning & Management Program, UH-60 Blackhawk Aircraft Qualification Course and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. LTC Vicci served in positions from Air Cavalry Troop Commander in Savannah, Ga, through General Support Aviation Battalion Commander, 42 nd Infantry Division G3 Air in Tikrit, Iraq, and retired as the New Jersey Army National Guard G3 Chief, responsible for NG State Training and Mobilizations. After six years of Active-Duty Service, he joined the NJ Army National Guard as a part-time soldier and ran the family general contracting business. In November of 2002, Rob took command of the 1-150th General Support Aviation Battalion, with sixteen UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, and 300 soldiers. In May of 2004, LTC Vicci was activated for a deployment to Iraq. The battalion deployed in November 2004, and LTC Vicci, AKA VANDAL 6, then took the helm of managing all the Division’s aviation assets as the G-3 Air, including 80 aircraft, for the one-year deployment. Veech logged over 25 air combat missions. Four years after returning from the deployment, LTC Vicci retired from military service on 31 May 2009. On the civilian side, Veech is the owner of Blackhawk NJ Real Estate and Property Management, consulting in all areas of Commercial and Residential Real Estate, and a Real Estate Broker in 7 states. Rob was most recently a Senior Engineer at Verizon in the Power, Space & Cooling Engineering Department out of Basking Ridge, NJ. Rob has managed nationwide commercial real estate portfolios for Transwestern, CenterPoint, Trammel Crow Company, American Express, SL Green, Mack-Cali, and he managed the top 30 floors of the Empire State Building. Rob is currently the Owner of Blackhawk NJ Real Estate and Property Management, LLC managing projects, property management and both resident and commercial real estate deals. He is also a Broker/Salesperson and holds seven (7) state licenses, practicing mostly in NJ and NY for The Agency. Rob holds Certificates of RPA (Real Property Administrator) and LEED Green Associate and currently maintains his FAA Pilots License and continues to fly small airplanes. Most notably, Rob accepted the CEO position of VetREST in mid-2016, whose mission is to facilitate Restoration, Encouragement, Solace, and Training for our nation’s veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) by helping them identify the cause of their PTS in an environment where our signature program can promote healing. Rob is blessed to have this opportunity to pursue his passion of helping our Veteran Community. Awards and decorations include the Bronze Star for service during his tour of duty in Iraq, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Senior Army Aviator. Rob is very happily married to Nanette Berard-Vicci, owner of Nanette’s Hair Salon, and they enjoy traveling and visiting with their five grandchildren. SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Vicci is a dynamic and highly engaging speaker who draws from his remarkable 34-year career in the U.S. Army. A West Point graduate, he shares captivating stories from his time as an Army aviator, with a particular focus on his combat tour in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom III (November 11, 2004 – November 11, 2005). Known for his infectious energy, LTC Vicci captivates audiences by incorporating short, powerful videos into his presentation. He skillfully evokes a full range of emotions as he recounts diverse experiences—from the rewarding New Horizons humanitarian mission in Panama in 2002, to sobering aircraft mishaps, to intense encounters with Al Qaeda forces during OIF 3. He also highlights the impactful work of VetREST, an organization that has supported Veterans and their families dealing with PTSD for the past 13 years, showcasing real stories of resilience and recovery. Prepare for an exhilarating and interactive hour filled with compelling tales of triumph and challenge, heartfelt successes and candid lessons learned—guaranteed to leave every audience member inspired and involved. A short list of engagements: Gold Star Mothers, National Convention Gold Star Mothers, New Jersey M&M Mars Leadership Conference Wyndham Hotels and Vacation Leadership Team Felician University: Veteran’s Day Met Life Leadership Conf: Servant Leadership Quiet Birdmen, NJ Hanger (2 Events) Experimental Aircraft Association Federal Business Centers Speaker Courage & Sacrifice Charity Event Speaker At Ease Foundation – Guest Speaker and M/C Henry Snyder Memorial Foundation Speaker Rock & Blues Festival Speaker (2 events) Project Help Guest Speaker Additional Events: Monthly Guest Host on NJ 101.1 Radio Guest Host Animal House Radio, Armed Forces Net Built a home for Tunnel to Towers, NJ Honoree for the New York Yankees Honoree for the NJ Nets Honoree for the NCAA Football Game of the Week Interviews/Meetings with Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, Dana Perrino, David Webb, Liz Wheeler, etc. Many Eagle Scout, Boy Scout, Grammer, Middle and High School Presentations Host, M/C and guest speaker at many VetREST charity and fundraiser events CARPE DIEM – GOD BLESS AMERICA Richard David Hooker, Jr. Education University of Virginia, Ph.D., Foreign Affairs University of Virginia, M.A., Foreign Affairs National War College, M.S., National Security Studies U.S. Army Command and General Staff College United States Military Academy, B.S. Affiliations Distinguished Senior Fellow, The Jamestown Foundation Senior Associate, Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center Life Member, The Council on Foreign Relations Current Position Senior Fellow, The Atlantic Council Previous Positions The Theodore Roosevelt Chair in National Security Studies, National Defense University Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Europe and Russia, National Security Council, The White House Director, Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University, Washington D.C. Deputy Commandant and Dean, NATO Defense College, Rome, Italy Chief of Staff of the Army Chair, National War College, National Defense University Director for Iraq, Office for Iraq and Afghanistan, National Security Council, The White House Senior Aide de Camp and Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Army Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Director for Defense Policy, National Security Council, The White House Assistant to the Director of National Service, The White House Assistant Professor of Political Science, United States Military Academy Military Commander and Staff Officer Teaching Experience University Professor, National Defense University, 2013-2019 Dean of the College, NATO Defense College 2010-2013 Professor and Chief of Staff of the Army Chair, National War College, National Defense University 2008-2009 Assistant Professor, United States Military Academy, 1989-1992; Instructor, American Politics 1989-1992; Instructor, Military Science 1989-1991; Course Director, Executive Politics 1990-1992 Books The High Ground: Leading in Peace and War Casemate, 2023 The Good Captain: A Personal Memoir of America at War Casemate, 2022 Beyond Vom Kriege: The Character and Conduct of Modern War, University of North Georgia Press, 2020 Charting a Course: Strategic Choices for a New Administration, Editor and Co-Author, National Defense University Press, 2016 Lessons Encountered: Learning from the Long War, Editor and Co-Author, National Defense University Press, 2015 The Wrath of Achilles: Essays on Battle Command, Editor and Co-Author, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Combat Studies Institute Press, 2012 By Their Deeds Alone: America’s Combat Commanders on the Art of War, Editor and Co-Author, Random House/Ballantine Books, 2003 Maneuver Warfare: An Anthology, Editor and Co-Author, Presidio Press, 1994 (Commandant of the Marine Corps Professional Reading List; used for instructional purposes at the British and French Staff Colleges) Selected Publications“Building a Stronger Europe,” Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center, February 2025 “A New Army Air Force,” Joint Force Quarterly, July 2024 “A New NATO Command Structure,” The Atlantic Council, June 2024 “Why NATO Matters,” The Atlantic Council, May 2024 “NATO Cannot Survive Without America,” Foreign Affairs, May 13, 2024, With Hans Binnendijk and Alexander Vershbow “A Security Strategy for the Black Sea,” The Atlantic Council, December 2023. “Stabilization and Reconstruction Operations,” in Hand-Off: The Foreign Policy George W. Bush Passed to Barack Obama, ed. Stephen Hadley et al, Brooking Institution Press, 2023 “America’s SOF Problem,” Joint Force Quarterly, January 2023 "The State of NATO: An American View," Survival, Vol. 64, June 2022 "Climbing the Ladder: How the U.S. Can Manage Escalation in Ukraine and Beyond," The Atlantic Council, April 2022 "Major Theater War: Challenges for the U.S. Army" Association of the U.S. Army, January 2022 “The North Atlantic Community Renewed: Challenges, Trends, and Solutions, “ The Atlantic Council, February 2021 “Understanding U.S. National Military Strategy,” in J.H. Matlary and R. Johnsen, Military Strategy in the 21st Century: Challenges to NATO, Oxford University Press, 2021 “Russia Attacks the Baltic States,” Royal United Services Institute Journal, 2020 “How to Fight the Russians,” Association of the U.S. Army Institute of Land Warfare, Paper 135, November 2020 “Taking the War College from Good to Great,” Parameters, Fall 2019 “Over the Horizon: NATO Joint ISR in the Baltic Sea,” The Atlantic Council, November 2019 “How to Defend the Baltic States,” The Jamestown Foundation, October 2019 “The NSC Staff: New Choices for a New Administration,” National Defense University Press Strategic Monograph, July 2016 “Operation Baltic Fortress: NATO Defends the Baltic States,” Royal United Services Institute Journal , Vol. 160, 2016 “Airpower in American Wars,” Survival, Vol. 58, June 2016 “Understanding U.S. Grand Strategy,” Orbis, Summer 2015 “American Landpower and the Two-War Construct,” Land Warfare Paper 106, Association of the U.S. Army, May 2015 “The Grand Strategy of the United States,” Institute for National Strategic Studies Strategic Monologue, National Defense University Press, Fall 2014 "America's Ultimate Strategy in a Clash with China,” with T.X. Hammes, The National Interest, June 10, 2014. “The Strange Voyage: A Short Précis on Strategy,” Parameters, Winter 2012/2013 “Iron Resolve: A Vision of Future War,” Royal United Services Institute Journal, December 2012 “Operation Enduring Freedom X: CJTF–82 and the Future of COIN,” Joint Force Quarterly, Winter 2011 “First with the Truth: Synchronized Communications in the COIN Fight,” Landpower Essay No. 11-1, Association of the U.S. Army Institute of Land Warfare, August 2011 “Hard Day’s Night: A Retrospective on the American Intervention in Somalia,” Joint Force Quarterly, Issue 54, 2009 “Beyond Vom Kriege: The Character and Conduct of Modern War,” Parameters, Summer 2005 “Getting Transformation Right,” Joint Force Quarterly, Summer 2005 “The Impact of Transformation on the Army Professional Ethic” in The Future of the Army Profession II (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005) “Soldiers of the State: Reconsidering American Civil-Military Relations” Parameters, Winter 2003 (Winner, AUSA Best Writing Award, 2003; Featured Article, U.S. Army Professional Writing Collection, 2003) "The Future of Conventional Deterrence," with Ricky L. Waddell, Naval War College Review, Volume 45, Number 3, 1992) "Presidential Decision Making and Use of Force: Case Study Grenada,” Parameters, May 1991 (reprinted for academic use at the U.S. Army War College) "NATO's Northern Flank: A Critique of the Maritime Strategy,” Parameters, June 1989 (Reprinted for academic use at the National War College 1989-1990)  Major General (ret) (USAR) EDD Leadership
St. Marys, GA Spouse: Stacy Children: Bryan, Sarah, Stephen Grandchildren: Jadon, Leili, Simeon, Luca, Hadley, Lyla, Aurora [email protected] Founder/Director of First Cause Founder/Director VetREST Founder/Director Strength As One Leadership LLC www.firstcause.org www.vetrest.org www.strengthasoneleadership.org Authored Books: I Keep Asking Volume 1 Spiritual Growth I Pray Also Volume 2: Spiritual Growth Available on request with the Author Something to Think About . . . in Reveration Climbing Higher . . . in Reveration Lost on Mount Fuji . . . and other stories . . . Escape to Ohadi The Strong Leader’s Hand 3rd Edition The Weak Leader’s Fist The Strong Leader’s Hand Workbook Series 1-6 Each Available on Amazon |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |
RSS Feed