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After making history, AFNORTH POLAD announces retirement

  • Published
  • By Angela Pope
  • AFNORTH Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  In 2010, the Department of Defense and the Department of State recognized the rapidly growing international dimension of the Air Forces Northern mission, particularly with regard to Mexico, and the need to add a new facet to that mission.

"The diplomacy of the 21st century requires better 'jointness' between our soldiers and our civilians," said former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "We for decades have had positions in our Foreign Service ... called POLADs or political advisors. We station those diplomats where the world of diplomacy intersects the world of military force."

Enter Gary Larson, a former command pilot and Reserve attaché who was chosen to serve as AFNORTH's first-ever POLAD.

"Today's senior military leaders bring a world view to their mission," Larson said. "However, the POLAD program is designed to offer an additional, 'external' point of view to help provide the commander with a full understanding of the foreign policy implications of potential courses of action."

In his capacity as the POLAD, Larson's primary responsibility was to ensure the AFNORTH Commander Maj. Gen. Garry C. Dean had the information necessary to perform the command's missions efficiently and effectively, with the most advantageous impact on its bilateral relationships.

"We want to forge closer working relationships and understand each other's culture so that we can maximize our involvement and effectiveness," said current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "The military is a means to a political solution, and the political side of the equation ... has been under-resourced and not recognized to the extent of the contribution that we make. So this has to be an ongoing dialogue with our friends at DoD, and we have to listen to them as we want them to listen to us."

As the first POLAD for U.S. Northern Command's air component, Larson worked to establish command awareness of the role of a foreign policy advisor and exploit the resources of the State Department with the full spectrum of AFNORTH's partner agencies and subordinate units.

During his time here, Larson worked a variety of international topics, but focused on our neighbors to the south.

"I dealt with issues related to our growing collaboration with Mexico, both in the bilateral and the interagency processes," Larson said.

His impact in this unique position has been felt around the command.

"Our mission here is an international one, and Gary has been invaluable in helping us navigate that facet," Dean said. "I have relied on him countless times to reach back to the embassy level and to his State Department counterparts to help us acquire the resources and information we need. It has truly been a privilege to work with him."

Prior to joining the Foreign Service in 1984, Larson served in the Air Force on active duty and in the Air Force Reserves. His State Department career has included seven overseas postings, most recently as the chargé d'affaires of the U.S. Mission to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, all of which helped prepare him for this challenging role.

"My prior Air Force and attaché service provided me with a good basis for understanding and working within the Air Force culture," Larson said. "But I confess that the acronym jungle has evolved to the point that I often envied my U.N. colleagues who have the benefit of simultaneous translation facilities!"

Larson is grateful he was given the opportunity to serve as AFNORTH's POLAD.

"The team here at Tyndall is terrific, from the top down and across the range of missions. It was a real personal and professional pleasure" he said. "And after serving abroad for the past 15 years, I enjoyed getting reacquainted with the great American way of life and the sense of community here at Tyndall and Panama City. The seafood wasn't bad either!"

Though he may be retiring, Larson doesn't plan on slowing down too much.

"I plan to work in a part-time consultant capacity for the State Department as needed due to embassy senior staffing gaps and bilateral/arms control issues, alternating between our homes here and in the United Kingdom," he said. "Additionally, I would like to explore teaching opportunities at the university level."

When Larson retires, the POLAD position will be filled by Casey Christensen, an accomplished officer with considerable Latin American experience who most recently served in the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Vienna.