Robert Kurz
Lansing,KS
Summary
A highly accomplished leader with over 20 years of experience directing complex geopolitical research, analysis, and engagement programs. Proven expertise in building and leading U.S. Army, Joint, multinational, and interagency teams to support national security objectives. Strategic value is further enhanced by deep global expertise, including eight years living abroad with extensive on-the-ground engagement across Europe and Africa. Active Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
DIRECTOR, GLOBAL CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE NETWORK (GCKN), GG-0132-14
US Army Transformation & Training Command (T2COM) G2, Analysis Control Element (ACE), 40 Hrs/wk.
02.2020 - Current
- As Director of this NDAA-mandated entity, I transformed a limited social science capability into a full-scale organization, boosting research and production by 200% to support Army, DoD, and interagency customers. I lead a team of researchers and contractors providing socio-cultural analysis, education, and training.
- Pioneered and launched GCKN’s transition from a research-only mission to one that trains and educates the force, developing and delivering a comprehensive analytical methodology curriculum to the 10th Mountain Division and coordinating its integration into Army PME and Special Warfare Center senior leader courses.
- Expanded international and interagency collaboration, establishing 13 new partnerships within the defense community (USARPAC, USAREUR-AF, SOCOM), engaging with OUSD(I&S) to broaden the role of socio-cultural analysis, and providing training material to the Italian Army LNO and other allied partners.
ACTING DIRECTOR, FOREIGN MILITARY STUDIES OFFICE (FMSO), GG-0132-14
US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Analysis Control Element (ACE), 40 Hrs/wk.
01.2023 - 04.2024
- Served concurrently as Acting Director, leading a 20-person team of government and contract analysts, merging two research entities to improve workflow, and directing a high-tempo intelligence production schedule that included over 60 published products in one year.
- Strengthened international partnerships by serving as Adjunct Faculty for the Geneva Center for Security Policy’s (GCSP) international defense attaché course and participating in the NATO DEEP program in Poland to co-author a PME curriculum guide with Ukrainian National Defense University specialists.
- Directed and oversaw over 40 training and education engagements, delivering courses and lectures on the operational environment to organizations including CGSC, SAMS, USAREUR, and allied partners.
CHIEF, RESEARCH OPERATIONS and COLLABORATION
US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO), 40 Hrs/wk.
07.2014 - 02.2020
- As TRADOC G-2 Liaison to the National Capital Region, I built and reinforced collaborative relationships with senior leaders at HQDA G-2, DIA, NGA, and multiple research centers. I also developed the FMSO Research Roadmap, a master planning tool that set a new standard for analytical coordination across the OE Enterprise.
- Conducted extensive international outreach, representing the organization at a NATO Strategic Foresight Workshop in Hungary and participating in a CSA-led study in Ukraine, which led to a published chapter and presentations at a European summit in Poland.
SENIOR US REPRESENTATIVE AND US LIAISON TEAM OIC, in a NATO PARTNER NATION, Lieutenant Colonel/O5
US Army (Joint Assignment), EUCOM J2-IE (Engagement), US Liaison Team-Romania, 50+ Hrs/wk.
12.2013 - 07.2014
- As Officer-in-Charge in the Black Sea region, I led an expeditionary US Liaison Team in an allied fusion center, managing a 40-person joint organization with a $1M+ budget to build partner capacity and serving as Senior US Advisor to an allied commanding official on a bilateral defense cooperation agreement.
RESEARCHER AND COLLABORATION / INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH MANAGER, GG-0132-13 Step 9
US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO), 40 Hrs/wk.
12.2004 - 07.2014
- Built FMSO’s first international research collaboration program, establishing partnerships with military and security experts across NATO and EU countries, which increased FMSO production by 20% and enhanced its 'foreign perspective' mission.
- Conducted joint outreach and engagement in the Baltics and Romania with senior defense officials, parliamentary members, and academic leaders to advance collaborative research, resulting in multiple foreign officer-authored papers for FMSO publications.
SENIOR ALL-SOURCE ANALYST, BALKANS, GG-0132-13
Joint Analysis Center, US EUCOM, 50 Hrs/wk.
11.2001 - 12.2004
- Oversaw all-source political-military analysis for a theater-level Balkans branch, supervising a 15-person team and directing/editing over 500 published articles for NATO SACEUR, EUCOM, and national decision-makers. I also trained joint-service personnel and led bilateral conferences with NATO and allied partners.
SENIOR GROUND ANALYST, GG-0132-12
Joint Analysis Center, US EUCOM, 50 Hrs/wk.
11.1998 - 10.2001
- Directed all-source ground force analysis for the Balkans and Caucasus, supervising up to 90 analysts during high-tempo operations and guiding production of over 2,000 articles, with 75% providing actionable information for Operation ALLIED FORCE (Kosovo). I also personally trained over 70 personnel in theater-level analysis.
POLITICAL-MILITARY ANALYST, Sub-Saharan Africa Branch, GS-0132-09
Joint Analysis Center, US EUCOM, 40 Hrs/wk.
10.1996 - 10.1998
- As senior political-military analyst for crises in Zaire, Sierra Leone, and Congo, I produced theater-level intelligence for NATO SACEUR in response to UN information needs, and personally presented a comprehensive study on Senegal’s Casamance Revolution to the US Ambassador.
- Hrs per week: 50
FBI / DEA COUNTER-DRUG ANALYST, CPT/O-3
Joint Task Force-6 (JTF-6), 40 Hrs/wk.
04.1995 - 10.1996
- Served as OIC of a JTF-6 team supporting federal law enforcement, providing actionable analysis for five major cases that resulted in the seizure of narcotics and assets valued at $2.5 million.
Education
M.A. - Global and International Studies
University of KS, Center For Global & International Studies
Lawrence, KS01-2018
Executive Program in Advanced Security Studies -
College of International & Security Studies
G.C. Marshall Center For Security Studies, Germany06.2010
Defense Attache Orientation Course - Defense Diplomacy And Security Studies
Geneva Center For Security Policy
Geneva, Switzerland01-2022
Strategic Leadership - Continuing Education Senior Leader (CESL)
Army Management Staff College
Ft Leavenworth, KS01-2022
CGCS ILE (MEL 4, JPME 1) -
Army Command And General Staff College
Ft Leavenworth, KS05-2012
Army Supervisor Development Course -
Army Management Staff College
Ft Leavenworth, KS01-2022
Innovative Leaders Course -
Univesity of Foreign Military And Cultural Studies
Ft Leavenworth, KS01-2019
B.A. - International Relations, Minor in German language
Wichita State University
Wichita, KS01.1991
Skills
- Professional relationship and team building
- Multinational collaboration and engagement
- Partnering military/government with academe and industry
- Strategic planning
- Project management
- Verbal and written communication
- Research, review and editing for publication
Language
German (B1+), 30+ years experience
DoD Civilian Training
- Continuing Education for Senior Leaders – Strategic Leadership, 2022
- Supervisor Development Course, 2022
- Defense Attache Orientation Course, 2022
- Innovative Leaders Course (ILC), Univ. of Foreign Military & Cultural Studies, 2019
- Open Source Research and Analysis Course, 2013
- Presidential Briefers Writing Course
- Defense Intelligence Agency Writing Course
- AFSOC Sub-Saharan Africa Course
- FBI Link Analysis Course
- National Insider Threat Program Development Training Course, 2015
- Army Open Source Research and Analysis Course (OSIRA), 2013
- Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) ILE, 2012
- Army Officers Advance Course (FA), 1993
- Army Officers Basic Course (MI), 1992
- Reserve Officers Training Course, 1989
- Advanced Individual Training - Fire Direction Control, 1986
- Basic Training, 1985
Security Clearance
Top Secret SCI
Timeline
ACTING DIRECTOR, FOREIGN MILITARY STUDIES OFFICE (FMSO), GG-0132-14
US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Analysis Control Element (ACE), 40 Hrs/wk.
01.2023 - 04.2024
DIRECTOR, GLOBAL CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE NETWORK (GCKN), GG-0132-14
US Army Transformation & Training Command (T2COM) G2, Analysis Control Element (ACE), 40 Hrs/wk.
02.2020 - Current
CHIEF, RESEARCH OPERATIONS and COLLABORATION
US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO), 40 Hrs/wk.
07.2014 - 02.2020
SENIOR US REPRESENTATIVE AND US LIAISON TEAM OIC, in a NATO PARTNER NATION, Lieutenant Colonel/O5
US Army (Joint Assignment), EUCOM J2-IE (Engagement), US Liaison Team-Romania, 50+ Hrs/wk.
12.2013 - 07.2014
RESEARCHER AND COLLABORATION / INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH MANAGER, GG-0132-13 Step 9
US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO), 40 Hrs/wk.
12.2004 - 07.2014
SENIOR ALL-SOURCE ANALYST, BALKANS, GG-0132-13
Joint Analysis Center, US EUCOM, 50 Hrs/wk.
11.2001 - 12.2004
SENIOR GROUND ANALYST, GG-0132-12
Joint Analysis Center, US EUCOM, 50 Hrs/wk.
11.1998 - 10.2001
POLITICAL-MILITARY ANALYST, Sub-Saharan Africa Branch, GS-0132-09
Joint Analysis Center, US EUCOM, 40 Hrs/wk.
10.1996 - 10.1998
FBI / DEA COUNTER-DRUG ANALYST, CPT/O-3
Joint Task Force-6 (JTF-6), 40 Hrs/wk.
04.1995 - 10.1996
M.A. - Global and International Studies
University of KS, Center For Global & International Studies
Executive Program in Advanced Security Studies -
College of International & Security Studies
Defense Attache Orientation Course - Defense Diplomacy And Security Studies
Geneva Center For Security Policy
Strategic Leadership - Continuing Education Senior Leader (CESL)
Army Management Staff College
CGCS ILE (MEL 4, JPME 1) -
Army Command And General Staff College
Army Supervisor Development Course -
Army Management Staff College
Innovative Leaders Course -
Univesity of Foreign Military And Cultural Studies
B.A. - International Relations, Minor in German language
Wichita State University