Army taps two from IMCOM-Europe for senior leader training

WIESBADEN, Germany – The Department of the Army has selected two professionals from Installation Management Command-Europe to participate in a competitive professional development program at the National Defense University in Washington.

Both Matt Metcalf, strategic planner, and Dr. Kate Obradovich, chief of strategy and plans, will attend the Eisenhower School of National Security and Resources Strategy, as part of the Senior Enterprise Talent Management (SETM) academic year 2022.

“I am proud of these great professionals for their selection for this prestigious honor and look forward to seeing both of them develop even further as senior leaders in the Army,” said Tommy Mize, Director, IMCOM-Europe.

“They’re great examples of our culture of service and demonstrated leadership, and I know they will excel in this program and beyond,” Mize said.

Prospective students apply for the SETM program after receiving the endorsement of their management and senior leadership, as well a substantial application process and interviews.

“The Eisenhower School prepares select military officers and civilians for strategic leadership and success in developing national security strategy and in evaluating, marshaling, and managing resources in the execution of that strategy,” according to the mission statement on the school’s website.

Both Metcalf and Obradovich were drawn to the Eisenhower School through their interest in the economics and resourcing in the Department of Defense.

“The Eisenhower School really gets into the business of the DoD. There’s a block of instruction on economics,” Metcalf said. “I found that interesting.”

“A gap that I am looking to fill is the economic component of what we do in defense work,” Obradovbich said. “Eisenhower looks at the fiscal components of what we do in defense and their impact across the broader U.S. society, and that drew me to that program.”

Both will attend the 10-month course that begins in the summer and, while Metcalf chose and was selected for the option that sends him on to a follow-on assignment elsewhere, Obradovich asked for and received the option to return to IMCOM-Europe.

“I’m mostly excited about the opportunity to go and return. That’s a fairly new option,” Obradovich said.

“The best part is a great opportunity for personal growth and to get a really good education at the DoD’s highest level of schooling,” Metcalf added. “I feel really grateful to have been accepted.”

The SETM and Enterprise Talent Management (ETM) programs are available to eligible careerists GS-12 through GS-15, and include eight possible opportunities, such as attending the Army or Naval War Colleges.

For some programs, which vary in length from 90 days to a full academic year, distance learning and shadowing are also options. Some programs, such as the Army Senior Fellowship and the SETM Temporary Duty option, include mentorship from a member of the Senior Executive Service or sessions with a certified Army Coach.

The application window for the 2023 academic year offerings will be open from March 1 through May 15. An informational session is scheduled for March 1; interested employees should talk to their supervisor and human resources offices about the program for additional details, to include the link to the informational session.