Williams Foundation Lunch: Coalition Warfighting and Pacific AOR Interoperability with LTG Michael Oates (Ret'd)

Coalition Warfighting and Pacific AOR Interoperability

Joint and Coalition Warfighting in the Pacific AOR presents significant challenges that must be addressed and mitigated to enable successful operations. Operating similar equipment with similar TTPs simplifies logistics, allows for seamless coalition integration, and enables operations.

Mike Oates is from Kerrville, Texas. He retired from Lockheed Martin in June 2017 where he served as Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Integrated Air and Missile Defense from 2014-2017 and as Vice President, Army and Special Operations Programs in Washington, DC. From 2011-2014. He represented Lockheed Martin with senior officials in the U.S. Army and Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to advise on program and technology solutions to address warfighting capability gaps.

In 2011 LTG Oates retired from active duty in the U.S. Army after 32 years of service. He was commissioned in 1979 from the United States Military Academy as an Infantry Officer and commanded an airborne rifle company in Panama, a Light Infantry Battalion in 10th Mountain Division and an Air Assault Brigade Combat Team in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). His last leadership positions in the U.S. Army include; Division Chief of Staff, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Deputy Commanding General (Operations), Multi-National Division North (101st Airborne Division) (Air Assault), Commanding General, Multi-National Division Center/South (10th Mountain Division) and Fort Drum, NY, and Director, Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, (JIEDDO) in Washington, DC.

Mr. Oates received a MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. His military awards include 3 awards of the Distinguished Service Medal and 3 awards of the Bronze Star Medal. He has served 4 combat tours in Iraq and has been awarded the Combat and Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Ranger Tab, Senior Parachutist and Pathfinder badges.