Colonel John Gilliam is a chief of staff of the Army senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. In this role, Col. Gilliam facilitates a greater appreciation for the role of land power as well as Army missions and priorities at one of the premier think thanks in the United States. Upon completion of the fellowship in 2022, Col. Gilliam will assume command of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. Prior to assuming his current position, Col. Gilliam served as the executive officer to the joint staff director of operations (J-3).
Commander Jeremy Greenwood served as the Coast Guard liaison officer to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs. He is responsible for the coordination of a wide variety of the United States’ ocean policy and law of the sea matters. In particular, his work focuses on supporting the U.S delegation to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Arctic policy matters within the State Department. Prior to this assignment, he was the executive officer of USCGC NORTHLAND (WMEC-904), a 270’ medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Colonel Akiteru Makida of the Koku-Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) was commissioned in 2003 as an intelligence officer and his recent assignments include defense planning and defense cooperation. He graduated from Furman University in 1999 and Kansai Gaidai University in 2000 both with a bachelor’s. He later earned a master’s at National Defense Academy in 2008.
Lieutenant Colonel Kelly McElveny is the Air Force fellow at the Brookings Institution. This position is designated as a federal executive fellow within the Brookings Foreign Policy program. He participates in the development and execution of high-level conferences, seminars, and programs for senior government and business executives covering a wide spectrum of major policy issues. In his previous assignment, Lt. Col. McElveny was the regional director for the United States Air Force Academy Admissions operating out of Oxon Hill, Maryland. He oversaw recruiting engagement for the Eastern U.S. and Europe. Lt. Col. McElveny began his career as a personnel officer but has spent the majority of his career as an intelligence officer. He has held a number of positions to include: flight commander, chief of squadron intelligence, chief of intel plans, director of operations, and wing inspector general, and commander.
Lieutenant Colonel Brian P. Sharp served as secretary of the General Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps, in Arlington, Virginia. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1991, earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Ramapo College of New Jersey, and was commissioned in 1995 as second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Lt. Sharp was assigned to the field artillery and graduated from the Artillery Officer Basic Course in 1996. From June 2012 to July 2014, Lt. Col. Sharp served as the inspector-instructor of 5th Battalion, 14th Marines in Seal Beach, California. After his command tour, he attended the U.S. Army War College and was a distinguished graduate of the Advanced Strategic Arts Program (ASAP). In June of 2015, Lt. Col. Sharp reported to U.S. Central Command where he first served as the branch chief for the Central Gulf and Maritime Region, and then served on the Commander’s Action Group before assuming the duties as the chief of plans, J-3.