Working in the future plans section of the US Central Command J6 - joint staff communications - during 2003-2004, US Air Force Major Robert Borja was involved with "planning systems related to command, control, communications and computers for forces forward," primarily those deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The following year, he served as the executive officer/aide-de-camp for the J6 himself, US Army Brigadier General Jeffrey Foley, and in this capacity "traveled around the CENTCOM area of responsibility checking on the status of communications and also served essentially as the sounding board in reviewing policy that was affecting long range communications." In this interview, Borja discusses lessons learned from the major combat phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom; the challenges resulting from Joint Forces Command's desire to use the CENTCOM operations center model to develop a Department of Defense-wide ops center model; as well as comms-related interoperability and information-sharing issues he encountered in coalition operations. Regarding his time with Brigadier General Foley, Borja reflects on his basic duties, travel experiences and the challenges associated with being an Air Force major working for a US Army flag officer. He also shares his recommendations on how future joint service aides might better prepare themselves for their assignments and better cope with the significant “cultural differences” between the services. What’s more, Borja tells of being selected to attend a 16-day Malone Scholarship-sponsored trip to Saudi Arabia: a cultural awareness exchange between CENTCOM officers and the Saudi Ministries of Commerce and Education. In addition, he expresses his views on the dichotomy between what is often reported in the media and what he witnessed firsthand on the ground.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited