FOUNDATION NEWS, No. 2/Fall 2007 (October 2007)

Q&A with the CGSC Deputy Commandant,
Brig. Gen. Mark E. O'Neill

CGSC Foundation News conducted this interview with Brig. Gen. O’Neill in September. In coming editions we will interview the commandant, Lt. Gen. Caldwell, and other important leadership at the college.

CGSCF News: What was your assignment before becoming the Deputy Commandant of CGSC?

BG O’Neill: Prior to this assignment, I served as the Deputy Division Commander for Support of the 3rd Infantry Division and as Deputy Division Commander for Support, of Multinational Division—Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

CGSCF News: How do you rate the importance of the Command and General Staff College in the military educational system?

BG O’Neill: When Generals Marshall, MacArthur, Patton, Eisenhower and Bradley studied here long before World War II they had no idea of wars they may be called upon to fight or the service they would render to their country after their military service. This College provided the opportunity for them to bond with their fellow officers and to study and contemplate the complexities of their profession. Likewise, the officers who sit in these classrooms today will become the generals and perhaps the civilian leaders of their nation in the future. As such, what we do here is extremely important for the survival of our nation and our relations with others around the world.

CGSCF News: What is the significance of what we do here at CGSC?

BG O’Neill: I mentioned some of this earlier but allow me to add another dimension of
the importance of our College and that’s the international impact that we have. In 1895 we graduated our first international officer. Since then we have graduated over 7,000 officers
from 152 countries alongside their American counterparts. Over 42 percent of those international officers have attained general officer rank or have become ministers, heads of government or heads of state. We shall never know how many conflicts may have been prevented by classmates who have picked up the phone and settled matters because of their shared Leavenworth experience.

CGSCF News: What is your vision for the future of CGSC?

BG O’Neill: If the past is prologue to the future, our College will continue to evolve over time to remain adaptive, innovative and creative in the application of military power to accomplish the goals and objectives we are called upon to achieve.

CGSCF News: What would you like to tell the Alumni of this institution?

BG O’Neill: First, we value your service to the Army and the nation. Second, rest assured that we will continue to change our curriculum to adapt to the ever-changing environment. And lastly, come by and see our new facility, the Lewis and Clark Center, and visit with these magnificent officers who are taking the fight to our enemies around the world.

CGSCF News: How do you see the role of the Foundation as it evolves?

BG O’Neill: Our Foundation will play a major role in the development of future leaders because it provides the Margin of Excellence that we need to become a nationally recognized center of excellence for leader development.