New York National Guard Welcomes South Africa and DoD leaders to Saratoga

MEDIA ADVISORY

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Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Amanda Dory

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (10/24/2016)(readMedia)-- Leaders of the New York National Guard welcome counterparts from the Department of Defense and leaders of the South African National Defense Forces to the New York State Military Museum here this week for the meeting of the two nations' 2017 Bilateral Defense Committee.

The New York National Guard is the State Partner with South Africa for combined training and shared military to military activities.

The U.S. - South Africa Defense Committee is the method by which the two militaries jointly manage their defense relationship. The meeting, designed to be held annually, was formally established in 1997 as a communications and coordination vehicle to planning bilateral defense and security initiatives.

WHAT: U.S. and South Africa Bilateral Defense Committee Meeting opening day activities

WHO: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Amanda Dory and New York State Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Anthony German, New York State Adjutant General.

WHERE: NYS Military Museum, 61 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

WHEN: 10:15 am, Tuesday, October 25.

Media opportunity: Questions for key leaders of the bilateral committee meeting. Media are requested to contact NY Army National Guard Col. Richard Goldenberg of their expected attendance at 518-727-7314 not later than 10 am on Tuesday, October 25.

Background:

At the Bilateral Defense Committee meeting this week, working groups will develop the upcoming engagement plan for the fiscal year 2017.

The meeting is charged with promoting U.S. - South Africa security cooperation and the establishment of a mature, mutually beneficial defense and security relationship consistent with each party's national security priorities.

Attendees will establish working groups to pursue agreed upon objectives of the two countries, including topics such as regional security, military support to civilian authorities, peace support operations, environmental issues, technology exchanges, acquisition, and combined exercises and exchanges.

Following the 2015 meeting held in South Africa, the New York National Guard graciously offered to host this year's event, the 15th such gathering.

The New York National Guard is the State Partner for the South Africa National Defense Force (SANDF) in a mutually beneficial relationship that also supports U.S. Department of Defense goals for engagement. Through the State Partnership Program, the New York National Guard conducts military-to-military engagements in support of defense security goals but also leverages whole-of-society relationships and capabilities to facilitate broader interagency and corollary engagements spanning military, government, economic and social spheres.

Just last month, the New York Air National Guard participated in the Africa Aerospace and Defence Expo at Waterkloof Air Base with the C-17A Globemaster III, the MQ-9 Reaper, and several other pieces of equipment, providing Airmen and Soldiers to educate and engage with South African military peers and community members.

The different programs and engagements help train future leaders by creating a better understanding of both partner nations' military, and establishes a rapport between the U.S. military and the SANDF to build alliances for the future while also enhancing interoperability and capabilities for joint operations.

New York and South Africa State Partnership Program

There are currently 73 National Guard State Partnership Programs throughout the world with 13 programs in Africa.

Members of the New York Air and Army National Guard have been partners since 2003, conducting events together in both countries.

The program is administered by the National Guard Bureau, guided by State Department foreign policy goals, and executed by the State Adjutants General in support of the combatant commander, security cooperation objectives and Department of Defense policy goals.

The partnership builds capacity and capability within the partner nation's security forces. It also cultivates personal, professional, and institutional relationships while training National Guardsmen for their state and federal missions.

More information about the New York National Guard State Partnership Program with South Africa and an overview of the varied missions and workshops can be found here: https://dmna.ny.gov/spp/

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Amanda J. Dory

Amanda J. Dory currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. She is a career member of the Senior Executive Service.

Amanda served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 2008-2011, where she was responsible for strategy articulation, development of force planning scenarios, policy planning, and analysis of long-term trends and the future security environment.

She received a Presidential Rank Award for her work on the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review and the security implications of climate and energy trends. She previously served in the same office as the Principal Director for Policy and Planning from 2007-2008 and as a Strategist from 1999-2002.

Dr. Thobekile (Thobs) Gamede, Chief of South African Defense Policy and Chief Defense Policy, Strategy and Planning

Dr. Thobekile (Thobs) Gamede (Toe-Bay-Keel-Lay Ga-Me-Day) was born in Durban, South Africa and went through her high school education at Ziphathele High School, in Clermont near Pinetown. After Matric, she trained in KwaNdebele Teacher's Training College.

While she was teaching in the former KwaNdebele, she registered for the BA Degree with the University of South Africa, and obtained her Junior Degree in 1991, and BA (Hon) at the University of Pretoria (Tukkies) in 1992. In 1996 she obtained a Master's Degree at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and finally her PhD at the University of Pretoria in 2005.

After her stint as a lecturer at UNISA, she joined the National Department of Education, as a researcher and later worked in policy development in the Higher Education Branch. Before joining the Department of Defence, she was the Executive Manager for Research, Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature.