Maxie McFarland

Photo: Hks2815 — CC BY-SA 3.0Source

Maxie McFarland

Born
August 5, 1950
Died
November 8, 2013
Age
20 years

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Maxie L. McFarland (also known as Maxie MacFarland), was one of thirteen tier-3 US Government Defense Senior Executives, serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (G–2) for the U.S. Army's Training and Doctrine Command located at Fort Monroe, Virginia. Starting in June 2011, he worked as the Executive Vice President for Strategic Planning for the Sierra Nevada Corporation. Maxie McFarland died on 8 November 2013 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was inducted into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame in 2014.

Civilian career

As the TRADOC G-2, McFarland served as the Army's lead for analyzing the characteristics of future military operations and describing the conditions and threats they might contain. This effort supports the development of concepts, education of leaders, design of new capabilities, training or military units and enables experimentation. In coordination with Joint Forces Command, other governmental agencies and services, and the private and academic sectors, TRADOC G-2 develops the operational environment (OE), which is the Army's authoritative perspective of the future. As a function of his work on the Operational Environment, McFarland often took unconventional avenues in order to replicate the complexity and uncertainty of the operational environment that his staff defines. He sponsored a variety of initiatives for the Army and Joint forces, including: the Army Opposing Force Program, the Army Starfish Program, Red Teaming capability, the Army Culture and Foreign Language Strategy, Human Terrain System Foreign Military and Cultural Studies, and the Joint Training Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Operations Integration Center (JTCOIC). Collectively, these programs provide support to deployed forces, coalition partners, the Army's Combat Training Centers, Army educational institutions and schools, as well as various capability development and integration centers.

From December 2005 to May 2007, McFarland was assigned by the Army Chief of Staff to support the establishment and expansion of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO). He served as a special advisor to the director and as the deputy director for concepts, strategy and intelligence. In this capacity, McFarland was responsible for initiating JIEDDO's Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Operational Integration Center, establishing the law enforcement support program, and overseeing the development of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance capabilities to counter improvised explosive device threats as well as numerous other initiatives.

Education

Maxie Lawrence McFarland was born on 5 August 1950. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1973, a Master of Education Degree in Psychology and Counseling from Southern Arkansas University in 1985, and a Master of Arts Degree in Strategy and Policy from the Naval War College in 1995. In addition, McFarland completed the following military training programs: Signal Officers Basic Course, Infantry Officers Advance Course, Counter-Intelligence Officers Course, Command and General Staff college, Electronic Warfare/Signals Intelligence Course.

Military career

Following his college graduation, McFarland joined the Army in 1973 and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Signal Corps. In 1975 he branch transferred to the infantry and served as an Infantry Officer until his branch transfer to Military Intelligence in 1985. Throughout his active duty career, he served in a wide variety of operational and intelligence-related command and staff positions, both in the United States and overseas. He has twice served as a battalion commander and completed four tours as a G2 at the Division through Army level. He retired from active duty as a Colonel after serving for more than 25 years and shortly thereafter was selected for the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service in July 2002.

Summary of career

Conferences

McFarland participated in specialized conferences, including:

  • "2009 Intelligence Warfighting Summit"; McFarland's report entitled as "Operational Environment – Co-Creation of Understanding"
  • "Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Conference 2011"; McFarland's report entitled as "ISR on the Battlefield"

Publications

McFarland authored several works, including:

  • "Military Intelligence Gunnery" (1994)
  • Opposing Force Doctrinal Framework and Strategy (2003)
  • "Military Cultural Education" (2005)
  • "A Center for Learning Innovation" (2010)
  • "Concluding Remarks about Environmental and Human Security and the Role of U.S. Military Forces in Africa in the Future" (2010)

Awards and honors

His personal and unit awards and decorations include the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive (2006), the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2002), two Legion of Merit awards (1995, 1997), three Meritorious Service Medal awards (1992, 1994, 1996), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, NATO Medal, Army Service Ribbon, four Overseas Service Ribbons and the Military Parachutist Badge.

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Sources

Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions

Questions drawn from Maxie McFarland's archived record and the sources above.

  1. 1.In what year did Maxie McFarland transfer his branch to Military Intelligence?

    • A.1973
    • B.1985correct
    • C.1975
    • D.1991

    He served as an Infantry Officer until his branch transfer to Military Intelligence in 1985.

    Source: Military career section

  2. 2.What was the title of the report McFarland wrote for the 2009 Intelligence Warfighting Summit?

    • A.Military Intelligence Gunnery
    • B.Operational Environment – Co-Creation of Understandingcorrect
    • C.ISR on the Battlefield
    • D.Environmental and Human Security

    For the 2009 Intelligence Warfighting Summit, McFarland produced a report entitled Operational Environment – Co-Creation of Understanding.

    Source: Conferences section

  3. 3.How many tier-3 US Government Defense Senior Executives existed in the group that included Maxie McFarland?

    • A.Ten
    • B.Seven
    • C.Thirteencorrect
    • D.Twenty

    Maxie L. McFarland was one of thirteen tier-3 US Government Defense Senior Executives.

    Source: Biographical summary

  4. 4.On what date was Maxie Lawrence McFarland born?

    • A.20 November 1952
    • B.15 September 1950
    • C.5 August 1950correct
    • D.12 June 1948

    Maxie Lawrence McFarland was born on 5 August 1950.

    Source: Education section

  5. 5.What was the first branch Maxie McFarland served in upon joining the Army in 1973?

    • A.Signal Corpscorrect
    • B.Military Intelligence
    • C.Infantry
    • D.Armor

    McFarland joined the Army in 1973 and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Signal Corps.

    Source: Military career section

  6. 6.Which university awarded Maxie McFarland a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business in 1973?

    • A.Southern Arkansas University
    • B.Naval War College
    • C.University of Virginia
    • D.University of Tennessee at Chattanoogacorrect

    He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1973.

    Source: Education section

  7. 7.In what year was Maxie McFarland inducted into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame?

    • A.2010
    • B.2012
    • C.2014correct
    • D.2016

    Maxie McFarland was inducted into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame in 2014.

    Source: Biographical summary

  8. 8.What position did Maxie McFarland hold at the Sierra Nevada Corporation starting in 2011?

    • A.Executive Vice President for Strategic Planningcorrect
    • B.Senior Military Advisor
    • C.Director of Intelligence
    • D.Chief Technology Officer

    Starting in June 2011, he worked as the Executive Vice President for Strategic Planning for the Sierra Nevada Corporation.

    Source: Biographical summary

  9. 9.Maxie McFarland served as a special advisor to the director for which organization between 2005 and 2007?

    • A.Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organizationcorrect
    • B.Army Training and Doctrine Command
    • C.Defense Intelligence Agency
    • D.Joint Forces Command

    From December 2005 to May 2007, McFarland supported the establishment and expansion of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO).

    Source: Civilian career section

  10. 10.Where is Maxie McFarland buried?

    • A.Arlington National Cemeterycorrect
    • B.Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery
    • C.West Point Cemetery
    • D.Fort Monroe National Cemetery

    Maxie McFarland died on 8 November 2013 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

    Source: Biographical summary

  11. 11.Maxie McFarland earned a Master of Arts Degree in Strategy and Policy from which institution?

    • A.University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
    • B.Naval War Collegecorrect
    • C.Command and General Staff College
    • D.Southern Arkansas University

    McFarland earned a Master of Arts Degree in Strategy and Policy from the Naval War College in 1995.

    Source: Education section

  12. 12.Which of the following programs did Maxie McFarland sponsor for the Army and Joint forces?

    • A.The Defense Readiness Project
    • B.The Tactical Command Protocol
    • C.The Army Starfish Programcorrect
    • D.The Global Intelligence Initiative

    Maxie McFarland sponsored a variety of initiatives, including the Army Starfish Program, while serving as the TRADOC G-2.

    Source: Civilian career section

  13. 13.What was the title of the report authored by Maxie McFarland for the 2011 Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Conference?

    • A.Future Concepts in Military Intelligence
    • B.Counter-IED Operational Integration
    • C.ISR on the Battlefieldcorrect
    • D.Operational Environment – Co-Creation of Understanding

    At the Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Conference 2011, McFarland presented a report entitled ISR on the Battlefield.

    Source: Conferences section

  14. 14.After serving for more than 25 years, Maxie McFarland retired from active duty with what rank?

    • A.Lieutenant Colonel
    • B.Major
    • C.Brigadier General
    • D.Colonelcorrect

    He retired from active duty as a Colonel after serving for more than 25 years.

    Source: Military career section

  15. 15.Which publication was authored by Maxie McFarland in 2005?

    • A.Military Intelligence Gunnery
    • B.A Center for Learning Innovation
    • C.Military Cultural Educationcorrect
    • D.Opposing Force Doctrinal Framework

    Maxie McFarland authored several works, including Military Cultural Education in 2005.

    Source: Publications section

  16. 16.Which specific award did Maxie McFarland receive in 2006?

    • A.Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executivecorrect
    • B.Legion of Merit
    • C.Army Commendation Medal
    • D.Defense Distinguished Service Medal

    His awards include the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive in 2006.

    Source: Awards and honors section

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