Strategic Leader

1. Kathi A. McDiffett
300 Azalea Park Trail, Apartment 53, Radcliff, Kentucky 40160
Cell: (254) 913-7553
Email: kmcdiffett79@gmail.com
I am an innovative leader, willing to accept risk and experiment; an adaptive leader who excels in the art
of Engage-and Align; anticipates future operational environments; an ambitious adventurer with
unlimited audacity, and will apply critical and creative thinking skills in order to solve complex problems.
Objective: Serve as a Senior Executive or below positions that encompass duties in one or more of the
functional criteria, executive or managerial, as specified by law. A strategic leader capable of functioning
at national and multinational levels of governments and private organizations. Possesses strategic leader
competencies in conceptual (frame of reference development, problem management, and envisioning
futures), technical (systems understanding; Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, Multinational (JIIM)
relationships; political and social competence), and interpersonal (consensus building, negotiations, and
communications). Knowledgeable of the tools available to policy makers for strategic ends – Diplomatic,
Information, Military, Economic, Financial, Intelligence, and Law Enforcement (DIMEFIL).
Military Employment History:
Director ofInstruction 01/07/14 – Present
Employer: 83rd United States Army Reserve Readiness Training Center, Department of the Army
1639 Old Ironsides Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40121-5167
Salary: $105,000, 60 hours/week
Supervisor: Colonel Nelson Irizarry, 502-626-8627, may be contacted.
Effectively, efficiently, and safely served as the Director of Instruction, 83rd United States Army Reserve
Readiness Training Center, Fort Knox, Kentucky. Led a team of qualified professionals serving within an
accredited center of excellence. As a special project officer, coordinated the initial installation of 16
modernized classrooms through the Classroom XXI Modernization Program; supervised the Managers’
Internal Control Program, this program applies Government Accountability Office (GAO) standards for
internal control in the Federal Government and inherent within this organization; established and
managed the 83rd United States Army Reserve Readiness Training Center Historical Collection,
responsible for the collection, preservation, storage, accountably, demilitarization, and valuation of
historical artifacts and art used for training, research and development, and interpretation of the Army
military and cultural heritage.
Deputy Commander 01/06/14 to 06/30/14
Employer: 83rd United States Army Reserve Readiness Training Center, Department of the Army
1639 Old Ironsides Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40121-5167
Salary: $104,000, 60 hours/week
Supervisor: Colonel Nelson Irizarry, 502-626-8627, may be contacted.
Effectively, efficiently and safely served as the Deputy Commander, 83rd United States Army Reserve
Readiness Training Center and subordinate non-commissioned officer academies located at Fort Knox,
Kentucky; Fort McCoy, Wisconsin; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; and Parks Reserve
Forces Training Areas,Dublin, California. In the absence of the Commander, led a team of 375 qualified
soldiers and Department of the Army civilians serving as instructors and facilitators training more than

2. 16,000 students annually. As part of the continuum of learning, developed and executed learner-centric
programs of instruction supporting the United States Army Total Force. Trained, sustained, improved,
and developed soldiers, Department of the Army civilians, and leaders in collaboration skills.
Secretary ofthe General Staff 06/14/10 to 01/05/14
Employer: 79th Sustainment Support Command, Department of the Army
4201 Saratoga Avenue, Los Alamitos, CA 90720
Salary: $103,500, 60 hours/week
Effectively, efficiently, and safely enabled Commander, Deputy Commander, and Chief of Staff to
conduct mission command of the 79th Sustainment Support Command comprised of four sustainment
commands (expeditionary) with an authorized strength of 20,099 soldiers, Department of the Army
civilians, contractors, and their families throughout the western half of the United States in accomplishing
their mission and vision. This resulted in synchronized conferences,ceremonies, socials, and
observations; executive level protocol invitations, preparations, and executions for distinguished visitors.
Reviewed and prepared personal executive level correspondence for a two-star general officer. Served as
the Staff Action Control Officer and Inspection Officer. Prepared and published the 79th United States
Army Reserve Sustainment Support Command, Calendar Years 2010, 2011, and 2012, Annual History.
Served as a Reviewing Official/Approving Official in the Defense TravelSystem (DTS) approval
process. Completed the Fundamental and Enhanced Protocol Courses through “Do It Right Protocol
Training, LLC.” Served as the formal and informal point of contact for liaison officers, executive
officers, and aide-de-camps to Command Group, 79th Sustainment Support Command.
Various Operational Staff Positions 04/28/1996 to 06/013/10
Employer: United States Army Reserve,Department of the Army
Overseas deployments include:
Operations Officer, General Staff Officer 03/10/07 to 03/09/08
Chiefof Future Operations Officer, General Staff Officer 03/10/08 to 06/20/08
316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
Location: Balad, Iraq
Deputy C-3 Aviation Officer, General Staff Officer 04/05/04 to 05/12/04
Coalition Forces Land Component Command
Location: Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
Deputy C-3 Aviation Officer 05/13/04 to 06/23/04
Multinational Force-Iraq
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Instrumental in facilitating a cooperative agreement and delegation hosting between Kansas State
University and the University of Baghdad by President Jon Wefald, Provost Duane Nellis, and Fred
Cholick, College of Agriculture Dean and Director of K-State Research and Extension. The University of
Baghdad delegation included: Fadhil AlSahaf, Assistant Dean for the College of Agriculture;
Mohammed Salman, department head for horticulture; Riad Abdul-Latiff, civil engineer in the College of
Agriculture, and Atheer Kassab,department head in the College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2004, the
University of Baghdad’s College of Agriculture included 4,000 undergraduate and 400 graduate students.

3. Orders Manager, C-3; Ground Maintenance Officer, C-4 06/24/04 to 03/30/05
Coalition Forces Land Component Command
Location: Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
Civilian Employment History
Vocational Agriculture Teacher 1994 to 1996
Osborne High School and Alton-Osborne Junior High School
Kansas Unified School District 392, Osborne Kansas
Graduate Teaching Assistant 1993
Lowther Middle School
Kansas Unified School District 253, Emporia, Kansas
Biology Teacher 1990-1991
Herndon Schools
Kansas Unified School District 317, Herndon, Kansas
Anatomy and Physiology Lab Assistant 1989-1990
Division of Biology
Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas
Graduate Teaching Assistant 1988-1989
College of Education
Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas
Vocational Agriculture Teacher 1987-1988
Hanston High School
Unified School District 228, Hanston, Kansas
Education:
United States Army War College July 24, 2015
Master of Strategic Studies
Emporia State University December 17, 1994
Master of Science in Education
Major: Educational Administration
Kansas State University December 13, 1986
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
Major: Agriculture Education
Training:
Senior Service College and Joint Professional Military Education Phase I,2015
Utility Helicopter (UH-60) Aviator Qualification Course, 2006
United States Army Command and General Staff Officers Course, 2006
Attack Helicopter (AH-64D) Aviator Qualification Course, 2004
Attack Helicopter (AH-64A) Aviator Qualification Course, 2003
Cargo Helicopter (CH-47D) Aviator Qualification Course, 2000
Combined Logistics Captains Career Course/Combined Arms Services and Staff School, 1999
Initial Entry Rotary Wing (Common Core) and Utility Helicopter (UH-1) Course,1994

4. Ordnance Tank-Automotive Materiel Management Officer Basic Course, 1991
Airborne School, 1989
Law Enforcement Course, 95B – Military Police, 1987
Certifications:
Kansas State Board of Education Certificate, Vocational Agriculture, 1987
Kansas State Board of Education Certificate, Biology, 1993
Kansas State Board of Education Certificate, Building Administrator, 1995
Highest Military Award:
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Army Achievement Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters)
Basic Aviator Badge
Parachutist Badge
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), 316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
Other Personal Awards:
Varsity “K” Award,Collegiate Volleyball 1984
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
Collegiate Varsity Volleyball, Softball, and Indoor Track Awards – 1983
Cloud County Community College, Concordia, Kansas
John Goff Most Inspirational Athlete Award – 1982
Council Grove High School, Council Grove, Kansas