THOMAS B. SWEENEY

COLONEL, U.S. ARMY

Civilian-Military Affairs

 Colonel Thomas (Bruce) Sweeney joined the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in July 2008 and immediately took over responsibility for External Affairs. An Army Foreign Area Officer, he speaks French, Hungarian, and limited Russian. Col. Sweeney has also held the following military-occupational specialties during his lengthy career: Transportation, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations. Col. Sweeney’s most recent assignment was as Defense and Army Attaché in Afghanistan, where he worked with the U.S. Embassy, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and U.S. forces to support and sustain an effective Afghan National Army and Ministry of Defense.

Col. Sweeney has extensive overseas experience in almost every region of the world: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Particularly worthy of note are his stints as Defense and Army Attaché in Hungary, Afghanistan, and (briefly) Ethiopia. In addition to his foreign area expertise, Col. Sweeney also has over five years of command experience, having commanded at every rank from lieutenant to colonel. Along with his Afghan experience, he also served a combat tour in Iraq during 2005.

Col. Sweeney holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Syracuse University, a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in humanities from Michigan State University. His current research interest is leadership and human motivation, especially as it applies to combat.

Col. Sweeney's military education includes the Transportation and Civil Affairs Officer Advanced Courses, the Psychological Operations Officer Course, the Army Command and General Staff College, the Joint Military Attaché School, and the U.S. Army War College. His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), the Army Commendation Medal (with two oak leaf clusters), and various other decorations.
 

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Last updated: 12/18/2008