FISCAL YEAR 2026 ACTIVE MARINE ATTACHÉ SELECTION BOARD: OFFICER SELECTION RESULTS (NON-SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL/DEFENSE ATTACHÉS)
Date Signed: 1/15/2025 | MARADMINS Number: 013/25
MARADMINS : 013/25

R 151932Z JAN 25
MARADMIN 013/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2026 ACTIVE MARINE ATTACHÉ SELECTION BOARD: OFFICER
SELECTION RESULTS (NON-SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL/DEFENSE ATTACHÉS)//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 20090709//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 20210510//
REF/C/MSGID:DOC/MCO/YMD: 20190215//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 3821.2, THE DEFENSE ATTACHÉ SYSTEM.  REF B IS MCO
1300.8, W/ CH 1 MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY.  REF C IS
MCO 1900.16 W/ CH 2, SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL.// 
POC/J. L. GOSS/MAJ/MMOA-3/TEL: 703-784-9284/
EMAIL: JAIME.GOSS@USMC.MIL//
POC/T. M. GILBERTSON/CIV/INTEL DIV, ATTACHÉ PROGRAM MANAGER/
TEL: 703-432-7842/ 
EMAIL: THOMAS.GILBERTSON1@USMC.MIL//
POC/C. S. SMITH/CIV/INTEL DIV, ATTACHÉ PROGRAM MANAGER/
TEL: 703-432-5992/ 
EMAIL: CAROLYN.SMITH@USMC.MIL//
POC/C. J. FORAN/MAJ/INTEL DIV, ATTACHÉ AFFAIRS/ TEL: 703-614-1668
EMAIL: CAITLIN.FORAN@USMC.MIL/
POC/S. A. WESTERFIELD/CIV/INTEL DIV/TEL: 703-693-5421/
EMAIL: SCOTT.WESTERFIELD@USMC.MIL//
POC/M. T. WELTZIEN/MAJ/DC I RLO/TEL: 703-630-1395/
EMAIL: MATTHEW.WELTZIEN@USMC.MIL//
POC/R. W. DAWSON/LTCOL/RESERVE DETACHMENT OIC/501-847-2186/
EMAIL:  RICHARD.DAWSON@DODIIS.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  On 26 August 2024, the Director for Manpower 
Management convened the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Marine Active and
Reserve Attaché (MARA) Selection Board to select Marines as primary 
candidates and identify alternates for duty with the Defense 
Attaché Service (DAS) to report in FY26.  The Secretary of the Navy
has approved the list of Marines herein and nominated them to the 
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for final approval.
2.  The board considered the packages of 46 qualified applicants and 
selected 13 officers as primary candidates.  Demonstrated 
performance, Marine Air Ground Task Force experience, and the 
potential to operate effectively in a foreign, independent duty 
environment were among the factors considered in the selection 
process.
3.  This MARADMIN specifically releases the MARA primary select 
candidates.  The Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché (SDO/DATT) 
primary select candidates for Dominican Republic, Ghana, and
and Papua New Guinea will be released at a later date upon Secretary
of Defense approval.  This MARADMIN includes all alternate 
candidates eligible for both MARA and SDO/DATT positions.
4.  Board results
4.a.  Primary selections.  Any changes from the originally 
advertised country list were based on requirements from DIA.  
4.a.1.  The board selected the following active duty officers for 
nomination with the DAS as MARAs with their slated assignments:
Name                       MOS     Country           
Arroyo, Christopher A.     0202    Singapore
Burdick, Jesse A.          0202    Taiwan
Fisher, Jeremy A.          0302    Israel
Furman, Jason H.           0202    Liberia
Giles, Jennifer F.         4502    Australia
Kepfer, Matthew S.         0202    Italy
Pierce, Andrew D.          0202    Iraq
Sakovich, Meredith L.      0202    Mexico
Spanu, Daniel              0602    Georgia
Traynor, Christopher J.    1302    Spain
4.b.  Alternate selections
4.b.1.  The board selected the following active duty officers as
alternates.  The candidates selected as alternates may be called 
upon to fill either SDO/DATT or solely MARA positions, as needed.
Name                       MOS
Bong, Sharon C.            3002
Carnice, Hans C.           0202
Featherstone, Jacob C.     0202
Phippen II, Joseph F.      0302
Riverahernandez, Jose A.   0202
Sklar, Erik M.             0202
Smith, Shawn M.            0202
5.  Coordinating instructions
5.a.  Primary selectees
5.a.1.  Active duty acceptance of selection.  Selectees shall accept 
or decline via email to their primary military occupational 
specialty (PMOS) monitor no later than 31 January 2025.  Selectees 
will copy their acceptance email to the HQMC Marine Attaché Program 
Office at mara_application@usmc.mil to communicate acceptance of 
assignment and receive further guidance. 
5.b.  Alternate selectees.  No action is required on the part of
Marines on the alternate list in paragraph 4.b.  In the event that
a billet becomes vacant, Manpower Management will fleet-up an
officer from the alternate list.  PMOS monitors will directly 
contact any alternate selected as a fleet-up.
5.c.  Declinations and deferrals  
5.c.1  Declinations.  Marines who decline assignment to a MARA 
billet must submit a declination in writing (AA form) via the first 
O6 in their chain of command addressed to HQMC via MMOA-3 NLT 31
January 2025.  Marines who decline will be ineligible for future 
MARA billets, unless otherwise approved by the Director, Manpower 
Management.
5.c.2.  Deferrals.  Marines selected for assignment to a MARA billet 
who are unable to execute orders due to extraordinary circumstances 
may request a deferral.  If approved, the Director, Manpower 
Management will defer the Marine to a future MARA selection panel.  
Primary selectees may submit a deferral request in writing (AA Form)
via the first general officer in their chain of command addressed to 
HQMC via MMOA-3 NLT 31 January 2025.
5.d.  Reporting and training
5.d.1.  Selected Marines can expect Permanent Change of Station 
orders for training in the National Capital Region.  Training start 
dates are dependent upon the assigned country and corresponding 
training requirements, but can begin in Spring 2025.  Selected 
officers with competing service requirements which could potentially
delay their availability for training must notify their primary MOS 
monitor in their initial correspondence.
5.d.2.  A limited portion of training during the Joint Military 
Attaché School (JMAS) is available to the spouses of selected 
officers.  Although spouse attendance is not required, it is highly 
recommended and does not incur any additional cost to the service 
member.  Language training is available to the spouse for most 
billets at the request of the selected officer.  In addition to 
training, a security clearance will be submitted for the spouse.
5.d.3.  Spouses must be naturalized U.S. citizens prior to the 
service member attending JMAS.
5.d.4.  Service members must complete a Counter Intelligence 
Polygraph examination prior to attending JMAS.  This will be 
coordinated through the selectee's parent command.
6.  Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director, 
Manpower Management Division.//