By Christine June
Public Affairs Office
George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (Aug. 12, 2015) – U.S. Air Force Col. David Johnson, director of the Program of Applied Security Studies at the George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies, discusses cybersecurity to six members of the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the first Language for Diplomacy workshop at the Marshall  Center’s Partner Language Training Center, Europe.

The aim of this three-week workshop is to assist members of the Kosovo diplomatic corps to develop highly-polished, executive-level professional writing and communication skills that are directly related to their jobs as embassy and consular officials, said Peggy Garza, chair of the English Language Programs Department at the Marshall Center’s Partner Language Training Center, Europe.

The hands-on workshop will provide extensive practice in producing official documents, such as those required in embassy and consular work.

Participants will improve their oral discourse, including conducting meetings and negotiations, as related to diplomacy.

Like this presentation, lectures and discussions on security-related topics are provided by Marshall Center College of International Security Studies’ professors, said Dr. Matt Rhodes, professor of National Security Studies and director of Central and South Eastern Europe.

Johnson enter the United States Air Force in 1989 and has served in a variety of operational, training, and staff assignments at the squadron, wing, major command, and combatant command levels.

He is a master air battle manager with seven combat qualifications in four weapons systems. Colonel Johnson has completed 12 operational deployments and more than 2,500 hours as an Airborne Warning and Control System crewmember.

He served staff tours with Air Command Combat and U.S. Transportation Command. Johnson commanded the 722nd Air Control Squadron in North Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Prior to his assignment at the Marshall Center, Colonel Johnson was chief of U.S. Transportation Command’s Joint Cyber Center, responsible for defending the combatant command’s global cyber operations.

Johnson holds a master of public administration from Troy State University, a master of science in military art and operation science from Air University and a master of strategic studies from Air University.

PLTCE offers intermediate, advanced and specialized classroom instruction in 10 languages and dialects for about 400 U.S., NATO and Partnership for Peace military and civilian linguists each year.

The mission of the Marshall Center, as a vital instrument of German-American cooperation, is to create a more stable security environment by advancing democratic institutions and relationships; promoting active, peaceful, whole-of-government approaches to address transnational and regional security challenges; and creating and enhancing enduring partnerships worldwide.