John Manning, RES ’10
The USAWC education from the Basic Strategic Arts Program (2004) and the Army War College Class and National Security Policy Program (2010) combined with a great career in a variety of combatant command and Pentagon assignments is definitely paying off in my new career, especially dealing with COVID-19. I retired on June 1, 2019, began my new career as the Assistant City Administrator in Branson, Missouri on July 15, 2019 and we began working under an Emergency Proclamation on March 17, 2020. And yes, lately I have been discussing strategic leadership during volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous conditions with my ten department heads. As stated by Former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill “All politics is local” is definitely in play when you are fighting a borderless enemy and the whole of government response and recovery efforts are “locally executed, state managed, and federally supported.” The work involved in building a campaign plan which includes convincing six elected officials to all but close a city of 11,000 permanent residents that relies on 9 million tourists every year for revenue is definitely a wicked problem and I thank my military experience and the USAWC every day! And to all the USAWC Alums — when COVID-19 is defeated, come and visit Branson, a town that honors veterans every day!
COL (Ret) John D. Manning
Resident Class of 2010
Assistant City Administrator, City of Branson, Missouri
