Ambassador
Ambassador Event
Q & A WITH AMBASSADOR VILMA MARTINEZ AND TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT LEADERS
October 9, 2009
On October 9 Ambassador Vilma Martinez, along with Cultural Affairs Officer John Finn, and Lieutenant Colonel Ian Lyles, Chief of the Army Office of the U.S. Military Assistance Group, met with 33 student leaders from Texas Christian University. Ambassador Martinez discussed building leadership skills and the value of exchanges. She emphasized the need to “do your homework” regarding issues that you care about in order to become a leader and the importance of being proactive. The Ambassador confided that she feels at home in Argentina and drew comparisons between growing up having Texas BBQs to Argentine asados.
John Finn, the Cultural Affairs Officer, spoke about the importance of exchanges in order to improve understandings and build relationships between cultures. Mr. Finn also shared his experiences as a Foreign Service Officer in Bolivia, Panama, and India, to name a few places that he has served.
Lieutenant Colonel Ian Lyles shared how the U.S. military works to help train Argentine military to keep the region stable. The students left with a better understanding of bi-national relations as well as insight into the life of a Foreign Service Officer.
