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SEPTEMBER 7, 2018
N A S SIG O N E L L A
Vol. 35 No. 33
Defense Attaché Makes First Visit From Rome
SIGONELLA, Sicily (September 4, 2018) Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Commanding Officer Capt. Brent Trickel, left, welcomes Defense and Naval Attaché Capt. Scott Bunnay from the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Italy. NAS Sigonella is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed and when they are needed to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon) By Janine Scianna NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
Capt. Scott Bunnay, the newest appointed Defense and Naval Attaché assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Italy, has been busy learning his new role and visiting the constituent installations he now supports. Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella hosted Bunnay on September 4th and 5th. The word “attaché” might seem like a foreign concept as well as a foreign word to many. French for the word “attached,” in diplomacy, an attaché is a person on the staff of an ambassador who has a specialized area of responsibility. In the case of Capt. Bunnay, he provides advice on military matters to the U.S. Ambassador to Italy as well as representing the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Navy, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the U.S. military services in Italy. Another critical function of the attaché’s role is developing and nurturing military-to-military relationships with the Italian Armed Forces. In Italy, there are seven total attachés—one for each service branch plus several other assistants. Attachés are located in U.S. Embassies around the world, but countries with a smaller military footprint, like many African nations, may only have one attaché on staff.
Although there is no such thing as a “typical day” in the life of an attaché, much of Bunnay’s time is spent meeting with representatives of the Italian Ministry of Defense, taking phone calls from Pentagon officials, and supporting the larger Department of Defense community at the Embassy, including spouses and families. Since Bunnay started his new role in mid-June, he is getting to know the full extent of the U.S. military presence in Italy, and he visited NAS Sigonella’s bases and facilities to better understand and represent local military issues at the Embassy level. Bunnay said of his whirlwind tour, “It is always important to visit the places you are supporting. It was also nice to meet many local nationals to further my relationship with the host country.” Bunnay is no stranger to air operations or installation management. In his 27-year naval aviation career, he has served as the commanding officer of both an air squadron (VAQ-132 Growler squadron) and an installation (Naval Air Station Meridian). Bunnay has been interested in becoming an attaché since he was stationed in Vicenza in 1999 supporting Operation ALLIED FORCE during the Kosovo War. Despite his aviation background, most Defense attachés are prior Foreign Area Officers, who are regionally focused experts in political-mil-
itary operations. While the process to become a Defense attaché continues to be highly competitive, it recently has become more transparent, with an open application process that any eligible officer can apply to. Once he was selected, Bunnay completed six months of intensive language training to be able to effectively communicate with his Italian colleagues. A typical tour length for a Defense attaché is three years, so Capt. Bunnay has plenty of time to make an impact in Italy. He is constantly looking to find ways to collaborate with the host country, as well as collaborating with the larger attaché community in Rome—considering the large number of international diplomats who are there. When asked about what he most looks forward to in his new role, Bunnay said it was supporting the efforts of service members and military operations in Italy, as well as looking for creative ways to make connections across organizations and countries to solve problems. After wrapping up his tour of NAS Sigonella, Bunnay remarked “As a former base commanding officer myself, I was impressed at how well NAS Sigonella operates. The community has been so welcoming and friendly toward me, and I look forward to my next visit.”