TMB FMS Support in Egypt
As part of its support for Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) International Fleet Support (PMS 326), TMB is on the point of the spear in Foreign Military Sales (FMS). In Alexandria, Egypt a small office of FMS professionals and their admin support, provide the advice and assistance that enables smooth development and execution of United States Navy (USN) Fleet Support to the Egyptian Navy. Egypt is a major player in US FMS and is the second-largest recipient of US grant Foreign Military Financing (FMF) in the world. Egypt has become the world’s third largest importer of arms after Saudi Arabia and India. The Egyptian Navy itself had over $400 million in case development in 2019-20 and TMB is there to help make it happen. The Foreign Military Sales Support Office (FMSSO) has been in place for over 20 years and serves as a liaison between NAVSEA PMS 326 and the Egyptian Navy Armament Department (ENAD). The FMSSO mission is to support the NAVSEA mission in Egypt. The team works closely with ENAD, NAVSEA and the US Embassy Office of Military Cooperation to determine requirements, develop Letters of Request (LOR) and to support the NAVSEA In-County Team as they execute repairs, availabilities and modernization of US platforms and equipment in use with Egyptian Fleet.
As a retired Navy Foreign Area Officer, and former Security Cooperation Officer in the US Embassy in Cairo, and Country Program Director at Navy International Programs Office (NIPO), I lead the TMB office in Alexandria and provide critical liaison and communications between NAVSEA and the Egyptian Navy. With my team of retired Flag and Senior Egyptian Navy consultants, the FMSSO provides insight and advice that help focus efforts and inform decisions in ENAD and PMS 326. The FMSSO also supports the official paperwork and requirements for the NAVSEA In-Country Team for residency in Egypt, visiting US teams and for official visits for EN delegations meeting in the US. Interaction with government agencies, embassies and even day to day work and life in Alexandria is always a challenge. The team translates not only language but bureaucracy and culture. This demands patience and persistence as well as a presence in the ENAD Headquarters (HQ). Understanding of the entire process is critical, from requirements and requests to case development and execution. In this dynamic environment there is never a dull moment!
I am frequently asked what it is like living in Egypt and I’m quick to respond that having spent a great deal of time in the Middle East, in my view, living in Alexandria is an ideal place for those who are adventurous and passionate about learning and understanding the complexities of the region. Known as the City of Memories and located on the Southern extreme of the Eastern Mediterranean, Alexandria has been a melting pot of cultures and ideas for centuries. Whether I’m exploring the ancient ruins of the Amphitheater and Catacombs or browsing the stacks at the internationally renowned Library, Alexandria is ideal for fulfilling my personal passions for history and culture. I can also experiment and expand my interest in cooking. Exploring the Markets and learning from the local vendors and home cooks, I make the most of my evenings and free time, preparing and sharing meals with a wide range of people. The local markets are a great place to meet people and really learn about the cultures that make up a city. Markets provide for local delicacies, great entertainment and the shores are filled with fishermen and boats ready to bring in the catch.
Alexandria is also a very active city with people constantly out and about walking on the miles of Sea Front along the Cornish and swimming and picnicking on the city’s many crowded beaches. For solitude there are also some of the most pristine Beaches in the Mediterranean less than an hour away on Egypt’s famed North Coast very near to the World War II (WWII) Battlefield of El Alamein with its exquisite memorials. As with the work, there is never a dull moment in your leisure time. That is if you are adventurous and willing to learn.
~ Jack Fletcher
