Staff
Robert C. DeWitt
Director, Minneapolis Passport Agency
Chairman, Minnesota Federal Executive Board
Since July 2009, Robert (Bob) C. DeWitt has been the Director of the Minneapolis Passport Agency, which is part of the Bureau of Consular Affairs within the U.S. Department of State and is one of 28 passport agencies nationwide. As Director, he oversees U.S. passport production, fraud prevention and customer service initiatives in the Minneapolis Region, which is comprised of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Bob also serves as Chairman of the Minnesota Federal Executive Board for FY2013; and was the Vice Chairman in FY 2012.
Bob has been a Foreign Service Officer (specializing in consular work) for over 22 years. He has served at U.S. embassies or consulates in Shanghai, China; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Beijing, China; Dar es Salam, Tanzania; Shenyang, China; Kampala, Uganda; Mogadishu, Somalia; and Quito, Ecuador. He also served as an instructor at the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington, Virginia, where he taught consular law and regulation to new FSO’s.
Bob graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese and Asian studies. He also holds a Master’s Degree in East Asian Studies from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he was a Fulbright Fellow at the National University of Singapore, and completed further graduate studies in Chinese at the University of Washington, Seattle.
Bob and his wife Gloria, an R.N., reside in Minneapolis. They have two adult children and three grandchildren.
Colleen Landkamer
Vice Chairperson
Minnesota State Director
USDA Rural Development
Colleen Landkamer was appointed by President Obama to serve as USDA Rural Development State Director in Minnesota on July 13, 2009. Since her appointment, Rural Development has invested over $3.5 billion throughout Minnesota in the areas of housing, infrastructure, job creation, renewable energy, high-speed Internet and economic development.
Before her service as State Director, Colleen was elected to the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners in 1988 and worked tirelessly for 20 years representing residents at the local, state, national and international level. Landkamer served as President of the National Association of Counties (NACo) from 2006 and 2007 and also served as an executive board member since 2002.
Her passion for local government brought the concerns of rural counties to the national stage through her involvement in forming the National Association of Counties Rural Action Caucus (RAC) in 1998. Landkamer's enthusiasm for RAC helped take it from an organization of 20 members to several hundred. Landkamer led the Campaign for Renewed Rural Development comprised of 30 national public and private entities that are working collaboratively to keep rural America strong. She is a past president of the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC). Landkamer has been a Humphrey Institute Policy Fellow, graduate of the Senior Executive Program in State and Local Government at Harvard University and was a member of the 2005 NACo/NYU leadership program. In 2000, American City and County Magazine named Landkamer, “County Leader of the Year.”
Colleen and her husband Jack Landkamer reside in Mankato and have three sons, John, Michael and Patrick.
Lieutenant Colonel Erika M. Cashin
Lt. Col. Erika M. Cashin is the Executive Officer of the 934th Airlift Wing, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Air Reserve Station, Minn. She most recently served as Deputy Commander, 934th Mission Support Group, providing management oversight to six subordinate squadrons, and more than 700 personnel in a wide variety of sustainment functions in support of the wing mission. She also served as Commander, 934th Mission Support Flight, responsible for military and civilian personnel, education and training functions for 1,700 Air Force Reserve military and civilian personnel.
A native of Duluth, Minn., Colonel Cashin began her career with the Department of Defense at Guantanamo Bay Naval Station, Cuba, as a civilian with the United States Navy. She and her husband then transferred to the U.S. Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Wash., where she worked at the Navy Oceanographic Processing Facility.
Colonel Cashin received her commission May 3, 1996, after graduating from Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. She attended Basic Personnel Officer School at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., to complete her technical training as a military personnel officer. She has served in various positions such as deputy group commander, squadron commander, executive officer, squadron section commander and support flight commander for USAF Active Duty Recruiting Command.
Upon separation from active duty in May 2002, Colonel Cashin entered the Air Reserve Technician program at the 440th Airlift Wing, Milwaukee, Wis.
Education
- 1987 Cathedral High School, Duluth, Minn.
- 1992 Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minn.
- 1993 Masters of Public Administration, Troy State University, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
- 2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- 2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
Assignments
- January 1996-May 1996, Student, Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- May 1996-July 1996, Student, Basic Personnel Officer School, Keesler AFB, Miss.
- July 1996-Febrary 1998, Executive Officer, 49th Support Group, Holloman AFB, N.M.
- February 1998-January 1999, Squadron Section Commander, 550th Special Operations Squadron,
Kirtland AFB, N.M. - January 1999-February 2000, Executive Officer, 58th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
- February 2000-April 2002, Support Flight Commander, 347th Recruiting Squadron, Milwaukee, Wis.
- April 2002-September 2005, Executive Officer, 440th Maintenance Group, Milwaukee Wis.
- September 2005-July 2006, Executive Officer, 301st Mission Support Group, Naval Air Station-Joint
Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas - July 2006-June 2008, Commander Trainee, 301st Mission Support Squadron, NAS-JRB Fort Worth,
Texas - June 2008-June 2011, Commander, 934th Force Support Squadron, Minneapolis-St Paul ARS, Minn.
- June 2011-August 2012, Deputy Commander, 934th Mission Support Group, Minneapolis-St Paul ARS, Minn.
- August 2012-Present, Executive Officer, 934th Airlift Wing, Minneapolis-St Paul ARS, Minn.
Awards and Decorations
- Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
- Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
- Air Force Achievement Medal
- AF Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
- National Defense Service Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Air Force Longevity Service Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 1 device
- Air Force Training Ribbon
Effective Dates of Promotion
- Second Lieutenant May 3, 1996
- First Lieutenant May 3, 1998
- Captain May 3, 2000
- Major March 31, 2005
- Lieutenant Colonel Aug. 20, 2010
Current as of November 2012
Joseph G. Schmitt
Executive Director
Federal Executive Board of Minnesota
Department of Interior, Inner Office of the Secretary
Joseph G. Schmitt is the Executive Director for the Federal Executive Board (FEB) of Minnesota located in Minneapolis, MN. The Minnesota FEB is given programmatic oversight from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) located in Washington D.C. The Office of the Secretary within the United States Department of Interior (DOI) provides administrative oversight and funding for the FEB of Minnesota.
Mr. Schmitt has leadership responsibilities and operational oversight to create value to the public by fostering communication, coordination, and collaboration with all federal, state, and local government agencies. The FEB serves as a catalyst for communication, coordination, and collaboration among the 140 Federal agencies across the country. The FEB of Minnesota serves as the main point of contact to Washington D.C. for federal matters pertaining to the State of Minnesota and the Federal Executive Board's three primary lines of business which include:
- Emergency Preparedness, Security, and Employee Safety
- Workforce Development and Support
- Intergovernmental/Interagency Collaboration and Community Outreach
He is also a standing member of the FBI’s Infragard Program, serves as the Region 5 Chairman of the Department of Interior’s Regional Emergency Coordination Council, Minnesota’s Joint Analysis Center (MNJAC), Federal and state Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning teams, Federal Liaison to the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers, and serves on many Federal, state and local antiterrorism and emergency management councils and associations.
Mr. Schmitt has a strong executive leadership, national strategy, and process optimization background with more than 27 years of experience. Mr. Schmitt served 22 years active duty in the United States Marine Corps and retired in 2007 as the Base HQ Executive Officer and the Western Region Leadership Academy Director. Upon retirement, Mr. Schmitt served as a Senior Executive within Target Corporation’s international supply chain and then as a Global Portfolio Executive at Jones Lang LaSalle Real Estate Investment Firm prior to returning to Federal service in 2010. After serving in the private sector, he took appointment as the Special Agent in Charge, Federal Investigative Services responsible for federal investigations in WI, MN, ND, SD, NE, and IA. He began in his current role in July of 2012 and is leveraging his Federal, military and corporate experience to drive positive results across all aspects of government. Mr. Schmitt serves as a guest speaker for many federal and private events sharing his passion in the area of engaging leadership and process optimization.
Born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, he obtained his undergraduate degree from National University in San Diego, CA (Magna Cum Laude). Graduate studies include: The Marine Corps Command and Staff College with an emphasis in International Strategic Studies, Pennsylvania State University Executive Supply Chain Management Program, San Diego State University Six Sigma Black Belt Certification from the Center of Advanced Mathematics, and an Executive MBA in Organizational Leadership. He and his wife Nancy have two children and reside in Hudson, WI.
Alyssa L. Bryan
Assistant Director
Federal Executive Board of Minnesota
Department of Interior, Inner Office of the Secretary
Alyssa L. Bryan is the Assistant Director for the Federal Executive Board (FEB) of Minnesota located in Minneapolis, MN. The Minnesota FEB is given programmatic oversight from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) located in Washington D.C. The Office of the Secretary within the United States Department of Interior (DOI) provides administrative oversight and funding for the FEB of Minnesota.
Ms. Bryan has support responsibilities and operational oversight to create value to the public by fostering communication, coordination, and collaboration with all federal, state, and local government agencies. The FEB serves as a catalyst for communication, coordination, and collaboration among the 140 Federal agencies across the country. The FEB of Minnesota serves as the main point of contact to Washington D.C. for federal matters pertaining to the State of Minnesota and the Federal Executive Board's three primary lines of business which include:
- Emergency Preparedness, Security, and Employee Safety
- Workforce Development and Support
- Intergovernmental/Interagency Collaboration and Community Outreach
She serves as a deputy to the FEB Executive Director by providing leadership to all FEB councils and supporting the Policy Board in executing program goals and initiatives. She partners with external organizations such as the Association for Minnesota Emergency Mangers, Metro Transit, The American Red Cross and the Metropolitan Emergency Managers Association. She is also liaison to the Society of Government Meeting Professionals Northern Lights chapter, serving as a member of the board since 2011.
Ms. Bryan has a professional background in leadership, particularly as it concerns inter-cultural exchange. Prior to her role as Assistant Director for the Federal Executive Board, she served for two years as an educator and development worker with the United States Peace Corps. She lived in rural West Africa where she taught secondary school students in classrooms of up to 115 students each; she also mentored and trained her peers as a Peace Corps volunteer speaker and trainer. She has led the Federal Executive Board and its councils and partners through three years of successful inter-agency collaborations. She led coordination of Civil Servant of the Year for three years in a row, an event which honors up to 100 exceptional Federal employees, and attracts over 550 guests each year. She has facilitated the Federal Outreach and Leadership Development Program for three years as well, offering classroom sessions and outreach opportunities to Federal journeymen representing over 50 agencies in Minnesota. This program has fostered leadership development for the best and brightest Federal leaders and assists with the transition from supervisory role to upper management for many FOLD graduates.
Ms. Bryan is originally from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and graduated from Bethel University in 2005. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in French and Psychology. She now lives with her husband in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
