Calendar of Events

Topics will include:

1. How our different military paths led to a PMP certification.
2. The value project management had on their military careers.
3. A discussion on how earning a PMP certification should not be limited to when transitioning out of the military.
4. Q&A

   Need additional info? Contact VP Membership Olimpia Saenz

 

 

 

Lieutenant Colonel Chhabra graduated from Penn State University and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May 2000. Upon completion of entry-level training as a Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Officer, he reported to 1st Stinger Battery, Okinawa, Japan, where he served as Platoon Commander and Assistant Operations Officer. In November 2002, he reported to 2d LAAD Battalion, Cherry Point, North Carolina, where he was assigned as the Assistant Operations Officer and deployed to Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 04-06 as the Commanding Officer of Headquarters and Service Battery. In June 2005, Captain Chhabra assumed duties as the Executive Officer/Senior Officer Instructor of the Marine Corps Detachment, Fort Bliss, Texas where he implemented a new curriculum for the next generation of LAAD Officers. In December 2008, he transferred to 3d LAAD Battalion, Camp Pendleton, California, and served as the Commanding Officer of Battery B. In February 2010, he deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) 10.1 where he partnered with coalition forces and conducted counterinsurgency operations in the populated areas surrounding Camp Leatherneck. Upon return from deployment, he was promoted to Major and was assigned as the Battalion’s Executive Officer. In February 2012, he returned to Afghanistan with I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) as the Afghan National Security Forces Development Planner within the Regional Command-Southwest (RC-SW) C10 Staff Directorate in support of OEF 12. In this coalition environment, he ensured all of RC-SW’s Security Force Assistance Advisor Teams were force generated, trained, manned, and equipped to meet International Security Assistance Force Joint Command mission requirements. In July 2013, Major Chhabra transferred to the Naval Postgraduate School and earned a Master of Science in Information Technology Management followed by an acquisitions utilization tour at Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity, Camp Pendleton, California. He served as an Engineering Branch Head and Group Director where he led the command’s infrastructure modernization strategy to support wireless communications testing, cyber vulnerability analysis, Marine Corps Enterprise Network configuration management, and naval integration. In July 2018, Lieutenant Colonel Chhabra served as the Operations Officer for Marine Air Control Group 38, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, where he integrated aviation command and control operations, programs, and activities for 3d Marine Aircraft Wing. In May 2019, he transferred to the United States Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he is currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Joint, Interagency, and Multinational Operations. 

 

 

 

 

 

Lieutenant Colonel Paul M. Rivera was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He entered boot camp at MCRD San Diego, California on June 3, 1996 and graduated as a meritorious Private First Class on August 28, 1996. After honorably serving his enlisted time in the Marine Corps as a reservist, he graduated from Texas A&M University in 2002, with a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in business administration. He was commissioned in 2003 as a Second Lieutenant. Second Lieutenant Rivera reported to Aviation Pre-flight Indoctrination (API) School in Pensacola, Florida as a student pilot, after completing API he reported to Corpus Christi, Texas for Primary Flight Training. After being reassigned, Second Lieutenant Rivera reported to Amphibian Officer Course and then graduated in December 2004. He then proceeded to Delta Company, 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion on Marine Corps Base Twenty-Nine Palms, California and held the billet of Platoon Commander. First Lieutenant Rivera received orders to report to Okinawa, Japan for a Unit Deployment Program (UDP) in 2005. He subsequently deployed to Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM from October 2006 to April 2007, operating in the Al Anbar Province. Following the deployment, in 2007, First Lieutenant Rivera reported to the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch (AVTB) as a Developmental Test Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, and Deputy Director. While serving at AVTB he completed a Master’s of Science in Project Management from The University of WisconsinPlatteville. In 2010, Captain Rivera reported to Maneuver Captains Career Course, and upon graduation he assumed command of Company B, 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion, Camp Pendleton, California. Subsequently he took command of Task Force Gator (TFG) and deployed to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. After his return from deployment, in July 2013, Major Rivera reported to PEO Land Systems and Program Manager (PM), Advanced Amphibious Assault. In July 2016 Major Rivera reported to 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion and was assigned as the Operations Officer through December of 2016. At that time he deployed as the Senior Operational Coordination Center-Regional Advisor for Task Force Southwest in support of Operation RESOLUTE SUPPORT in Afghanistan. In April 2018, Major Rivera reported to MARSOC and was assigned as the 3d MRSB Executive Officer through June of 2019. During his tour, he prepared two Marine Raider Support Teams and a Special Operations Task Force Headquarter for worldwide operational deployments. Transferring in June 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Rivera is currently serving as an Assistant Professor at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.