Exercise Planner

Overview

The Nakupuna Companies are a Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO)-owned family of companies comprising large and 8(a) small businesses. Our mission is to create and implement elegant solutions to the government’s most challenging problems while increasing economic opportunities for the Native Hawaiian community.  Over the past 10 years, Nakupuna has become a leader among NHOs and through our successes, the Nakupuna Foundation has given over $15MM to the Native Hawaiian community.  

Nakupuna Consulting is seeking an Exercise Planner to support the planning and execution of joint and coalition exercises within the Indo-Pacific region. This position would support PACAF via Air Combat Command (ACC) in the planning and execution of exercises. The Planner will oversee the full lifecycle of exercises, from concept development and coordination through execution and after-action review, ensuring alignment with operational objectives and strategic priorities. This position requires strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills, as well as experience managing operational and logistical requirements in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

The following reflects management’s definition of key functions for this job and reserves the right to assign additional duties as necessary to meet operational requirements:

• Plan, organize, and manage assigned exercises throughout the Joint Exercise Life Cycle (JELC), including concept development, execution, and after-action review.
• Develop exercise options based on unit availability, training requirements, and exercise objectives.
• Develop and brief exercise options to senior client leaders. Work with outside organizations and subordinate units during mission analysis.
• Finalize exercise planning by providing concept of operations and writing exercise orders.
• Collect data and develop after action reports.
• Build after action briefings for senior client leaders.
• Utilize existing resources to develop exercises of Joint and Combined training events.
• Develop exercise objectives, attendee lists, and coordinate logistics for planning meetings, conferences, and execution events.
• Estimate and manage funding requirements within assigned budgets for each exercise.
• Coordinate and communicate with internal and external stakeholders, including service components, partner nations, and interagency participants, to ensure effective execution and continuity.
• Provide guidance, assistance, and training to exercise participants and planning teams.
• Analyze and document the effectiveness of exercise planning and execution as part of after-action reporting.
• Identify, analyze, and resolve contingency issues or execution challenges by developing and socializing Courses of Action (COAs).
• Ensure compliance with all applicable performance standards, deliverables, and reporting requirements.
• Maintain awareness of regional relationships, customs, and courtesies relevant to joint and coalition exercise planning.
• Account for current and projected force structure, roles, responsibilities, and capabilities when developing exercise participation plans.
• Liaise with national-level agencies, DoD, Services, Combatant Commands, and Intelligence organizations as required.
• Utilize Microsoft Office applications and learn new planning and collaboration tools, including AI, ML, and LLM-enabled systems, to enhance efficiency and coordination.

Qualifications

Education/Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree. Years of experience can substitute for a degree.
• 1-10 years of experience planning Major Command-level (or equivalent) exercises.
• Familiarity with operational and logistical requirements for exercises, deployments, and mobilizations.
• Working knowledge of force structure, including country locations, units, and assigned assets.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to respond to communications within established timelines.
• Ability to lead and collaborate within a team environment, demonstrating strong leadership and customer interface skills.
• Proficiency with current Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn new planning software.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred:

• Recent military experience within the past 5 to 10 years.
• Rated officer background or logistics experience.
• Air Operations Center (AOC) or Major Command/Numbered Air Force (MAJCOM/NAF) staff experience.
• Experience in planning and executing Joint or Coalition Field Training Exercises (FTXs), Command Post Exercises (CPXs), Staff Exercises, or Table-Top Exercises involving aviation assets.
• Familiarity with Theater Campaign Plans and organizational strategy.
• Experience liaising with national-level agencies and intelligence organizations.
• Experience with Joint Operation Planning and Execution System (JOPES) and Deliberate and Crisis Action Planning and Execution Segments (DCAPES).
• Familiarity with financial documentation and management systems (MIPRs, AF-616s, Comptroller Alerts, Manpower MPA Man-day Management System).

Work Location: Work is performed in Hampton, Virginia.

Clearance:  Active TS/SCI security clearance required. Must be a U.S. citizen. 

Physical Requirements: The ideal candidate must at a minimum, be able to meet the following physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation: 

• Ability to perform repetitive motions with the hands, wrists, and fingers.
• Ability to engage in and follow audible communications in emergencies.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods at a desk and work on a computer.

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