Daniel E. (Dan) Rice 🇺🇸 🇺🇦  

President, American University Kyiv/ Co-President Thayer Leadership at West Point/Special Advisor to Ukraine Armed Forces Commander In Chief 5/22-3/23. Primary advocate successfully acquired cluster munitions & ATACMs. 

Jan 16, 2025

Yesterday’s post of Chairman of SASC Senator Wicker’s lapel pin of US-Ukraine flags received over 100,000 views. The new administration is being very tight lipped (smartly) but we can see signals of where the new White House/US culture will be with regard to Ukraine.

Senator Wicker’s flag pin shows us the Senate Armed Services will support Ukraine.

As a leadership expert, and co-founder of Thayer Leadership, I believe artifacts and symbolism matter (Edgar Schein).

When key leaders in government, or in any organization, decorate their office, they are displaying what is important to them. These are the things they value most.

We know Senator Wicker values Ukraine and he is in THE key role to fund Ukraine.

Now let’s look at Representative Mike Waltz, the soon to be National Security Advisor.

This is a photo of Mike’s office, as he is packing to move offices, taken this week by a friend.
These are the artifacts that display what NSA Waltz values. After a career in U.S. Army Special Forces.
Before even entering his office, guests see the Ukrainian Trident displayed as art outside his office (circled).

This should make every Ukrainian supporter be very encouraged.

Inside the office a poster of the video “Why we fight Now”. Which is a recent documentary by Frank Capra Jr, based on his fathers WWII classic “Why we fight” that helped mobilize Americans to fight WWII.

This is the DNA of a warrior.

These symbols, displayed by the leaders of the new administration, symbolize where their hearts are- and what they value.

They value Freedom.

They value Ukraine.

…….

Comment from :

Timothy Parnell

Daniel E. (Dan) Rice 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 Great observations which are an accurate assignment. Also encourage all to research his congressional testimonies.

Tony Romani

Let’s pray and hope that what you’re saying turns out as you envision it!

Gene Chaas

Spot on Dan! Symbolism does matter. Was beginning to doubt whether anyone in the new admin could spell sovereignty or even self-determination. Ancient American ideals.

Tony Giraudo

Dan thank you for sharing. Gives me hope that the USA 🇺🇸 will continue to support Ukraine 🇺🇦 and NATO. Russia’s economy needs to be severely impacted by it’s decision to invade Ukraine 🇺🇦. Otherwise Russia’s invasions of 30 countries since 1900 will continue. No leader of Russia can ever be trusted again….period.

Ed Belanger

Reasons to be hopeful. Still a contrast to the incoming President’s ambivalence and VP’s disregard toward Ukraine. We’ll see how it goes.

Bert Blocken

I agree, and certainly with “when people decorate their office, they are displaying what is important to them”. I do not consider myself a key leader, but even I have also decorated my offices, both my university office and my home office, with multiple items referring to Ukraine (and Georgia).

Steven Moore

I don’t know Waltz, but as you point out, he has the perfect resume for National Security Advisor to the President of the United States. Green Beret, worked in the Pentagon, several terms in Congress… Jake Sullivan is a Yale trained lawyer. Lawyer’s are trained to mitigate risk – I am pretty sure Yale law school does not offer classes on military strategy. Rather than creating a strategy to win, Sullivan spent the last three years mitigating risk associated with Ukraine. I am looking forward to seeing the contrast with Waltz.