What are the responsibilities and job description for the Command Historian and Coordination Support Specialist position at GDR Defense?
GD Resources LLC is seeking a knowledgeable military historian to provide historical research, archival management, educational content, and coordination support to the 11th Airborne Division.
The specialist will preserve the Division’s historical records, communicate lessons from its military heritage, and support command activities involving senior military leaders, congressional delegations, and external organizations. The position requires extensive knowledge of the 11th Airborne Division and/or United States Army Alaska (USARAK), along with experience working with organizations across Alaska.
Responsibilities
Historical Research and Archival Management
Research the history of the 11th Airborne Division, USARAK, and military operations in Alaska and other high-latitude, extreme-weather environments.
Organize and catalogue historical documents and artifacts, including materials dating to Fort Richardson’s establishment after 1947.
Create a comprehensive inventory and digital catalogue within 90 days of contract award.
Establish a sustainable process for receiving, preserving, storing, and retrieving additional historical materials.
Develop historical displays in Perez Hall and other Division headquarters within 180 days of contract award.
Collaborate with veterans’ organizations and conduct individual veteran interviews to capture the Division’s living history.
Historical Education and Command Support
Provide accurate historical research, analysis, and advice to command leadership and staff.
Develop classroom and virtual leader professional development presentations using historical examples, vignettes, and facilitated discussion.
Prepare and deliver a monthly 3–5-minute historical vignette with a supporting PowerPoint slide at the Division Command Update Brief.
Begin monthly historical presentations within 60 days of contract award.
Develop educational material connecting the Division’s history to its identity, mission, and cold-weather operational readiness.
VIP and Congressional Visit Coordination
Support the Commander’s Initiative Group, Joint Visitor Bureau, and Division Protocol Office.
Assist with up to three congressional/staff delegation visits and two additional military or civilian VIP events.
Support visitor planning for the February 2027 Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center exercise.
Participate in eight one-hour visitor planning events during the two months preceding the exercise.
Coordinate visit arrangements through email, telephone, and Microsoft Teams.
Prepare up to eight VIP visit concept-of-operations briefing slides.
Develop visit agendas and briefing products for government review, generally two weeks before the visit or event.
Prepare after-action reports documenting outcomes, observations, and improvement recommendations within two weeks after events.
Interagency and Installation Coordination
Support coordination with military, federal, state, municipal, tribal, university, veterans’, and nongovernmental organizations.
Assist command staff with reviews and proposed updates to the JBER Memorandum of Agreement and its 32 annexes.
Coordinate with responsible Division staff and 673d Air Base Wing counterparts.
Prepare slides, supporting documents, and leadership preparatory briefs for semiannual Intermediate Command Summits.
Track proposed changes and provide required briefing products and updates within established deadlines.
Annual History Reporting
Coordinate historical reporting timelines and collect supporting records from subordinate units.
Draft the annual 11th Airborne Division Unit History Report for staff review and eventual Commanding General signature.
Deliver the initial report draft at least 30 days before the submission deadline to I Corps.
Draft a Division historical reporting standard operating procedure within 120 days of contract implementation.
Conduct an internal after-action review and provide a closeout report with recommended procedural improvements.
Required Qualifications
Extensive knowledge and experience concerning the history of the 11th Airborne Division and/or USARAK.
Experience working with military organizations and Alaska-based federal, state, municipal, tribal, university, or nongovernmental partners.
Strong knowledge of military history, particularly Alaska and operations in high-latitude or extreme-weather environments.
Demonstrated historical research, analysis, archival organization, and records-management skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication, briefing, and presentation skills.
Ability to prepare professional reports, correspondence, PowerPoint presentations, agendas, and after-action documentation.
Ability to manage concurrent assignments and meet recurring and event-driven deadlines.
Ability to work onsite at JBER and satisfy installation and government network access requirements.
Active Secret security clearance or ability to obtain one within the required 60-day period.
Ability to complete required security and awareness training and protect sensitive government information.
Preferred Qualifications
Active Secret clearance.
Direct experience supporting the 11th Airborne Division, USARAK, or military commands in Alaska.
Experience preparing Army unit history reports.
Experience supporting command groups, protocol offices, congressional visits, or senior-leader events.
Experience with oral history interviews, historical exhibits, or digital archival systems.
Relevant education in history, military history, archival studies, museum studies, public administration, or a related field.
Work Environment and Training
Work will primarily take place in an office and archival setting at Perez Hall, with support to meetings, presentations, displays, and official visits. The Government provides workspace and a computer with authorized network access.
Required training includes:
Cyber Awareness Training and execution of an IT User Agreement before network access.
iWatch training within 10 calendar days of starting work.
Antiterrorism Level I training within 30 calendar days of starting work.
Operations Security awareness training within 30 calendar days and annually thereafter.
Equal Opportunity Employer
GD Resources LLC provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodations are available during the application process.