Of all the departments, I thought the WHMO would be the toughest nut to crack—it was complex, scary, and procedural, and there was no cheat sheet to understanding it. You met with WHMO in a conference room in a part of the White House that you’re not really supposed to talk about, and I would often be seated with high-ranking military advisers and decorated generals. I was worried I was going to look like a complete amateur when I had my initial briefing with them. It was scheduled for the first week I was deputy chief.
