Draft:Miemie Winn Byrd

• Comment: Most of the article has no sources. Where did youget that info from? OhHaiMark (talk) 04:17, 30 August 2024 (UTC)

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Miemie Winn Byrd
Born	1966 (age 57–58) Thonze, Burma
Citizenship	U.S. Citizen
Education	Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Economics and Accounting, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.)
Occupation	Professor

Miemie Winn Byrd, Ed.D., is a Burmese-American practitioner-scholar, security analyst, and retired U.S. Army officer. She currently serves as a Professor of Security Studies at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS), a U.S. Department of Defense Executive Education Center located in Honolulu, Hawaii.. Dr. Byrd's research, teaching, and publications focus on U.S.-Myanmar relations, security dynamics in Southeast Asia, economics and security linkages, rising inequality and its implications on security, and the roles of the private sector, women, and education in socioeconomic development. She also specializes in civil-military operations, leadership, organizational development and innovation, women, peace and security, and transformational learning and adult education.

Early Life and Education

Miemie Winn Byrd was born in Thonze, Burma (Myanmar), and emigrated to the United States with her parents as a teenager. She attended Nicholas Junior High School and Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton, California. Dr. Byrd earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Economics and Accounting from Claremont McKenna College and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an emphasis on Asia-Pacific Economics and Business from the University of Hawaii. She later obtained a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership from the University of Southern California.

Military Career

Dr. Byrd retired from the U.S. Army after 28 years of service. Her career was primarily focused on her role as a Civil Affairs Officer, where she engaged in activities at the intersection of military operations and civilian populations in host nations. She was involved in facilitating security cooperation between the U.S. military and civilian organizations, especially in regions affected by conflict and disaster.

During her service, Dr. Byrd held various positions, including Deputy Economic Advisor, Civil-Military Operations Plans Officer, and Interagency Operations Officer at U.S. Pacific Command. She supported Operations Enduring Freedom and the War on Terrorism. Additionally, she served as a linguist and cultural advisor to U.S. delegations at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum, participated in POW/MIA recovery negotiations in Myanmar, contributed to Operation Caring Response to Cyclone Nargis, and was involved in U.S.-Myanmar Human Rights Dialogues.

Dr. Byrd's expertise in the socio-political landscape of Myanmar and neighboring countries contributed to U.S. military and diplomatic efforts in the region. Her service also included work on policy and strategy, particularly in Southeast Asia.

Civilian Professional Experience

In addition to her military and government service, Dr. Byrd has 16 years of civilian private-sector experience. She held various auditing, accounting, and financial management positions with multinational corporations, including Law & Economics Consulting Group (LECG), Oral-B Division of Gillette, GTE (General Telephone and Electronics), and Ernst & Young. She also worked with the Silicon Valley start-up firm Wyzdom.com.

Advocacy and Academic Contributions

After retiring from military service, Dr. Byrd continued her work in advocacy and academia, with a focus on regional security in Southeast Asia and Myanmar. She has authored several articles, including “Women on the Front Lines in Myanmar’s Fight for Democracy,” published in the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs. Her writings often examine the challenges faced by women in conflict zones and their roles in democratic movements and economic growth.

Dr. Byrd has also published on topics such as strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, socio-economic strategies for combating terrorism, and the role of women in security. Some of her selected publications include:

• “Myanmar’s Unrest: Implications of the Military Coup on Strategic Competition in the Indo-Pacific” in Indo-Pacific Defense Forum.

• “Has Myanmar Become China’s Back Door to the Indian Ocean?” in Hindsight, Insight, Foresight.

• “Worlds Apart: Why North Korea Won’t Follow Myanmar’s Path to Reform” in Global Asia.

• “Combating Terrorism: A Socio-Economic Strategy” and “Combating Terrorism with Socioeconomics: Leveraging the Private Sector” in Joint Force Quarterly.

Dr. Byrd also served as the editor for USPACOM’s Asia-Pacific Economic Update publications from 2003 to 2007.

Media Appearances and Interviews

Dr. Byrd has been a frequent commentator on Myanmar affairs, participating in interviews and panel discussions with international media outlets such as the BBC, Voice of America (VOA), CNN, and Al Jazeera

In her media appearances, Dr. Byrd has addressed the challenges faced by the Myanmar people and the broader struggle for democracy in Myanmar. Her interviews and articles have been featured in various news organizations, reflecting her involvement in discussions on human rights and democratic governance.

Advisory Roles

Dr. Byrd spearheaded the establishment and launch of the Suu Foundation, a 501(c)(3) U.S. non-profit entity, at the request of Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in 2013. She also serves on the Board of Governors of the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California, and as an Adjunct Fellow at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. Additionally, she is on the Selection Committee for the USABCI Myanmar Scholarship Fund under the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council Institute based in Washington, D.C., and serves on several regional advisory committees, including the Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar Initiative of the Asia Regional Office, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Thanakha International Gender Network, and Myanmar Policy Institute (MPI).

Legacy and Impact

Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd is known for her contributions to U.S. military operations and civil-military relations, particularly in Southeast Asia, through her work as a Civil Affairs Officer. In addition to her military career, Dr. Byrd has been involved in advocacy for democracy and human rights, focusing on issues in Myanmar. Her scholarly work, media appearances, and public speaking have positioned her as a notable figure in discussions related to democracy and human rights in Myanmar and beyond.