RICHMOND, Virginia –
As part of the National Guard State Partnership Program, Virginia is paired with both Finland and Tajikistan to engage in a wide array of military activities, ranging from joint training exercises and subject matter expert exchanges to disaster response and humanitarian aid initiatives. Key components of these SPP relationships are the work and dedication of bilateral affairs officers — Virginia National Guard officers who live in Finland and Tajikistan and manage defense and security cooperation between Virginia and the officers’ host countries.
“I serve as the connective tissue between the Virginia National Guard and the Tajik military,” explained Capt. Joshua McAnnally, the bilateral affairs officer to Tajikistan.
“Operating under the authority of the ambassador and in coordination with U.S. Combatant Commands and their components, I help shape and execute defense cooperation that aligns with U.S. strategic priorities and Tajikistan's national security needs.”
For McAnnally, his responsibilities include coordinating training events, exchanges, and military engagements designed to build Tajikistan's capability, especially in areas critical to counterterrorism and border security.
“I work across embassy sections and with international partners to ensure every engagement is purposeful and supports our broader security objectives,” he said.
Meanwhile in Finland, Maj. Erika Legg serves as the bilateral affairs officer to Finland.
“I sit at the intersection of diplomacy and military cooperation,” she explained. “I value working with the U.S. interagency and our Finnish partners to advance multiple strategic priorities and activities.”
Legg and McAnnally both say they find their positions rewarding and fulfilling.
“What's most fulfilling about this role is seeing the tangible impact of our cooperation,” McAnnally said. “Whether enabling a tactical counterterrorism course or supporting institutional capacity-building programs, our work contributes directly to regional stability and our shared security interests.”
Legg said the most fulfilling part of the job to her is the ability to positively impact international relations with Finland.
“I am the first Virginia National Guard officer to be stationed at the Finnish Defense Command,” she said. “People go out of their way to initiate a conversation because they know an American is working at their headquarters now.”
Building relationships and mutual trust with the Tajik military and government officials is also deeply rewarding, according to McAnnally.
“This role offers a rare opportunity to represent the U.S. at a strategic level while operating with a high degree of independence and responsibility.”
Legg and McAnnally each took different paths to becoming BAOs.
In February 2022, as Legg explained, she was sitting on the couch watching the news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, holding her one-year-old daughter and infant son.
“There was a report showing women and children evacuating to Poland by train, and in the train station, there were rows and rows of donated strollers and baby products lined up, waiting for the next train to arrive,” she recalled. “I remember sitting there and realizing the only difference between me and the Ukrainian women evacuating with their babies was chance. At that moment, I knew I needed to figure out how to reduce my chance, America’s chance, of any situation resulting in war or invasion like Ukraine has experienced.
“When conversations at work started to bubble up that there was going to be a BAO position established in Finland, I half-jokingly told my supervisor that Helsinki would be my next assignment,” she recalled. “I knew this was my opportunity to give back, to make a mark, and hopefully create new relationships and increase interoperability between Virginia and Finland.”
McAnnally pursued the BAO role because of a desire “to understand and be part of the teams that make a strategic-level impact while still staying close to operational realities.”
“It's a rare position that allows you to represent the National Guard, the embassy, and the broader U.S. defense enterprise all at once,” he explained. “I was also drawn to the opportunity to build real, lasting partnerships — particularly in a country like Tajikistan, where our cooperation is critical to regional counterterrorism and security efforts.”
For Airmen and Soldiers who are intrigued by the idea of becoming a BAO, Legg recommends talking to their family first because they will need to make a lot of sacrifices.
“For us, it meant that my husband had to quit his dream job and become a stay-at-home Dad. We went from a two-income family to a one-income family,” she explained.
“Our family dynamic has dramatically shifted since arriving at post, and you and your family must be willing to work as a team to excel in a foreign country. Things that we take for granted back in America, like running to the grocery store, take ten times longer now because you 1) have to find the store, 2) understand the parking situation or public transportation, and 3) translate everything.”
Despite the sacrifices and lifestyle change, Legg finds the position both personally and professionally rewarding.
“The most exciting part of the position is learning a new culture, getting outside of the metropolitan area, and experiencing ‘real’ Finnish culture,” she explained. “They are the happiest country in the world, and I have much to learn from them.”
“My family has adapted well into the embassy community,” McAnnally said, adding that they even adopted a Tajik puppy. “My children go to an international school in the heart of Dushanbe and my wife has become a key member of the embassy community. We have had the opportunity to go on waterfall hikes with the coolest people and reach across the world at dinner tables.”
McAnnally said that if Airmen or Soldiers are looking for a position that challenges them to be both a diplomat and a strategist, this is it.
“You'll grow professionally, gain exposure to interagency and international coordination, and make a meaningful contribution to global security. It's demanding, but also one of the most professionally rewarding assignments you can take on in today's security environment.”