Cathey Henry Biography

In November 2010 Cathey Henry and her husband Bob took the reins as the new owners of JMAR Management and Training now known as JMAR Protocol Training and Consulting.  

Cathey began her protocol career at Naval Base Seattle, currently known as Navy Region Northwest.  Cathey met with her superiors to discuss the need for a protocol specialist on staff, not only did she convince them of the need for a protocol specialist, she got the job too.  During her eight years in the Pacific Northwest Cathey worked with Buckingham Palace for a visit by His Royal Highness Prince Andrew; was the Navy Region Northwest liaison for the first CONUS visits by ships of the Japanese Self Defense Forces and the Peoples Republic of China.  Working as a one person shop, Cathey overcame the challenging logistics of the Pacific Northwest by establishing a network of other protocol specialists to bridge any gaps.  For her work with Navy Region Northwest, Cathey was awarded the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Medal.

Cathey challenged herself by making the career jump from Navy protocol to Air Force protocol.   She moved into Air Force protocol as she went to work at Air Force Space Command.  She worked on the Air Force 50th Birthday celebration and was the local point person for the annual Air Force CORONA TOP meeting for two years.

Cathey and Bob then moved to Germany where she became the first civilian Chief of Protocol at the 435th Air Base Wing in Ramstein, Germany.  During her time in Germany, Cathey was selected by her Commanding General as the lead for Laura Bush, the First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS) visit and following the success of this visit, the Commanding General proclaimed Cathey as her MVP.  During her tenure at Ramstein Air Force Base Cathey worked with numerous USO shows, entertainers, politicians, and more than 900 distinguished visitor missions that crossed the flight line red carpet annually.  Cathey took care to insure that during these visits the “Wounded Warriors” received priority seating and the recognition they deserved.

Cathey's last assignment with the federal government was as Deputy Director of Protocol at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) in the Washington D.C. area.  During this time NGA began building the 3rd largest building in the Washington D.C. area, this notoriety made NGA a must see for visiting dignitaries.  After more than 24 years of federal service and 17 years in the protocol arena Cathey retired from federal service in October 2010 and has started a new exciting chapter in her life as the owner and instructor JMAR.