Office Space: Dr. John Weaver, Associate Professor of Intelligence Analysis

The way a person decorates can say a lot about them. In the Office Space series, we go beyond the résumé and get to know York College faculty and staff members through the objects they like to keep close.

John Weaver is an Associate Professor of Intelligence Analysis at York College in Pennsylvania, a retired Department of Defense civilian from the United States’ Intelligence Community, and has served as an officer in the U.S. Army (retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel). His experience includes multiple combat deployments, peace enforcement, peacekeeping, humanitarian relief, and disaster assistance support in both conventional and unconventional/nontraditional units. Before making the switch to academia, Dr. Weaver lived and worked on four continents and in 19 countries spending nearly eight years overseas working on behalf of the U.S. government. 

1. Three-sided blade

Dr. Weaver says the blade is a throwback to the Office of Strategic Service (OSS). This plaque, with the blade affixed to it, was presented to him for service in a unique organization that falls under the Department of Defense that traces its lineage back to the OSS. He had the honor of commanding one of the troops in the unit.

2. C130 and paratroopers

The picture of the C130 and paratroopers dropping from it was presented to Dr. Weaver at the end of his tour in another unique organization. It reflected his time in an airborne special mission unit. 

3. Miner statue

The statue was reflective of Dr. Weaver’s time at a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) headquarters in The Netherlands. The Dutch government provided the land that was used as a former coal mine to NATO in order for it to establish an operational level headquarters at this location (after France pulled out of NATO’s military structure in the late 1960s). This was his last duty assignment as an army officer.

4. Brick

The brick was an artifact from an old building on Fort Meade that used to house a military intelligence organization. The building burned down and has since been rebuilt. The soldiers who worked for Dr. Weaver as a civilian affixed their signatures to it and presented this to him upon his retirement from civilian service.

5. Coins

The coins represent either service with an organization or accomplishments. Dr. Weaver says these were presented to him by commanders for whom he worked or supported over the years.