Read more from NPS Opening| Day 1| Day 2| Day 3
The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) European International Alumni Symposium concluded, October 2, with partners and allies focused on collaborative ways forward on European and global security issues. Participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to reengage, learn from experts, and recommitted themselves to tackling the challenges ahead.
During the closing ceremony Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa; Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples delivered remarks.
"In so many ways they [the educational institutions] are the engines of what happens in the future,” said Munsch. “They not only equip individuals with the skill sets to think about particular knowledge areas but more broadly to think critically and strategically.”
On the final day of the Symposium, Distinguished Alumni awardees were recognized at an awards dinner hosted by the NPS Foundation and Alumni Association, and all attendees were collectively acknowledged for their active participation and their vital contributions to their respective countries' militaries, both now and in the future.
Admiral Dimitrios Kataras
Admiral Kataras of Greece currently serves as the Chief of the Hellenic Navy General Staff. He has served at all operational and staff levels in the Hellenic Navy since earning his commission in 1987 from the Hellenic Naval Academy. He received his dual Master of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and Aeronautical Engineering from NPS in 1995.
Major General Claudiu Dobocan
Major General Dobocan of Romania currently serves as the Commander of the Romanian Special Forces in the Romanian Army. He has made significant contributions to the Romanian Armed Forces including working with a select staff to conceptualize, frame and establish the Romanian Special Operations Forces Command in 2018. He received his Master of Science in Defense Analysis from NPS in 2004.
Lieutenant General Michael Vetter
Lieutenant General Vetter of Germany currently serves as the Director General Cyber/IT and Chief Information Officer at the German Ministry of Defense. He joined the Luftwaffe as an officer cadet in 1982. In 2017 he became the first Vice Chief Bundeswehr Cyber and Information Domain Service (CIDS) and the Chief of Staff CIDS Headquarters. He completed the Defense Resource Management Institute (DRMI) course,” Senior International Defense Management", in August 2015.
Doctor Oleksiy Syvak
Doctor Syvak of Ukraine was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Botswana on August 19, 2024. Throughout his career, he has facilitated multiple socially and economically important projects that helped to build up Ukraine’s positive brand image and increase tourist and investment attraction. He received his Master of Arts in International Security & Civil-Military Relations from NPS in 2003.
Brigadier General Miroslav Feix
Brigadier General Feix of the Czech Republic currently serves as the Director, Ministry of Defense, Capabilities Planning Division. He is a notable figure in the Czech Republic Special Forces community where he has been successful in combining a deep interest in technology, conceptual thinking, and combat operation experiences. He received his Master of Science in Defense Analysis from NPS in 2007.
Brigadier General Boštjan Močnik
Brigadier General Močnik of Slovenia is currently serving as the Slovenian Army Force Commander. He joined the Slovenian Armed Forces in 1998 and has held staff and operational positions at all echelons. He received a Graduate Certificate in International Defense Planning in 2018.
Colonel Rivo Meimer
Colonel Meimer of Estonia has served as the Commander of the Estonian Special Operations Force in the Estonian Army since 2023. He is part of a group of founders of the Estonian SOF, where he served in various positions from its inception in 2005 until 2019. He received his Master of Science in Defense Analysis from NPS in 2016.
The Naval Postgraduate School alumni community that came together at the European International Alumni Symposium Sept. 30 to Oct. 3 had the added value of a first-ever Spouses’ Program hosted by the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation & Alumni Association.
From educational tours of the Garmisch-Partenkirchen region to journeying to the top of the Zugspitze, global friendships were made and reinforced during the daily Spouse’s Program activities and the evening networking events.
The enthusiastic spouse participation and bonding during the activities this week is testimony to the family member’s foundational role in strengthening our NPS Alumni network.
Alumni, Students and their families are integral to our global trusted network of partners and allies.
Watch U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, as he shares insights on strengthening international defense partnerships in today’s complex security landscape.
“These relationships matter, and continuing to cultivate them matters because our alumni network is a vital resource,” said Cavoli. “It provides us unparalleled opportunity to share knowledge, to exchange ideas, and to foster innovation all around the globe.”
Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, traveled to California and the Pacific Northwest, Sept. 23-26, 2024, as part of his inaugural visit to Pacific Fleet commands to meet with leaders and Sailors. He also toured vital infrastructure and critical capabilities in the region.
Koehler began the trip in Monterey, California, at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), where he met with retired Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau, president of NPS, to discuss the school’s educational and research capabilities, and its institutional knowledge to meet the needs of U.S. Pacific Fleet.
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Dillon Pierce, a Ph.D. student at the Naval Postgraduate School, left, briefs U.S. Navy Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center left, on his research into developing consumer-grade rocket systems utilizing a low-cost control system.
The Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS) hosted a joint workshop with faculty from the Naval Postgraduate School on September 16-17, 2024. This unique event featured NPS alumni from Mongolia and focused on enhancing academic cooperation, particularly in publishing joint articles in international and Mongolian peer-reviewed journals.
During the workshop, participants briefly revisited and discussed our students' theses, considering how they can be aligned with national strategic objectives in the realm of national security and defense.
Colonel Mendee, our second NPS graduate alumni and a key scholar at the ISS, extended his greetings to the Foundation & Alumni Association, and International Graduate Programs Office staff and leadership. He mentioned this workshop marks the initial steps toward establishing a Mongolian Chapter of the Alumni Association, which we believe will strengthen our community and collaboration further.
(Fifth from the Left - Colonel (Ret.) Batzorig Bayar, the first NPS graduate; Fourth from the Left – Mr. MashbatOtgonbayar, the first civilian NPS graduate; Third from the Left – the last NPS graduate LTC Otgonbayar Tsolmon)
A big “thank you” to all of the NPS students, faculty and staff who volunteered at the NPS STEM booth supporting the local Salinas Airshow. The talented NPS team demonstrated a range of scientific principles through fun, hands-on activities and displays, including electromagnetics, aerodynamics, hydraulics, mass, momentum, boat design, and the always popular – Van de Graaff static electricity generator! The NPS displays included examples of how scientific principles translate to relevant research and technology applications, helping visitors, young and old, understand why STEM education matters, and why it matters to national security and defense.
NPS is the Department of the Navy’s leading provider of defense-focused STEM graduate degrees, and that enthusiasm carries over to the community where encouraging curiosity is a passion to help the next generation envision the possibilities of a STEM career of their own.
NPS was pleased to host U.S. Navy Cmdr. Justin Smith, commanding officer of USS Mason (DDG 87), which recently returned from a combat deployment to the Red Sea. Smith discussed his crew's experience in a wide variety of operations over months in an active combat theater at sea, including engagements against threats ranging from ballistic missile defense to boarding operations.
Smith’s talk kicked off Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) Week at NPS, a bi-annual event focused on current warfighting insight from the fleet, professional exchanges, career management, and leadership development. The 95 SWOs on campus, plus members of staff and faculty, had the opportunity to hear from an accomplished warfighter and engage with community leadership, including Capt. Rob Francis, director of the Surface Warfare Officer Assignments branch (PERS-41).
"The Surface Warfare community’s commitment to graduate education to enhance the warfighter development is reflected in this week,” said Jeremy Gray, NPS Surface Warfare Chair. “The support from Commander Naval Surfaces Pacific, PERS-41, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center, and Surface Warfare Schools Command, enabled us to focus on SWOs getting ready for their department head tours at sea after NPS, and reflects how important the investment is we're making is in our next generation of warfighters to win in the future fight."
U.S. Navy Lt. Greg McKnight and U.S. Marine Corps Capts. Karah Jaeb and Harrison Rosenbaum are graduates from the latest class of the NPS/U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) program for USNA Company Officers. For their capstone project, the team saw an opportunity to advance a fundamental skillset in the Brigade of Midshipmen that would be of value throughout their careers as officers and leaders in the Navy and Marine Corps. Read more.
Naval Postgraduate School students, alumni, faculty and staff are actively engaged in impactful discussions across a spectrum of critical topics, reflecting the expertise of the individuals and the institution's contributions to addressing defense and national security challenges.
‘Every lever of statecraft’ needed to overcome Pacific threats, commander says
Quoted – Adm. Samuel Paparo, MS in Systems Analysis ‘15
How Submarines Can Shut Down TradeBy U.S. Navy Lt. Brant Verhulst, Student, Applied Physics
Improve Scouting with Expendable UAVsBy Matthew Cosner, MS in Systems Analysis ‘18
A Maritime Deterrence Strategy: The Key to an Overarching Navy Warfighting ConceptBy Dr. James Wirtz, Professor, National Security Affairs
The Risks of North Korean Provocations in the West Sea
By Jihoon Yu, MA in National Security Affairs ‘06
Turkey's Energy Demands Generate Instability
Quoted – Dr. Ryan Gingeras, Professor, National Security Affairs
Iranian Attack on Israel Risks Expanding the Conflict
Quoted – Dr. Afshon Ostovar, Associate Professor, National Security Affairs
Could A Clear Israeli Victory Help Next U.S. President Make Peace?
Quoted – Dr. Mohammed Hafez, Professor, National Security Affairs
Navy Needs 'Offensive" Mindset — And Lots of Robots, Expert Says
Quoted – Dr. Jeff Kline, Professor of Practice, Operations Research
Trident Room Podcast: Episode 60 – Academic Arsenal Series – Arctic Revisited
Interview with NPS students Lt. Cmdr. Colleen Wilmington and Lt. Cmdr. Taylor Hudson and Dr. Ben Reeder, Research Professor, Oceanography
Nuclear Proliferation and the Ukraine War
References NPS’ study “Predicting Proliferation: High Reliability Forecasting Models of Nuclear Proliferation as a Policy and Analytical Aid”
Make innovative, impactful change while networking & growing your career
Interview with Lt. Victoria Castleberry, CHDS Emergence Program ’24, Capt. Mark Kuperman, CHDS Executive Leaders Program ’24, and Megan Johns Henry, current CHDS student
Deep learning-based modern approaches for the detection, classification and neutralization of improvised explosive devices
By Lt. Cmdr. Murat Aydoğmuş, MS in Electrical Engineering and Engineering Acoustics '14
What I'm thinking about on the first anniversary of the war
By Thomas L Friedman, mentions Prof. John Arquilla, Professor Emeritus
