Saudi, American Partnership at NPS Recognized
Kenneth A. Stewart

Royal Saudi Naval Force Cmdr. Abdullah Al-Shehri, left, and U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Hyrum Brossard, right, have been selected to present their joint thesis to the Department of Navy Personnel Management, part of the Graduate School of Business and Public Policy’s upcoming thesis day.  

“Thesis day is an annual event wherein select students are given the opportunity to present their work to our various stakeholders and sponsors,” said Global School of Business and Public Policy (GSBPP) Associate Professor Yu-Shu Shen. “Navy manpower students present their thesis’ to show what NPS is doing to meet the needs of the Navy,” added GSBPP Assistant Professor Dina Shatnawi.

Shatnawi served as Brossard and Al-Shehri’s thesis advisor. She guided them as they explored their thesis subject - the disparity between civilian and military pay in the medical service corps.

“My partnership with Abdullah [Al-Shehri] stemmed from our previous work together, he has a lot of technical skills and I had the institutional knowledge and research background,” said Brossard.

Al-Shehri is one of only two Saudi students studying at the GSBPP. He and his fellow Saudi naval officer, Lt. Cmdr. Khalid Al-Ghamdi competed in a rigorous selection process prior to coming to NPS. “Saudi officers study at universities all around the world, but only the best are allowed to study here at NPS,” said Al-Shehri. “Our government is very careful about who they send to NPS.”

NPS Says Final Farewell to Renowned Meteorologist
Kenneth A. Stewart

NPS Distinguished Professor Emeritus Dr. George J. Haltiner at the dedication of the meteorological laboratory named in his honor, Dec. 11, 2009. Haltiner passed away Monday at the age of 94 after dedicating his life to the study of meteorology and leaving an indelible mark upon the Naval Postgraduate School.

“I used his book on Numerical Modeling for my dissertation work. At the time, I had no idea that I'd come to NPS, let alone meet George, ‘Mr. NWP’ [Numerical Weather Prediction],” said NPS Department of Meteorology Professor and Chair Wendell Nuss. “When I met him at one of our department Christmas parties, I couldn't help but think how much he still clearly enjoyed meteorology … He fondly shared his experiences in the early days of numerical modeling. To him it seemed like an exciting adventure.”

Haltiner was part of the initial NPS faculty that moved from the universities’ former location in Annapolis, Md., to its present location in Monterey. He led meteorology efforts at NPS until retiring from the research chair named in his honor.

By any measure, Haltiner left an indelible mark on the field of meteorology. He was a renowned researcher and the author of several books as well as the recipient of numerous awards including the Navy’s highest honor for a civilian employee.

NPS Professor Given Rare Access to Turkmenistan’s National Archives
Kenneth A. Stewart

NPS Assistant Professor Victoria Clement was recently granted nearly unprecedented access to the Turkmen National Archives.

Clement is a historian with a background in Near Eastern languages and civilization. She is currently exploring the intersection of political and social power in modern Central Asia.

“Language and the press are the lenses through which I look at how power is shaped,” said Clement. “And one of the things I am looking at in my work is the change in alphabets, the competition between Russian and Turkmen for dominance. How have culture and language policies been administered by the state?”

Clement is one of only two non-Turkmen scholars ever allowed access to the archives.

Turkmenistan is a nation in transition. Its ancient past, Soviet era occupation and eventual independence offer a rare window into the use of language and cultural as political mechanisms.

“One of the things that is interesting is the degree to which people abandoned Russian and Soviet culture after independence,” said Clement.

Clement will be returning to Turkmenistan in the spring to attend a scholars’ conference. Her findings are set to be the subject of an upcoming book titled, ‘“Learning to Be Turkmen’ Literacy, Learning and Power, 1904-2006.”

Interim President Tighe Talks Leadership, Expectations with Enlisted Staff
MC1 Grant P. Ammon

NPS Interim President Rear Adm. Jan Tighe delivers remarks to members of the NPS enlisted staff during an admiral's call held on the university campus, Jan. 22. Tighe, a master and doctoral graduate of NPS, began the meeting with a bit of humor. “This is the same room in which I took my refresher calculus class way back in 1996 … Who here wants to talk about calculus today?” she asked to laughs from the intimate group.

This was Tighe’s first formal address to the NPS enlisted community since taking over as interim president. She spent most of her time answering questions from the assembled staff, while she also thanked the enlisted service members for their service, and solicited recommendations for improvement.

“We’re proud of what you do here, and thank you for being thoughtful and wanting to keep growing through both education and the pursuit of your warfare qualifications while here at NPS,” said Tighe. “You are a small group, which is unusual for the enlisted force at a command.  If we’re not doing right by you with respect to your development, please let us know how we can do it better.”

Guest Lecture Explores Kinetic Wave Models
Amanda D. Stein

The Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Decision, Risk, Control and Signals Intelligence (DRCSI) welcomed Columbia University Applied Mathematics Professor Guillaume Bal for a lecture, titled “Kinetic Models for Waves in Random Media and Related Inverse Problems,” Jan. 23. The presentation was part of the DRCSI Distinguished Seminar Series on Directed Energy Weapons Systems and Counter Measures.

“The topic of my presentation is imaging in hydrogenous media where we cannot reconstruct all of the hydrogenous structure, and we would still like to be able to do imaging,” said Bal. “So the question is whether there are some observables in your detectors that are stable with respect to what you don’t know … so are as independent as possible of what it is you won’t be able to reconstruct. And still give you some information about something you would like to reconstruct.”

“We invited Professor Bal because he is a prominent person in this subject,” said DRCSI Director, Professor S. S. Sritharan. “We like to bring the best experts in the U.S. to NPS for these types of lectures so that we can be informed about the work being done in fields like this.”

NNOA, NPS Host Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration
MC1 Leonardo Carrillo

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Anthony L. Jackson speaks to attendees at the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Breakfast, hosted by the Monterey Chapter of the National Naval Officers Association and the Naval Postgraduate School, Jan. 19. 

The event brought together members of the NPS community to commemorate the life and legacy of the important civil rights leader.

“There are very few people that have had such an impact on my life,” said guest speaker, retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Anthony L. Jackson. “Dr. King was a true life hero.”

Jackson spoke about King’s legacy and the importance of keeping his memory alive for the well being of future generations. He described King’s policy of non-violent protest as an “invaluable testament to human courage that offered hope to people, not just in America but around the world.”

The National Naval Officers Association actively supports the Sea Services in the development of a diverse officer corps through recruitment, retention and career development. The NNOA also provides professional development, mentoring and support of cultural awareness.

Senior Department of Defense FAO Visits NPS Campus
MC1 Grant P. Ammon

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) Director of Strategic Planning U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Charles Hooper discusses policy with Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) students from countries within the AFRICOM area of responsibility during a visit to NPS, Jan. 15.

“You are at one of the premier academic institutions in America,” said Hooper. “NPS is an excellent institution because of its quality of instruction, but also because of the partnerships you are building with your counterparts from across the globe.”

Hooper spent the day meeting with university leadership and receiving updates on various NPS programs. He also shared an informal luncheon with international students.

Hooper is an active participant in the foreign area officer (FAO) community and has served at NPS as the institution’s senior Army officer and first FAO coordinator.

Famed Submariner, Motivational Speaker Addresses NPS Student Body
Kenneth A. Stewart

Retired U.S. Navy Capt., motivational author, and former commander of the USS Santa Fe David Marquet, pictured above, addressed students at NPS’ King Auditorium, Jan 15.

“When I took command of the Santa Fe, the spark of greatness was hard to find, the crew had been told they were substandard, the previous commander had quit, it was the worst submarine in the fleet,” said Marquet. “I saw the future, and it was death.” The leadership lessons Marquet learned while turning around the USS Santa Fe are captured in the book, “Turn the Ship Around – How to Create Leadership at Every Level.”

Marquet espouses a leadership philosophy that champions leadership at every level and the idea that behavior precedes culture. “The act precedes the thought … the habit precedes the culture,” said Marquet. “If you focus on changing a behavior, the culture will change.”

In his tenure as commander of the USS Santa Fe, Marquet adopted several unconventional habits. He nearly stopped giving orders, he demanded equal divisions of labor without regard to rank or seniority, and he focused on objectives over instructions. “The object is not to follow the instructions, the objective is to put out the fire,” said Marquet.

NPS Undersea Warfare Director Speaks Submarines with Carmel Rotary Members
MC1 Grant P. Ammon

NPS Undersea Warfare Research Center Director, retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Jerry Ellis spoke to members of the Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary Club, Jan. 16.

“Submarines work across the whole spectrum of warfare,” said Ellis. “From peacetime operations, where we’re doing community projects at foreign ports, all the way through wartime operations, the submarine community is involved.” Ellis drew upon his personal submarine command experiences and outlined the key components of the U.S. Submarine Force. He also highlighted current threats within the undersea warfare domain.

“We practice for all of these threats,” said Ellis. “We train for all of these. That is why the United States Submarine Force is the best in the world. Not only do we have the most sophisticated platform and the best weapons …  we have the best people with the best training possible.”

Ellis also discussed the work NPS students and faculty are doing to improve national security and to meet the Navy’s education  requirements. “Our program at NPS is very interdisciplinary,” said Ellis. “Academically, the Undersea Warfare Program is one of the toughest on campus.”

Industry Leader Challenges Students to Rethink Battery Technology
Natalie N. Stamey

Battery industry leader, retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kris Johanessen, addresses students and faculty in NPS’ Mechanical Engineering Auditorium, Jan. 11, for the first in a series of seminars through NPS' Defense Energy program.

“The batteries that go on missiles and rockets, like the Trident D5 and the Minuteman, last up to 25 years,” said Johanessen. “We want to make sure they work after 25 years.”

Johanessen’s company has been producing batteries for the military since 1944 – batteries that must be reliable in the most extreme environments. Yardney produced the lithium ion batteries that powered the NASA Mars Space Laboratory (MSL) Spirit in 2004, and mostly recently the MSL Curiosity Rover.

Bringing in seasoned energy experts is a central component of the Defense Energy program seminar series. The weekly forum brings together students, faculty and energy professionals to investigate real-world energy issues and to analyze Department of Defense energy needs, and are open to all on campus.

MAE Professor Named 2012 Menneken Award Winner
MC1 Grant Ammon

NPS Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Associate Professor Luke Brewer was recently named the 2012 winner of the Carl E. and Jessie W. Menneken Faculty Award for Excellence in Scientific Research.

“It’s a great honor to receive one of the well known awards here at NPS,” said Brewer. “It’s also very encouraging to find myself in the company of other well-established researchers that have won the award, many of them have continued on to do great things for the Navy and the university.”

Brewer was recognized for his important, widely-cited research on the microscopic structure of metals and other materials. His research is helping to solve superstructure problems caused by stress-corrosion cracking in Ticonderoga class cruisers.

“I built my research program here around problems that are important to the Navy, and problems that would be challenging and motivating for my students,” added Brewer.  

NSA Senior Lecturer Authors Book on Pakistani Nuclear Program
Javier Chagoya

NPS Department of National Security Affairs Lecturer Feroz Khan is pictured with a copy of his recently released book, “Eating Grass – The Making of the Pakistani Bomb.”

“I wrote this book with passion,” Khan said. “The book is more for the Pakistani people who have paid the price for their own security and it is up to them to steer the future of the program.”

Pakistan’s former president, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, once said, “Eat grass or go hungry,” suggesting to his countrymen that sacrifice and national will is necessary to achieve a nuclear capability.

While writing “Eating Grass,” Khan was granted extraordinary access from the Pakistani government to interview members of the Pakistani nuclear establishment, some of which were former colleagues. Khan is a retired Brigadier General, and a 30-year veteran of the Pakistan Army; he spent 10 years associated with the Pakistani nuclear program.

Secretary Garcia Tours Research Labs During Latest Visit
MC1 Grant P. Ammon

Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Juan M. Garcia greets U.S. Navy Cmdr. Sidney Hodgson before a working breakfast with NPS students. Garcia met with students to discuss a wide range of topics including academics, quality of life and future assignment opportunities before touring NPS research labs.

Garcia returned to NPS for his second round of meetings with local community, university and student leaders, Jan. 9-10.

"It has been a great couple of days for the NPS community. Secretary Garcia's presence and participation in our community outreach initiative is critical to its success,” said NPS Interim President Rear Adm. Jan Tighe. “His interactions with our students, faculty and staff have been very beneficial in highlighting our unique value to the Navy and the nation. The high-quality of our students and workforce showed prominently throughout the visit."

“I am pleased to return to Monterey to continue our efforts of engagement with regional leadership through these outreach initiatives,” said Garcia. “The input we have received in the early stages of this effort has been invaluable, and I am very confident this outreach will only continue to provide critical input to the future of this prestigious university.”

Information Fair Kicks off Winter Quarter
MC1 Rob Rubio

Incoming students converge on the Barbara McNitt Ballroom in Herrman Hall for the Travel and New Student Information Fair. The fair, which is held twice annually, kicked off the 2013 Winter Quarter, Jan. 8.

“As a military community, there are always new people moving into the area, and we want to be able to show everyone what they can do for fun … There are all sorts of activities to do in the area, as well as churches and schools that are also available,” said Morale, Welfare and Recreation Specialist Alison Clark.

The annual information fair highlights Monterey community programs and events by showcasing NPS clubs, organizations, and off-campus leisure and travel opportunities.

Commander U.S. Fleet Cyber Command Lunches with IDC Students
MC1 Leonardo Carrillo

Commander of U.S. Navy Fleet Cyber Command and U.S. 10th Fleet Vice Adm. Michael S. Rogers takes a question during an all hands call with Information Dominance Corps (IDC) students, Jan. 8.

“Vice Adm. Rogers’ visit was a valuable chance for IDC officers at NPS to gain perspective into how the education and skills they gain here will be used in the cyber domain, and how that domain is interlinked with operations in other warfighting domains such as air, surface, subsurface and land,” said Information Dominance Center for Excellence Director Cmdr. Tim Unrein.

Rogers spoke to IDC students about the important role information dominance plays in today’s cyber-dependent world, but the majority of his time was spent answering student questions and offering guidance on information dominance related issues.

NPS Professor Coauthors Book on Nonlinear Equations
MC1 Leonardo Carillo

NPS Department of Applied Mathematics Professor Beny Neta recently released his co-authored book, “Multiple Methods for Solving Nonlinear Equations” written in collaboration with professors from the University of Niš, Serbia.

“We are hoping to spark a new research direction in our field,” said Neta. “If people know what’s already been done, maybe they’ll come up with new ideas.”

Neta and his co-authors saw the need for a text that would consolidate non-linear equations research. They hope that their work will help to prevent redundancy in the field and offer a “clear starting point” that will encourage new research.

An electronic edition of, “Multiple Methods for Solving Nonlinear Equations” was released in December; a hardcover edition will be released later this month.

NPS Librarian Honored with Coveted Industry Award
MC1 Rob Rubio

The Carnegie Corporation of New York and the “New York Times” recently presented the “I Love My Librarian Award” to NPS’ Dudley Knox Library Outreach and Collection Development Manager Greta E. Marlatt.

Marlatt traveled to New York for the award presentation where she was joined by both NPS students and alumni in a dramatic show of support.  

“I appreciate the ability to serve the NPS population and the freedom and flexibility to support their needs,” said Marlatt.

The award was the result of a nomination effort led by NPS Department of National Security Affairs Distinguished Professor Dr. Tom Bruneau.  There were 10 winners from 1,500 nominations, with Marlatt winning in the “College Community or University” category.

Examining Foreign Aid and Its Impact on Democracy
Kenneth A. Stewart

In his recently released book, “Aid Dependence in Cambodia: How Foreign Assistance Undermines Democracy,” NPS Department of National Security Affairs Assistant Professor Dr. Sophal Ear argues that long-term foreign aid has become a lucrative industry wherein both aid workers and corrupt governments benefit from donor-nation generosity without improving the lives of their constituents.

“The incentives on all sides are perverse,” said Ear. “Foreign aid often carries with it the unintended consequence of disincentivizing countries to find their own solutions.”

Ear describes a poisonous environment wherein recipient nations forego the accountability inherent through public taxation by living off of foreign aid and “bribe taxes.”

“The problem of low tax revenues is common in less developed countries, these nations have no incentive to tax their citizenry because of the contributions of foreign donors,” said Ear. “If you do not tax them enough to make yourself accountable, you can then receive revenue through corruption and continue to receive aid money.”

Long Time Student Services Staff Honored With Civilian Service Award
MC1 Leonardo Carrillo

U.S. Marine Corps Senior Representative Secretary Lena Ventura, left, of the NPS Student Services Office is presented with the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal by Senior Marine Corps Representative Col. Mitch McCarthy for her more than 23 years of federal service during her retirement ceremony, Dec. 21.

“People wonder day in and day out whether they made a difference in their lives … Marines don’t have that problem. And I would add that Lena doesn’t have that problem either because she made a difference here with all of us,” said NPS Senior Marine Corps Representative Col. Mitch McCarthy during the ceremony. “What she did for the thousands of Marines that have come here over the last 23 years is very much appreciated.”

A former teacher, Ventura thanked her colleagues for the support and friendship they had offered her over the years and expressed her own feelings about working with Marines, as well as all other uniformed service members.