Former White House Chief of Staff Discusses Importance of NPS Mission

Alan Richmond (left), the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Director of Marketing and Community Relations, discusses the school’s strategic plan with Leon Panetta, the Director of the Leon and Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy at California State University Monterey Bay, during the filming of the new NPS command brief. Panetta, who once served as the White House Chief of Staff for President Bill Clinton, is a longtime resident of Monterey and an ardent supporter of the local military community. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kellie Arakawa. Full story

Navy’s Personnel Head Rallies 347 at Summer 2008 Graduation Ceremonies

Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Ms. Anita Blair inspired 347 U.S. and international officers and Department of Defense civilians to use their world class Naval Postgraduate School education to advance their future missions at Summer 2008 graduation ceremonies in King Hall, Sept. 26.   “Since Sept. 11, we’ve faced an enemy unconstrained by the rule of law or even human decency, so now more than ever we need your ideas and your energy, because it’s through innovation that we’ll be able to defend against, and stay ahead of, this threat … Since 9/11, we’ve also fielded a total force of military and civilian assets.  I look out on this auditorium and I see that total force in front of me.”   U.S. Navy photo by Corey Truax.  Full story   

NPS Offers Assistance in Jordan’s Revolutionary Plan to Fight Terrorism

The commander of the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) Special Operations Training Center (left) speaks with the first female class to train with Special Security Missions Company following the completion of their final live-fire exercise in April 2008. In an effort to narrow critical gaps in Jordan’s national security and defense, Princess and Brig. Gen. Aisha bint al-Hussein, a Naval Postgraduate School alumna, spearheaded the development of a strategic 10-year plan to integrate women into the JAF. Photo courtesy of Retired Air Force Col. Suzanne Gehri. Full story

COASTS Holds First Science & Technology Symposium at NPS

Military, government, industry and academic leaders converged on the Naval Postgraduate School Sept. 9-11 for the first annual Cooperative Operations and Applied Science and Technology Studies (COASTS) Science and Technology Symposium, focused on bringing the latest software and technology solutions to first responders, law enforcement and the services.  A highlight of the conference was the keynote by retired Air Force Gen. Charles Holland, former commander, Headquarters, U.S. Special Operations Command (photo), on the importance of shared situational awareness and interoperability for multinational operations in the Global War on Terrorism and of programs like COASTS for quickly improving these mission critical capabilities.  “The future is about joint, combined, interagency, coalition and commercial all working together.  [COASTS Program Director] Jim Ehlert is bringing the coalition partners together, and this is exactly what we need,” Holland said.  U.S. Navy photo by Javier Chagoya.  Full story

Center for Civil-Military Relations Hosts ‘Responses to Terrorism’ Class at NPS

Indonesian navy Col. Agus Heryana, retired Navy Capt. Paul Shemella, Indonesian army Lt. Col. Gumuruh Winardjatmiko and Indonesian air force Col. Adrian Wattimenia pose for a photograph with a token of appreciation presented to Shemella by Heryana, Winardjatmiko and Wattimenia at the close of the Center for Civil-Military Relations seminar, "Civil-Military Responses to Terrorism," which took place at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., ending Sept. 19, 2008. 33 civilian and military individuals from 27 countries participated in the seminar. (U.S. Navy photo by MCSN John R. Fischer) Full story