|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Significant Activities Report
January 08 Vol. 6 Issue 5
|
Deans Corner |
 As we begin this New Year, it gives us the opportunity to reflect on the significant accomplishments of the School of International Graduate Studies (SIGS).
For the past two years, I have worn two hats at NPS: the Dean of SIGS and the Director of the Global Center for Security Cooperation (GCSC). As many of you may have already heard, effective January 31st I will be leaving my position as the Dean of SIGS to devote full time to the continued development of the Global Center. Though a difficult decision, it is time, after more than five years as Dean, to move on to other challenges and to pass the mantel of leadership of SIGS to another.
Since arriving in September 2002, we have seen tremendous program and student growth. Student enrollment in the Department of National Security Affairs (NSA), our master’s degree program, has increased from approximately 150 to over 400 U.S. and international military officers. In the Center for Civil-Military Relations and Defense Resources Management Institute, participation in our mobile education team courses has increased from about 2,000 to over 6,000 international military officers and government officials per year. In 2003, the Center for Homeland Defense and Security awarded master’s degrees in homeland defense and security to 30 students for the first time. The students are comprised of federal, state and local officials who hold senior leadership positions in their respective agencies. We now have more than 200 graduates of this program. And, the International Graduate Programs Office delivered life cycle management to more than 900 international officers from almost 100 countries.
These accomplishments could not have been achieved without the full support, dedication, outstanding performance and entrepreneurship of the superb SIGS faculty and staff.
At this time, we extend a warm welcome to Professor James Wirtz who will serve as the Interim Dean of SIGS starting on February 1st. Prof. Wirtz joined NPS in 1990 and, as a tenured professor and former Chair of NSA, he brings an immense wealth of program knowledge and experience to this position. I am confident Prof. Wirtz will continue to be the standard bearer of the excellence achieved within SIGS.
In closing, as the Dean, it has been a great pleasure working with all of you and, as the Director of the Global Center, I look forward to our continued relationships. |
SAR 08'
SAR's 07'
SAR's 06'
SAR's 05'
|
|
|
| NSA Receives National Top Ten Ranking for Security Studies Program |
 The Department of National Security Affairs (Security Studies) received a top ten ranking in the category of International Affairs and Development based upon the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index™ (FSP Index) released by Academic Analytics, LLC.
Academic Analytics evaluates postgraduate research universities based on a set of statistical algorithms. Only research institutions as defined by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education Rankings, a leading framework used to assist those conducting research on higher education, are included.
The FSP Index measures the annual productivity of faculty on several factors including: publications, citations of journal publications, federal research funding, and awards and honors. The FSP Index is unique because it focuses on concrete data relating to faculty scholarly productivity and draws on the approach used by the United States National Research Council (NRC).
The other top ten ranked universities in International Affairs and Development were Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, UC San Diego, University of Pittsburgh, Rutgers University, University of Southern California, American University, and Kansas State University.
|
State Partnership Program Conducted with South Dakota National Guard
|
A Leadership Development and Education for Sustained Peace (LDESP) team conducted a National Guard State Partnership educational workshop in Rapid City for the South Dakota partnership with Suriname in November. The State Partnership Program was developed in 1993 to help foster democracy throughout the world and facilitate the development of a productive partnership between a U.S. state and a country.
LDESP plays a vital role in building these partnerships by providing the educational background to improve military interoperability between United States and partner nation forces, demonstrate military subordination to civil authority, demonstrate military support to civilian authorities, assist with the development of democratic institutions, foster open market economies to help develop stability, and project and represent United States humanitarian  values.
The three-day workshop was attended by the US Ambassador to Suriname, the Suriname Ambassador to the United States, the Suriname Ambassador to the United Nations, as well as military, civil, educational and business leaders from South Dakota and Suriname.
|
| Intentional Defense Transformation Course Assists Nations Responding to Threats |
| The Center for Civil-Military Relations conducted its third annual International Defense Transformation (IDT) seminar from 29 October to 5 November in Monterey. The IDT program strives to help nations develop integrated capabilities to respond more effectively to principal threats, while contributing to collective security arrangements. Nations participating in the seminar included Nepal, Argentina, Poland, Slovenia, and Republic of Korea. Guest faculty from US Joint Forces Command, NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT), the Office for Forces Transformation (OFT), and US Pacific Command provided unique perspectives on regional and multi-national transformation to the NPS faculty presentations |
| Center for Civil-Military Relations Provides Democratic Support to Nepal |
In support of the U.S. Embassy Nepal and in conjunction with the Nepal based South Asia Center for Policy Studies (SACEPS) and the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), the Center for Civil-Military Relations co-hosted a workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal during 12-14 December.
The purpose of the workshop was to prioritize key security sector reform efforts to support democratic transition given the changing political environment in Nepal and develop a concept for implementation of high priority security sector reform tasks.
A core group of influential Nepalese leaders gathered to foster dialogue and promote consensus among Nepalese civilians and security sector personnel regarding Nepal’s next steps.
The workshop concluded with a group report which included an assessment of previous security sector reform work, identification of highest priority security sector reform requirements; implementation strategies; and a recommendation of four follow-on workshop topics. |
| IDARM Submits Acquisition Management Recommendations to Ukraine Administry of Defense |
 A comprehensive study of the Ukrainian defense acquisition system was recently completed by the International Defense Acquisition and Resource Management (IDARM) Program and Ukrainian Armaments Authority experts. The final report on Phase I of IDARM’s ongoing work in the Ukraine was submitted in November. This report outlined the results of 10 months of coordinating efforts between IDARM, the Center for Civil-Military Relations and SIGS, and with the Ministry of Defense and General staff in Kiev, Ukraine. Implementation of selected recommendations are the focus of the 2008 IDARM efforts. The objectives for the next step, Phase II, will be to address intra ministerial procedural matters, that, if improved, will have a near term and long term positive effect on the Ministry of Defense’s ability to support the Ukrainian Acquisition Framework requirements.
|
Defense Resource Management Team Travels to Iraq |
| Two professors from the Defense Resources Management Institute will travel to Iraq at the request of the Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq (MNSTC-I) Mission. The mission of MNSCTI-I is to assist the Iraqi Government in the development, organization, training, equipping, and sustainment of Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and ministries capable of defeating terrorism and providing a stable environment in which representative government, individual freedom, the rule of law, and the free market economy can evolve and which, in time, will contribute to Iraq's external security and the security of the Gulf Region. The professors will work with Iraqi ministries to determine their education and training requirements in the area of resources management. |
Center for Homeland Defense and Security Offers New Online Course |
 Last month the Center for Homeland Defense and Security launched their latest online course, The Global Jihadi Threat. The course provides a brief introduction to Islam, its early history and schisms, the role of Jihad, Islam’s relationship to the West and the ideologies of Islamic extremism. Its goal is to assist policy-makers, law enforcement personnel, governmental administrators and other homeland security leaders relate to Islam and Muslims in an informed manner while also being able to effectively counteract extremist activities and ideas.
CHDS online courses are designed for homeland security professionals who wish to enhance their understanding of key homeland security concepts and require the flexibility of self-paced instruction. Courses are offered at no cost to eligible local, tribal, state and federal government employees; members of the military; and corporate homeland security managers and contractors. Currently more than 1,000 participants are in the process of completing online CHDS courses. |
| CSRS Conducts Seminar to Build Greater Cross-Cultural Understanding |
Last month, the first Algerian officer student to attend the Naval Postgraduate School graduated with a master’s degree in national security affairs.
Major Akermi Habib, an Algerian Army special forces officer, commented that “having officer students from all over the world, and U.S. students from all military branches, in one room tackling specific, real world problems, really listening to each other as equals and coming up with a consensus solution that works for everyone, regardless of dissimilarities of language or culture” is the best part of the program. He also praised the faculty members for their broad approach, stating they “don’t just teach the technical side...they also emphasize the strategic, and work with you to improve not just your knowledge but also your judgment and leadership skills.”
After graduation Major Habib, reported to the Algerian Army Headquarters for his follow-on assignment.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
