By MC2 Patrick Dionne

Naval War College (NWC) Monterey students earning academic honors during the first quarter of Academic Year 2018 were recognized during a brief ceremony in their honor near the NWC Program offices in Halligan Hall, April 24. Professor Fred Drake, Chairman of the NWC Monterey program, presided over the ceremony for those in attendance.

“I would like to thank and recognize the outstanding achievements of today’s honor graduates,” said Drake. “It is your contributions, class and experience out in the fleet and field that helps keep what we teach here so relevant to those that will come after you. Your presence and individual expertise really helps break down internal Department of Defense cultural barriers that helps get people working together.”

Graduates earning “with Highest Distinction” honors by completing the JPME program in the top five percent of their class are Army Cpt. Anthony Akrami, Army Majs. Benjamin Bringhurst and Michael Oliveira; and, Navy Lt. Cmd. Bradley Schoultz.

Graduates earning “with Distinction” honors by completing the JPME program in the top 15 percent of their class are Navy Lts. Robert Birch, Daniel Blue, David Rose and John Tanalega; Navy Cmdr. Ryan Carmichael; Navy Lt. Cmdr. Sean Teter; Army Majs. Stephen Deterding, Robby Otwell and Thang Tran; Army Cpt. Erik Kiser; and, Marine Corps Maj. Aaron Glover.

Through the NPS-NWC partnership, a total of 4,847 officers have earned their Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase I certification since the program’s inception in September 1999.