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Press Release | Jan. 26, 2015

Dempsey Calls for Research and Essay Competition honoring King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Today officials at the National Defense University announced they are establishing a research and essay competition honoring the late Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, an initiative requested by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey.

“This is an important opportunity to honor the memory of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, while also fostering scholarly research on the Arab-Muslin world, and I can think of no better home for such an initiative than NDU,” Dempsey said. 

The writing competition will focus on issues related to the Arab-Muslim world and is intended to contribute to strategic thinking and meaningful research. The university-wide program will be in place for the next academic year.

Gen. Dempsey first met the King while serving in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 2001-2003.

“Serving in Saudi Arabia more than a decade ago, I had the opportunity to get to know King Abdullah, who was then the commander of the Saudi Arabian National Guard. In my job to train and advise his military forces, and in our relationship since, I found the king to be a man of remarkable character and courage,” Dempsey said.

Maj. Gen. Frederick M. Padilla, 15th president of the National Defense University, welcomed the opportunity to challenge future students while honoring the late King.

“This scholarly research competition presents NDU students with a unique opportunity to focus their research and writing efforts on relevant issues at the intersection of U.S. security interests and the Arab-Muslim world,” Padilla said.

NDU supports national security by providing rigorous professional military education to develop strategic leaders who have the ability to operate and think creatively in a complex and unpredictable world. The institution’s student body is comprised of U.S. military officers, civilians and senior enlisted; officers and senior officials from allied nations and other federal agencies; and executives from industry. In addition to U.S. military and government students, NDU hosts more than 100 international and allied students, representing more than 90 countries.

NDU is composed of the College of International Security Affairs, the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, the Information Resources Management College, the Joint Forces Staff College, and the National War College. NDU also is home to the CAPSTONE senior leader development programs and the Institute for National Strategic Studies, and partners with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, and the Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies.

Follow NDU on Twitter @NDU_EDU and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ndu.edu.

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For more information, please contact:

Mark Phillips, NDU Communications, at (202) 685-3140 or mark.phillips.civ@ndu.edu.
Richard Osial, CJCS Public Affairs, at (703) 695-7678 or richard.r.osial.civ@mail.mil.