National Defense University (NDU) held its 2024 graduation ceremony for the university's four Washington, D.C.-based colleges on Thursday, 13 June 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in front of historic Roosevelt Hall at Fort Lesley J. McNair. The in-person event was broadcast live and recorded via Livestream and DVIDS. The keynote speaker was Admiral Christopher W. Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“One of the best investments our nations make is to prepare you—the next generation of senior leaders—to think and lead strategically so you can succeed across the spectrum of cooperation, competition, and conflict,” NDU President Lieutenant General Michael T. Plehn told students in his opening speech.
In his keynote remarks, Admiral Grady told the students, "As graduates of NDU, you are the kind of strategic thinkers that our nations and the world need most." Grady also specifically addressed NDU's international graduates, telling them, "You are the personification of what it means to be stronger together.
"Today, you will be NDU graduates," Grady told the assembly. "Tomorrow, you will be directing and integrating the nation’s instruments of national and international power."
"Make no mistake, your NDU education is a uniquely valuable investment in our national security, in our mutual interests, and in the preservation of our accepted global order," Grady concluded.
The University's four north campus colleges conferred certificates and master's degrees on approximately 619 JPME students and 18 students who completed CIC's non-JPME master's program. Degrees were conferred by NDU President Lieutenant General Michael T. Plehn, USAF, NDU Provost Dr. James Lepse, and the Commandants and Chancellors of the colleges:
The 2024 graduation ceremony for the NDU's Norfolk, Va.-based Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC) was held in-person at the college at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Norfolk on Friday, 7 June 2024 beginning at 9:00 a.m. The keynote speaker was was Admiral Christopher W. Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. JFSC Commandant Major General Thomas D. Crimmins, USAF ANG, conferred master's degrees on approximately 44 Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) students (one posthumously).
CISA conferred master’s degrees on approximately 47 graduates of its Joint Special Operations Master of Arts (JSOMA) program at Fort Liberty, N.C. on Friday, 31 May 2024 at 10:00 a.m. The JSOMA graduation keynote speaker was was was Lieutenant General Michael T. Plehn, USAF.