Washington, D.C.
National Defense University (NDU) held its 2025 graduation ceremony for the university's four Washington, D.C.-based colleges on Thursday, 12 June 2025 at 10:00 a.m. in front of historic Roosevelt Hall at Fort Lesley J. McNair. A recording of the ceremony is available on DVIDS.
The University's four north campus colleges conferred certificates and master's degrees on approximately 612 JPME students and 10 students who completed CIC's non-JPME master's program. Degrees were conferred by NDU's 18th President VADM Peter A. Garvin, USN, NDU Provost Dr. James Lepse, and the Commandants and Chancellors of the colleges:
In his keynote remarks, VADM Garvin told the students they were at NDU "because your nations, your services, and your leaders see in you potential, and thus have entrusted you with a vital responsibility – to become not just students of strategy, but strategic leaders who can navigate complexity, make tough decisions and shape the future.”
“You have received this education so that you might lead boldly, act decisively, and serve honorably as you navigate the challenges that lie ahead,” Garvin said. That education, he continued, "... isn’t meant to sit on a shelf. It’s meant to be put to use – in real time, in real crises, with real consequences.”
VADM Garvin finished his remarks with a charge to the students to “... go forward and lead with clarity, with purpose and resolve.”
Norfolk, Va.
The 2025 graduation ceremony for NDU's Norfolk, Va.-based Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC) will be held in-person at the college at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Norfolk on Friday, 13 June 2025 beginning at 9:00 a.m. JFSC Commandant Maj Gen Thomas D. Crimmins, USAF ANG, will confer master's degrees on approximately 47 Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) students.
Fort Bragg, N.C.
CISA conferred master’s degrees on approximately 50 graduates of its Joint Special Operations Master of Arts (JSOMA) program at Fort Bragg, N.C. on Thursday, 5 June 2025 at 12:00 noon. The JSOMA graduation keynote speaker was MajGen Peter D. Huntley, USMC, Commander, United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.