Fort McNair, Washington DC
The 2019 National Defense University (NDU) graduation ceremony was held outside on Thursday, June 13, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., in front of historic Roosevelt Hall at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C. The University's four D.C.-based colleges conferred certificates and Masters degrees on approximately 648 students.
General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., USMC, the 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, was this year's keynote speaker.
Degrees were conferred on students by NDU President Vice Admiral Fritz Roegge, USN, NDU Provost Dr. John W. Yaeger (CAPT, USN, Ret.), and the commandants and chancellors of the colleges:
Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS), JFSC, Norfolk VA
On Friday, June 14, at 10:00 a.m., at NDU's Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, the Joint Advanced Warfighting School will conduct its commencement ceremony. JAWS graduates will receive a master of science degree in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy.
Maj. Gen. Lenny J. Richoux, Commander, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, U.S. Transportation Command will be the keynote speaker. As Commander, General Richoux is charged with the readiness, training and deployment of the joint capabilities provided by the Joint Planning Support Element and the Joint Communications Support Element.
Joint Special Operations Master of Arts (JSOMA), Fort Bragg NC
On Thursday, May 30, at the U.S. Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, College of International Security Affairs students graduated after completing a 10-month Joint Special Operations Master of Arts program.
Mr. Andrew F. Knaggs, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combating Terrorism, was the guest speaker. Mr. Knaggs leads the Department's policies, plans, authorities and resources related to special operations and irregular warfare.
About NDU
National Defense University is a strategic national resource that prepares senior leaders to think and operate effectively at the highest levels of decision making in an increasingly dynamic, complex, and unpredictable international security environment. It does this by preparing students to understand, develop, and employ strategies that incorporate all elements of national power. This premiere senior leader development is made possible by the University's holistic approach and unique combination of curriculum, location, and student/faculty diversity. Graduates have developed an understanding of the canon of strategic theory and are able to apply and creatively adapt this knowledge to current and future security challenges.