• Diplomas await conferral upon NDU graduates.

    Congratulations to our NDU Class of 2023 graduates! 

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Recommended hashtags include #NDU2023, #NDUGrad, #GenMilley and #CJCS. Keep the conversation going!

Livestream Recording of Ceremony

Graduation Speakers

Gen Mark A. Milley

Gen Mark A Milley, USA
20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
8 June 2023


NDU President Lt Gen Michael T. Plehn

Lt Gen Michael T. Plehn, USAF
17th President, National Defense University
Fort Bragg, N.C.
2 June 2023


U.S. Rep Rob Wittman

U.S. Representative Rob Wittman
First Congressional District, Virginia
Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
9 June 2023

 

 

Graduation 2023

National Defense University (NDU) held its 2023 graduation ceremony for the university's four Washington, D.C.-based colleges on Thursday, June 8, 2023 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 LivestreamThe keynote speaker was the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark A. Milley, USA

"Sitting here today is a future president ... a future Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a service chief, a combatant commander, agency directors. There is little doubt in my mind that each and every one of you are going to rise to significant positions of responsibility in the years ahead. It will be you, each of you, that are in charge when decisions of great consequence are to be made. You are going to be the leaders who steer our nations through the numerous challenges ahead," General Milley told the graduating students.

"The world needs your leadership. We're at an historic pivot point. One of the most important pivot points in human history. We need your leadership and we need it now, more than ever. Good luck to each and every one of you," General Milley said.

The University's four north campus colleges conferred certificates and master's degrees on approximately 630 students. 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 2023 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, 9 June 2023 at 9:00 a.m. The keynote speaker was U.S. Representative Rob Wittman. JFSC Commandant Brigadier General Voris W. McBurnette, USA, conferred master's degrees on approximately 45 Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) students.

CISA conferred master’s degrees on graduates of its Joint Special Operations Master of Arts (JSOMA) program at Fort Bragg on Friday, 2 June 2023 at 11:00 a.m. That same day, Fort Bragg was officially renamed Fort Liberty. The JSOMA graduation keynote speaker was NDU President Lt Gen Michael T. Plehn. 


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.