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Press Release | Oct. 7, 2014

NDU Welcomes Inaugural Class of USPACOM Scholars

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mark Phillips
Director, Strategic Communications
National Defense University
202-685-3140

(Washington, DC) National Defense University (NDU) is pleased to announce the selection of the inaugural class of USPACOM Scholars.  This new program is a collaboration intended to enrich the experience of NDU students and produce substantive research of interest to U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM).

 These six scholars each will write a course or research paper on a topic of USPACOM interest, focus their electives on Asia-Pacific courses, have the opportunity to brief a senior USPACOM leader on their research findings, and receive special recognition at graduation.  The U.S. Pacific Command is supporting the program by providing a liaison to help NDU students gather information and by providing funding for travel to support student research.  

The initial cohort of USPACOM Scholars includes students from all four military services and the State Department, and includes students from the National War College, the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, and the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) at Joint Forces Staff College.

Mr. Andrew Hyde is a Foreign Service Officer in the Eisenhower School.  His research topic is “How does the United States encourage more multilateral solutions to challenges in Asia?”  Mr. Hyde’s background includes work on Asia issues as Director of the Office of Korean Affairs and as Asia Director at the Office of Communications and Information Policy, along with extensive experience working at and with multilateral organizations, including the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.  Mr. Hyde holds an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and a BA in International Relations, Economics, and Political Science from Dickinson College.  His faculty advisor is Robert Griffiths.

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen R. Jones is an Air Force officer at the National War College.  His research topic is “Red Swarm Rising:  The Strategic Threat of Chinese Unmanned Aircraft Systems to U.S. Power Projection.”  Colonel Jones is a Command Pilot with experience flying B-1, MQ-1, and MQ-9 aircraft.  He commanded the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron at Creech AFB, Nevada, where he led flight operations in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.  He holds an MA in Defense Studies from King’s College at the University of London and a BA in English from the University of California at Berkeley.  His faculty advisor is Col. Nick Vite, USAF.

Lieutenant Colonel Jesse A. Kemp is a Marine Corps officer in the Eisenhower School.  His research topic is “What is the relationship between climate change, security, and public health in Bangladesh?”  He is a logistics officer who served in combat operations in Iraq during the Battle of Fallujah and has had assignments in Okinawa, Japan, and deployments to the Philippines for exercises.  He holds an MS in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School and a BS in Economics from the United States Naval Academy.  His faculty advisor is Professor Mark Foulon.

Colonel Mary V. Krueger is an Army officer in the Eisenhower School.  Her research topic is “Improving Emergency Medical Preparedness in the Pacific:  Predictive Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief.”  Colonel Krueger is a medical doctor who served as Commander of the U.S. Army Health Clinic at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and who has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.  She holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Washington, studied Osteopathic Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and has a BS in Biology from Houghton College.  Her faculty advisors are Colonel Roberto Nang and Dr. Joel Farrell.

Commander Christopher H. Sharman is a Navy officer at the National War College.  His research topic is “Containing China Does Not Have to Lead to Confrontation.”  He served as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence at U.S. Seventh Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan, previously served as Assistant Navy Attaché in Beijing, and was deployed off the coast of Taiwan in March 1996 during the third Taiwan Strait crisis.  Commander Sharman holds a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs (Asia Studies) from the Naval Postgraduate School and a BA in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego.  He has been selected for promotion to the rank of Navy Captain next year.  His faculty advisor is Dr. Bernard Cole.

Lieutenant Commander Seth Thornhill is a Navy Officer in the Joint Advanced Warfighting School at Joint Forces Staff College.  His research topic is “The impact of selected emergent technologies on PACOM’s mission accomplishment.”  Commander Thornhill is a supply officer who served as the Exercise Logistics Officer for the Commander at U.S. Naval Forces Korea, participated in the MALABAR 2005 joint exercise with the Indian Navy, and deployed to support OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM in 2002.  He holds a Master of Business Administration in Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the U.S. Naval Academy.  His follow-on assignment will be at U.S. Pacific Command.  His faculty advisor is Dr. S. Michael Pavelec.

The six USPACOM Scholars were picked based on their research proposals and backgrounds by a selection committee with representatives from the Institute of National Strategic Studies, the National War College, the Eisenhower School, Joint Forces Staff College, and the College of International Security Affairs.  They will work on their research topics with their faculty advisors and in cooperation with NDU’s USPACOM Scholars Program Coordinator, Dr. Phillip Saunders, and the U.S. Pacific Command liaison, Dr. Rich Barry.

NDU is the premier national security institution focused on supporting the joint warfighter by providing rigorous Joint Professional Military Education to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and select others in order to develop leaders who have the ability to operate and creatively think in an unpredictable and complex world.  For more information about NDU, please contact Mark Phillips, Director of Strategic Communications, at (202) 685-3140.