Rear Adm. Kurt J. Rothenhaus, Ph.D., Chief of Naval Analysis, served because the keynote speaker for 284 graduates, together with 31 worldwide college students from 19 nations. Throughout his remarks, Rothenhaus, himself an NPS alumnus, provided his congratulations to the graduates – but in addition urged them to be conscious of the work which lies forward.
“As you put together for the subsequent journey, take a second to look within the again, within the wake – that wake from the ship – and be proud,” mentioned Rothenhaus. “You will have completed a lot, and it’s best to have a justifiable sense of delight and celebration. However then, we want you to move rapidly to the bridge.”
Rothenhaus expressed his perception that NPS is ideally suited to producing future leaders – not simply within the Navy and Marine Corps, but in addition all through the Division of Protection.
“It is that look in the direction of the horizon, to place your passions, your energies, your abilities into one thing larger, larger than our personal ambitions and needs,” famous Rothenhaus. “To be a part of a company that values us for our capacity to group, to companion, to work in the direction of the higher good, which fits to the very coronary heart of this beloved establishment, Naval Postgraduate Faculty.”
Reflecting on his time as a scholar at NPS, Rothenhaus additionally reminded the graduates of the varsity’s exemplary school.
“When you go to any one of many departments right here at NPS, in any discipline of examine, the college is world-class,” mentioned Rothenhaus. “And we’re very, very lucky to have them personally instruct us – which isn’t the mannequin in every single place else.”
Previous to the keynote tackle, NPS Provost and Educational Dean Scott Gartner introduced Rothenhaus with the NPS Distinguished Alumnus Award, which honors former college students for vital contributions to nationwide safety, distinctive service, or excellent skilled achievements.
Talking on the convergence of educational rigor and navy technique, retired Vice Adm. Ann E. Rondeau, president of NPS, highlighted the essential function of educated people in shaping protection techniques for fight and stopping battle.
“I might prefer to say that that is ‘the place science meets the artwork of warfare.’ You’re the artwork,” mentioned Rondeau. “You’re magnificent creations of information and proficiency that our nation and all nations depend on to provide you with their proper solutions – to have solutions about warfare, but in addition have solutions concerning the deterrence of warfare. And that’s much more important than anything.
“The diploma that you’ve got at present alerts to all that you just not solely elevated your information, however that you’ve got distinguished your self as a warrior-scholar – and, most significantly, as an progressive chief,” added Rondeau.
Earlier than presenting the graduates with their levels, Rothenhaus inspired them to replicate on their achievements with delight and to rejoice their successes, however to be prepared to use this information as they transfer on to their subsequent endeavors.
“As graduates, you face a way more advanced and difficult world than the one I did 24 years in the past. Our daughters and sons head out to sea, together with the joint warfighters, allies and companions, to face off in opposition to a possible adversary that has the financial, technological and warfighting capabilities we haven’t seen in a really very long time,” mentioned Rothenhaus. “And we want your assist to navigate by these occasions – and all the talents that you just’ve discovered and information and knowledge from the Naval Postgraduate Faculty as you go ahead.
“So, once more, look again within the wake with delight and rise up to the bridge.”
For extra details about this newest class and to look at the total ceremony, go to the NPS Commencement web site at https://nps.edu/commencement.
