By MC2 Taylor Vencill

The 77th graduating class of the Naval War College (NWC) Monterey partnership with NPS for Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) celebrated the completion of their studies during a ceremony on the NPS campus, Dec. 6.
 
Professor Fred Drake, Associate Dean and Chairman of NWC Monterey, and Dr. Robert Tomlinson, Dept. of Theater National Decision Making, NWC Monterey, presided over the ceremony where 95 U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Army officers earned their NWC Command and Staff diploma with JPME Phase I certification.

“To the faculty here, to family and friends, and to the Naval War College grads, congratulations,” said Tomlinson. “You have made a major milestone in your military careers that deserves to be celebrated and honored today.”

During his remarks, Tomlinson spoke of the value of an education through the NWC/NPS partnership, reminding the audience that this achievement is a pivotal moment in their careers.

“I’m going to give you a simple theme that I think will stay with you,” said Tomlinson. “The theme is we are counting on you, we already know you won’t fail. Thousands have passed this stage before you and they haven’t failed. They’ve done the right thing, and you all will too.”

Through the partnership, 5,172 officers have earned this certification since the program’s inception in September 1999.

“It’s definitely been a big milestone for me,” said Lt. Kyle Hunter, a graduate of the program. “It gives us the opportunity to come here and really focus on education and critical thinking, and what it means to develop not only ourselves but everyone we come into contact with in the future.”