The Institute for Defense and Business 10th Annual Executive Fellows Induction Ceremony

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Sept. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Institute for Defense and Business (IDB) announced its 2014-2015 class of IDB Executive Fellows at an installation ceremony in Washington, DC the morning of September 17, 2014 at the Army and Navy Club. The IDB established the Executive Fellows Program to provide selected retired senior leaders from the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the military services an opportunity to continue to share their knowledge and experience with future leaders. For the tenth consecutive year, SAS the leader in business analytics software and services, sponsored the program.

"Our decade of support reflects the tremendous honor and value we derive from our relationship with IDB," said Karen Terrell, Vice President of SAS Federal. "The IDB Fellows have a wealth of knowledge and experience that can help private sector companies like SAS better serve the needs of our military."

The IDB is a non-profit research and education institute that provides educational interchanges among the Department of Defense, other government agencies, international organizations, and the private sector through custom executive education programs.

"The senior leaders selected as Fellows are uniquely qualified because of the extraordinary expertise they have demonstrated during their distinguished careers," said The Honorable James G. Martin, former North Carolina Governor and Chairman of the IDB Board of Directors.  "Their presence at IDB programs provides participants an exceptional level of exposure to thought leadership that can provide great benefit as the participants themselves strive to innovate their own organizations." 

The IDB Board of Directors hosted the installation ceremony where U.S. Congressman David Price (D-NC) and Karen Terrell provided opening remarks for the event which was widely attended by representatives of the DoD, the Military, the civilian agencies of the Government, Non-Governmental Organizations, Academia, and the Private Sector.

Governor James G. Martin delivered remarks and presided over the induction ceremony. Other speakers included the following:  Mark Cramer, outgoing IDB President; MG Jim Hodge, USA (Ret.), incoming IDB President; General John M. Paxton, Jr., the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; Lt Gen Judith A. Fedder, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S. Air Force; VADM Jody A. Breckenridge, USCG (Ret.) former Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area and IDB Executive Fellow Emerita; VADM Jim Zortman, USN (Ret.), Sector Vice President, Global Logistics & Operational Support, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems and Fellow Emeritus and BG  John G. Ferrari, Director, Program Analysis and Evaluation, Headquarters Department of the Army, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G8.

The 2014-2015 IDB Executive Fellows inducted were:  

• General Benjamin S. Griffin, USA (Ret.) former Commanding General of the U.S. Army Materiel Command
• Admiral John C. Harvey, Jr., USN (Ret.) former Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command
• Vice Admiral John P. Currier, USCG (Ret.) former Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
• Lieutenant General Walter E. Gaskin, USMC (Ret.) former Deputy Chairman, NATO Military Committee, Brussels, Belgium
• Major General Kathleen D. Close, USAF (Ret.) former Director, Logistics and Sustainment, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command

Since the beginning of the Fellows Program, these highly qualified and knowledgeable individuals have contributed significantly by serving as guest lecturers across the range of IDB programs, representing the IDB at conferences, and working with faculty on key academic case studies and research. In addition, Fellows provide thought leadership ensuring that IDB programs remain current and vibrant in the ever-changing logistics, business, and geopolitical arenas.

AUSA Annual Meeting
IDB and SAS have been co-hosting joint educational events at conferences as part of the Executive Fellows Program. At the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting they will be hosting a breakfast panel on how analytics can be operationalized to support strategic initiatives. The panel will discuss how the military can incorporate analytics into everyday operations to improve readiness, reduce costs and allocate resources appropriately.

When: Tuesday, Oct. 14, 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Room 202B
For more information please contact Britney Minnick or call 919-969-8008.

Welcome and Introductions: MG Jim Hodge, USA (Ret.) President, Institute for Defense and Business
Panelists: Karen Terrell, Vice President, SAS Federal and LTG Robert Dail, USA (Ret.), Former Director, Defense Logistics Agency, Advisory Council Member, Supreme Group and IDB Executive Fellow Emeritus
Moderator: Van Noah, Program Director, Institute for Defense and Business

About the IDB
The IDB is a non-profit research and education institute formed in 1997 by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the state of North Carolina. The institute provides custom executive education programs in the areas of logistics and technology, life cycle systems, leadership and organizational transformation, strategic studies, stabilization and economic reconstruction, and the IU-UNC LogMBA program.

About SAS
SAS is the leader in business analytics software and services, and the largest independent vendor in the business intelligence market. Through innovative solutions, SAS helps customers at more than 65,000 sites improve performance and deliver value by making better decisions faster. Since 1976 SAS has been giving customers around the world THE POWER TO KNOW®.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. ® indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright © 2013 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.

Media Contact: Maya Zumwalt, IDB Director of Communications at 919-969-8008

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SOURCE Institute for Defense and Business