UNC-IDB Strategic Fellows Program Announces Graduates "Equipping Leaders to Address the Complex Issues of Tomorrow"

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., July 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The UNC-IDB Strategic Studies Fellows Program (SSFP) recognized this year's class with a July 25, 2014 graduation ceremony at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC.  Colonel Ronald P. Clark, the Deputy Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army, was the keynote speaker.

The UNC-IDB SSFP is administered by the Institute for Defense and Business (IDB) in collaboration with the University of North Carolina (UNC) Partnership for National Security, Indiana University (IU), the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security (TCTHS), and the Triangle Institute for Security Studies (TISS). 

"I congratulate each of the graduates of the UNC-IDB Strategic Fellows Program. This program provides access to a select network of peers and academic leaders that the Fellows will be able to draw on throughout their careers,' said Mark C. Cramer, President of the IDB. "The SSFP experience should also spur each individual's desire for lifelong learning."

About the SSFP Program
The five-week course is a broadening leadership experience dedicated to enhancing the ability of emerging military leaders to adapt to the increasingly uncertain and complex international strategic environment. It is designed to enhance the critical and strategic thinking capabilities of U.S. Military Officers, Chief Warrant Officers, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), and federal government civilians. The core curriculum of the five-week program includes: National Security Decision Making; Strategic and Business Communication and Negotiations, Innovation and Management Strategy; Strategic View of the US Government (non-DoD); and Strategic Global Outlook. 

During this year's SSFP program, GEN Raymond Odierno, the US Army's 38^th Chief of Staff, helped kick off the program with an intimate discussion with the students about current issues within the Army. Other highlights include a corporate visit day to Charlotte, NC. The students met with senior leaders at Duke Energy's Headquarters to learn about risk management and also with the President of the NFL's Carolina Panthers, Mr. Danny Morrison, to learn about talent management.

Capstone Team Project:
Throughout the program, the students were able to take their consolidated experience, perspectives, and knowledge and work on an applied strategic group capstone project. At the end of the course, students presented their findings before a panel of COL Ronald Clark, Mr. Robert MacMullen, Deputy Division Chief, Office of the Deputy Chief, Staff for Operations, Strategic Leadership Division, Mr. Mark Cramer, IDB President, and Prof. Tim Nichols, Visiting Associate Professor of the Practice and Executive Director, Counterterrorism and Public Policy Fellowship Program, Duke University, Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security.

Graduating 2014 SSFP Class:

The graduates received a joint certificate from UNC and the IDB, three graduate-level academic credit hours from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, and membership into the growing network of UNC-IDB Strategic Studies Fellows alumni.

The graduates included:

• MAJ Jeremy C. Abrams, Brigade S4, Logistics
• CPT Jeremy Aho, Battery Commander, 2-12 FA
• CW3 Sven Anderson, Instructor Pilot, A Troop, 2-17 CAV
• CPT Wallace W. Bandeff, Captain, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• CPT Beau D. Butts, Commander, Armor
• MAJ Jason Carter, CJ32 Assessments, USFK
• MSG Gregory A. Caywood, Brigade Fires Operations NCO, Brigade Staff
• SFC Lucas P. Collins, Platoon Sergeant, Infantry
• SGM Roger Daigle, Army Cyberspace Operations and Integration Center /G3 Sergeant Major Operations (G3)
• CPT Jon D. DeGreeff, Company Commander, 3rd BDE, 82nd ABN DIV
• CPT Tania P. Donovan, BDE Public Affairs Officer, Public Affairs
• CW4 Mark E. Edick, Senior Legal Administrator, Medical Command
• MAJ Raymond K. Edwards, Plans and Capabilities Officer, USPACOM
• CW3 Olga Elliott, Manning Division Chief, G1
• CPT Brett Erickson, APMS, Cadet Command
• MAJ Kendrick D. Fanniel, Deputy G1, 1ID
• CW3 Chaz Flores, Aviation Standardization Officer, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade
• CPT George J. Fust III, CPT/MI/COMMANDING, Military Intelligence 173rd IBCT (A)
• CPT Stephanie M. Goggans, Company Commander, USAREC
• CW4 Errol Hammonds, Personnel Readiness Officer, DCS-G1
• Mr. John Hansen, Strategy and Policy Branch Chief, U.S. Army Europe
• CSM Timothy D. Hockenberry, CSM, Fort Sill
• CPT Kyle Hoisington, Instructor, 3-16 Cavalry
• CPT A. Tyler Inman, Company Commander, C/2-11 IN, 199th IN BDE
• CPT Larry A. Kay, Company Commander, 4-9 IN, 1SBCT, 4ID
• MAJ Patrick L. Kendrick, Brigade S4, 2/1 AD
• MAJ Virginia A. Knorr, Executive Officer, 835th Transportation Battalion
• SFC Thomas E. Lazzarini, Platoon Sergeant, Infantry
• MAJ Eliasib Lozano, Executive Officer, Pacific Regional Medical Command
• SGM Paul Mantha, TAGD Operations SGM, Human Resources Command
• CW2(P) Marion R. Mellette, Personnel Officer, G-1
• MAJ Rod Morgan, Chief, Combat Arms Branch, USACR/SC
• CPT Linwood R. Nelson, SR CPTs Assignment Officer, Human Resources Command
• MAJ Ryan E. Ocampo, Contingency Contracting Officer, 414th Contracting Support Brigade
• Ms. Debra L. Patillo, Strategic Planner, 406th Army Field Support Brigade
• CPT Joshua J. Phillips, Gunnery Training Developer, A/1-30th FA
• CPT Robert A. Pough, Troop Commander, A/2-14CAV/2SBCT/25ID
• CPT Marni E. Prenell, Chief Info Mgmt, 1st Infantry Division
• CW4 Kenneth S. Pressley, Targeting Officer, Field Artillery
• CPT Jeremy C. Ragan, Board Recorder, Department of Army Secretariat
• MAJ Mark Ripley, G1 Plans and Operations Officer,I Corps
• CPT Brandon Taylor, Instructor, MCOE
• SFC Jason R. Teklinski, Platoon Sergeant,Military Police
• CPT Ernest R. Thompson, Commander, 43d Sustainment Brigade
• CPT Sarah J. Thompson, Special Assistant to the CSA, HQDA
• Ms. Renea L. Timko, Strategic Communication Specialist, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence
• CW3 Donald R. Ungerecht Jr. ,Deputy Course Chief, United States Army Engineer School
• MAG Donna L. I. Welch, LG Officer, Army
• CSM Dennis Zavodsky, CSM, ARSOUTH

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.

For information on the SSFP program please contact Zebrina Leung Warner, IDB Program Director, SSFP, at 919-969-8008 or [email protected].

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SOURCE Institute for Defense and Business