UNC-IDB Strategic Studies Fellows Program Announces Graduates

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., July 30, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The UNC-IDB Strategic Studies Fellows Program (SSFP) recognized this year's class of graduates on July 26, 2013 at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. Brigadier General Kimberly Field, the Deputy Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, Headquarters U.S. Army, culminated the classroom instruction with a keynote address and interactive session with the students. The graduating class had 29 U.S. Army students which, included 26 Army Captains and three Army Majors that were promoted while attending the program.

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"This outstanding group of military leaders has been able to expand their understanding of national security, strategy, communications, business operations, technology and change management," said Mark Cramer, the IDB President. "This intensive in-residence program was able to broaden their strategic perspectives to better prepare them to apply analytic and strategic planning skills to benefit their current and future U.S. Army organizations."

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

Throughout the program, the students were able to take their consolidated experience, perspective 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 faculty, and a senior military leader that included, Brig.Gen. Kimberly Field, Professor David Schanzer of Duke and Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security, Mark Cramer, IDB President and Amb. (Ret.) David C. Litt, Executive Director of the Center for Stabilization and Economic Reconstruction.

The graduating 2013 SSFP class included:

• Erich Almonte, Operations Officer and Assistant Professor of Military Science at George Washington University ROTC
• Alexander Bedard, Company Commander, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division
• Steven Benedetti, Aide-de-Camp, 704th Military Intelligence Brigade
• Tom Beyerl, APM Maneuver Targeting Systems, PEO Soldier
• Elizabeth Bickett, Company Commander, 634th Brigade Support Battalion, 33d Infantry Brigade Combat Team
• Abra Crosthwaite, Battalion Operations Officer, 589th Brigade Support Battalion
• Anthony Fuscellaro, Assistant S-3, 3rd Aviation Combat Brigade
• Thomas Garner, Graduate Student, Georgetown University Student Detachment
• Brennan Goltry, Company Commander, 1st Special Forces Group
• Agustin Gonzalez, Company Commander, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division
• Zachary Heinrich, Operations and Plans Officer, United States Army Special Operations Command
• Daniel Huff, Heavy Weapons Company Commander, 505th  Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division
• Clarence Langley, Aide-de-camp, Signal Center of Excellence Command Group
• Stephen Lucas, Project Manager, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh
• James Machado, Academic Instructor, United States Military Academy
• Chad Maddox, Operations Officer, 5th Ranger Training Battalion
• Michael Munroe, Commander, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division
• Jonathan Peterson, Air Officer, 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
• Caleb Phillips, CIG Chief, United States Army Armor School  
• Constance Quinlan, Executive Officer, United States Military Entrance Processing Command, Honolulu
• Donald Riddle, Operations Officer, 385th Military Police Battalion
• Matthew Shoenfelt, Tactical Operations Officer, Headquarters, 82d Airborne Division
• Joseph Steadman, Troop Commander, 4th Squadron, 3d Cavalry Regiment
• Nicholas Steele, Command Operations Staff (S3), 5/159th General Support Aviation Battalion
• Benjamin Summers, Graduate student, Harvard University Student Detachment
• Michael Taylor, Battalion Operations Officer, 225th  Brigade Support Battalion
• Jason Wagner, Operations Officer, United States Military Entrance Processing Command
• Alexander Werner, Company Commander, 1-16 Infantry, 1st Infantry Division
• 1 Student from the United States Army Special Operations Command

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 in partnership with the Kelley School of Business and Indiana University.

For more information on the SSFP please contact Zebrina Warner, Associate Program Director at 919-969-8008.

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

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SOURCE Institute for Defense and Business