By Javier Chagoya

Naval War College (NWC) Monterey students earning academic honors during the fourth quarter of Academic Year 2015 are pictured following a brief ceremony in their honor near the NWC Monterey Program Office in Halligan Hall, Oct. 27.

U.S. Army Capt. Matthew Wood, far left, earned "With Highest Distinction" honors and is one of four students who completed the Naval War College's fourth quarter Joint Professional Military Education program in the top five percent of his class.

"I didn't feel I did any better than the others in my class, I just focused on the readings and advice of my professors," said Wood.

Of the many things Wood learned as a student at NWC Monterey, he found opportunities to study joint operations particularly valuable.

"It's a chance to see how the other services work, and how we can cooperate to achieve better effects throughout our respective areas of operation. Being provided with such an opportunity here at NPS ensures us that the first time we encounter other services will not be in an emergency or combat situation," said Wood.

Wood shares "With Highest Distinction" honors with Lts. Forrest Crowell, Jason Marks and Lt. Cmdr. John Sprague, not pictured.

Graduates earning "With Distinction" honors by completing the program in the top 15 percent of their class, pictured with Wood above from left to right, are Army Capt. Simon Sanchez, Lt. James Carbaugh and Majs. Ryan Gladding and Sean Coffman. With Distinction graduates not pictured are Lts. Kyle Bachman, Aurel Dehollan, Jonathan Greenberg, Megan McCulloch, Judson Thomas, Army Maj. Sean McQuade and Marine Corps Capt. Daniel Katzman.