A total of 51 students, faculty, and staff members of the Naval Postgraduate School were honored during the Fall Graduation Awards Ceremony in the King Hall Auditorium here Dec. 9, 2008.
Capt. Kathryn Hobbs, the Dean of Students here, was recognized at the awards ceremony for the first time not as the speaker, but as the recipient of the First Command Leadership Award. "It was a surprise," said Hobbs. "This was the first time I've received an NPS award."
This award presents a chance for soon-to-graduate classes to say who, more than any other, has contributed to the professional and military success of the graduates during their time at NPS.
"It means so much to me personally because it was voted upon and given by the students," said Hobbs. "It is a very humbling experience for me - very much appreciated - brought tears to my eyes."
"Student Services, the Dean of Students office, and the Director of Programs staff work very hard each and everyday," said Hobbs. "I'm part of an incredible team: they keep me out of trouble! Also, it is awesome to work with other departments on student issues, and to work with faculty, staff and others to make NPS truly a great experience for the students."
In addition to Hobbs being presented with her award, eight NPS faculty members received awards:
The Carl E. and Jesse W. Menneken Annual Faculty Award for Excellence in Scientific Research, for exhibition of outstanding efforts in science and engineering research, was presented to Christopher M. Brophy, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Astronautical Engineering & Space Systems Academic Group, GSEAS.
The Louis D. Liskin Award for Teaching Excellence, a semi-annual Graduate School of Business and Public Policy award, was presented to Bill Gates, an associate professor of Economic Analysis and Defense Resource Allocation, Business Modeling, and Quantitative Methods in Management, GSBPP.
The Lieutenant Commander David L. Williams Outstanding Professor Award, a School of International Graduate Studies award for dedication to, and impact on, the intellectual growth of both resident and abroad students, was given to Capt. (ret) Paul Shemella, a lecturer for the Center for Civil-Military Relations, SIGS.
The Military Officers Association of America Joint Service Warfare Award, an award to NPS military faculty members with highly significant contributions to the study, implementation and spirit of joint-service warfare, was given to Lt. Col. Karl D. Pfeiffer, currently serving as an assistant professor in both the Department of Information Science, GSOIS and the Department of Meteorology, GSEAS.
The Northrop Grumman Faculty Award for Excellence in Systems Engineering and Analysis was given to both Doyle C. Daughtry, a senior lecturer in the Department of Applied Mathematics, GSEAS, and Cliff Whitcomb, an assistant professor in the Department of Systems Engineering, GSEAS, for excellence in instruction, leadership, and contribution to the System Engineering Capstone Project.
Mark R. Stevens, a senior lecturer in the Systems Engineering Department, GSEAS, and Ronald Fricker, an associate professor in the Department of Operations Research, GSOIS, each received the Meyer Award for Teaching Excellence in Systems Engineering. Stevens earned the award for his work with Distance Learning, and Fricker earned the award for his work in Integrated Projects.
The Monterey Council Navy League Award for Highest Academic Achievement, the school's highest student award, was presented to Lt. Cmdr. Joseph A. Cascio. Cascio also received the Astronauts’ Capt. Michael J. Smith and Cmdr. William C. McCool Astronautics Award.
The following members of the Fall 2008 Class were also recognized for their outstanding achievements:
The Louis D. Liskin Award for Excellence in Business and Public Policy-Lt. Brooke Zimmerman
The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition) Award for Academic Excellence-Capt. Katrina Curtis
Cmdr. Philip A. Murphy-Sweet Memorial Award for Excellence in Acquisition-Lt. Cmdr. Michele LaPorte
The Louis D. Liskin Award for Excellence in Regional Security Studies-Lt. Jeffrey D. Betz
The Graduate School of Business and Public Policy Faculty Outstanding International Student Award-Maj. Boon Kwan, Singapore Navy, and Maj. Irene Tan, Singapore Army
Capt. David S. Bill, Jr., Leadership Award-Maj. James Hackbarth
The Outstanding United States Air Force Graduate Award, Department of National Security Affairs-Maj. James Hackbarth
The Hans Jones Award for Excellence in Thesis Research in Special Operations and Irregular Warfare or Security, Stabilization, Transition and Reconstruction-Lt. Mark “Clint” Burke and Maj. Eric Self
Association of the United States Army, General Joseph W. Stilwell Chapter, Award for Outstanding Army Student-Maj. Peter J. Twedell
The Tillman Award-Maj. Peter J. Twedell
Naval Intelligence Foundation, Admiral B.R. Inman Award for Outstanding Performance in The Field Of Intelligence-Lt. Jeff Molineux
The Northrop Grumman Student Award for Excellence in Systems Engineering and Analysis-Lt. Bobby Rowden
Meyer Award for Outstanding Student in Systems Engineering (Integrated Projects)-Lt. Richard Jimenez and Lt. Julio Nilsson
Naval Postgraduate School Outstanding Academic Achievement Award for Department of Defense Student-Maj. Edward Blakiston
Department of the Navy Award for Academic Excellence in Financial Management-Maj. Edward Blakiston
The School of International Graduate Studies Outstanding International Student Award-Lt. j.g. Ioannis Kizanis, Hellenic Navy
Naval Postgraduate School Outstanding Academic Achievement Award for International Students-Capt. Lior Harari, Israeli Army
Naval Postgraduate School Superior Service Award-Capt. Jeremiah Kirschman
Marine Corps Association Superior Service Award for Outstanding U.S. Marine Student-Maj. Bryan Forney
Naval Sea Systems Command Award for Excellence in Combat Systems-Maj. Bryan J. Forney
Air Force Association Award for Outstanding U.S. Air Force Student-Capt. Ryan Schiffner
The Surface Navy Association’s Award for Excellence In Surface Warfare Research-Lt. Brandon M. Booher and Lt. Derek S. Waisanen
Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Award-Maj. Danny Ho Kah Wei, Republic of Singapore Air Force
Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper Computer Science Award-Chaun Lian Koh
Commander George L. Phillips Modeling, Virtual Environments, and Simulation
Award-Kim Soo Ong, Sinagpore Navy
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Award in Electronic Systems Engineering-Lt. j.g. Leonidas Drakopoulos, Hellenic Navy
Naval Sea Systems Command Award in Naval/Mechanical Engineering-Lt. Jeremiah Cheatum
The Space Systems Engineering Award for Academic Excellence-Capt. Margaret Sullivan
Rear Admiral Thomas R. McClellan Award for Academic Excellence in the Graduate School of Business and Public Policy- Lt. Cmdr. James Moonier
Naval Supply Systems Command Award for Academic Excellence in Management-Lt. Cmdr. Brian Johnson
Conrad Scholar Award for Distinguished Academic Achievement in Financial Management-Lt. Cmdr. Michael Borrelli
The Army Acquisition Corps Award for Scholastic Achievement – Maj. Anthony Gibbs
American Society of Military Comptrollers Award for Excellence in Research (Graduate Level)-Lt. Javier Figueroa
The Rear Admiral Donald R. Eaton Logistics Award for Outstanding Achievement-Maj. Mark McGovern
Awards presented in absentia:
Meyer Award for Outstanding Student in Systems Engineering (Distance Learning)-Mr. Preston R. Graham, Ms. Bonita Rose Davia and Mr. John Paul Schofield III
The Zimbardo Award for Graduates of Master in Arts National Security Studies (Homeland Defense and Security) Department of National Security Affairs-Mr. Gregg Golden
The Cutis H. “Butch” Straub Achievement Award-Ms. Christina Bell
Rear Admiral Thomas R. McClellan Award for Academic Excellence in the Graduate School of Business and Public Policy-Cmdr. Len Haidl