Today at NPS December 2014
Today@NPS
ITACS Deputy CIO Honored
By Javier Chagoya
Deputy Chief Information Officer Terri Brutzman, formerly with NPS' Information Technology and Communication Services (ITACS) is pictured with her family following an award ceremony at Ingersoll Hall, Dec. 16. Brutzman was awarded the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award in recognition for her service to NPS. She has taken a new position at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenges a new job brings, but I'll still have close ties with the NPS staff," said Brutzman. "There is so much yet to be discovered in the world of computing and it's my curiosity that keeps me interested in what I do. I look forward to the challenges in my next role as DLI's Chief Information Officer."
Brutzman has served at NPS for the last seven years. Notably, her work was instrumental to NPS' succesful .mil to .edu. network transition.
"This involved researching Navy Information Assurance and IT management instructions, and working with high level [Department of the Navy] staff to understand current policy, and the drivers behind the policy, to discern alternate methods of ensuring security while allowing us the flexibility to execute our education and research mission," explained Brutzman.
Brutzman has been with NPS since 1990, first as a staff lieutenant commander and then as a student, earning a Masters of Science in Management degree. She also served a follow-on tour with the Naval Support Activity Monterey.
Pictured in the photo from left to right are Brutzman's daughter Sarah, husband Don, son Patrick and parents retired Rear Adm. John Ekelund and Lynn Ekelund.
By MC2 Chablis J. Torrence
NPS students, staff, faculty and family members cheer on the Navy Midshipmen, or the Army Black Knights, during the Army/Navy Game Tailgate Party hosted by Naval Support Activity Monterey (NSAM) Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) in the Trident Room, Dec. 13.
It would prove to be a busy weekend for NSAM MWR, as they switched gears the next day to host the annual Teddy Bear Tea in the Barbara McNitt Ballroom.
"The Teddy Bear Tea included face painting, balloon twisters, a magic show, and give-a-ways," said MWR Liberty Coordinator and Community Activities Coordinator Lindsay Carver. "There were also hot beverages, assorted tea sandwiches and appetizers, as well as a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus."
Throughout the year, MWR hosts several events — including an Aerob-A-Thon, Game Nights, and Super Bowl Sunday festivities — many of which are designed specifically for families. For more information on upcoming opportunities, visit the MWR Community Support Programs website.
By MC3 Michael Ehrlich
The 61st graduating class of the Naval War College (NWC) Monterey partnership with NPS for Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) stands for a group portrait in the Barbara McNitt Ballroom of Herrmann Hall, Dec. 11. Through the partnership, 3,887 officers have earned this certification since the program's inception in September 1999.
NWC Monterey Chairman Professor Fred Drake and Dr. Gary Ohls presided over the ceremony where a total of 100 U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Army officers earned their NWC Command and Staff diploma with JPME Phase I certification.
By NPS Public Affairs
Members of the Fall Quarter graduating class listen in as U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John M. Paxton Jr. offers his first of two commencement addresses in the Barbara McNitt Ballroom in Herrmann Hall, Dec. 19. A longtime advocate of NPS, Paxton paid special tribute to the university's faculty and staff, critical players in the students' successes.
"You have potential Nobel Laureates and nominees here; you have world class authors who have led in the national studies, and performed work of tremendous import to the United States of America. And they take all that experience and expertise, and then focus it back on students," Paxton said.
"And they do it directly, they don't do it with teaching assistants," he stressed. "They lean in and take your operational experience, your combat experience, and your potential, and they turn you into more critical thinkers; more intricate problem solvers; and team ball players."
Paxton referenced iconic moments in history, where critical decisions made by leaders in challenging situations made the difference between success and failure. The world may have changed, he said, but nations will still need leaders who can make difficult choices.
"You are going to step out into a world that is full of complexity, full of uncertainty, and you are going to want to harness the skills of the core curricula here at the Naval Postgraduate School," Paxton said. "In a world of dynamic change, in a world where the tyranny of time and the tyranny of distance are working against us, what we really need is thinkers and problem solvers who are leaders themselves, or whose idea can capture the attention of a leader … that's why you are here."
The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) conferred a total 356 advanced degrees upon 352 graduates during the two ceremonies, including 44 international officers and 71 distance-learning students.
Kip and I extend our sincerest holiday wishes to you and your families. This time of year is always a special time to spend with family and friends celebrating the holidays according to each of our beliefs, to relax, and welcome in the New Year.
There is little doubt that 2014 lived up to our expectations of being a very challenging and yet rewarding year for all. Through your unyielding work, we continue to prove this great institution's exceptional value to the Navy and our country. As part of the NPS community, your collective contributions to our mission have met an unsurpassed level of achievement that can only be found within a highly principled organization.
This past year we have been able to remain focused on our most important challenge; that of providing relevant education and unique research opportunities to our nation's finest leaders. Everyone has many reasons to be proud, as each and every one of you has made a significant impact in your individual areas of expertise.
To the students, through your perseverance and dedication, you have provided yourself a lasting gift that will benefit you, your families and our nation. Please celebrate safely, get enough rest, and give yourself adequate driving time if traveling. Know your limits, and use good judgment when celebrating.
Warmest wishes,
Ron Route VADM
(Ret), U.S. Navy
By MC3 Michael Ehrlich
Members of the Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula (MOWMP) Board of Directors gather for a group photo during their annual holiday luncheon in the Tower Room of Herrmann Hall, Dec. 10. Applied Mathematics Senior Lecturer Bard Mansager currently serves the organization as President of the MOWMP Board.
Mansager, who has been a member of the board for six years, was named president this past July.
"I first became aware of Meals on Wheels when my father used the service," said Mansager. "Knowing that Meals on Wheels provided daily nourishment as well as a safety check meant the world to me. It's now a pleasure to provide some return on the very gracious and loving support that was given to my father."
Mansager says the organization's mission and dedication to promoting good health and the highest quality of living are exceptionally important, especially during this time of year.
"Holiday time can be very lonely for many seniors in our community. Our volunteers are making daily deliveries of food and providing important human interaction," said Mansager.
"NPS is a great community partner," he added. "We receive donations to support our program from the Chapel and the MBOSC [Monterey Bay Officers' Spouses Club]."
By MC3 Michael Ehrlich
School of International Graduate Studies (SIGS) Assistant Dean and Director of the International Graduate Programs Office (IGPO) retired U.S. Marine Corps. Col. Gary Roser, above, presides over the Fall Quarter International Farewell Graduation Luncheon in the Barbara McNitt Ballroom, Dec. 12, where he was presented with the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award to rousing applause.
Roser, who is retiring after 23 years of service at NPS, was recognized at the luncheon for guiding the university's international graduate programs, where he has advised and counseled hundreds of international students representing 114 nations worldwide.
"I accept this award on behalf of many others," said Roser. "We started out in a two-roomed shoe horn on the third floor of Ingersoll Hall. We have come a long way together to develop SIGS into what it is today."
A total of 43 international student graduates representing 28 countries, including NPS' first graduate from Kazakhstan, were also recognized during the ceremony.
By MC2 Danica M. Sirmans
Commanding General of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Gen. David G. Perkins offers an overview of the new Army Operating Concept entitled, "Win in a Complex World." The doctrine establishes a formal road map to enable the Army to fight and win future battles in complex, unknown environments.
Replacing outdated doctrine grounded in known enemies, the new Army Operating Concept stresses the unknown, focusing on strategy over tactics and the importance of understanding the operational environments in which wars are fought.
"When you discuss the future, one of the things you have to understand is the operational environment," said Perkins. "In other words, what is the environment you're going to operate in and what are its challenges?"
The new doctrine also focuses on the use of special, joint and other partnered forces. But perhaps the most striking feature of the new Army doctrine is its simplicity.
"Our doctrine is shorter than it's ever been," Perkins explained. "Where there were once 556 field manuals, there are now 15 manuals, 10 pages each."
"What does that mean? Clarity," he stressed. "You have to use every word very clearly. Leaders focus on clarity, and that's what we set out to provide."
Systems Engineering Faculty Recognized for Building Strong Partnerships
By Javier Chagoya
NPS Department of Systems Engineering Associate Professor Andy Hernandez, right, Program Manager (PM) for the Naval Research Program, is presented the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal by NPS President retired Vice Adm. Ronald A. Route, left, following the weekly President's Council meeting, Dec. 9.
A retired Army colonel and NPS doctoral graduate, Hernandez was recognized for his instrumental efforts in strengthening the Naval Research Program (NRP), a joint research partnership with senior Navy and Marine Corps leadership to provide a direct connection between student research at the university, and the immediate needs of the services.
"There are nearly 130 different projects under the Naval Research Program for fiscal year 2014-2015. The catalyst for bringing the naval community to NPS faculty is the Naval Research Program's Research Working Group," said Hernandez. "Our faculty, researchers and students have done a terrific job educating the naval community on NPS capabilities."
Hernandez was also praised for his continued passion in teaching in the systems engineering curriculum, all the while performing his own duties as principal investigator (PI) for other programs on campus.
"I pursued efforts as the PI for the Marine Corps Expeditionary Energy Office, a program that has produced nearly two dozen projects over the last two years and involved over 40 students and 20 faculty and researchers," noted Hernandez.
"I have also been in the classroom throughout my stay as the PM for the Naval Research Program, and I enjoy teaching very much. The NRP provided many concrete examples of the problems students would be solving when they return to the fleet, but it also made for great discussion in the classroom," he added.
By Kenneth Stewart
U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Marc Aparicio, left, is presented with the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Joint Service Warfare Award by MOAA President retired Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr., right, during NPS' Fall Quarter Awards Ceremony, Dec. 9
"I am honored to have received such an award. It's a real privilege to have the opportunity to be a faculty member at NPS," said Aparicio.
The MOAA-sponsored award, recognizing significant contributions to the study, implementation and spirit of joint service warfare, is just one of several quarterly recognition awards presented to top graduates and select faculty each quarter.
"Working at NPS as a U.S. Coast Guard officer presents a unique opportunity," said Aparicio. "I think that the inter-service collaboration that occurs here is critical to the increasingly joint nature of our missions."
Prior to coming to NPS, Aparicio served as a helicopter pilot and aeronautical engineering officer. He graduated from Graduate School of Business and Public Policy (GSBPP) with a Master of Business Administration in Defense Acquisitions in 2012. He currently teaches both resident and distance learning courses in the NPS Department of Systems Engineering, as well as an occasional class in GSBPP.
By Kenneth Stewart
NPS Professor Sivaguru S. Sritharan, pictured, has been selected to serve as the provost of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). Sritharan currently serves as the director of NPS' Center for Decision, Risk, Controls and Signals Intelligence, and is a former dean of the Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (GSEAS).
"When this opportunity came around, it was really a dream come true," said Sritharan. "When I came to the U.S. from Sri Lanka in 1978, I wanted to achieve a position where I could advocate for the aeronautical and space science disciplines."
"Serving as the provost is really the pinnacle of my career. It allows me to take what I have accomplished at GSEAS to a whole new level," he continued.
Sritharan became intrigued by AFIT after exploring the various domains in which the Air Force operates and the scientific disciplines relevant to its mission. He is convinced that these are areas in which he can make a significant contribution.
"My vision is to determine how I can link up with the Air Force across the Department of Defense enterprise to achieve world leadership in those areas," he said.
AFIT is the Air Force's graduate school of engineering and management as well as its institution for technical professional continuing education. A component of Air University, AFIT provides defense-focused graduate and professional continuing education and research to sustain the technological supremacy of the U.S. air and space forces.
By Kenneth A. Stewart
Professor David Jenn with the NPS Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is pictured with his recently-patented Dipole with an Unbalanced Microstrip Feed Antenna, Dec. 4. The tiny antenna, known in the industry as a "rectenna," is small in size, but Jenn believes that its potential belies its stature.
"I invented a small antenna designed to be integrated into sensor objects and to be used for a wide variety of things," said Jenn. "We had energy harvesting in mind when we developed our antenna."
The small antenna works on the notion that all waves, whether radio, cell or television, are energy, and that if harnessed, they can be routed through a circuit and transformed into electrical current which can be then used to power devices or to charge batteries.
"It's all energy, it's just in one kind of wave and we are converting it to another," explained Jenn. "Once you get the wave into a circuit, you convert it into AC or DC current."
Because of Jenn's antenna's size, it can be used in conjunction with circuits on very small objects. In the past, he used the same concept to fly very small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Jenn has since changed gears. The main thrust of his work now is on large, phased-array antennas like those used on shipboard radar assemblies and large UAVs like the Predator drone.
By MC3 Michael Ehrlich
NPS Department of Defense Analysis Chair Professor John Arquilla offers an overview of the Big Ideas Exchange (BIX) in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Auditorium, Dec. 5. BIX is an NPS initiative designed to further new and potentially game-changing research developed by NPS faculty and students that addresses grand challenges in U.S. national security.
"We live in a time where the nature of conflict is being transformed," said Arquilla, noting the downward spiral faced by defense budgets and manpower reductions that necessitate innovative thinking. "We are going to have to make up for those constraints with big ideas."
The first of what organizers hope will be a quarterly event, the BIX provides the forum for NPS faculty to present and advance their potential solutions to the Navy and Armed Forces biggest challenges.
"What we want to do with this event is to let the larger defense community know that the NPS is a place of big ideas," added Arquilla. "Across all the departments on campus here at NPS, there are ideas that will save lives, money and time and allow us to begin doing the business of national security in unique ways."
Also presenting at this inaugural BIX was Defense Analysis Professor Nancy Roberts, NPS Energy Academic Group Chair, Visiting Professor Dan Nussbaum, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science Cynthia Irvine, Assistant Professor of Defense Analysis Sean Everton, and Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Cebrowski Institute Director Peter Denning.
By MC2 Shawn J. Stewart
NPS researchers listen to Cornell University Associate Professor of Government Sarah E. Kreps detail the proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and the consequences they have on U.S. foreign relations during an academic conference call in Bullard Hall, Dec. 4. The Council on Foreign Relations organized the call to discuss "The Implications of Drones on U.S. Foreign Policy" and invited NPS' Consortium for Robotics and Unmanned Systems Education and Research (CRUSER) among others to participate.
"There are two big policy questions," said Kreps. "One is the arms race of other countries in pursuit of this technology; that's the demand side. The other side is the supply side … The U.S. has gone to interagency review about what its export policies should be [in regard to demand for drone technology]."
Micah Zenko, a Douglas Dillon Fellow with the Center for Preventive Action, joined Kreps as featured speakers on the call. Zenko provided an overview of the use of UAVs and why U.S. public policy matters.
"We're interested in how armed drones are being used outside of battlefields … which is more controversial [than the drones are]," said Zenko. "We started using them to go after Osama Bin Laden in 2001, and by November 2002 we were using them outside of battlefield situations."
According to Zenko, as drone capabilities increase, so too will their proliferation. He also noted their ability to collect information while loitering undetected over targets for long periods of time without putting pilots at risk.
During the call, NPS Department of Defense Analysis Assistant Professor Bradley Strawser shared his own thoughts on the morality of drone usage.
"I appreciate the fact that drones are a disruptive technology in foreign relations, but I'm not convinced that we have a strong moral argument to prevent their proliferation," said Strawser. "They limit the risk of human pilots … are more precise, and they limit collateral damage when compared to other [systems]."
By MC2 Shawn J. Stewart
Rear Adm. Bruce L. Gillingham, Commander, Navy Medicine West Naval Medical Center San Diego, right, takes questions from a mixed group of active duty service members from local commands during a town hall meeting at Glasgow Hall, Dec. 2.
"It's a pleasure to be here to talk to you about what's going on in Navy Medicine," said Gillingham. "I think it is important that you understand the direction we are going."
Gillingham discussed his office's response to defense medicine challenges ranging from budget constraints and shifting mission requirements to the Navy's ability to provide health care equal to that which is available in the civilian sector.
"When all is said and done … we are on par with civilian medicine. There are pockets of excellence and pockets that are average, but the goal is to rise above average and to set the standard for modern medicine," said Gillingham.
Gillingham notes that his ultimate goal is to create a "high reliability organization" characterized by its ability to avoid catastrophe despite its need to operate in complex environments that are inherently risky and conducive to accidents.
"High reliability is built on three pillars … a culture of safety, leadership commitment to high reliability, and continuous process improvement," he said.
Gillingham also opened up the floor for feedback and took suggestions from the service members in attendance, and thanked them for both their candor and feedback.
By MC2 Danica M. Sirmans
NPS faculty, students and staff enjoy traditional Turkish cuisine in celebration of Professors' Day in the Herrmann Hall Tower Room, Nov. 24. The university's Turkish community organized the event in the spirit of their nation's annual Teachers' Day holiday, demonstrating their appreciation of faculty for their countless hours spent teaching, mentoring and advising students.
"We are grateful to our faculty because it is you that makes NPS such a great school," said Turkish Army student Kursat Yavuz. "My father is an NPS graduate and I remember being here when I was five years old. I remember this tradition then, and I hope it continues forever."
NPS Provost Dr. Douglas Hensler also weighed in on the day, and the faculty that it honored.
"The core of what makes NPS a very special place is its faculty," said Hensler. "But it is also our students that provide much value to this institution. The entry of our international students into our student body is very much appreciated. The relationships built here are priceless and treasured even after our students leave this great establishment."
In Turkey, November 24 is designated Teachers' Day in honor of the significant role teachers play in the development of the nation's people. Republic of Turkey founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk established the holiday, and is considered the Prime Teacher for adopting a new alphabet for the young nation in 1923.
By MC2 Danica M. Sirmans
NPS alumnus retired Cmdr. John Herrington, pictured, became the first Native American to fly in space in 2002 when he rode Space Shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station. In the spirit of National American Indian Heritage Month, NPS celebrates contributions like his to our nation's rich history and defense.
There are 566 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska-Native tribes with more than 100 state-recognized tribes across the country. Herrington, an enrolled member of Chickasaw Nation, obtained his Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from NPS in 1995.
"As a Native American astronaut, I was proud to honor my heritage by carrying a Chickasaw Nation flag on a mission to outer space," Herrington said in an interview following his historic flight. He was later inducted into the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame.
Herrington worked as the flight engineer on shuttle mission STS-113. Since retirement from NASA, he has been working with children to help inspire their interest in math and science. In 2008, he made a cross-country bicycle ride, which he dubbed Rocketrek, to encourage youth interest in the STEM disciplines, particularly in Native Americans.
By Javier Chagoya
Recently constructed wind turbines tower over Research Associate Professor Dr. Anthony Gannon, NPS student Cmdr. Rex Boonyobhas, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Chair Dr. Garth Hobson, above left to right, at NPS' Turbo Propulsion Lab, Nov. 25. Gannon and Hobson are serving as Bonnyobhas' thesis advisors as he uses the system to explore renewable energy powered chilling and air conditioning.
"The DOD uses a lot of energy to cool facilities and data centers. NPS has been commissioned to explore a targeted solution to this problem using renewable energy from vertical axis wind turbines," said Gannon. "This project falls under the Energy Systems Technology Evaluation Program (ESTEP), and is intended to pave the way for increased renewable energy at DOD facilities."
The project began in 2012, and Boonyobhas is the fourth NPS student to contribute to the effort. His work with the system builds upon advances in renewable energy, a variable speed chiller that matches, as closely as possible, its power draw to the available energy produced by the wind turbines.
"I developed a monitoring program that extracts the data from the system's micro-grid. I also designed the algorithm for operating the variable speed chiller plant based on the amount of incoming renewable energy," said Boonyobhas.
In partnership with the Office of Naval Research, NPS participation in the ESTEP program provides students with access to leading edge research and technologies, ensuring they will return to the fleet armed with the most current knowledge available. Boonyobhas graduates later this month and will report to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.