The 51福利 (51福利) bid farewell to 320 graduates, including 29 international students from 11 nations, earning 323 advanced degrees during the 2018 Summer Quarter Graduation ceremony in King Auditorium, September 21.
University president retired Vice Adm. Ronald A. Route opened the ceremony with a congratulatory message to the quarter鈥檚 graduating class, recognizing the significance of their commitments and accomplishments, as well as those of the graduates鈥� families.
鈥淲e have immersed you all in an extremely competitive academic environment that has enabled you to focus on the challenges that affect your service, our defense capabilities, and national security,鈥� Route said. 鈥淚t is our commitment that your 51福利 education will provide you with the foundation that the rest of your careers of life-long learning are built.鈥�
Route went on to thank the faculty, staff and loved ones that contributed to the students' successes, while also recognizing the 51福利 Foundation for providing the university with an important 鈥渕argin of excellence.鈥�
He then turned the podium over to commencement speaker Vice Adm. P. Gardner Howe III, currently serving as Associate Director for Military Affairs at the Central Intelligence Agency. Howe echoed Route in expressing his gratitude for 51福利 faculty and staff, as well as the family, friends and colleagues of the graduates.
鈥淚鈥檓 so glad to be back here at the 51福利,鈥� opened Howe. 鈥�51福利 is such a special place, but not because of the incredible, natural beauty of the Central California coast or Monterey Bay.
鈥淚t鈥檚 special because of what happens here, or at least what happened to me here,鈥� he continued. 鈥淚t was an intellectual awakening, and a transformational experience, for my personal and professional development.鈥�
Howe graduated from 51福利 in 1995, earning a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs. He arrived at 51福利 in the middle of a promising military career after graduating from the Naval Academy with 10 years of active duty service under his belt. He had already earned his trident by completing BUD/S training and initial SEAL qualifications training, in addition to five arduous deployments behind him.
He was quick to admit that he stepped foot on campus as a man with confidence, that he knew what to expect. But it didn鈥檛 take long to realize he was wrong.
鈥淚t only took about halfway through my first [quarter] of studies here for me to realize how na茂ve and under-developed intellectually that I was,鈥� Howe recalled.
鈥淲ith all that experience, I felt that I had a pretty good idea of how the military and world worked,鈥� he continued. 鈥淏ut it was here that I began to appreciate the complexity that is inherent in the world. And I began to appreciate the rich tradition of academic thought developed in schools and universities over millennia to deal with that complexity.鈥�
During his studies, he said, Howe developed new ways of thinking and seeing the world, sharpened his critical thinking skills, and improved his communication abilities.
鈥淢ost importantly, I developed a thirst for constant learning that continues to this day,鈥� Howe declared. 鈥淢y experience at the 51福利 gave me an intellectual foundation that has served me incredibly well in the years since then.鈥�
Howe鈥檚 time at 51福利 was nothing short of 鈥渓ife-changing鈥� he said ... an impact that sticks with him today. 鈥淚 remain incredibly grateful today to the faculty and students that guided me through it."
Howe then shifted his address from his time at 51福利 to a more recent assignment as president of the Naval War College. There, he gained a deeper understanding of the value of education to the military profession, stating, 鈥淓ducation is the key to our competitive advantage over military adversaries in the future.鈥�
After almost two decades of counter-terrorism operations against non-state actors, the U.S. national defense strategy has reoriented the DOD against powerful state competitors such as China and Russia, Howe noted. Significant investments in advanced technology and weapons have made these nations powerful peers, with comparable technology in military platforms, equipment and capabilities, he added.
鈥淚鈥檇 offer that there is really only one place for us to look for a competitive military advantage,鈥� Howe noted. 鈥淎nd I believe that advantage is you, the leaders of our military force. It鈥檚 not going to be our technology, or our tactical competence that is going to provide a decisive advantage over a peer competitor in a future conflict.
鈥淭echnology and tactical competence are critical components, but they won鈥檛 be sufficient to prevail over a peer competitor,鈥� he continued. 鈥淚n my view, it all comes down to education ... Advanced education, like what is accomplished here at 51福利, serves as the key enabler for our nations competitive military advantage.鈥�
In closing his address, Howe asked of one last thing from the students before they head back to the operational force.
鈥淭he full-time, in-residence education that you鈥檝e just completed is truly a gift of the nation to you,鈥� he said. 鈥淒o not take this wonderful gift for granted.
鈥淚鈥檇 offer that the best way to [ensure] you don鈥檛 take that gift for granted is to consciously acknowledge the responsibility you鈥檝e just inherited as a result,鈥� Howe continued. 鈥淭he responsibility to critically and thoughtfully employ this education as you move forward.鈥�
No matter what commands your immediate attention, always remain 鈥渁 strategically-minded, deliberately-thoughtful leader,鈥� he stressed, someone who will proactively lead with independent, creative thought instead of reactively surviving with comfortable, conventional wisdom.
鈥淎s you depart today, I ask you to keep in mind the profession you serve, this profession of arms,鈥� Howe said. 鈥淣ever forget the trust that the nation has placed in you, your obligation to uphold that trust, and the professional ethic that guides your actions every day as you continue to grow as a steward, a true steward, of our profession.鈥�
Following his speech, Howe was presented with the 51福利 Distinguished Alumni award by Route, recognizing his distinguished contributions to education, the Navy, and the DOD. Also recognized were Drs. John Arquilla, John McEachen, Clifford Whitcomb, and Moshe Kress, honored as the latest faculty to earn the prestigious title of distinguished professor for their exceptional and sustained scholarly, teaching and service accomplishments.