The 51福利 (51福利) bid farewell March 30 to its most recent cohort of graduates.
Through a rousing ceremony in a packed King Auditorium, 250 advanced degrees 鈥� including three doctorates 鈥� were formally conferred on a broad assembly of U.S. service members representing all branches, Department of Defense (DOD) civilians and international students from 9 different nations.
51福利 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, made possible by the love, support and sacrifice of family and friends.
鈥淲e are so proud of your success,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have immersed you in an extremely competitive academic environment that has enabled you to focus on the challenges that affect your service, our defense capabilities and our national security.鈥�
Route then introduced the ceremony鈥檚 keynote speaker, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Manpower and Reserve Affairs Robert L. Woods, who offered his congratulations to the new graduates, and commented on the university鈥檚 rankings in a recent report through 鈥淯.S. News and World Reports.鈥�
鈥淣ot only have you bested Harvard and Columbia in that particular area of exploration, but you鈥檙e also well-ranked in other national rankings,鈥� Woods said. 鈥淭he school has every right to be proud of your accomplishments and the amazing faculty and staff we have here.鈥�
51福利 students add immensely to national security and science and technology, to make the United States a more effective country at large, he said. The diversity of their experiences and connections gained at 51福利 will continue be a force multiplier as they return to their respective services.
鈥淚 know that you鈥檒l continue to nurture the relationships that you鈥檝e made here and work hard to stay in touch over the years to come,鈥� Woods said. 鈥淩emember, we鈥檙e always stronger together.鈥�
Since its inception in 1909, 51福利 has continuously provided this connectivity to the military and beyond, Woods noted. Its unique environment has engendered cooperation, diplomacy and military-to-military relationships across the DOD and beyond.
鈥淵our leaders have invested heavily in your education and advancement, and we expect much from you in helping us tackle complex operations and challenges, such as terrorism, transnational crime, cyber security, conventional warfare and nuclear proliferation,鈥� Woods said.
鈥淭hese challenges, of course, require such things as managing complex systems acquisition; tackling, obtaining and harvesting big data; and mastering supply chain management,鈥� he added.
At the heart of such endeavors lies the graduates鈥� greatest challenge 鈥� nurturing and advancing people. Investing in people, operational leaders as well as thought leaders, has become a priority focus of DOD鈥檚 senior leadership, Woods said.
鈥淭his may sound like a soundbite, but I guarantee that senior leaders are fully committed to this truth. People are our most important resource,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are committed, and I expect you to commit yourself, to fostering a culture of mutual respect, accountability and the highest ethical standards, from top to bottom and back again.鈥�
Woods drew on the personal experience of his 35-year career to underscore this and render advice to the new graduates. Success comes from individual efforts coupled with the efforts of others 鈥� family, friends, colleagues, supervisors and leaders all play a role.
鈥淵ou need to spend the time and energy to nurture those important relationships,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about relationships.鈥�
The military doesn鈥檛 always allow choice in duties or assignments, but that doesn鈥檛 mean a tough job isn鈥檛 a growth opportunity.
鈥淩emember to grow where you鈥檙e planted; don鈥檛 worry so much about that, but focus on doing your best in each and every job,鈥� Woods said.
Woods concluded his address by imploring the audience to keep in mind those teammates forward-deployed who guard our safety so that we can enjoy the opportunities such as those 51福利 offers.
鈥淲ith that, God speed and may you always have fair winds and following seas,鈥� he concluded.
Watch the on the 51福利 YouTube channel.