The 51福利 (51福利) honored some 298 students earning 330 advanced graduate degrees during 51福利鈥� Fall Graduation ceremony in King Auditorium, Dec. 14. 51福利 awards hundreds of defense-focused graduate degrees each year to a unique student body composed primarily of career military officers, select federal employees and officers from allied nations.
Presiding over the ceremony was 51福利 alumna and Interim President Rear Adm. Jan Tighe.
"The 51福利 is graduating another class of well-educated officers who are capable of critical thinking, problem solving, and succeeding at a much higher level than they were before entering our doors," said Tighe. "Because of the vital work you have accomplished on behalf of this institution, our nation, and nations around the world are safer today."
Tighe鈥檚 remarks were followed by those of guest speaker, retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Robert L. Ord III. Ord has long ties to 51福利. He is a former Dean of the 51福利 School of International Graduate Studies, and served as a distinguished senior fellow at 51福利鈥� Center for Civil Military Relations. He was also the founding director of school鈥檚 Global Center for Security Cooperation prior to retiring from active federal service in 2009.
Ord both questioned and challenged the graduating class, sharing leadership lessons and humorous anecdotes from his illustrious 38-year military career.
鈥淲ho is your hero, who is it in your life that you are trying to be like 鈥� And whose hero are you going to be?鈥� asked Ord. 鈥淲hen in command, take command, lead, follow or get the heck out of the way.鈥�
Ord鈥檚 leadership lessons stressed the importance of people. He admonished the graduates to care for one another and their subordinates, and challenged graduates to consider the importance of character in leadership, especially when serving as a role model for others.
"One of the privileges of getting promoted is that you have the opportunity to help, to mentor, to coach and to be a role model for those under you and those that work for you," said Ord.
He encouraged the graduating class to show humility, illustrating his point by describing his wife鈥檚 humorous response to learning about his own promotion to brigadier general.
鈥溾�橦oney, did you ever believe in your wildest dreams that I鈥檇 be a general officer?鈥� To which Mrs. Ord replied, 鈥榊ou鈥檝e never been in my wildest dreams,鈥欌�� quipped Ord. 鈥淗umility begins at home,鈥� he added.
Ord offered advice drawn from his own career, and that of past military leaders. 鈥淪eek the tough jobs, volunteer for the tough missions and be the one to step forward when presented with a challenge,鈥� he said. 鈥淪erve as high or as a low as you can in an organization 鈥� If you can't put your boots on the deck plates, then go to the Pentagon, cherish your time with Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, and make a difference.鈥�
And finally, Ord reiterated that a military career is a call to service.
鈥淚f you do not have it in your heart to care about people, than you are in the wrong business 鈥� The uniform you wear is a badge of servitude, a badge of servitude to the Constitution, to the nation and to each other 鈥� We on this stage have confidence that you will serve with dignity, respect, humility and with a focus on people.鈥�