UNC-IDB Strategic Studies Fellows Program Announces 2016 Graduates

"The fact that you were selected to participate in this program shows that the Army is invested in your success," said MG Hix. "We have high expectations for each of you to take what you have learned about communications, leadership, and strategy and apply it to achieve great outcomes for this organization."

The UNC-IDB SSFP is administered by the Institute for Defense and Business (IDB) in partnership with the University of North Carolina.

About the SSFP Program
The four-week course is a graduate-level leadership seminar dedicated to broadening the ability of emerging military leaders to adapt to the increasingly uncertain and complex international environment.

During this year's program, General Daniel Allyn, Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, paid a special visit to the Fellows. He spoke candidly with them about the strategic landscape of the Army, particularly in a resource-constrained environment. Other highlights included a local corporate visit day where students met with senior leaders at two organizations: SAS, the leader in business analytics software and services, where they learned about talent management, business intelligence and strategic decision making, and Strata Solar, a top 10 solar provider in the U.S., where the Fellows learned about clean energy and its impact on national security.

Capstone Team Project
The program culminates with an applied strategic capstone team project, consisting of a team presentation and academic paper, demonstrating the students' application of the curriculum. At the end of the course, students presented their findings before a panel consisting of MG (Ret) Jim Hodge, President of the IDB; MG William Hix, Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy, Deputy Chief of Staff G-3/5/7, Headquarters for the Department of the Army; Sergeant Major Andrew Barteky, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff G-3/5/7, Headquarters for the Department of the Army; and Professor David Schanzer, Associate Professor of the Practice in the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy and Director of the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security.

Graduating Class
Graduates received a joint certificate from UNC and the IDB and membership into IDB's expansive alumni network. The graduates are:

CPT Kwansah Ackah, Instructor, United States Military Academy
CW2 Jesse Amaya, Automotive Technician, FSC, 84th EN BN
CPT Heather Barton, Clinical Nurse Officer in Charge, MEDDAC; Reynolds Army Community Hospital
CSM Gussie Bellinger, Command Sergeant Major, 598th Transportation Brigade
CPT Alexander Blake, Battalion Plans Officer, 15th EN BN
CW3 Angelique Bowles, Group Property Accounting Technician, 8th MISG
Mr. Randy Brooks, Force Analysis Specialist, HQ, US. Forces Command
CPT Angelyn Brown, OIC, EMT Training Team, HHC, 232d Medical Battalion, 32d Medical Brigade
MAJ Andrea Castillon, ARMS Team Chief, FORSCOM
SFC Scott Cole, Medical Operations, HHC/1/1 SWTG(A)
CPT Adam Cucchiara, Staff Officer, 82nd Airborne Division
CPT Timothy Devine, GEN Forces Section Chief, HRC
CPT Brian Dunphy, Company Commander, US Army Aviation Battalion Japan
MSG Hilda Garcia, Operations NCIOC, Recruiting and Retention School
CPT Gregory Gemedschiew, Observer Controller/Trainer, 3-358 FA
SFC Kristina Gray, Section Head/Wheeled, 2nd NATO Signal Battalion
MAJ Carter Halfman, EE PEG Analyst, HQDA G-3/5/7
SFC Mikel Jazuk, Instructor, U.S. Army Recruiting and Retention School
CPT Brian Johnson, Squadron S1, 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry
MAJ Timothy Jones, Force Management Officer, United States Army Reserve Command
SGM Daniel Kang, 8A Chief Chaplain NCO, Eighth Army
CPT Nicholas Kestler, Operations Officer S3, 70 BSB, 210 FA BDE, 2 ID
CPT Scott King, Observer, Controller, Trainer, OPS Group, Joint Multinational Readiness Center
CPT Jonathan Kleinfelt, Joint Combined Arms Training Officer, TRADOC HQ
CPT Deana Lawrence, Chief, Nutrition Care Division, RACH, MEDDAC, Fort Sill, OK
CW3 David Lewis, Chief of Standards, 110th Aviation Brigade
CPT Milton Maddox, Exercise Plans Officer, 7th U.S. Army Training Command
MAJ Tianika Mangum, Force Development Officer, ARMEDCOM
MAJ Willie Mason, Mission Command Force Manager, FORSCOM
CPT Andrew McCoy, Commander, N Troop, 4th Squadron, 2D Cavalry Regiment
Mr. Timothy Mitchell, Strategic Planner, Army Materiel Command
CPT Janessa Moyer, Commander, A. Co, Tripler Army Medical Center
Mr. Randy Newton, Transformation Integrator, HQ, FORSCOM (DCS G-3/5/7, Plans Directorate)
MAJ John Paap, Executive Officer, WRAIR, USAMRU-K
MAJ Ryan Pace, S-3/Operations Officer, 304th Information Operations Battalion
CPT Bryan Quinn, Commander, 3d OD BN (EOD)
CW3 Dustin Ramsey, Battalion Aviation Safety Officer, 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment
Mr. Steven Schweers, Data Services Specialist, HQ USA FORCES COMMAND
CPT Colin Sexton, Batallion S-4, 864th EN BN, 555th EN BDE
CPT Vernon Shank, Commander, A/53d Signal Battalion (SATCON)
MAJ Randy Shields, Assistant Product Manager, PEO Enterprise Information Systems
CW4 Jefferey Sicard, Senior Instructor/Writer, HHC Warrant Officer Career College
CPT Kyiandra Somerville, APM, PEO M&S
CPT David Sonney, Company Commander, Alpha Company, AFNORTH Battalion, USARMY NATO BDE
MAJ Patrick Speedy, Officer in Charge, 72d Infantry Brigade Combat Team
CPT Daniel Stack, Batallion Assistant, S325th Combat Aviation Brigade
CPT Scott Stanley, Commander, 485th Medical Detachment (PM)
CPT John Tansioco, Commander, 8th Theater Sustainment Command
Mr. Mike Tedesco, Senior Political-Military Strategy Specialist, United States Army EUROPE
CPT Nicholas Yetman, Team Chief, CATD, USAMPS
MAJ Brian Young, Plans and Operations Officer, 9th Mission Support Command

About the IDB
The IDB is a nonprofit research and education institute formed in 1997 by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the state of North Carolina. The Institute provides custom executive and degree-granting education programs for all career levels from the military and government, non-governmental organizations, private sector, and international organizations. IDB features curriculum in logistics and technology, life cycle systems, leadership and organizational transformation, strategic studies, and stabilization and economic reconstruction. www.IDB.org

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SOURCE Institute for Defense and Business

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