CHAPEL HILL, N.C., July 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The UNC-IDB Strategic Studies Fellows Program (SSFP) recognized its inaugural class of graduates on July 20, 2012 at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. Lieutenant General William J. Troy, Director of the Army Staff, culminated the classroom instruction with a keynote address and interactive session with the students. Created at the request of the U.S. Army, the five-week course teaches high-potential senior captains to look at national security issues from a more strategic level. The UNC-IDB SSFP is administered by the Institute for Defense and Business (IDB) in collaboration with the UNC Partnership for National Security, Indiana University the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security, and the Triangle Institute for Security.

“This outstanding class of Army Captains, drawn from diverse branches across the Army, have grown intellectually to expand their understanding of national security, strategy, communications, and business process and change management,” said Mark Cramer, President of the Institute for Defense and Business. “This rigorous academic in-residence opportunity for these soldiers allowed them to share their experiences, gain exposure to new concepts, and prepare for the next level of responsibility in their organizations. The is truly a joint opportunity and we welcome all the Services to send students in the future.”

The UNC-IDB SSFP provides students diverse educational opportunities and experiences relevant to government, business, military and interorganizational change and leadership. Students work on being better prepared to apply analytic and strategic planning skills as they prepare for the next level of responsibility in their careers. Throughout the program, the students were able to take their consolidated experience, perspective and knowledge and work on an applied group capstone project using a business model. At the end of the course, students presented their findings before a panel of faculty, project champions, and senior military leaders, including COL (P) Kimberly Field the Deputy Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7.

“The UNC-IDB SSFP is the perfect opportunity to step outside of your normal zone of comfort, explore new ideas and approaches to thought,” said CPT Rocknee Gardner. “Unlike many fellowships, it does not take you away from ‘the line’ for extended periods of time. It allows you to gain a new perspective, and immediately apply and spread the knowledge.”

The graduates of the UNC-IDB SSFP receive a joint certificate from the IDB and UNC and three graduate level academic credit hours from the Indiana University‘s Kelly School of Business.

The 25 Army Captains graduating from the UNC-IDB Strategic Fellows Program included:

• Jason Atkinson, Adjutant General, Fort Lewis
• Tom Borne, Fort Bragg
• Lisa Chabot, Medical Service, Fort Sam Houston
• James Corbin, Armor, Fort Benning
• Bradley Denisar, Force Management, Fort Monroe
• Candace Fisher, Military Police, Fort Leonard Wood
• Samuel Galyk, Engineer, Camp Atterbury
• Rocknee Gardner, Engineer, Fort Polk
• Parker Hahn, Nurse Corps, Fort Meade
• Andrew Hill, Infantry, Fort Campbell
• Kristine Hinds, Quartermaster, Fort Knox
• Jung Hong, Infantry, Fort Polk
• Kenneth Kim, Finance Corps, Fort Lewis
• Paul Lee, Signal Corps, Fort Meade
• Benjamin Loving, Logistics, Fort Carson
• Natalie Meng, Adjutant General, Fort Jackson
• Zackary Moss, Logistics, Fort Lee
• Timothy Owens, Logistics, Fort Polk
• Alphie Sachnik, Military Intelligence, Fort Riley
• Carlos Sanford, Transportation Corps, Scott AFB (SSCD)
• Audrey Smith, Air Defense Artillery, Fort Bragg
• Richard Smith, Fort Bragg
• Danielle Taylor, Chemical Corps, Fort Bragg
• Jeremy Tillman, Field Artillery, Fort Bragg
• Peter Thomas, Aviation, Fort Wainwright

About the IDB:

The Institute for Defense and Business (IDB) is a non-profit research and education institute formed in 1997 by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the state of North Carolina. The IDB offers a series of educational programs for the military, government, non-governmental agencies, and private sector, in the areas of logistics, life cycle management, organizational change, and stabilization and economic reconstruction.

For more information about the UNC-IDB SSFP please contact Zebrina Warner, Program Manager or Joe Shuford, Program Associate, at 919-969-8008.

Media contact: Maya Zumwalt, Director of Communications at Zumwalt @idb.org or call 919-969-8008.

SOURCE Institute for Defense and Business