BLOOMINGTON, Ind., June 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The IU-IDB Strategic Studies Fellows Program (SSFP) honored its second class of graduates on June 2, 2017 at Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington, Ind. Idie Kesner, dean of IU's Kelley School of Business, addressed the graduates at the event. 

The IU-IDB SSFP is administered by the Institute for Defense and Business (IDB) in partnership with the IU's School of Global and International Studies as well as faculty from the Kelley School of Business and Maurer School of Law.

"Over the past three weeks, with the incredible support of our partners at IU, we challenged this group of emerging leaders to think in new and different ways," said MG (Ret) Jim Hodge, President of the IDB. "We feel confident that the knowledge gained will not only help these graduates make better, more informed decisions but also think divergently. Learning to think critically and strategically will play a critical role in their development as strong, successful leaders."

About the SSFP Program
The three-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. It is designed to look at strategic national security issues, global hot spots, and decision making at a strategic level from a non-military and cybersecurity lens to enhance the critical and strategic thinking capabilities of U.S. Army officers, chief warrant officers, senior non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and federal government civilians. The core curriculum of the program includes: National Security Decision Making; Global Flash Points; Strategic and Business Communications; Negotiations; Information Security and Risk Management; Innovation and Management Strategy; Strategic Global Outlook; and Strategic View of the U.S. Government (non-DoD).

During this year's SSFP, Congressman Lee Hamilton visited the class for a personal discussion with the students about current national security issues. Other highlights included a trip to Indianapolis for a panel discussion on Hardening American Cities Against Cybersecurity Threats, a session on National Security and Decision Making taught by Lee Feinstein, dean of IU's School of Global and International Studies and a former U.S. ambassador, and a visit from IDB Executive Fellow VADM Mark Harnitchek, USN (Ret).

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 distinguished panel consisting of representatives from the U.S. Army, IU faculty, and IDB's senior team.

Graduating Class
Graduates received a joint certificate from IU and the IDB and membership into IDB's expansive alumni network.

The graduates are:

• CPT Gerren Alexander, United States Corps of Cadets
• CPT Christopher Anderson, U.S. Army Financial Management Command
• MSgt Ruben Avila, USMC
• Maj Nicholas Borns, 1st Marine Logistics Group
• CPT Rodney Brock, 412th Theater Engineer Command
• CPT Andrew Bunce, 502d Military Intelligence Battalion
• SFC Amber Cassidy, JFHQ Montana Army National Guard
• CPT Nicholas Cimler, USSOCOM
• CPT Chelsey Freeman, United States Army Pacific
• CPT Christopher Galvez, 2-2SBCT, 7th Infantry Division
• CPT Stuart Gittelman, 2-16 CAV (Armor Officer Basic Course)
• CPT Erin Hahn, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade
• MSG Michael Haney, HQ TRADOC
• CPT Ryan Hardin, 205th Military Intelligence Battalion
• CPT Joshua Heifetz, APCFC, USARPAC
• CPT Angela Hoistion, 79 Sustainment Support Command
• CPT Nadi Kassim, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Maj Oliver Mikulskis, British Army Embassy Staff, Washington D.C
• CPT James Pak, Defense Health Agency
• CPT Kedrick Palmer, 1st BN, 1st SFG (A)
• MAJ Regan Reynolds, STB, FORSCOM-USARC
• MAJ Rocky Robinson, 7th Mission Support Command
• CPT Keith Robinson, Strength Maintenance Division
• CPT Paul Rozell, 8th Theater Sustainment Command
• Ms. Priscilla Soto, USSOUTHCOM
• CPT Ezra Swanson, 1st Engineer Brigade
• CPT Daniel Tabacchi, Operations Group, NTC
• CPT Daniel Taylor, 113th BSB
• CPT William VanArtsdalen, Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC)
• Mr. Caleb Waldron, Georgia Army National Guard
• CPT Philip Walerko, 1-1 Air Defense Artillery Regiment
• MAJ Diana Weber, Fort Gordon Dental Health Activity
• CPT Alex Wray, 1st Cavalry Division

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

Media Contact: Claire Puncer, Marketing and Communications Manager, 919-969-8008, puncer@idb.org

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SOURCE Institute for Defense and Business