"This network of professionals that spend time together at NPS, that get to know each other also personally, is a huge promoter for interoperability because it helps shape our common mindset. It helps shape policies and strategies and it helps foster interoperability within and amongst allies." - Lt. Gen. Michael Vetter, Director-General Cyber/IT and CIO, German Federal Ministry of Defence | Bundesministerium der Verteidigung Vetter was one of over 100 Naval Postgraduate School alumni from 29 nations in attendance at NPS' European International Alumni Symposium, where the discussions explored critical issues like contested logistics, autonomy, space systems, and energy security in the face of heightened threats across Europe and the globe. Events like this build the global trusted network of #NPSalumni, strengthen our partnerships at all echelons, and deliver results for our common objectives. 📰 More: https://lnkd.in/gbGApFZj The Naval Postgraduate School Foundation & Alumni Association was honored to support the Symposium alongside the Naval Postgraduate School International Graduate Programs Office (IGPO) and the George C. Marshall Center. #StrongerTogether #PartnersandAllies #MaritimeStatecraft
“These relationships matter, and continuing to cultivate them matters because our [NPS] alumni network is a vital resource,” said U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander and Commander, U.S. European Command. “It provides us with an unparalleled opportunity to share knowledge, to exchange ideas, and to foster innovation all around the globe.” With an emphasis on enhancing European and global security partnerships, Cavoli welcomed attendees to the first-ever Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) European International Alumni Symposium, held in Garmisch, Germany, Sept. 29 to Oct. 3. With more than 100 NPS alumni representing 29 partner nations across Europe in attendance, the symposium focused on defense technology applications and discussions on security needs in direct support to Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro’s strategic priority of strengthening international alliances, as well as the Naval Education Strategy’s focus on enhancing partnerships through shared learning. “NPS gives us the opportunity to connect people from different countries, different cultures, building trust and the feeling that we are stronger together,” said 2024 Security Studies graduate Tea Nikolashvili, director, Defense Institution Building School, Ministry of Defense, Georgia. “Symposiums like this are an additional opportunity for us to communicate with our peers and widen our perspectives as well as build professional networks, supporting both national and international security objectives and implementation processes.” The NPS European International Alumni Symposium was co-hosted with the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. Our next international NPS alumni symposium will be held in Chile in May 2025. • Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gbGApFZj • More about NPS International Graduate Programs: https://nps.edu/web/igpo US Navy | United States Marine Corps | Office of the Secretary of the Navy | Office of the Chief of Naval Operations | U.S. European Command | U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet | NATO | George C. Marshall Center | Naval Postgraduate School Foundation & Alumni Association | Naval Postgraduate School International Graduate Programs Office (IGPO) #Partnerships #StrategicPartnerships #NATO #DefenseCollaboration #NPS #NPSalumni