Twenty-nine professionals were awarded a Master of Arts in Security Studies during a ceremony at the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) September 25.
The graduates comprise professionals from law enforcement, fire safety, homeland security, local government, the military and public health. The first program in the nation of its kind, CHDS provides a cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary curriculum in its 18-month master’s degree program. Graduates are required to write theses pertinent to their employing agencies.
“These graduates will join a national cadre of cohorts who are helping keep our nation safer,” said CHDS Director Glen Woodbury. “We are proud and look forward to their contributions to the homeland security enterprise in the coming years. They reflect the professionalism and dedicationour nation deserves.”
Four CHDS students earned special honors:
Thesis Award: Todd Bensman, Texas Department of Public Safety for, The Ultra-Marathoners of Human Smuggling, Defending Forward Against the Dark Networks that can Transport Terrorists to US Land Borders.
Theses were evaluated on overall academic rigor; quality of the literature review; impact of the study on homeland security strategy and future research implications; quality of analysis and conclusions; quality of organization, writing and overall presentation of thesis.
Curtis H. “Butch” Straub Award: Bijan Karimi, San Francisco Department of Emergency Management. The Curtis H. “Butch” Straub Award, is based on grades, thesis and classroom leadership. The honor is in memory of one of CHDS’ founders.
Phillip Zimbardo Award: Daniel Dooley, New York City Police Department. This award honors a student who demonstrates the best understanding of the psychological aspects of terrorism and whose performance in the master’s program best embodies the highest levels of academic achievement and outstanding leadership. The honor is named after Stanford University psychologist and professor emeritus Philip Zimbardo, who also formerly taught at CHDS.
Mark Carr Esprit De Corps Award: James Robinson, Denver Health Emergency Medical Services. This award honors students, who through their own actions instilled, sustained and created a spirit of unity and pride within the cohort and who provided valuable insight to members of the cohort. This is the inaugural Mark Carr Esprit De Corps Award and is named in honor of Mark Carr, a former CHDS student who died in August 2014.
CHDS, established in 2002 and located at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), is the nation’s homeland security educator. Master’s degree students develop critical thinking, leadership and policy skills during a rigorous 18-month program. CHDS is sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Preparedness Directorate within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
For information, visit www.chds.us.
