Homeland Security Master’s Degrees Awarded to 28 at Naval Postgraduate School

press photo

MONTEREY, Calif. – The Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) at the Naval Postgraduate School graduated its 25th class since it began offering its Master’s Degree courses in 2003 as 28 professionals were awarded a Master of Arts in Security Studies during a Dec. 20 ceremony.

The graduates comprise professionals from law enforcement, fire safety, homeland security and public health (please see list below). 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 bring great credit to themselves and their professions. They will join the expanding network of homeland security leaders who are shaping the future of our nation," CHDS Director Glen Woodbury said.

Three students were honored for exceptional work during the program:

  • Diana (Solymossy) Sun, Assistant County Manager and Director of Communications, Arlington County, Virginia, earned the Outstanding Thesis award for her thesis, "High-Tech, Low-Tech, No-Tech: Communications Strategies During Blackouts." For this award, 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.
  • Thomas Monahan, Lieutenant, Las Vegas Metro Police Department, Las Vegas, Nev., earned the Curtis H. "Butch" Straub Award, which is based on grades, thesis and classroom leadership. The honor is in memory of one of CHDS’ founders.
  • David Franklin, Captain, Texas Department of Public Safety, Fort Worth, Texas, earned the Philip Zimbardo Award. 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 renowned Stanford University professor emeritus Philip Zimbardo, who also formerly taught at CHDS.

In addition to its Master’s Degree, the Center offers graduate-style education through its Executive Education Seminars, Executive Leaders Program, Pacific Executive Leaders Program and the Fusion Center Leaders Program. Through the CHDS University and Agency Partnership Initiative (UAPI), the Center shares curriculum and promotes faculty development in the homeland security field at more than 300 institutions nationwide. The CHDS is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Preparedness Directorate, within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Master of Arts, Security Studies

  • Steven Ausdemore, Assistant Fire Chief, Omaha (Neb.) Fire Department
  • David Bonk, Lieutenant, Philadelphia Police Department
  • Tammy Chamblee, Strategic National Stockpile Coordinator/Chief Nurse of Office of Emergency Planning and Response, Mississippi Department of Health
  • Chris Christopoulos Jr., Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director, Lebanon (N.H.) Fire Department
  • Vincent Collins, Lieutenant, New York City Police Department
  • Michael Donaghey, Supervisory Special Agent, United States Secret Service, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Jennifer Donald, Police Lieutenant, Washington (D.C.) Metro Area Transportation Authority Police Department
  • John Egan, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C.
  • David Franklin, Captain, Texas Department of Public Safety, Fort Worth, Texas
  • Thomas Guglielmo, Assistant Federal Security Director, Transportation Security Administration – Office of Law Enforcement, East Elmhurst, N.Y.
  • Steven Hersem, Section Chief, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, D.C.
  • Erin Hug, Lead Criminal Intelligence Analyst II, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Jefferson City, Mo.
  • James Hulings, Lieutenant, Delaware State Police, Dover, Delaware
  • Michael Johansmeyer, Division Chief – Operations, Seminole County (Fla.) Department of Public Safety, Sanford, Fla.
  • Christopher Levy, Assistant Chief, Department of Homeland Security/Customs Border Protection, Arlington, Va.
  • Daniel Mackie, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Program Manager, Nevada State Health Division (NSHD), Carson City, Nev.
  • John McNamara, Critical Infrastructure Specialist, New York State Office of Counter Terrorism, Albany, N.Y.
  • Thomas Monahan, Lieutenant, Las Vegas Metro Police Department, Las Vegas, Nev.
  • Christine Riccardi, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Homeland Security Office of Infrastructure Protection, Washington D.C.
  • Roger Sankerdial, Sergeant, New York City Police Department
  • Raymond Schillinger, Aerospace Engineer, Department of Homeland Security, Science &Technology /Transportation Security Laboratory, Atlantic City, N.J.
  • Pete Smith, Commander, Gilbert (Arizona) Police Department
  • Teia Stein, Business Manager, Customs and Border Protection, Euless, Texas
  • Roger Stokes, Senior Intelligence Officer, Department of Homeland Security, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Arlington, Texas
  • Diana (Solymossy) Sun, Assistant County Manager and Director of Communications, Arlington County, Virginia
  • Tigran Topadzhikyan, Sergeant, Glendale (California) Police Department
  • Dominic Traina, Course Developer/Instructor, Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection, Glynco, Ga.
  • Michael Welch, Sheriff, Caswell County Sheriff’s Office, Yanceyville, N.C.

Leave a Comment

INQUIRIES: Heather Hollingsworth, Communications and Recruitment | hissvora@nps.edu, 831-402-4672 (PST)

Scroll to Top