To say it was a festive event is an understatement. On Friday, March 27, families from 20 countries across the world gathered, their faces beaming with pride as they loudly cheered for their graduate who earned a prestigious higher education degree at the Naval Postgraduate School. Each graduate dedicated at least 18 months to intense academic rigor, completing one of the most arduous and painstaking achievements of their career: a graduate thesis.
Among the 200 recent alumni, 29 graduated from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s Master’s Program 2303/2304 cohort, earning a Master of Arts degree in Homeland Security Studies. For every CHDS cohort member, the program takes a lot of grit and focus, but their hard work resulted in several accolades.
David Siegmund, a Transportation Security Specialist from TSA, won the Outstanding Thesis Award. His thesis, “Behavioral Economics and Insider Threats: A Critical Review of Comprehensive Mitigation and The Case for New Framework,” explores how agencies can improve their responses to insider threats.
“A lot of my thesis is asking really, really critical questions of what we do, and asking the academic body to think about insider threat mitigation in maybe a more mature way,” Siegmund said, adding that he took a theoretical approach to develop a framework to “evaluate comprehensive insider threat mitigation against itself and to coordinate those tactical responses amongst organizations, so that what we actually do is done in a planned and thoughtful way.”
Like Siegmund, all graduates start their academic journey by formulating a question that addresses, or initiates the resolution of, a significant problem within homeland defense and security.
“These problems are solved though collaboration with their peers and advisors here at CHDS,” said Gregory M. Bernard, D. Sc, Director of CHDS. “Our innovative approach to problem solving, coupled with applied research enable students to hone their critical thinking skills, ultimately preparing each student to find answers to complex homeland security issues.”
Commencement speaker Admiral Cecil Haney, USN (Ret.) Former Commander, U.S. Strategic Commander and Pacific Fleet echoed this sentiment, encouraging each graduate to think long-term, beyond their time at the Naval Postgraduate School.
“Never, never stop exercising and developing your critical thinking,” said Haney. “Yes, you have learned a lot here in your specific area of study. I would hope though, that you would develop tremendous thirst for learning and solving problems.”
Cohort member Ryan Dwyer, a Sergeant with the New York Police Department, was co-winner of the Mark Carr Esprit De Corps Award, which he was recognized for his contributions that fostered a sense of camaraderie and pride within the cohort. His thesis was entitled “Removing the Barrier: Using Federal Laws to Deter Criminality In Protests,” which he wrote in response to riots in 2020 when New York City experienced a lot of violent demonstrations.
“It was hurtful to watch a city have that happen to, that I worked for, for 20 years. So that was the room I came into, to try to solve [this problem],” he said.
For Shelby Sears, a Sergeant with the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Homeland Security Unit and co-winner of the Mark Carr Esprit De Corps Award for his classroom leadership, said his experience at CHDS also enabled him to think about solutions to make the community safer from individuals who pose a risk to society.
His thesis entitled, “Divided We Fall: Preventing Mass Violence Through Behavior Threat Assessment and Management Teams,” focuses on the integration of law enforcement and mental health and community services to create rehabilitative interventions, in lieu of incarceration.
“The jail is a temporary solution. The pathway away from violence is what we’re looking for,” said Sears, adding that he is looking forward to applying his research strategies to his profession.
He also attributes his accomplishments in the master’s program to the faculty and staff who were willing to assist when needed. “These folks are available 24 hours a day to us, and they want to see us succeed. And it just takes us doing the work and they’ll come alongside and help us.”
Cohort president Megan Johns Henry, a marine transportation specialist with the United States Coast Guard, and co-recipient of the Curtis “Butch” Straub Achievement Award praised her fellow cohortians for their commitment to achieving their academic goals.
“It’s been an honor to know them, much less be counted among them,” she said. “They are the most brilliant and the most dedicated people I’ve met in my life.”
Master’s Program 2303/2304 participants:
- Brooke Amendola – Director of Operations, City of Boston Office of Emergency Management – Boston, MA
- Michaelann Andrusiak – Director, Office of Homeland Security, Pennsylvania State Police – Dresher, PA
- Jacob Anson – Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Wright County Public Health – Buffalo, MN
- Nicolas Calonge – Lieutenant, Oakland Police Department – Oakland, CA
- Kristine Cambre – Director, Personnel & Manpower, Louisiana Army National Guard – New Orleans, LA
- Salah Czapary – Special Assistant, Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department – Washington, DC
- Julie Dollard – Intelligence Research Specialist, New York Police Department – Yonkers, NY
- Ryan Dwyer – Sergeant/Director Security and Strategy Asylum Operations, New York Police Department/New York City Emergency Management Department (NYCEM) – Commack, NY
- Taggart George – Fire Captain – Sacramento Fire Department – Shingle Springs, CA
- Daniel Green – Resilience Analyst, FEMA – Denver, CO
- Melissa Guinan – Emergency Management Specialist, FEMA – Washington, DC
- Brian Hardtke – Chief of Staff, Pierce County, WA – Tacoma, WA
- Krystal Hodges – FDNS Area Chief, U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services – Washington, DC
- Roger Jackson – Police Lieutenant, Miami Police Department – Miami, FL
- Megan Johns Henry – Marine Transportation Specialist, United States Coast Guard – Washington, DC
- Nicole Johnson – Senior Manager, Risk Reduction and Operations, King County Office of Emergency Management – Renton, WA
- Samantha Keuma – 8th CST Deputy Commander, Colorado Army National Guard – Monument, CO
- Timothy Mahon – Lieutenant, Fire Department of New York – Brooklyn, NY
- John McFarland – Sergeant, New York City Police Department – New York, NY
- Martin McMahon – State Safety Overnight/Program Manager, District of Columbia Fire & EMA – Stevensville, MD
- Michael Perry – Lieutenant, Massachusetts State Police – Groveland, MA
- Christie Register – Sergeant- Digital Forensics, Seminole County Sheriff’s Department – Sanford, FL
- Erin Register – Firefighter/Paramedic, Orange County Fire Rescue Department – Sanford, FL
- Basheer Rehman – General Engineer, Transportation Security Administration – Fairfax, VA
- Michal Rottman – Assistant Administrator, TSA/Security Operations/DAO – Centreville, VA
- Shelby Sears – Homeland Security Unit, Louisville Metro Police Department – Louisville, KY
- David Siegmund – Transportation Security Specialist- Aviation Security Policy, TSA/Operations Support – Fairfax Station, VA
- Klint Walker – Cyber Security Advisor, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency – Suwanee, GA
- Emily Williams – Operational Planner, FEMA Region 2 Response Division – New York, NY
