Defense and Security Day

 

The cohort spent the day on March 22nd learning about our local connection to the military and security for our country.  Defense and Security Day started at the US Army Installation at the Presidio of Monterey, where the cohort learned about the history of the Presidio, and the relocation of the Defense Language Institute to the Presidio of Monterey in 1946.  We spoke to leaders, including Garrison Commander Hugh Hardin from the Army and Tamar Kaufman-Meusel from the City of Monterey, about the “Monterey Model”, a collaborative effort with the cities of Monterey and Seaside to provide municipal services to the Presidio of Monterey through the Presidio Municipal Services Agency.  A bus tour of the scenic facilities on the Installation was a treat, which included an informative talk from the resident historian, Cameron Binkley.

 

Our next stop was the Naval Postgraduate School.  We were greeted by Vice Admiral (ret) Ann Rondeau, President of NPS, who spoke about the importance and economic impact of the graduate school in our communities.  Navy Captain Ed McCabe, Air Warfare Chair, presented details of the school, including enrollment, degrees earned and graduate’s application of their degrees upon completion.  We also met with John Arquilla, Chair of Defense Analysis and Heather Issvoran, Director, Strategic Communications, Center for Homeland Defense and Security.

 

Our day ended with a discussion with Mike Clancy from Monterey Bay Defense Alliance, a volunteer group committed to enhancing, growing and protecting the national security assets in the Monterey Bay Area.  We learned about the various Department of Defense activities in our community, and the ways that we benefit from these military organizations being part of our community.  We discussed the MBDA Strategic Plan and the plan to accomplish these goals in order to support the efforts of local military operations.

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Class Sponsor: Central Coast Federal Credit Union

Lunch Sponsor: Naval Postgraduate School