CGSOC Class of 2021 graduates in virtual ceremony

On June 18, 2021 the CGSOC Class of 2021 at Fort Leavenworth graduated with a virtual ceremony posted on the Army University and CGSC Youtube pages at 9 a.m. Gen. James McConville, 40th Chief of Staff of the Army, addressed the class. There were 1,078 graduates, with 36 of them earning the Master’s in Military Art and Science Degree.

Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James McConville addresses the graduates of the resident course of the CGSOC Class of 2021 during the virtual ceremony on June 18, 2021.

“If you don’t remember anything else I say today,” said McConville, “Remember two things: People first…and Winning Matters. People first is a philosophy and the Army’s number one priority. Take care of your people – your Soldiers, your families and your Army civilians. Work hard to build cohesive teams that are highly trained, disciplined and fit, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. If you do that you’ll win on any battlefield or any of your endeavors. Winning Matters is an attitude. When we send the United States Army somewhere, when we send your unit somewhere, we’re not sending you to try hard, we’re not sending you to participate, we are sending you to win.”

After the official remarks, winners of the class awards were announced followed by a scrolling list of graduate names signifying their successful completion of the course.

CGSC Assistant Professor Rick Caya, Commander VFW Post 56, representing the VFW, presents the Marshall Award and CGSC Deputy Commandant Maj. Gen. Donn Hill present the 2021 Marshall Award to Maj. Spencer French.

CGSC Deputy Commandant Maj. Gen. Donn Hill presents the Eisenhower Award to Maj. Philip Anderson, International Military Student, United Kingdom.

CGSC Deputy Commandant Maj. Gen. Donn Hill presents the General Colin L. Powell Interagency Award to Mr. Michael Tom, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Department of Sustainment and Force Management (DSFM) Deputy Director Paul Schlimm presents the General James M. Wright Master Logistician Award to Maj. Avraham Behar.

CGSC Foundation Chairman Mike Hockley and Department of Army Tactics Director Col. Chris Cardone present the General George S. Patton Jr. Master Tactician Award to Maj. Christopher Garlick.

The top awards for the CGSOC Class of 2021 were:

The General George C. Marshall Award is presented to the Distinguished U.S. student of each class. The 2021 General Marshall Award was awarded to Maj. Spencer French, Military Intelligence.
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from the Veterans of Foreign Wars

The General Dwight D. Eisenhower Award is presented to the Distinguished International Officer Graduate of each class. The General Eisenhower Award is awarded to Maj. Philip Anderson, International Military Student, United Kingdom.
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from the David G. Beaham Memorial Fund

The General Colin L. Powell Interagency Award recognizes the Distinguished Interagency student in each class. This award is for excellence in scholarship and overall contributions to Interagency Education. The General Powell Award is awarded to Mr. Michael Tom, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation

Other individual awards for the class:

General James M. Wright Master Logistician Award – Maj. Avraham Behar, Ordnance.
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from Lt. Col. (Ret.) and Mrs. Robert Myers

General George S. Patton Jr. Master Tactician Award – Maj. Christopher Garlick, Armor.
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from Col. (Ret.) and Mrs. Doug Tystad

Simons Center Interagency Writing Award – Maj. Anthony Lupo, Military Intelligence.
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation

General Douglas MacArthur Military Leadership Writing Award – Maj. Johnathon Parker, Adjutant General Corps. Maj. David J. Devine Jr., Armor, won the second place award in the category and Maj. Jared D. Wigton, Infantry, received third place recognition.
Sponsored by the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation

Lt. Col. Boyd McCanna “Mac” Harris Leadership Award (best research in Organizational Leadership) – Maj. Jared D. Wigton, Infantry
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from Gary and Moira Sinise

Arter-Darby Excellence in Scholarship and Writing in Military History – Maj. Jonathan Woislaw, Military Intelligence.
Sponsored by Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Arter and the Edith and Harry Darby Foundation

The Arter-Doniphan Award (Highest GPA in the class) – Maj. Bruce Robinson, Judge Advocate General Corps.
Sponsored by Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Arter and the Alexander Doniphan Committee

General John J. Pershing Award for top Non-Resident Graduate from each of the four annual Advanced Operations Courses of Distance Learning – Maj. Kaylee Bandy, USAR.
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation

Father Donald Smythe Military History Award – Maj. Davis Abt, Military Intelligence.
Sponsored by Armed Forces Insurance

Major General Hans Schlup Award (Award is given to the student who best fostered international relations) – Maj. Ahiram Rivas Valles, Mexico.
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from the CGSOC Class of 1978

Excellence in Information Warfare Writing Award (Presented to the student who excels in research and writing on the subjects of command, control, communications, computers and intelligence.) – Maj. Spencer French, Military Intelligence.
Sponsored by the Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association (AFCEA) Educational Foundation

Birrer-Brookes Award for Outstanding MMAS Thesis – Maj. Spencer French, Military Intelligence.
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from Col. (Ret.) and Mrs. Doug Tystad

Homeland Security Studies Award (best research in Homeland Security topics) – Maj. Christine Argueza-Prince, Medical Services Corps.
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation

Excellence in Joint Service Warfare Award (Presented to the student who contributes most significantly to the study of joint service warfare) – Maj. Bryan Brown, Special Forces.
Sponsored by the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)

Brigadier General Benjamin H. Grierson Award for Excellence in Strategic Studies – Maj. Justin Day, U.S. Air Force.
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from Col. (Ret.) and Mrs. Roderick M. Cox

CGSC Military Educator of the Year – Lt. Col. Tom Chhabra, U.S. Marine Corps, Dept. of Joint, Interagency and Multinational Operations (DJIMO).

CGSC Civilian Educator of the Year – Dr. Gates Brown, Dept. of Military History.

Civilian and Military Instructors of the Year are nominated from the various departments and schools within CGSC based on their excellence in the four domains of teaching, service, scholarship and faculty development. The candidates are observed teaching and also interviewed by a five-member selection board. Once the winners are selected at the College level, they represent CGSC as nominees in the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command’s Educators of the Year selection process. Winners receive the coveted premium front row parking spots outside the Lewis and Clark Center entrance.

(Note: The order of the awards above are the same order as the Flickr album photos. The recipients of the Arter-Doniphan and Pershing Awards were not able to attend, thus there are no photos of them.)

The class awards were presented in person in a restricted attendance ceremony in the Lewis and Clark Center on June 16.

After recognition of class leaders in the virtual graduation ceremony video, the class gift was presented. The gift was a stained glass art piece commemorating Operation Desert Storm, multi-domain operations, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony ended with a list of graduates by staff group.

View the full album of photos from the June 16 awards ceremony on the CGSC Foundation Flickr site.

Watch the full ceremony on the CGSC Youtube channel