Command and General Staff College graduates 950 in year of Army’s 250th birthday

(Sarah Hauck, Army University Public Affairs) Just a week before the Army celebrates 250 years of defending the nation, nearly 1,000 new leaders graduated from the Command and General Staff College’s Command and General Staff Officer Course poised to be the next agile and decisive line of defense the force demands.

In a ceremony June 6, 2025, 950 individuals representing nearly all branches of the armed forces, 92 international militaries, and three federal agencies completed the 10-month graduate level program effectively preparing them for the next 10 years of their careers.

In total, 907 master’s degrees were conferred to include Master of Military Art and Science and Master of Operational Studies.

Guest speaker Brig. Gen. Matthew Hardman, Deputy Commanding General (Maneuver), 1st Infantry Division, spoke to the rigor of the course work that ranges from in-depth analysis of historical battles to contemporary wargames created to challenge the officers’ division level tactical skills in multi-domain environments.

Fifteen years earlier, Hardman sat where the class of 2025 sat, waiting to leave for his next assignment reflecting on how he has navigated his career since.

“You’re all going to do great things for the people you lead, those with whom you serve and the organizations that you serve,” he said. “None of us know which missions or tasks are truly in front of us. There are high expectations, though, on all of you, for your leadership and warfighting capability. But those expectations come from a place of profound respect.”

Hardman touched on several “tropes” of commencement speeches, highlighting their connection to this year’s graduating class in the Army’s historic place in time.

First, the Army’s victories of “deposing dictators and liberating countries.” Those things are true.

Those sitting in the audience are the Army’s future.

“If we fight large-scale conflict, many of you will be commanding battalions in a couple years if not months. That’s also true,” Hardman said. “If we have to fight a large-scale war, a couple of you will write the plan that wins that war.”

The “Victory Plan” the assisted in the formation of an Army capable of ending World War II, Hardman pointed out, was written by a major and graduate of CGSC; then Maj. Albert Wedemeyer.

While the last 10 months taught the graduates how to plan such things as ending wars, career and life planning will change without their permission.

Hardman encouraged the graduates to shift their focus from planning, to defining success for themselves, forgetting stereotypes or tropes of promotions and certain positions.

“My own definition of success is to make the people I serve with and the organizations I serve in better,” he said. “For me, that has been the quite reminder that no promotion, no position, no evaluation, for better or worse, is going to determine whether or not I’ve been successful as a leader or as a person. At times that reminder has been incredibly humbling. In others, incredibly reassuring.”

To achieve personally defined success?

“Just do the thing,” Hardman said. “We don’t know the trials you will be given in the work and life ahead. And you likely won’t fully know or appreciate in the moment if there’s a why. But I would recommend that you do the work in front of you. Do the thing. Do it with alacrity. Maybe no one else will know, but when you look in the mirror, you will know.”

Those “things” include doing the everyday, mundane things consistently and accurately.

“Transactional or mundane tasks done well are transformative,” he said.

Hardman challenged the graduates to be present both in their formations and at home.

Getting to work early but home for dinner, leaving the office, and giving undivided attention to those around to include family will help keep you focused, and moving toward their defined level of success, Hardman explained.

While Hardman discussed the uncertainty in front of them, Lt. Gen. Milford H. Beagle, Jr., Commandant, CGSC, explained the “best year of their life” has prepared them to take it head on.

“Each of you will leave here better than how you arrived 10 months ago,” he said. “You leave here in a better place because you grew.”

Each year, the performance of a group of students in the classroom and beyond are recognized with a variety of awards.

CGSOC Class of 2025 Awards

The General George C. Marshall Award is presented to the distinguished United States graduate of each class
– Maj. Samantha Domingue, U.S. Army National Guard
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from the Veterans of Foreign Wars; CGSC Foundation Alumni Association Life Membership compliments of First Command

The General Dwight D. Eisenhower Award is presented to the distinguished international officer of each class
– Maj. Zakariae Tiddarine, Morrocco
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from the David G. Beaham Memorial Fund; CGSC Foundation Alumni Association Life Membership compliments of First Command

The General Colin Powell Interagency Award For Excellence recognizes the distinguished interagency student in each class
– Elizabeth Holcombe, Department of State
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from Mr. H. Ross Perot

The General Douglas MacArthur Award recognizes scholarship and professional writing on military leadership
– Maj. Dylan Lee Whee Sian, Singapore
Sponsored by the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation

The Arter-Darby Award goes to the student for excellent scholarship and writing in military history
– Maj. Phillip Savoie, Aviation
Sponsored by Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Arter and the Edith and Harry Darby Foundation

The Arter-Doniphan Award goes to the class graduate who earned the highest overall grade point average
– Maj. Samantha Domingue, U.S. Army National Guard
Sponsored by Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Arter and the Alexander Doniphan Committee

The General John J. Pershing Award recognizes the outstanding non-resident graduate of the Command and General Staff Officer Course via distance learning
– Maj. Daniel Sullivan, Special Forces

The Iron Major Award goes to the student who finishes first in a grueling series of events designed to test endurance and strength – (Male): Maj. John Bomsta, Infantry – (Female) Maj. Jordan Miller, Logistics

Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association (AFCEA) Excellence in Information Warfare Writing Award
– Maj. Joel Richardson, Field Artillery
Sponsored by the Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association

The Lieutenant Colonel Boyd McCanna Harris Leadership Award is presented for recognized superior research by a resident CGSOC student in the field of Organizational Leadership – Maj. Mathew Jerrell, U.S. Air Force
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from Gary and Moira Sinise

The Birrer-Brooks Award recognizes the most outstanding Master of Military Art and Science Thesis
– Maj. Dylan Lee Whee Sian, Singapore
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from Mr. Charles M. Fernandez

The Major General Hans Schlup Award recognizes the importance of relationships developed among the network of friends and professional acquaintances made while attend the Command and General Staff College
– Lt. Col. Emad Odeh Awwad Alwreikat, Jordan
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from the CGSOC Class of 1978

The General James M. Wright Award is presented to the distinguished master sustainer in each class
– Maj. Joshua Moore, Quarter Master
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from Lt. Col. (Ret.) and Mrs. Robert Myers

The General George S. Patton Award is presented to the distinguished master tactician in each class
– Maj. John Bolen, Infantry
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from Col. (Ret.) and Mrs. Doug Tystad

Homeland Security Studies Award
– Lt. Cmdr. Adam Biggs, U.S. Navy
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation

The Excellence in Joint Service Warfare Award is awarded to the student who contributes most significantly to the study of joint service warfare
– Maj. Hilary Schultz, Military Intelligence
Sponsored by the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)

The Brigadier General Benjamin H. Grierson Award goes to the student who demonstrates excellence in strategic studies – Maj. Spencer Bates, Engineer
Sponsored by the CGSC Foundation through a gift from Col. (Ret.) and Mrs. Roderick M. Cox

The Father Donald Smythe Award recognizes excellence in military history
– Maj. John Bolen, Infantry
Sponsored by Armed Forces Insurance

Students who received the Master of Military Art and Science were presented with their hoods in a separate ceremony June 5.

Additionally, international military students received the CGSC International Officer Graduate Badge during a ceremony June 5. International military student participation in cooperative military studies in the United States originated at Fort Leavenworth in 1894. Since then, international military students have become an integral part of the Command and General Staff Officer’s Course. More than 8,400 international officers have studied alongside U.S. military and government civilian counterparts at Fort Leavenworth.

For photos of all the awardees and the ceremony see the CGSC Flickr album

Watch video of the complete ceremony

For photos from the International Officer Badge ceremony on June 5, 2025, see the CGSC Flickr album

Watch video of the International Officer Badge Ceremony on June 5, 2025

For photos from MMAS Hooding ceremony on June 5, see the CGSC Flickr album