On July 26, 2019, the latest class of the Defense Comptrollership Program (DCP) graduated at a ceremony held at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University.
DCP is joint program at Syracuse that allows students to earn an MBA from Whitman and an Executive Master’s in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Since its inception in 1952, there have been nearly 2,000 graduates, many of whom having influential roles both in the military and civilian organizations.
Additionally, students were able to achieve the Certified Defense Financial Managers certification. “Dedicated to service, hard-working and committed to excellence and integrity in all they do, they are the kinds of graduates of whom we can all be proud,” noted Dean Eugene Anderson in reflecting on the past and present DCP participants.
The commencement’s keynote speaker, Stephen G. Barth, acting assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller, emphasized how valuable the knowledge, concepts and skills that the graduates have gained in the program are for the Department of Defense, particularly in ensuring excellent financial management and resource-based decision-making.
He also noted how crucial both, in turn, are to the modernization and readiness of the armed forces. In doing so, he pointed out the vital role that agile, technologically savvy management expertise plays in such a fast-changing and challenging world.
The graduating class of 2019 is as follows:
CPT Jacob D. Bradford
CPT Shawn M. Briggs
Alexander D. Brown
MAJ Vinh Q. Bui
Russell L. Card
CH MAJ Jason V. Forte
CPT (P) Jonathan K. Garman
MAJ Joseph A. Gibbs
CPT (P) Michael L. Graddy Jr.
CPT (P) Joseph N. Harmon
Alex H. Holzapfel
Daniel H. Kane
CPT Sonja N. Keith
CPT Joshua L. Lakey
Carrie K. Lambertus
Abdullah A. Mamun
CH MAJ Hochang Min
MAJ (P) Nicholas P. Panepinto
MAJ Krystyl W. Pillion
MAJ Minh D. Tran
Priya Uppal
MAJ Aurelio J. Varela
Giau N. Vo
CPT Taylor J. Whitten
The class of 2019 had many notable accomplishments, including earning an average GPA of 3.70 and completing over 700 hours of service in Syracuse and the surrounding communities.
CPT Shawn M. Briggs, CPT Joshua L. Lakey, Abdullah A. Mamun, Priya Uppal and CPT Taylor J. Whitten were inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the National Scholastic Honor Society for Business Students.
Abdullah A. Mamun and CPT Taylor J. Whitten earned Certificates of Advanced Study in Health Services Management and Policy.
Alexander D. Brown, Russell L. Card, MAJ Joseph A. Gibbs, CPT (P) Michael L. Graddy Jr., Alex H. Holzapfel, CH MAJ Hochang Min, MAJ (P) Nicholas P. Panepinto and Priya Uppal earned Certificates of Advance Study in Leadership of International and Non-Governmental Organizations.
CH MAJ Jason V. Forte earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in Conflict and Collaboration.
Prior to joining the Whitman School, Julia worked several jobs in service and hospitality, from working as a barista to bartending. Julia enjoys creating through writing blog content and poetry, photography, and other outlets.
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