Military

Former Navy Acquisitions 'Czar' Rallies Grads with Lessons Learned

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071220-23
Release Date: 12/20/2007 12:53:00 PM

By Barbara Honegger, Senior Military Affairs Journalist, Naval Postgraduate School

MONTEREY, Calif. (NNS) -- Dr. Delores Etter, who until last month was assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, rallied one of the largest Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) classes in recent memory in her keynote address at commencement exercises, Dec. 14.

A muffled roar echoed across King Hall auditorium as over 300 uniformed officers simultaneously rose when called to attention by master of ceremonies, Dean of Students Capt. Kathryn Hobbs.

The graduates included 305 U.S. military officers, 14 Department of Defense civilians, 64 international officer students.

NPS President Daniel Oliver introduced Etter as "a clearly accomplished professional, a distinguished scholar and an outstanding public servant."

"I know your time here has been a wonderful experience, and I have many fond memories of interactions with NPS students over the years," Etter said. "Throughout my career I have been impressed with the mission of the Naval Postgraduate School; because of its focus on practical applications, so that the men and women who graduate from here go directly and immediately to apply what they've learned in the fleet."

"You should be justly proud of what you have accomplished," Oliver told the graduates. "We will be proud to call you NPS alumni and look forward to all the great things we will be hearing about you in the future."

The graduates, many of whom had just earned degrees in the very field Etter oversaw for the Navy, and their family members then moved to the Barbara McNitt Ballroom for the cake cutting ceremony.

For more news from Naval Postgraduate School, visit www.navy.mil/local/nps/.