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K-State Today

July 25, 2017

K-State-Fort Leavenworth students win highest Command and General Staff Officers' Course awards

Submitted by Kelsey Peterson

Two recent K-State-Fort Leavenworth graduates received prestigious awards given at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officers' Course, or CGSOC, commencement ceremony on June 9.

Trevor Jones, Master of Arts in security studies, was the recipient of the General George C. Marshall Award, also known as the white briefcase award, and was recognized by the CGSOC faculty as the top student to attend CGSOC 2017.

The General George C. Marshall Award created in 1960 in honor of Gen. Marshall recognizes the distinguished graduate in each CGSOC class. The award recognizes scholarship and leadership and pays homage to one of America's most honored soldiers.

John Barrington, Master of Arts in security studies, was the recipient of the Excellence in Joint Service Warfare Award.

The Excellence in Joint Service Warfare Award recognizes the CGSOC student who contributes most significantly to the study, implementation and spirit of joint service warfare.

"The Security Studies program is proud to count Trevor Jones and John Barrington among the ranks of its May 2017 graduating class in the Master of Arts in security studies," said Andrew Long, director of security studies and associate professor of political science. "We are pleased to see our students rewarded for their academic excellence at Command and General Staff College. John and Trevor's individual accomplishments are representative of the overall quality of the security studies program, which attracts dedicated students and provides them with an outstanding, interdisciplinary graduate education in history and political science."

"Each student's research paper for their MA degree demonstrates an ability to integrate their professional and academic interests," Long said. "Trevor's research examined the influence of power transitions in East Asia on Chinese foreign policy, while John employed historical research and social science methodologies to identify the fundamental elements of counterinsurgency." 

Nearly 1,200 officers graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officer Course at Fort Leavenworth. The graduating class includes officers from all American military services as well as 110 international officers representing 85 countries and 15 federal government civilian employees.

K-State offers two master's degree programs at Fort Leavenworth: the Master of Arts in security studies and the Master of Science in adult education.

The K-State security studies program offers a broad, analytical perspective to national and international security. This interdisciplinary program prepares students for careers in research, teaching, and security and international affairs through a broad exploration of social science and historical methodologies.

Questions about the Fort Leavenworth graduate program can be directed to Cheryl Polson, associate dean of the Graduate School.