The Trident Room Podcast

In the first episode of our new Academic Arsenal series – focused on NPS students’ defense-relevant thesis research – the 2024 Operation Ice Camp research team revisits their experiences in the Arctic, details the trove of data collected, and offers insights into how NPS research connects to strategic naval priorities.

Welcome back to the Trident Room Podcast. I'm LCDR Colleen Wilmington. If you’re a returning listener, you may recognize me from METOC Me-talks, if you’re new welcome to NPS! Today we're introducing a new series, the Academic Arsenal, focusing on the theses and dissertations being completed here at NPS for DOD applications.

The Naval Postgraduate School Oceanography Department team, composed of professors from the Ocean Acoustics Lab and students from METOC/USW program participated in Operation Ice Camp Whale to collect data to understand the physics of acoustic propagation under, through and above the sea ice. Their research intends to lay the scientific foundation for sea ice property inference and future multimedia Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

The Operation Ice Camp (formerly Ice Exercise) 2024 team are:

- Dr. Ben Reeder, Research Professor, CDR (Ret)

- John Joseph, Research Associate, CDR (Ret)

- Taylor Hudson, Student, LCDR

- Colleen Wilmington, Student, LCDR

Check out episode Trident Room Podcast episode #47, METOC on the Rocks with Lt. Cmdr. Wilmington for more on Operation Ice Camp. And check out this NPS news story, Operation Ice Camp Yields Treasure Trove of Arctic Data for NPS Students, Faculty, for a detailed progress report on the team’s current research.

The Trident Room Podcast is brought to you by the Naval Postgraduate School Alumni Association and Foundation. http://www.npsfoundation.org

For comments, suggestions, and critiques, please email us at [email protected], and find us online at nps.edu/tridentroompodcast. Thank you!

In this METOC ME-talks episode, hosts Lt. Cmdr. Colleen Wilmington, Lt. Cmdr. Alanna Youngblood and Lt. Daniel Petersen discuss with Cmdr. Gon, his METOC experience and howthe U.S. Navy utilizes CNMOC. This episode was recorded on March 15, 2024.

Cmdr. Casey Gon received his Master’s of Science in Meteorology and Oceanography from NPS in 2013 and his Ph.D. in Oceanography from NPS in 2019. Cmdr. Gon’s diverse operational history and educational experience at NPS is a unique METOC path. The podcast centers around his METOC career and includes lessons in leadership, taking advantage of opportunities in life and how Navy METOC influences other services around the world by setting the standard for fleet support. Whether that is by supporting other ice services, shutting down a command, Fleet Survey Team, to reallocate support or as the Operations Officer of CNMOC, where Cmdr. Gon is responsible for ensuring that support to the fleet is timely, accurate, and applicable. His oversight in transitioning science to operational use in a global maritime operations center,

which is made up of operations, intelligence, and international programs, is vital to the continued success of our community.

The Trident Room Podcast is brought to you by the Naval Postgraduate School

Alumni Association and Foundation. http://www.npsfoundation.org

For comments, suggestions, and critiques, please email us at

[email protected], and find us online at nps.edu/tridentroompodcast. Thank you!

Episode 58 – Eric Czaja – Below the Surface

In this episode, U.S. Army Maj. Eric Czaja discusses his career from his time as a platoon leader leading up to experiences as an NPS student and his thesis research focusing on regenerative agriculture. This episode is hosted by U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Karl Flynn.

This episode was recorded on April 12, 2024. Watch Maj. Czaja and his thesis partner, Maj. Ian McAlpine discuss their research in the NPS Student Profile video.

Download a transcript of this episode.

Segment 1 of 3 – Operational Experiences - [0:00]

Segment 2 of 3 – Homesteading and Agricultural Thesis Research - [11:25]

Segment 3 of 3 – Advice to Students - [30:20]

Eric is a graduate of Marquette University and commissioned as an Infantry officer in 2011. He served as a Rifle Platoon leader, Reconnaissance Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Assistant Operations Officer in the 2nd Infantry Division at Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA. After successfully completing the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2018, Eric served as a Special Forces Operation Detachment- Alpha Commander in 3rd Special Forces Group. Eric has successfully led Soldiers in Africa and Afghanistan and is a June 2024 graduate with an M.S. degree in Defense Analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School.

[Disclaimers] The Trident Room has been brought to by the Naval Postgraduate School Alumni Association and Naval Postgraduate School Foundation. The views expressed in this interview are those of the individuals and do not reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the US Navy, or the Naval Postgraduate School.

For comments, suggestions, and critiques, please email us at [email protected], and find us online at nps.edu/tridentroompodcast. Thank you!

Episode 57 - METOC ME-talks with Maritime Space Officer (MSO) Flag Lead RADM John Okon. In this METOC ME-talks episode, hosts LCDR Alanna Youngblood and LT Daniel Petersen swap leadership outlooks for every occasion and hard-won life transitions with RADM Okon. This episode was recorded on March 6, 2024.

Rear Adm. John A. Okon is a native of Syracuse, New York, and graduated from the State University of New York Maritime College at Fort Schuyler in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology and Oceanography. He holds Master’s Degrees in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California, and in National Security Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Upon commissioning, he initially served as a surface warfare officer and transferred to naval oceanography in 1995. He now serves as a member of the Navy’s Information Warfare Community.

At sea, Okon served aboard USS Ticonderoga (CG 47) as first lieutenant, administrative officer and navigator and aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) as meteorologist and oceanographer

Ashore, he served as optimum track ship router at the Naval Atlantic Meteorology and Oceanography Center; aide to commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command; operations officer and executive assistant to the deputy director for regional operations, Joint Staff; senior oceanography assignment and placement officer, Navy Personnel Command; and executive assistant to the deputy chief of naval operations for information warfare and director of naval intelligence.

Okon commanded Naval Oceanography Antisubmarine Warfare Center in Yokosuka, Japan, and Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center in Monterey.

As a flag officer, Okon commanded Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command and served as the oceanographer of the Navy, navigator of the Navy, and hydrographer of the Navy.

Personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and various personal, campaign and service awards.

The Trident Room Podcast is brought to you by the Naval Postgraduate School Alumni Association and the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation. http://www.npsfoundation.org

For comments, suggestions, and critiques, please email us at [email protected], and find us online at nps.edu/tridentroompodcast. Thank you!

Join Host Alanna Youngblood and Senior Producer Sarah Dixon continue their investigation of the hauntings of the Hotel Del Monte on the Naval Postgraduate School. In this episode the history discussed in part one is compared to eyewitness accounts and patterns are discussed as Sarah and Alanna try to discover who really is haunting the hotel’s halls. This episode was recorded on February 21, 2024.

Hotel Del Monte was the catalyst for Monterey's modern-day tourism industry and a trendsetter in the development of sports and recreation. At its zenith, Hotel Del Monte encompassed 20,000-acres spread across the Monterey Peninsula. Guests included American presidents, world leaders, industrials, business executives, famous artist, poets, musicians, dancers, comedians, film stars, and other notables.

The Visionaries who established and shaped the resort, Charles Crocker and Sam Morse, created an enduring legacy. (From https://library.nps.edu/hotel-del-monte)

Could it be these founders or some of the other past patrons trying to communicate with guests in the here and now?

Other Related Websites and Source Material:

• www.Gilderlehrman.org (Letter from Silas Mack to his mother describing the impact of the 1906 Earthquake to the local Monterey area)

• https://monterey.org/city_hall/fire/about/history_of_mfd.php (history of the Monterey Fire Department that covers the two fires mentioned during the episode)

• https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=223754 (History of the U.S. Navy’s Postgraduate School from Annapolis, MD to Monterey, CA)

The Trident Room Podcast is brought to you by the Naval Postgraduate School Alumni Association and the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation. www.npsfoundation.org

For comments, suggestions, and critiques, please email us at [email protected], and find us online at nps.edu/tridentroompodcast. Thank you!

Join Host Alanna Youngblood and Senior Producer Sarah Dixon as they investigate the layered history of the Hotel Del Monte on the NPS campus. They will try to connect the dots from an exciting history to the current hauntings experienced by hotel guests. This will be a two-episode journey, so stay tuned for the exciting conclusion released next! This episode was recorded on February 21, 2024.

Hotel Del Monte was the catalyst for Monterey's modern-day tourism industry and a trendsetter in the development of sports and recreation. At its zenith, Hotel Del Monte encompassed 20,000-acres spread across the Monterey Peninsula. Guests included American presidents, world leaders, industrials, business executives, famous artist, poets, musicians, dancers, comedians, film stars, and other notables.

The Visionaries who established and shaped the resort, Charles Crocker and Sam Morse, created an enduring legacy. (From https://library.nps.edu/hotel-del-monte)

Could it be these founders or some of the other past patrons trying to communicate with guests in the here and now?

Other Related Websites and Source Material:

• www.Gilderlehrman.org (Letter from Silas Mack to his mother describing the impact of the 1906 Earthquake to the local Monterey area)

• https://monterey.org/city_hall/fire/about/history_of_mfd.php (history of the Monterey Fire Department that covers the two fires mentioned during the episode)

• https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=223754 (History of the U.S. Navy’s Postgraduate School from Annapolis, MD to Monterey, CA)

The Trident Room Podcast is brought to you by the Naval Postgraduate School Alumni Association and the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation. www.npsfoundation.org

For comments, suggestions, and critiques, please email us at [email protected], and find us online at nps.edu/tridentroompodcast. Thank you!

In this METOC ME-talks episode, hosts LCDR Colleen Wilmington, LCDR Alanna

Youngblood and LT Daniel Petersen discuss with CAPT Quilenderino her METOC experience and how the U.S. Navy utilizes the NOOC. This episode was recorded on January 30, 2024.

CAPT Quilenderino received her PhD in Meteorology from NPS in 2012. Having served in diverse METOC billets, her expertise is recognized throughout the METOC community. The podcast centers around her METOC and dual-military experience and includes lessons in leadership and resilience. As the Commanding Officer of the NOOC, CAPT Quilenderino is responsible for ensuring that support to the fleet is timely, accurate, and applicable. Whether this

is by utilizing reservists to reduce knowledge gaps or implementing AI/ML initiatives, her command philosophy aims for perfection but keeps operational readiness the foremost priority.

The Trident Room Podcast is brought to you by the Naval Postgraduate School Alumni Association and the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation. http://www.npsfoundation.org

For comments, suggestions, and critiques, please email us at [email protected], and find us online at nps.edu/tridentroompodcast. Thank you!

In this episode, Dan Petersen shares lessons learned after nearly 20 years as an enlisted and officer Naval Meteorologist and Oceanographer about leadership, operational excellence, and work-life-family balance.

Segment 1 of 5 – Meteorology and Oceanography in Wargaming - [3:09]

Segment 2 of 5 – Dan’s experience with Meteorology, Oceanography, Unmanned Vehicles, and Naval Special Warfare- [4:06]

Segment 3 of 5 – Leveraging operational experience into a research environment- [11:50]

Segment 4 of 5 – Work-Life-Family Balance - [19:18]

Segment 5 of 5 – Recommended research topics for other scholars - [25:07]

Dan is a Naval Meteorologist and Oceanographer, both Commander of the Winds and Seas (marketing department, see Chaplain for Official title). But most importantly, he is just a kid off the streets who has learned through his military experience how to make a global impact.

The Trident Room has been brought to by the Naval Postgraduate School Alumni Association and Naval Postgraduate School Foundation. The views expressed in this interview are those of the individuals and do not reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the US Navy, or the Naval Postgraduate School.

For comments, suggestions, and critiques, please email us at [email protected], and find us online at nps.edu/tridentroompodcast. Thank you!

In this episode, Dr. Joe Hooper and Ana Eckhart discuss expanding the reach of NPS, hosted by Karl Flynn. This episode was recorded on October 20th, 2023.

Dr. Joe Hooper was the Vice Provost, Academic Affairs at NPS, overseeing the educational portion of the school’s mission. His emphasis in this role was an overhaul of resident curricula and an expansion of non-traditional education opportunities, including the creation of the NPS Extended Campus and new offerings at fleet concentration. He is currently back in his role as a

Professor in the Physics department, where he has served since 2011. He earned his PhD in Physics at Tulane University in 2006 and spent 5 years as a physicist at the Navy warfare centers. He specializes in explosives and weapons effects, with a particular interest in fragmentation and incendiary weapons.

Ana Eckhart was the NPS Director of Assessment and acting Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs. Ana completed her MS in Instructional Science and Technology at CSUMB in 2018. She joined NPS in 2019, providing instructional design and technology training to faculty in the Defense Management Department and teaching in the Manpower Systems Analysis curricula. She currently works as an instructional designer at a large software development firm.

The Trident Room Podcast is brought to you by the Naval Postgraduate School Alumni Association and the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation. http://www.npsfoundation.org

For comments, suggestions, and critiques, please email us at

[email protected], and find us online at nps.edu/tridentroompodcast.

Thank you!

In this episode, Colonel Perry discusses his experiences as the Senior Marine at NPS, hosted by Karl Flynn.

Colonel Perry commissioned in 1995. He commanded in Fleet Marine Force units at every level from Rifle Platoon to Infantry Regiment. Most recently, he served as Assistant Division Commander at 3rd Marine Division. He attended NPS from 1999-2000 graduating with a degree in National Security Affairs. Col Perry has served as a Japan Foreign Area Officer in billets including Japan Director in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Marine Forces Pacific Liaison Officer to the Japan Ground Self Defense Force in Tokyo, and Branch Head for Pacific Division at Headquarters Marine Corps. He assumed the role of the senior Marine at NPS in 2022.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-perry1995

The Trident Room Podcast is brought to you by the Naval Postgraduate School Alumni Association and the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation.

npsfoundation.org

For comments, suggestions, and critiques, please email us at [email protected], and find us online at nps.edu/tridentroompodcast. Thank you!