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USSTRATCOM Fellows Program Engages Alumni Network

This year, graduates of the program established an alumni network to encourage collaboration after returning to their duties at USSTRATCOM.

  • published: 2018/12/20
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A leadership development partnership between the University of Nebraska, the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI), and United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) enters its sixth year in January of 2019.

The USSTRATCOM Strategic Leadership Fellows Program trains some of the nation’s top civilian national security specialists through a graduate-level course that includes team building, collaboration management, data‐driven decision making and project management, combined with mission-core competency development. The Fellows participating in the program are mid-level USSTRATCOM civilian employees from the greater Omaha area, who were chosen by their leaders.

This year, graduates of the program established an alumni network to encourage collaboration after returning to their duties at USSTRATCOM. The Strategic Leadership Fellows Alumni (SLFA) is comprised of 45 graduated STRAT Fellows. Recently, the SLFA gathered at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) to discuss why it was important to engage the alumni, their vision and mission for the SLFA, and how they can serve as positive change-agents for USSTRATCOM.

Naviere Walkewicz, one of the SLFA co-founders, says that since their first meeting, several notable initiatives have come to fruition.

“We have a Warfighter Table-Top Exercise Series that allows for testing of operational processes and plans to seek better ways of doing business. We also have an IDEA Incubator where anyone in the command can submit ideas and get help from the SLFA to develop their idea for presentation to Senior Leadership, and ultimately, gain endorsement.”

The SLFA has also developed a ‘healthy force initiative,’ called the STRAT Cup. It was designed to foster interaction across different business units and increase camaraderie throughout USSTRATCOM through sporting and health-focused events.

“We have more to do and look forward to each cohort of STRAT Fellows who will join this alumni group to help move the command forward in positive and impactful ways.” Naviere said.

On Thursday, Jan. 17, the 10 members of the 2019 cohort of the USSTRATCOM Strategic Leadership Fellows Program will be formally welcomed at the UNO campus. Senior leaders from USSTRATCOM, NSRI, and the University of Nebraska will gather at Mammel Hall at 2 P.M. to mark the continuation of this important partnership that helps build future leaders, innovators, and change agents within USSTRATCOM.