Dean of NATO Defense College to speak at NGCSU commencement

DAHLONEGA - Dr. Richard D. Hooker Jr., dean of the NATO Defense College, will be the keynote speaker at the Aug. 3 commencement exercises at North Georgia College & State University (NGCSU).

Hooker, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the International Institute of Strategic Studies, and the Foreign Policy Research Council, has been dean of the NATO Defense College since October 2010.

"Dr. Hooker is a preeminent expert in defense and international affairs, having worked in the White House under three presidents and now educating our allies' military and civilian leaders at NATO," North Georgia President Bonita Jacobs said. "We are thrilled to welcome someone of his stature to participate in our commencement, as his expertise meshes with our university's strategic focus on developing globally prepared leaders, presenting a unique opportunity for our students and their guests."

The NATO Defense College, established in 1951, concentrates on high-level political and military issues faced by both civilian and military leaders around the world and seeks to help them master the skills needed to succeed in a global environment.

A former White House fellow, Hooker taught at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Army War College in Washington, D.C. He also worked for the White House's Office for National Service under President George H.W. Bush, and the National Security Council (NSC) under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Hooker is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and holds master's and doctoral degrees in international relations from the University of Virginia. He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Army War College, where he earned a Master of Science in National Security Studies and also served as a post-doctoral research fellow. His publications include more than 30 articles and two books.

Hooker served in the U.S. Army for 30 years as a parachute infantry officer and participated in military operations around the world. His military service also included tours in the offices of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the secretary of the Army and the chief of staff of the Army. His military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.

More than 200 associate, bachelor's, and post-graduate degrees will be awarded in the ceremony scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in Memorial Hall Gymnasium on the university's Dahlonega campus. The graduating class includes 27 cadets who will commission as officers in the U.S. Army upon graduation.