Saint Louis Council Hosts Reception for Naval Command College
The 2011 Class of the Naval Command College visited the St. Louis Area March 30 - 31, 2011. During their visit, the St. Louis Council of the Navy League of the United States hosted a reception in their honor at the Missouri Athletic Club in downtown St. Louis.
The Naval Command College (NCC) is a part of the Naval War College located in Newport, Rhode Island. Each year, the CNO personally invites senior grade military officers from around the world to participate in the curriculum at NCC. This year’s class had representatives from 48 different countries. Statistically, more than 55 percent of the class will attain the rank of admiral or general. Since 1956, over 1803 officers have attended the NCC and 193 have become chiefs of their respective navies. Positions of higher responsibility await each of the NCC Class officers upon return to their native country.
Begun in 1956, NCC's vision is to foster friendship and cooperation among friendly and allied navies from around the world. The purpose of the NCC is to provide class members with a better understanding of the economic, political, and social aspects of life in the United States. This is accomplished not only in the classroom but also through visits to organizations throughout the United States. These visits are designed to provide information and positive impressions that the officers will be taking home to their individual countries.
It is essential for these senior naval officers to gain a broad understanding of how we live and work in the U.S. To do this, they will visit business and financial organizations, industrial/environmental protection facilities, educational institutions, government agencies and military bases.
The guest speaker at the Reception attended by 181 participants was retired U.S. Senator Kit Bond who spoke on the subject, “The Importance of International Military Alliances to Global Security.” And special guests, in addition to the NCC Class of 2011 which included Class President, CDR Jan Van Zanten from the Netherlands, were Netherlands Counsel, the Honorable Dick Lodge and his wife Anja; German Counsel, the Honorable Lansing Hecker; Dr. Beth Stroble, President Webster University; Boeing Executive, Mr. Mike Alter; DRS Marlo Coil division of DRS Technologies, VP/GM Mr. Nick Angelini; and local U.S. Navy Retired Rear Admirals, Dan Kloeppel, Charles Williams and Lee Metcalf. Eighth Coast Guard District Chaplain, CDR Timothy White, USN, delivered the invocation and the National Anthem was sung by our local Marine Inspector/Instructor, LCL T. Shane “Rhino” Tomko, USMC.
The reception was sponsored by Boeing, DRS and Webster University.
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