MWS Associates Newsletter Summer 2021

A S S O C I AT E S

NEWSLETTER S u m m e r 2021

Chairman’s Message

R. Pierce Reid

Carpe Diem – Seize the Day. It’s always been a favorite sentiment for people who look for every opportunity. And while we have had some challenges over the past year, the entire Norwich community has risen to the occasion, sought out creative and innovative ways to move forward, and seized every opportunity to maintain our traditions and key events.

The Norwich University Military Writers’ Symposium was one of the first events this fall to show that even in times of social distancing and ”virtual” conferences, we could use creativity and technology to host a successful symposium that attracted participants from around the world. The symposium integrated new elements such as the NorwichPro continuing education course run by one of our Associates, Prof.

Anthony Piscatelli M’09 “ Weaponizing Water” which proved a topic of global concern, and the symposium has helped cement the university’s leadership position in this critical issue.

For 2021, we will have an equally relevant and powerful topic: Global Conflict or Cooperation? Evolving Arctic Security.

Another area of global interest covers global concerns ranging from access to resources to navigation to climate to defense preparedness. The topic also ties in with an international conference at Norwich in 2021. The opening of the new US Army Mountain Warfare School facility at Jericho, Vt. broke ground in 2020. We are already planning a hybrid event with on-campus activities and a strong virtual program leading up to the symposium.

Another important milestone comes from our long and valued relationship with the Pritzker Military Foundation and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Chicago, Ill. Through their generosity, we have received an endowment of $650,000 that will help keep the symposium, the Colby Award, and its related programming funded in perpetuity.

With triumph sometimes comes tragedy.

The passing of Carlo D’Este ‘58 in November saddened the entire Norwich and military history communities. Carlo’s role in making the William E. Colby Award and the Norwich University Military Writers’ Symposium world-class programming is immeasurable. As a Norwich alumnus, he not only served as an inspiration to the student community but helped inspire a generation of

historians to look at military history as a calling. He further helped guide and mentor a generation of military writers and historians and educate the public on the value of our shared history through his books and television presence. Please watch for details on a memorial and how we can help honor his legacy in the weeks ahead.

It is also our distinct pleasure to welcome noted author and historian Alex Kershaw as the new Chairman of the William E. Colby Award Selection Committee.

Alex is known for his best-selling books, including Avenue of Spies and The Liberator. The latter of which has been made into a series on Netflix. We look forward to supporting his active role and guidance as we continue to look for opportunities to “seize the day.”

Lastly, we are working on putting together a virtual NUMWS Associates meeting. This will offer an opportunity to get together and discuss the 2021 program, funding, opportunities for involvement, and plan the fall symposium. Please stay tuned for a meeting invitation and agenda. I look forward to seeing everyone online at our meeting or in-person this fall!

R. Pierce Reid M ‘14 Chairman NU Military Writers’ Symposium Associates rpreid@pshift.com

2020 Norwich University Military Writers’ Symposium

WEAPONIZING WATER: Ancient Tactic, New Implications First fully virtual Military Writers’ Symposium

COUNTRIES: Most attendees came from the United States. Other countries from which participants originated included Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, North Macedonia, Mexico, Nigeria, Singapore, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

827

43

751

20

98

14

552

24

52

76

People registered

People attended the live session

International visitors

Norwich faculty

Norwich staff

Alumni

Current students

Domestic visitors

Prospective students

Did not self-identify

EXPERIENCE THE SYMPOSIUM You can still experience the Military Writers’ Symposium. Check it out! Norwich.edu/PAWC

Nadhir Al-Ansari, PhD

Hon. Sherri Goodman

Randy Brown

David Kilcullen, PhD

Nicole Navarro Richard S. Schultz ’60 Symposium Fellowship

An Online Micro Certificate:

The Arctic Circle’s Cold War October 13th and 15th 2020 The Norwich Pro course explored the Arctic Circle’s militarization and the global balance of power and how it presents new dangers. Environmental changes, legal challenges, economic factors, territorial disputes, NATO concerns, and military conflicts were discussed. The course, a complementing experience of the Military Writers’ Symposium, was offered for participants free of charge. Prof. Tony Piscitelli M’09, a military history lecturer in Norwich University’s College of Graduate and Continuing Studies, facilitated the certificate.

188

People registered. Most registrations came from: • TEXAS • VIRGINIA • NORTH CAROLINA • SOUTH CAROLINA • FLORIDA • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

93%

Males: 19-66 year old

82%

College background

43%

Military background

In spring 2021 arriving students were assigned to in-room quarantine. PAWC made copies of Colby Award-nominated books available to students in the barracks and dorms to read while in quarantine and included information about the symposium, the award, and becoming a student reviewer.

Paul Putney ’13, Company Mentor, sent the following note:

“I distributed a box of books every two weeks up until the beginning of April... I have about a dozen left now, but they, too, are still trickling out. Attached is a picture of the hallway display we used to great effect, on the wall is a note about where the books came from.

Students started putting other books out as you can see Atlas Shrugged in there too. Anyway, thank you, the students of Patterson Hall greatly appreciated the books!”

MARK TREANOR has won the 2021 William E. Colby Award for his book, A Quiet Cadence.

The Colby Award is given annually to a first solo work of fiction or nonfiction that has made a major contribution to the understanding of military history, intelligence operations, or international affairs. The winner receives a $5,000 author honorarium provided through the generosity of the Chicago-based Pritzker Military Foundation, on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library.

HONORING CARLO With deep regret, I inform you of the death of LTC Carlo D’Este, USA (Ret.), Class of 1958. Married to Shirley D’Este, and father of four, Carlo passed away on Sunday, November 22nd, at Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in government at Norwich in 1958, graduating magna cum laude. He commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant and spent 20 years in the Army, serving tours of duty in Vietnam, Germany, and England. He retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel, having received the Bronze Star, and Meritorious Service Medal, and Army Commendation medals. In 1974, D’Este was an Honor Graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and earned a master’s degree from the University of Richmond. In 1992, D’Este received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Norwich University.

The Carlo D’Este ’58 Military History Award, a $1,000 prize created in D’Este’s honor, is awarded annually at the Military Writers’ Symposium to an outstanding undergraduate senior pursuing a history or military history major. Carlo was the 2011 recipient of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library Lifetime Achievement Award in Military Writing.

Carlo is remembered for his impassioned service and longstanding support to Norwich University. Carlo co-founded and served as executive director of the William E. Colby Military Writers’ Symposium at Norwich University, later renamed the Norwich University Military Writers’ Symposium; he also served on the Norwich Board of Fellows and as president of the Friends of the Kreitzberg Library, later as president emeritus. He was a Board of Fellows Medallion Recipient in 2008.

“What I remember about Carlo was his deep commitment to Norwich…”(to) provide academic programming that no one else in the world does.

He loved the fact that this was the only such program in America.”

– Richard W. Schneider, President Emeritus, Norwich University

A Quiet Cadence, (Naval Institute Press, 2020) is the story of a young U.S. Marine in combat and dealing with its aftermath over the years since his war. Treanor grew up in Rutland, Vermont, and splits his time between Quechee, Vermont, and Edgewater, Maryland. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and commissioned into the U.S. Marines as a 2nd lieutenant in 1968.

He was a rifle platoon leader in Vietnam, an artillery battery commander and leadership instructor and later served on the boards of the National Defense University and the Naval Academy.

2021 PEACE AND WAR CENTER STUDENT RESEARCH FELLOW WILLIAM HELTERBRAN’S proposed project will continue the research and development of a compact wind turbine built by the senior design students for Arctic Modular Microgrid power generation.

The senior design project was part of a larger scoped project to develop microgrid technology for the Army Cold Region Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL). His work would push the project, from its prototype point, through redesign, into a mass-manufactured full-scale product.

The Peace and War Center Student Research Fellowship is offered each academic year to one student researching on behalf of the center.

The fellowship is a merit-based award and is meant to support a student original research project. The student fellow receives $2,500 from the John and Mary Frances Endowment to provide financial support to complete their research.

2021 Norwich University Military Writers’ Symposium

Global Conflict or Cooperation?

Evolving Arctic Security November 3rd and November 4th, 2021 While we do not know what COVID-19 travel restrictions will be in November, we plan to hold a hybrid model. Event information will be released this summer on Norwich.edu/PAWC.

Carlo D’Este Military Writers’ Endowment Aims to Raise $500,000 Through Matching Gift Challenge The Pritzker Military Foundation (PMF), on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library in Chicago, has committed $650,000 to the Norwich University Military Writers’ Symposium.

PMF also posed a $500,000 matching gift challenge through 2025 to grow the symposium’s endowment, which has been renamed as the “Carlo D’Este Military Writers’ Endowment” to honor the legacy of Carlo D’Este.

Should Norwich meet this challenge, PMF’s gift to the symposium will total $1,150,000. Annual funds generated by the endowment support the operating costs of the symposium, the William E. Colby Award, and year-round student enrichment opportunities on military history and current affairs. To learn more visit: alumni.norwich.edu PMF provides support aimed at deepening public understanding of military history and protecting the health and well-being of service members and veterans. For over 20 years, it has been a dedicated supporter of the symposium, among numerous other Norwich initiatives. The PMF’s latest gift will provide valuable operating funds for the symposium and help grow its endowment.

RICHARD S. SCHULTZ ’60 SYMPOSIUM FELLOWS

WELCOME ALEX KERSHAW

The fellowship enables Norwich undergraduates from any academic discipline, the opportunity to pursue research or a creative activity or experience that align with the current MWS them.

Through research, travel, and inquiry, the Schultz Fellow and faculty advisor will offer us perspectives on how to face the future with better understanding and confidence.

LARENZ SIMPKINS ’23, 2021 FELLOW CDT Simpkins proposed project is a study into how the recent Arctic expansion of China stands to threaten Sino-Russian relations. This project will take a multifaceted approach, examining several variables: the possible economic ramifications due to Chinese resource acquisition in a region that Russia plays a dominant role.

NICOLE NAVARRO ’21, 2020 FELLOW How the People’s Republic of China is Weaponizing Water Ports to Control Business, Politics, Perspective and Trade in Tanzania In the 21st century, African countries such as Tanzania have gainedan economic connection with rising global powers, which foreshadows military partnerships and expansionism, particularly with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This case study explores the relationship between Tanzania and the PRC in relation to the Maritime Silk Road, focusing on the strong presence the PRC had politically and economically with Tanzania in the past and their current presence.

Norwich University officials announced that World War II historian and bestselling author Alex Kershaw H’19, will serve as chair of the selection committee for the annual William E. Colby Award in a three-year appointment.

As award selection committee chair, Kershaw will lead the selection process, attend the Norwich University Military Writers’ Symposium, and engage with authors, professors, and students, and the Norwich University community. The Selection Committee was formerly led by the late Carlo D’Este ’58, symposium co-founder and Executive Director emeritus. The Colby Award Selection Committee is the latter of the two-part award review process. Its members include six former Colby Award recipients.

Kershaw looks forward to promoting the excellent work of emerging authors in the spotlight through the annual Colby Award.

Shortly after taking the post, Kershaw, whose books include The Liberator, The Longest Winter, The Bedford Boys, and, most recently, The First Wave, went on Waterbury, Vt., radio station WDEV’s “Vermont Viewpoint” show to discuss his work and his new role as the Colby Award Selection Committee Chair. On the show, Kershaw highlighted Norwich’s contribution to producing effective leaders in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines in its 201 year history . Kershaw told host Rick Cengeri that Norwich is unique for instilling a sense of service into students both military-focused and civilian. Read more at the Peace and War Center’s website, Norwich.edu/PAWC. ADAM HIGGINBOTHAM won the 2020 William E. Colby Award for his book, Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster. Higginbotham’s narrative nonfiction and feature writing appeared in magazines including GQ, The New Yorker, and The New York Times Magazine. Many of his stories have been optioned for development for film and television.

Midnight in Chernobyl (Simon & Schuster, 2019) was named one of The New York Times’ 10 Best Books of the Year and awarded the 2020 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. Higginbotham said, “I’d like to thank the judges of the Colby Award for recognizing ‘Midnight in Chernobyl’ with this year’s prize.

It’s an honor to be in the company of the previous winners and finalists of this award, which acknowledges authors of such an impressive range of backgrounds and disciplines.”

Adam participated in the 2020 Military Writers’ Symposium as a featured panelist.

Norwich.edu