W&M announces expanded partnership with U.S. Army training command
Budding partnership Jim Golden (left), vice president for strategic initiatives for William & Mary and Lt. Gen. Keith Walker, director, Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC) at Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) discuss the opportunities available to both organizations through an expanding partnership detailed Jan. 10 during a media availability. Photo by Suzanne Seurattan
William & Mary and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) reaffirmed their partnership today to develop internship, research and training opportunities for both William & Mary students and TRADOC soldiers. These opportunities will be focused in the area of national security.
“The partnership between TRADOC and William & Mary provides a great opportunity for both organizations to leverage resources and learn from each other,” said James R. Golden, vice president for strategic initiatives at William & Mary.
The new agreement is an expansion of work already underway. Over the last 18 months, TRADOC and W&M have joined forces on several projects.
"In the past year, students participated in internships, faculty contributed to planning conferences and staff exchanged ideas about eLearning, leadership development and university management issues," Golden added.
Most visible of these projects, perhaps, is the shared intellectual capital through student internship opportunities within TRADOC’s Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC). This past summer, students conducted research to aid ARCIC efforts to develop the Army’s future force construct for the year 2025 and beyond. Plans continue for additional internships this coming summer.
“The success of this ongoing partnership is due largely to the similarities of our charters,” said Lt. Gen. Keith Walker, director of ARCIC. “Both TRADOC and William & Mary are in the business of preparing and developing leaders for the challenges of tomorrow. Through its involvement in this partnership, William & Mary continues to lend its best minds to our efforts for studying national security challenges in the future.”
Over the next year, the partners also plan to continue study on the characteristics of megacities and the national security challenges contained in these modern metropolises. This partnership will incorporate several William & Mary departments including government, international relations, business and education.
Today’s announcement followed a multi-day Strategic Trends Seminar hosted by the College where representatives of both organizations discussed the strategic choices facing Army leaders in the year to come and the training and support best for that decision making process.
Future topics of study for the partnership may include the effectiveness of e-learning to develop leadership readiness and critical thinking skills, science and technology research and applications, faculty and course development techniques as well as the additional opportunity for a possible adjunct professorship and/or advanced degree and fellowship opportunities.
