JCGSC Alumni Complete Master’s Program

One of the unique attributes of the Baltic Defence College is its partnership with the Latvian National Defence Academy. It is through this partnership that the College can offer a Masters of Arts degree in Military Leadership and Security Studies.

Recently, Major Aigars EGLĪTIS (Latvian Armed Forces) completed the Master’s studies program by successfully defending his Master’s thesis entitled ’Effectiveness of Suppressing Maritime Piracy in the Malacca Strait and the Gulf of Guinea’. Throughout this academic endeavor, he was tutored by Dr. Asta Maskaliunaite from the Department of Political & Strategic Studies.

During the same month, a second recent Joint Command and General Staff Course graduate completed the program. Major Jonathan R. MARTIN (US Army) presented his high-quality thesis titled ‘Balancing and Bandwagoning in the South China Sea’. Major Martin was the first US Officer to earn the degree in the Joint Command and General Staff Course of BALTDEFCOL. His efforts were overseen by Col (ret) Zdzislaw Sliwa.

To date, 13 Officers have completed the Master’s program. The program is an important optional element of the Joint Command and General Staff Course, and is available for select students who meet the required criteria for admittance.