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Admiral James Stavridis
MALD ’84, PhD ’84
Dean, The Fletcher School at Tufts University
Former Supreme Allied Commander at NATO
“Open Source” Problem
Solving for a Complex,
Turbulent World
Strategic leadership, global thinking, multidisciplinary
problem solving: The Fletcher School at Tufts University
has been preparing students for leadership on the global
stage since 1933. As the oldest graduate-only institution of
international affairs in the U.S., Fletcher enjoys an alumni
network that spans languages, geography, and cultures and
includes hundreds of ambassadors and foreign ministers;
CEOs and international executives; peacekeeping leaders
and global nonprofit heads; and top lawyers, journalists,
and military commanders.
As the School’s new dean, Admiral James Stavridis
will further this deep commitment to producing broadly
knowledgeable problem solvers who rise to meet the
world’s challenges.
How has your extraordinary career in the Navy
prepared you for the deanship at Fletcher, and
how should international professionals prepare
to meet the global challenges ahead?
I had a busy four years as Supreme Allied Commander at
NATO: Afghanistan, the Balkans, Libya, Syria, piracy off
Africa, and cyber and missile defense were all at the top
of the agenda. What I learned from my time there was
the absolute criticality of partnerships—international,
interagency, and public/private—and the importance of
solidifying these through strategic communications, largely
in social networks. It’s about connecting in ways that have
longer-lasting impact, or what I refer to as “Open Source
Security*.”
In the global marketplace, you need to understand the
intersection of diplomacy, politics, business, economics,
international law, security, and development in a very
coherent and synthesized way. The multidisciplinary
program at The Fletcher School is the right approach for
this turbulent 21st century.
As a Fletcher alumnus, how did the School
prepare you for global leadership, and how do
you see it adapting to prepare graduates for
today’s career opportunities?
The essence of a Fletcher education can be summed up
in four words: “To know the world.” I earned my Master
of Arts in Law and Diplomacy and then my PhD from
Fletcher back in 1984—this was an extremely influential
experience in my early years. The diversity of both the
curriculum and the community—with its students from
around the world—was extraordinary preparation for working
across sectors and nations to build bridges.
The School has kept pace with demands for executive
education and business courses through its Internetmediated
Global Master of Arts Program and its Master of
International Business. We will continue to offer a flexible
yet rigorous curriculum and skills-building coursework
that prepare students to meet their international career
goals. Our graduates “know the world” in very real ways.
What is it like coming “home” to Fletcher after
all this time?
It is wonderful to return to Boston, a vibrant, international
city where different cultures come together to learn at the
finest schools in the world. Fletcher students enjoy opportunities
beyond campus to enrich their education—they
attend citywide lectures, cross-register at partner institutions,
and delight in the mosaic of diverse communities.
What I cherished most about my time here were the
friendships. Campus life helps students solidify lifelong
relationships that they will carry with them in their professional
pursuits around the world. I count myself lucky to be
not only the Dean of the School, but an alumnus as well.
*VIDEO: fletcher.tufts.edu/open-source-security
fletcheradmissions@tufts.edu
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