By MC2 Michael Ehrlich

NPS President retired Vice Adm. Ronald A. Route and Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) President retired Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan confer distinguished professor honors upon Professor David Yost during NPS’ 2015 Summer Quarter Commencement ceremony in King Auditorium, Sept. 25. Yost was recognized for his scholarly contributions to NPS, the Department of Defense, NATO and academic institutions around the world.

“I feel profoundly grateful and honored to have been awarded this title,” said Yost. “After many years as a professor, my responsibilities remain the same. I teach and conduct research about European politics and security issues.”

Those issues include matters of strategic import like military deterrence, missile defense, and the organizational structures of allied forces. Yost has found a receptive audience in the students who rely upon him to make sense of organizations like NATO and the European Union.

“NPS students are preparing to work with U.S. allies and partners around the world,” said Yost. “They are highly motivated to learn about ongoing and emerging security issues, and about the challenges of working with allies and partners in various types of operations.”

Since joining NPS in 1979, Yost has served as the lead advisor or co-advisor on 171 master’s theses and received the Outstanding Research Achievement Recognition four times. He is the author of over 200 publications and has held fellowships from Fulbright, NATO, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the United States Institute of Peace.