What's New

The Erik S. Kristensen Memorial Lecture will be held on Friday, April 13, 2018, at St. John's College in Annapolis, MD. Bestselling author and historian, Arthur Herman, will present the 6th annual lecture entitled, "Utopia, Ideology, and Grand Strategy in the 21st Century." As always, the lecture is free and open to the public. Interested Olmsted Scholars are strongly encouraged to attend. Foundation Secretary/Treasurer, COL Mark Elfendahl (OSC 99, Jena), U.S. Army, Ret. will be present to represent the Foundation. LCDR Kristensen was a 1995 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and an alumnus of St. John’s Graduate Institute. He later completed Navy SEAL training and was selected as a member of the Olmsted Scholar Class of 2006. However, he was killed in action during Operation Red Wings in Kunar Province, Afghanistan prior to beginning his studies. The Kristensen lecture series is a private initiative begun by LT Michael Zampella, USN, a 2013 alumnus of St. John's College. With the endorsement of the President of St. John’s and the Superintendent of the Naval Academy, the college sponsors the lecture each year the week before the annual croquet match between St. John’s and the Naval Academy.

Congratulations to the following Olmsted Scholars on their recent selection for promotion to the rank of Colonel by the U.S. Air Force:

The Winter 2018 Olmsted Foundation Newsletter can be viewed here: 2018 Winter Olmsted Foundation Newsletter (561 KB)

Congratulations to the following Olmsted Scholars on their selection for promotion to MAJ by the U.S. Army:

The 2017 Olmsted Foundation Christmas Newsletter is available at the following link:

The US Air Force Academy invited five Olmsted scholars to attend and participate in the 59th Academy Assembly titled "The Future of Defense Policy". Throughout the week, this event provided the scholars the opportunity to meet with a wide audience of Air Force cadets to discuss and promote the Olmsted Foundation and to share their unique experiences. Additionally, during Regional Breakout Sessions, labeled "The International Dimensions of Defense Policy: Allies and Adversaries", the scholars represented the geographical areas where they had either studied or various commands where they currently serve. The scholars wove their personal experiences and professional work into their presentations providing relevancy and context to the discussion. The exceptional opportunity for Olmsted scholars to play an active role in the 59th Academy Assembly is another demonstration of the investment Major General Olmsted made in establishing the Olmsted Foundation.

Congratulations to the following Olmsted Scholars on their selection for the following projected commands-

Congratulations to Olmsted Scholar LCDR Scott Van Nest (OSC 16, Budapest) who screened for executive officer afloat by the U.S. Navy! Van Nest is currently studying at Corvinus University in Budapest, Hungary.

Olmsted Scholar BG Tony Smith (OSC 62, Paris), USA, Ret., accepts the Anne Cox Chambers Award at the French-American Annual Gala in New York City. Smith studied at the Paris Institute of Political Studies and later served as the chairman of the Olmsted Foundation board from 2005-2009. The Anne Cox Chambers Award was given to Smith in recognition of his important contribution to the program both as a young leader and as a former President of the French-American Foundation.

The Olmsted Foundation is making great things happen for cadets at the University of North Georgia! Read here about how Olmsted Foundation grants support programs through the University of North Georgia to expand the global knowledge skill set of future military leaders. When possible, the Olmsted Foundation partners current Olmsted Scholars studying abroad with cadets […]