Episodes

  • The Trident Room Podcast - Episode 68.5 - TRP Unfiltered

    The Trident Room Podcast - Episode 68.5 - TRP Unfiltered
    Jul 16 2025
    Trident Room Podcast Hosts Anthony, Elaura, Josh, and Alanna sit around a table in the Trident Room Rose Garden to discuss this week’s topic: “What is something you hope people remember you for, and what's one thing you hope they forget?"
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    41 mins
  • The Trident Room Podcast - Episode 68- A Conversation With DOS

    The Trident Room Podcast - Episode 68- A Conversation With DOS
    Jul 8 2025
    In part one of this two-part episode, the Trident Room Podcast hosts Alanna Youngblood and Colleen Wilmington sit down with NPS Dean of Students Capt. Eric J. Skalski for a conversation on lessons learned over four decades of service, the importance of educating warfighters, and the challenges and opportunities in serving NPS’ diverse, international student community. Today’s podcast may sound familiar to our regular listeners as it will echo themes from METOC Me-talks. We’re bringing DOS onto the podcast today to get to know the leader behind the billet, discuss his role at NPS, and given time constraints, his vision for NPS students.
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    21 mins
  • The Trident Room Podcast - Episode 67.5 - TRP Unfiltered

    The Trident Room Podcast - Episode 67.5 - TRP Unfiltered
    Jul 2 2025
    Trident Podcast Host Anthony Castillo, Elaura Hastings, Colleen Wilmington, and Alanna Youngblood sit around a table in the Trident Room Rose Garden to discuss this week’s topic: “What is there to do here in Monterey?”
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    34 mins
  • The Trident Room Podcast - Episode 67 – Academic Arsenal Series – Shoemaker Scholars

    The Trident Room Podcast - Episode 67 – Academic Arsenal Series – Shoemaker Scholars
    Jun 27 2025
    Naval Postgraduate School Trident Room Podcast host U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Colleen Wilmington interviews two graduating students, U.S. Navy Ensign Grace Casey and Ensign Dutton Rogers, attending NPS through the Shoemaker Scholar program, and pursuing a thesis through the NPS Undersea Warfare program. This episode was recorded on January 28, 2025. The Shoemaker Scholarship program provides an opportunity for Student Naval Aviators awaiting flight school to get their graduate degree at NPS directly following their undergraduate program. Shoemaker Scholars are provided with an opportunity to sharpen their mind before heading out to the Fleet, taking their new-found expertise to their next command and reducing the need for an operational gap. Recently, the Shoemaker Scholar program expanded significantly, from 10 to 50 quotas, with applicants not constricted to the U.S. Naval Academy.
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    17 mins
  • The Trident Room Podcast – Episode 66.5 – Introducing TRP Unfiltered!

    The Trident Room Podcast – Episode 66.5 – Introducing TRP Unfiltered!
    Jun 17 2025
    The Trident Room Podcast (TRP) team is launching an all-new series delivering authentic conversation on current, topical issues. Each episode of TRP Unfiltered features a round table of podcast hosts, NPS students and their guests tackling a random question submitted by TRP listeners … Just the kind of stout conversation you’d expect from the Trident Room Podcast. Up first, what is the best (and worst) leadership advice you have ever received? ----------------- The Trident Room Podcast is brought to you by the Naval Postgraduate School Alumni Association and the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation. www.npsfoundation.org. For comments, suggestions, and critiques, please email us at TridentRoomPodcastHost@nps.edu, and find us online at https://www.nps.edu/tridentroompodcast. Thank you! Tags: NPS, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, U.S., United States, Coast Guard, DOD, Military Education, Podcast, Military Podcast, The Trident Room, The Trident Room Podcast The views expressed in this podcast are those of the individuals and do not reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Navy, or the Naval Postgraduate School.
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    36 mins
  • The Trident Room Podcast – 66 – Cmdr. Matthew Morris and Lt. Cortni Thrasher – Academic Arsenal Series

    The Trident Room Podcast – 66 – Cmdr. Matthew Morris and Lt. Cortni Thrasher – Academic Arsenal Series
    May 19 2025
    Trident Room Podcast lead host U.S. Navy Cmdr. Alanna Youngblood interviews Cmdr. Matthew Morris and Lt. Cortni Thrasher about their unique experiences while working to complete their theses. Cmdr. Morris first discusses how he, along with his thesis partners, designed experimentation to test previous theories of how to transmit the most important information to units in a denied environment. Lt. Thrasher then speaks about her thesis, which is in direct coordination with U.S. Pacific Fleet objectives and a topic from the Nimitz Research Group, studying how the incorporation of amphibious aircraft can benefit military operations in the Pacific. Cmdr. Matthew Morris graduated from Dickinson College in 2008 with a BA in German and commissioned through OCS as a SWO in 2009, transferring to Information Professional in 2014. He earned an MS in Network Operations at NPS and is an IW WTI in Command and Control/Cyber Operations. His tours include COMM-O onboard USS LASSEN, OPS and NAV for PCC Hotel, ISO and Staff NAV for COMDESRON 9, Flag COMM-O for CSG-9. He is currently serving as the CSO onboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON. Lt. Cortni Thrasher is an Aerospace Maintenance Duty Officer in the U.S. Navy. She was previously enlisted as an aviation electronics technician after graduation in 2012 with a BS. She worked on Prowlers and Growlers with a deployment on USS STENNIS before transitioning to the AMDO community in 2019 and commissioning through OCS. She then served as a part of VFA 94 in Lamoore, CA as their maintenance material control officer. While there she deployed on the USS NIMITZ for a COVID deployment in 2020 and is now a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School.
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    36 mins
  • The Trident Room Podcast – Episode 65 – Lt. Cmdr. Colleen Wilmington – The Return of the Western Flyer

    The Trident Room Podcast – Episode 65 – Lt. Cmdr. Colleen Wilmington – The Return of the Western Flyer
    Apr 21 2025
    In this episode of the Trident Room Podcast, host U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Colleen Wilmington went onboard the Western Flyer in late 2024 for a discussion with members of the Western Flyer Foundation, then Education Director Dr. Rebecca Mostow and Science Manager Dr. Katie Thomas. Wilmington discusses the historic Western Flyer’s complete restoration and return to Monterey Bay, along with the milestones achieved in her first year in service as a research vessel. Based out of Moss Landing, Calif., the Western Flyer Foundation was established to support community interactions and boost scientific outreach. Built in 1937 for the sardine fishing industry in Monterey Bay, the Western Flyer made history in 1940 when John Steinbeck and Dr. Ed Ricketts sailed to the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), and the log was developed into one of Steinbeck’s classic works by the same name. Following two sinkings and a full retrofit, the Flyer now supports docked educational programs for primary education programs, and underway programs supporting collegiate education programs. The use of one vessel between the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB), and Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) is indicative of a rise in interest in oceanic studies, scarce opportunities for research at sea, and the unique oceanographic area in the vicinity of Monterey. Interviews included a tour of the Western Flyer and discussion of the combination of historical and modern capabilities. Since this interview, the Western Flyer has departed for a historic return to the Sea of Cortez, and is following closely to Steinbeck and Rickett’s original log. Get updates and follow the team’s progress at https://www.westernflyer.org/crews-log/.
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    27 mins
  • The Trident Room Podcast – 64 – Maj. Kyle Schulz – Academic Arsenal Series, Food Security and Resilience in the Philippines

    The Trident Room Podcast – 64 – Maj. Kyle Schulz – Academic Arsenal Series, Food Security and Resilience in the Philippines
    Apr 7 2025
    In this episode, U.S. Army Maj. Kyle Schulz, a recent graduate from NPS Defense Analysis program, joins Trident Room Podcast host U.S. Army Maj. Eric Czaja for a discussion on his path to service, career trajectory leading up to his studies at NPS, and a deep dive into his research exploring sustainable agriculture in the Philippines, and how sustainable agricultural practices support a whole of government approach to advancing the Resistance Operating Concept, strengthening resilience and resistance through food security and economic stability. Maj. Schulz completed undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He received his commission as a Signal Officer through Officer Candidate School, and spent the first few years of his career supporting Psychological Operations at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After successfully completing the Civil Affairs Qualification Course he has served as a Team Leader, Company Civil Military Operations Chief, and HHC Commander within the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade and the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. He completed his master’s degree in Defense Analysis, as well as a certificate in Applied Cyber Operations at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in December 2024. NPS Trident Room Podcast host U.S. Army Maj. Eric Czaja commissioned from Marquette University in 2011 as an Infantry Officer. After serving in 2nd ID at Fort Lewis, Wash., Czaja attended Special Forces Assessment and selection. After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course, Czaja was an Operation Detachment Alpha Team Leader in 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Czaja graduated from NPS in 2024, and is currently assigned to NPS as a research faculty member in the NPS Department of Defense Analysis.
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    21 mins