The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM), housed in the College of Professional Studies (CPS), presented U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, M.A. ’96, with the GSPM Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award at a ceremony on Sept. 23, followed by an address from Del Toro and a conversation with CPS Dean Liesl Riddle. Prior to the concluding reception, audience members were invited to join in a question-and-answer session.
The ceremony began with testimonials from an array of speakers, both in person and in a video. In addition to Riddle, speakers included President Ellen M. Granberg; retired Rear Admiral Christopher Weaver, M.P.A. ’93; Michele Manatt, a member of the GSPM Board of Advisors; alumnus Scott Suozzi, M.P.S. ’02 (a previous recipient of a GSPM Alumni Achievement Award); Margaret Gottlieb, career services director at GSPM; and Todd Belt, professor and director of the Political Management Program. Two current ROTC students, Kayla Witzel and Ankush Dwivedi, joined in expressing praise and thanks to Del Toro for his exemplary service.
“Secretary Del Toro’s distinguished career in the military and in the private sector reflects GW’s core values: integrity, excellence and service,” Granberg said. “He is a leader who has dedicated his life to the betterment of our nation.”
Weaver said Del Toro does “tough, challenging work” and has “clarity of insight that I’m sure has been aided by the GSPM experience. Your contributions to our Navy and our nation—national defense, especially—have been and continue to be the right stuff at the right time.”
Del Toro began his address by saying he has always been proud to be a GW graduate and briefly traced his life from fleeing Cuba with his family and growing up in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City before matriculating at the United States Naval Academy. He moved on to a discussion of the current geopolitical scene.
“We stand at a pivotal moment in history, facing unprecedented global challenges and uncertainty, with the world undergoing profound transformation,” Del Toro said. “In Europe, Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine continues to wreak havoc. As NATO allies, we remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Their struggle is not just for their own freedom, but for the preservation of democracy and the rules-based international order. And we must stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
After a consideration of the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, he shifted focus to service members and their families.
“Behind every brave service member is a family that sacrifices greatly, as well,” he said. “Their support, love and understanding are essential to the morale and well-being of our people. We truly owe a debt of gratitude to these families who often endure long periods of separation, with tremendous uncertainty.”
As the first member of his family to go to college and a first-generation American, he said, he “barely survived” the four years he spent studying engineering at the Naval Academy, but was able to do “much better” by the time he came to GW.
“Service can be as a local or as global as you wish,” Secretary Del Toro said. “Every act of service paves the way for a brighter future.” (Lily Speredelozzi/GW Today
“My one piece of advice to young people is that they don’t have to be the captain of the ship, the admiral commanding the fleet or the CEO of a company,” he said. “No one needs a title to be successful. What’s most important is to find the jobs where you find value in the work that you're doing and that you're passionate about.”
Inspired by John F. Kennedy’s remarks in establishing the Peace Corps, Del Toro became passionate about public service.
“Service can be as a local or as global as you wish. Every act of service, big or small, technical or social, strengthens the communities that you touch and paves the way for a brighter future,” Del Toro said.
The Navy, he added, offers unparalleled benefits to those in its service.
“Our sailors and marines are more than just service members. They’re diplomats. They’re humanitarians. They’re leaders. And there are numerous opportunities for public service beyond serving in uniform. By choosing a career of public service, you have an opportunity to be part of something greater than yourselves. And no matter how you serve, you’ll be part of a team working together towards a shared goal.”
Whether as sailors or civilians, he said, we all have our part to play in confronting America’s challenges and preserving its advantages.
Following his address, Riddle asked Del Toro about a range of subjects such as the value of mentors, challenges he has overcome and the rewards of his career. She also asked about skills young people can acquire in the Navy that they later use in civilian life.
“There isn’t anything you can’t do in the United States Navy,” Del Toro said. “Do you want to be a nurse? You can become a medic in the United States Navy. Do you want to be a doctor? We can make you a doctor.” Young people could follow in his footsteps, he said, and become an engineer. “There isn’t a profession out there in the civilian world that we don't replicate in the United States Navy. More graduates of the Naval Academy have gone on to be astronauts than from any other school in the United States.”
In a question-and-answer session with audience members, Del Toro encouraged young people not to be shy about approaching potential mentors, and to recognize the value of interacting with people different from themselves. He stressed that there are many different ways to serve one’s nation—including the importance of supporting uniformed personnel and their family members.
