RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is stepping up its education diplomacy in the United States by strengthening academic cooperation with leading defense institutions, as part of a broader push to invest in long-term human capital.

According to Foreign Affairs Ministry's official website, Monday, March 30, 2026, this effort was reflected in a meeting between Indonesian Consul General in San Francisco, Yohpy Wardana, and Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) President Vice Admiral Ann E. Rondeau (Ret), held on the sidelines of the Winter Quarter Commencement Ceremony in Monterey, California, on Friday, March 27.

“Education and capacity development are long-term human resource investments that are currently a top priority for the Indonesian government. Therefore, Indonesia is committed to strengthening educational cooperation with various partners, including the United States, and encouraging more Indonesian students to study at NPS,” Yohpy said.

Responding to the statement, Rondeau expressed appreciation for the ongoing collaboration. “We thank the Government of Indonesia for the strong partnership with NPS. Indonesian students are known to be diligent and high-achieving, and we welcome an increase in their numbers in the future,” she said.

The graduation ceremony included participants from 23 countries, including first-time participation from Kosovo, underscoring NPS’s role as an international hub for defense education. Rondeau also highlighted Indonesia’s contribution, with a total of 345 alumni from master’s and doctoral programs.

Among the graduates was Indonesian Navy officer Eben Haezer Marjuanta Siagian from Fleet Command III, who completed a Master’s degree in Manpower Systems Analysis, reflecting Indonesia’s growing contribution to global human resource development.

Founded in 1909 in Annapolis, Maryland, before relocating to Monterey, California in 1951, NPS is one of the United States’ leading military education institutions, with more than 70,000 alumni worldwide occupying key positions in military, policy, and government sectors. ***