News

Norwich University’s College of Graduate and Continuing Studies (CGCS) is honored to announce that U.S. Army Col. Christopher P. Costa (retired), executive director of the International Spy Museum, will deliver the 2021 CGCS commencement address to approximately 400 students in a virtual ceremony at 12 p.m. Friday, June 21.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Norwich University’s College of Graduate and Continuing Studies is hosting its annual Residency Conference virtually. The June 25 commencement ceremony concludes a weeklong annual residency conference of 362 students representing 13 online graduate programs and six bachelor’s degree completion programs at the Norwich University campus in Northfield, Vermont.

Norwich’s CGCS students will convene virtually from across the country and around the globe under this year’s theme, “Norwich Together, Norwich Forever.” The graduate students will participate in capstone and culminating academic work and conferences and, at the end of the week, will earn their master’s degree at the virtual Commencement ceremony. Additionally, 209 online bachelor’s degree students are expected to receive their degree in 2021.

Costa served as the special assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council (NSC) from 2017-18. At the council, he coordinated counterterrorism policy and strategy and U.S. hostage recovery activities.

Costa has 34 years of progressive national security experience and success in strategy, policy, special operations, counterintelligence and human intelligence. He deployed on multiple contingencies and to combat operations in Panama, Afghanistan and Iraq; his last assignment with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was program director in the Operations Directorate.

Before USSOCOM, Costa was a Department of the Navy civilian at the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, working with U.S. Navy SEALs. He served as a senior adjunct instructor with Norwich University's Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis Program. At Norwich University, he taught lessons on national security, strategy and counterterrorism.

Costa was recently appointed an adjunct associate professor at Georgetown University. He holds Master of Arts degrees in strategic intelligence (from American Military University) and National Security and Strategic Studies (from the U.S. Naval War College). He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Norwich University in 1984.

His military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit and two Bronze Stars. In May 2013, Costa was inducted into USSOCOM’s Commando Hall of Honor for extraordinary and enduring service to special operations forces.

In 2018, Mr. Costa joined the International Spy Museum as the executive director. He plays a leading role in building on the museum’s extraordinary success as a Washington, D.C. attraction and speaks on counterterrorism and intelligence.