TridentRoomPodcast
"Brewer of Stout Conversation, Unfiltered and On Tap."
Welcome to the Trident Room Podcast
For students and alumni of the Naval Postgraduate School, the Trident Room is an integral and well-known contributor to academic success and great ideas. While a pint poured in the stout mugs that dangle from above is part of that, we’d like to think it is the unfettered conversation that really makes the difference.
No matter what the topic whether it be Stochastic optimization … sub-state, social-revolutionist terrorism … applied fluid mechanics and heat transfer …, The Trident Room Podcast is the destination for illuminating, unencumbered conversation with colleagues, peers and classmates that really brews the NPS learning experience.
The Trident Room Podcast … Stout, unfiltered conversation, always on tap.
EPISODES
EPISODE 77, Part 3 | Apr 07, 2026
In part three of this episode, TRP host Cmdr. Alanna Youngblood continues her discussion with Dr. Martin Mandelberg on his experience working with legendary mathematician, Dr. Richard Hamming. Mandelberg shares some of his challenges documenting Hamming’s extraordinary work, and closes with some advice for NPS students and faculty.
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EPISODE 76, Part 2 | Mar 31, 2026
In part two of this episode, TRP host Cmdr. Alanna Youngblood continues her discussion with Dr. Martin Mandelberg on working with legendary mathematician Dr. Richard Hamming as his PhD student. Dr. Mandelberg recounts all his trials, tribulations, and challenges in working with a personality such as Dr. Hamming, and the special, cherished connection he shared with his mentor.
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EPISODE 75, Part I | Mar 24, 2026
In part one of this episode, TRP host Cmdr. Alanna Youngblood sits down with Dr. Martin Mandelberg to discuss his experiences working with Dr. Richard Hamming as the iconic mathematician’s one, and only, PhD student. Dr. Mandelberg recounts all his trials, tribulations, and challenges in working with a personality such as Dr. Hamming, and the special, cherished connection he shared with his mentor.
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EPISODE 74.5 | Mar 18, 2026
The Trident Room Podcast’s TRP Unfiltered series delivers authentic, unedited conversations by a round table of TRP hosts, students and guests on a submitted question … In this episode, the TRP team welcomes two new NPS students to the table for a discussion on career paths to NPS, what lies ahead, and much more.
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EPISODE 74, Part 2 | Mar 10, 2026
In part two of this episode, TRP hosts Colleen Wilmington and Anthony Castillo continue their discussion on leadership, undersea warfare, and nuclear deterrence with NPS Hall of Fame alumnus retired U.S. Navy Adm. Cecil Haney. Insightful and plainly spoken, Haney’s advice, empowered by 50+ years of distinguished public service, can be assimilated across the full spectrum of leadership.
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EPISODE 73 | Feb 24, 2026
In this episode, TRP hosts Colleen Wilmington and Anthony Castillo explore leadership, submarine warfare, and nuclear deterrence in a changing world with NPS Hall of Fame alumnus retired U.S. Navy Adm. Cecil Haney. Insightful and plainly spoken, Haney’s advice can be assimilated across the full spectrum of leadership, military and civilian alike.
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Upcoming Guests to the Trident Room Podcast …
- New episodes of TRP Unfiltered!
- STEM at NPS with Dr. Jennifer Carson
Help Shape the Conversation!
The Trident Room Podcast is always looking for interesting guests with compelling perspectives. Submit your questions for upcoming guests or topics to TridentRoomPodcastHost@nps.edu.
THE TRIDENT ROOM HISTORY
The (podcast) Trident Room History
The Trident Room Podcast officially started broadcasting in the summer of 2020. It was created by an HSI/OR student who wanted to capture conversations he was having with the impressive array of faculty, students, and staff roaming the halls of NPS. Podcasting provides a direct and unfettered connection with listeners, and he wanted to bring that same kind of informative, yet intimate exchange to the Naval Postgraduate School community.
Topics to be featured on The Trident Room Podcast include (but are not limited to):
- The on-campus “NPS Student-Learning Experience”
- NPS Science and Technology
- Student leadership, now, and in the Fleet
- Facing difficult multi-domain problems
- Applied research as the bridge between the classroom and the Fleet
- Individual, tactical, operational, and strategic level topics relevant to Naval Officers
- Human-centric technology, operations, and processes
The image of the Trident Room used on this website was captured by 2014 Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security graduate Ms. Angi English. The Trident Room Podcast is released by the Naval Postgraduate School Office of University Communications.
The (real) Trident Room History
In 1926 The Spanish Revival Hotel Del Monte opened what they called “The Children’s Playroom” during the prohibition. The “playroom” acted as a speakeasy where the community came together. Within a week of the repeal of Prohibition in December 1933, the room officially became a bar. Hotel Del Monte renamed “The Children’s Playroom” as The Del Monte Tap Room.
In 1951 the historic building became the Naval Academy’s postgraduate school that instructed students from multiple service branches. In 1953, The Trident Room was born (and renovated), becoming a social site for the students. The bar still possesses most of the original fixtures and character -- stained glass windows, copper, and dark wood. The ceiling is neatly lined with rows of designated mugs for each student. Each mug possesses a unique signature illustrated by the student, and that mug is taken with the student when they graduate.
Within the atmosphere of The Trident Room, the patrons of the bar range from CIA agents, quantum physicists, airmen, and astronauts. Looking for the perfect place to have a drink? Welcome to The Trident Room.
Article: Trident Room, a Bar So Exclusive You Need An Escort
MEET THE TEAM
Alanna Youngblood, Host and Senior Producer
Cmdr. Alanna Youngblood is a U.S. Navy Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) Officer currently attending NPS as a doctoral student. Youngblood is a returning student to NPS, graduating from the METOC master’s degree program in 2019.
Dan Petersen, Host
Lt. Dan Petersen has 20 years of Naval service as an enlisted and officer Naval Meteorologist and Oceanographer, with extensive experience in unmanned systems. Petersen completed undergraduate studies at Thomas Edison State University, and is currently attending NPS in the meteorology and physical oceanography program.
Adam Zalenka, Host
Adam was born in Ft. Sill, OK and is the son to an enlisted Army sergeant and grew up in various locations including South Korea, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas. He Enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2008 and served in Security Forces. As an Enlisted member he completed tours in Washington D.C, Kuwait, Colorado and finished his “E” career as an Enlisted Accessions Recruiter in Medina, OH in 2016. During this time, he earned degrees from the Community College of The Air Force in Criminal Justice and Human Resources and earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the American Military University in 2014. Adam was selected by the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force to commission under the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program to become a Security Forces Officer. He officially earned his commission in August 2018 at Maxwell, Air Force Base (AFB), AL. He has served in critical positions as Flight Commander, Operations Officer, Officer in Charge of the Security Forces Officer Course, and Force Protection Action Officer. He completed tours at McConnell AFB, KS, Incirlik AFB, Turkey, Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, TX, MacDill AFB, FL, and was selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School. He is currently studying Systems Acquisitions Management under the Department of Defense Management Program.
Colleen Wilmington, Host
Colleen is from Leon, KS. She graduated from the University of Kansas in 2015 with a Bachelor’s in English and commissioned in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO). After qualifying SWO onboard USS Nimitz, she laterally transferred to the Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) community. Prior to coming to NPS, she served at Naval Oceanography Anti-Submarine Warfare Command in Yokosuka, Japan, where she qualified as an Information Warfare Officer, and the Naval Ice Center in Suitland, MD. Her previous assignments inspired her thesis on ice composition acoustics.
Traver Mayfield, Host
Traver grew up in Triangle, Virginia. He graduated from North Carolina State University in 2010 with a B.A. in International Relations and commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps shortly thereafter. Traver is an Air Command and Control and Low Altitude Air Defense Officer and has deployed to Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, and Iraq. He is currently studying National Security Affairs with a concentration in Northeast Asia and writing a thesis on U.S. Marine Corps support to digital diplomacy in Japan and South Korea.
Zack Ward, Host
Zach grew up in Bethel, OH. He graduated from Ohio University in 2013 with a B.A. in Russian and commissioned in the Marine Corps shortly thereafter. Zach is an Intelligence Officer who has deployed in support of the Unit Deployment Program with Marine aviation and twice in support of Operation Inherent Resolve with Marine Special Operations. He is currently studying National Security Affairs with a concentration in Southeast Asia.
