Joint Crisis Committee: Operation Ocean Shield
NATO Command Team
Approximately 20 Delegates - Single Delegate
Welcome to the Joint Crisis Committee NATO Command Team at ILMUNC XLI! Delegates will be tasked with leading one of NATO’s most critical missions—combating piracy in the Horn of Africa. As piracy threats “shiver the timbers” of global trade routes and regional stability, delegates must collaborate to develop coordinated naval strategies, uphold international maritime law, and respond to evolving crises on the high seas. Through swift decision-making and strategic alliances, each delegate will navigate the complexities of piracy, regional conflicts, and humanitarian concerns, striving to secure peace and safeguard global commerce.
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to ILMUNC XLI! My name is Jack Burgess and I will be your crisis director for this year’s JCC Operation Ocean Shield, specifically NATO Command Team. I am a senior studying International Relations and Modern Middle Eastern Studies. I am originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, but now I call the City of Brotherly Love and Penn my home, too!
At Penn, I am the Vice President of the International Affairs Association, a 100+ strong student organization housing all things international and collegiate Model UN. This is my fourth year competing on the college circuit for Model UN, and it’s an honor to help lead the club.Whether you are new to Model UN or a seasoned delegate, my priority is to make this an exciting, entertaining, and learning experience for you. I am confident you will have a great time at this year’s conference. This will be my third and last ILMUNC, and I have also staffed Penn’s collegiate conference each year. ILMUNC is a great experience for you to develop your public speaking skills, debate tools, and global knowledge. This being a crisis committee, you will have many opportunities to adapt to the developing situation, practice keen and concise writing skills, and collaborate in new ways with your fellow delegates. No matter if you are a future world leader, healthcare professional, or engineer, ILMUNC is for you!
As your crisis director, I am looking forward to seeing what dynamic and unique resolutions you promise throughout our crisis committee. Despite the topic regarding real history, I encourage you to challenge your history books and use your collaborative skills to propose new ideas and solutions to defeat the pirates. Nevertheless, do your research. There is so much to know about this complicated and intricate operation. Confidence, regional knowledge, and unique ingenuity are key tools of being successful in this conference.
Feel free to reach out to me with questions until we meet. I am happy to be a resource! I look forward to seeing your growth during our time together. See you all in January for this lively committee!
Best,
Jack Burgess
Crisis Director, Joint Crisis Committee: Operation Ocean Shield – NATO Command Team
Dear Delegates,
My name is Aarit Bhatnagar and I look forward to meeting all of you at ILMUNC this year! I will be your co-Chair along with Emma for the NATO Command Team. In this committee, you will be tasked with making sure that NATO command runs smoothly and efficiently to counter the looming threat posed by the Pirate Council. Hopefully, you are able to find a way to work together while furthering your own objectives and ensure victory in this JCC.
About myself, I am a junior at the University of Pennsylvania from Westport, Connecticut. I am studying Economics and History and minoringin Data Science and Analytics, but I’ve been passionate about international affairs since high school, participating in Model UN for my high school from freshman to senior year. I actually attended ILMUNC three times myself, so I know the feeling of being in your position and the excitement of exploring Philly!
I decided to continue with Model UN in college, and I am on Intercol, which is Penn’s competitive Model UN team. I’ve also worked in the backroom for, chaired, and been the Crisis Director for Penn’s college conference, UPMUNC, for the last two years, as well as in the last two iterations of ILMUNC. Aside from Model UN, I played soccer and tennis in high school, and I continue to play casually at Penn. I also love exploring different restaurants in Philly (feel free to ask for recs!), watching many different sports like football and basketball, and traveling.
I’m looking forward to helping you guys decide the course of this committee and working with you to ensure this conference is an amazing experience for everyone. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions before or during the conference.
Aarit Bhatnagar
Co-Chair, Joint Crisis Committee: Operation Ocean Shield – NATO Command Team
aarit@sas.upenn.edu
Dear Delegates,
I am excited to welcome you to ILMUNC XLI and the NATO Command Team Committee of Operation Ocean Shield! My name is Emma Twitmyer, and I will be your co-chair along with Aarit, captaining our committee through an engaging, challenging, and fun weekend of navigating pirate-filled waters.
As the NATO Command Team in this JCC, we will work tirelessly to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia. One of the world’s busiest shipping routes traverses this area of ocean, and we must ensure international maritime collaboration to protect today’s and future vessels.
For a little more about your chair, I am a junior at the University of Pennsylvania studying Artificial Intelligence (a brand new major) at the School of Engineering and Applied Science. I love combining technical skills with human nature and psychology to maximize impact. Outside of the classroom, I have researched effective signage for wayfinding in public transportation, I am a member of the Kite and Key tour guiding society, and I compete as part of Penn’s competitive Model UN team, Intercol.
I have been involved in Model UN since high school, and the energy of Model UN is contagious and unlike any other. I look forward to staffing ILMUNC every year—the ideas you will come up with and the lasting friendships you will form make ILMUNC more than just a one-weekend conference but a meaningful experience. And while you’re in my hometown of Philly, make sure to buy an Eagles jersey (go birds!) and try a real quality cheesesteak.
I can’t wait to join together as the NATO Command Team in January to unite under our mission of protecting the treacherous waters off of Africa from ever-threatening piracy. Let’s make sure those pirates walk the plank! Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions before or during the conference.
Emma Twitmyer
Co-Chair, Joint Crisis Committee: Operation Ocean Shield – NATO Command Team
emmatwit@seas.upenn.edu
