Mac Warner '77, whose name has been touted as a possible Republican challenger to Democrat W.Va. 1st District Rep. Alan Mollohan, has officially filed his precandidacy papers with the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office joining the crowded field of Mollohan challengers.

Read more...

Update:  Warner touts value of military experience
The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register  Feb 6, 2010

BANGOR, Maine — A couple who have given generously to area medical, educational and youth causes — including a $2 million pledge to a cancer treatment center — received the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce’s most prestigious award Wednesday night during the organization’s annual awards dinner.

Danny and Carla Lafayette of Hampden received the Norbert X. Dowd Award in recognition of their contributions to Greater Bangor’s economy and quality of life during a sell-out event at the Bangor Civic Center.  Danny Lafayette is a member of the Class of 1977.

Read more... 

Comtex LAFAYETTE, La., Jan 19, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ ---- The law firm of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre L.L.P. announced today that former United States Attorney Donald W. Washington '77 has joined the firm and will practice from the firm's Lafayette office.

Read more... 

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DURHAM, NC, February 3, 2010 /Cambridge Who's Who/ -- Nick Palmisciano is the owner of Ranger Up (www.RangerUp.com), a military inspired fashion brand and RhinoDen.com, one of the largest military content sites in existence. The company was started by a group of former and current military personnel who promote military pride and sell military inspired T-shirts, hats and sweats. Mr. Palmisciano started it on a part-time basis, while working with a Fortune 100 company. When the website grew 11 percent each month over the course of two years, he left his job to work with Ranger Up full-time

The company routinely gives back to the military community, supporting over a dozen military charities. Ranger Up most recently founded Train the Troops MMA (trainthetroopsmma.com), an organization that visits military bases with professional MMA athletes and puts on training clinics with a focus on actual combat. The first Train the Troops MMA event brought twelve UFC Fighters along with a group of trainers to Marine Corps bases on the west coast and trained 1500 marines over the course of a week.

When Mr. Palmisciano is not working on Ranger Up, he spends his time as a freelance writer for Fight! Magazine and other mixed martial arts and military publications.

Mr. Palmisciano spent six years as an Army Infantry Officer, which he considers the best and hardest job in the world. Mr. Palmisciano is a graduate of Duke University's MBA program and he holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy in West Point.

Read more...

One Tribal Uprising, One Infantry Lieutenant: The Long Gray Line to Honor Unsung Hero of the Texas War for Independence, Joseph Bonnell, West Point Class of 1825.

At 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 6th 2010 the West Point Society of Central Texas will conduct a ceremony at The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin to commemorate the extraordinary heroism of Lieutenant Joseph Bonnell who, acting alone in 1836, prevented a large force of hostile warriors from attacking the Army of Texas under the command of General Sam Houston. The event will include a performance by the band of the First Cavalry Division on the Museum's Lone Star Plaza, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Brigadier General Patrick Finnegan, Dean of the Academic Board will represent West Point.

 Read more... 

The Apprentice Season II Winner and CEO of Rotohog.com: Kelly Perdew By Peter Robert Casey; Huffington Post, 02 Feb 2010--As the fantasy gaming space evolves more and more into the mainstream, no one is more positioned to be a leader and innovator in the space than RotoHog.com Chief Executive Officer, Kelly Perdew. Kelly's entrepreneurial experience and vision, as well as his track record of success, puts him in a very unique position in a space that most media experts see as emerging as a viable, long term financial investment in the sports and entertainment world.

Rotohog.com, an industry leader in the creation of fantasy sports platforms for leagues, portals and major media companies like the NBA (official fantasy basketball game provider), Pro Football Weekly (commissioner and exchange football games) and Brazil's ClicRBS (the largest online fantasy soccer game in the country) has quickly carved its spot in a crowded field under Perdew's guidance.

The former Army Ranger is one of the veterans in the relatively new fantasy activation space, and his track record of delivering successful results with solid start-up planning is almost unparalleled in the business.

Read the Interview...

Hopkinton resident and veteran Dick Gooding '67 describes the production of his TV show, 'Veterans Remember.' The show is produced at HCAM-TV studios, where Gooding hosts informal conversations with local veterans.

Read more...

Brad Ruther '98, has joined The Cincinnati Eye Institute Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to preserve and improve sight.  The Foundation funds research, advances the education of eye care professionals, educates the public about vision-related issues, and provides access to eye care services to underserved adults.

“I am proud to be a part of The Cincinnati Eye Institute Foundation.  I am especially proud of our efforts to provide access to eye care for adults who cannot afford it,” says Ruther.  “The Foundation opened the Roselawn Eye Clinic in 2008.  It’s a free eye clinic for low-income adults with no health insurance.  It’s run by volunteers one or two Saturdays a month.  In two years, we’ve helped over 750 adults receive a free eye exam and most also get a free pair of glasses.”

For more information about making a donation, or about any of the programs and services offered by The Cincinnati Eye Institute Foundation, please call (513) 878-2300, or visit www.CEIFoundation.org.

Pilots Brian Reiff and COL (R) Jack Faires '78, are happy to be back on solid ground, following a four-day relief trip.  On 22 January, the duo landed their aircraft at Carlisle Airport (PA) after they delivered medical supplies to earthquake ravaged Haiti.  Thank you to Woodie Collins '72 for submitting this info.

Read the full story...

 

 

Voice of Powersports, Dealer News.com--Brett Smith '94, former president of S&S Cycle, one of the leading names in American motorcycles, has been named head of  Baja Motorsports' U.S. operations. Smith currently is traveling in China where he is visiting Baja factories and component suppliers.

Baja Motorsports is based in Tempe, Ariz., where it operates a 70,000 sq. ft. parts, service and warehouse/office facility. It sells Chinese-made powersports equipment primarily through big box retailers such as Pep Boys. Service is provided through a network of some 1,000 independent service shops in North America. Baja was launched in 2004 ... Its products are distributed through major home centers, and it posted sales of $US 3.4 billion in 2008.

...Smith is a graduate of West Point and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago. Currently, Smith and his wife own a Living Word Parable Christian Store franchise serving southwest Wisconsin.

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Kettering-Oakwood Times--28 January -- Stephen "Ashley" Webb '93, Kettering's newest city council member, was selected for promotion by the Army Reserve Component Lieutenant Colonel's Board that convened last September.

Webb, 39, has been chosen to serve as the Operations Officer for the Ohio National Guard's 371st Sustainment Brigade. The brigade's headquarters is located in the Kettering Armory at 2555 County Line Road. A Sustainment Brigade is designed to provide command and control for combat service and combat service support units. It can be adjusted in size to support anywhere from 1 to 10 brigade combat teams. A sustainment brigade has a joint capability that allows the Army to better manage the flow of logistics into an area of operations and provides support to other services for common logistics like fuel, ammunition, medical, and maintenance.

Major Webb is a 1993 graduate of West Point and earned an MBA from Wright State University in 2007. His active duty assignments include postings at Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he served as a Platoon Leader in the 82nd Airborne Division and at Fort Hood, Texas where he deployed to Bosnia in 1998 and commanded an M1A2 Abrams Tank Company before leaving active duty and returning home to Kettering in 2000.

 Read more...

 

28 Jan--NHL FanHouse-Red tape delayed Zach McKelvie '09 his chance to be on the blue line this season. And now, his dream of playing professional hockey is all but dead.

"I was a bit of an underdog to begin with," McKelvie told FanHouse. "I'm really looking at an uphill battle now."

McKelvie is a 24-year-old West Point graduate who was originally given the green light by his superiors with the United States Army last summer to sign a one-year contract with the Boston Bruins. He believed he went through the process respectfully, adhering to military policy every step of the way. However, just as McKelvie was to begin his pro career in October -- likely with the Bruins' top minor league affiliate in Providence -- West Point offficials told him they needed time to "re-evaluate" their decision.

Read more...

MLB.com--PITTSBURGH -- There is still time left for Pirates fans to send cards and letters to Chris Simmons '08, a catcher in the Pirates' system who was recently deployed to Iraq. According to Spikes general manager Jason Dambach, the State College Spikes, who are driving this initiative, have so far received about 50 well-wishes for Simmons. The letters and cards will continue to be collected through Feb. 15, after which they will all be sent overseas.

Simmons, the organization's pick in the 41st round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, is serving as a platoon leader for the 1st Armor Division in Southern Iraq after being sent to the Middle East on Nov. 3. Simmons graduated from the United States Military Academy in West Point and put his baseball career [on hold] in July '08 to meet a two-year service requirement. 

State College is expecting to receive hundreds more cards at SpikesFest in February, though fans unable to attend that kickoff event are encouraged to send their letters directly to the Spikes' offices at:

State College Spikes
c/o Chris Simmons
112 Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
University Park, PA, 16802

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A Proven Leader for Maricopa County Bill Montgomery '89, the 2006 Republican Nominee for Attorney General of Arizona, is exploring the opportunity to run for Maricopa County Attorney should a vacancy in the office occur in 2010. Bill brings his experience as a professional prosecutor and his leadership background as a West Point Graduate and Gulf War Veteran to offer the citizens of Maricopa County.  

Read more...

PR Newswire press release--NASHVILLE, Tenn. and MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, a corporate law firm based in Tennessee, announced today its election of seven members as well as the addition of 10 associate attorneys. The firm's expansion underscores its persistently strong performance despite the ongoing challenges facing the legal marketplace.

Attorney promoted to member:  John S. Seehorn (Nashville) focuses on commercial lending, secured transactions, real estate and general commercial law. Seehorn graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law and received a B.S. in engineering management from the United States Military Academy. He previously served with the 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Stanley, Korea, the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, and the 3rd Infantry Division at Hunter Army Airfield.

For Gail O’Sullivan Dwyer '81, there is no escaping second place.  Despite being among some 60 women to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy in the early years of women’s acceptance at West Point, despite going on to have a successful career both on active duty and in the Reserves, and despite being married to a fellow West Point graduate and raising four successful children, Dwyer still thinks of herself as being in second place.

But it is an honorable place to be.  Dwyer was in the second West Point graduating class that included women. While the first female West Point graduates were commissioned in 1980, Dwyer was destined to follow in their footsteps in women’s second year at the academy. And, with her graduation, she also became the second sibling in her family to graduate from West Point, with her brother Paul beating her to those bragging rights in 1974.

Read more...

...commander of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington and Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region, was promoted to the rank of major general in November.

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2010 – While most parents carry around a tattered, wallet-sized photo or two of their kids, Mary Scott has about a dozen 8-by-10s ready for display.
Upon request, she whips out her family portraits with the speed of a Wild West six-shooter. Her now-grown children are posed in various scenes outside, mostly clad in camouflage. All six of her children, she tells with pride, are in the military.  Their father is Maj Gen (R) Bruce Scott '72.

(Photo, back row:  Cadet Adam Scott '12  /  Army 1LT Kerny Scott '07  / AR 2LT Alec Scott / Army Capt Andy Scott '02; front row: Army Capt Kate Scott Gowel '99  / AF Capt Karoline Scott)

Read more & Video interviews

Steve Shea ’87 worked with a small group of Whitefish, Montana residents and businesses as well as the Wounded Warrior Project.  Six severely injured servicemen and women (and their families) will be coming to Whitefish Mountain Resort (Montana) as guests of the community to learn to ski with the adapted instructors at the resort.  Says Shea “These brave men and women of our armed forces have given up so much in service to their country.”  This event will take place 3-8 February 2010.   

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors.  The event provides opportunities for veterans who have recently been released from the hospital to participate in adapted recreational activities as part of their transition from military to civilian life.

Video clip from last year’s event… 

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- WiSpry, Inc., the leader in tunable radio frequency (RF) semiconductor products for the wireless industry, today announced the addition of Ed Healy '76, senior advisor to the chairman of Mediatek, to its board of directors.  Mr. Healy has been in management, marketing and engineering roles in the semiconductor industry for over 20 years.

Mr. Healy holds a bachelor of science degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a master of science in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, an MBA from Santa Clara University, and a master of science in management from Stanford University.  He served as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army from 1977 to 1988, where he held a number of leadership positions. He was also an associate professor of Electrical Engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Read more...

Cumberland Valley School District Superintendent William E. Harner '78 received the 2009 Ball State Administrator of the Year Award by the National Association for Gifted Children during a national ceremony on Nov. 6 in St. Louis, MO.

The award is a result of his commitment to insuring quality academics and a rigorous curriculum for all students over the years as a principal and superintendent.  “I am both humbled and honored to have received this recognition. However, I consider it a team award. A lot of hard work by a lot of people went into transforming our schools in which the quality of every student’s education matters.

...During his first year with CV, the district saw more than a 50 percent increase in the number of students taking Advanced Placement examinations over the prior year. Further, the staff is working to implement the IB Diploma program. The district is on track to issue its first IB diplomas to students in the Class of 2013. Last year, 88 percent of CV students who took the college level accelerated tests in 2008-09 performed proficient or higher.  “The numbers show that our teachers are committed to excellence, and that our students are willing to step up to take the most demanding courses offered.”

Harner is a 1978 Graduate of West Point.

Press Release (PDF)...

WEST POINT, N.Y.  – Lt. Col. Robert Kewley '88, a four-year letterwinner on the Army golf team, will serve as interim head golf coach during the spring semester.

Kewley, a two-time team captain, takes over the program from Maj. Chad Bagley who will be attending the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Intermediate Level Education Common Core Course. Bagley was named interim head golf coach when long-time head coach Jimmy Ray Clevenger retired.

“We want to thank Lt. Col. Kewley for accepting our offer and helping the golf program,” Army Athletics Director Kevin Anderson said. “His successful experience as both a golfer and cadet, knowledge of the game, insight into West Point and relationships with the players through his work as an officer representative will ensure that we build upon the successes of the fall season and compete for another Patriot League Championship.”

Kewley graduated from West Point in 1988 after earning four golf letters and serving as team captain for his final two seasons. He was a part of three wins against Service Academy rival Navy and competed at the NCAA Regionals.

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SAN ANTONIO -- Captain Noah C. Hanners '02 never joined the Army with thoughts of being labeled a hero. As an ROTC instructor and an Army captain, he just wanted to do the best job he knew how.

But Hanners, son of Chris and Kathie Hanners, of Chillicothe, found himself in just that role recently when he was announced at midfield during high school football's biggest contest -- the U.S. Army-sponsored All-American Bowl.

Hanners was honored as a soldier-hero, one of more than 90 throughout the Army who had been awarded either the Silver Star, Bronze Star or Purple Heart during deployments to Iraq or Afghanistan. The soldier-heroes each were matched with an all-star player before the kickoff of the contest that pits the best players in the nation against each other in an East versus West matchup.

"This honor means a lot to me because it gives me the opportunity to represent the Army in a positive light while serving as a positive influence on America's future role models," said Hanners, a 1998 graduate of Chillicothe High School. He also received a bachelor of science degree from the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., in 2002.

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First interview since being named Chairman of P&G:

Bob McDonald '75 made up his mind early that he wanted to attend West Point, applying at age 11... He was politely told by congressman (future Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld) to keep applying until he was old enough to get in. He did...and, at age 18, was admitted... Choosing the harder right is a phrase he says guided him at West Point and beyond... (Photo & Story Cincinnati.com)

Comments by grad and WPAOG Major Giving Officer, Marc Gunnels '77 and grad & CEO of the USO, Sloan Gibson '75

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Business Week--13 January 2010--Historically, Steve Jobs has not been the acquisitive type. Since he returned to Apple (AAPL) as chief executive in 1997, the company has bought only 11 small companies, far fewer than Silicon Valley counterparts such as Cisco Systems (CSCO) or Hewlett-Packard (HPQ). Google (GOOG) has bought 11 companies in just the past 18 months.

Last year, Apple quietly hired a Goldman Sachs (GS) investment banker, Adrian Perica '94, to help the company cut deals. Multiple sources close to Apple say they believe Perica is the first dedicated M&A specialist on staff. The company has also stepped up its pace of acquisitions: Three of Jobs' 11 deals have come in the past five months, including the $275 million purchase of Quattro Wireless, the largest buy since Jobs' return.  ...Perica has a reputation for being direct and likable. He graduated from West Point and was a U.S. Army officer before joining Goldman.

Faith healing: Doctors share medical skills, Christ in the Third World

The longing to see and experience far off places is what lured the 54-year-old internal medicine physician at Kernodle Clinic into medical mission trips to Third-World countries. It was a sense of something greater that made him stick with it.

A recent trip to Nepal saw a team of seven doctors under Lamb’s leadership treat 3,200 people

“People will travel two or three days on foot, or by donkey or on a bicycle to see us. Even though you could work 24 hours a day and the need would still be there, you have to cut it off at some point,” Lamb said. “People are always loving and appreciative. They are shocked that we would even bother to come. It’s humbling.”

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For the second time in three years, Army Capt. Bobby Petska '05 was able to spend the holidays at home with his family in Orland Park. But this time when all the gifts were unwrapped and Petska finished his Christmas dinner, he wasn't staring at a 15-hour flight to Baghdad like in 2007.

"It was a great, great feeling to be home for Christmas and know that I won't have to head back overseas.  Petska enlisted in the Army in July of 2001 and graduated West Point four years later. His first deployment overseas came in Oct. 2006, and he was redeployed to Afghanistan in 2008.

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On Jan 13, 2010 Lightwave Logic, Inc. recently announced that Dr. Phillips W. Smith, PhD, was appointed to Lightwave's board of directors  and will also serve as its chair.  Dr. Smith is a 1961 West Point Graduate.

Dr. Smith has over 35 years of experience with high technology companies serving as both chief executive officer and chairman, and in corporate officer positions at three Fortune 500 Companies. In 2001, Dr. Smith brought TASER International, Inc. public through an IPO and most recently served as Chairman of TASER International, Inc. (Nasdaq: TASR) until his retirement from that position in December 2004. Dr. Smith subsequently resigned his TASER board seat in October 2006. Since then, Dr. Smith has been actively involved as an investor in start-up companies.

Dr. Smith received his B.S. degree from West Point, an M.B.A. from Michigan State University and a PhD from St. Louis University. "We are very pleased to have Dr. Smith assist us in our next growth phase," stated Jim Marcelli, CEO of Lightwave. "In his primary role as chairman, Dr. Smith will be Lightwave's representative and spokesperson to the financial community.

Constance R. Chu, MD a 1983 graduate of West Point and now an Orthopedic Surgeon has some new research out on arthritis in two separate articles that were recently featured in The Wall Street Journal and in the New York Times.   Dr. Chu indicates that early arthritis is a huge problem for vets and grads so both articles may be of special interest.  Thank you to Dr. Chu for sending in this information.  She is the Director of The Cartilage Restoration Center, Orthopedic Surgery, at the University of Pittsburgh.

The Latest Front In the War on Arthritis--WSJ--5 January 2010
Phys Ed:  What Causes Early Arthritis in Knees--NYTimes--9 December 2009

BEAVERTON, Ore., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Comcast Corporation ( CMCSK, CMCSA), one of the nation's leading provider of entertainment, information and communications services, has promoted  Hank Fore to Regional Vice President of the Oregon/SW Washington region.  Fore will report directly to Comcast West Division President Steve White and will oversee all aspects of Comcast's video, high-speed Internet and telephone operations from Longview, WA to Eugene, OR, serving more than 600,000 customers and managing about 2,100 employees.  Fore begins his new role immediately and will be based in the company's Beaverton, Oregon office.

Fore joins Oregon from Comcast's East Bay Area market in California, where he most recently served as Area Vice President.

Fore is a West Point graduate and began his distinguished career with the United States Armed Forces, holding numerous positions.  Ultimately he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army before deciding to retire to pursue a career in the private sector, serving as an executive in technology roles at Times Mirror and International Network Services.

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1/12/2010--BOSTON (AP)--State Police at Logan International Airport are getting a new anti-terrorist robot that will help them disarm bombs safely from a distance. The robot scheduled to be unveiled on Tuesday was inspired by and will be dedicated to Massachusetts soldiers who died in the war on terror. It will be dedicated to Lt. Derek Hines '03, a West Point graduate killed in Afghanistan in 2005.  Hines's father is a lieutenant with the state police based at Logan.

The manufacturer is Black-I Robotics in Tyngsborough, Mass., co-founded by Brian Hart, whose son Pfc. John Hart was killed in a roadside attack in Iraq in 2003.

The purchase of the LandShark Series D robot was funded by a congressional earmark sponsored by Congresswoman Niki Tsongas.

Highland grad Martinez parlays wrestling career into role as pilot.  He's much more than a wrestler. He's a student. He's a pilot. He's a first lieutenant in the Army.  He's a walking success story who's earned everything with more hard work than raw talent.

..."Getting myself mentally and physically prepared for a match, it made things a lot easier for me transitioning to the military," said Martinez, who won an individual state championship in the 103-pound weight class when he was a junior at Highland. "I think sports in general is like that, but I think wrestling is definitely one sport that is very unique, and it prepares you in a way that you can't really match.

... He became Army's wrestling captain and qualified for the NCAA tournament in 2007 and 2008 [graduating West Point in 2008].

Read more...

West Point alumni and the current Commanding General of Fort Leonard Wood, Major General Gregg F. Martin '79, will deploy to Kuwait at the end of the month. 

A change-of-command ceremony is scheduled on 22 Jan at Fort Leonard Wood.  Effective 27 Jan he will become the Deputy Commanding General of the Third Army, U.S. Army Central Coalition Forces Land Component Command.

General Martin currently commands the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood.  He is responsible for the education, training, and leadership development of more than 90,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Civilians annually, and supports a community of 100,000 people - taking care of and preserving the All-Volunteer Force.

Fort Leonard Wood is home to the Engineer, Chemical, Military Police, and Truck Driving schools; and is a vital installation that builds strong warriors, leaders and forces for full-spectrum operations worldwide.

Read the Press Release...
MG Martin's Bio...

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (Jan. 6, 2009) -- Second Lt. Sophie Hilaire does not particularly fit the general image of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Warrior.

Weighing a mere 120 pounds, one wonders how she could possibly be strong enough to function in an 85-pound bomb suit, handling the physical and mental demands of defusing improvised explosive devices.

But Hilaire is strong enough to run a marathon in full battle armor, and in fact, she holds a world record for it.

After graduating from an all-girls Catholic school in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Hilaire was accepted at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

..."My dad's uncle was in the Army, a warrant officer, but we really didn't have anyone particularly pushing us to go to West Point," Hilaire said.

She used the collective "we" because her younger sister and brother both attend the U.S. Military Academy. Her sister Nicole is in her junior year, and her brother Philip, is a plebe (freshman) this year. 

Read more...

Mac Warner - a native West Virginian, resident of Morgantown, West Point graduate, 23 year Army veteran, small business owner, dedicated husband and father of four children, and a lifelong conservative – is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress in West Virginia's 1st Congressional District.

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SOUTH PLAINFIELD — Identical twins Sean and Christopher Grevious, [both graduates of the West Point Class of 2007] have spent their entire lives side-by-side. They ran track and played football at South Plainfield High School, and were football teammates at the U.S. Military Academy, where both pursued a discipline of Field Artillery.

This past year they even served together in Iraq. Both report to Fort Hood in Texas during the next couple of weeks, and this year appears to be the one when they finally go their separate ways.

While their destinations will eventually change, their views on the war, their views on serving and their views on life essentially remain as one. 

Read more...

...Mark Valley’s debut as a performer came when he was a senior at the United States Military Academy at West Point, giving a speech to fellow cadets. ... “I came back to my room and just sat there and thought, ‘What was that?’”

It turned out to be the beginning of an acting career that is still making use of his commanding aura. Mr. Valley plays Christopher Chance, a private eye and bodyguard in Fox’s action drama “Human Target,” beginning Jan. 17.

Read more & view video clip...

Politics Daily...I saw it in the faces of two women interviewed by Dan Rather on his 2007 HDNet program "West Point at War."  Rather wanted to know what motivated these students who signed up after 9/11. They could not have assumed the war would be over when they graduated. They knew they might end up in a battlefield.

Rather featured a couple of male cadets too, but it was the women, Krysta Cass '10 and Mary Erin Boyle '07, who made the strongest impression

To the petite Boyle, Rather said, "As someone looking at you, and I mean this in no patronizing way, I look at you and I'm going to say: What a beautiful, intelligent young woman, but is she ready for combat?"

"Sir," Boyle replied, "don't let that fool you. I'm tough."

Read the article...

LCA-Vision to Provide Free Corrective Vision Surgery to U.S. military veterans.  COO of LCA-Vision is West Point graduate David L. Thomas '82. 

LCA-Vision Inc. (Nasdaq: LCAV), a leading provider of laser vision correction services under the LasikPlus® brand, has announced  that it has joined forces with the Wounded Warrior Project to provide free LasikPlus® corrective vision surgery to U.S. military veterans and their spouses/caregivers across the nation. LCA-Vision supports the Wounded Warrior Project, and is doing its part to enhance the lives of America's heroes.

Read more...

Army Maj. Doug McInvale '93, a Minor High and West Point graduate, said he'll have to rely on telephone updates on the BCS Championship Game Thursday because he will be on a mission eastern Afghanistan.

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01-6-2010 11:54 am--Mark Provinsal has joined Vicon as VP of marketing and product management.  Mark Provinsal, the former executive vice president at Dedicated Micros, is now with video surveillance and access control company Vicon Industries. Vicon announced today that Provinsal had been hired as vice president of marketing and product management. The position is new for Vicon and reports to Vicon CEO Ken Darby.

Provinsal's background prior to Dedicated Micros included time at IPIX as director of professional services, where he worked on a surveillance project for the 2005 U.S. presidential inauguration. He is a West Point graduate.

Along with the naming of Provinsal as a vice president, Vicon also announced that Bret McGowan is moving from a U.S.-focused sales and marketing to managing sales and business development across all of the Americas and the Pacific Rim. McGowan's new professional title is vice president of sales. (Source:  Securityinfowatch)

LTC (R) Phil Mallory, MD, USMA Class of 1974, reports that his second oldest son, John A. Mallory, a 2003 USAFA graduate and C5 pilot, married in the Cadet Chapel at West Point on 5 Dec 2009.  CPT John Mallory married MAJ Theresa Pisano, a 1998 USAFA graduate and also a C5 pilot.  Both are stationed at Dover AFB.  Also in attendance was MAJ Phil Mallory III, a 1998 USAFA graduate, F15 Pilot, and fulltime Guard in Hawaii.  CPT Grant Mallory, a graduate of USAFA in 2005 and Georgetown School of Medicine in 2009, and current resident in Neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic, also attended.  Aaron Mallory, West Point Class of 2012 stood tall in cadet full dress gray.  Stewart who is premed at the University of Hawaii made the gala celebration.  A sixth son (brother) Austin was unable to attend due to prior commitments.  Also “shouting to the Lord” his roaring approval from his heavenly perch would be baby brother (his cadet radio station DJ callsign) MAJ (dec) Robert P. Mallory, USMA 1978 who made the supreme sacrifice as a helicopter pilot with the famed Nightstalkers (don’t quit), 160th S.O.A.R.  

After the wedding ceremony, a sitdown reception was held at the Hotel Thayer, Dr. Phil (Dad) Mallory described the moment of West Point Wedding Bliss as one of the most joyous of his life.

Thank you to Phillip L. Mallory III, MD (Dad), USMA Class of 1974 for submitting this story.

Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd is retiring. Could Chuck Schumer succeed Dodd as Sen. Banking Committee Chairman?

The leading candidate is Sen. Tim Johnson, of South Dakota. ...Next line in terms of seniority is Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed.

(Photo: Charles Schumer and Jack Reed)

Read more...

Army Capt. Paul Lushenko '05...shakes hands with Gen. David Patreus at an officer's gathering. (Special to the Statesman Journal)

"Oregon is just such a fresh state," he said. "Just breathing that in right off the plane — it's invigorating."  And when Lushenko is invigorated, the energy gets put to good use.  The former North Salem High School graduate, Lushenko and his wife, Lisa, flew in from Fort Benning, Ga., to visit with his parents, Andy and Francis Lushenko of West Salem.

...A West Point graduate and Oregon Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, Lushenko has been deployed to Afghanistan four times. The 27-year-old military intelligence officer is looking at a fifth this coming year. After that, he will begin graduate school at the Australian National University in June. He's also been taking the Maneuvers Captain's Career Course.

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The Citizen--Student Newspaper of the Harvard Kennedy School:  Scott Osterling '97, MPA/MBA, walks through the HKS forum just like the rest of us – water bottle, backpack, and cell phone in tow, just trying to get to class on time. What few know is that he is a product of some of the US military’s most elite Special Operations Forces. Osterling, a US Military Academy graduate, was part of the 75th Ranger Regiment and was commissioned as a Green Beret, commanding detachment A-573 in combat in Iraq. Following 10 years of decorated service, he left the commando beard and inconspicuous gear for the halls of Harvard. In light of the recent Veteran’s Day holiday and this critical time in the Obama administration’s decision on the Afghanistan strategy, Osterling sat down to talk to The Citizen about his service to the country and his thoughts on where the US is headed in its foreign policy. (Photo: Taylor Chapman)

1. At such a young age, what made you decide to attend the US Military Academy?

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Grad News Archives:  2009 RSS | Early 2009 | 2008 | 2007

Dr. James Houston, left, hands Dr. Jeffery Holland the Director's Seal during a change of command ceremony at ERDC Tuesday.  Wednesday, December 16, 2009 1:13 PM CST--Two of the three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installations in Vicksburg welcomed new commanders in separate ceremonies Tuesday.

Col. Jeffrey Eckstein '85 was handed the Command Flag as the 51st commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District, at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Dr. Jeffery Holland was given the Director’s Seal from retiring Director Dr. James Houston at the Engineer and Research Development Center.

Eckstein, an Inverness, Fla.-native and 1985 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy who also holds a master’s degree from the University of Washington, declared himself ready to lead the Vicksburg District’s nearly 1,100 civilian and military employees.

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