The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1950 | 1956 | 1959 | 1961 | 1969 | 1987 | 1992 | 1993. Class Notes

National Vietnam War Veterans Day is March 29. Organizers canceled or postponed many events to slow the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing. Veterans are encouraged to stay connected and participate in virtual events.

On VA social media

For Veterans with a Facebook account, they can download a frame at http://www.facebook.com/profilepicframes/?selected_overlay_id=1283448505177118 to place a picture and show their pride for serving. The frame shows the Vietnam War Veteran day pin and the text “Proud Vietnam War Veteran.”

For anyone who wants to show appreciation for Vietnam War Veterans, an additional frame is at http://www.facebook.com/profilepicframes/?selected_overlay_id=539877446965802. The frame shows the Vietnam War Commemoration logo and the text “I support Vietnam War Veterans.”

VA will also release two short videos on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/VeteransAffairs, Twitter at https://twitter.com/DeptVetAffairs and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/deptvetaffairs/. Read more.

The following officers were confirmed by the Senate:

Colonel Curtis A. Buzzard ’92 for promotion to the rank of Brigadier General.

Major General Randy A. George ’88 for appointment to the rank of Lieutenant General and assignment as Commanding General, I Corps, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA.

Colonel Andrew C. Hilmes ’95 for promotion to the rank of Brigadier General.

Major General Daniel L. Karbler ’87 for appointment to the rank of Lieutenant General and assignment as Commanding General, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL.

Brigadier General Douglas A. Sims II ’91 for promotion to the rank of Major General.

Major General (USAR) Ricky L. Waddell ’82 for appointment to the rank of Lieutenant General.

The Chief of Staff of the Army announces the following officer assignments:
Brigadier General (P) Andrew J. Juknelis ’88 to Commander (Troop Program Unit), 108th Training Command (Initial Entry Training), Charlotte, NC.

Major General Richard C. Staats ’84 to Commander (Troop Program Unit), 75th Innovation Command, Houston, TX.

Mike Eggleston ’61 has published a new book entitled The Sioux Wars, 1854-1891, From the Grattan Fight to Wounded Knee and the Aftermath. This book tells the history of the wars between the whites and the Dakota Native Americans during the second half of the 19th Century. It interrelates activities in the Great Plains with politics in Washington, army headquarters in the field, settlers on the Frontier and the Native Americans. It shows the impact of the many treaties signed: how they were violated and the result of the treaties on the way of life of the whites and Native Americans. The focus of this book is on the military campaigns and battles fought over a forty-year period and how they destroyed the Native American way of life. Famous battles such as Custer’s defeat at the Little Big Horn are covered, but lesser known campaigns such as Red Cloud’s War are also covered, and these had a major effect on treaties and on the people involved.

James A. Gagliano has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund (LELDF). Gagliano entered duty as an FBI Special Agent in 1991 and over the next 25 years served in a series of increasingly responsible positions at the bureau before he retired in December 2015. He currently serves as a law enforcement analyst on CNN and has been featured in several books on leadership including In Extremis Leadership and Leadership Lessons from West Point. His law enforcement successes and inner-city community engagement efforts have also been covered by the New York Times, New York Magazine, and Hudson Valley Magazine.

On September 20, 2019, West Point welcomed General Martin Dempsey ’74 (Retired) for the fourth annual Zengerle Family Lecture in the Arts and Humanities. More than 1,200 cadets, faculty, staff, and guests gathered in Robinson Auditorium to hear the former Department of English Instructor and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff deliver his lecture titled “Leading a Felt Life.” Dempsey joined a distinguished line of Zengerle lecturers that includes U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, author Ta-Nehisi Coates, and former President of Harvard University Drew Gilpin Faust, Ph.D. Hosted by the West Point Humanities Center, the Zengerle Family Lecture in the Arts and Humanities is graciously supported by Joseph Zengerle ’64 and his wife Lynda. The lecture aims to enhance cadet development by bringing a leading figure in the humanities to West Point each year. This year General Dempsey brought a distinctly military perspective on the value of the humanities to leadership, character development, and life.

Introduced by Colonel David Harper, Head of the Department of English and Philosophy, Dempsey called on his experience as a West Point English instructor and began with a grammar lesson. He paired the Samuel Becket quotation “I can’t go on; I’ll go on” with a photo of Marine private racing across “The Valley of Death” on Okinawa during World War II. For Dempsey, the photo exemplified “the unimaginable combination of courage and fear which is service in combat.” The grammar lesson came when he turned to the Beckett quote and explained how “a complete sentence or a complete thought has to follow a semi-colon, but it is very much related to the first [thought].” He went on to discuss the two thoughts in the Becket quote and explain how Private Eisen’s combination of “courage and fear” in the photo showed how closely the two thoughts are related. He then connected this to the cadets in the audience by saying that the soldiers they will lead will face situations in life, training, or combat that will make them think ,“I can’t go on.” In these moments, cadets “have to be the leader who helps get them to the other side of that semi-colon. And there are going to be times when [soldiers] don’t want to do it, when they don’t think they can do it, and only good leadership gets [them] there. Only good leadership gets them to say to themselves ‘I’ll go on.’” Read more.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1955 | 1956 | 1959 | 1960 | 1962 | 1966 | 1970 | 1971 | 1974 | 1982 | 1989 | 1996. Class Notes

As of 03/25/2020 10:00am
WPAOG is closely monitoring this international pandemic. We will post situation updates here and on social media channels as they occur. For updates on academy operations, restrictions or cancellations go to www.westpoint.edu/coronavirus.

Read WPAOG President's COVID Update March 23, 2020

The following Alumni events are affected by the situation to date:

• Entrepreneur Summit – postponed until July 29-30
• Jacksonville, FL SACC - Read for Virtual Details
• Society Events – check with your local West Point Society for the status of events
• May Advisory Council Meeting - Canceled 
• Donor Appreciation Dinner and Donor Tribute Day - Cancelled
• Class of 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965 & 1970 Reunions rescheduled

These Societies have cancelled their Founders Day events. If there is another event scheduled in the future, the Society will be sharing those details.

Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD (WPS of Northern Chesapeake)
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (WPS of the Middle East)
Alaska (WPS of Anchorage/Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson)
Alaska (WPS of Fairbanks/Fort Wainwright)
Asheville, NC (WPS of Western NC)
Atlanta, GA (WPS of Atlanta)
Boston, MA (WPS of New England)
Buffalo, NY (WPS of Western NY)
Carlisle Barracks, PA (WPS of Central Pennsylvania)
Charlotte, NC (WPS of the Carolinas)
Cleveland, OH (WPS of Cleveland)
Columbus, OH (WPS of Central Ohio)
Connecticut (WPS of Connecticut)
Dallas, TX (WPS of North Texas)
Detroit, MI (WPS of Michigan)
El Paso/Fort Bliss, TX (COL Buster Hayden WPS of the El Paso Area)
Fort Benning, GA (WPS of Fort Benning and Columbus)
Fort Bragg, NC (WPS of Fort Bragg-Sand Hills)
Fort Hood, TX (WPS of the Heart of Texas)
Fort Lauderdale (WPS of South Florida)
Fort Leonard Wood, MO (Fort Leonard Wood)
Fort Monmouth (WPS of New Jersey)
Germany
Greenville, SC (WPS of Upstate South Carolina)
Honolulu, HI (WPS of Hawaii)
Houston, TX (WPS of Greater Houston)
Indianapolis (WPS of Indiana)
Jackson, MS (WPS of Mississippi)
Jacksonville, FL (WPS of North Florida)
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA (WPS of Washington & Puget Sound)
Kansas City, MO (WPS of Greater Kansas City)
Knoxville, TN (WPS of East Tennessee)
Los Angeles, CA (WPS of Los Angeles)
Madison, WI (WPS of Wisconsin)
Manhattan/Fort Riley, KS (WPS of the Flint Hills)
Memphis, TN (WPS of the Mid-South)
Miami, FL (WPS of Miami)
Minneapolis, MN (WPS of Minnesota)
Monterey, CA (WPS of Monterey Peninsula)
Naples, FL (WPS of Naples)
Nashville, TN (WPS of Middle Tennessee)
New Orleans, LA (WPS of the Mid-Gulf)
New York City (WPS of New York)
Oklahoma City, OK (WPS of Central Oklahoma)
Omaha, NE (WPS of Nebraska & Western Iowa)
Orange County, CA (WPS of Orange County)
Orlando, FL (WPS of Central Florida)
Paris, FR (WPS of Paris)
Philadelphia, PA (WPS of Philadelphia)
Phoenix, AZ (WPS of Phoenix)
Raleigh, NC (WPS of the Research Triangle)
Reno, NV (WPS of Northern Nevada)
Rock Island Arsenal, IL (WPS of the Prairies)
Sacramento, CA (WPS Northern CA)
San Antonio, TX (WPS of South Texas)
San Francisco, CA (WPS of San Francisco Bay Area)
Seattle, WA (WPS of Washington & Puget Sound)
Silicon Valley
Singapore (WPS of Singapore)
St. Louis, MO (WPS of St. Louis)
Syracuse, NY (WPS of Central NY)
Tallahassee, FL (WPS of Tallahassee)
Tampa, FL (WPS of Florida-West Coast)
Tucson, AZ (WPS of Southern Arizona)
Tulsa, OK (WPS of Eastern Oklahoma)
Washington, DC (WPS of the DC & the National Capital Region)
West Point, NY (WPS of the Mid-Hudson Region)
Williamsburg, VA (WPS of Williamsburg)
Wilmington, NC (WPS of the Cape Fear)
Yongsan, KO (WPS of Korea)

Army West Point football head coach Jeff Monken announces the addition of Mike Sullivan to his staff as the Director of Recruiting. Sullivan comes back to West Point after coaching in the NFL.

"We are thrilled to welcome Mike Sullivan back home to the banks of the Hudson and the Army Football Brotherhood," said Monken. "His wealth of knowledge of the Academy and his wealth of experience in the NFL make him a premier addition to our team. He will be a great source of knowledge for our staff and players and will help us continue to raise the bar in our recruiting efforts and development of our players."

Sullivan most recently was the quarterbacks coach of the Denver Broncos and the Offensive Coordinator of the N.Y. Giants, mentoring Pro Bowl Players Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr.

From 2012-14, Sullivan served as the Offensive Coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Under his guidance, the Buccaneers ranked ninth in total offense (2012) with 4,065 passing yards, 1,384 yards receiving and 1,454 rushing. While in Tampa Bay, Sullivan helped coach Vincent Jackson and Doug Martin to the Pro Bowl.

Sullivan's first stint with the Giants was as the quarterbacks coach from 2010-12. During that time, he was a Superbowl Champion coaching Manning to the Super Bowl XLVI MVP. The team set a franchise record in completions (359) and passing yards (4,933). His team also set an NFL record for the most 4th-quarter touchdown passes with 15.

He also guided the Giants wide receivers and punt returners from 2004-09, winning Super Bowl XLII in 2007. Read more.

In recognition of former Texas Board of Criminal Justice (TBCJ) Chairman Oliver J. Bell’s history of outstanding service to the state of Texas and the criminal justice system, the TBCJ has renamed the TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division’s Cleveland Unit to the Oliver J. Bell Unit. The name change passed by a unanimous vote taken at the December TBCJ meeting in Austin.

Photo: Oliver J. Bell, his wife, Stacee, and daughter, Annette, stand alongside a portrait that was painted by one of the prisoners at the Oliver J. Bell Unit in Cleveland

In his address to the board, current Chairman Dale Wainwright commented on the former chairman’s tenure with the agency and his reaction to the proposed name change: “The prior chair of this board, Oliver Bell, served well on the board for more than a decade and, as chairman, for more than seven years on the board. It is our honor to propose renaming a TDCJ facility in honor of Mr. Bell’s service as chair. I had the privilege of contacting Mr. Bell about this honor the board was very interested in bestowing on him and he was thrilled.”

A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and former U.S. Army Ranger, Bell was appointed to the TBCJ and the Board of Trustees of Windham School District in 2004 by Governor Rick Perry. He worked on the Education, Human Resources, Victim Services, Business and Financial Operations and Health Care committees, and served as board secretary and vice-chairman before assuming the chairman’s duties in 2008.

In 2014, during the final year of Bell’s chairmanship, TDCJ was honored to accept the American Correctional Association’s (ACA) prestigious Golden Eagle Award in recognition of the full accreditation for all operations in every agency facility.

Bell is well known for visiting TDCJ facilities throughout the state, where he would meet with staff and discuss ways to improve their workplace. His commitment to building strong, healthy work environments extends to his business career as founder and chief executive officer of Oliver J. Bell Incorporated, a Houston-based human resources and labor relations consultancy firm. Read more.

West Point's role in our nation's history dates back to the Revolutionary War, when both sides realized the strategic importance of the commanding plateau on the west bank of the Hudson River. General George Washington considered West Point to be the most important strategic position in America. Washington personally selected Thaddeus Kosciuszko, one of the heroes of Saratoga, to design the fortifications for West Point in 1778, and Washington transferred his headquarters to West Point in 1779. Continental soldiers built forts, batteries and redoubts and extended a 150-ton iron chain across the Hudson to control river traffic. Fortress West Point was never captured by the British, despite Benedict Arnold's treason. West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in America.

Several soldiers and legislators, including Washington, Knox, Hamilton and John Adams, desiring to eliminate America's wartime reliance on foreign engineers and artillerists, urged the
creation of an institution devoted to the arts and sciences of warfare. On 16 March 1802, Thomas Jefferson signed the document that founded the United States Military Academy. It read, “that the said corps, when so organized, shall be stationed at West Point in the state of New York and shall constitute a military academy.”

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1954| 1956 | 1965 | 1974 | 2013 | 2015 | 2019. Class Notes

The West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) has named the 2020 recipients of the Distinguished Graduate Award. This annual award has been bestowed upon those West Point graduates whose character, distinguished service and stature draw wholesome comparison to the qualities for which West Point strives, in keeping with its motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.” The awards will be presented in a ceremony at West Point on May 19, 2020. Read more about the recipients.

Throughout the course of the season, the Army West Point Baseball program will recognize the accomplishments of the past ten years by announcing members of the Army West Point Baseball All-Decade Team.

The team was voted on by a committee of Army coaches and administrators who spent time with the team from 2010-2019. Each recipient displayed excellence on the field and was recognized for their athletic achievements during their time at West Point. These players helped continue the legacy of Army baseball while setting new standards for the program.

Results will be revealed by position groups beginning with four pitchers who have been recognized as members of Army Baseball's All-Decade Team.

Daniel Burggraaf, Class of 2019: 34 GS, 15-8, 3.16 ERA, 215 K
Daniel Burggraaf was among the Patriot League's top pitchers during his time in the Army rotation. The Allyn, Wash., native stifled batters during his final two years at the Academy, earning All-Patriot League honors in each season. In 2018, Burggraaf went 7-3 with an impressive 2.90 ERA to help lead Army to its first Patriot League Championship since 2014. That success carried into his senior year, where he earned First Team All-Patriot League and All-Tournament honors during Army's second straight championship season. Burggraaf finished his career sixth on the Academy's all-time strikeout list with 215.

Tyler Giovinco, Class of 2019: 49 GS, 23-21, 4.26 ERA, 211 K
A staple in the Army rotation during his four years with the program, Tyler Giovinco is among the program's all-time winningest pitchers. His 23 wins during his tenure with Army ranks fourth in the program's record book. He ranks third in innings pitched (289.1) and seventh in strikeouts (211). A three-time all-patriot league and two-time all-tournament team recipient, Giovinco was instrumental in Army's back-to-back Patriot League Championships in 2018 and 2019.

Alex Robinett, Class of 2015: 47 GS, 22-13, 2.53 ERA, 281 K
Alex Robinett delivered four dominant seasons at the front of Army's rotation. The righty stands among the top of Army's all-time leaders in nearly all pitching categories. He is second in strikeouts (281), second in innings pitched (309), sixth in wins (22) and seventh in ERA (2.53). He delivered back-to-back seasons with a sub-2.05 ERA during his final two years with the team in 2014 and 2015. Robinett was named to the ABCA All-Region team in 2015 and was drafted in the 32nd round by the New York Yankees later that year.

Chris Rowley, Class of 2013: 43 GS, 25-9, 3.44 ERA, 216 K, 8 Shutouts
In a long list of Army pitching greats, Chris Rowley ranks among the best. He stands near the top of nearly all pitching categories in program history. Rowley ranks third in wins (25), fifth in winning percentage (.735) and fifth in strikeouts (216). In 2011, he won an Army record 11 games (11-1) with a 2.40 ERA en route to being named Patriot League Pitcher of the Year. That success continued into his senior season, where he won nine games with a 2.67 ERA. Rowley's dominance carried into the postseason, as he helped lead the Black Knights to their second consecutive league title as the Patriot League Tournament MVP. He received national recognition as a Louisville Slugger, NCBA and CBI All-American following the 2012 season. In 2017, he became the first player in program history to play in Major League Baseball, winning his debut with the Toronto Blue Jays.

An Army astronaut swore in nearly 1,000 recruits from space Wednesday as part of the first nationwide Oath of Enlistment ceremony from the International Space Station.

Col. Andrew Morgan, who has been at the station since July, administered the oath to future Soldiers located in over 150 locations across the country.

Morgan arrived at the space station on July 20 -- the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. So far in his nine-month mission, he has conducted seven spacewalks, the first of which in August lasted over six and a half hours.

The Ranger-tabbed doctor with several years of experience in the Special Forces also said he expects to conduct nearly 300 different science experiments while on board with his crew.

Before the oath, Morgan told the recruits that although he now serves as an astronaut 250 miles above Earth, he once recited the same oath to become a Soldier.

"I made the decision when I was 18 years old to raise my right hand just like you're about to," he said. "I am still a Soldier. I'm just serving in space on the ultimate high ground. Read more.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1959| 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1965 | 1966 | 1968 | 1974 | 1981. Class Notes

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1948 | 1956 | 1965 | 1966 | 1973 | 1985 | 1996 | 2015. Class Notes

The Honorable Ryan D. McCarthy, 24th Secretary of the Army, has been made an honorary member of the West Point Class of 1996, "For Freedom We Risk".

“I am honored beyond words and grateful for our friendship and shared sacrifice. Tonight was an incredible moment in my life and I remain committed to our Nation, our Army, and the U.S. Military Academy" said McCarthy.

Photo: L-R, Superintendent, LTG Darryl Williams ’83, Sec. Ryan McCarthy, Kevin Offel, Pres. Class of’96

The West Point Association of Graduates is pleased to announce that six-time U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker will receive the 2020 Sylvanus Thayer Award. The award will be presented on October 1, 2020 during ceremonies hosted by Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams, Class of 1983, 60th Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

West Point Association of Graduates Board Chairman Lt. Gen. (USA, Ret.) Joseph E. DeFrancisco, Class of 1965, said, “The West Point Association of Graduates is honored to present the Thayer Award to Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Ambassador Crocker’s distinguished service to our country spans more than 40 years, starting in 1971 as a Foreign Service Officer. During his service, he excelled many significant assignments, including reestablishing an American diplomatic presence in Afghanistan during the early days of Operation Enduring Freedom, and assisting in the formation of the Iraq Governing Council, the first Iraqi governing structure after the defeat of Saddam Hussein. Without question, Ambassador Crocker’s career stands as an exemplar of Duty, Honor, Country, making him a most worthy selection of our highest award.” Read more.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1945 | 1947 | 1949 | 1954 | 1961 | 1966 | 1968 | 1971 | 2012. Class Notes

In honor of Black History Month, the Department of History would like to highlight interviews with Joe Anderson, Jim Conley, and Art Hester - three of the four African American graduates from the West Point Class of 1965. To find their interviews, visit www.westpointcoh.org and scroll down to "Staff Picks."

Two West Point cadets, in their respective senior years, earned the position of Captain of the Men’s Gymnastics Team: ‘Punch’ Jamison ’49 and ‘Jack’ Charles ’54.

Both were commissioned as Air Force officers, became pilots, and served with distinction. Punch retired as a Colonel, Jack as a Major General.

Both continued in aviation in their following business careers. They will be cheering the All-Academy (Army, Navy, Air Force) Championship: A Triangular Men’s Gymnastics Competition held on Saturday February 8 at Mission Concepcion Sports Complex.

WPAOG is pleased to announce that Ambassador Ryan Crocker will receive the 2020 Sylvanus Thayer Award. The award will be presented on October 1, 2020 during ceremonies hosted by LTG Darryl A. Williams ’83, 60th Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1943Jan | 1952 | 1953 | 1955 | 1956 | 1959 | 1962 | 1966 | 1970 | 1978 | 1988 | 1994 | 2010. Class Notes

Rob Salome has been promoted from Director to Vice President of Consulting Services at Solutions 21. Salome has been with the firm for three years and brings a long history of leadership to the firm and its clients.

Solutions 21 President and Founder Buddy Hobart said, “Rob’s promotion was well deserved because of the impact he’s had on our business as well as on our clients’ businesses. He’s received some of the best leadership training in the world through his senior-level military experience and academic training. His leadership experience has been an asset for our firm and for our clients. His and other promotions reflect the positioning of our team for the future to better take advantage of the needs and our competitive position in the marketplace.”

Salome served as Military Aide to the Vice President of the United States, a Battalion Commander in the elite 82nd Airborne Division, the Director of the Commander’s Initiatives Group in the Army’s Forces Command and as the City Manager of over 60,000 people at Fort Campbell, KY.

WPAOG won five 2020 CASE District II Accolades Awards: two golds, a silver, a bronze and an honorable mention. CASE, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, is the premier global non-profit association dedicated to educational advancement. The Accolades Awards celebrate institutional accomplishments in alumni relations, development, communications, events, and program development.

SPECIAL EVENTS: INDIVIDUAL EVENTS
GOLD: Ring Melt – Tangible Connection Between Cadets and West Point Graduates
VIDEO FEATURES: GENERAL INFORMATION VIDEOS
GOLD: Celebrating 150 Years of West Point AOG in Three Minutes
HONORABLE MENTION: Telling the Story of the West Point Ring Melt
SPECIAL EVENTS: EVENT SERIES
SILVER: 150 Years of Serving West Point and the Long Gray Line
ALUMNI RELATIONS EVENTS AND AFFINITY PROGRAMS
BRONZE: West Point Entrepreneur Summit: Exploring Professional Service after Selfless Service

Please join us in congratulating WPAOG’s 2020 Distinguished Graduate Award recipients. The Award is given to graduates of the United States Military Academy whose character, distinguished service and stature draw wholesome comparison to the qualities that West Point strives for, in keeping with its motto “Duty, Honor, Country.” The DGA award ceremony will take place on May 19 at West Point.

Mr. Richard A. Nowak ’64
Mr. William H. Roedy Jr. ’70
LTC (R) Andrew F. Krepinevich ’72
LTG (R) Kenneth W. Hunzeker ’75
GEN (R) Curtis M. Scaparrotti ’78

Hobey Hewett, the grandson of MG Hobart Hewett, Class of 1919, and the first presenter at the 20th Annual West Point Class Ring Memorial Melt, captured the significance and sublimity of the ceremony perfectly when he told the amazing story of how his grandfather's ring became part of the Ring Melt for the Class of 2021.

General Hewett died in 1967, and his class ring passed on to his daughter, Hobey Hewett's mother. The ring was missing for decades, but, about two weeks ago, Hewett and his brother were cleaning out his mother's house and found the ring. He then learned about WPAOG's Ring Memorial Program and worked feverishly with WPAOG's Class Services to get the ring into this year's program on short notice. View photos.

"It was the spirit of the ring that got it here," Hewett said, offering an explanation as to why the ring was serendipitously found. "It wanted to be here, it wanted to come home, and it wants to be worn on the fingers of the cadets in the Class of 2021." The Class of 1919, as it turns out, entered as the Class of 1921, but they were graduated early due to the need for officers during World War I. Video.

Despite this, his class maintained their 1921 crest; so, General Hewett's ring could be considered a centennial gift to the Class of 2021. The power and magnitude of this story caught CDT Katarina Christianson, President of the Class of 2021, a bit off guard, and she had to wipe away a tear from her eye before announcing the name of the next ring presenter. Read more.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1956 | 1978 | 1983 | 1989. Class Notes

Colonel R. Taft Blackburn has joined the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) as a Research Staff Member in IDA’s Intelligence Analyses Division. Blackburn is a member of the Foreign Area Officer Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

IDA is a nonprofit corporation that operates three Federally Funded Research and Development Centers in the public interest. IDA answers the most challenging U.S. security and science policy questions with objective analysis leveraging extraordinary scientific, technical, and analytic expertise.

Darcy Anderson has been appointed as a new Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army during an investiture ceremony in the Perot Building January 8. The Honorable Ryan D. McCarthy, Secretary of the Army, selected Darcy Anderson to represent Texas (North).

"Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army are an integral part of sharing the U.S. Army story," Anderson said. "I am proud to be appointed as it will allow me to continue serving my country and assist both the secretary and key Army leaders. I look forward to using my network and platform as a business and community leader to build bridges of understanding between the U.S. Army and the public."

"I am thrilled Darcy agreed to serve in our program," McCarthy said. "I can't think of a better person to represent the Army in Dallas. He is a true icon in this area. Our Army is an all-volunteer force. Now, more than ever, we rely on our volunteers, such as CASAs, to help build networks, foster relationships and tell the Army story to your communities. They are my first phone call into the city and the last handshake as I head back to D.C. I am confident Darcy will have an immediate positive impact."

Anderson served in the Army five years in various capacities with Corps of Engineers combat units. He has served as a board member for both West Point Association of Graduates and West Point Society of North Texas and as a member of Congressmen Marc Veasey and Van Taylor's service academy selection boards.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1954 | 1962 | 1966 | 1967 | 1974 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 2019. Class Notes

In a letter that recommended now-2LT Camm Johnson as a candidate for the LTG Robert Foley Scholarship of Honor Award, he was described as universally loved and respected by his peers for having an infectiously positive personality by Company C-2 Tactical Officer MAJ Jonathan Leggett. Johnson was someone who went through major obstacles yet emerged from the West Point journey successfully and was recognized as excelling within the four pillars of the academy: academically, militarily, physically and as a leader of character. Johnson received the award December 19, one day before graduating. Full story.

Governor John Bel Edwards has been sworn in for his second term. There was the traditional 19 gun salute, and the West Point Glee Club performed the national anthem.

In his inaugural address, Edwards' recapped his first term. He praised Democrats and Republicans for coming together to solve a budget crisis, better fund education and infrastructure projects and to enact landmark criminal justice reforms.

He also outlined his top priorities for his second term, namely, workforce development, raising the state minimum wage and early childhood education. Read more.

Steven L. Bray has been appointed Executive Director at the Western Asbestos, J.T. Thorpe, Thorpe Insulation, and Plant Asbestos Settlement Trusts.

“We’re truly fortunate that Steve is joining the Trusts as he brings the right mix of professional experience and skills to the position and is deeply committed to the Trusts’ goal of treating all claimants equitably,” said Managing Trustee Jack Luikart. “The Trustees believe he will provide effective and efficient management of the Trusts.”

Mr. Bray most recently served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Johnson Matthey Inc. where he was the chief legal officer overseeing all functions of the Americas legal department for the international, publicly traded manufacturer of specialty chemicals and lithium ion battery materials. Prior to that, he served in positions of increasing managerial and legal responsibility with Albemarle Corporation, BP and The Hartford.

“I look forward to contributing to the Trusts’ efforts as we continue to tirelessly serve our claimants with transparency, efficiency, fairness and respect,” Bray said. “I am delighted to be joining the Trusts and am privileged to be working with such a dedicated and talented team of professionals.”

Mr. Bray graduated in 1989 as a distinguished cadet from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Following military service as a field artillery officer in the United States Army, he received a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a Master of Business Administration degree (Risk Management and Decision Processes) from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1945 | 1956 | 1959 | 1962 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1969 | 1970 | 1978 | 1982 | 1985 | 1992 | 1998 | 2003. Class Notes

LTC Frank Rubio is among the first 11 astronaut candidates to graduate under NASA's Artemis program, which aims to land the first woman and the next man on the moon by 2024, these graduates will be qualified to fly to the International Space Station and, soon enough, take Artemis missions to the moon, the Lunar Orbiting Platform-Gateway and Mars. 

"After completing more than two years of basic training, these candidates will become eligible for spaceflight, including assignments to the International Space Station, Artemis missions to the Moon, and ultimately, missions to Mars," NASA officials said in a statement. Read more.

Craig Ackerman has been named to the new role of vice president for operations and transformation at MITRE, a new organization comprised of the business transformation program, corporate real estate, contracts and acquisition management, and a newly formed operational risk management function.

"As we continue to grow our team and build strong internal capabilities at MITRE, Craig's track record of leading strategic transformation with agility and developing the talent to facilitate adoption across the enterprise will be a real asset," said Usha Chaudhary, senior vice president for corporate operations and chief transformation officer.

Ackerman most recently served as a principal in the federal practice at Chazey Partners, a global advisory firm, working with federal and local government clients to develop more efficient service delivery operations. He also served as the firm's global head of robotic process automation, helping clients harness the evolution of process automation tools to improve efficiency, productivity, control, and compliance. His previous roles include senior leadership positions at Day & Zimmerman, Parsons Brinckerhoff, and SAIC.

Herman Bulls Company JLL has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the 2019 World's Most Ethical Companies. For the 12th consecutive year, JLL has been honored for its commitment to improve communities, build capable and empowered workforces and foster a corporate culture focused on ethics and a strong sense of purpose. The Ethisphere Institute is a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices.

"he values of teamwork, ethics and excellence are an integral part of JLL," said JLL Global Chief Legal Officer Alan Tse. "We are committed to building a better tomorrow for our clients, our people and our communities, and we are honored to be included in the Ethisphere Institute's list of the 2019 World's Most Ethical Companies for the 12th consecutive year."

"Today, employees, investors and stakeholders are putting their greatest trust in companies to take leadership on societal issues. Companies that take the long view with a purpose-based strategy are proven to not only outperform but last," said Ethisphere's Chief Executive Officer, Timothy Erblich. "I congratulate everyone at JLL for earning this recognition."

Clients and third-party organizations continue to recognize JLL globally for its ethics, corporate citizenship and commitment to being an employer of choice. Read more.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages.

1949 | 1953 | 1956 | 1959 | 1962 | 1966 | 1974 | 1984 | 1988.

Class Notes