The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1956 | 1958 | 1961 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1973 | 1981 | 1987 | 1988 | 1990 | 2009. Class Notes

Major General Mark Toy assumed command of the Mississippi Valley Engineer Division officiated by Lieutenant General Todd Semonite, the 54th chief of engineers and commanding general for the Corps of Engineers.

While assigned to the Lakes and River Division, Toy deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Resolute Support. He served as the director for the Enhanced Security Zone (ESZ) leading a task force composed of personnel from the Corps and the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization. Task Force ESZ’s mission was to improve the protective posture of Kabul’s “Green Zone” resulting in improved security for the international community and the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

As the Mississippi Valley Division’s 40th commander, Toy will be responsible for the Corps’ water resources programs in a 370,000-square-mile area that includes portions of 12 states; its boundary extends from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. District offices are headquartered in St. Paul, Minn.; Rock Island, Ill.; St. Louis, Mo.; Memphis, Tenn.; Vicksburg, Miss.; and New Orleans, La.

In addition, Toy will be president-designee of the Mississippi River Commission, the presidentially appointed agency that oversees the comprehensive Mississippi River and Tributaries flood control and navigation project, as well as the entire Mississippi River and its tributaries. Read more.

In 20 years of March Backs, Wallace Ward has seen it all. In the beginning, the march was 15 miles, now 20 years later it is only 12. Over the years it has moved from taking place in the middle of the night to starting in the morning. There has been rain and thunderstorms that soaked and threatened the marchers. There was a hamstring injury that slowed him down but couldn't stop him.

No matter the obstacle, the distance or the weather, since members of the Long Gray Line were invited to the March Back 20 years ago Wallace Ward has completed every single one. This year as he stepped off from Camp Buckner before dawn with India Company, Ward, who graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in the Class of 1958, earned the distinction of being the oldest graduate to participate in the annual tradition. He first joined the March Back at 67 and now aged 87 he once again walked the entire way from start to finish.

"I come back to March Back every year because I love to run," Ward said. "I've participated in 10 marathons and one ultramarathon that was 62 miles. I have been running and walking all my life so when they said they wanted people to hike back with the plebes I thought that was a great opportunity since I love being outside running and walking."

The decision brought him full circle as it was running that first introduced Ward to West Point. A track athlete in nearby Washingtonville, New York, Ward competed at a regional track meet at West Point as a high schooler. He entered the meet with a single goal - earning the one point he needed to secure his varsity letter for the season -- and determined to do whatever it took to secure it. With the finish line nearby and his goal within reach, Ward dove across the line. His last bit of effort earned him his letter, but it also left shrapnel in his left elbow that has served as a, "reminder of West Point for the rest of my life." Read more.

Josh Halu completed his Appalachian Trail thru-hike in memory of classmate and friend, Taylor Force ’09. He started his hike in Georgia on March 8, 2019, in dedication of the third anniversary of Taylor Force’s death from a terrorist attack in Israel. Josh completed the 2,200-mile, 14-state hike four months later in Maine on July 8, 2019. He carried Taylor’s dog tags for the entire hike. Josh was joined by Taylor’s parents, Stuart and Robbi, Taylor’s sister, Kristen, and Josh’s wife, Emily, for the final summit on Mount Katahdin at the northern terminus of the trail. For more information on Josh’s hike, see his blog at https://movewithapurposelife.com.

A Force for Good Foundation was founded in 2018 in loving memory of Taylor Allen Force. The foundation strives to raise money for organizations that provide support for veterans, as well as other causes that were meaningful to Taylor. Taylor lived by the motto “God is first, others are second and I am third.” A Force for Good Foundation aims to continue this motto as Taylor’s legacy. To date, the foundation has raised and donated over $10,000 to the West Point Association of Graduates, Camp Stewart for Boys, K9s for Vets, and the USO.

Joshua Lospinoso, PhD has released C++ Crash Course. C++ is one of the most widely used languages for real-world software. In the hands of a knowledgeable programmer, C++ can produce small, efficient, and readable code that any programmer would be proud of.

Designed for intermediate to advanced programmers, C++ Crash Course cuts through the weeds to get you straight to the core of C++17, the most modern revision of the ISO standard. Part 1 covers the core of the C++ language, where you’ll learn about everything from types and functions, to the object life cycle and expressions. Part 2 introduces you to the C++ Standard Library and Boost Libraries, where you'll learn about all of the high-quality, fully-featured facilities available to you. You’ll cover special utility classes, data structures, and algorithms, and learn how to manipulate file systems and build high-performance programs that communicate over networks. Available at No Starch Press.

On August 9, General James McConville '81 was sworn in as the Army’s 40th Chief of Staff. In his initial message to the Army Team, he talks about taking care of people and his other priorities. McConville visited the Academy recently to receive a brief from the Superintendent and staff. He also spent time with cadets and observed Cadet Basic Training combatives and marksmanship training at Camp Buckner. Video.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1945 | 1961 | 1962 | 1965 | 1966 | 1984 | 1992 | 1996 | 2006 | 2015. Class Notes

The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) conference was recently held at Rosen’s Shingle Creek in Orlando, FL. This is an exceptional event serving many veterans and the strong DAV organization.

DAV does much to support our veterans including transportation to many Medical Centers for veteran appointments. Annually, the organization provides more than 600,000 rides to veterans attending medical appointments and assists veterans with well over 200,000 benefit claims.

Gary Sinise was in attendance and Jim Wartski '82 and Laurie Barone '83 had some time to meet with him, a true patriot, Mr. Sinise praised West Point and reminisced over receiving the Thayer Award.

Lindsay Hartig is currently a semi-finalist to be the Muscle & Fitness Hers "Ms. Health & Fitness". Please help her BEAT EVERYONE! Vote everyday now through Wednesday August 14: https://mshealthandfitness.com/2019/lindsay-hartig. If she wins the 20k, it is all being donated to Veteran Non-Profit charities. She will also get to be on the cover!

Jon Redmond, who has personally suffered with PTSD from various deployments, recently took on a role as a Senior Adviser with NightWare. NightWare is an innovation in digital therapeutic treatment for nightmare disorder among those with PTSD. The app, which works with an Apple Watch, disrupts nightmares and helps those that suffer from them get a complete and restful night’s sleep. NightWare has recently been awarded “Breakthrough Therapy” status by the FDA, and the team has a mission of helping as many Vets as possible. To do so, they are offering free enrollment to any Vet suffering with PTSD and nightmares in new clinical trials. To enroll in NightWare, any Vet can visit the site or contact Redmond directly.

The Descendants of WWII Rangers (www.wwiirangers.org) organization is seeking assistance in getting the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to all members of the WWII Ranger Battalions. There were at least seven West Point graduates in those WWII Ranger Battalions: COL Bill Darby '33 (pictured left); LTC Hank Mucci '36 (pictured right); CPT Ralph Colby, '40; MAJ John Dobson '39; LTC Robert Garrett '41; CPT James Greene Jun 43; and CPT John Raaen Jr, Jan 43. The Congressional Gold Medal, when awarded, will be presented to all WWII Rangers collectively. This is an honor much-deserved by these WWII Ranger veterans for their combat actions in all overseas theaters; for their six night-time assault landings; and for their consequential recognition through eight (8) Presidential Unit Citations.

These are the Rangers who climbed the cliffs, neutralized the guns, and about whom President Reagan spoke in 1984 in his famous "The Boys of Pointe du Hoc" speech. These are the Rangers who freed 516 Allied POWs at the Japanese Camp at Cabanatuan before they were executed, and became the heroes of the nation as well as subjects of the book, "Ghost Soldiers" and movie, "The Great Raid." These are the Rangers who led the way off of "Bloody Omaha" Beach, and gave today's Rangers their motto of "Rangers Lead The Way!" These are the Rangers who experienced almost 10% Killed-in-Action (KIA) during WWII. These are the Rangers who suffered when more than 750 of their Ranger buddies were captured or killed behind enemy lines at Cisterna one-week after their successful Anzio landing. There are 55 known WWII Rangers still with us today – one of those being MG (Ret) John C. Raaen, Jr. 'Jan 43. There have been approximately 57,000 West Point graduates since the Ranger School began in 1952, and many of those graduates attended Ranger training. Please call/email/write your Senators to ask them to sponsor the Senate bill S.1757 for the "United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act". Questions can be directed to RonHudnell@gmail.com (Son of a WWII Ranger, Class of 1969, and Ranger School 4-70.)

Mike Eggleston ’61 has published a new book entitled The Montagnard People in the Indochina Wars, 1945-1991. This history tells the story of the wars fought by the Montagnards of Indochina against the North Vietnamese, the French, the Vietcong and others as they sought autonomy for the Montagnard tribes. The Montagnards were loyal fighters with U. S. Forces during America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. The struggle of the Montagnards continued long after the fall of South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in 1975. The end of Saigon’s war did not end the plight of the Montagnards. This history is based upon the recollections of the author and others involved in the wars in Indochina. This book was published in August 2019.

CPT Chandler Smith recently placed fifth at the Rogue Invitational, armor officer and member of the Army Warrior Fitness Team has stamped his ticket to the CrossFit Games in Madison, Wisconsin.

"I want to do something at the games that [helps] the Army, and the world, become a better place," he added. "If someone sees my positivity and chooses to reflect that in their daily life -- that is a win."

During high school Smith got into wrestling, his coach, Nage Damas ‘73 was a three-year wrestling letter winner here. Through their interaction, Smith decided to enroll in the academy. "I am the person who is big on discipline," Smith said. "West Point presented the hardest road … and presented the biggest challenge in comparison to the other academies."

At the time the Army was highly involved in Iraq and Afghanistan. Smith believed the Army provided the best opportunity for applied leadership. "Those were conflicts I saw myself in. As an aspiring leader, you want to place yourself at points of friction," he said. Read more.

Family, friends and colleagues gathered to celebrate as Brigadier General Omar J. Jones IV, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington was promoted to the rank of Major General at the Inter-American Defense College on Fort Lesley J. McNair, D.C., August 5, 2019. During the promotion ceremony, remarks were given by General James C. McConville.

Photo: Sgt. Maryam Treece

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1956 | 1966 | 1983 | 1986 | 1996 | 2001. Class Notes

Experience on the battlefield helped earn General Joseph Martin the nomination to the Army's second highest military rank. Martin was sworn in as the Army's 37th vice chief of staff in a Pentagon ceremony, following a steady progression of the service's senior leadership into higher positions within the Department of Defense.

General Mark A. Milley, the Army's chief of staff, said Martin's extensive time in combat during several deployments amply qualified him for the job. "This is probably one of the top two, maybe three, general officers with combat experience," said Milley, who presided over the ceremony. "He has been in combat at every level of command. This guy's got five combat tours. He's got over 40 months in combat. It's an amazing combat record."

Martin deployed to Iraq five times including stints as a company commander during Operation Desert Storm, as a battalion and brigade commander during Iraqi Freedom and he commanded the famed 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. Martin also served as the commander of the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command during the pivotal Battle of Mosul, a major multi-national offensive that helped the Iraqi government retake control of the Iraqi city from ISIS forces.

Martin has said that he will continue to emphasize the Army's priorities of readiness, modernization and people, and to recruit the "best and brightest" into the force. Read more.

During our celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the founding of WPAOG, it is well to remember that in fulfilling our mission to serve the Academy and its graduates we are both a familial and a philanthropic organization. The Long Gray Line Fund relies solely on the generosity of donors to provide memorial support, reunion planning, and awards and honors. Recent enhancements also include the Rockbound Highland Home Program and WPAOG’s new Career Services office, which provides graduates with the tools to successfully navigate their post-military career transition. If you haven’t already, please consider making a 2019 gift to the Long Gray Line Fund. With your participation, we can maintain the bonds that unite our graduates and their families through the traditions and ideals of West Point.    Give Now

Josh Kuehl receives the Serving Those Who Serve July Hero of the Month award. His non-profit continues to help veterans using the art of photography. Kuehl knows still photography is an art that can have a powerful effect. “If someone learns art therapy, they're having a moment, they are kind of triggered, they can't just whip out a canvas and dial up some paints to deal with it. A camera, you clip it on and you're ready to rock and roll,” Kuehl said.

This is what he tells veterans that come to him to help deal with their triggers. “Your formative years are spent in a very set culture, with very set ideas and norms, and you enter into civilian life thinking these are the norms of the world, and they're not,” Kuehl said. The camera lens becomes a veil: something to hide behind to help ease the transition back into civilian life. “We like to call it our invisibility shield,” Kuehl said.

“You're in a social situation, you're uncomfortable and you put up the camera…you just disappear into the room.” This is the appeal of a non-profit Kuehl co-founded three years ago. It's called “Task Force: ISO.” The “iso” in the name is a photography term that refers to the sensitivity of the camera sensor. They re-purposed the acronym ISO to stand for imaging, support and outreach. Read more.

Colonel Eric M. Noe assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District from Colonel Robert G. Dixon, who is retiring after 26 years of service in the U.S. Army. Little Rock District is responsible for a $500 million program annually. This includes civil works, military construction, Army and Air Force Medical Service support, environmental stewardship, emergency management and support to other government agencies throughout Arkansas, southern Missouri, across the nation and around the world.

The district has a staff of about 715 employees. It is responsible for maintaining the Arkansas River and other waterways, including 13 locks and dams, 12 multi-purpose lakes, seven hydroelectric power plants, and more than a half million acres of public lands and water. Noe came to Little Rock District from the National Military Command Center in Washington, D.C., where he served on the Joint Staff as a deputy director of operations and presidential strike advisor.

Noe has deployed to Macedonia, Kosovo, and Iraq in support of operational and combat missions.

His military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Bronze Order of the Engineer DeFlueury Medal. He is also a graduate of the Army Airborne, Air Assault and Rappel Master schools. Read more.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1956 | 1959 | 1963 | 1965 | 1968 | 1970 | 1973 | 1975 | 1980 | 1986 | 1990 | 2017. Class Notes

General (Retired) Joseph L. Votel has been named the Class of 1987 Senior Fellow at the Combating Terrorism Center (CTC). Mostly recently, GEN(R) Votel served as the Commander of the U.S. Central Command, responsible for U.S. and coalition military operations in the Middle East, Levant, and Central and South Asia. During his 39 years in the military, he commanded special operations and conventional military forces at every level. His career included combat in Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Notably, he led a 79-member coalition that successfully liberated Iraq and Syria from the Islamic State Caliphate. He preceded his assignment at CENTCOM with service as the Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command and the Joint Special Operations Command. GEN(R) Votel is a 1980 graduate of the United States Military Academy and earned master’s Degrees from the U.S. Army Command and Staff College and the Army War College.

GEN(R) Votel has been supportive of the CTC’s work for many years, and we are honored for him to join the Center in this capacity. The CTC thanks West Point’s Class of 1987 for its generosity in supporting this position.

Maj. Gen. Robert F. Whittle, Jr. took command of the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, during a ceremony presided over by Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, 54th Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in Cincinnati. Whittle, who previously served as Commandant for the U.S. Army Engineer School located at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, pinned on his second star moments prior to assuming command from Maj. Gen. Mark R. Toy. Toy is set to take command of USACE, Mississippi Valley Division, located in Vicksburg, Mississippi, July 23.

As the new LRD commander, Whittle is responsible for directing federal water resource development in the Great Lakes and Ohio River basins with infrastructure valued at over $80 billion through seven engineer districts totaling over 4,200 people operating through a seventeen-state area.

Maj. Gen. Whittle has held a number of staff and command positions. His first duty assignment was in the 40th Engineer Battalion, Baumholder, Germany where he served as both Platoon leader and Company Executive Officer. As a captain, Maj. Gen. Whittle served as a Company Commander in 2nd Engineer Battalion in Camp Castle, Korea. He then worked as a Project Manager in the Philadelphia District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and as the Executive Officer to the Commanding General of the North Atlantic Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Following his graduation from the Command and General Staff College and School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, he served as a plans officer in the 1st Infantry Division and the Battalion S3 of the 9th Engineer Battalion, deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He later served as the Executive Officer of the 9th Engineer Battalion and the Commander of Task Force Guardian in Schweinfurt, Germany.

The Senate confirmed Mark T. Esper ’86 as Secretary of Defense by a 90-8 vote on July 23, ending the longest period to date that the Pentagon has been without a permanent leader. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, called Mr. Esper a “well-prepared nominee” who will face a world “full of serious threats to America, to our allies and to our interests.” Read more.

Col. Karl D. Jansen has assumed command of the St. Paul District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to become the district’s 66th commander and district engineer. A registered professional engineer and certified project management professional, Jansen holds a master's degree in civil engineering from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College, according to the Corps.

Previously, Jansen served as executive officer to the commanding general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Washington, D.C. A Colorado native. His prior assignments include 72nd commander of the Corps’ Buffalo District and tactical assignments at Fort Polk, La; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and Fort Stewart, Ga.

The St. Paul District covers most of Minnesota, the western half of Wisconsin, the northeastern half of North Dakota and small portions of northeastern South Dakota and northeastern Iowa. It has missions in the area of flood risk management, navigation, environmental management, regulation, disaster response and recreation.

The district traces its origins to 1866, when Congress authorized the Corps of Engineers to establish a 4-foot navigation channel on the Upper Mississippi River. Maj. Gouverneur K. Warren, a West Point graduate and veteran of the Battle of Gettysburg, was tasked with establishing the district and conducting preliminary surveys of the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Read more.

Lieutenant General (Retired) Robert L. Caslen has been named the 29th leader of the University of South Carolina, a 218-year-old institution.

"I am honored to be chosen to lead this great institution," Caslen said. "I will work tirelessly to listen to all of our students, faculty, staff, board members, and all our constituents to understand their concerns and issues, and I will actively seek their advice. I am eager to start meeting with students, faculty and staff, and my goal is to work collaboratively with our entire university and system community to address challenges, to build confidence, respect and trust, and to create new opportunities."

2LT Kennedy Edwards, field artillery officer in 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division help the All-Army Basketball team at the Armed Forces Championship to take home the Silver.

"It was a great experience, just to be able to set aside military duties for a month... getting to know different players from different backgrounds," Edwards said of the experience. "We physically challenged ourselves every single day and that built a lot of mental toughness for us to prepare for the tournament."

"He was a great asset to the team," said All-Army head coach Capt. Carl Little. "Very calm and collective. Can definitely play on this stage. We look forward to having him again. He was a great addition to the program."

Edwards is appreciative of this opportunity the Army offers him to be able to continue competing even after he took off his Black Knights jersey for the final time in college. Read more.

Chad Rupe as been appointed as Administrator of the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service by President Donald Trump announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.

"Chad served us well as Rural Development State Director in Wyoming for the past two years, and we are excited for him to join the team here in Washington, D.C. With more than 15 years of experience in commercial and community banking, Chad brings much-needed expertise and knowledge to the Rural Utilities Service. I know Chad is committed to helping rural Americans prosper and thrive," Secretary Perdue said.

Rupe has served as Acting Administrator for the Rural Utilities Service since April 30. Prior to stepping into that role, he served as USDA Rural Development State Director of Wyoming from 2017 to 2019. During his tenure there, Rupe was a leader for rural broadband, serving on the Rural Development State Directors Broadband Working Group and assisting state government with efforts to deploy broadband in rural Wyoming. Rupe has also championed rural water utilities projects and financing for sustainable electric infrastructure investments. Read more.

In recognition of his significant contributions to the field of dermatology, William D. James, MD, has been selected to receive the Academy’s Master Dermatologist award. Dr. James currently serves as Paul R. Gross professor of dermatology, and Education Director of the department of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Dr. James is recognized for excellence in patient care and his career-spanning academic and leadership contributions to the specialty. In addition to his past service as president of the AAD, Dr. James has delivered more than 300 invited lectures, published more than 265 articles and 35 book chapters, and has written or edited 24 books, including the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th editions of the standard textbook Andrews’ Disease of the Skin. Whereas this book is studied by nearly all learners entering dermatology across the globe, and he has co-authored this work since 1990, his influence on the care of patients and careers of a generation of dermatologists is evident. He is the founding editor of the internet-based eMedicine Textbook of Dermatology, and currently serves as editor in chief of Medscape Dermatology Reference.

For 35 years, the Master Dermatologist award, given to one deserving member yearly, has recognized Academy members who have made significant contributions to the specialty of dermatology throughout the span of their careers, in addition to leadership and/or education programs of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dr. James is also honored as the first recipient of the William D. James, MD, Mentor of the Year Award, which was established in recognition of Dr. James for his career-spanning dedication to mentoring of students, residents, and junior faculty. Dr James has directed residency programs in dermatology at Walter Reed, while serving as Chief of the Service, and at the University of Pennsylvania for the past 32 years. Over 160 trainees are now teaching and caring for patients in Universities and practices nationally and internationally. In addition, Dr James mentors early career academicians across the country as part of a the AAD’s Leadership Program. He has received teaching and mentoring awards from many organizations previously.

Roxanne Bernstein has been named to Progressive Grocer magazine's 2019 "Top Women in Grocery" list for outstanding contributions to the retail food industry.

Now in its 13th year, Progressive Grocer's Top Women in Grocery awards program has grown to become the retail food industry's premier women's leadership recognition platform. The program recognizes outstanding female leaders within the retailer and supplier communities and the critical roles they serve in their companies, communities and the industry at large.

Roxanne Bernstein brings a 24-year track record of strong cross-functional leadership, innovative problem-solving and commitment to developing talent to her role as Chief Marketing Officer at Post Consumer Brands. Prior to joining the company in 2016, Bernstein was the chief marketing officer at Heritage Home Group. Earlier in her career, she held senior marketing positions at Kraft Foods and the Kellogg Company. Read more.

Starting July 22, non-Department of Defense visitors will be required to check in at the Visitor Control Center to be issued local access credentials to gain entry to the installation. These changes bring West Point into compliance with Department of the Army access control requirements.

“We expect delays at the gates as people learn about the new requirements,” Lt. Col. Brian Heverly, director of emergency services, U.S. Army Garrison, West Point, said. “We ask for patience and assistance in passing this new information along to members of the community, visiting family members, alumni and friends of West Point.”

This change impacts non-DOD card holders who desire unescorted access to visit cadets, friends, family, the hospital, sporting events, concerts and other programs not deemed special events. It also affects companies with employees who require unescorted access to conduct business on West Point, such as delivery drivers.

The VCC is now open Monday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. After 10 p.m., guests must enter through Stony Lonesome Gate where they will be issued a 24-hour pass. All visitors must undergo on-the-spot background checks in compliance with the National Crime Information Center–Interstate Identification Index prior to being issued credentials. West Point has designated special events allowing visitors to gain access to the installation with a valid stateside driver’s license or government-issued ID card.

Special events include:

• Home football games
• Ticketed sporting events
• Eisenhower Hall events
• May graduation

Access requirements: Non-DOD visitors should fill out a local area credential request form at: https://westpoint.edu/visiting-west-point and bring the completed form to the VCC located at 2107 New South Post Road in Highland Falls, N.Y.

In addition, visitors should bring a state-issued driver’s license compliant with the Real ID Act of 2005. Check compliance at: http://worldpopulationreview.com/states/real-id-compliant-states/ Those without a valid driver’s license, will need one of the following:

• U.S. passport or U.S. passport card.
• Permanent resident card or alien registration receipt card (Form 1-551).
• Foreign passport with a temporary I-551 stamp or temporary I-551 with a printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa.
• Employment authorization document that contains a photograph.
• U.S. Military or draft record. • U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card.
• Transportation Worker Identification Card. • Native American Tribal Document.
• In the case of a nonimmigrant alien authorized to work for a specific employer incident to status, a foreign passport with Form I-94 or Form I-94A bearing the same name as the passport and containing an endorsement of the alien’s nonimmigrant status, as long as the endorsement has not yet expired and the proposed employment is not in conflict with any restrictions or limitations identified on the form.

For more information, call 845-938-0390 or 845-938-0392.

Dean Gels has been Appointed Chief Financial Officer at MSA Security a global high consequence threat protection firm. Prior to joining MSA, Mr. Gels most recently served as CFO at OVH US, a cloud computing company, where he managed the company's national expansion. Prior to OVH, he served as the Vice President of Corporate Development at Borderfree.

"As the company enters new markets and scales to meet new demands, we are making organizational adjustments to ensure we are aligned for success in this dynamic industry," said Glen Kucera, Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gels is a seasoned financial expert and leader with the experience needed to guide MSA's continued financial health."

As CFO, Mr. Gels will be responsible for all aspects of the company's financial operations to ensure fiscal health. He will oversee forecasting and reporting, capital structure, and all budget activity. His financial leadership will play a critical role in the company's strategy and direction moving forward. "I am excited to join MSA's diverse team of experts who have reached the highest levels in the security field," said Dean Gels. "Already considered the leader in high consequence security, MSA is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs in a dynamic security market." Read more.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1949 | 1953| 1958 | 1959 | 1963 | 1965 | 1967 | 1976 | 1978 | 1986 | 1991 | 1995 | 2007. Class Notes

Lieutenant General Daniel Hokanson took the reins as director of the Army National Guard in a ceremony in Arlington, Virginia. He served as the NGB's vice chief prior to taking on his new duties as director of the Army Guard. Hokanson served in the active component as a helicopter pilot and took on a variety of leadership roles before transitioning to the Oregon Army National Guard in 1995. "[He is] an academy graduate, deployed to Panama, deployed to Iraq, led a brigade in Iraq, lead a brigade in Afghanistan. He's done all that and had the strategic jobs," Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, who hosted the ceremony.

I want to personally thank you for allowing me to serve as the 21st director of the Army National Guard and for all I have learned from you over the past three-and-a-half years as your vice," Hokanson said during the ceremony. "I am sincerely humbled by this incredible opportunity and look forward to continuing to serve the Soldiers, civilians and families of our Army National Guard."

"With all the changes nearly four centuries have brought with them, what has made the National Guard great remains the same -- that's our people," Hokanson said, adding that close to 30,000 Army Guard Soldiers are currently deployed worldwide. "Nearly 5000 more are directly supporting homeland defense and emergency response missions [ at home]," he said. "Our units compose 39 percent of the Army's operational force and we'll continue to engage across the full spectrum, performing our missions of homeland defense, [supporting the] warfight and building partnerships."

To our leaders and commanders at every level, thank you," he said. "Your leadership and dedication, your selfless service directly contributes to our readiness and lethality and ensures mission success." Read more.

Tim Dunn has been appointed Director in the Executive Search Practice at N2Growth, Inc. He will be working out of the Philadelphia Office.

"We are lucky to have a true pro like Tim on our team. A graduate of West Point (where he also played football), a former US Army Officer, President of a Family Office portfolio company in the EComm space, a former J&J sales and marketing leader, and Wharton MBA, Tim is an incredible talent with a diversity of experience that serves our clients well," said Mike Myatt, Chairman of N2Growth.

"Tim will be part of our client delivery and execution team-leading client engagements," Myatt said.

Brian Bulatao was recently confirmed as the Under Secretary of State for Management. Bulatao was a distinguished graduate (top 5%) in the Class of 1986. He is responsible for managing the State Department on a day-to-day basis and serves as the Chief Operating Officer to the Secretary of State and Deputy Secretary of State on matters relating to enterprise governance, strategic resource alignment, the Department of State Budget, Diplomatic Security, talent, information technology, and innovation. He has responsibility for driving excellence across all enterprise functions.

Prior to joining the State Department, Brian served as the Chief Operating Officer at the Central Intelligence Agency. In this capacity, he worked with the Director and Deputy Director of the CIA to provide overall leadership to the Agency, foster alignment, agility, and mission success.

Before joining the CIA, Brian worked in the Private Equity industry, both as a founding partner and senior advisor, and focused on middle market growth buyouts. Brian previously served as the CEO and President of several market-leading companies in the manufacturing, logistics, and business service sectors. In the non-profit sector, Brian has held leadership positions on several boards, to include Chairman of the Board of Trustees of one of the largest technical colleges in the Midwest.

Upon graduation from Harvard Business School, he joined the Atlanta office of McKinsey & Company and served Fortune 500 clients in the transportation, telecommunication, and basic materials industries. Early in his career, Brian served as an Airborne Infantry officer, leading units on several contingency operations across the globe.

Francis Hoang has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Francis (France) Hoang and his family were evacuated from Saigon in April 1975 when he was under two years old, his family settled in Washington state. He served in Afghanistan and was an Associate White House Counsel. He now is a business leader, having been a part of several entrepreneurial ventures. Sharon Bannister, Marty Marks (wife of Spider Marks '76, daughter of BG Richard Tallman '49 (KIA Vietnam) and sister of First Captain Joe Tallman '73), Allen McCabe, and Kim Mitchell have been elected to the board as well.

"We're pleased to add these new Board members," said Board Chairman John Dibble. "They each have strong connections to the Vietnam era and the ongoing mission of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. The Vietnam War still impacts our country in many ways, affecting families and friends. As volunteer Board members, they are committing their time and talents to insuring current and future generations remember the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and learn the lessons of that divisive time in our nation's history."

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1956 | 1957 | 1992 | 1996 | 2019. Class Notes

Kate Ward Shattuck has been promoted to Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry. Ms. Shattuck co-founded and co-leads the firm’s Impact Investing practice. She is a specialist in global financial markets including asset management and consumer/commercial banking.

Prior to joining Korn Ferry, she worked as chief operations officer and corporate senior vice president at PenFed and the PenFed Foundation, leading and growing the organization’s corporate social responsibility efforts including a micro-credit fund, housing assistance, grants and programs for economically disadvantaged veterans. She served at Morgan Creek Capital and Morgan Stanley in business development roles.

Happy Fourth of July from the West Point Association of Graduates.

The Chief of Staff of the Army announces the following officer assignments:

Major General Steven W. Gilland ’90 to Commanding General, 2d Infantry Division (Combined), Eighth Army, Republic of Korea
Major General Brian J. Mennes ’88 to Commanding General, 10th Mountain Division (Light) and Fort Drum, Fort Drum, NY
Brigadier General Peter B. Andrysiak Jr. ’90 to Commanding General, U.S. Army Alaska; and Deputy
Commander, U.S. Alaskan Command, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK
Brigadier General Joseph B. Berger III ’92 to Commanding General/Commandant, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School, Charlottesville, VA
Brigadier General Gregory J. Brady ’91 to Commanding General, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense
Command, Germany
Brigadier General Christopher T. Donahue ’92 to Commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force-
Afghanistan, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan/Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan, Resolute Support Mission, OPERATION FREEDOMʼS SENTINEL, Afghanistan
Brigadier General Omar J. Jones IV ’92 to Commanding General, U.S. Army Military District of Washington; and commander, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region
Brigadier General Kenneth T. Royar ’88 to Commanding General, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL

The following officers were confirmed by the Senate:

General James C. McConville ’81 for reappointment to the rank of general and assignment as Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, DC
Lieutenant General Joseph M. Martin ’86 for appointment to the rank of general and assignment as Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, DC
Major General Leopoldo A. Quintas Jr. ’86 , for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general
Brigadier General Telita Crosland ’89 , for promotion to the rank of major general

Firstie defender Griffin Schultz achieved Scholar All-American honors from the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA). Schultz is the eighth cadet in Army West Point men's lacrosse history to achieve this high academic distinction. "This is an absolutely amazing honor for a tremendous cadet-athlete," said head coach Joe Alberici. "Griffin represented the very best of us on the field and off the field. His efforts made his teammates and the coaching staff better."

The defender joins James Yastrzemsky (1997), Craig Massie (2008), Brendan Buckley (2013), Sam Somers (2015), Jimbo Moore (2016), Austin Schultz (2016) and Daniel Grabher (2017) who were also named Scholar All-Americans while on the Black Knights' roster. Of Army's eight Scholar All-Americans, seven have been during Coach Alberici's tenure. Schultz boasted a 3.774 grade-point average with an Economics Major and Systems Engineering Track. The senior has made the Dean's List all seven eligible semesters and has achieved a 3.5 GPA and above each semester. In his limited spare time, Schultz tutors his teammates in Economics and Physics. Read more.

Congratulations to Colonel Curtis A. Buzzard '92 who assumed command as the 78th Commandant of Cadets here at West Point Friday June 28. He is a strong leader and a great asset to our West Point team.

The West Point Summer edition is online now.

- Letter from the Superintendent
- Letter from the President of WPAOG
- AOG History Part III (1946-1995)
- WPAOG Distinguished Graduate Awards 2019
- The Dedication of Grant Statue
- WPAOG Entrepreneur Summit
- Class Gifts Through the Years
- Army Volleyball Dreams of Going Places

  ....and much more.

View Online Edition

Our 150th Celebration year is a good time to update your career biography in the Register of Graduates. All Graduates are now able to review their biographies and submit updates online. We hope that all graduates will help us continue the project initiated by General George W. Cullum, Class of 1833, to chronicle the careers and service to the nation of all West Point graduates.

SUBMIT YOUR REGISTER UPDATE