The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1956 | 1966 | 1970 | 1971. Class Notes

For the third year in a row, the West Point Society of the Tennessee Valley (WPSTV) has entered a Christmas tree in downtown Huntsville’s Tinsel Trail Holiday Season community effort. Tinsel Trail is over 300 live and decorated Christmas trees in Huntsville’s Big Spring Park downtown. Each tree is reserved, paid for, and decorated by a local corporation, group, or family, promoting community fellowship. The project has been very successful and draws large crowds for public viewing daily during the Holiday Season each year.

Photo: WPSTV members Valerie & Tom McLaughlin ’66, Martha & Gary Stewart ’66, and Rusty & Bill Burns ’62 take a break during a Tinsel Tree decorating session

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1951 | 1959 | 1961 | 1966 | 1971 | 1975 | 1976 | 1986 | 1989 | 1990 | 1993 | 1996. Class Notes

Barney Landry Jr. ’51 was recognized as the 2020 Butler County Veteran of the Year at the Veterans Day Ceremony on November 11. Landry is a Korean War and Cold War pilot being honored for his military and community service. Landry also recognized as the most generous contributor to date for the Fairfield Township Veterans Memorial Project in Heroes Park where the ceremony was held.

Governor Kay Ivey presented the Alabama Distinguished Service Medal posthumously to Major David Moniac (1802 – 1836) on November 15 in Montgomery, Alabama. In 1817, at the age of 15, Major Moniac, a Creek Indian, received an appointment to West Point and later graduated in 1822. Major Moniac became the first Native American, the first minority and the first Alabamian to do so. Governor Kay Ivey presented the Alabama Distinguished Service Medal posthumously to Major David Moniac's family at a ceremony in the Old House Chamber at the State Capitol. Major Moniac died in November 1836 during the Second Seminole War in the Battle of Wahoo Swamp. Read more.

Dr. John Davis ’75 was awarded the Lee and Lunelle Nix Hemphill Endowed Chair in Business. Dr. Robert Tucker, Dean of Kelley College of Business and Professional Studies shared, the endowed chair is reserved for those who have shown excellence in teaching, scholarship, and research. Dr. Davis epitomizes all the great things about Hardin-Simmons people. Dr. John Davis is a professor of management in the Kelley College of Business and Professional Studies at Hardin-Simmons University. Read more.

At the WPAOG Annual Meeting today, November 16, 2021, the following members were elected to positions on the Board of Directors and the Advisory Council.

For three-year term as Chair of the Board beginning January 1, 2022:
Robert A. McDonald ’75

For three-year term as Vice Chair of the Board beginning January 1, 2022:
Herman E. Bulls ’78

For three-year term as Director beginning January 1, 2022:
Mark W. House ’80
Dana J.H. Pittard ’81
Scott M. Sauer ’86
Charles C. Correll Jr. ’89
Erica Jeffries Purdo ’98

For two-year term as Director beginning January 1, 2022, to serve the unexpired term of the Director elected as Board Chair:
Thomas E. Ayres ’84

For three-year term as Advisor-at-Large beginning January 1, 2022:
Douglass S. Heckman ’81
William E. Rapp ’84
Elizabeth G. Kubala ’93
Amanda M. Coussoule ’97
Hise Gibson ’97
Christopher F. Oliver ’02

With the recent meeting of Army West Point Men’s Basketball taking on Duke Friday, we remember the path Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) took during his Hall of Fame career, including as a West Point Cadet and coach. We’re proud to have Coach K as an Old Grad and a member of the Long Gray Line.

During the victorious (and stormy!) Army vs. Bucknell game on November 13, the Class of 1986 presented a 35th Reunion Gift of $2 million in support of the Cyber Research Center (CRC). Class Fundraising Chairs Terry Finley and Kevin McKelvy presented the gift on behalf of the class. Joining them was the Chief Operating Officer of WPAOG, Pat Ortland ’82. Accepting on behalf of West Point was the 60th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, LTG Darryl A. Williams ’83. Since graduation, the Class of 1986 has given more than $11.7 million back to their alma mater. We thank the class for its outstanding generosity since graduating 35 years ago.

The uniqueness of Seize the Moment: New Testament Devotions for Today is that it is the direct product of real pastoral ministry to God’s people during one of the most difficult times of local church ministry—the COVID-19 pandemic! The Reverend Dr. Jerry D. Ingalls’ book integrates biblical and theological training with his real-life experiences of raising a family, a distinguished athletic background, military service, and pastoral leadership into timely devotionals on each chapter of the New Testament. Seize the Moment is affordably priced on Amazon and written to help you cultivate an intentional mindset to strengthen your spiritual vitality to live on mission no matter your circumstances—to be a hope bearer!

Former Army West Point swimming & diving standout Ann Marie Wycoff ’89 was named to the CSCAA’s 100 Greatest Women’s Swimmers & Divers in a release recently put out by the organization. Army’s most honored athlete at the national level, Wycoff graduated as the winningest female swimmer in NCAA Division II history. Overall, she earned nine individual national titles during her time in the "Black, Gold and Gray." Wycoff became the first Academy woman to claim an NCAA individual championship, winning the 400-yard individual medley in 1987, but that served only as a precursor to what she would achieve in subsequent years. Read more.

The West Point Society of Annapolis (WPSOA) held its 32nd High School Leadership Awards Brunch on November 14. The brunch formally recognizes outstanding local high school seniors for their academic, athletic and community service leadership accomplishments. Seniors from six local high schools were recognized at a brunch held in their honor at Hella's Restaurant, Millersville, Maryland. Following opening remarks by WPSOA President Steve Heinecke ’77, John Nicodemus ’73 presided over the event, which approximately 35 people attended.

Roughly 75 West Point Society of the Tennessee (WPSTV) members, spouses and guests watched Army Beat Air Force in dramatic fashion on November 6 at the Valley Hill Country Club. In a “member benefit” Society-hosted gathering, attendees were treated to a taco brunch with all the trimmings along with special beverage prices provided by the club. Plans are underway for a similar Society party on December 11 at the local Fractal Brewery in town to watch the Army Team Beat Navy.

Join grads, parents, friends, and fans on November 27 as we cheer the Army West Point Football Team to victory at the West Point Society of Monticello. For more information about Football Spirit Events, please visit our website at westpointaog.org/tailgates. Space is limited and registration is closing soon so be sure to register today! GO ARMY! BEAT LIBERTY!

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1958 | 1959 | 1963 | 1965 | 1981 | 1986 | 1994 | 1996 | 2005. Class Notes

The Hall of Fame Committee of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA), college wrestling's oldest conference announced Phillip Simpson ’05 has been selected for membership into the EIWA Hall of Fame Class of 2022. The induction ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, immediately preceding the finals of the annual EIWA championships. Read more.

The West Point Society of Panama, led by Mario Cortizo ’13, hosted its first formal event recently. During this special occasion, the society was honored to host over 40 guests, among them: service academies graduates, CEOs, as well as senior government officials. The West Point Society of Panama was honored to have as special guest Retired General Votel ’80 and members from Business Executives for National Security. The occasion was a unique opportunity to re-connect West Point graduates as well as sharing with our guests West Point values and traditions.

Listen to this exclusive sit down with current USMA First Captain, CDT Holland Pratt, and CEO of the Pat Tillman Foundation, Dan Futrell.  Both guests talk with LTC Andrea Peters ’02 about living a life to serve others and how important servant leadership is to all of us no matter where you come from or what profession you choose.

Listen On Audible  | Listen on Google | Listen on iHeartRadio

This Veterans Day and every day, WPAOG salutes our veterans and says “thank you” to the members of the Long Gray Line and to all the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our great nation.

MG(R) Alan Salisbury ’58 has received the Lifetime Distinguished Service Achievement Award from the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce. General Salisbury is the Co-Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Code of Support Foundation. This award honors those who have made meaningful contributions to help Veterans and veteran-owned businesses in the Greater Washington business community succeed. General Salisbury was also the keynote speaker for the event.

Parachute Team Coach Tom Falzone and OIC SFC Anthony Rucker gathered cadets from the parachute team during halftime at the Army-Air Force game to meet David Seymour '86, a longtime supporter of the team. Mr. Seymour was thrilled to meet the cadets, and they were grateful for the opportunity to thank him personally for his financial support and share their experiences. Mr. Seymour was impressed by how much the team has evolved since his time at West Point.

Colonel Marvin Griffin ’94 joined the Dewberry professional services firm as the federal lead and business manager for the firm's Huntsville, Alabama, office. COL Griffin has over 27 years serving as an Engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). He managed and delivered a global $2.3-billion annual program supporting military installations and other federal agencies, providing subject matter expertise for specialty architectural engineering for many departments.

LTC Paul Lushenko ’05 has written the book Drones and Global Order, Implications of Remote Warfare for International Society which explores the implications of drone warfare for the legitimacy of global order. It is available for pre-order at Routledge.

The literature on drone warfare has evolved from studying the proliferation of drones, to measuring their effectiveness, to exploring their legal, moral, and ethical impacts. These "three waves" of scholarship do not, however, address the implications of drone warfare for global order. This book fills the gap by contributing to a “fourth wave” of literature concerned with the trade-offs imposed by drone warfare for global order.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1959 | 1966 | 1968 | 1974 | 1996 | 2001 | 2007 | 2021. Class Notes

Congratulations to our recent American Politics Assistant Professor out of the Department of Social Sciences, MAJ Zachary Griffiths ’07, on being named a White House Fellow! This is a great example of how our rotating military faculty continue to provide intellectual capital to the Nation as West Point’s second graduating class. MAJ Griffiths is from Lexington, MA, placed at the National Security Council. Learn more.

The paper from 2LTs Nate Batta, Grant Williams, Shane Murphy, and Andrew Quantz (Class of 2021 Mechanical Engineering majors) on “Drone Assisted Targeting for Direct Fire Engagements” was presented at the International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE). In the course of their project, they designed, built, and tested a drone designed to fly near tanks and assisted them with targeting, while maintaining its position in GPS-denied environments. The team was advised by LTC Bluman, CDR Pegues (US Navy), and Mr. Manjunath. The capstone project was supported by U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center.

The latest issue of West Point Magazine should arrive in your mailboxes next week! The fall issue explores Cadet Summer Training, cadets on the racetrack, USMA strategic partners, and an interview with the Commandant! Read the digital edition now.

Episode 13 of the On Point podcast is live! In this episode Eddie Kang, Founder of the Old Grad Club, interviews Socrates Rosenfeld ’04, Co-founder & CEO of Jane Technologies. Socrates is a Ranger that flew Apache’s during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Socrates provides a framework for making tough decisions and doing what feels right, how he turned journal entry dreams into reality, and the power of feeling comfortable in life’s uncertainties. New episodes are released every Wednesday.

Subscribe and listen wherever you listen to podcasts: Apple | Spotify | Google | Our Website.

On Tuesday, October 26th, the West Point Society of Upstate South Carolina gathered for Benny Havens Hour to raise a toast to the Army mules on National Mule Day. The event included a ceremonial cake cutting with a Cadet Saber and fellowship of big Army fans! Go Army! Beat Navy!

The ‘Do More Together’ organization held a virtual summit in partnership with Johnson & Johnson October 27-29, 2021. The theme of this year’s summit was “Unified Impact.” Guest speaker and West Point Alumni John Tien ’87 who is now the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security spoke about opportunities in service and asked attendees, “When you move into other spheres of your life, are there opportunities to find ways to serve, perhaps in which your day-to-day job is not to serve?” Keynote speaker Distinguished Graduate Award recipient and CEO of Tag Holdings LLC, Joseph Anderson ’65 added some parting words of advice, “Don't sit in the chair. MAKE the chair, make the difference.” Read more.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1958 | 1961 | 1966 | 1973 | 1981 | 1990 | 1996 | 2000. Class Notes

During West Point Family Weekend, West Point Parent representatives presented a check for $4,500,000 to the Academy. The check represents parent gifts in support of Margin of Excellence programs that go beyond the Academy’s core education and allow all cadets to reach their highest potential. On the field was Xinhua Reiff, parent of CDT Isabella Reiff ’22 from company I-3 “Cold as Ice”, Angela Sailor, parent of CDT Alamni Sailor ’23 from company E-1 “Vikings”, Melinda Rothstein, parent of CDT Samuel Rothstein ’24 from company E-2 “Brewdawgs”, and Grady Tabor, parent of CDT Jess (Asher) Tabor ’25 from company B-2 “Bulldogs”. Joining them on the field was WPAOG President and CEO, Todd Browne ’85 and Shelisa Baskerville, Parent Giving Officer. Accepting on behalf of West Point was LTG Darryl A. Williams ’83, 60th Superintendent. Thank you, West Point parents for your tremendous support!

Recently over 80 alumni, cadets, and their families came out to Range 10 for the West Point Skeet & Trap Team Alumni & Family Reunion! The club had their youngest team member present from the Class of 2025 and the oldest alumni present from the Class of 1977! Clubs like the West Point Skeet & Trap team are made possible by donors supporting the Margin of Excellence. There are 137 Extracurricular Clubs, each contributing to leader development within the Corps of Cadets and made possible by your support! Thank you!

WPAOG and the Army West Point Athletic Association held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Anderson Athletic Center on October 22, at West Point. The renovation of the Anderson Athletic Center was made possible by lead donor Mr. Lee Anderson ’61, and his wife Penny, and other major donors to the project. The Center is a state-of-the-art facility for the Army West Point Sprint Football, Softball, and Volleyball teams. Full story. Photos.

Dr. Stephen Wilkins ’81 has been named Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), effective December 6. At CPB, Dr. Wilkins will develop, implement, and advance DEI efforts, ensuring that the values of diversity and inclusion are embedded across the entire organization.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to join the outstanding team at CPB,” Dr. Wilkins said. “I have been so fortunate to work with talented people during my time in the public education sector and military. Now I look forward to using the knowledge and experience in organizational management to help CPB maintain a great workplace for the success of our employees in our public broadcasting mission.”

October 21, LTC James R. Enos '00 received the 2021 Alexander R. Nininger Award from WPAOG. Enos is currently a professor at USMA and teaches classes in Systems Dynamics and Lean Six Sigma. Enos is also the Director of the Operations Research Center. His leadership under fire as the Company Commander for Dog Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, earned him the Silver Star for his actions on December 4, 2006. Read more. Watch.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1966 | 1996. Class Notes

John G. Powers ’88 has been selected for inclusion in “Upstate New York Super Lawyers” for 2021. Powers is a Partner in the Litigation Practice and a member of Hancock Estabrook, LLP Executive Committee. Super Lawyers is a ranking publication that selects attorneys using a patented multiphase selection process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. To learn more, visit SuperLawyers.com.

Join us for a webinar on Tuesday, October 19 at 4pm EST for a discussion on year-end giving options with Vickie Mullin, WPAOG's Director of Planned Giving. A charitable IRA rollover is an easy way to make a gift to West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG). Directly transfer up to $100,000 from your IRA, pay no income tax on the distribution, while making a charitable donation to support West Point and the Long Gray Line.
- You must be 70 ½ or older
- The transfer must go directly from your IRA to WPAOG
- Make your year-end gift or fulfill an existing pledge
Please check with your tax or financial advisor to see if this type of gift is right for you. For additional information, please visit WestPointAOG.org/IRArollover or feel free to contact us at 845.446.1627 or plannedgiving@wpaog.org.
CLICK HERE to register for the webinar: https://bit.ly/3veUu0C.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1956 | 1959 | 1961 | 1966 | 1970 | 1981 | 1986 | 1988 | 1991 | 1996 | 2013. Class Notes

One of the reasons why college sports are so special is the organic rivalries sparked by shared commonalities (or differences). College rivalries are special. Rivalries between service academies are unique and special in their own ways. Starting a program while creating a rivalry - albeit stealthy - is on a level of its own which is the case with the women’s cross country program at West Point. LTC (R) Charles Hunsaker was the man who started the program at the United States Military Academy in the late 1970s. After a decorated coaching career at Missouri State, Hunsaker left MSU in 1977 to accept a direct commission into the U.S. Army and to establish the women’s cross country and track programs. Read more.

Episode 11 of the On Point podcast featuring Marene Allison ’80 is available! Marene is the current Chief Information Security Officer for Johnson and Johnson. Prior to joining J&J, Marene was the CISO and VP for Medco, the largest pharmacy benefit manager in the United States. On this episode, Marene shares what it meant to graduate in the 1st class to include women, the scope and magnitude of being the CISO for J&J as they produced the vaccine that protected against Covid-19, and how she’s able to tackle challenges with an “I can do anything” mindset.

Subscribe and listen wherever you listen to podcasts: Apple | Spotify | Google | Our Website.

Michaela and David Culkin ’91 have released OCD and Marriage: Pathways to Reshaping Your Lives Together. They are professional educators who have lived with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for over 25 years in their marriage. Michaela has served as an elementary school teacher and principal for over 20 years and earned her doctorate in curriculum and instruction at the University of Kansas. David retired from the military and works as an adult educator, earning a doctorate from Kansas State University. “Our goal of this book is simple: by telling our story, we can continue to heal while helping others who are in different parts along their journey. OCD does not and will not be allowed to take over a marriage.”

Brian Bulatao ’86 has been named Chief Administrative Officer at Activision Blizzard. Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said that “Brian is a rare talent, and the perfect fit for Activision Blizzard; his unparalleled combination of business, military, and government experience makes him ideally suited to accelerate our organizational transformation and deliver on great opportunities for future growth.” Brian will oversee the Call of Duty Endowment as well as key administrative functions including the Corporate Social Responsibility activities across Activision Blizzard, HR and talent acquisition, IT, Workplace, Information and Physical Security.

Most recently, Brian served as Under Secretary of State for Management at the U.S. Department of State, spearheading the historic repatriation effort to bring home more than 100,000 citizens traveling or living abroad in more than 130 countries as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe. He had responsibility for the Joint Strategic Plan, global talent management, diplomatic security, consular affairs and leading the State Department’s contingency and crisis response efforts. Prior to that, he served as Chief Operating Officer of the Central Intelligence Agency. He was awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal and the Director’s Award in recognition of his significant contributions to national security.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1947 | 1956 | 1957 | 1959 | 1966 | 1974 | 1981 | 1987 | 1990 | 1996. Class Notes

Kudos to John and Colleen Innis for setting up the West Point Society of the Tennessee Valley’s (WPSTV) table for the North Alabama Veterans and Fraternal Organizations Coalition (NAVFOC) luncheon. John is WPSTV’s Liaison Officer to NAVFOC. The guest speaker was LTG (R) William Phillips, who gave a great speech that focused on several local veterans who had served in the Korean War. He also recommended viewing a documentary titled “The Girl Who Wore Freedom” – a story about the citizens of Normandy, France, and how they honor our soldiers that liberated them in WWII.

Photo: (L-R): John Warnke, Drew Stanley, Rusty & Bill Burns, Colleen & John Innes, soon-to-be new Society member Ryan Bird ’99 and Dale McDonough

A plaque to honor the sacrifices made by the United States Military Academy (USMA) class of 1947 in the 1950-53 Korean War was unveiled at the Korea Military Academy (KMA) in Nowon District, northern Seoul.

Installed near the KMA’s Memorial Tower, the memorial plaque follows previous plaques placed for the USMA classes of 1948, 1949 and 1950. The KMA plans to install three more by 2023 for the USMA classes of 1945, 1946 and 1951 in the same garden, which is a dedicated memorial park for USMA graduates who fell in the Korean War.

Twelve graduates of the USMA class of 1947 fell in the Korean War. All 12 names were inscribed on the plaque unveiled on Friday during a ceremony hosted by the KMA and sponsored by the Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA).

The ceremony was attended by General Choi Byung-hyuk, chief vice president of the KDVA-Korea chapter; Major General (R) Lee Seo-young, president of the KDVA-Korea Chapter; Lieutenant General Kim Jeong-soo, president of the KMA; Major General Patrick Matlock, assistant chief of staff for operations of the United Nations Command, ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea; Lee Seong-choon, director-general of the Seoul regional office of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs; and Han Byung-wook, business team leader of the Korea JoongAng Daily. Story.

The fourth annual WPAOG Entrepreneur Summit will take place November 3-4 in Austin, TX. Click here to register and make a hotel reservation. Only graduates coded in our system as Entrepreneurs will receive invitation announcements, so be sure your business information is up-to-date. Would you like to sponsor this event? Or know someone who may? See our sponsorship brochure. Contact us with any questions.

The USMA Department of English and Philosophy will host the 2021 Ethics of War and Peace Conference October 13-16. The theme of this year’s conference, which will be held both at West Point and online, is “The War On Terror Then And Now: Twenty Years After 9/11.” The United States announced a Global War on Terror in the wake of September 11, 2001, taking various shapes over the last 20 years. This conference will reflect on the ethical dimensions of the history of this war, its current state, and its possible futures. Ethically (and pragmatically), there seem to be limits to what military power can do regarding terrorism. Please click here to register. For more questions regarding the Ethics of War and Peace Conference, email MAJ Derrick Jerke at derrick.jerke@westpoint.edu or call 845.938.2186.

WPAOG was honored to host the Superintendent's Circle members on September 24 and 25 at the annual Superintendent's Circle Weekend. The weekend included a Friday evening Luau at Herbert Hall with members of the USMA and WPAOG Leader Teams and the Army-Miami OH football game on Saturday. Superintendent's Circle Weekend recognized all donors who made $2,500 or more gifts to the Superintendent's Annual Fund or the West Point Parents Fund in 2020. This exclusive invitation comes with our thanks for strengthening the Margin of Excellence and supporting the Corps of Cadets!

West Point Society of Connecticut was honored to celebrate the five USMA Exchange Cadets at the US Coast Guard Academy Affirmation Ceremony. Cadets: Pier H. Bos, Nathan P. Jenkins, Jacob L. Marchetti, Zachary C. Wolsborn, and John C. Smart shared their journeys to West Point and their commitment to affirm their active duty service to the military upon graduation. Eight graduates participated and supported the recognition of these outstanding Cadets. The 2015 Distinguished Graduate, William F. Murdy '64, provided inspiring remarks about the legacy and consistency of West Point in creating leaders of character who have a warrior mentality to win with integrity in battle and beyond. Following the Cadets' Oath of Affirmation, Bob Thomas '73, 50th Year Affiliation Class Member, provided each Cadet with their commemorative coin with their '23 Crest and the '73 Crest, respectively. They concluded the event with a special dinner at Tony D's in New London, shared and listened more, happy to have the USCGA Superintendent William G. Kelly and Commandant of Cadets Captain Arthur Ray attend along with other leadership team members. Photos.

WPAOG held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 1, 2021, to officially open the new Equestrian Center for USMA. [SEE PHOTOS]

The center features a 17,500-square-foot indoor riding arena, viewing area, tack rooms, horse stalls, changing rooms, and coaches’ office. It provides needed space for year-round training and is accessible to the West Point community and graduates through the Rockbound Highland Home Program.

“This facility will not only benefit the equestrian team but the larger West Point community. It will afford all the ability to ride throughout the winter months and permit us to offer the use of this facility to other West Point organizations that need a large open area to function.” - Coach Peter Cashman

During the ribbon-cutting WPAOG's Kristin Sorenson, VP of Development thanked all the donors who made the new facility possible because of their tremendous support. #GOARMY! Because of donor support, over the past 20 years, WPAOG has delivered over 50 completed gift-funded buildings valued at over $250 million. COL Tom Hansbarger, West Point’s Director of Cadet Activities, thanked WPAOG and the generous donors that made the project possible.

The center is named after West Point Grad and four-star general Crosbie Edgerton Saint '58 who served as Commander, United States Army Europe from 1988 to 1992. In addition to remembering Saint, other major donors chose to memorialize individuals with their gifts: The Ballagh Viewing Lounge is named for LTC Robert S. Ballagh, long-time coach of the Cadet Riding Club at West Point and the Hines arena is named for mule rider at West Point, 1LT Ronald D. Hines, Class of 1961, who was killed in action in 1964 and posthumously awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart, as well as the Vietnamese National Order Medal and the Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry.

Colonel Larry D. Perino ’90 Receives Silver Star. The Army on Friday, October 1 presented 18 Silver Star medals to former members of the Fort Benning, Ga.-based 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment for their actions in Mogadishu, Somalia, on October 3 and October 4, 1993. The awards were upgrades of the Bronze Star medals with combat “V” device for valor that the Rangers received shortly after the battle — among the most infamous fights in recent decades in which U.S. troops fought. The Battle of Mogadishu, in which 18 American soldiers were killed, was later made famous by the best-selling book “Black Hawk Down” and the Hollywood movie of the same name. Read more.

Fred Westerlund ’87, CEO, MBH Settlement Group, was awarded the October Research 2021 Leadership Award at the National Settlement Services Summit (NS3). Established in 2012, the October Research awards program honors men and women in the title, underwriting, lending and settlement services industries for exemplary accomplishment in the areas of Leadership, Innovation and Philanthropy. Fred is honored to be placed in such distinguished ranks of past honorees, and the tremendous leaders in our industry. Evident in Fred’s management style and his remarks are his dedication to the industry and the individuals with whom he works. “At MBH, we focus on the 3 C’s: our Clients, our Colleagues, and our Communities. We believe that everything else will follow. A leadership award is really a team award, so, I would like to thank the incredible team we’ve assembled at MBH. They are amazing and they inspire me every day.”

COL (R) Joseph R. Tedeschi ’57 to Release “A Rock in the Clouds, A Life Revisited”. “On 4 October 1966, a C7-A Caribou airplane flying through blinding cloud cover crashed into Hon Cong Mountain near the base camp of the 1st Air Cavalry Division at An Khe. There were thirty-one people aboard the aircraft, an air crew of four along with twenty-seven passengers. Thirteen people died in the crash. I was one of the survivors.”

COL Tedeschi spends 45 years of his life uncertain of the true details of the crash. And he is always trying to make sense of his survival. In the many years searching for answers, he discovers a very human story of faith, compassion, GI grit and humor, and patriotism. As his journey reveals his faith-based purpose and destiny, A Rock in the Clouds chronicles his discoveries, through which he hopes to inspire to other Vietnam-era veterans, their families, and people of faith.

“Robert W. Ray, Former Whitewater Independent Counsel and son of Robert L Ray, US Army (Ret) who also survived the crash with Joe says of the book: “This is a firsthand and intimate retrospective centered around an absolutely harrowing and deadly plane crash during the height of the Vietnam War more than a half-century ago. But it is also an autobiography filled with memorable stories of brotherhood, faith, and love among soldiers far from home and those who cared for them. Beautifully written and woven from personal recollections of a tragic era in American history, it includes both the highs and lows of grievous injury, loss and recovery, but also—and more profoundly—of devotion, service, character, redemption and especially the lasting bonds of family and friendship. Although so many from that era are now gone, this book tells a timeless story that matters still. I know that it will endure in my heart—and, I hope, in our collective national memory—always.” The November 9, 2021 release by Koehler Books is available for pre-order at Amazon.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1956 | 1964 | 1966 | 1973 | 1981 | 1996 | 2001 | 2011. Class Notes

For the third straight weekend, Army emerged victorious under blue skies at Michie Stadium by defeating the Miami (OH) RedHawks by a score of 23-10. After the First Quarter, the Class of 1981 presented a 40th Reunion Gift of $3,173,127 in support of the Directorate of Cadet Activities (DCA) and Anderson Athletic Center. Mike Miner ’81, the Class Treasurer for the past 42 years, and Nancy Stevens ’81, the Class Scribe and the Chair of the class’s upcoming 50 Year Affiliation Program represented the Class on the field. Joining them was the President and CEO of the West Point Association of Graduates, Todd Browne ’85. Accepting on behalf of West Point was the 60th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, Lieutenant General Darryl A. Williams ’83. This gift was made to honor the 20th Anniversary of September 11, 2001.

Bill Buck ’81 led this successful 40th Reunion Gift effort, which will provide Margin of Excellence opportunities on an annual basis for many cadets participating in extracurricular clubs. The Class of 1981 Weight Room in the newly renovated Anderson Athletic Center offers a state-of-the-art facility and equipment to enable cadet-athletes to train and excel at the highest levels.

Since graduation, the Class of 1981 has given more than $8.2 million dollars back to their alma mater. We thank the class for its outstanding generosity through this monumental gift - Strength As One!

Episode 10 of the On Point podcast is live! On Point is an interview-based podcast is hosted by Eddie Kang, Founder of the Old Grad Club. On this podcast, Eddie talks to veteran business leaders who are captains of industry and pioneers in their field. They are entrepreneurs, executives, financiers, social innovators, and others who made a name for themselves in the military and then took the private sector by storm. In each episode, they share the leadership strategies that got them where they are today, what they are working on now, and where they think the future is headed. Our goal is to bring you actionable insights that you can bring to your own career to improve your performance and increase your impact.

New episodes are released every Wednesday. Episode 10 is with David Kim, Partner and Co-Head of the Investor Relations team at Apax, a private equity firm with $60 billion in assets under management. David, Along with his wife, is also the Co-founder & CEO of Children of Fallen Patriots, a non-profit organization that provides college scholarships to military children who have lost a parent to combat or training.

Prior to joining Apax Partners, David was a Principal at Butler Capital and an artillery officer in the U.S. Army where he graduated from the Army Airborne, Ranger and Jungle Warfare schools. He is a combat veteran of Operation Just Cause.

David graduated in the top 3% of his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point class of 1988, and holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

On this episode, David discusses what it takes to work a full-time job and run an impactful charity, why you shouldn’t try to be all things to all people, and how to keep the same level of satisfaction and camaraderie in your post-service life.

Subscribe and listen wherever you listen to podcasts: Apple | Spotify | Google | Our Website.

MG (R) Gregg F. Martin ’79 shared his experience with mental illness and how to stop the stigma around suicide. September is National Suicide Prevention Month. The national Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). For more information, visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Registration is now open for the upcoming virtual Service Academy Career Conference. If you're currently transitioning from the military or pivoting to a new civilian role, you do not want to miss this opportunity! Over 50 companies looking for promising candidates in all industries have already registered to participate in the Virtual SACC, with more to join! If your organization is in search of top-tier talent, there is still time to register. Informative company webinars and panel discussions start November 1-3, culminating with the service academy career fair on November 5 from 12:00pm - 5:00pm ET. You will not want to miss the opportunity to showcase your leadership and industry-proven skills to employers focused on hiring you! Be sure to register now! Questions? Contact us at Careers@wpaog.org or 845-446-1618.

In partnership with Johnson & Johnson, we are proud to announce the 2021 Do More Together Summit: “Unified Impact.” This is an opportunity to learn together, grow together and ultimately do more together. All graduates are invited to attend this virtual summit, Unified Impact, October 27-29. Do More Together is a non-profit global network of USMA graduates and supporters from all backgrounds that engages, mobilizes, and empowers Black/African American graduates and cadets. Register.

Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) announced that Pete Colbert ’11 has joined the firm as associate attorney and will be based in the firm’s Charlotte office. Colbert practices in the firm’s civil litigation section. He previously worked as an attorney at a firm in Lincolnton, NC and interned for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, E.D.N.C., and the NC General Assembly. Prior to law school, he worked at Wells Fargo as an Operations Manager and served five years as a Field Artillery officer and achieved the rank of captain. Colbert was a four-year letterman in swimming and received his law degree from Campbell Law School.

Cadets from Class of 2024 took the for-credit Geology Field Course AIAD with COL Mindy Kimball West Class of 1996 and traveled to Colorado to work on geologic mapping exercises. The Cadets also used their knowledge of rocks and minerals, together with a compass and a hand lens, to generate their own version of a geologic map.

“Colorado is awesome. I never thought I would have so much fun studying rocks. It brings the classroom to life and understanding what happened in the past helps me to make more accurate predictions on the future. I hope more Cadets get to do this in the future.” - CDT Jaela Rivera, ’24

Cadets also encountered West Point Grads and met with veterans from the Army and the Marine Corps who now work in mining and petroleum engineering at locations like Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mine. This summer’s trip was supported by the Class of 1964 Academy Scholars Endowment!

For more than a century, the Navy Hymn, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” has had no Army counterpart. Tom Lough ‘64, decided to do something about that. As a ten-year Army veteran and church music composer, he has developed a hymn that is being circulated for use with Veterans Day services and events. “Ever Faithful to the Call” honors the service of our soldiers as they do whatever is necessary to keep us free. The hymn is available at no cost for nonprofit use at www.everfaithfultothecall.com. Tom Lough is a combat engineer veteran with service in Korea, Vietnam, and Germany. He is also a church music composer. He and his wife, Posy, live in Round Rock, Texas, where he sings in his church choir.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1956 | 1959 | 1961 | 1962 | 1974 | 1991 | 1996 | 2017 | 2020 | 2021. Class Notes

Episode 9 of the On Point podcast is live! On Point is an interview-based podcast is hosted by Eddie Kang, Founder of the Old Grad Club. On this podcast, Eddie talks to veteran business leaders who are captains of industry and pioneers in their field. They are entrepreneurs, executives, financiers, social innovators, and others who made a name for themselves in the military and then took the private sector by storm. In each episode, they share the leadership strategies that got them where they are today, what they are working on now, and where they think the future is headed. Our goal is to bring you actionable insights that you can bring to your own career to improve your performance and increase your impact.

New episodes are released every Wednesday. Episode 9 is with Herman Bulls, International Director and Vice Chairman of JLL, a company he’s been a part of for a successful 32 years. Herman also serves on several high impact public, private, and not-for-profit boards including USAA, The American Red Cross, The Military Bowl, Comfort Systems USA, American Campus Communities, and the WP Association of Graduates. He is the President and CEO of Bulls Advisory Group, a real estate and management advisory firm he founded 20 years ago 

Herman completed 12 years of active duty service with the United States Army. He retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves in 2008. He is part of the West Point graduating class of 1978 and received an MBA from Harvard Business School.

On this episode, Herman dives into the important differences between networking and connecting, how he draws upon his military experience in the private sector, and the 6 critical skills that he believes leads to success.

Subscribe and listen wherever you listen to podcasts: Apple | Spotify | Google | Our Website.

With NHL training camps opening up this week, three Army West Point hockey alumni received invites to compete for a spot on an NHL roster. Trevin Kozlowski ’21, Dominic Franco ’20 and Parker Gahagen ’17 - who all signed AHL contracts for the 2021-22 season - will attempt to earn a coveted roster spot throughout the next few weeks.

These three former Army standouts hope to join the list of former Army Black Knights in the NHL. That list includes Andy Lundbohm, Brad Roberts, Dan Hinote and current Army hockey Associate Head Coach, Zach McKelvie.

Trevin Kozlowski ’21 - Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild) - Forward. Kozlowski was a 36 game winner for Coach Brian Riley in three seasons at West Point. "Trev" was the anchor of the Army defensive unit that propelled the squad to a 15-6-1 record in 2020-21, the best season at Army since 1995-96.

The Los Angeles native planted his name all over the Army hockey record book, finishing his career with the lowest goals against average in a season in program history, marking a 1.91 clip in 2020-21. Kozlowski also owns the fourth highest career save percentage in program history at a .911 mark. Read more.

Sponsorship Opportunities Available for West Point Entrepreneurs! The 2021 West Point Association of Graduates Entrepreneur Summit is taking place Nov 3-4 in Austin, TX. We are offering sponsorship opportunities for your business to connect with some of West Point's most successful entrepreneur graduates including business executives, investors, and startup companies. Click the link below to see more event details and view our sponsorship packages or email sponsorships@wpaog.org for further information.

Another perfect weekend with another big win for Army West Point against the UConn Huskies! During the first half, Class of 1991 President Scott Clemenson and Fundraising Chairman Jamie Schleck presented a 30th Reunion Gift of $1,500,000 in support of the Army Cyber Institute to the 60th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, LTG Darryl A. Williams ’83 and Kristin Sorenson, VP of Development of WPAOG.

The Class made its 30th Reunion Gift in memory of their fallen classmate, MAJ William F. Hecker III. Major Hecker was one of the five soldiers who were killed on January 5, 2006, when an IED was detonated near their Humvee during a routine convoy, south of Baghdad. Richelle Hecker, MAJ Hecker III’s widow, and family also joined the class to unveil its recognition plaque on the Friday prior to the game.

The Class of 1991 has set the new record of having the highest alumni participation rate of 68.15% for the 30th Reunion Gift. Thank you to the Class of 1991 for its faithful support to West Point and congratulations on this monumental accomplishment!

The upcoming Virtual SACC Advanced Education Fair (free for all service academy alumni) focuses specifically on advanced education options providing a series of pre-recorded and live webinars available now through October 6th. Participate in the Advanced Education Virtual Admissions Fair on October 6th from 12:00pm - 5:00pm ET! You do not want to miss this opportunity!

The Department of History is excited to announce that 2LT Timothy Rudolph ’21 history major, won the Lynn W. Turner Prize from Phi Alpha Theta for the best paper by an undergraduate. 2LT Rudolph’s paper analyzed how British and American officers' disparate discourses on military theory during the interwar period helped to foment Anglo-American strategic discord concerning the cross-Channel invasion. 2LT Rudolph wrote his paper under the direction of his thesis adviser, LTC Richard Anderson. Well done!

On Saturday, September 11, 2021, a team of six represented the West Point Society of Upstate South Carolina at the 2021 Greenville City Memorial Stair Climb. The team climbed 110 stories of stairs to honor the fallen firefighters and other first responders that lost their lives that on 9/11.

December 17, 2021, marks the 40th anniversary of the kidnapping of then Brigadier General James Lee Dozier in Verona, Italy by Red Brigade terrorists. Dozier was held captive for 42 days before being rescued by a special operations team—a news story that made front-page headlines around the world. At the moment news of his rescue broke, everyone was asking: How did he manage to survive this?

The source of that resilience is the compelling story that unfolds in Finding My Pole Star, an inspiring message as timely today as it was four decades ago.

Major General James Lee Dozier retired from military service after serving 35 years with the U.S. Army and NATO in the United States, Europe and Asia. In his new memoir, Finding My Pole Star, this American hero recalls the traumatic kidnapping, his military leadership career, his civilian life as a successful business executive and his active community volunteerism. He inspires us with the timeless values that have guided his life of duty, honor, country and faith—values that can help each of us as we thrive while facing our own fears.

The foundational life-long strength and wisdom that runs throughout General Dozier’s life is what makes this memoir so compelling, say early reviewers. Lt. General Walter Ulmer Jr. U.S. Army retired, says, “Jim Dozier’s life represents that of the consummate, vigorous American. Courageous, thoughtful, and determined in combat, capture, and community, he adapted and won. Working with him as we led an Army Corps, or when he applied leadership techniques from the Center for Creative Leadership classroom to the harshness of captivity, he had the right stuff at the right time.”

The 17th class of the Army Sports Hall of Fame was inducted on Friday, September 17.  A special plaque unveiling ceremony was held in the Kenna Hall of Army Sports inside Kimsey Athletic Center, followed by the formal black-tie Hall of Fame Induction Banquet at Eisenhower Hall.

The Hall of Fame Class of 2020 includes the following: Rhonda Barush ’86 (Rifle), Leamon Hall ’78 (Football), Don Kutyna ’57 (Men’s Swimming & Diving), Jack Price ’32 (Football/Track & Field), Stewart Sherard ’62 (Men’s Basketball Athlete and Assistant Coach), Kenny Smith ’67 (Baseball/Hockey), Gene Ventriglia (Women’s Soccer Head Coach), Cardell Williams ’83 (Men’s Track & Field), Ronn Zinn ’62 (Olympian). Read more.

Michael Eggleston ’61 has published the new book, Fire on the Water, The General Slocum Disaster. Over a thousand people died in less than ten minutes when the Paddle Steamer General Slocum caught fire in the East River of New York City. This history tells the story of the disaster, minute by minute from the time the fire started until the Slocum was beached on North Brother Island in the East River. The consequences of the disaster are explained. This was the deadliest inland maritime disaster in New York history and nationally it is second only to the Civil War incident, the Sultana. This book is organized to tell the story of the disaster followed by the immediate aftermath in terms of the impact on survivors and lastly the causes and consequences for those at fault. One report included in this history stands out among other references. The government established a commission to investigate the General Slocum disaster. The result of commission hearings produced findings and recommendations that were sent to President Theodore Roosevelt. He, in turn, issued directives designed to prevent such a tragedy from happening, again. This was all done in record time but one should bear in mind that 1904 was an election year and Roosevelt needed to demonstrate decisive action. Theodore Roosevelt won reelection to the Presidency. The reader will find in this history 70 maps, sketches and photographs that help understand the events and the people that influenced them.

Reach Out is the 2021 theme for Suicide Prevention Month. The Reach Out campaign focuses on increasing knowledge about what Veterans and their loved ones can do now to help prevent a suicide later. While big life moments—like starting or losing a job, ending a relationship, or raising kids—can be overwhelming, Veterans don’t have to go through them alone. They can reach out and ask for help, and their loved ones and all of us need to proactively reach out to the Veterans and provide support during life challenges. By reaching out early and often, we can help Veterans stay on a healthy pathway through life or get back on track as needed. Here are some ways to reach out:

• Use the toolkit found at REACH.gov/SPM for more information to share with your network.
• Download and share content on the suicide prevention month page to spread the word.
• Call, text, or email the Veterans in your life. For conversation starters, visit REACH.gov/SPM.

Continue to reach out throughout September and beyond. You don’t have to be an expert to talk to a Veteran going through life challenges—showing you care makes a big difference.

Today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day, a day to honor those service members who were held captive and returned from war, as well as those who remain missing. We are eternally grateful for their courage and sacrifice.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1945 | 1956 | 1959 | 1962 | 1968 | 1980 | 1982 | 1996 | 2001 | 2003. Class Notes

Congratulations to all the Distinguished Graduate Award Recipients of 2020/2021!

On September 11, the Distinguished Graduate recipients of 2020 and 2021 received their awards with their families at West Point. These eleven graduates were selected because of their notable service and character in keeping with the West Point Motto - “Duty, Honor, Country.”

DGAs 2020: 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

DGAs 2021: HON Michael W. Wynne ’66 | Mr. Randall M. Pais ’67 | Mr. Thomas C. Shull ’73 | GEN (R) Stanley A. McChrystal ’76 | GEN (R) David M. Rodriguez ’76 | LTG (R) Herbert Raymond (H.R.) McMaster Jr. ’84

Read more about each distinguished recipient on the WPAOG Website.

On August 31, The West Point Society of Upstate South Carolina and the Palmetto Chapter of the USNA Alumni Association co-hosted a Business Networking event sponsored by FocalPoint. This event was an opportunity for society members and their guests to trade business cards, learn about each other, and hear a presentation from FocalPoint Career Coaches (Mike Ungar ’80, John Roney ’85, and Jerry Pilewski USNA ’97) on implementing change in an organization. The societies are hoping to make this a quarterly event.

The United States Military Academy unveiled a monument dedicated to the Buffalo Soldiers of West Point on Friday, September 10, 2021. The new monument is located at Buffalo Soldier Field across from the Thayer Hotel. The Buffalo Soldiers were a regiment of African American soldiers who served at West Point teaching Cadets Military Horsemanship from 1907 to 1947.

In honor of the unveiling of the Buffalo Soldiers monument at West Point, WPAOG has released a commemorative collection of merchandise created and designed by WPAOG with input from West Point Grad and former West Point Commandant MG Fred Gorden ’62. Visit the WPAOG Gift Shop.

This past weekend during the victorious Army vs. Western Kentucky game and on the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks, the Class of 2001 presented a 20th Reunion Gift of $300,000 to support the Combating Terrorism Center and the Cyber Research Center. The Class of 2001, the last class to graduate prior to the events on 9/11, wanted to gather for their reunion and formally present their gift on this significant date. President Sean Morrow and Fundraising Chairman Matt Kapinos presented the gift on behalf of the Class to CSM Michael J. Coffey, the 21st Command Sergeant Major of USMA, and Todd Browne ’85, President and CEO of the West Point Association of Graduates. Thank you to the Class of 2001 for its outstanding support of West Point!

The United States Military Academy hosted the annual Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Conference with this year’s theme “Developing Inclusive Leaders for Future Readiness”. Keynote Speaker, LTG Gary Brito, U.S. Army’s 49th Deputy Chief of Staff, delivered key messages including Developing Leaders of Character, Building Diverse and Effective Winning Teams, Dignity and Respect, and Cultivate an Inclusion environment.

The event brought cadets, staff, faculty, West Point alumni, and diversity and inclusion professionals together to discuss and share best practices on developing inclusive leaders and how to leverage their talent to enhance collaboration, engagement, and innovation within their organizations.

Additional guest speakers and visiting panelists included Mr. Anselm A. Beach, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Doug Melville, VP, Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Richemont and nephew of General Benjamin O Davis, Jr. ’36, Cultural Support Team members including Maj. Kimberly Brutsche, MAJ Jessica Yahn, CPT Mary Kholars (P), Command SGM (R) George Fraser, and 1SG (R) Catherine Harris. Photos.

Today, WPAOG remembers and honors the members of the Long Gray Line who lost their lives as a result of the attack against our country on September 11th, 2001, or have given their lives in defense of freedom while fighting the Global War on Terrorism. https://www.westpointaog.org/inmemoriam

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1956 | 1959 | 1963 | 1971 | 1974 | 1983 | 1990 | 1994 | 1996. Class Notes

Phil Beaver ’83 has recently released (on most major music platforms) the album “Cosmos,” a collection of 1970s-style Rock songs that explore the intersection of the human condition with the mysteries of space. After writing the album, Beaver formed the band The Phirejets with some of Denver’s top musical talent (to include guest appearances by members of the Colorado Symphony) and worked with producer and arranger Stu Miller to bring the album to life. The album touches on virtually every genre of Classic-style rock, to include metal, hard rock, blues rock, country rock, disco, power ballad, soft ballad, to a chamber piece and a hymn. EMI records granted permission for the band to cover a David Bowie song as well, which is included on the album. The album includes a bonus medley of classical piano music that Beaver recorded under the title “Valentine’s Suite.” The name “The Phirejets” was formed as an acronym of the band members’ names.

Congratulations to COL David Barnes ’90 who was recently recognized as one of the 15 most notable AI leaders by Forbes. Barnes is the outgoing Professor and Deputy Head of the Department of English and Philosophy at the United States Military Academy, Chief AI Ethics Officer, Army’s Artificial Intelligence (AI), Integration Center (AI2C), serves on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Military Ethics (ISME), and author of The Ethics of Military Privatization: The US Armed Contractor Phenomenon. In addition to his life of service to his country, COL Barnes' work focuses on how to include more diverse, rigorous, and meaningful conversation surrounding the responsible design, development, and deployment of AI systems among government, industry, and academia.

On 7 September 2021, the West Point Society of Annapolis (WPSOA) and members USMA ’73 (50-year Affiliation Class) conducted an Affirmation Ceremony for the seven fall exchange cadets from the Class of 2023 at USNA being the cadets could not join their classmates at West Point. The ceremony took place at O'Brien's Oyster Bar & Seafood Tavern in Annapolis. WPSOA President Steve Heinecke ’77 began the ceremony by explaining the significance of the Affirmation Ceremony. Steve then introduced LTG (R) Dave Huntoon ’73, former USMA Supt, who the addressed the cadets on the significance and how their West Point education and training will help them face the personal and military challenges that lie ahead. LTG Huntoon then administered the Oath of Affirmation to the exchange cadets, which was followed by members of USMA ’73 congratulating the cadets and presenting them with their Commemorative Coins.

The West Point Society of Annapolis (WPSOA) hosted its annual Welcome Picnic at the Fairwinds Community Pavilion, Severna Park, MD, to introduce the fall exchange cadets to the Annapolis area on August 29. The seven exchange cadets, all from the class of 2023, will spend the fall semester at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. In all, more than 60 guests attended the event and welcomed the cadets who enjoyed a picnic catered by Mission BBQ. WPSOA President Steve Heinecke addressed the assemblage, commented on the society's 35-year history and introduced three of the society's founders, Bob Moore ’58, Bob Stroud ’68 and Bill Taylor ‘70. Steve then explained the annual welcome picnic tradition, mentioned the upcoming Affirmation Ceremony/Dinner and invited the cadets to introduce themselves. A great time was enjoyed by all attendees.

Photo: From left to right, Cadets Abby Graham, Tom Padilla, Caleb Jeffries, Bryce Mers, Caleb Suh, Spencer Lee and Gillian Scott

Roughly 50 members, spouses, and guests of the West Point Society of the Tennessee Valley attended a Benny Havens gathering on the patio of Huntsville’s The Open Bottle to prepare for this season’s Army Football schedule which opened this past weekend. The Society provided lots of heavy hors d’ouvres while attendees purchased their own beverages from the Open Bottle during a pleasant, sunny Alabama Saturday afternoon. Everyone had a good time and all are preparing to cheer on the Army Team for another successful Army season.

The following officers were confirmed by the Senate as of 8/27:

For promotion to the rank of major general:
BG Kris A. Belanger ’91 (USAR)
BG Windsor S. Buzza ’88 (USAR)

For promotion to the rank of brigadier general:
COL Robert A. Borcherding ‘93

The Chief of Staff of the Army announces the following officer assignments:
MG David C. Hill ‘90 to Commandant,
United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1945 |  1950 | 1952 | 1953 | 1959 | 1960 | 1974 | 1984 | 1996. Class Notes

Chaplain Camp was the longest serving USMA Chaplain (1972 – 1996) but his influence was much greater, spanning generations before and after. Beginning as the assistant under Chaplain Jim Ford at the end of mandatory chapel and an honorary member of the class of 1958, his life’s work was marrying, burying, inspiring and motivating generations of West Point graduates. Unable to host his memorial due to COVID last year, his family has scheduled a service for a non-football weekend on Saturday October 9, 2021, at 2pm at the Cadet Chapel. A reception will follow, and all are invited to attend. Multiple events have been planned for that weekend including a 9am Sunday Morning service at Trophy Point where most cadets first heard Chaplain Camp remind them to “lift our eyes up to the hills.” Kicking it all off will be a 9am Saturday hike up Bull Hill where Chaplain Camp is best known for having hiked with every company, every class, for 22 years. Visit us online, email or call 860.608.1172 for additional information.

Your 47-month West Point journey begins with a 90 second goodbye on R-Day and ends when you toss your white service cap into the endless Michie Stadium sky and pin on those butter bars at your commissioning ceremony.

Contrary to popular belief, that culminating feeling on graduation day does not mark the end of the West Point experience; it signals the beginning of a lifelong connection to the Long Gray Line as an “Old Grad.” Graduating from the U.S. Military Academy earns you a spot in a prolific and well connected network that includes every graduate that came before you and every one that comes after you - and that Long Gray Line is here to help you before you even begin your West Point journey “We share a common bond and experience that is unique to the Long Gray Line...we just get each other,” says Rick French ’86 and Executive Director of the West Point Society of D.C. Read more.

Link: https://www.blog.westpointadmissions.com/single-post/2019/10/22/3-Ways-to-Utilize-the-Alumni-Network

In honor of the United States Military Academy Class of 1967, a $10.5 million gift has been anonymously awarded to the Michie Stadium Preservation Project, further adding to the momentum of the most ambitious gift-funded construction project in the history of the Academy.

Thanks to substantial gifts like the one provided by the Class of 1967, as well as the efforts of the West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) and the Army West Point Athletics Association (AWPAA), this newly announced project has already made significant progress towards its $95 million goal.

This transformational project will seek to reconstruct the East Stands of Michie Stadium, an integral part of the “once-in-a-lifetime” experience that has been revered by fans for many generations. Built in 1924, Michie Stadium is an icon of West Point and provides opportunity for Americans to engage with, learn about an immerse themselves in the culture of the Academy. Read more.

The Army Scholarship Foundation has announced the award of 290 scholarships to U.S. Army family members. The nonprofit Foundation was established in 2000 by several members of the Class of 1992 in the spirit of the USMA mission of a lifetime of service to the nation. The Foundation exists to provide college scholarships to the sons and daughters of those who have served our Army honorably as well as to the spouses of active duty enlisted Soldiers. Since its founding, the Army Scholarship Foundation has awarded over thirteen hundred scholarships. Five West Point graduates serve on the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1945 | 1953 | 1959 | 1961 | 1966 | 1970 | 1981 | 1988 | 1993 | 1996. Class Notes

The story of Army West Point Softball is a simple one: the coaches want the women on the team to be better in all pillars of their leader development. Of course, they want to win games, too, but the coaches realize that the game is only one aspect of the cadet experience. In fact, Coach Milligan says, “Anything less than trying to do what we can to make them the best humans is a disservice.” Full story.

COL (R) Jason Kirk ’93 has been named Eastern Region Water Market Leader at Haskell. Kirk joined Haskell in 2018 and most recently has served as Director-Business Development for Aviation & Aerospace Manufacturing (A&AM).

Kirk served more than 25 years his final tour of duty was as the Jacksonville District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Commander, a post in which he led an 800-member Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) team in execution of a $500 million-a-year program of water resource management across Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Among his numerous accomplishments, Kirk led the USACE’s effort to repair the Puerto Rican electrical grid after Hurricane Maria in 2018.

“I joined the Haskell team two-and-a-half years ago after 25-plus years in the Army serving as part of a dedicated group of high-integrity individuals doing important work,” Kirk said. “I’ve found incredible alignment at Haskell. I see in Haskell a team that holds true to those same foundational values.” Read more.

Join us at West Point, September 7-9, 2021, for the 18th Annual West Point Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Conference, presented by USMA. This year’s theme is Developing Inclusive Leaders for Future Readiness. This event will bring together West Point Alumni, members of the Army, USMA faculty, staff, cadets, numerous diversity & inclusion professionals, and distinguished guests for discussions surrounding best practices on developing inclusive leaders, while leveraging their talent to enhance collaboration, engagement, and innovation within their organizations. Please click here information regarding the schedule, details, and registration. Registration closes on Monday, August 30th at 10am ET.

Episode 4 of the On Point podcast is live! On Point is an interview-based podcast  hosted by Eddie Kang '08, Founder of the Old Grad Club. On this podcast, Eddie talks to veteran business leaders who are captains of industry and pioneers in their field. In each episode, they share the leadership strategies that got them where they are today, what they are working on now, and where they think the future is headed. Our goal is to bring you actionable insights that you can bring to your own career to improve your performance and increase your impact.

New episodes are released every Wednesday. Episode 4 is with John Robb '91, Founder and Managing Director of The Stone Creek Group. Prior to Stone Creek, John was a Senior Vice President & Managing Director with Bernstein Global Wealth Management. John is the former chair of the Investment Committee for the West Point Association of Graduates and has served on the Committee since 2004.

On this episode, John unpacks his investing methodology across the various funds and organizations he’s managed capital for. It was fascinating to hear how his experience working with West Point AOG helped shape his vision for creating his own firm.

Subscribe and listen to On Point wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn More

The Virtual WPAOG Leaders Conference was held on Thursday August 12, 2021. Over 200 Class, Society, and Parents Club Leaders attended the virtual WPAOG Leaders Conference, sponsored by the Class of 1967. Leaders from all over the United States and even internationally as far as 5,000 miles away received updates from our Academy & WPAOG Leader Team and had the opportunity to network with each other in breakout sessions geared towards their respective Leadership roles. We also recognized our 60 Distinguished Societies and 16 Parents Clubs in an award ceremony.

The West Point Society of Washington (WPSWA) has once again earned the Distinguished Society Award (DSA). The award was started in 1994 and since its inception, the WPSWA has earned the award every year, congratulations! WPSWA recently had the opportunity to support the incoming Class of 2025 along with their 50-year affiliate Class of 1975 with their very own “Backyard March Back”. A group from the society marched down Ruston Way, around Point Defiance and back down Ruston Way for a total of 12 miles. They were thankful to the Tacoma Events Commission for sponsoring the annual picnic at the conclusion of the March Back.

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2017 included direction to the Department of Defense to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Solider (TUS100). Coordinated by the efforts of the Society of the Honor Guard Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, planning includes a number of projects by federal, state, regional, local governments, individuals and private sector organizations to build “Never Forget Gardens” across the U.S.; have a USPS stamp to commemorate the centennial; commemorative lapel pins; and coins to commemorate that for which the Tomb represents; and for persons and organizations to observe a “moment of silence” at 11am on November 11, 2021.

A former Eagle Scout, Army officer and CFO, Brian Caputo '82 brought all those skill sets to bear in steering the College of DuPage through the pandemic.

If you’re facing a real crisis — say, the need to keep a 21,000-student college going through a global pandemic — it’s not a bad idea to have a guy like Brian Caputo in charge.

Caputo started honing his leadership skills as a teen in the Chicago suburbs, earning his Boy Scouts of America Eagle Award, then attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served in the active and reserve military, gaining a specialty in finance and human resources and eventually becoming a lieutenant colonel.

Enjoying the precision of working in finance, he earned a master’s degree from DePaul and served in several suburban governments, eventually spending 19 years as chief financial officer (CFO) of the city of Aurora. Along the way, he picked up a second master’s, this time in public administration, from Northern Illinois University, and then a Ph.D.

Commanding the title of Dr. Caputo, he switched jobs in 2017 to become CFO at the College of DuPage (COD) because he wanted to help students move forward in life. In July 2019, he stepped into the president’s role at the community college — just a couple of months before the pandemic hit. Caputo spoke with Fra Noi about his experiences and his Italian heritage. [excerpt/photo from franoi.com]

Read More

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1956 | 1959 | 1961 | 1965 | 1966 | 1968 | 1981 | 1982 | 1990 | 1996. Class Notes

Cindy M. Boyd ’92 has been named Chairwoman of the Clear Path for Veterans Board of Directors. Cindy currently serves as President of her West Point Class of 1992 - The Brave and the Few, as Treasurer (and Former President) of the West Point Society of Central New York and as a finance committee member for the West Point Association of Graduates.

“It is a great honor to be chosen to serve as the Clear Path for Veterans Chairwoman,” said Boyd. “I am incredibly proud of Clear Path, its mission, its dedicated staff, many of whom are Veterans, and volunteers that provide individualized direct services to Veterans and their families.” Boyd is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, a United States Army Veteran, and a graduate of Syracuse University. Boyd now works as a Program Manager at Lockheed Martin. “I look forward to working with the Board of Directors, the Executive Director Alexander Behm, and the Director of National Expansion Christopher Flaherty to continue to provide best in class services here locally while also bringing the Clear Path model to communities across this great country.”

During his 30-year military career, David Pelizzon ’81 served in many capacities, from helicopter mechanic to paratrooper to front-line soldier, while rising in the ranks from a private — as a 17-year-old who enlisted before graduating high school — to colonel, before retiring at age 47 in 2003.

While he credits the opportunities he found in the military for some of his success — like earning an engineering degree from West Point and a master’s from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government — Pelizzon says the most important lesson his three decades of military experience taught him is the value of servant leadership.

“In the infantry, leaders eat last,” he said.

It’s a formula that Pelizzon has found works well in business, too, and drives his leadership philosophy as CEO of Granby-based Squadron Capital, an industrial holding company that owns a handful of U.S.-based medical device and plastic manufacturers. Read more.

A $5 million gift has been anonymously awarded to the Michie Stadium Preservation Project in honor of the United States Military Academy Class of 1961, providing substantial momentum to the most ambitious gift-funded construction project in the history of the Academy.

Since its official launch last month, West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) and Army West Point Athletics Association (AWPAA) have raised a significant amount of the proposed $95 million that will support the Academy’s vision to reconstruct the East Stands of Michie Stadium.

“This has been a great week for the Michie Stadium Preservation Project,” Director of Athletics Mike Buddie said. “We have been so fortunate to receive the support that we have from our community in the short time since we launched this effort. It’s been really exciting to see our people come together to support Michie Stadium and help us as we push to establish it as one of the finest facilities that college athletics has to offer.”

Michie Stadium, built in 1924, has become a West Point icon and serves as the gateway to the Academy for many Americans. Whether seen on a nationally televised game or experienced in- person, Michie Stadium is an established avenue for visitors to engage with, learn about and immerse themselves in West Point culture. Read more.

Congratulations to eight new second lieutenants from the U.S. Military Academy Class of 2021 who graduated on August 5, 2021 at Crest Hall. The eight join the 996 graduates from May and the one who graduated in June for a total of 1,005 Class of 2021 graduates.

Photo: Chris Hennen and Tarnish Pride/USMA PAO

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1960 | 1961 | 1966 | 1970 | 1977 | 1986 | 1988 | 1996 | 1998 | 2008 | 2013. Class Notes

Imagine replacing your dishwasher and finding a ring along the back wall in the now empty spot. It is clearly a class ring: unique, large, and with an impressive stone in the center and writing on the sides. Unbeknownst to you, you just found one of the previous homeowner’s most prized possessions, his West Point class ring. But finding such a ring is not as uncommon as one might originally suspect. Full story.

Malcolm Reid ’98, co-founder and Managing Partner of Brison LLC, has been recognized by IFSEC Global as the 3rd most influential thought leader among, academics and association figures in the security field, worldwide.

Chosen based on nominations judged by a panel of highly respected judges, the influencers span seven categories (six for security, one from fire), with nominees and winners coming from across the globe. Defined in the following ways: Someone who has played a key role in driving technological innovation. Someone who has been a driving force in changing regulation, standards/guidance, or best practice. Someone whose insights/opinions are widely respected, and which are influential in shaping debate around industry issues. Someone who has been instrumental in the success of the organization or business they lead or are employed by. Someone who has helped to raise the industry’s profile or been an influential voice in the national media.

This is the 3rd time that Malcolm has been recognized in the top ten of global thought leaders in the security field (2018, 2020 and now 2021).

In honor of the United States Military Academy Class of 1977, a $10.5 million gift has been anonymously awarded to the Michie Stadium Preservation Project, bolstering the efforts of the most ambitious gift-funded construction project in the history of the Academy.

The project, which was officially launched last month, has already made significant progress towards its targeted $95 million thanks to the efforts of the West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG), the Army West Point Athletics Association (AWPAA) and the support of the greater West Point community.

This historic effort will seek to reconstruct the East Stands of Michie Stadium, which provides fans one of the most unique and storied experiences in college football. Built in 1924, Michie Stadium is an icon of West Point and provides opportunity for Americans to engage with, learn about an immerse themselves in the culture of the Academy.

“We are so thankful for the outpouring of support that we have received in our efforts to complete the Michie Stadium Preservation Project,” Director of Athletics Mike Buddie said. “This is one of many sizeable gifts that we have received and we are thrilled by the momentum that this project has. These efforts will undoubtedly benefit the cadet-athletes, the Corps and fans.” Read more.

The West Point Society of the Tennessee Valley hosted 10 cadets on Advanced Individual Academic Development (AIAD) at the Redstone Arsenal on the evening of July 29, 2021 in Huntsville, AL. Cadets enjoyed dinner, and social interaction with leaders, spouses and guests from the society. Cadets in attendance included Kyle Kutz, Will Humphrys, Bryce Bauer, Travis Rettke, Anusha Pakkam, Tyler Gregory, Jeff Green, Lucas Dickerson, Tom Lake and Mackenzie Arns. Society members interacted with a total of 22 AIAD Cadets throughout this summer and developed great camaraderie with these superb upcoming members of the Long Gray Line as they have done for the past three years.

M.J. Gwynn ’86 has released My Battle For Life: Military Lessons to Survive Your Life Challenges. M.J. Gwynn faced a lethal diagnosis of an advanced stage cancer. An initial serious surgical procedure was completed and the ensuing combination cancer treatments were abruptly interrupted by a significant and life-threatening series of medical complications. These included: pneumonia, thrombosis (Blood Clot), numerous interventional-radiology procedures, punctured esophagus, anemia (low red blood cell counts), and a collapsed lung. My Battle For Life includes personal, West Point, and Military lessons, tactics, and experiences from a Cancer Survivor, West Point graduate, and Army officer whose goal is to help you or your loved one in a Battle for Life challenge involving Cancer, illness, injury, or other life threatening situation. You should read this book if you are personally involved in a personal “Battle for Life” to gain some general guidance from the voice of experience on how to get through the difficult period. This book is also applicable for those who may be spouses, family members, friends, or other loved ones going supporting someone in their difficult period. M.J. relied on his life, West Point, and Military lessons and experiences to survive this lengthy and challenging Battle for Life. The My Battle For Life book shares this story and will provide you with insights learned during the complicated recovery of the author's Battle for Life as well as some lessons that were learned as a West Point Cadet and Army Officer. Available at Amazon.

We're excited to introduce the launch of the On Point podcast! This interview-based podcast is hosted by Eddie Kang '08, Founder of the Old Grad Club. On this podcast, Eddie talks to veteran business leaders who are captains of industry and pioneers in their field. They are entrepreneurs, executives, financiers, social innovators, and others who made a name for themselves in the military and then took the private sector by storm. In each episode, they share the leadership strategies that got them where they are today, what they are working on now, and where they think the future is headed. Our goal is to bring you actionable insights that you can bring to your own career to improve your performance and increase your impact.

New episodes are released every Wednesday. Check out the latest episodes featuring Bill Murdy ’64, a 3-time CEO, and current Chairman of the Thayer Leader Development Group and Bob McDonald ’75, Former Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs and retired Chairman, President, and CEO of The Procter & Gamble Company.

Subscribe and listen wherever you listen to podcasts: Apple / Spotify / Google / Our Website

The following officers were confirmed by the Senate:

MG Antonio A. Aguto, Jr. ’88 for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as Commanding General, First U.S. Army, Rock Island Arsenal, IL.

MG Jonathan P. Braga ’91 for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, NC.

MG Antonio M. Fletcher ’89 for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as Commander, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Special Operations Headquarters, Belgium.

For promotion to the rank of major general:
BG Gregory K. Anderson ’91 
BG Gregory J. Brady ’91
BG Curtis A. Buzzard ’92
BG Michael K. Hanifan ’86 (ARNG)
BG Kipling V. Kahler ’87 (ARNG)
BG Joseph A. Ryan ’91
BG Michelle A. Schmidt ’92
BG Brett G. Sylvia ’94
BG Todd R. Wasmund ’91

For promotion to the rank of brigadier general:
COL Rose P. Keravuori ’97 (USAR)
COL Michael J. Karwatka ’95 (ARNG)
COL Cristina M. Moore ’95 (ARNG)
COL John R. Pippy ’92 (ARNG)
COL Benjamin S. Valentine ’93 (ARNG)

The West Point Association of Graduates is pleased to announce that Lieutenant Colonel (Promotable) James R. Enos, Class of 2000, has been selected to receive the 2021 Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms, which will be presented on October 21, 2021, at West Point, New York.

Read more.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1959 | 1971 | 1974 | 1981 | 1985 | 1996 | 2005. Class Notes

Check your mailboxes this week for the 2021 Summer Issue of West Point Magazine! This issue covers graduation for the Class of 2021, an in-depth look at what the study of law looks like at West Point and the latest Sandhurst Competition with USMA holding the three top spots. Read the digital version here.

The following officers were confirmed by the Senate:

LTG Theodore D. Martin ’83 to Commanding General, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth, Fort
Leavenworth, KS.

GEN Paul J. LaCamera ’85 to Commander, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea,
Republic of Korea.

MG Ronald P. Clark ’88 for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as Commanding General, U.S.
Army Central, Shaw Air Force Base, SC.

MG Patrick E. Matlock ’88 for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general.

BG Joseph B. Berger III ’92 for promotion to the rank of major general.

COL Shane R. Reeves ’96 for promotion to the rank of brigadier general and assignment as Dean of the Academic Board, USMA, West Point, NY.

The following officer was promoted to the rank of brigadier general: COL John T. Reim Jr. ’90.

On July 26, the Senate confirmed Frank Kendall III, USMA Class of 1971, to lead the U.S. Air Force. Kendall retired as a LTC from the US Army Reserves and from 2012 to 2017, he served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. “No doubt, our Airmen, Guardians, and their families will be served well,” said Secretary of Defense GEN (R) Lloyd J. Austin III ’75. Read Austin’s full statement here.

Nine air commandos received five Distinguished Flying Crosses and four Air Medals on July 27 for saving the lives of 88 American and Afghan special forces troops over nearly two hours of combat in September 2019. Among those recognized was aircraft commander Lt Col Christopher McCall ’05. The AC-130J Ghostrider crew from the 73rd Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, FL was tasked to provide air cover for special forces in Afghanistan, firing at unnamed enemies who ambushed the American and Afghan team. ““I am humbled by the trust and confidence the ground force placed in our crew to protect them in the critical moments, McCall said.” “Gunship crews train for missions like this, in this environment, night after night. I am truly inspired by the men and women who step into those valleys and towns not knowing what’s around the next corner. I am very proud that our crew was able to support them and execute our mission when it mattered most.” Full story.

Joseph Adams ’85 a research staff member at IDA, was installed as a fellow of the Military Operations Research Society (MORS) at the 89th Symposium. Adams works in the Strategy, Forces and Resources Division within the Systems and Analyses Center, one of three Federally Funded Research and Development Centers that IDA operates. Being selected as a MORS fellow is the highest honor bestowed by the organization, recognizing significant contributions to the society and its members. Adams became a MORS member in 1995. He served in roles such as working group chairs and co-chairs, and Strategy, Forces and Resources composite group chair before being elected as a member of the board of directors.

David E. White Jr. and Andrew Glubzinski were recently elected as Stephen M. Kellen Term Members of the Council on Foreign Relations. They join fellow classmates Kyle J. Wolfle, Michael A. Robinson, and Benjamin E. Haas, who were previously elected as term members in 2019, 2020, and 2020, respectively. White is currently serving in the Biden-Harris Administration as Deputy Associate Counsel at the White House.

The Stephen M. Kellen Term Member Program provides young professionals in government, media, nongovernmental organizations, law, business, finance, and academia the opportunity to participate in a sustained conversation on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. The program allows these term members to interact with seasoned foreign policy experts and participate in a wide variety of events designed especially for them. Each year, a new class of term members between the ages of thirty and thirty-six is elected to serve a fixed five-year membership term.

WPAOG sadly announces the death of West Point’s oldest living graduate, Colonel Raymond Renola ’40, USA Retired. COL Francis K. Newcomer Jr. ’39, USA Retired is now the oldest living graduate.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1956 | 1958 | 1959 | 1973 | 1974 | 1990 | 1996 | 2009. Class Notes

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1946 | 1953 | 1956 | 1958 | 1959 | 1962 | 1962 | 1974 | 1985 | 1990 | 1996. Class Notes

Colonel Chris Korpela ’96 with Black and Gold Autonomous Racing, partnered with Perdue, will be competing in October 2021 in the Indy Autonomous Challenge! Autonomous Racing: No driver, just software. Imagine driver-less autonomous vehicles battling wheel to wheel for track position and podium success. All to help improve the performance and safety for vehicles of tomorrow.

Autonomous racing is the ultimate engineering challenge. The driver is replaced with a variety of sensors that act as the eyes and ears of the vehicle, feeding the data to a planning and control algorithm that students develop and tune. Machine learning (artificial intelligence) is often used to create human like behaviors and interpret complex sensor data. It is a complex mechatronic challenge that offers students hands-on experience in sophisticated systems development. Learn more.

LTC (R) Jen Easterly ’90 was unanimously confirmed by the Senate as Director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Prior to coming to CISA, she was the head of Firm Resilience and the Fusion Resilience Center at Morgan Stanley, responsible for ensuring preparedness and response to business-disrupting operational incidents and risks. Director Easterly served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism in the Obama Administration, and earlier as the Executive Assistant to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice in the George W. Bush Administration. “I am incredibly honored and humbled to join the team at CISA. I have admired the agency from afar as the organization has grown over the past several years, and seen firsthand how its guidance, insight and resources can benefit public and private sector partners as part of our collective defense to build a more resilient nation.” said Easterly.

Get ready for the next Virtual Service Academy Career Conference (SACC) August 16 - 20, 2021! SACC will put you in touch with recruiters from industry-leading companies and representatives from respected universities. If you are currently transitioning beyond the military or pivoting to a new role in the industry, you do not want to miss this opportunity. This August virtual event replaces the in-person San Diego SACC and currently features 60 organizations, including a handful of graduate schools. Questions? Contact us at: careers@wpaog.org. Register now!

Mr. George Silides, from the Class of 1946, had his poem “My Country, What of Thee (A Life in Rhyme)” published in the San Diego Union-Tribune. Silides, 99, is a civil engineer and former Alaska state senator. He lives in Escondido, CA with his wife.