The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1952 | 1961 | 1962 | 1970 | 1976 | 1993 | 1996. Class Notes

Cadet Basic Training (CBT) is stressful enough on its own, but in the summer of 2020 new cadets had to endure Beast Barracks with the added stressor of COVID-19. “I remember lying in bed on that first night thinking, ‘If this is what being an officer is like, I don’t know if I can do five years,’” Knights says. He found that he missed his parents a lot, even though he told them and himself before CBT that he wouldn’t. As it turned out, by the end of Beast, Knights learned that he now had a second family. True, his companymates and classmates have become family to him, but at the conclusion of CBT Knights also met his Fourth Class Sponsor family: Chaplain (Major) Jay Hudson, his wife and their three kids, who have volunteered their home to assist Knights and five other plebes in their development by exposing them to Army traditions, customs, and courtesies, as well as helping them realize that the Army lifestyle involves a family environment not all that different from what they knew as civilians just a few months earlier. Full story.

Our third West Point Entrepreneur Virtual Speaker Series event for the year will be held on Thursday, June 24, 2021, at 2pm ET and will feature Taylor Justice ’06, Co-Founder and President, Unite Us. This fireside chat will be moderated by Brad Harrison ’94, Founder/Managing Partner, Scout Ventures. Email us here: Alumniconferences@wpaog.org. Register here.

Six Redstone Arsenal Advanced Individual Academic Development (AIAD) Cadets (Owen States, Chris Sowinski, Ethan Paraiso, Luke Hester, Josh Dale and Dan Minyard) enjoyed a dinner at Mellow Mushroom with West Point Society of the Tennessee Valley Officers (Bill Wilhelm, Comms Officer), Ian Humphrey (Active-Duty Liaison Officer), Heather Burruss (Cadet Engagement Officer), John Warnke (Activities Officer) and Gary Stewart (President) in Huntsville on the evening of June 10, 2021.

In May, many West Point Grads volunteered to participate in a service project called “The Honor Project” during Memorial Day Weekend. Grads, Veterans, and civilians traveled to the Arlington National Cemetery and laid out flags in front of the gravestones of nearly 4,000 fallen service members as a special request from their loved ones during May 29 -31, 2021. The West Point Grads who attended the event also visited the gravestones of West Point classmates who were buried at Arlington National Cemetery. West Point Grads, John DiNome ’81, Charles Chalfont ’94, Bridget Altenburg ’95, Bridgette Bell ’04, Mary Tobin ’03, Janaia Nash ’03, Chief Program Officer, Tracy Tawiah ’03, Kafi Joseph ’03, and Cadet Nathaniel Miseli 23 volunteered at the event.

The Honor Project was started this year after COVID-19 prevented many families from visiting in person last year during the pandemic.

June 14, 1775, America’s Army was founded when our nation’s leaders established the Continental Army. Today, the Army is the strategic land power of the joint force, at its core, selfless soldiers. Never wavering. Never faltering. 245 years of defending our great Nation. Happy Birthday, United States Army!!

Bill Kosco ’62 has released Establishing the Brotherhood: Army Rugby’s First Team. In true rugby fashion, the creation and publication of Establishing the Brotherhood (available on Amazon.com) was a team effort. First Team Historian, Mike Schredl ’62, gathered team stories, testimonials, and statistics to honor the 60th anniversary of the Army Men’s Rugby in 2021. When Mike passed in 2019, Bill Kosco ’62 assumed the role of editor, obtaining additional input, as well as publication assistance from Dave Phillips ’62 and a cover design by Fred Bothwell ’62.

Establishing the Brotherhood traces the March 1961 origin of Army Rugby to the foresight and perseverance of John Taylor ’62 (founder); the experience of Ric Cesped ’62 (coach), a foreign cadet with high school rugby credentials; and 50 members of the Corps inspired by the Oxford-pitch impact of Pete Dawkins ’59. On 12 May 1962, following General MacArthur's farewell address to the Corps, these cadets took the field and beat the best in the East. Thus began a legacy of leadership, tenacity, and success, establishing Army Rugby as a preeminent Warrior Sport.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1961 | 1970 | 1971 | 1990 | 1996 | 2000 | 2013 | 2021. Class Notes

Josh Zock ’21 and Tyler Kim ’21, former members of the Army Men's Swimming and Diving Team, competed in the first wave of the U.S. Olympic qualifier last weekend at the CHI Health Center.

“Tyler and Josh stepped up on the biggest stage of their competitive swimming careers and swam well and competed as they always do – with everything they've got,” Army head coach Brandt Nigro said. “I'm proud of the work and resiliency it took for them to make it to Omaha. They represented themselves, their families, our program, West Point, and the US Army in such a positive manner.”

Zock competed in the 50m freestyle, finishing with a time of 23.52. Kim placed 23rd in the 200m backstroke with a time of 2:02.44.

“They will certainly remember this meet and the experience for the rest of their lives,” Nigro added. “As a program working to elevate it's competitiveness across the board – Tyler and Josh have certainly opened the door for the up and coming folks who look up to them. I'm already excited for 2024 and can't wait to get back to Olympic Trials with many more cadet-athletes.”

The West Point Society of the Mid-Hudson Region hosted their popular Cadet Candidate Picnic on Sunday June 6, despite a rather warm day. The Society invites the incoming cadet candidates and their families who reside in the Hudson Valley Region to the event so that the cadet candidates get to meet their local classmates, and their parents get to know other parents. Current members of the Parents Club brief the new West Point families as to what to expect living in the West Point region as their cadet children bring classmates home.

The speaker for the picnic was COL Tanya Estes, a professor at West Point and a decorated Army Aviator. COL Estes delivered a very inspirational address to the cadet candidates and their parents. Fortunately, the folks at the USMA 2nd Aviation Detachment at Stewart Airport allowed the society to use their picnic area.

The Seventh Annual Service Academies Global Summit (“SAGS 2021”) will be held virtually/online and “live” on June 15, 2021, with expected attendance by 300-400 attendees representing all five service academies. The Summit theme for SAGS 2021 will be “Rebuilding Together!” and the focus will be on rebuilding our nation, our communities and our institutions in addition to our businesses, careers and lives. Visit the SAGS website to find the full list of distinguished speakers and more details. Register now!

After 20 years of active duty and 10 years as a Department of Defense civilian Kevin Zurmuehlen ’90 decided to become a pastry chef. It is quite the leap, from career military to French pastry chef and entrepreneur, but 53-year-old Chef Kevin Zurmuehlen has jumped in with both feet. “This is so much fun,” said Zurmuehlen. “God gave us an opportunity.”

The love of food and travel are what led Zurmuehlen and his family to the create their own French bakery. Throughout their time overseas during Zurmuehlen’s military career, the family traveled whenever they had the opportunity. In every country they visited, they sampled a wide assortment of culinary delights. French cuisine, especially pastries, carry fond memories. Read more.

WPAOG invites you to take part in an exclusive event on Monday, June 28, 2021, in New York. WPAOG is in an event partnership with The Brew Bus. Enjoy and explore some great venues including a brewery, a winery/cidery/distillery and lunch while getting to know fellow West Point families!

The event starts at 1:00pm with lunch at Christopher’s Bistro Touring/tasting at Clemson Bros Brewery & Warwick Valley Winery, Cidery & Distillery. There’s also an option for a personal tour guide and a luxury passenger vehicle and driver with a lavatory.

To learn more information about the tickets, tours, prices, or guest requirements email The Brew Bus.

Following the U.S. Military Academy Class of 2021 Graduation Ceremony Saturday, friends and family convened at the Boylan household at West Point to continue the right of passage into officership for USMA Class of 2021 Cadet Tully Boylan as he readied himself to don the bars of a second lieutenant on the shoulders of his uniform as family members have done before him.

“This is going to seem weird at first, but you just have to bear with me,” Colonel Gregory Boylan, the executive officer to the Superintendent, said to the family and friends who sat before him as he readied his speech. “All right, everybody, close your eyes. I’m going to talk and I’ll tell you when to open them,” Gregory asked. Everyone closed their eyes with curious smiles on their faces. Then, Gregory began.

“West Point played a crucial role in keeping the new United States from falling to the British. For the area became known for its famed military academy. West Point is located on a plateau, on the west bank of the Hudson River, approximately 60 miles north of New York City,” Gregory said. “It is 1781. George Washington has called the fortified site quote ‘the most important post in America,’ and he worked to keep patriot control of West Point throughout the Revolutionary War.” Full story.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1945 | 1956 | 1959 | 1960 | 1962 | 1966 | 1968 | 1982 | 1988 | 1994 | 1996 | 2013. Class Notes

For one of his last official duties before retiring as the Deputy Commander of the Memphis District of the Corps of Engineers, LTC Nate Molica ’99, presented a certificate of commendation from the West Point Society of the Mid-South to JROTC Cadet Christopher Phebus on May 28, 2021, during the Annual Awards Ceremony for the Shelby County JROTC Program of 19 units. JROTC Cadet Major Phebus will report to West Point in June as New Cadet Phebus to join the Class of 2025. Congratulations to both, as Nate completes a stellar Army career, and Chris Phebus begins his.

The West Point Magazine Spring Issue of 2021 explores how the Long Gray Line stayed connected throughout the years.

Take a closer look at the legacy and history of how TAPS and the Register of Graduateskept the records of West Point and lead to the West Point Association of Graduates becoming one of the most connected alumni bodies in the world!

Read the full article here.

Officers of the West Point Society of the Tennessee Valley Dale McDonough, Gary Stewart and John Innes participated in a Memorial Day Service at Huntsville and Madison County’s Veterans Memorial. The Society Officers presented a wreath in memory of fallen comrades. There were roughly 100 wreaths presented by military, community and veteran’s services.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1943 Jan | 1959 | 1966 | 1971 | 1974 | 1988 | 1996 | 1998 | 2003. Class Notes

Scott “Scotty” Alpaugh is an executive at one of the world’s largest wealth management companies and has worked in the financial industry for over 11 years. He served in the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division for three years before he was hurt while on a combat tour in Baghdad, Iraq.

Here is Scott's take on things people can do to address the root of the problem they are trying to solve. “COVID has forced us to be shackled to our homes and socially distanced from each other. This, among other things, has caused many of us to become spectators instead of players in our own lives. Sadly, this was a problem long before Covid. We watch social media videos, practice tiktocks, and try to ascertain the truth in the news, all the while, watching our lives pass us by. First, in order to address this, I would love to see politicians refocus their efforts to regulate social media platforms and to ensure news stations actually report the news in a bipartisan fashion. Second, I think people need to be more accepting. There is so much tension in our society right now. Families and friends are breaking up over political social media posts, things are getting cancelled faster than they are getting created, and everyone seems to be in a constant state of being offended. If we chose instead to accept other people’s differences of opinions a bit more and didn’t focus on absolutes, the world would be a better place.” Read more.

The Seventh Annual Service Academies Global Summit (“SAGS 2021”) will be held virtually/online and “live” on June 15, 2021, with expected attendance by 300-400 attendees representing all five service academies. The Summit theme for SAGS 2021 will be “Rebuilding Together!” and the focus will be on rebuilding our nation, our communities and our institutions in addition to our businesses, careers and lives. Visit the SAGS website to find the full list of distinguished speakers and more details. Register now!

Alonzo Q. Ford ’98 has been named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Lowe’s Guardian Angel (LGA). LGA is a care provider for people with disabilities in the Southeast. The announcement ushers in a new generation of guidance and growth for the company, which is poised to expand its resident-centric, compassionate approach within Atlanta Metro and surrounding areas. Ford co-founded LGA, www.lowesguardianangel.com, in 2005 with Windy Lowe and Glenn Lowe. They began with one facility, 2 employees, and 2 clients, later growing their organization to a multimillion-dollar enterprise with five locations and over 50 employees and volunteers. Read more.

50 members of the West Point Society of the Space Coast (WPSSC) gathered together on Saturday March 20, 2021 to celebrate Founders Day and meet distinguished speaker, the former Secretary of the Air Force, the Honorable Michael Wynne ’66. The semi-formal event was held at the Holiday Inn Viera in Melbourne, Florida. After the Benny Haven’s, the event formally opened with the Presentation of the Colors by the Viera High School Army JROTC Color Guard, followed by the traditional toasts and a wonderful dinner, attendees enjoyed an entertaining and informative speech by the guest speaker. Oldest grad in attendance, Dr. David Thomas’57 and the Youngest Grad, John Palazzolo ’90, both made brief remarks and then shared the responsibility of cutting the WPSSC Cake with a cadet sword. The evening ended with a moving rendition of the Alma Mater led by the outstanding video provided by the West Point Glee Club and the US Army Band.

Photo: The Honorable Michael Wynne ’66

Registration is open and it is going to be a great Founders Day this year for the West Point Society of North Texas on June 5, 2021! This year’s celebration features casual attire, great barbecue, no speaker other than the Supt’s recorded video, a very deserving Ray Colvin Award winner, and a lot of trash talk between classmates. This year’s venue, Marty B’s, is a great barbecue restaurant. Their second-floor open-under-cover dining room is where they will be holding their Founders Day celebration – and it is the whole top of the building. Right after the celebration, live music by LIVE 5 will be performed on the stage next to the building. Founders Day Registration closes Saturday 29 May 2021. Register here.

The West Point Society of Hampton Roads hosted its annual picnic on May 22 at Harbor Park in Suffolk, VA. Guests were the incoming Class of ’25 members and their families. Four incoming cadets participated. The Norfolk Tides honored the incoming class by acknowledging them prior to the game - those in attendance, and those who were unable to attend. The attending Class of ’25 members waved from the picnic area as they were introduced. The Tides announcement noted the contributions West Point has made to the nation since its founding. Rich Naigle ’77 introduced the cadets in attendance to those who attended the picnic. Rich acknowledged their parents and thanked each veteran parent for his or her service to the nation. Society Treasurer Joy Gibbon ’84 presented a scholarship check to the parents of each cadet present.

Thank you to the West Point community who came together in record numbers to strengthen the Margin of Excellence during the 2021 All Academy Challenge with gifts totaling $2.57 million. It was a close race with Merchant Marine for all five days. We narrowly came in second, with 22.52 percent of the Long Gray Line supporting the Challenge. Every year we have increased West Point participation during the Challenge, which is something to celebrate and will benefit the Academy tremendously. Congratulations to all the academies! Check here to see the 2021 All Academy Challenge Class Leaderboards.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1959 | 1963 | 1966 | 1970 | 1971 | 1974 | 1975 | 1991 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020. Class Notes

The Army West Point Baseball Team has been well-represented through the start of the 2021 minor league baseball season, as three former players have made appearances for their organizations. Catcher Jon Rosoff ’18 is on the Double-A roster for the Detroit Tigers, while both outfielder Jacob Hurtubise ’20 and left-handed pitcher Cam Opp ’19 are playing High-A for the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets, respectively.

Each member of the trio will strive to join former Army West Point pitching star and 2013 graduate Chris Rowley, who is currently the program's only alum to have made an MLB appearance. Rowley got the call in August of 2017 and tossed 5.1 innings en route to becoming the 13th player in the Toronto Blue Jays' history to earn the win in his debut. Read more.

You can make sure you never miss a story: a digest of all the news posted on WPAOG’s website can be delivered directly to your email inbox. Grad News is all about the Long Gray Line and individual achievements. 

If you had subscribed to receive the Grad News email you will continue to receive it from our new service provider called follow.it.  The system offers many more features and a variety of options for receiving the news. The emails will be coming from feedback@wpaog.org so please mark us as a safe sender. If you haven't subscribed yet you can do so through this link West Point Grad News.

We can deliver the news to your inbox, your phone, or you can read it on the web on your personal news page. Unsubscribe at any time without hassle.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

COL(R) Ralph Puckett Jr. ’49 will receive the Medal of Honor today from President Biden. The ceremony will be livestreamed from the White House at 1pm, click here to watch.

The U.S. Military Academy honored members of the Long Gray Line during a wreath laying ceremony today at the base of the Col. Sylvanus Thayer statue. The ceremony was held with Superintendent, LTG Darryl A. Williams, CSM Michael Coffey, West Point Association of Graduates President Todd Browne, and First Captain Reilly McGinnis, who filled in for the oldest graduate and placed the wreath. The event traditionally honors the Long Gray Line and classes in attendance during Graduation Week, while the oldest returning graduate performs the wreath laying. However, this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, members of the Long Gray Line and classes could not attend. Photos.

The West Point Association of Graduates’ Alumni Support programs have been dramatically affected due to COVID-19, but one program is strong as ever.

While dealing with the impact of COVID-19 has been a challenge, it has given Alumni Support an opportunity to re-invent its services, and no program better represents this “pivot” than its 50-Year Affiliation Program (50YAP) which pairs the entering cadet class with an alumni class that is 50 years its senior.

The purpose of the 50YAP, which began with the classes of 1949 and 1999, is to strengthen the ties between the graduates of yesterday and the cadets of today as both groups work together to strengthen the Long Gray Line as it serves our nation. Over the course of four years, the 50YAP graduates will accompany and support their affiliated cadets at significant milestone events from Reception Day (R-Day) through Graduation. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the 50YAP graduates have been unable to be with their affiliated cadets at these ceremonies; however, just like the “close a door; open a window” saying, the support they have given has never been stronger. Full story.

Steve Townes ’75 continues doing aerospace buyouts and consolidations, which he has practiced for over half of his entrepreneurial career in a long series of growth platforms. For the past five years, his Ranger Aerospace holding company has been doubling the worldwide scope of their air cargo services & logistics company, ACL Airshop, to 55 major air hubs on 6 continents. In late April 2021, he merged ACL into a large global infrastructure group called Alinda Capital. Townes will remain CEO of ACL Airshop and co-invested in the capital structure of the deal. Ranger Aerospace LLC also co-invested. “By partnering with Alinda, one of the largest infrastructure investors in the world, we begin an exciting new chapter of strategic scalability and growth.” Townes said. Read More.

Today we celebrate all five branches of the United States military. The West Point Association of Graduates would like to thank all the men and women of the United States Armed Forces for their service to our country.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1943 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 | 1981 | 1985 | 1987 | 1988 | 1996. Class Notes

Tom Kilgore ’80 was recently elected mayor of Lakeway, Texas. Kilgore served in the public sector as an energy executive. Since moving to Lakeway, Kilgore has been an active participant in city government by attending council meetings, redrafting ordinances, and working on the City Charter Committee. He wants to focus on transparency, accountability, fiscal responsibility, senior tax relief and keeping the roads safe. Read more.

Have you ever considered serving on the WPAOG Board of Directors or Advisory Council or do you know someone who would be an excellent candidate? Nominations for the WPAOG Board of Directors and Advisory Council are now being accepted through July 1, 2021.

Click here to find out more about the nomination process.

On May 7, MG John A. George ’88 turned over command of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) and retired from the Army after a 33-year military career. George graduated from the Academy in 1988, and he held several command and staff assignments during his Army service. He deployed on numerous Army missions, including Operation Joint Guardian (NATO), Kosovo, where he served as Chief of Force Issues and Requirements, and Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, as the Chief, Afghanistan National Police Force Management Branch. George’s tenure with DEVCOM began in November 2019, a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic began. In response to the pandemic, DEVCOM released a future of work concept paper to its more than 27,000 soldiers, civilians and contractors, embracing remote work, flexible work schedules and innovative hiring practices. The command, which comprises eight reporting units and three regionally aligned international elements, is the Army’s largest technology developer. “I was proud to join your team 18 months ago, and I am even more proud today to have served alongside each of you,” George said during his retirement ceremony. “It is my hope that I leave the Army better than I found it: that I inspired and encouraged those around me; that I trusted individuals to work their full capacity; that I empowered my teammates to strive for greatness and compassion.

 "A story of epic proportions [and] an awesome feat of biographical reconstruction."—The Boston Globe

 A classic of its kind, The Long Gray Line is the twenty-five-year saga of the West Point class of 1966. With a novelist's eye for detail, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Rick Atkinson illuminates this powerful story through the lives of three classmates and the women they loved—from the boisterous cadet years to the fires of Vietnam, to the hard peace and internal struggles that followed the war. The rich cast of characters also includes Douglas MacArthur, William C. Westmoreland, and a score of other memorable figures. The class of 1966 straddled a fault line in American history, and Atkinson's masterly book speaks for a generation of American men and women about innocence, patriotism, and the price we pay for our dreams.

This program includes an original foreword, read by Rick Atkinson, and exclusive to the audiobook, and a bonus conversation with Ty Seidule.

MG Chris Sharpsten '88 spoke to the Department of Systems Engineering EM482 class. The cadets are focused on Supply Chain Engineering, and MG Sharpsten gave them an update on the state of the COVID vaccination efforts and the US Government program to defeat COVID (formerly known as Operation Warp Speed). Sharpsten is the Director for Supply, Production, and Distribution for the Federal COVID-19 Vaccines/Therapeutics Operation. The operation is charged with delivering 300 million doses of a safe, effective vaccine for COVID-19 as part of a broader strategy to accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics. Other USMA 88 classmates were also in attendance to include COL John Hartke (Chair of Physics), COL Greg Ebner (Chair of Foreign Language), and LTC(R) Dan Pritchard (USMA Library).

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1949 | 1956 | 1962 | 1966 | 1970 | 1971 | 1973 | 1974 | 1984 | 2001. Class Notes

COL (R) Ralph Puckett ’49 received the Distinguished Service Cross 70 years ago for his actions in Korea and that award is being upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

Colonel Puckett was a young lieutenant when he led 51 Rangers and nine Korean soldiers across 800 yards of frozen rice paddies to seize and hold a key hill overlooking the Chongchon River in what is now North Korea. They lost four Rangers and one Korean in the assault, but another battle was still to come. During the night that followed, Puckett’s Rangers faced hundreds of Chinese forces counterattacking the hill. He would be wounded three times before ordering his men to leave him behind and retreat — a command they disobeyed. Read more.

West Point has had a total of 21 grads that have been selected as NASA astronauts. COL(R) Shane Kimbrough, USMA Class of 1989, is currently in space as part of SpaceX's Crew-2 mission, the second operational commercial crew flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. The U.S. Army Astronaut Program allows active-duty Army personnel who successfully apply for admission to NASA’s Astronaut Candidate Program to complete the two-year candidate process while serving on active duty. Upon completion of training, astronauts will continue to serve on active duty.

Photo courtesy of NASA

The U.S. Senate has confirmed the following officers for promotion to the rank of major general:
BG Richard E. Angle ’91, BG Charles D. Costanza ’91, BG David M. Hodne ’91, BG Heidi J. Hoyle ’94, BG Mark H. Landes ’90, BG Charles R. Miller ’90 and BG Walter T. Rugen ’89.

The Chief of Staff of the Army announces the following officer assignments:
MG Richard E. Angle ’91 to Commanding General, 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC
BG(USAR) Christopher Z. Barra ’89 to Commander (Troop Program Unit), 451st Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Wichita, KS
BG Charles D. Costanza ’91 to Commanding General, 3d Infantry Division and Fort Stewart, Fort Stewart, GA
BG Garrick M. Harmon ’92 to Commanding General, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL
BG David M. Hodne ’91 to Commanding General, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, Fort Carson, CO
BG(USAR) Stephanie Q. Howard ’94 to Commander (Troop Program Unit), USAR Sustainment Command, Birmingham, AL
BG Mark C. Quander ’95 to Commandant of Cadets, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY
BG Paul T. Stanton ’95 to Commanding General, Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon, Fort Gordon, GA
BG Curtis D. Taylor ’94 to Commanding General, National Training Center and Fort Irwin, Fort Irwin, CA

The West Point Association of Graduates would like to thank all our 200 virtual guests who attended the Donor Tribute live stream event from Herbert Hall last week.
WPAOG took the opportunity to thank the dedicated supporters of West Point, ensuring that current and future members of the Long Gray Line benefit from the extraordinary range of opportunities and experiences that make up the Margin of Excellence. These experiences and opportunities include many of the cadet projects seen throughout this year's Virtual Projects Day. View more photos of Projects Day.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1945 | 1960 | 1961 | 1966 | 1968 | 1981 | 1982 | 1987 | 1988 | 1996. Class Notes

The U.S. Army announced April 29, 2021 that COL Shane Reeves ’96 will be the next U.S. Military Academy Dean of the Academic Board.

Nominated by President Joseph R. Biden, the U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination.

“I want to congratulate Col. Reeves on his nomination for appointment to brigadier general and assignment as the U.S. Military Academy's Dean of the Academic Board,” said LTG Darryl A. Williams 60th superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy. “He is an integral member of the team, involved in so much of what makes West Point the preeminent leadership institution preparing our graduates to lead in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.”

Reeves, a native of Rock Springs, WY, currently serves as professor and head of the Department of Law and will replace BG Cindy Jebb when she retires on May 28.

“The opportunity to serve as the Dean of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point is a great honor and privilege,” said Reeves. “I am excited to join LTG Williams and his command team. I look forward to collaborating with the staff and faculty to continually advance our institution’s commitment to developing leaders of character for the Army and the nation.” Read more.

The 2020 Register of Graduates is coming soon. It contains more than 77,000 individual entries recording the names, classes, and careers of every West Point graduate from 1802 to 2020. The 2020 Edition will feature a premium “Red Sash” red cloth binding embossed with gold foil, suitable for display in your office or home library. Thank you to all that have pre-ordered already. This edition has gone to print, and it should be in the mail by late May. There are limited quantities of extras so make sure to order yours today! Order online from the WPAOG Gift Shop. You can also order by phone Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm by calling us at 800.426.4725.

Cadets at the United States Military Academy presented their Capstone projects and final presentations at West Point. Cadets have worked hard all year long and will share their research in a virtual space to USMA’s academic faculty, stakeholders, and their fellow Cadets. Projects Day and many other academic enrichment events like this are made possible by donor support! More than 800 Cadets created, researched, and designed 319 projects! Below are a few links to where you can see their innovative work and download a helpful app to keep updated. Ways to follow the 22nd Annual USMA Projects Day Website, YouTube and Downloadable App.

Team Superstrand, a West Point multidisciplinary cadet team, won the 2021 WISE Challenge hosted by the DEVCOM Soldier Center on April 27th by beating eleven other teams from the U.S. Service Academies.  Over the last academic year, cadets and midshipmen researched, designed, and implemented solutions to service specific or joint mission challenges.  In the WISE Finals, teams were judged for innovation, technical approach, and analysis, operational impact to the Warfighter, and how well the idea was communicated to the audience.  Team Superstrand brought home the top spot with their state-of-the-art design of a biosensing, conductive textile material for military uniforms using synthesized carbon nanotubes and cellulose nanofiber composites.  Cadets Felita Zhang, Edward Tang, Paul Trackey, Alexa Zammit, Danielle Lynch, Hunter Beauchamp, and Jeff Tantow were advised by Colonel John Burpo and Dr. Enoch Nagelli from the Department of Chemistry and Life Science.  Furthermore, Team Defenders, another West Point multidisciplinary cadet, tied for second place in the WISE Challenge.  Their project designed and tested an innovative armor structure system to protect military vehicles against blasts while optimizing weight.  Cadets Jarrett Justice, Courtney Loomis, Tyler Kim, and Jesus Carrillo, were advised by Dr. Kevin McMullen from the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering.

Raw emotions energized the moment as an ample number of shared memories synergized the atmosphere in reflecting on a 39-year military career and 43 years since arriving at the U.S. Military Academy. In honoring an exceptional and genuine person and a unique professional experience, the Corps of Cadets bid farewell and celebrated the Dean of the Academic Board Brig. Gen. Cindy Jebb with a Corps Farewell Banquet April 15 at the Cadet Mess Hall.

The evening was a retrospect of an expansive legacy that began in 1978 as a member of the third class of women accepted to West Point. Her story expounded on a career that included field research in Africa, working at the National Security Agency, study projects in Afghanistan and Iraq, serving as a senior advisor to the Chief of the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq, the head of the Department of Social Sciences to becoming the first female and 14th Dean of the Academic Board at USMA in June 2016.

After Jebb retires from the military next month, she will become the fifth president of Ramapo College of New Jersey, not too far from her childhood home of New City, New York, in Rockland County.

However, before she moves onto her next venture in life, Jebb received several acknowledgements and had a chance to remember and give many thanks to everyone who helped shape her into the academic stalwart she is today during the farewell banquet.

Before Jebb’s speech, a handful of speakers set the stage beginning with the Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Curtis A. Buzzard.

Buzzard, who is the third commandant to work with Jebb since she became dean, first met her about eight years ago when she was the SOSH Department head and he attended a Senior Leaders Conference at West Point, which was a conference to discuss national security challenges. Full story.

The latest issue of West Point magazine should be arriving at your doorstep very soon if, it hasn’t already. The online edition is available now! Read about the combat experience of the GWOT Generation of the Long Gray Line, the Ring Melt program for the Class of 2022 and the families that volunteer for the Cadet Sponsorship program here.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1954 | 1959 | 1960 | 1966 | 1986 | 1989 | 1990 | 1992 | 2005. Class Notes

Join us from 2:00 to 3:30pm ET on Thursday, May 6, 2021 for our monthly installment of the West Point Entrepreneur Virtual Speaker Series featuring Steve Cannon ’86, CEO, AMB Sports + Entertainment. This fireside chat will be moderated by Jamie Holden ‘00, Senior Vice President, Vista Equity Partners.There is no cost to attend.

If you have any questions, contact alumniconferences@wpaog.org or 845.446.1649 and reference our event. Register before Tuesday, May 4!

Navigating a transition during a pandemic is especially daunting. If you are considering a new career path OR if your organization is searching for top-tier talent, SACC can help you make the right connections. Employers are already reaching out to prospective candidates for introductory, pre-screen phone calls. Do not miss out on this opportunity to land a job offer in a challenging economic environment. SACC Questions? Contact us at careers@wpaog.org.
*SACC Webinars May 3-5, 2021
*Virtual Career Fair May 7, 2021
*Connect virtually with recruiters from industry-leading employers
*Meet with companies who are actually hiring

Register now for SACC May 3-5, 2021

Former Captain Greg C. Washington ’05 is preparing to walk nearly 1,800 miles across 11 states to increase awareness on veteran suicide and pay respect to his two best friends killed in combat. During “A Walk to Honor,” Washington will depart from Mound Bayou, Mississippi, at the end of this month and stop in 25 cities before ending his journey at the United States Military Academy at West Point, in September.

The trip will include 65 days of walking and 71 on-site days. With each stop, he will participate in a series of scheduled rallies as a call to action to local, state and military communities to help end veteran suicide, he said. The walk will also pay tribute to 2LT Emily Perez and CPT Scott Pace, two of his closest friends and fellow 2005 academy graduates, said Washington, who served seven years and deployed twice to Iraq.

“Scotty Pace and Emily Perez were two amazing people,” Washington said during an interview. The three of them “were a peculiar bunch,” he added, as they collectively pushed each other through all the “blood, sweat, and tears” to graduate West Point and become Army officers. Full story.

Colonel Shane Kimbrough ’89 will serve as commander of NASA and SpaceX's Crew-2 mission flying to the International Space Station next week. Kimbrough will take command of Crew Dragon for his third trip to space, currently slated for liftoff from Kennedy Space Center at 6:11 a.m. April 22. He will spend six months aboard the ISS with three others traveling in the capsule: NASA colleague Megan McArthur, European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Aki Hoshide. Read more.

It's National Volunteer Week. Thank you to all our volunteers around the world that continue to promote and support WPAOG and USMA. Their dedication and commitment are what helps the West Point Association of Graduates remain the leading, most powerful, most highly connected alumni body in the world.

To join one of our amazing volunteer groups, visit our information page.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1956 | 1962 | 1966 | 1974 | 1984 | 1991 | 1994 | 1996 | 2000. Class Notes

Major General Heidi J. Hoyle ’94 was promoted to 2-star General April 9, 2021, officially making her the youngest 2-star in the United States Army. MG Hoyle is the commanding general of the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. Distinguished guests and family attended the promotion, including a dozen or so members from the Class of ’94.

“I can tell you that her leadership is authentic,” said General Stephen R. Lyons. “It’s clear she serves with a greater purpose, embracing discipline and sacrifice for others. She’s a straight-shooter that exemplifies mutual respect, which is the basis for empowerment of high-performing organizations.” Read more.

The Class of ’46 Great Hall in the Herbert Hall Alumni Center includes floor to ceiling windows, gleaming wood floors, brass balcony, and a majestic fireplace. The Great Hall can be used for wedding receptions, graduation parties, Class reunions, military promotion, or retirement ceremonies, and more. Find out more about the Great Hall. Contact us at Great-Hall@wpaog.org or visit our website WestPointAOG.org/HerbertHallRental for more information.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1962 | 1966 | 1970 | 1979 | 1996 | 2002 | 2007 | 2013. Class Notes

Join us on Wednesday, April 14th at 7:30pm EST for our 1st virtual West Point DEVCOM Warfighter Innovation in Science and Engineering (WISE) Challenge Semi-Finals. WISE is a new Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) competition sponsored by the Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Soldier Center and approved by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research & Technology. Nine cadet teams from across West Point will compete in a Shark Tank like event to be selected to represent the Academy at the upcoming DEVCOM WISE Finals.  The competition is managed by the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering’s Center for Innovation and Engineering, directed by LTC Jamie Bluman ’99, AVN. For more information on this event contact the Center for Innovation and Engineering at CMEcie_director@westpoint.edu”

View Events on YouTube Channel

WPAOG’s most historic publication is currently being updated in a new 76th edition for 2020, now available for pre-orders. The "Register of Graduates & Former Cadets" is WPAOG’s oldest publication, dating back to 1850, when the first Register was compiled by George W. Cullum, Class of 1833, who devised the system of "Cullum numbers" assigned to every graduate. It is an indispensable treasury of military history.

The 2020 Register of Graduates will contain more than 77,000 individual entries recording the names, classes and service to the nation of every West Point graduate from 1802 to 2020.

The 2020 Edition will feature a premium “Red Sash” red cloth binding embossed with gold foil, suitable for display in your office or home library.

Order online from The Gift Shop - WPAOG online store. You can also order by phone Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm by calling us at 800.426.4725. https://www.wpaoggiftshop.com/register-of-graduates.

Learn more about this classic West Point reference book recording the history and achievements of the Long Gray Line: https://www.westpointaog.org/registerofgraduates

The WPAOG Travel Program is proud to announce its 2022 trips. Sign up today to reserve your spot for the trip of a lifetime! Join fellow West Point alumni, family, and friends for exciting adventures all over the world. To learn more about all of our travel experiences, visit WestPointAOG.org/travel and explore our interactive travel map or email us at Travel@wpaog.org.

From Starkville to West Point Military Academy to deployment in Afghanistan, Captain Matt Savage ’13 never thought he would end up moving back to his hometown. But a motorcycle crash in 2018 changed everything for the former sharpshooter.

“I would have never thought that the human body could have lived through what mine went through,” he said. The body that was in a coma. And then I woke up.” Now retired, Savage may be a civilian, but the Army Ranger veteran is still finding ways to serve his country.

“There’s no giving up,” he said, describing the mindset that fueled his incredible recovery and continues to motivate him. “There’s no giving up on a flight and you have to be very dedicated to that and just keep fighting every single day.” Nowadays, he’s traded his rifle in for a hammer. “I’m the official rank of ‘Mr.’ instead of ‘Captain.’,” he said with a smile.

Savage partnered with Starkville’s Habitat for Humanity and Mississippi State to help build the 2020 Maroon Edition House for a local family in need. Monday, they held a ceremony to welcome the new family and dedicate the house in Savage’s honor. Read more.

Stuart Williams ’02 is the first-named inventor on two US patents, #10,887,218 & #10,951,654.  The patents increase network security and improve encryption and data obfuscation on routed networks and optical networks, respectfully.  Stuart is a Principal Solutions Architect supporting the Defense and National Security Business Unit for AT&T Corporation, and based in Annandale, VA.  Stuart architected the network as a service (NaaS) framework that Defense Departments are currently prototyping for their enterprise and mission networks.  Stuart is also driving technical strategy to support Defense migration to 5G.

Darin Pepple ’07 has released Dodgebomb: Outside the Wire in the Second Iraq War. Dodgebomb is a gritty, unheroic war novel set in Iraq during the Troop Surge in 2008. Trying to break the Hollywood clichés of every soldier having PTSD and being Special Forces, the book focuses on the regular unassuming soldiers that fought Al Qaeda, broke bread with sheiks, and tried to understand why they were there.

During the height of the Global War on Terrorism, Lieutenant Eddie Fitzgerald is sent straight from school to Iraq as a casualty replacement. Immediately thrown into combat, he must quickly overcome his naivety and earn the trust of his unit in order to survive. However, if hunting Al Qaeda wasn’t enough, he’s quickly pulled into Arab tribal politics and Army officer rivalries that threaten to spoil any work that he accomplishes.

Available on Amazon in eBook or paperback.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1958 | 1960 | 1962 | 1965 | 1966 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1987. Class Notes

On Target with Success

By Kim McDermott ’87, WPAOG staff
(West Point magazine fall 2019)

In the late summer of 1993, a Daily Bulletin item caught the attention of Lieutenant Colonel Duston Saunders ’72 (Retired) (then working at the West Point Association of Graduates). The Academy was seeking a volunteer coach for the Pistol Team. During an assignment at West Point in the 1980s, Saunders and his wife had sponsored four cadets from the Class of 1984 and found it to be a very rewarding experience. He hoped that coaching the Pistol Team would be equally so. He says, “I had no background in competitive shooting. Along with picking the brain of the outgoing coach, Jack McJunkin, I attended several NRA firearms instructor courses and coach certification courses.”

The leadership at AOG supported Saunders’ desire to coach, and he is now entering his 27th year. Prior to 1993, Army Pistol had been a Corps Squad, or varsity, sport. Budgetary cuts affecting the Academy at the time meant some things had to change, and downgrading the program to a club status was one of them. Despite the change, the team still competes against many of the same opponents each year. Primary competition includes: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, The Citadel, Virginia Military Institute, Texas A&M, and Ohio State University. Full story.

It's April Fool's Day and today we laugh and remember one of the most hilarious pranks pulled off by West Point Grad Mike Nemeth '04 that fooled many Midshipmen and Yahoo News!

On November 4, 2015, Nemeth put together a fake press release that claimed the City Council of Annapolis voted to enact a “Go Army Beat Navy” Day with a “7-1” vote. The bogus press release also included fake quotes from made-up residents and small business owners who were in support of the idea like “Sylvia Thayer” and “Fred Steuben.” One quote said, “Not everyone likes boats — It'll be great to support real soldiers for once.” If those names sound familiar, it's because Sylvanus Thayer was superintendent of West Point from 1817 to 1833. Frederick Von Steuben drafted a drill manual with Prussian techniques for soldiers during the Revolutionary War.

After a few clicks, the story was taken down later that day, but Nemeth says, “It was the best $250 I ever spent.”

The WPAOG Brick and Paver Program allows graduates and friends of West Point the opportunity to etch a meaningful inscription on a brick or paver that will be placed on the historical grounds surrounding the James K. Herbert Alumni Center. This is a great way for graduates and their families to leave a legacy behind and commemorate their West Point experience. Visit WestPointAOG.org/brickandpaver for more information and to place your order or email us at Bricks@wpaog.org. Brick and Paver purchases are tax-deductible.

When faced with challenges, CPT (R) Kerry McNair ’84 learned early on that if he gave his best efforts, even adversity could present opportunity. It was true when he attended West Point and it is true today, as he helps companies deal with the fallout of a global pandemic. McNair, who earned his MBA from Baylor University in 2002, is a consultant with The Partnering Group, where he advises clients in a variety of areas including supply chain network design and optimization, as well as performance improvement.

He grew up in El Paso, Texas, in a military family. “I come from a big family, and I had to figure out a way to pay for college, but I also knew I wanted to serve my country,” McNair said. “If you have been in IT your whole career, getting an MBA can potentially allow people to see you as something other than an IT person.” Read more.

Warrior Centric Health (WCH), Ron Steptoe ’87 CEO and Co-Founder, has been selected to join Microsoft for Startups, a global program that helps B2B startups scale successfully. WCH now gains exclusive access to Microsoft technologies, including Azure, as well as a streamlined path to selling alongside Microsoft and its global partner ecosystem. WCH is a population health management company with an innovative digital platform giving healthcare institutions the tools to deliver essential care to the underserved Warrior community in the commercial sector. The Microsoft global program helps B2B startups scale their companies and accelerate growth.