This year WPAOG won 2 Gold Stevie Awards and 2 Silver Stevie Awards from the American Business Awards Program. There were over 3,600 nominations from many notable companies like Forbes Media, Comcast and Microsoft. The virtual Stevie Awards ceremony for 2020 took place Wednesday, July 5, 2020, at 2pm EDT. The awards ceremony stream link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhTT5JcYG5A&feature=youtu.be

"Thank you for recognizing our work with two Gold and two Silver Stevie Awards. These Awards are an opportunity to acknowledge our dedicated staff and the service & contribution of West Point Graduates to our Country, in war and peace. Thank you & Go Army!" - Todd Browne, President and CEO, of the West Point Association of Graduates.

Our *Gold* Awards:

WPAOG 150th Anniversary Video (click on the link to watch the video) https://vimeo.com/322807700
The Parent Handbook (click on the link for the current handbook) https://www.westpointaog.org/parentresources

Our *Silver* Awards:

Non-Profit Organization of the Year https://www.westpointaog.org/home
Human Resources Team of the Year
The New Career Services Team https://wpaogcareers.org/

*Outstanding job, everyone!*

http://www.westpointaog.org/classnotesThe following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1958 | 1968 | 1974 | 1996. Class Notes

WPAOG is now planning the 2020 edition of the West Point "Register of Graduates & Former Cadets," and we need you to update your career information.

The "Register" is WPAOG’s oldest publication, dating back to 1850, when the first edition was compiled by George W. Cullum, Class of 1833. It is an indispensable treasury of military history, documenting the service to the nation of every West Point graduate since 1802.

Click on the link to review and update your Register of Graduates profile: https://www.westpointaog.org/registerofgraduates

Dr. Charles N. Toftoy is excited about the upcoming release of his book, Blunnders: Shocking Mistakes That Altered History. The Alpha Team is back! This time they explore little known facts about History’s worst Blunders, a series of mistakes causing and leading up to a disaster or horrific event, where numerous lives are lost that could’ve been saved.

Six years of research has brought forth the truth about what really happened, the cover-ups and more!

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to: Wounded Warrior Mentor Program. (Dr. Toftoy is a mentor in the program.)

The book will be made available at Amazonand all major online bookstores everywhere. Get your copy when it comes out and please, pass this information onto your contacts, too, so they can enjoy reading all about the history of these disasters that most people do not know.

Dr. Charles N. Toftoy has worked in three sectors: military (20 years), corporate (12 years), academic (17 years). He was a U.S. Army airborne ranger, infantry officer. Toftoy is a highly decorated (wounded twice) Vietnam veteran (two tours).

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1958 | 1962 | 1965 | 1966 | 1973 | 1974 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1996 | 2002 | 2019. Class Notes

Congratulations to 2LT Grant Hall ’19 and colleagues for their publication in The Lancet on their relevant and timely research on the “Rapid implementation of SARS-CoV-2 sequencing to investigate cases of health-care associated COVID-19: a prospective genomic surveillance study”. For his stellar academic achievements and dedication to research, 2LT Hall was awarded a Rotary Global Grant and is currently pursuing his M.Phil. in Biological Sciences (Pathology) at the University of Cambridge.” https://www.thelancet.com/…

Your West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) Board recently convened a special meeting on the subject of racism. Led by a professional, outside facilitator, our dialogue prompted genuine retrospection. Discussion ensued on the definitional aspects and inter-connectivity among the various facets of racism, diversity, and inclusion. Perhaps most importantly, it underscored the necessity for policy changes and positive action. From a WPAOG perspective, the meeting was a natural follow-on to the Chairman’s June 15th letter to the Long Gray Line (LGL) on racism. It was a bridge to continued coordinated efforts to acknowledge, identify and eliminate racism in all forms within WPAOG. On-going efforts include a thorough review of all policy documents, concerted efforts to improve diversity in WPAOG governing bodies, and greater attention to inclusion and outreach to all members of our extensive graduate body. While the entire Board and WPAOG leadership is engaged in this work, a designated committee of Board and Advisory Council members and other graduates is providing focused attention to these matters. In support of our mission to Serve West Point and the Long Gray Line, we stand ready to support the Academy when asked to do so by its leaders. Concurrently, we never forget the equally important part of our mission to serve the entire LGL. In that regard, we ask again for your ideas and advice on how to eliminate all forms of racism and advance diversity and inclusion within the WPAOG community. We will listen.

The following officers were confirmed by the Senate:

LTG Edward M. Daly ’87 for appointment to the rank of General and assignment as Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL.

MG Dennis Scott McKean ’90 for appointment to the rank of Lieutenant General and assignment as Deputy Commanding General, Futures and Concepts, U.S. Army Futures Command, Austin, TX.

For promotion to the rank of Brigadier General: COL (USAR) Christopher Z. Barra ’89, COL Robert L. Barrie, Jr. ’90, COL Christopher G. Beck ’93, COL Trevor J. Bredenkamp ’92, COL Paul G. Craft ’93, COL Matthew L. Eichburg ’93, COL David C. Foley ’94, COL Patrick L. Gaydon ’94, COL Clair A. Gill ’94, COL James P. Isenhower III ’92, COL Ryan M. Janovic ’93, COL Thomas W. O’Connor, Jr. ’94, COL William A. Ryan III ’94, COL David C. Trybula ’89 and COL Richard L. Zellman ’92.

Buffalo Soldiers Day on July 28th commemorates the formation of the first regular Army regiments comprising African American soldiers in 1866, seventeen months after the end of the Civil War. Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalries were frontier regiments that protected unsettled lands as pioneers moved westward as they endured the hardships of the Wild West. They were recognized for their strong efforts during the Spanish-American War and other engagements in the late 1800s. During World War I, each unit received stateside assignments, with some exceptions. Neither unit saw action during World War II. In 1944, the Army activated both regiments and transferred service members to other units, as integration in the military began. 

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress

NASA and its international partners have selected NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough to serve as spacecraft commander for the Fly on SpaceX Crew-2 Mission, which will be the second operational SpaceX Crew Dragon flight to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

NASA astronaut Megan McArthur will serve as spacecraft pilot for the mission. JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet will join as mission specialists.

Crew-2 is targeted to launch in spring 2021, following the successful completion of both NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight mission, which is expected to return to Earth August 2, and the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission, which is targeted for late September. The Crew-2 astronauts will remain aboard the space station for approximately six months as expedition crew members, along with three crewmates who will launch via a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

This will be Kimbrough’s third trip to space and his second long-duration stay at the space station. Born in Killeen, Texas, and raised in Atlanta, Kimbrough was selected as an astronaut in 2004. He first launched aboard space shuttle Endeavour for a visit to the station on the STS-126 mission in 2008, then aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft for Expedition 49/50 in 2016. He has spent a total of 189 days in space and performed six spacewalks.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1945 | 1953 | 1962 | 1974 | 1975 | 1986 | 1996 | 2012 | 2020. Class Notes

The George W. Bush Institute is proud to announce the appointment of Robert A. McDonald as one of four Endowed Fellows to help further the mission to develop leaders, advance policy, and take action to solve today’s most pressing challenges. As the April and Jay Graham Fellow, McDonald  serves as a key member of the Bush Institute’s Military Service Initiative team, advocating for post-9/11 veterans and building awareness for the issues that affect their successful transitions to civilian life including employment, education, and health and wellbeing. Read more.

Looking to broaden your West Point Alumni network or reconnect with your Classmates? Grad Link is now a feature of Sallyport that offers a one-stop shop for all your Grad communication needs. Activate your account and maintain your West Point relationships with the most highly connected alumni body in the world! Download our enhanced WPAOG Sallyport mobile app on your device and take it wherever you go! Watch this video tutorial and learn how to use the Sallyport App: https://vimeo.com/440534082/c8992cab33 Download now to learn how we maintain our vision to be the most highly connected alumni body in the world!

*Log in and activate your account here: https://sallyport.westpointaog.org/login
*Download our App on the Apple App Store here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wpaog-sallyport/id1485739170
*Download our App on Google Play here:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wpaog_sallyport.app

If you have questions, please email sallyport@wpaog.org or call Alumni Support at 845-446-1612 or visit our website at https://sallyport.westpointaog.org

The Summer edition of West Point is at the printer now, and should be arriving in mailboxes in early August. Meanwhile, the digital edition is now available online. Read all about Graduation 2020 and Operation RESILIENT KNIGHT, describing how the USMA team mobilized to help cadets successfully complete the spring semester working remotely. We think you’ll share our sense of pride reading stories of fellow grads on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19, and you’ll discover how the Directorate of Cadet Activities supports the entire Corps of Cadets.

Lieutenant General Daniel Hokanson was confirmed as the 29th chief of the National Guard Bureau by the Senate. Hokanson, who will also be a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be promoted to four-star general, the highest-ranking officer in the nation's oldest military force.

He is currently the director of the Army Guard. Before taking the helm of the Army Guard in June 2019, Hokanson served as the NGB’s vice chief from November 2016. 

The Guard Bureau chief is responsible for ensuring nearly 450,000 Guard soldiers and airmen are ready and able to conduct their combat and homeland response missions. The chief also serves as a military adviser to the president, secretary of defense and National Security Council. In addition, he is the Defense Department’s official channel of communication to the governors and state adjutants general on all Guard matters.

His combat deployments include operations Just Cause (Panama), Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Iraqi Freedom. Hokanson served as Oregon’s adjutant general from 2013 to 2015. “General Hokanson knows the Guard. He knows the Guard Bureau. And he knows Washington,” said retired Brig. Gen. J. Roy Robinson, the NGAUS president. “He will be a very effective advocate for Guard soldiers and airmen in the Pentagon. We look forward to working with him.” Read more.

Former Army West Point Baseball captain Jacob Hurtubise signed a contract to continue his baseball career with the Cincinnati Reds, the team announced Friday.

The Zionsville, Ind., native becomes the first baseball player to sign a professional contract after Secretary of Defense Mark Esper endorsed a policy in November making it possible for exceptionally talented athletes who have graduated from a military service academy to pursue employment as professional sports athletes following graduation. He will be permitted to delay his commissioning and subsequent service obligation to pursue employment as a professional sports athlete.

“We are exceptionally proud of Jacob,” said Mike Buddie, Director of Athletics, Army West Point. “He has earned this opportunity through his hard work and determination while representing the Corps of Cadets on the field. After spending 47 months training to serve our country, I am thrilled for Jacob to get this incredible opportunity and am convinced this will only make him a better officer when that time comes. The fact that Jacob lost his Firstie season due to COVID makes this opportunity even sweeter, and I know the Reds organization will appreciate his incredible work ethic and talent.”

Over the course of his career at West Point, Hurtubise established himself as one of the program's all-time greats. The outfielder graduates as the Army and Patriot League all-time leader in stolen bases (105) and walks (142). In 2019, he set the program's single season records for runs scored (71), walks (69) and stolen bases (45). He earned ABCA All-American honors and Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019 and was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2020. The two-time First Team All-Patriot League recipient entered his shortened senior campaign as the Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year.

“We are very proud and excited for Jacob to get this opportunity with the Cincinnati Reds,” Army baseball head coach Jim Foster said. “He has been a huge part of our baseball program and will be remembered as one of the greats in program history. He has been the definition of what we want in a player and, more importantly, a person and a leader. He will be a tremendous representative for Army at the next level and we wish him the best going forward!”

Following the 2019 season, Hurtubise was drafted in the 39th round by the Seattle Mariners before ultimately deciding to return to West Point for his firstie season to complete his degree and training. He is the first Army baseball player to join a professional organization since Jon Rosoff signed with the Detroit Tigers in 2018.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1958 | 1959 | 1962 | 1966 | 1973 | 1974 | 1982 | 1996 | 2001 | 2008 | 2014 | 2018. Class Notes

When a soldier has made the ultimate sacrifice, there is a group of fellow soldiers specially trained to care for their remains with dignity and honor. Taking care of those soldiers who take care of the fallen was a critical part of James Sutter’s job in the U.S. Army.

“The mental fortitude that all my soldiers had to be able to do that mission over and over again, it astounded me,” said Capt. Sutter, 28, of St. Louis County.

“To relate it to people who aren’t in the military — every time you’ve seen a movie about the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan, every single time you see a helicopter crash or a soldier get killed, one of my soldiers took care of them. Every single one was a real person that had family left behind...”

The creed of the Army’s mortuary affairs specialists is “Dignity, Reverence, Respect.” Those words were at the forefront of the sacred mission that fell to Sutter’s soldiers as they readied each fallen comrade to be returned to their families.

From properly recovering and identifying the remains of the deceased, to safeguarding their personal effects, to preparing the uniform a fallen soldier will wear, even in a closed casket — these are among the sensitive tasks that must be performed just so, before a hero’s body is sent on its final journey home.

The job is not for everyone, Sutter said, but knowing the impact the role has on family members back home is powerful. Read more.

The WPAOG Ring Memorial Program is now accepting donations of West Point class rings for the Class of 2022’s Ring Melt ceremony. The deadline to donate the rings is October 1, 2020.

If you are interested in donating a West Point class ring you can email us at RingMemorialProgram@wpaog.org or call us at 845.446.1614.

Be sure to watch the Ring Melt video on our website, but get a tissue ready, you might just get something ‘in your eye’ while watching it.

Visit: https://www.westpointaog.org/RingMemorialProgram

In October 1975, in observance of his 50th class reunion, Brigadier General Charles P. Nicholas ’25 published “West Point—Then and Now: Fifty Years of Growth and Change,” an eyewitness account of the most fundamental changes at West Point from the time he arrived in 1921 to 1975. In between describing the “massive array of new buildings” required by the successive increases in the size of the Corps of Cadets, and the reasons why cadets who were once “found” were now resigning from the Academy before separation procedures occurred, Nicholas penned a passage that is as true today as it was then: “The Corps of Cadets is a microcosm of American youth, and the impact of national attitudes at West Point is strong. Certainly these attitudes have changed since fifty years ago.”

Given the milestone nature of 2020—it is the start of a new decade, its repeating digits represent a phenomenon that occurs only once a century, and it marks several historical anniversaries (100 years since the 19th Amendment and women’s suffrage and 400 years since Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower arrived in the New World)—West Point magazine decided it would be a good time to look at today’s Corps of Cadets and see how it compares to “the Corps of an earlier day.” Read more.

After Brendan Mullen’s boyhood dream of attending Notre Dame was shattered, West Point recruited him, the pitch was: If you can’t play football for the Irish and Coach Holtz, then come to West Point and play against them. Impressed, Mullen signed a letter of intent. “Ultimately it was the best decision I could have ever made. Attending West Point and kicking for the Army football team for four years was a path I never anticipated, but one I cherish.” Mullen recalls.

After graduating from West Point, Mullen moved from the gridiron to the battlefield, serving in the U.S. Army for five years as a combat engineer officer. This included a stint in Washington, DC, where he supported the White House and Naval Observatory, serving President George Bush. He was ultimately deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Military Transition Team member, where he earned the Combat Action Badge in 2006.

That same year, Mullen traded the military for civilian life, joining forces with a fellow West Point classmate and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran in a cyber security startup. When Mullen joined the company, he was the first employee and chief operating officer. When he left three years later to launch his own startup, MKS2 Technologies, the consultancy had grown to over 105 employees and $12 million in products and services. Read more.

Army West Point Women's Basketball head coach Dave Magarity announced the addition of Major (Retired) Margaree King Richard to the coaching staff on Monday. A former standout for the Black Knights from 2004-08, King Richard will be joining the staff as an assistant coach.

“I'm thrilled to welcome back Margaree to Army West Point and to the women's basketball staff as an assistant coach for the upcoming season,” Magarity said. “Margaree had a tremendous impact on our program as a cadet-athlete and her experiences will be invaluable as a coach, teacher and mentor to our current players.”

King Richard served a variety of roles over the course of her Army tenure, which spanned over a decade before retiring at the rank of major in April. Most recently, King Richard served as an Assistant Professor of Military Science in Clarksville, Tenn., for three and a half years. She previously deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, during 2010-2011 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. There, she supported over 100 tactical missions.

In addition to her Army career, King Richard has taken on several coaching responsibilities. Her most recent endeavor was serving as the head coach of the high school and middle school girls' basketball teams at the Clarksville Christian School from May 2016-April 2020. Tasked with the challenge of coaching a newly established program, King Richard brought Clarksville Christian to prominence as the team captured three consecutive Tennessee Christian Athletic Association Girls High School & Middle School titles from 2018-20. King Richard also served as the head coach for multiple AAU teams. Additionally, she was the co-owner of Hustle Hard Athletics, a company that specializes in providing a holistic approach to sports specific training for the youth of Clarksville at all levels.

As a member of the Black Knights, King Richard earned a reputation as a player with strong presence on defense, earning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2008. She was an integral part of an Army defense that ranked 20th in the nation in scoring defense in the regular season of her final year, allowing just 55.7 points per game. She was a member of the 2005-06 team, the first squad to claim the Patriot League title and advance to the NCAA Tournament.

After graduating from the Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, King Richard remained at West Point for the 2008-09 academic year, participating its athletic intern program. She assisted with the strength and conditioning staff, working with numerous teams including women's basketball.

The Service Academy Career Conference (SACC) is dedicated to assisting our alumni in their career transitions, no matter the location or platform. Now more than ever, we recognize how important it is for our alumni to make valuable career and educational connections. Register now to join us online!

• Participate in three days of employer webinars August 18-20.
• Connect virtually with recruiters from industry-leading employers on August 21.
• Meet with companies who are actually hiring!
• New & improved virtual career event platform!
• Employers are already reaching out to prospective candidates for introductory, pre-screen phone calls.
• Don't miss out on this opportunity to get a job offer during this financial crisis.

Text “careerservices” to 51555 to stay up to date on hot jobs, webinars and announcements from the WPAOG Career Services team.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1957 | 1959 | 1962 | 1964 | 1965 | 1970 | 1986 | 1991 | 1996 | 2004 | 2010 | 2012. Class Notes

Lieutenant Colonel Laura Keenan ’04 served in a variety of capacities but notably worked with the team that built the Alternative Care Site and then was embedded into Children's National Hospital in the District of Columbia helping them partner with the city and other interagency to secure critical supplies and pharmaceuticals.

Her unit worked to support the community by manning testing sites, augmenting morgue missions, providing security and support to food missions, transporting critical equipment such as ventilators from partner states, and partnering with our active duty colleagues.

Calling all West Point Graduate Entrepreneurs! Registration is open for our Virtual WPAOG Entrepreneur Summit on Thursday, July 23. Joining us is keynote speaker, Anthony Noto ’91, CEO of SoFi, as well as other experts in the entrepreneur ecosystem. Register today—it's free!

Lant Fogarty ’10 works for Clark Construction in Chicago, Illinois. From March 30 to April 24, Clark and its trade partners worked on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project to convert the MetroSouth Medical Center on Chicago's South Side into an Alternative Care Facility for COVID-19 patients. As the project manager for Clark’s architecture squad, Fogarty oversaw the carpenters, painters, and floor installers for the project. “We had daily meetings with our subcontractors, internal team, and the overall team, which included our design partners and the Corps of Engineers, to resolve issues, define scope, and drive the work,” says Fogarty. “As the overall project manager to our senior project manager and project executive, I provided project updates, helped to implement and steer the team toward their vision, drove the quality and punch list process, and handled some miscellaneous duties such as contracts, security, and medical screenings to ensure that everyone on site did not show symptoms of COVID-19.”

In just 22 days, four days ahead of schedule, Fogarty and Clark Construction delivered a 585-patient bed facility, with 265 beds providing ICU level service to support critically ill patients. “It was a fast-paced and an extremely tiring project, but it has been the most rewarding thing I have done outside of my Army service,” says Fogarty, who deployed to Afghanistan as a Field Artillery officer with the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division during Operation Enduring Freedom. The construction of the MetroSouth Alternative Care Site was one three facilities supervised by Colonel Aaron Reisinger ’94, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District.

WPAOG won two Gold Stevie® Awards and two Silver Stevie Awards in the 18th Annual American Business Awards®. The competition included more than 3,600 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry. WPAOG’s Gold awards were for Public Relations: NonProfit Fund Raising (150th Anniversary Video), and Other Publication – Association or Non-Profit (Parent Handbook). The Silver Awards were for Organization of the Year – Non-Profit or Government – Small, and Human Resources Team of the Year (The New Career Services Team). Read More.

LTC (R) Michael Ellis '91, MD is the Chief Medical Officer at the University of Toledo Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. Since January 2020, Ellis has helped develop and lead the hospital’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, as an Infectious Diseases physician, Ellis has spent approximately half of his time caring directly for COVID patients. He notes, “My experiences as a Field Artillery Officer and then Army Infectious Diseases physician have prepared me well for responding to the pandemic. Army physicians have been integral in combating COVID-19: leading the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Dr. Robert Redfield), leading the U.S. Coronavirus Task Force (Dr. Debra Birx), and serving in many other ways as physician-leaders, clinicians, and scientists around the country.”

As restrictions for Covid-19 ease up in some parts of the U.S., West Point Grad Captain Dymon Boeckmann ’12 is taking time to make sure soldiers under her command have steady training and employment.

Boeckmann is Commander of the 355th Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Company near Las Vegas, Nevada. This is where she started implementing a plan that would keep soldiers trained, facilities supplied, and soldiers paid.

“A large majority of my soldiers are college students, and some of them work in the hospitality industry, which has been impacted tremendously by COVID 19” said Boeckmann. Starting in April, Boeckmann took responsibility for virtual training for the soldiers under her command and ensured that they all received virtual training in safety, security, and discipline.

Boeckmann also used the opportunity and time to take on and complete needed tasks around post to help the company continue with mandatory duties such as inventories, vehicle maintenance, and supply operations during Covid-19.

Dr. John Callahan ’86, a practicing physician at the Syracuse, New York VA Medical Center, closely monitored the emergence of COVID-19 and was concerned with the number of patients requiring ventilators due to acute respiratory failure. He realized the United States would be facing a ventilator shortage if it did not act quickly. Callahan found a decade-old study from MIT on a student-designed, low-cost ventilator and tracked down the lead project engineer, Dr. Alex Slocum. They spoke in March, and Callahan proposed combining a medical “respiratory circuit” to the technical actuator device designed by the MIT team. The MIT effort expanded with the goal of creating an “open-source” design. Callahan, however, sought to produce commercial-grade ventilators. He took his respiratory circuit design to Syracuse University and, through the Dean of Architecture, came to work with JMA Wireless, a cell phone manufacturer.

In just 10 days, Callahan and JMA engineers created the PREVAIL NY ventilator, mating commercially available, off-the-shelf components with Callahan’s respiratory circuit. “What I am most excited about is its familiarity to physicians around the world and that it has many of the same technical components that are common to ventilators that currently exist,” says Callahan. After successfully ventilating three pigs with COVID-19 induced Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, the JMA Wireless corporate counsel submitted the PREVAIL NY device for “Emergency Use Authorization” to the FDA. While social distancing measures have mitigated the need for emergency ventilators in the United States, PREVAIL NY is ready to be deployed inexpensively whenever it is needed. “I credit my West Point education with helping me to succeed in getting this product fielded,” says Callahan. “In seeking help on this project, I was told by many that it could not be completed, but I think West Point imbues all graduates with persistence, which is learned though our many trials—successes and failures—as cadets.”

WPAOG thanks Dr. Callahan and all of the West Point Grads doing their part to help during this pandemic.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1950 | 1958 | 1987 | 1990 | 1996 | 2000 | 2013 | 2020. Class Notes

Dr. John Thurman ’00, Medical Director of Great River Hospice House in Iowa, could see the COVID-19 outbreak was heading in his direction. So he doubled down, continuing his work on Hospice care for his patients and at the same time joining a team to create a COVID-19 Drive-Thru Clinic in West Burlington, Iowa. As more resources were diverted to COVID-19 testing and treatment, Thurman worked around the clock to keep Hospice patients taken care of and safe during the pandemic. He says “our clinic is working to resume normal operations with proper social distancing, mask wearing and cleaning all rooms before and after each patient visit. I still manage and monitor the Hospice house, admit patients and care for them to ensure comfort before passing.” He also connected with fellow West Point Grad Gary Williams ’00, who helped supply the hospital with proper PPE gear for the medical staff.

When the hospital CEO reached out to Thurman for guidance on planning a COVID-19 testing site, Thurman stepped up to the plate. He and his colleague Dr. Michael Abouassaly quickly decided that the fairgrounds across the street from the hospital would be an ideal location, and determined that a ‘Drive-Thru’ clinic model would be the best use of the space for a COVID-19 testing site. Construction for the official “Test Iowa” site started on March 24, and the drive-thru clinic officially opened on May 26. The staff at the clinic have been seeing more than 100 patients a day since it opened. Thurman says that once the COVID-19 outbreak is contained, the test site can continue to be used for disaster relief initiatives.

WPAOG thanks Thurman, Williams and all of the West Point grads doing their part to help during this pandemic.

As of 7/2/2020

Fall Reunion Update:  On July 2^nd, the Academy made the difficult decision to cancel all class reunions scheduled this Fall.  The decision was made out of the concern for the health and welfare for our Alumni, their families, and the West Point community.

Cloth face-covering required at USMA.

For updates on academy operations, restrictions or cancellations go to www.westpoint.edu/coronavirus.

Read WPAOG President's COVID Update March 23, 2020

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

• Entrepreneur Summit – Virtual July 23
• Leaders Conference - Virtual August 13th
• Society Events – check with your local West Point Society for the status of events
• Class of 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965 & 1970 Reunions have been rescheduled

Charles Kuyk has released “West Point Graduates and the U.S. Air Force”. West Point graduates played a central role in developing U.S. military air and space power from the earliest days of mechanized flight through the establishment of the U.S. Air Force in 1947, and continuing through the Persian Gulf War. These graduates served at a time when the world's greatest wave of technological advancement occurred: in aviation, nuclear weapons, rocketry, ICBMs, computers, satellite systems in inner space and man in outer space.

This history traces the advancement of weapons and space technology that became the hallmark of the U.S. Air Force, and the pivotal role that West Point graduates played in integrating them into a wide variety of Air Force systems and programs. Many became aircraft commanders, test pilots, astronauts and, later in their careers, general officers who helped shape and implement technologies still in use today. Available at Amazon.

Dr. Bob Underwood ’87, Chief Medical Officer at the San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington, New Mexico and his team established an emergency operation center before there was a single COVID-19 case in the state. They curtailed elective surgery, established dedicated COVID-19 areas of the hospital, closed the normal ICU to all patients except for COVID patients, and converted a "stepdown" unit into a fully functional ICU for non-COVID patients. In March, the Center set up a drive-through "External Assessment Area" where patients could be tested for COVID-19.

As of May 20, 2020, 44 of their 123 patients were either COVID-19 positive or suspected of having COVID-19 pending test results. “We are feeling the surge here in the Northwest corner of New Mexico more than other parts of the state. We believe we have passed the “peak” of that surge. We are adjacent to the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the country. The COVID-19 infection is having a very serious impact on the Navajo Nation, in terms of total numbers as well as the intensity of the disease. That is a large proportion of the COVID-19 patients that we are currently seeing. We are working directly with the Indian Health Services (IHS), a federal health service, to care for this at-risk population.” The team is also working with local businesses to produce 3D printed face shields to augment their PPE. Underwood notes, “The response of our community, our providers, and of the local businesses to the needs of the healthcare organization have humbled to me in the sincerest way. I have not seen this level of unity and common goal before.”

WPAOG thanks Dr. Underwood and all of the West Point grads doing their part to help during this pandemic.

Jennifer “JT” Blatty has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in photography through the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Transition Within Conflict and Across Borders, a multimedia documentation of Ukraine’s 2014 volunteer soldiers of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, researches men and women who, of their own free will and many without military training, self-deployed into a warzone to fight against the Russian insurgency, risking everything to protect their homeland and vision for a life free of government corruption. Visit jtblatty.com to learn more about The Ukraine Project.

Register now for the Virtual Grad March Back on August 10, 2020.

https://www.westpointaog.org/2020VirtualGradMarchBack

There are two options for Grads to march VIRTUALLY with the Class of 2024 – the full march (9 Miles) or from the Ski Slope (2 miles). You can march on the same day as the New Cadets, August 10. Or you can march over the period August 7-10, on one day or multiple days.

As always, the WPAOG Gift Shop is offering merchandise for the Grad March Back. The uniform for the march is a black polo shirt with Athena Helmet, Grey US Flag Hat, Lanyard with Name Tag, and khaki shorts/pants. There is also some great optional merchandise.

Registration closes on July 3. The short suspense is to facilitate the ordering and shipping of merchandise in time for the event.

We hope you will be able to join the Class of 2024 for the VIRTUAL Grad March Back.

Alum Men's Lacrosse players Anthony George ’20 and Matt Manown ’20 were named United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Scholar All-Americans, announced by the organization on Friday night.

"This is a tremendous and well deserved honor for both Anthony and Matt," said head coach Joe Alberici. "During their four years in the Army Family they have both been outstanding role models as they have been unrelenting in the pursuit of excellence on and off the field. Well done!"

It is the second-straight year that a Black Knight was named a Scholar-All American by USILA as Griffin Schultz received the honor in 2019. The last time Army saw a pair of players in the same year named to the squad was back in 2016 (Jimbo Moore and Austin Schultz).

George graduated with a 3.017 grade-point average as an Economics major while minoring in Environmental Engineering. The Carmel, Ind., native was named to the Dean's List four times and takes the time to tutor his teammates in SS201 (Economics). George was awarded real-life experience during several internships including time at the Marion County Public Defenders Office and the Secret Service. On the field, George was one of the Cadets' top defensive midfielders who capped his career with 75 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers in 53 games played. He commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer in May.

Manown graduated with a 3.061 grade-point average as a Business Management major and Industrial Engineering minor. Named to the Dean's List four semesters, Manown was voted a team captain for his senior season. He started in all eight games for Army this season and recorded three multi-point games.

The Saunderstown, R.I., native notched the game-winner against #19 Rutgers and totaled nine points in 2020. In his career, Manown scored 32 goals, tallied 27 assists and totaled 59 points in 52 games. He commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer in May.

Have you heard? The West Point Association of Graduates has a new, enhanced Career Services program. Officially launched in April 2019 in response to a growing number of graduate requests for career assistance, the program helps grads—whether transitioning from the military to the civilian job market, switching jobs midcareer, or re-entering the job market at a different stage of life— become successful job seekers and gain access to opportunities within WPAOG’s ever-expanding network. To date, the program, which introduces several new features for grads and improves on the benefits Career Services has traditionally offered, has helped place 252 grads into new positions.

WPAOG now has three full-time employees dedicated to Career Services, and all three are West Point graduates: Miguel Gutierrez ’80, Director, and Scott Leishman ’77 and Julia Ruddock ’07, Assistant Directors. Based on their own West Point, Army and combined 43 years of Career/recruiting experiences, they are all deeply aware of graduates’ strengths and are familiar with the challenges and opportunities grads are likely to encounter in their job search. Grads are paired with a member of WPAOG’s Career Services team who will assist them through the stages of a successful job search, particularly developing a strategy and networking.

Complementing WPAOG’s team of career services experts is an Industry Network of graduate advisors who can offer tailored advice to job-seeking grads in a variety of industries, as well as a Geographical Network of regional graduate advisors operating through local West Point Societies. WPAOG serves as the “hub” of these networks, forging and facilitating connections among job seekers, corporations, and grad advisors willing to help fellow members of the Long Gray Line.

Text “careerservices” to 51555 to stay up to date on hot jobs, webinars and announcements from the WPAOG Career Services team.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1945 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1962 | 1973 | 1996 | 2020. Class Notes

In an Op-ed written by Andrew Betson ’04, he is making the push for the city of St. Louis to Honor the United States Army’s first African American four-star general with a star on the Delmar Loop’s St. Louis Walk of Fame.

Betson’s article states, “General Roscoe Robinson Jr.’s upbringing in St. Louis and subsequent service in the Army through a time of great tribulation clearly exemplify that he is worthy of a star. His life should serve as inspiration for all Americans, particularly at this time, since he clearly stands for all that is great in our country. West Point honors him, as does the University of Pittsburgh. The Loop should make space for a third U.S. Army general.”

“Robinson was born in 1928 into a blue-collar family in St. Louis city, where he would attend what was the first high school for black students west of the Mississippi River — Sumner High School. His father worked in a foundry during the toughest times of the Great Depression and wanted more for his children. In his oral history, Robinson said that his father refused his request to work in the foundry at age 16, telling him to focus on his education. This set him on a path to enter the nearby, venerable St. Louis University. But that was a brief stop.” Read more.

Army West Point Director of Athletics Mike Buddie has released the 17th induction class into the Army Sports Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2020 features nine inductees, to include:

Rhonda Barush '86, Rifle
Leamon Hall '78, Football
Don Kutyna '57, Men's Swimming & Diving
Jack Price '33, Football
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
Ron Zinn '62, Olympian

The honorees will be officially inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, October 9. A special plaque unveiling ceremony will be held in the Kenna Hall of Army Sports inside Kimsey Athletic Center, with the formal black-tie Hall of Fame Induction Banquet set for Eisenhower Hall later that evening. The group will also be recognized during Army's West Point football game against Princeton the next day at Michie Stadium.

The Army Sports Hall of Fame is a subset of the Kenna Hall of Army Sports, a comprehensive museum displaying Army's rich and proud intercollegiate athletic program. It is located on the third floor of the Kimsey Athletic Center, Army's state-of-the-art football training facility.

The announcement of the Army Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020 marks the end of a lengthy process that began in the spring. A selection committee, representing athletic administrators, academic administrators, former West Point athletes, graduates and representatives from the Association of Graduates, began the process of developing a workable list from the thousands of athletes, coaches and administrators that have represented the Academy on the "fields of friendly strife." Only individuals that graduated from or coached at the Academy and those 15 years removed from their playing days are eligible. The Hall of Fame Selection Committee voted and approved the change from five years removed to 15 for cadet-athletes in 2015. Read more.

For the third consecutive season, Army West Point Track & Field alums, Lynne Mooradian ’20 and Ben Petrella ’20 have been named as members of the Academic All-America Division I Track & Field/Cross Country teams, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Mooradian concludes her historic career as a West Point cadet athlete as the only Women's Track & Field athlete in the nation to be selected as a First Team Academic All-American for the third consecutive season. A mechanical engineering major, she graduated as the top ranked student in the Class of 2020, boasting a 4.22 GPA. Earlier this month, she was named the 31st recipient of the Army West Point Athletic Association Special Award, becoming the first member of the track & field program to win the award since 1989. The Hanover, Pa., native is a four-time Patriot League Scholar Athlete of the Year and received nation's top individual academic honor as Google Academic All-Academic All-America of the Year in 2018.

"Lynne was a tireless worker on the track and in the classroom," Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Mike Smith said. "I have always felt that it was important to leave a place better than you found it. Lynne Mooradian is a great example of that. We are in a better place because of her contributions and I am proud to be associated with her."

With his selection to the Academic All-America Second Team, Ben Petrella is one of only three Men’s Track & Feld/Cross Country athletes in the nation to be named an Academic All-American three years in a row. It has been a year full of accolades for the Liverpool, N.Y., native, as he was named Patriot League Scholar Athlete of the Year following both the cross country and indoor track & field seasons. A four-time recipient of the league's top academic honor, Petrella closed out his West Point career with a grade point average of 3.94 while majoring in physics.

"Ben pursued excellence from the time he got to West Point and that is what he will do wherever he goes," Smith said. "I am proud of him for having brought so much positive attention to our program. He is a special young man. He never really liked to talk about his accomplishments. He always tried to deflect his success onto those around him. The truth is that Ben made everyone around him better and he will do the same thing in the big Army."

Of the 91 combined members on the Academic All-America Division I track & field / cross country teams, 28 boast a perfect 4.0 GPA. The 15 members of the women's first team have an average GPA of 3.90, while the 15 members of the men's first team have an average GPA of 3.84.

Former Army West Point Men's Soccer standout defender Zac McGraw was signed by the Portland Timbers to a first-team contract, the team announced on Monday night.

McGraw made history back in January after he became the first cadet in program history to be selected in the MLS SuperDraft. The Torrance, Calif., native will be the first active MLS player from any of the nation's service academies since Navy graduate Joseph Greenspan spent the 2015-2017 seasons in the league with the Colorado Rapids and then Minnesota United.

During his time at West Point, McGraw made a name for himself as a two-year team captain on the back line. He appeared in 68 matches while making 66 starts and recorded 11 career points on one goal and nine assists. His efforts on the defensive end also helped the Black Knights post 21 shutouts.

McGraw was recognized numerous times throughout his four-year career as he was named a two-time Preseason MAC Hermann Trophy Watchlist player, a three-time United Soccer Coaches All-Region performer, a four-time All-Patriot League standout and a one-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1945 | 1953 | 1959 | 1962 | 1970 | 1972 | 1977 | 1981 | 1993 | 1996 | 2020. Class Notes

We are proud to announce that two WPAOG programs received Circle of Excellence Awards from the Council for Advancement and Support for Education. In 2020, there were 2,752 entries (from 587 institutions in 28 countries) and 441 total awards. WPAOG Career Services program received a Gold Award (of 130 awarded), and the 150th Anniversary Video received a Bronze Award (of 139 awarded). These awards reflect the efforts of our 2019 150th Anniversary theme, as they are great examples of “honoring the past and preparing for the future.”

Michael Montelongo joined the board of Conduent, Inc, headquartered in Florham Park, NJ, on May 19, 2020. Conduent is a business process services company delivering mission-critical services and solutions for businesses and governments. Mike is President and CEO of GRC Advisory Services, LLC, a private firm specializing in board governance, risk management, and compliance matters. He also currently serves as an Independent Board Director for Herbalife, Ltd and Larry H. Miller Management Corporation.

Mike stated, “I am excited to return to the Tri-state area and join the Conduent team as a board director. Having spent a lifetime of service in business, government, and the civic sector, I believe Conduent's purpose-driven focus is essential in today's marketplace. I am eager to contribute to the company’s future success by applying my experience and cross-industry background in board governance, strategy, financial and risk management, and operational excellence.

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!!

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1962 | 1965 | 1981 | 1990 | 1996 | 1999. Class Notes

Congratulations Class of 2020!

The Class of 2020 graduation ceremony will take place on the Plain at West Point tomorrow June 13 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm EDT. President Trump will deliver the commencement speech.

The Academy plans a special celebration to be broadcast via livestream to provide an opportunity for graduates and all Americans to be a part of this unique and historic celebration. West Point alumni from across the country have contributed through the West Point Association of Graduates to fund a world-class program so that families, friends, and the entire Nation can celebrate this event with the graduates. The broadcast will celebrate the Class of 2020, highlight West Point, and will have special messages from the USMA leader team, 50-year affiliate class members, and notable graduates.

Click here for the links to watch the livestream.

USMA’s New Applied Statistics and Data Science Major

In August 2016, Major General John Baker and Lieutenant Colonel Steven Henderson ’94 published an article in ARMY magazine titled, “Making the Case for Army Data Scientists.”

In the article, Baker and Henderson posit that the Army needs to leverage the exponentially growing amount of data it collects in order to maintain a competitive advantage over this nation’s adversaries. Doing this, they write, “will involve educating, equipping and retaining a new breed of expert leaders” in three essential disciplines: domain expertise (operations and intelligence), mathematics, and computer science. “No formal Army personnel system is necessarily producing someone who is steeped in all three components of data science,” Baker and Henderson determine. “But we need to move swiftly and boldly to commission Army data scientists to lead this effort.”

While Baker and Henderson’s argument was finding an audience, West Point’s Department of Mathematical Sciences (MATH) was independently laying the groundwork to make the article’s recommendation a reality. Statistics had already been part of the MATH curriculum for some time, and about a decade ago, the department launched an Applied Statistics minor. “As our Statistics efforts have grown, and as the need for data scientists and statisticians has grown, within both the Army and society at large, we came to the conclusion that now is the time to establish a new major that focuses on these topics,” says Assistant Professor Lieutenant Colonel Nick Clark ’02. According to Colonel Krista Watts ’96, Director of MATH’s Operations Research and Statistics Program, Clark was the one that “put the nuts and bolts together” for USMA’s new Applied Statistics and Data Science (ASDS) major, which was approved by the Dean’s Office in December 2018 and first offered to the cadets in the Class of 2022. Read more.

The U.S. Military Academy honored members of the Long Gray Line during a wreath laying ceremony at the base of the Col. Sylvanus Thayer statue. This year, the ceremony was held with Superintendent LTG Darryl Williams, Command Sgt. Maj. Jack Love, West Point Association of Graduates President Todd Browne and First Captain Daine Van de Wall, who filled in for the oldest graduate and placed the wreath. West Point's Alumni Wreath Laying Ceremony is part of Graduation Week; an annual group of events celebrating graduating cadets' 47-month experience. View photos.

LTC Cullen A. Jones, P.E., PMP, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, graduated from the United States Army War College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania with a master's degree in Strategic Studies on June 5, 2020. His next assignment will be in Washington, D.C. serving as the Executive Officer to the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The U.S. Army War College’s 10-month curriculum educates and develops senior military officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, as well as senior foreign military officers and civilian officials from a variety of federal agencies, to serve in strategic level command and staff positions worldwide.

While at the Army War College, he completed a research project on federal consideration for inland waterways infrastructure and participated in the Commandant's Reading Program.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1959 | 1962 | 1968 | 1971 | 1974 | 1988 | 1991 | 1994 | 1996 | 1997 | 2002. Class Notes

December 3, 1961, a day that will live in infamy . . . for Navy! Using the Manhattan Project model, the Academy planned and executed a brilliant operation to surprise Navy and dominate in the last CBS General Electric College Bowl contest between the two academies.

Some video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpWuQ6ZAZOk&t=25s

The back story as recorded by COL Beverly Snow and recently discovered in a mayonnaise jar in LTC David Riggs' attic is a good read, click here to read. Enjoy.

COL (R) Bruce Palmatier ’74 is helping lead the effort to fight COVID-19 in Haiti. As volunteer treasurer for Seeds of Hope for Haiti, Inc., he and his team are working with an in-country partner to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), COVID-19 care and education to the remote mountain village of Grand Boulage, Haiti.

Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, has experienced natural and man-made disasters that have devastated the country’s domestic capacity for providing its citizens the basic healthcare that we in the U.S. take for granted. The situation has only worsened over the past year with tremendous social and political upheaval, according to Palmatier. Gang activity is especially bad in and around Port-au-Prince. Now COVID-19 has hit Haiti.

“Confirmed cases appear low,” Palmatier said, “but testing is almost non-existent, so the actual number is likely orders of magnitude higher. Social distancing is largely ignored because so much of their meager economy depends on ‘marchants’ (street merchants pronounced “marshants”) to feed their families. No work? No food.”

The inability now to travel to Haiti has also seriously hampered their team’s ability to stay connected with the people of Haiti.

Last year, Seeds of Hope for Haiti opened a clinic in Grand Boulage, located in the central plateau about 13 miles northeast of the Port-Au-Prince airport. This clinic is the target for their COVID-19 support.

Their goal is to provide PPE and COVID-19 care at the clinic to a population already struggling with food insecurity, poverty and political division.

WPAOG would like to thank Bruce and all of the West Point grads doing their part to help during this pandemic.

U.S. Army Human Resources Command welcomed Brigadier General Kris Belanger, a Wantage, New Jersey native, new Deputy Commanding General during an Investiture Ceremony June 1.

In her new role, Belanger will assist HRC’s commanding general, Major General Joseph Calloway, in executing the full spectrum of human resources programs that develop leaders, build Army readiness, and promote and sustain the well-being of Soldiers, veterans and their families.

Belanger is dual-hatted as HRC’s Director, Reserve Personnel Management Directorate, which is charged with increasing efficiency, transparency and accessibility when processing Army Reserve personnel actions.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to serve in such a prestigious organization at a pivotal time in our nation’s history. I especially look forward to being a value-added partner to the command, the Fort Knox community, and the U.S. Army Reserve,” said Belanger.

Most recently, Belanger served as the commander for the 85th United States Army Reserve Support Command in Arlington Heights, Illinois; a command consisting of over 4,000 Soldiers in 45 Army Reserve battalions across 25 states in direct support to First Army.

LTC Kent Justice was honored by American Airlines for his heroic actions in response to an incident that occurred May 4 on board American airlines Flight 60 from Tokyo to Dallas/Fort Worth.

It became apparent that there was a passenger that presented a clear threat to the safety of the aircraft, the passengers, and crew on board. Kent was the first passenger to respond to assist the flight attendant nearest the individual at that time, and with the later assistance of some other military personnel on board, neutralized the threat for the duration of the flight.

The incident, later categorized as a serious incident by the airline, caused the flight to divert to Los Angeles International Airport. In Los Angeles, police, firemen, medical crew, and other authorities removed the individual from the aircraft and assessed the extensive damage done to the aircraft. Eventually resuming travel to Dallas/Fort Worth, arriving without further incident.

A flight attendant said, “I have never seen anything like this in my 33-year career.”

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1956 | 1958 | 1959 | 1962 | 1965 | 1966 | 1972 | 1973 | 1980 | 1981 | 1996 | 1998. Class Notes

The Service Academy Career Conference (SACC) is dedicated to assisting our alumni in their career transitions, no matter the location or platform. Now more than ever, we recognize how important it is for our alumni to make valuable career and educational connections. Register now to join us online!

• Participate in three days of employer webinars June 9-11
• Connect virtually with recruiters from industry-leading employers on June 12
• Meet with companies who are actually hiring!
• New & improved virtual career event platform!
• Employers are already reaching out to prospective candidates for introductory, pre-screen phone calls
• Do not miss out on this opportunity to get a job offer during this financial crisis

Text “careerservices” to 51555 to stay up to date on hot jobs, webinars and announcements from the WPAOG Career Services team.

We were thrilled of this National History Day project developed by two high school students. This project reflects all of their hard work and research, a documentary on the Class of 1980, “Women at West Point: Breaking Barriers of the Long Gray Line,”.

Today is the 40th Anniversary of the graduation of the West Point Class of '80, a wonderful day to showcase the efforts of these two students and to honor all who graduated that day.

Sport: Football
Current Career: Retired
Former Career: Consultancy in National Security Affairs

William R. (Bill) McKinney, during a distinguished U.S. Army career spanning 30 years coupled with his 20-year civilian career, established himself as a national security expert on Northeast Asia with focus on the Korean Peninsula. He has been a valuable resource for insights into Asia for the U.S. government, U.S. businesses, and international organizations. 

Colonel McKinney capped his 30-year career, which included 15 years in Korea, as the Defense and Army Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul from 1990 to 1996. Prior to this, he served as Chief of the U.S. Military Liaison Office to the Korean Defense Ministry; as Chief of the Far East Branch in the Political Military Division of the Army Headquarters at the Pentagon; and as the Political-Military Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the State Department. As an infantry officer he was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division, and 25th Infantry Division.

During his military service, including combat in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division, Colonel McKinney received the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars including one for Valor, the Army Legion of Merit, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge and other decorations.

As an independent consultant in international relations since his retirement from Federal Service in May 2016, Mr. McKinney has provided advice and assistance on Korean affairs to numerous clients, both in and out of the U.S. Government.  He has also authored/co-authored articles on Korea for 38 North, the National Interest magazine, and the Pacific Forum. Read more.

The mission of the West Point Parachute Team is to educate, train, and inspire cadets to develop leadership skills and build self-confidence in an in extremis context.

West Point accomplishes this by providing the opportunity to work toward three specific and challenging goals: training freefall students, conducting precision freefall demonstrations, and competing and winning at the national level.

Photo: The 1995 West Point Parachute Team, which included future astronauts Frank Rubio ’98 (left) and Drew Morgan ’98 (center left)

Because the team is called upon for outreach demonstrations, West Point considers it a “support club,” with professional oversight from the Deputy Commandant and some noncommissioned officers assigned to USCC. One of its missions as a support club is to “jump in” the game ball for home football games. However, the team also competes in the U.S. Parachute Association (USPA) National Collegiate Parachuting Championships over the holiday break, going head-to-head against the U.S. Air Force Academy and other schools that have sport parachute teams. Approximately 75 collegiate skydivers compete in this event, the oldest and largest collegiate skydiving competition in the world. Consequently, the West Point Parachute Team is also considered one of the Department of Physical Education’s “competitive clubs.” With DPE support, they meet the requirement that every cadet will participate in one of the following divisions of sport: intercollegiate, competitive club or company athletics. Read more.

Allen “Jerry” Williams was inducted into the Delaware Technical Community College Owens Campus Hall of Fame on Friday, April 12. Williams worked for Delaware Tech from July 1992 to June 2012 and established the Environmental Training Center (ETC) in Georgetown. That facility has received national and international recognition for the quality of training it provides to individuals in the water and wastewater industries.

Williams grew up in Wilmington and enjoyed a 40-year professional career that can be divided exactly in half - 20 years of service to his country as an officer in the U.S. Army and 20 years as a college instructor and department chair.

Photo: L-R, Allen “Jerry” Williams, his wife Stephanie, his son Garrett, and family friend Maribeth Dockety, director of Human Resources at the Owens Campus in Georgetown at the 2019 Hall of Fame ceremony at Delaware Tech’s Owens Campus in Georgetown

Williams graduated from West Point and started as an infantry officer in 1972. He completed airborne and ranger school training the following year. Three years later, he switched to aviation and became a helicopter pilot. His deployments took him across the United States and all around the world.

He retired in 1992 and was hired to work in Delaware Tech’s adult education division. In 1993, Williams worked with local and regional directors to apply and obtain an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant to build the ETC at Delaware Tech’s Owens Campus. The purpose of the ETC was to train and certify Delaware’s water, wastewater, and on-site operators. Opening in 1997, Williams was named the first acting director and department chair. Read more.

WPAOG is putting out a call to action for all graduates!

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, 2020.

Find out more about the nomination process at: westpointaog.org/nominationpolicy

On Memorial Day, WPAOG honors the members of the Long Gray Line and all servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country and protecting our freedom.

"And when our work is done;
Our course on earth is run;
May it be said, 'Well done';
Be thou at peace."
- West Point Alma Mater

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1959 | 1962 | 1966 | 1970 | 1974 | 1977 | 1996 | 2002. Class Notes

Today is WPAOG's 151st Birthday, and we want to share our Strategic Plan for the future of WPAOG as we continue to serve West Point and the Long Gray Line.

WPAOG 2030 Strategic Plan from WPAOG.

Grad Link is officially moving to Sallyport on June 4, 2020.

All grads have a free account ready to activate by simply using the email you have on file with the Association of Graduates. Fellow Grads and Volunteer leaders will be able to reach their former classmates, Societies, and the connect with our alumni body from anywhere in the world.

Download the “West Point AOG Sallyport” app to see how your connection to the Long Gray Line has been enhanced more than ever.

Activate your Account: https://sallyport.westpointaog.org/login

Dr. DeVry Anderson was Named Chief Medical Officer at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center. Prior to working at St. David’s South Austin, Anderson was vice president of medical services at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center in Fort Hood.

“Dr. Anderson has transitioned seamlessly into this role amidst a global pandemic unlike anything we have seen in our lifetimes,” St. David’s South Austin CEO Charles Laird said. “I am confident he will continue to build upon the exceptional level of care provided at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center.” Story.

The West Point Grads who own and operate Feltman's of Coney Island are making sure doctors, nurses, and first-responders get the appreciation they deserve because Grads understand service and sacrifice.

CEO Joe Quinn '02 created a program that allows people to nominate medical workers and other emergency staff who have been serving the public throughout the Covid-19 outbreak to receive a thoughtful care package with a note of thanks from Feltman's of Coney Island in Queens, NY.

Oh let me tell you that I love you, that I think about you all the time. America, you're calling us, still our home sweet home. And if we let this crisis change us, you know that it would make me more than sad, America's been everything I've ever had."

These are lyrics from a new adaptation of a song, titled "America," written and performed by retired Army General Martin Dempsey, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Inspired by the resiliency of the country during the novel coronavirus pandemic, the retired four-star general collaborated with the U.S. Army pop/rock band "Downrange" to produce the song. In an interview with ABC News on Thursday, Dempsey said that military bands exist to inspire and encourage Americans, as well as remind them "who we are in the toughest times."

"We began to wonder if there was a way we could send a similar message to our fellow citizens who themselves are going through the very tough times related to COVID-19," he said.

Though Downrange has a long history of working with Dempsey, it's the first time the group has put together a song virtually with vocalists and musicians recording their performances at home, according to the Army. The lyrics, written by Dempsey, are set to the Scottish folk song "Caledonia" by Dougie MacLean with a new musical arrangement by Army Master Sgt. Dan Roberts. Read more.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1945 | 1953 | 1960 | 1962 | 1966 | 1972 | 1975 | 1983 | 1993 | 2005 | 2012. Class Notes

West Point, like many academic institutions, has its fair share of legends. These stories get passed along through generations of cadets and seem to grow with time.

One story, rumored to be true, but which has never made it into the “Plebe Knowledge” book, tells of a destructive tsunami that took place along the banks of the Hudson River. A tidal wave at West Point? That’s like telling plebes that intonations to Odin’s name will keep them from marching in a review or that Molly the ghost is haunting Quarters 100, right?

Thus, imagine cadets’ surprise when, during the Civil and Military Engineering Club dinner in April 2018, Brigadier General Gerald Galloway Jr. ’57 (Retired) delivered a presentation and referred to working on a project at West Point in 1961 involving a tsunami! It immediately grabbed the attention of those in attendance. After the dinner presentation, cadets found themselves waiting in line to ask Galloway, former Dean of the USMA Academic Board and a presidential appointee to the Mississippi River Commission, more about this event. Then- Cadet Bradley Krupp ’19 was one of these cadets, and turned his five-minute conversation with Galloway into a successful fivemonth independent research project. Read more.

Brigadier General Carroll E. (Hap) Adams Jr. ’45 and Captain William Booth ’66 were killed in action May 12, 1970 on a UH-1 helicopter shot down over the Central Highlands, 10 miles southwest of Pleiku, Vietnam. General Adams and Captain Booth are both buried at West Point.

This year their families were supposed to gather at the Vietnam Memorial today, some of whom have never met. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19 this is not going to happen.

General Adams was the Commander of the 937th Engineer Group in Vietnam. He was the father of four children, all of his three sons graduated from West Point, LTC Roberts Adams ’68, LTC Jonathan Adams ’74 and LTC(R) William Adams ’81. The English Department presents an award each year in his honor. Army Corp of Engineers named a survey boat after him (The Adams I, now retired and the Adams II – still active). Adams Hall at Fort Riley is named after him. General Adams nickname “Hap” was lifelong and given to him because he was a happy baby.

Captain Booth was Aide de Camp to Major General Dillard, Commanding Officer of the U. S. Army Engineer Command in Vietnam, who was also killed in the crash. Captain Booth was a product of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, or as he was fond of saying, “Boothsville of God’s country.” He enlisted in the Army in 1959 and, after two years of service, secured an appointment to the U. S. Military Academy Preparatory School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

WPAOG congratulates CPT Joseph B. Bailey '12 and CPT Frederick E. Beebe '12 on their selection as Olmsted Scholars in the class of 2021.

The Olmsted Scholar Program was established in 1959 by MG (R) George H. Olmsted, First Captain of the West Point Class of 1922.

The program provides a two-and-a-half to three-year educational experience that includes full-time graduate study at a foreign university in the non-English language of that country. All five branches of the military nominate young officers for the Olmsted program each year. Candidates are selected for their propensity and aptitude for leadership.

Bailey, an Armor officer, will study in Aix-en-Provence, France, and Beebe, an Engineer, will study in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Notable West Point graduates who were Olmsted Scholars include Ambassador John P. Abizaid ’73, former Commander, U.S. Central Command, and Lieutenant General (Ret.) Patrick J. Donahue ‘80, former Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces Command.

Lieutenant General (Retired) Robert Caslen served 43 years in the United States Army. His military career culminated in 2018 as the 59th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Today he serves as the 29th President of the University of South Carolina.

Under his direction as Superintendent, West Point was recognized as the number one public college in the Nation by Forbes Magazine and the number one public college by U.S. News and World Report. Through the establishment of Centers of Excellence at West Point, General Caslen connected the operational Army with West Point research and intellectual capital. He refined West Point’s leadership program by making professional ethics a priority and essential part of leadership and character development. He worked tirelessly to expand the diversity of cadets and faculty alike, and he dramatically expanded West Point’s minority and women populations to reflect the demographics of the Army that West Point’s graduates help lead.

Working with the Director of Athletics, he revamped the athletic program, made it self-sustaining, and fielded 25 competitive intercollegiate teams. He created partnerships with the NCAA and Department of Defense to conduct research into preventing and treating concussions and traumatic brain injury that have led to significant improvements in prevention and care. He stood up the Army Cyber Institute to build expertise and Army leaders prepared for the new cyber fight. And, fulfilling a pledge he made soon after becoming Superintendent, he led a sweeping reversal of Army’s football program and developed a culture of excellence through winning with character, culminating in Army defeating Navy in 2016 for the first time in 14 years, and beating both Air Force and Navy in 2017 to win the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy for the first time in 21 years. Read more.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1958 | 1959 | 1971 | 1972 | 1978 | 1982 | 1983 | 1986 | 1993 | 1997 | 2000 | 2006. Class Notes

West Point Grad and CEO Tyler Merritt ’06 is using his T-shirt company Nine Line Apparel to make daily face masks for essential workers who are on the front lines of the Covid-19 crisis.

His partner, CMO Richard Caponi ’01 and the rest of the team have been working non-stop to produce and donate over 10,000 masks for workers who need them the most.

Nine Line Apparel has also created a new type of protective mask called the AMPP Mask that could one day be used in place of the N95 mask if the FDA approves it.

We proudly thank all the members of the Long Gray Line around the country who are making a difference.

Herman Bulls has been named to Savoy Magazine's 2020 most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America.

The selection of the "Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America" begins by examining the landscape of spheres of influence impacting Savoy's readership including: corporate sector influence, scholastic achievement, career growth, community outreach and recognition. The information received from over 500 prospective candidates in diverse fields was pre-screened by the selection committee.

The selection committee includes the Savoy editorial board and community leaders with representatives from the academic and business arenas. The committee reviewed information on executives in human resources, information, real estate, finance, investment banking, diversity, foundations, procurement, business development, marketing, sales, health care, manufacturing and legal. After reviewing all of the profiles, the field of candidates were narrowed to the "2020 Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America" listing based upon their exemplary record of accomplishments and influence while working to better their community and inspire others.

LTG Daniel R. Hokanson, the current director of the Army National Guard, was nominated Monday to serve as the Guard’s next top officer by President Trump. If confirmed by the Senate, Hokanson would be promoted to four-star general and take a seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He would replace Air Force Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, who has served as the 28th chief of the National Guard Bureau since August 2016.

Hokanson, who took over as Army Guard director in June 2019, is an Oregon Guardsman. Hokanson previously served as NGB vice chief from November 2016 until his appointment as Army Guard director. The position of vice chief has remained vacant since. Hokanson served as a helicopter pilot on active duty before joining the Oregon Guard in 1995. He commanded the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Iraq and also served in Afghanistan and Panama. Hokanson served as Oregon’s adjutant general from 2013 to 2015. Read more.

During today’s Global Giving Day, please consider showing your support for West Point during this unprecedented time. As they have been educated and trained to do, the Corps of Cadets has risen to the challenge presented by the health crisis. Gifts of any size to the Superintendent’s Annual Fund, your class fund, an academic department, a cadet club, or an athletics team will make an impact.

Give Now

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1945 | 1953 | 1954 | 1962 | 1972 | 1981 | 1987 | 1991 | 1996 | 1998 | 2010. Class Notes

RD does not equal FC. Brace Barber republishes Ranger School, No Excuse Leadership, which has become a classic, and he recently edited Sun Tzu’s, The Art of War claiming it was a rough draft.

You may remember that Brace published Ranger School, No Excuse Leadership 20 years ago as the first book to illustrate the leadership value of Army Ranger School. COL Tex Turner ’59 and several other graduates tell of their adventures and struggles through the ordeal and tie the experiences to the invaluable leadership lessons they learned. In 2003, J. Wiley and Sons published the book in hard cover, where it has remained for 17 years. Earlier this month, Brace regained the rights to publish the book as a paperback. Ranger School Book. Brace said, “The original intent of the book was to illustrate what Ranger School is like and to tell some funny stories. The project ended up as a book explaining how leadership capabilities are developed through the designed environment of duress.”

More recently, Brace completed a major reorganization of The Art of War based on the modern military strategy planning format. Brace argues that original book has some interesting principles, but in its original format is nearly impossible to use to create an effective strategy. The new work is titled The Art of War, Organized for Decision Making. Brace insists that, "this is not an insult to the original manuscript, but rather it is an intelligent and practical reorganization that allows the user to draw the full value out of Sun Tzu's guidance." While at West Point, I started to read The Art of War but quickly put it down as a useless list of proverbs without context. At the age of 40, after some life experience, I picked it up again with a much different response. The principles do fit nicely into the MCDMP, but it was a lot of work to get them there.

Brace is also the author of TESTED, A New Strategy for Keeping Kids in the Faith. All books are available on Amazon. Visit Brace at: https://rangerschool.com/

Chuck Coleman ’72 is on the Board of Directors of Advanced Methods in Innovation (AMI) in Youngstown, OH, which successfully pushes 3D imaging technology down to elementary through high schools. When AMI’s Board Chairman had an idea to make face shields with special “thank you” messages to health care workers and first responders, Coleman spread the word to his company/classmates through a website he manages. Several members of E-3 1972 contributed to have their message emblazoned on some shield headbands.

The global Business Continuity Institute (BCI) has recognized Malcolm Reid as the 2020 Continuity and Resilience Contributor for the Americas. This is an exceptionally prestigious accolade given to the person who has contributed to the continuity and resilience industry in the most meaningful way having made the arena a better place.

WPAOG is celebrating! Happy 3rd Birthday to the Grad Insider Tour program! Have you been on a tour yet? If not, you're missing out.

The Rockbound Highland Home program launched on Founders Day, March 16th, 2017, and included Grad Pass, Grad Insider Tours, and Grad Perks. The exclusive Grad Insider Tour includes a series of tour stops not available to the public and allows graduates to share unique experiences of West Point with their families and guests. Special stops vary and may include the opportunity to visit the Cadet Mess in Washington Hall, Jefferson Library, Thayer Award Room, Army Sports Hall of Fame in Kenna Hall/Kimsey Center, Arvin Cadet Physical Development Center (ACPDC), or the Cadet Uniform Factory.

So far, we've hosted over 500 tours, and almost thousand grads with their families and friends have come back to West Point and reconnected with their "Rockbound Highland Home.” And some West Point Grads received a special Grad Pass that allowed them to have access to MWR facilities while visiting.

Thank you to our graduates and tour guides who continue to support this program! www.westpointaog.org/gradinsidertour

More than 100 years ago, West Point faced a pandemic, the 1918-19 Spanish Flu, which reportedly infected one third of the world’s population. Estimates place the death toll for the Spanish Flu as high as 100 million people. No part of the globe seemed spared, not even the United States Military Academy.

The West Point Garrison took several measures to mitigate the effects of influenza on post back in 1918. West Point’s elementary school was closed from October 7 until November 4, 1918, and the children’s Christmas celebration (to be held in the Cadet Chapel) was indefinitely postponed that year. Also, according to the December 28, 1918 edition of the Army and Navy Register, the Garrison even ordered a partial quarantine of residents during the latter part of the year.

The Academy side of West Point, however, did not implement the above measures and, according to the 1919 Annual Report of the Superintendent, experienced two separate phases of the Spanish Flu, one during October 1918 and the “recurrence” several weeks later (determined to be around December 1918). “Table I” in the Superintendent’s report shows that virtually all cadets contracted the flu during one of these phases. Unfortunately, one cadet died from the Spanish Flu in October 1918, and two others died during the second phase. The Superintendent’s report called the low fatality rate among the Corps of Cadets, “remarkable.” “This result was entirely due to the untiring devotion of the medical staff, both officers and enlisted men, who never failed in their efforts to relieve the sick,” wrote Lieutenant Colonel W.H. Haskin, Head of the Department of Military Hygiene. Full story.

Captain Joseph LaPlante’s spring vacation from the USMA ended up longer than he thought. LaPlante now teaches remotely from his hometown. Travel restrictions and school closures due to coronavirus concerns have stopped him and his family from returning.

“I’ve been here in Idaho for about the last month. Spring break for West Point came around and the academy had sent off cadets, staff and faculty for vacation. At this time it was still the early stages of the coronavirus so things were developing very rapidly. It became apparent to leadership as COVID-19 developed that it was not in the best interest of the safety of their cadets to bring everyone back,” LaPlante said.

The academy and its instructors had to scramble for a way for its cadets to continue their classes but from a distance. LaPlante said that the academy came up with a way to continue its courses in around four days. He said that he wouldn’t be able to have a quiet and remote area to work if it wasn’t for the St. Maries Fire Protection District allowing him to use the O’Gara Fire Station to teach his classes out of. “Thank you to the St. Maries Fire Protection District for their support,” LaPlante said.

He said that online instruction for his class can sometimes be difficult due to the open discussion format. He said that the remote learning has had its advantages for some students.“I teach a MX 400 Officership class which is the capstone course at USMA,” LaPlante said. “It’s everything a cadet needs to know before graduating and its a very discussion based class. It has been a challenge to carry out those discussions online. There is one mic and camera, and only one can speak at a time. I typically have 14 to 17 cadets in each class and we can’t break up into small groups.”

“There are some good parts about it though,” LaPlante said. “Instead of talking for 75 minutes, I can shorten class and have the cadets go to a forum and type out questions. This has given cadets that are introverts a chance to engage and it has shown me that these cadets have a lot of great things to say. We are leveraging technology to some peoples strengths.” Read more.

TAPS, the official memorial magazine of the Long Gray Line, contains the fascinating and inspiring life stories of West Point graduates. Advance orders for the 2020 edition may now be placed online. We are now accepting Memorial Articles for the 2021 edition. Guidance on submitting articles may be found online or by calling 845.446.1647.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1945 | 1950 | 1959 | 1960 | 1962 | 1963 | 1966 | 1972 | 1982 | 1989 | 1993 | 1998 | 2008 | 2010. Class Notes

Former Army football standout and current Pittsburgh Steeler Alejandro Villanueva (USMA, 2010) chatted virtually with Rich DeMarco about his family, his daily routine changing and also what West Point and the football brotherhood has meant to him throughout his career.

Photo courtesy of Mark Rebilas, USA Today

Marcus Millen woke up at 5:30 a.m. every day for four years at Army West Point, and had formation minutes later along the base of the Hudson River.

A cold wind greeted Millen and his fellow cadets many days. By 7:30, he was eating “a subpar meal” and was left with a prevailing thought.

“Man, I’m an idiot,” he recalled.

Millen, a 2004 Easton graduate, has been a lot of things in life. No one has ever called him an idiot.

The son of Pat and Matt Millen, a former NFL player and CEO, was an all-state football player and captain of Easton’s wrestling program that won four consecutive PIAA Class 3A team tournament titles during his time there.

Millen was an officer leading units in Afghanistan, Kuwait and Baghdad before earning his MBA from Harvard and transitioning to the classroom. He is 12 years into a military career he knew he wanted when he was 8 years old, currently serving as an instructor in the Behavioral Science and Leadership department at West Point. Read more.

The Company D-1 Class of ’82 has always been a close group. Perhaps it was because of the brutal plebe year they endured. Perhaps it was because they were in the same company for all four years and never scrambled. Or, perhaps it was because they held on to their beloved “Duck” mascot before other company mascots became gender neutral and politically correct. For whatever reason, the Ducks flocked closely. But for some reason the Covid-19 lockdown that the country is experiencing has caused them to become even closer.

The COO of the WPAOG, and former class President Pat Ortland, had the brainchild to get the Ducks together on a Zoom meeting. He enlisted fellow Duck Bob Turko, and the first “D-1 Duck Soiree” was held on April 10th. Fourteen Ducks answered the duck call, and swapped stories about what has transpired since they flew away from the nest, and how their Ducklings are faring. It was deemed so successful that plans were made for “D-1 Duck Soiree #2” which was held on April 16th. In that gathering, 20 Ducks logged on, including one who left West Point after yearling year.

Plans are already in the works to hold “D-1 Duck Soiree #3”, with the goal of getting all the Ducks on-line at the same time. A total of seven Ducks have not answered the call, and each has been assigned to classmate to contact him and bring him into the fold. It is hoped that even after the lockdown has been lifted, the Soirees will continue for the group that is known for being “Bad to the Bone”.

Retired Captain Allen B. Clark has established a Combat Faith YouTube channel. It is dedicated as an encouragement and education platform for active duty military and veterans, who desire to strengthen their spiritual faith and address issues related to Combat Operating Stressors from deployments to combat zones. He will also add in the future, messages on patriotic topics.

The channel on You Tube is available at https://tinyurl.com/CombatFaithChannel. Clark requests those interested to access the channel and click on "Subscribe" for the opportunity to view videos. On selection of "Videos" there are other videos on the channel, where he has been taped in past interviews, including an interview on the Larry King show. There is no charge to subscribe and subscribers will not be messaged when new videos are posted.

Clark, the founder of Combat Faith lay ministry, served in Vietnam in covert operations assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group. In an early morning enemy mortar attack at Dak To Special Forces Camp on June 17, 1967 he sustained extensive mortar shrapnel wounds, necessitating amputation of both his legs below the knee. He was hospitalized for fifteen months at Brooke Army Hospital to include a fourteen-week period in a closed psychiatric ward in 1968. Many succeeding years were spent healing from his extreme bout with what some would describe as Post Traumatic Stress. He has been a guest speaker at many Army Warrior Transition Battalions as well as veteran meetings and has mentored many combat veterans from all our wars.

Welcome home NASA Astronaut, Colonel Andrew Morgan!

Morgan returned to Earth Friday April 17, 2020 after 272 days in space. His mission, which began July 20, 2019, coincided with the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing. Morgan also shares the distinction of landing on earth exactly 50 years to the day of the tense but triumphant Apollo 13 landing.

Photo courtesy of NASA

When asked about the new Space Science major at West Point, which will graduate its first cohort of cadets in the spring of 2020, Lieutenant Colonel Diana Loucks, an Academy Professor and the Director of the Space and Missile Defense Command Research and Analysis Center in the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering (PaNE), begins by saying, “Space has always been a part of West Point.” She is absolutely right.

Between the classes of 1950 to 1998, the Academy has produced 21 astronauts, including Colonel Drew Morgan ’98 MD, who is currently serving aboard the International Space Station. Dozens of other graduates from numerous West Point classes—such as Edmund O’Conner ’43JUN, Raymond Clark ’45, Henry Clements ’53 and Alfred Davidson III ’57—have gone on to work for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), providing services and ground support for U.S. space missions. And even a century before space flight, West Point was an important part of research involving space: William H.C. Bartlett, Class of 1826, Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy at the U.S. Military Academy, for example, built the first observatory at West Point in 1841 and used its equipment to perceive the orbit of the Comet of 1843 and photograph, for the first time in history, a partial solar eclipse on May 26, 1854. Full story.

Ann Holder, Founder & CEO of Odonata Health, a Minneapolis-based maternal and fetal health technology startup, is in the running for $1 million in funding as a U.S. finalist in the second annual Female Founders Competition. Organized by Microsoft’s venture fund M12 in conjunction with VC partners Mayfield and Melinda Gates’ Pivotal Ventures, the competition’s objective is to create a more equitable playing field for female founders. 

“As a finalist, I am incredibly excited and honored to be a part of such a talented and driven group of entrepreneurs,” said Odonata founder and CEO Ann Holder in a press release. Her company develops proprietary, wearable sensor technology which non-invasively measures maternal and fetal vitals during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. The data, which includes fetal ECG and heartrate, are then analyzed using AI and deep neural networks. The technology allows clinicians to quickly and easily identify fetal distress in order to protect the health of mother and baby.

Holder’s background includes almost a decade of experience at Medtronic several operational roles. To date, she has raised $1.5 million for Odonata and hopes to raise additional capital this year in order to develop the company’s first product. The Female Founders Competition is a global competition that accelerates funding for women entrepreneurs developing business-to-business “deeptech”—a term for companies working on substantial scientific advances and high-tech engineering innovation—and software-as-a-service solutions. Four winning companies will receive a total of $6 million in venture funding along with access to technology, resources, and mentoring. Read more.

Thousands of men and women - veterans who have already served their country once - are voluntarily signing up to fight on the front lines of COVID-19 in the midst of this global health crisis. “We’re standing up to prevent, to detect and treat COVID-19. This is a tough fight but together we’ll do our part to help the nation win,” Army Chief of Staff James Charles McConville said during a press briefing.

In late March, as the confirmed number of novel coronavirus cases started to rise across the country, the Army sent out 800,000 emails asking those who already served with medical backgrounds - to consider returning and helping their country once again. So far, 25,000, and counting, have submitted their information for the Army’s consideration. “This is a voluntary opportunity for our medical soldiers for life to return to the fight if they so choose, especially if they’re not currently assisting their local communities. So far, the initial responses have been very, very positive,” McConville said.

Retired Army emergency doctor Melissa Givens, served 23 years in several countries across the world, is now one of the many brave individuals volunteering to serve again. “I had a lot of experience turning a tent into a hospital or from an abandoned building,” she said, citing specific areas like New York, which has been one of the worst-hit in the United States so far during the pandemic. Givens had originally retired in February. Six weeks later, with the pandemic’s wrath taking hold of the world around her, she returned back to work knowing hospitals were overloaded and healthcare professionals were overworked.

She helped turn Columbia University’s soccer field into a 288-bed field hospital for New York Presbyterian to help aid in the fight against COVID-19, knowing she could also recruit other service members to help as well. Givens sent out her own call for volunteers by communicating with friends on social media. More than 700 service members responded. “There are a lot of military members who served in medical roles during their career in the military, and when they get out, their credentials don’t translate to the civilian world,” she said. “They’re resourceful. They’re cognitively flexible. They’re adaptive and they’re professionals.”

A typical hospital can take years to build, but what Givens and others have managed to complete already is almost beyond belief. They have created a functioning facility to help with COVID-19 in just one week. “Our community wants to serve. That’s just the bottom line,” Givens said. “People want to do good things. You just have to give them a way to do it.” Read more.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1956 | 1959 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1970 | 1973 | 1974 | 1989 | 1990 | 1993 | 1994 | 1996 | 2009. Class Notes

Wyatt Batchelor ’09 Co-owner of Jimmy John’s in the Denver metro area of Colorado is providing Medical Professionals at VA Hospitals lunch on the house, they call “Meal Drops”. Trying to do their part to help the front-line workers fighting COVID-19 during this trying time.

Earlier this year about 35 – 40 women classmates from the Class of ’94 attended the 6th Annual Winter Leadership Conference held in Nashville, Tennessee, several for the first time. Every year they meet in a different location.

Classmates enjoyed a wonderful weekend together…They booked a Redneck Comedy Tour bus, ran a 5K to benefit the West Nashville Dream Center and enjoyed lunch together at a large indoor bierhaus. In smaller groups, they toured the Grand Ole Opry, visited the Country Music Hall of Fame, sampled barbeque joints, and got a taste of the Nashville nightlife. View photos.

The Winter Leadership Conference started in 2014, when they spent a weekend at USMA honoring their fallen sister Karin (Gventer) Tackaberry, who had lost a battle with cancer in 2012. She was a member of the USMA Women's Basketball team and that weekend the 2014 women's team dedicated a locker to her and BEAT NAVY!

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

MG Kenneth L. Kamper ’89 to Commanding General, United States Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, Fort Sill, OK

Do you ever feel like you are doing all the right things to get closer to God, but even when you try to follow the scriptures more closely, something is still lacking? You still feel a Void? In almost, Dr. Berkley Baker explains that to experience Jesus more fully we must be willing to grab hold of his nature. By exploring the Nature of the Lord in the context of our relationship with Him, the author awakens us to the fact that we are uniquely designed to have a dynamic relationship with a personal and intimate God. This book invites the reader to grow beyond living for God into a life characterized by living with Him.

West Point Magazine took time out to talk with Head Coach Brian Riley, a family legacy in Hockey at West Point since his father started in 1950. Coach Riley loves hockey, but also believes in keeping the legacy of these extraordinary cadet players like Thomas Kennedy '00 and Derek Hines '03 live in the hearts of future West Point generations. "They were obviously great hockey players, but more importantly they were great people." - Coach Riley
This compelling heartfelt mission of Coach Riley can be found in West Point spring online edition.

Read More

Kevin Offel has been re-appointed as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) for Oklahoma (North) by HON Ryan D. McCarthy, Secretary of the Army. CASAs are a vital part of the Army. Their duties and responsibilities include keeping the public informed about why a strong and robust Army is vital to our national security; partnering with the Soldier for Life Program to support our transitioning Soldiers and families; connecting prospective Soldiers with recruiters and commissioning sources; promoting good relations between the Army, Congress, and the public; and advising the Secretary on regional issues.

Lisa Pruett has been appointed to President of North America Packaging Solutions at R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company.

“Lisa Pruett has deep expertise in packaging, specifically in markets that are current focal points for RRD’s growth strategy,” said John Pecaric, President, RRD Business Services. “Our company continues to grow and evolve, and we’re excited to welcome veteran leaders, like Lisa, who bring unique knowledge and skill sets to further fuel our goals of providing truly innovative packaging services.”

Prior to joining RRD, Pruett was Chief Executive Officer at Downlite, a U.S. based down-feather processor and manufacturer of down-feather and synthetic bedding. She has also held leadership positions at Paperworks Industries, Inc., The C.W. Zumbiel Co., and Smurfit-Stone Container Corp/Altivity Packaging LLC, where she gained extensive knowledge of the paperboard packaging markets. She is a Desert Storm Veteran.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1959 | 1962 | 1965 | 1971 | 1978 | 1981 | 1982 | 1994. Class Notes

On March 19, WPAOG received a call from COL (Retired) Timothy Connors ’88 United States Army Reserve, Director at the National Guard Training Post at Camp Smith, in Peekskill. Tim was tasked with possibly setting up tents at Camp Smith to “cover all the flat space” as a temporary warehouse facility. Tim asked if the AOG could connect him with other Grads who worked in the following fields: Logistics and/or traffic management, trucking, and warehouse management.

AOG’s Career Services Division put out a call for action and received an immediate response from eight graduates. This information was provided to Tim. The Alumni Support Division provided a list of over 400 logistical positions that graduates hold, so that Tim could review the list, and let the AOG know if he wanted us to contact the with the graduate in the position, and make an introduction.

Tim connected with several graduates and gained invaluable information. He wrote a beautiful letter thanking the AOG, and his last paragraph below sums up his feelings about the Long Gray Line.

“I always tell people that West Point is a demanding Master. The moniker stays with you for a lifetime. Others will judge you by its standards--in both times of personal triumph and failure. But one can always count on our Alumni to collectively step up and do what's right for the right reasons. Their selfless service has been on display here. Being a part of it is worth every sacrifice made and hardship endured.”

Like many others, Marcus Weldon, Class of ’82, celebrated his birthday this year from home after finishing a day of work, at home, as the IT Program Manager for Kroger. Marcus and his wife, Lauren, of 31 years, were accompanied by their daughter Feather, a career ballerina, and his son Grant. Lauren decorated the house in the finest plundered decorations. Lauren also created a tailored dairy-, soy- and peanuts-free menu that would be the envy of the finest dining establishment in Manhattan. The meal included filet mignon with crab, baked hasselback potatoes and pistachio cream, and chocolate crunch with a latte cookie for dessert. The Weldon family all donned their finest attire for the evening and, as Marcus said, “Sometimes the simple get-togethers are the best.”

For over 30 years, Herman Bulls has been a visionary leader at JLL, a professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. He has witnessed first-hand the firm’s powerful growth over the decades, now a Fortune 500 company, ranking in at #189, in over 80 countries around the globe.

When he first joined JLL, the company had 300 professionals. Today, JLL has 93,000 people around the world. Over the last ten years, he has seen nearly 90 strategic acquisitions as part of the JLL’s global growth strategy, and the firm’s annual total revenue reach a record high of $16.3 billion last year.

Herman is known for creating powerful teams, building strong relationships with clients and partners, his expansive real estate and finance knowledge, and his extensive marketing and strategic development background. He was the founder of JLL’s Public Institutions division, which provides real estate services to federal, state and local governments, colleges and universities and not for profit organizations.

Herman’s reputation goes above beyond his work at JLL—he has long been a sound advisor for multiple companies as a seasoned Corporate Board Director. He currently sits on the board of USAA, Comfort Systems as well as the Governors of the American Red Cross organization. Herman also serves on the Real Estate Advisory Committee for New York State Teachers’ Retirement System, one of the largest pension funds in America. His former NYSE board service includes Tyco, Exelis (ITT’s spin-off) and Computer Sciences Corporation. All serve as examples showcasing Herman’s commitment to steering with strong leadership.

“Good leaders are concerned about the mission and the people,” says Herman. “This is the foundational piece of the puzzle that enables the establishment of trust between management and employees. Trust, in turn, enables people to be their authentic self, which then unleashes creativity and encourages innovation.” Read more.

In the morning before the rain came, I did some tractor work on our five acres, planting new life.

As I pause on my seventy-first birthday to look back upon my life, I wish there was some way that I could communicate to all West Pointers, past and future, how richly blessed my life has been, and how much of that richness includes the lessons that I learned at West Point.

To say that my life has been fulfilled would be an understatement.  I have accomplished every major life dream that I have ever had, with the exception of two, and I have partial accomplishment of both of those.  Most importantly, I know that I am loved, and that I have given a great deal of love.  I have Suzi, and four magnificent adult children, all four of whom are happily married, have good jobs, own their own homes, and all have at least one beautiful child.  I have seven grandchildren and one more on the way.  For an old father and grandfather, there is no greater blessing than this.

Later in the day, I worked on my latest book, which is important for me to finish before the end of my life, because it's mainly for the benefit of one of my grandchildren.  By the way, I already have eight published books, and I know that at least two of them have had a positive impact upon the world.

I still have an active law practice.  I also find great joy in teaching two Business Law courses at the local college.  I sneak important life lessons for my students into the course material, and that gives me great joy. 

At seventy-one, I still have dreams about West Point from time to time.  I still miss my company classmates.  I still hear the distant drums.

I ran for public office three times.  Lost the election every time.  But learned amazing lessons about relationship to community that I'm not sure that a military brat like me could have learned any other way.  I'm glad that I ran.  And I'm glad that I had an influence upon my community and upon my Country.

Here is the thing that I wish that every West Pointer could know: as far as my particular class of magnificent cadets goes, I was just a cadet of average, or perhaps even less than average ability.  I did excel in a few things, like military leadership and athletics.  But in academics, I barely made it through my plebe year, I was a goat in the goats and engineers football game.  And I graduated near the bottom of my West Point class. 

Interesting that what I learned at West Point was enough so that later, I graduated number two in my law school class at one of the toughest law schools in the Country.  Maybe it was what I learned about discipline. 

Of course, I had an incredible amount of help with law school.  When I first got to law school, feeling way out of my league, and very worried, one of my West Point Company G-2 Classmates, Phil Lower, was a year or two ahead of me in the same law school. It was Phil who showed me how to study the law, how to write a good law school exam, and how to understand what was needed to succeed in law school.  He was so generous.  It was the same kind of generosity that I received from the brilliant upperclassman in my company who tutored me through my first set of calculus exams in my plebe year, when I was in serious danger of failing.

I learned many wonderful life lessons at West Point, but generosity was one of the sweetest of those lessons.  And I have done my best to give generosity back into the world in accordance with that which I have received.  And in large part because of my doing that, I have had an astoundingly happy and fulfilling life.

We sign off in the Class of 1971 with "PD", which is short for our class motto, "Professionally Done."
So, PD.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Colonel Aaron Reisinger is on the Front Line leading the way in the Midwest – Chicago and Milwaukee regions. COL Reisinger is overseeing the rehabilitation of three hospital sites.

“We are in a race against time right now to see what we can get done in next three to four weeks as a relief valve for existing hospitals,”  COL Reisinger said. The Elgin site will be an “alternate care facility,” just like McCormick Place will be in Chicago, meaning they would receive patients transferred from existing hospitals.

“We don't want people to believe this is a hospital that people can show up to as an emergency room,” Once the construction work is done, the state will supply equipment, staffing and administration of the hospital sites, COL Reisinger said. Read more.

To support small businesses in the Austin area affected by the COVID 19 crisis, Clear Launch, Notley and Sabot Development, Ltd. have partnered to create LocalSupportCard.com. This searchable platform connects customers to local businesses' gift-card sales pages. It costs nothing for businesses to have their page listed on the website. Those who don't already have a gift card sales page get free enablement support to set one up through Shopify or Square. The platform will be expanding to other cities as well. This will help businesses without previous online sales capability quickly stand it up.
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The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1952 | 1953 | 1956 | 1957 | 1959 | 1960 | 1970 | 1995 | 2010 | 2016. Class Notes