Authentically American was recently featured on the television show Fox & Friends, click here to watch the segment. In 2017, Dean Wegner created Authentically American, LLC, to help bring jobs back to America by selling premium, competitively priced, organization and consumer branded apparel and other merchandise that is ALL Made in USA, no exceptions. His history in the apparel and consumer packaged goods industries, coupled with his passion for America, provided all the incentive he needed to form a company that aims to set the universally accepted standard for premium Made in USA merchandise, while delivering a measurable impact on US job creation. Authentically American is giving back. 10% of each sale is donated to veteran focused charities that support our American heroes, first responders, and their families.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1959 | 1974 | 1982 | 1984 | 1989 | 1990 | 1993 | 2008. Class Notes

Dawn Morris has been Named Executive Vice President, chief digital banking and marketing officer at First Horizon National Corporation. In her new role, she will help drive growth by leading First Horizon's digital banking, marketing and customer experience initiatives across all areas of the company.

"Dawn is an outstanding addition to our team. She has an impressive track-record of building customer-centric marketing and digital strategies that drive differentiation and growth," said Bryan Jordan, First Horizon's chairman and CEO. "We are excited to welcome Dawn to First Horizon and look forward to her leadership as we broaden our brand and customer experience strategies across our expanded footprint."

Throughout her career in banking and financial services Morris has helped transform companies through innovative brand, direct and digital marketing campaigns that have accelerated revenue growth, built brand recognition and customer loyalty. Prior to joining First Horizon, Morris was executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Webster Bank where she transformed marketing and built the digital marketing function and capabilities. She previously held retail and business banking leadership positions at RBS Citizens Financial Group and had P&L responsibility at RBC Bank in North Carolina. She was recently recognized as a top woman in business by the Hartford Business Journal. Read More

COL Kevin S. Brown became the Deputy Commander of the Southwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Prior to this assignment, he was the Assistant Commandant of the U.S. Army Engineer School in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. "I consider it a real privilege to serve in an organization that works so closely with both our local communities and our warfighters," said Brown, who is a native of the Dallas area. "The effect of Army Corps of Engineers projects is clearly seen throughout our region. It's also great to be back home," he added.

Brown has served in a variety of command and staff positions in both the United States and overseas. His overseas deployments include Operation Safe Haven/Passage in Panama 1996, Operation Desert Thunder Kuwait 1998, Operation Joint Forge Bosnia-Herzegovina 2000-2001, Operation Iraqi Freedom Iraq 2009-2010 and Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan 2008, 2012, and 2017. "Col. Brown is an outstanding addition to our leadership team," said Brig. Gen. Paul E. Owen, Southwestern Division commander. "He brings proven command and leadership experience, combined with engineering and professional expertise. These talents contribute greatly to helping us achieve outstanding results in delivering our program for the American people.

His awards and decorations include the following: Legion of Merit; Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster; Meritorious Service Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters; Joint Achievement Medal; Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; National Defense Service Medal with Service Star; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Service Star; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars; Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars; Humanitarian Service Medal with Service Star; and NATO Medal with two Campaign Stars. He has also earned the Combat Action Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Master Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge. He also is a proud lifetime member of both the Society of American Military Engineers and the Army Engineer Association, and a recipient of the Silver Order of the de Fleury.

Lance A. Lawson, a shareholder and Partner-In-Charge of the McNair Law Firm's Charlotte, NC, office, is once again recognized as a leading lawyer by the Best Lawyers in America guide for 2019. Mr. Lawson was named a Best Lawyer in two subject areas: IP – Litigation and Litigation – Patents. Best Lawyers is one of the oldest and most distinguished legal directories, and it conducts peer-review surveys to compile its annual list of top attorneys across various legal practice areas. First published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. Globally, almost 87,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote and nearly 10 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world were received. For the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, 7.8 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in almost 60,000 leading lawyers being included in the new edition. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers "the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice."

Cole White was promoted to the Vice President of Strategic Consulting at Mente Group, an aviation advisory firm. Previously, he was Director of Strategic Consulting. Mente Group's strategic consulting division provides robust fleet planning and feasibility studies for business aviation owners and fleet operators. The company specializes in evaluating client travel requirements and developing solutions. Cole served as an Armor Officer after graduating and was drafted into the Pittsburg Pirates organization, where he played professional baseball for three years.

"Cole White has proven himself to be valuable to our clients and his military systems management background delivers precise and respected solutions," said President and CEO Brian Proctor. "In addition to his military experience, he is a former professional athlete, which brings another aspect of discipline to his work providing practical counsel to our clientele and internal staff." Read More

The Army West Point Athletic Association officially welcomed seven new members into the Army Sports Hall of Fame on Friday night at Eisenhower Hall. The Class of 2018 honored were basketball standout and former head football coach Dale Hall, baseball great Ed Haydash, Jr., swimming star Kerry O'Hara, volleyball extraordinaire Elita Powell, three-sport star Ed Rafalko, lacrosse standout George Slabowski and former assistant sports information director Mady Salvani. Click here to watch the Induction Ceremony.

The group was also recognized during the plaque unveiling ceremony at the Kenna Hall of Army Sports prior to the banquet at Ike Hall. The newest class was also honored during halftime of this past Saturday's football game at Michie Stadium. Dale Hall was a six-time letter winner for the Cadets in basketball, football and tennis. He was a two-time Helms Athletic Foundation First Team All-American on the court and the 1944 Sporting News College Basketball Player of the Year. He also earned All-America honors from the Converse Yearbook and Argony Magazine.

Hall led Army to a 29-1 record in his last seasons on the hardwood, including 1944's undefeated 15-0 mark in which he averaged 23 points per game. He was Army's first player in program history to record 30 points in a game. On the gridiron, Hall was a two-year halfback for the football team and a member of the 1944 National Championship team. He later went on to be the head football coach from 1959-61 and had a record of 16-11-2. Full Story »

David Sokol has been named Employee Benefit Adviser of the Year by Employee Benefit Adviser. David is president and owner of the Wilshire Benefits Group and served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm as an artillery officer. “I am a lifelong learner, and I get fired up learning new things,” he says. “This industry doesn’t disappoint with the new things I have to learn every day to be competitive.” Said David.

Each year, Employee Benefit Adviser grants awards to recognize excellence and innovation in the field. The awards recognize outstanding service to group benefit plan sponsors by their brokers or advisers. They seek to honor not just sales performance, but other factors that determine advisers’ true value to their clients as trusted advisers. Each Adviser of the Year award is presented to the nominee who has demonstrated a consistent pattern of forward-thinking innovation and achievement in benefit plan sales, consulting, and/or leadership, as well as overall contributions to the profession. Click here to read the article.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1956 | 1966 | 1984 | 1985 | 1990 | 1996 | 2000 | 2001 | 2010. Class Notes

Kyle Michel has been named the new Van Meter City Administrator. While today, Michel continues to serve with the 103rd ESC out of Fort Des Moines, it wasn’t until he attended grad school that Michel became interested in pursuing a career in municipal government.

"In terms of my personal process to becoming a city administrator, it would have started in grad school at Drake," Michel said, "I was not familiar with municipal government, (but) I was fortunate enough to secure an internship within city hall with the City of Windsor Heights."
"The experience gained in my internship as well as the experience gained in my position in Elkhart set me up for success when applying for the city administrator vacancy in Van Meter," Michel said,

Coming up, these past experiences will prove to be an asset for Michel as he prepares to face many upcoming projects and challenges throughout the city of Van Meter. Some of these projects include updating the City Code of Ordinances, as well as beginning the necessary steps to move towards the completion of a water treatment capital improvement project. While others involve the process of developing and designing a new public safety and library building. Read More

Kathleen Owings has been recognized by Advisor Today with the “Four Under Forty Award,” given annually to four outstanding financial advisors who achieve excellence in their profession by or before the age of 40.

"I am frequently asked about my career progression from the Army to the financial-services industry," Owings says. "These seemingly unrelated professions actually share many underlying values. As an officer, I served the nation and my soldiers with trust and integrity. These values lend themselves well to building client relationships based largely on trust. Both professions require meticulous planning, thoughtful design and flexible execution."

Community service has always been important to Owings. Giving back to her community complements her work with clients and amplifies her dedication to serving others. For the past 10 years, for example, she has served on the Board of Trustees for the Pikes Peak Library District. She has also worked with the Peak Military Care Network, which connects the community’s military service members, veterans and their families with resources provided by their community partners. Read More

Adria Horn has been named vice president of workforce development at Tilson, a Portland-based network deployment and IT professional services firm. For the past three years Horn has served as director of Maine's Bureau of Veterans' Affairs, where she led local and national veteran outreach and legislative initiatives. Gov. Paul R. LePage said she has raised the profile of Maine's veterans during her time with the bureau.

In her new role on Tilson's senior management team, Adria will be responsible for implementing Tilson's global workforce strategy by deepening Tilson's training and career pathing, and partnering with educational institutions, industry and the military in building Tilson's team of technical professionals, the company said in Wednesday's announcement.

"Adria is a proven leader and respected voice in workforce development, said Tilson CEO Joshua Broder, a 2018 Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year and a decorated Army veteran. "'I'm honored to serve with her as we continue to build our workforce to keep pace with our incredible growth."

"I'm excited to continue to serve in a mission-driven organization building American's information infrastructure, and to the continuity between my workforce development and wellness work at the Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services to Tilson's workforce development programs," Adria said. Read More

Joel Roberts has been honored as a Veteran of Influence by the Orlando Business Journal (OBJ). The Veterans of Influence Awards also recognize metro Orlando veterans in the local business community who through personal efforts are making a positive impact on the community. The winners were selected based on their business success, more so than their military accomplishments, though they also had great success. Joel is a litigation partner at BakerHostetler and co-leads the Aerospace, Defense and Government Services team. Joel currently serves as chairman of the board of a national consulting and engineering firm focusing on defense and public sector projects.

LTG(R) H.R. McMaster was named a 2018-19 Perry World House Fellows. Perry World House (PWH), Penn's global policy research institute, brings students and faculty from across Penn's schools and disciplines together with practitioners and policymakers from around the world to advance interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research on the world's most urgent global affairs challenges.

"Perry World House continues to bring the world to Penn and give our students and scholars alike an unrivaled opportunity to learn from and collaborate with some of the most powerful and experienced players on the international stage," said Penn President Amy Gutmann. "This year's impressive class of fellows will ensure that Perry World House continues to be a home on campus to the Penn community as well as stimulating conversations about the most pressing issues facing the world."

"Like our previous classes, this year's visiting fellows, which includes a who's who of policy leaders from around the world and different branches of the U.S. government, will truly become a part of the Penn community," said William Burke-White, Richard Perry Professor and inaugural director of Perry World House. "We are building specific programs around each visitor to leverage the remarkable depth and breadth of their experience and maximize their potential to benefit Penn faculty and undergraduate and graduate students."

H.R. McMaster served as the national security advisor from 2017 to 2018. He is currently the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Visiting Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute, both at Stanford University. In addition to his service at the White House, in the Army, and in wars, including the Gulf War, the Iraq War, and in Afghanistan, he is the author of "Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, The Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies that Led to Vietnam." Read More

Diane Wilhelm is one of the founding members of the Soldiers’ Angels Advisory Council. Soldiers' Angels has announced the creation of the Soldiers' Angels Advisory Council to help the nonprofit organization continue to grow. "The Soldiers' Angels board has carefully selected these founding members of our Advisory Council for the passion, character, and commitment that they bring to our organization" said Amy Palmer, President and CEO of Soldiers' Angels. "They include military veterans and experienced industry leaders who will help champion our mission and expand our support." Diane Wilhelm is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and currently the Chief Engineer, Advanced Manufacturing for Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Read More

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1943Jan | 1959 | 1971 | 1977 | 1986 | 1991 | 2001. Class Notes

Andrew Lamb, MD is recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Pinnacle Professional in the field of Medical Affairs and Internal Medicine in recognition of his role as Vice President Medical Affairs & Internal Medicine Physician at Cone Health.

With over thirty-four years of experience in the medical profession, Dr. Andrew S. Lamb has become a venerated professional in the medical industry. Devoted to his medical career since the start of 1992 in Burlington, North Carolina after serving as a medical officer in the U.S. Army, Dr. Lamb served five years as an internist at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Chief of Medicine for the 86th Evacuation Hospital during Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Lamb served as a part-time Medical Director of the Elon University Department of Physician Assistant Studies program, and team leader for 23 short-term medical mission trips throughout the world.

Transitioning from being an active internal medicine physician to administration, Dr. Lamb loves teaching and encourages mentoring. His determination and passion for medicine resides in his yearning to bring back the joy into medicine. When asked his advice to apprentices in the industry, Dr. Lamb states, "Medicine is hard work and you have to go into it for the right reasons. It is still a privilege to be in medicine. Even though there is an epidemic of burnout, I find significant joy now."

A Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician with Kernodle Clinic, in an effort to further enhance his professional development, Dr. Lamb is a distinguished fellow of several elite organizations including the Alamance Regional Medical Staff Executive Committee and Credentials Committee. In recognition of professional accolades, Dr. Lamb was named Vice President of medical affairs for Alamance Regional Medical Center. Dr. Lamb dedicates this recognition to his father, David O. Lamb, Lt. Col. Retired, a true American Hero, in loving memory. Read More

John Poncy has been named ICO advisor for compliance and strategy issues at Bitdollar Capital. John brings over 20 years of strategic and operational business management experience, serving as CEO for companies in the international security and technology industries. As an advisor for Bitdollar Capital, he will advise both of its collectively managed funds, Bitdollar Fund and i2 Fund.

"John is an important addition to the advisory team given his experience in business and the military, and his strategic aptitude and existing relationships within government will help our growth in the future", said Nick Kitcharoen, Founder and CEO of Bitdollar Capital. "We are extremely fortunate to have someone with his background advising us on compliance and strategy issues." Read More

Dwight S. Mears has released his book, The Medal of Honor: The Evolution of America's Highest Military Decoration. The Medal of Honor may be America's highest military decoration, but all Medals of Honor are not created equal. The medal has in fact consisted of several distinct decorations at various times and has involved a number of competing statutes and policies that rewarded different types of heroism. In this book, the first comprehensive look at the medal's historical, legal, and policy underpinnings, Dwight S. Mears charts the complex evolution of these developments and differences over time.

The Medal of Honor has had different qualification thresholds at different times, and indeed three separate versions—one for the army and two for the navy—existed contemporaneously between World Wars I and II. Mears traces these versions back to the medal's inception during the Civil War and continues through the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan—along the way describing representative medal actions for all major conflicts and services as well as legislative and policy changes contemporary to each period. He gives particular attention to retroactive army awards for the Civil War; World War I legislation that modernized and expanded the army's statutory award authorization; the navy's grappling with both a combat and noncombat Medal of Honor through much of the twentieth century; the Vietnam-era act that ended noncombat awards and largely standardized the Medal of Honor among all services; and the perceived decline of Medals of Honor awarded in the ongoing Global War on Terror.

Mears also explores the tradition of awards via legislative bills of relief; extra legislative awards; administrative routes to awards through Boards of Correction of Military Records; restoration of awards previously revoked by the army in 1917; judicial review of military actions in federal court; and legislative actions intended to atone for historical discrimination against ethnic minorities. Unprecedented in scope and depth, his work is sure to be the definitive resource on America's highest military honor. This book is available on Amazon.

"The House of Representatives Bill H.R. 6263 has now been written to gain Presidential authorization for the Congressional Gold Medal for WWII Rangers. It is now up for support from other Representatives, and a 2/3rds majority is required to move the bill forward. There are about 50 remaining WWII Rangers for whom we have contact so this is an urgent request to Congress. There were at least seven West Point graduates who were in WWII Ranger Battalions. Of particular note, COL William O. Darby '33, was selected in 1942 to command the 1st Ranger Battalion and then later commanded the entire Ranger Force (which included the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Ranger Battalions) and was promoted posthumously to Brigadier General. LTC Henry Mucci '36, organized the 6th Ranger Battalion from a pack-mule artillery unit, and later was part of the Ranger force which liberated the 513 Allied prisoners at Cabanatuan in the Philippines in January 1945. MG(R) John C. Raaen, Jr. Jan '43, landed on the beaches at Omaha, is still with us today, and remains a very vibrant and enthusiastic supporter of the World War II Rangers. Other West Point WWII Rangers include Ralph Colby '40; John Dobson '39; Robert Garrett '41; and James Greene '43. We urge that all West Point Rangers contact their Congressional Representatives and ask for their support of H.R. Bill 6263. Anyone with question can contact RonHudnell@aol.com.”

Photo: WWII Ranger Ben Temkin, 4th Ranger Battalion at West Point for the Camp Buckner awards ceremony

An aging military officer looks back at his wayward adolescent days on Alcatraz in this captivating memoir. Bill Stewart lived on the Rock during the last five years it operated as an Army prison and provides a rare first-hand account of life on Alcatraz during this time. He is probably the sole remaining link between the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which is now in charge of the island, and the old Army days of Alcatraz that ended in 1934. In Alcatraz Kid, Bill shares admiring glimpses of the West Point engineers who reshaped a useless hunk of hill into the enigmatic curiosity that draws so many visitors today. He also reveals what the effect of constant association with prison Trustees –– prisoners working daily in his home as cooks and houseboys –– has on a youngster whose character has not yet formed. Anyone with an interest in Alcatraz with find this unique coming-of-age story to be a valuable addition to their library.

"A delightful read about a young boy coming of age in a time of innocence at a place before it was infamous. Bill Stewart is a great storyteller with a terrific sense of detail and recall of a life well lived." LtGen(R) Douglas Owens.

"Alcatraz Kid is a wonderful book that tells two stories: one is a thoroughly researched discussion of the construction and management of the island by the U.S. Army. The other story describes how five formative years of like on Alcatraz, interacting with Army prisoners, shaped the character of the author, who has devoted 80 years of his life to serving others. Valuable leadership lessons are skillfully taught in both stories." MajGen(R) Jerrold Allen.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1953 | 1956 | 1957 | 1965 | 1968 | 1973 | 1984 | 1996 | 2007 | 2013. Class Notes

The Virginia War Memorial Foundation announced that LTC(R) Ronald White has been elected to the Board of Directors. Ronald is the Vice President of Member and Public Relations for the Southside Electric Cooperative in Crewe, Virginia, and currently serves as Director of Government & External Affairs for Virginia State University. White previously served as the District Director & Military Liaison for former Virginia Congressman J. Randy Forbes.

"We are pleased and honored to have such a talented and diverse pool of individuals join the Board of Directors of the Virginia War Memorial Foundation," said Rear Admiral Frank F. Rennie, IV, USN (R), VWMF Board Chairman. "We are already hearing their fresh and innovative ideas. My fellow directors are all energized by these new team members." "With the growth in programs and expanded capabilities at the Memorial over the next year, we are committed to enhance the Foundation's base of support and bring different perspectives to the table." He added "It is truly inspiring to witness the passion for the Memorial's mission to Honor Veterans, Preserve History, Educate Youth, and Inspire Patriotism in All."

The mission of the Virginia War Memorial is to Honor Veterans, Preserve History, Educate Youth, and Inspire Patriotism in All. Dedicated in 1956, the Memorial includes the names of the nearly 12,000 Virginia heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and the Global War on Terror. The Memorial is currently undergoing a major expansion to house a new shrine to those Virginians who have died in the Global War on Terror, a Medal of Honor Gallery, a long-distance learning/oral history studio, additional exhibits and educational space, and a 3-tiered underground parking facility.

Eric Osteen is on a mission. Several missions, actually.

He left the Army in May after five years of active service, most recently as a Signal Corps captain, and is adjusting to civilian life. He's newly acquired a house with his wife, Erin, an anesthesiology resident at Wake Forest Baptist hospital. The couple expects their first child in January. Osteen additionally is enrolled in a two-year MBA program at Wake, paying his own way.

"It's an exciting time. I have a lot going on, but that's how I like it," says the 28-year-old graduate of West Point.

Osteen also successfully petitioned the NCAA for a fourth year of eligibility, qualifying him to join the Wake Forest football squad as a walk-on graduate student. He's competing with four others for kicking chores. "He just kind of dropped in our lap," Wake coach Dave Clawson, who turns 51 this week, told Demon Deacon Digest in July. "He's probably more mature than I am, which isn't saying much."

Military veterans were scattered throughout football in the mid-20th century, but are rare today. Osteen is the 10th man since 1957 to play the sport at Wake after serving in the military but the first since the early 1970s. Read More

Ben Faw '07 has joined the Beauty Bakerie Cosmetics board as their first independent director. Beauty Bakerie is one of the fastest growing cosmetics company in the United States with a female African-American founder, Cashmere Nicole, also the company's CEO. Beauty Bakerie has raised funds from a range of investors including Unilever Ventures, New Voices Fund, 645 Ventures, Blue Consumer Capital, and many others. Beauty Bakerie's CFO is Rod Roberts '07, Ben's West Point classmate. Both Rod and Ben are also Harvard Business School '14 classmates.

Congrats to WPAOG's own Marilee Meyer!

Last week, MG(R) Michael J. Conrad '56 honored Marilee Meyer, WPAOG Memorial and Archives Manager, by making her an Honorary Member of the Class of 1956.

For more than two years, beginning with the Class of 1956's reunion in April 2016, Marilee has processed 260 daily death notifications for the class and provided 59 "advance" articles to still-living classmates who have requested assistance with memorial article support. Throughout this process, Marilee has been unfailingly helpful, kind, passionate, responsive, and professional as she assisted not only in the processing and submission of these articles, but with providing advice on how to contact the families and locate content and photographs from next of kin and loved ones.

Along with her outstanding work for the Class of 1956, Marilee's daily Deaths and Condolences accomplishments in 2017 include not only notifications, but also assistance for memorial articles for TAPS, the official memorial publication of the Long Gray Line. The mission of TAPS is to honor and record the legacy of the Long Gray Line through the personal life stories if its members.

In 2017:
485 Graduate deaths were reported to classes and societies; 154 Widow deaths were reported; 20 Ex-cadet deaths reported (659 Total death notifications); 442 CEO Condolence letters completed; 128 follow up letters to families; assisting authors and families in gathering 275 memorial articles in 2017 and 267 Memorial articles for the 2018 TAPS. In addition, Marilee assists families and loved ones with purchase of commemorative Memorial Parchments if desired.

Each TAPS article is custom-authored, edited and laid out with a cadet photo by WPAOG's Communications team, and signed off on by Next of Kin; approved articles appear in print edition of TAPS and are then posted online in the popular "Be Thou At Peace" section of the WPAOG website at https://www.westpointaog.org/memorials

Please join us in offering congratulations to Marilee Meyer and the WPAOG Memorials Team!

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1955 | 1959 | 1987 | 1993 | 1985 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1999. Class Notes

Lou Karnes at been named the new Vice President of Government and Defense Aircraft Services at Summit Aviation, a Greenwich AeroGroup company. Lou is an experienced aviator and recently retired after more than 21 years in the U.S. Army where he most recently served as the Product Manager for the MH-60M Special Operations Forces (SOF) Blackhawk.

"We are thrilled to have this exceptional leader, aviator and communicator join our team at Summit," said Vice President and General Manager of Summit Aviation Ralph Kunz. "Lou brings to the table years of hands-on experience that I believe will help propel our Government Services to the next level."

His prior experience also includes serving as an H-47 series operational pilot and maintenance test pilot with multiple combat deployments, and more than 10 years as an Army Acquisition Officer with experience as a Government Flight Representative and Chief of Flight Operations at DCMA Boeing Philadelphia and SOF support as a Program Manager. Read More

Ted Thome just participated and volunteered in the eighth annual Project Hero Barrington Honor Rid and Run that benefits veteran rehabilitation programs and other service. He is a regular at this yearly event.

"It's something that's important to me given my history and understanding of the military, to have some appreciation for all the sacrifices that the veterans have done," said Thome, a portfolio manager. "I think in our daily lives, they're not always front and center for us, but I think it's important to remember those that have sacrificed a lot, so that we can enjoy everything that we enjoy in our daily lives." Taking part in the event is "one small thing that we can do" to help veterans.

If not trying to raise money by riding, Ted and others in the club have volunteered in capacities such as registration, logistics and helping riders and runners on event day. Read More

Ricardo Chamorro, Senior Vice President of Consumer Lending Development and Corporate Development, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Corporate & Business Development. Chamorro will be responsible for marketing and business development, and affiliated businesses including PenFed Realty, PenFed Title, CU Rate Reset, wealth management, and insurance products. He will also have oversight of the PenFed Foundation's recently launched Veterans Entrepreneur Investment Program. Chamorro has over 12 years of experience in financial services and investment banking, including leadership roles at USB Investment Bank and Lazard. He joined PenFed four years ago and initially served in the role of Senior Vice President. A graduate of Harvard Business School (MBA), Chamorro served as a military intelligence officer and was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal and Bronze Star. Read More

Jamie Gayton, Vice President of Strategy and Policy, has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Member Operations. Gayton will oversee operations of PenFed service centers and branches, research and loan servicing. After leading teams in the U.S. military for 30 years with combat deployments to Iraq for Desert Shield/Storm in 1990-1991, and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005-2006, he joined PenFed in 2017. He earned degrees from MIT Sloan (MBA) and Pardee RAND (Ph.D.). He previously taught economics at West Point and culminated his military career by teaching economics at the National Defense University's Eisenhower School from 2015 to 2017. Read More

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1961 | 1965 | 1973 | 1982 | 1985 | 1989 | 2007. Class Notes

Juan Dominguez has been appointed Vice President of Comcast Business for the Comcast Cable’s Beltway Region, which includes Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and parts of Delaware, West Virginia and North Carolina. In this role, Dominguez is responsible for providing direction and oversight for local Comcast Business operations, marketing, sales and customer experience initiatives for both existing customers and new business opportunities across the Region. 

“On behalf of the Beltway Region, I am thrilled to welcome Juan to our team,” said Mary McLaughlin, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Beltway Region. “Juan brings great knowledge from other positions within Comcast, and I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to grow the Comcast Business footprint throughout our Region.”

Juan joined Comcast in 2013 as Director of Sales Operations for Comcast Corporate in Philadelphia, PA, where he was responsible for leading the residential sales strategy and sales programs for Xfinity Home. A year later, Juan transitioned into Comcast Business as Director of Small-to-Medium (SMB) Outside Sales, where he led strategic sales initiatives and developed sales coaching programs for the company. He then took his skills to the field, where he most recently served as Vice President of Market Development and SMB Sales for Comcast Business in the company’s Central Division, based in Atlanta, GA. Prior to joining Comcast, Juan served as District General Manager for SimplexGrinnell in Philadelphia, PA. Read More

Joe Cecin has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of The Hylan Group. An industry veteran with over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, including both the service provider and engineering and construction sectors, Joe is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of all companies under the Hylan umbrella, including Hylan Datacom & Electrical, Down Under Construction, Western Utility, Arcturus Telecom, and Hylan West. Importantly, Joe will have primary responsibility for the overall integration of acquired businesses.

Joe brings extensive operating experience to Hylan. In previous roles, he has served as EVP of Operations at Unitek Global Services, President of Pinnacle Wireless, and COO of RCN Corporation. He has extensive experience in corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions, having served as Group Head of the Telecom Investment Banking Practice at BB&T Capital Markets. He has also served on the board of directors of four public companies in the telecom industry.

As Hylan's COO, Joe will focus on integrating and operating the company's acquisitions as it continues to grow its portfolio of services for communications infrastructure, electrical contracting, telecom and electrical maintenance, utility construction, emergency/disaster recovery response teams, and DAS and small cell installation, nationally. "We are thrilled to have Joe join our executive team," says Rob DiLeo, CEO of Hylan. "With his vast experience and impeccable career history, we believe Joe will be a strong asset to the Hylan team, bringing with him a passion for the Hylan brand, the services we deliver, and our dedication to customer satisfaction." Read More

LTC Corey James has been working alongside with ARL researchers. As shown in recent conflicts, the Army relies on vast amounts of fuel and energy transported across supply lines that are difficult and dangerous to defend. To address this problem, James is conducting a summer research collaboration at the laboratory, where he is analyzing how to make technology platforms and squad operations run more efficiently.

"In simple terms, you can apply rigorous optimization and control to all of our systems as we build them, which reduces cost and waste," James said. "I'm showing a way to do that with energy systems."

James is currently developing a preliminary proposal for a phased project addressing problems with energy efficiency in the Army. The research examines energy challenges at the squad and system level. An example of a vulnerability at the squad level is the frequency of convoys transporting fuel in areas like Iraq. With each energy transport, the driver and the passengers are at risk of enemy attacks.

By optimizing energy use, resupplying a base camp three times per week could be reduced to one, lessening the number of Soldiers traveling along vulnerable roads. "Convoys in Iraq are dangerous to those who drive them," James said. "They make easy targets. Any time you make something more efficient than it was yesterday, you're helping with that problem and saving lives. Because if they're not out there, they don't get blown up." Read More

Robert D. Boyd is one of five lawyers at Boyd Collar Nolen & Tuggle once again recognized as leading lawyers in the area of family law by the Best Lawyers in America guide for 2019. As one of the oldest and most distinguished legal directories, Best Lawyers conducts peer-review surveys to compile its annual list of top attorneys across various practice levels. First published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. Globally, almost 87,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote and nearly 10 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world were received. For the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, 7.8 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in almost 60,000 leading lawyers being included in the new edition. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers "the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice."

Sean McBride has been named Washington, DC Chapter Lead for Operation Code, a nonprofit that helps veterans and military spouses learn to code, land jobs in the tech industry, and continue their service through "civic hacking" and open-source contributions to mission-driven nonprofits and state and federal digital service teams.

When Sean transitioned from IT consulting and software technical sales into web development in 2016, Operation Code provided technical mentorship and coaching, which allowed him to win a full-ride scholarship to attend Fullstack Academy, a NYC-based coding bootcamp, and land a job as a web developer with an Alexandria, VA based startup. Over the past two years, Sean has contributed over 10,000 lines of code to production apps run by U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) components and commercial clients.

As chapter leader, Sean will collaborate with colleges, coding bootcamps, and industry partners to host events to help build bridges between the military community and the tech industry in the DC metro area.

Michael Eggleston’s book entitled Operation Hannibal is a history of the closing days of World War II when a crisis was emerging for German civilians trapped on the Eastern Front by the Red Army. Many lived between the Soviet advance and the Wehrmacht defense of Nazi Germany. They were fearful of Soviet retribution for the millions of Russians that had been murdered by the Nazis in the earlier years of the war. Since all land routes had been cut off, an evacuation by sea was the only way to provide escape for the civilians back to Germany. Such an escape was fraught with many dangers. Soviet submarines prowled the Baltic Sea where the ships would sail, and the Red air force bombed the ports and ships at sea. Most of the available ports were under siege by the Red Army and civilians who tried to reach the ports were often killed or died in the winter weather. To save the civilians and some of the German wounded soldiers, the German Navy developed a plan for the evacuation called Operation Hannibal in early 1945. This history tells the story of the flight from its start in January 1945 until it concluded the day after the end of the war in Europe. Michael is indebted to Ms. Frances O’Connor Rogers and others who assisted in the writing and editing of this book.

As it was for their R-Day six weeks ago, weather was front and center for the Class of 2022’s March Back from Camp Buckner, the annual 12-plus mile trek that signals the end of Cadet Basic Training. Yet, instead of the sweltering heat of R-Day, the new cadets had to deal with the threat of a torrential downpour. But luckily the skies didn’t open up until all CBT companies had passed Quarters 100 and found respite in front of Washington Hall. [Photos on Flickr]

Read More

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1959 | 1965 | 1972 | 1976. Class Notes

A. Rhodes Wilson has qualified for Top of the Table, a coveted milestone achievement in the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT). MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of excellence in the life insurance and financial services business.

Top of the Table is an internationally recognized mark of excellence in the financial services industry. This places Wilson among the top professionals in the global life insurance and financial services industries. "Top of the Table is comprised of the best and brightest professionals our industry has to offer," said MDRT President Jim Pittman, CLU, CFP. "MDRT hopes to continue to foster a culture of excellence and encourage members to grow both personally and professionally."

Wilson has over 30 years of experience in financial services. He is a Certified Financial Planner practitioner, an IRS Enrolled Agent and is currently working on Certified Life Underwriter credentials. In April of this year Wilson was recognized with the prestigious Christopher Ferrara Memorial New Agent of the Year Award from The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. This achievement places him in the top 1 percent of Guardian's 2,781 agents in 2017 production.

MG(R) Ron Johnson was honored at The Men of Influence Atlanta Business League during its 2018 induction ceremony. A 2003 recipient of the Black Engineer of the Year Award for Professional Achievement in Government Service, Johnson is also a 2005 inductee into the Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni at Georgia Tech and a 2008 Black Engineer Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

The 2018 list reflects the accomplishments of black men in metro Atlanta who have achieved senior level positions, lead innovation and business, or have demonstrated a commitment to the citizens of metro Atlanta by their involvement in community and civic activities.

"I have always lived and continue to live my life with a passion for service," said Professor Johnson. "Whether it was our nation, my community, my GT faculty teammates, my students, my friends or my fellow board members, l gain satisfaction in making a difference. To be recognized along with these amazing men by the Atlanta Business League is an honor. I am always proud to serve," Prof. Johnson said.

Prior to joining the faculty at Georgia Tech (GT), Johnson was senior vice president, Referee operations at the NBA. From July 2008 until July 2012, he was responsible for the NBA’s recruiting, training and development, scheduling, data management and analysis, and work rules enforcement. Read More

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1943jan | 1956 | 1968 | 1981 | 1991 | 1997. Class Notes

Ernest “EJ” Pasteur Jr. has been inducted into the Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame at the Lansing Center. Ernest was the co-captain for Sexton's wrestling team that took home the Class A State title in 1987, beating No. 1 Detroit Catholic Central and rival Lansing Eastern in the process. Ernest also led the team in pins in both his junior and senior seasons.

Ernest was also a star on the football field, as he co-captained Sexton and played fullback and linebacker. He was team MVP his senior season, led his team in tackles and was selected to play in the Michigan East-West All-Star football game at Spartan Stadium.

At USMA Ernest was a four-year letter man. He won a EIWA Championship and two New York Collegiate Championships while enrolled, and his performance led to a spot on the All-Army wrestling team after graduating. Using the skills he learned with the All-Army wrestling team, Ernest found himself competing in the 1993 Pan-Am Championships in Caracas, Venezuela. It was there were Ernest was the only American to take home a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling. Read More

Kevin Price has been named Chief Operating Officer of G2, Inc. Kevin has held several leadership positions at the company, previously serving as Vice President, Operations. Kevin has over 20 years of experience leading complex negotiations with exceptional results. Furthermore, he is recognized for his industry tenure, technical knowledge of the rapidly changing wireless landscape, and management of the largest enterprise engagements for this specialized service category.

G2's CEO, Justin Fuller, commented: "Kevin has been an integral leader of the Operations team for years. It is the appropriate timing, coupled with his skills and expertise, to have him now lead the entire Operations department and its negotiation and analyst teams. G2 is in great hands for the future, as Kevin's leadership and experience has demonstrated time and again." Kevin will be responsible for leading the operations division at G2, which handles all phases of contract negotiations. This includes data collection and analysis, Network Service Profile (NSP) inventory compilation, market benchmarking, RFP development, project management, savings analytics and billing verification reviews.

Kevin has been with G2 since 2002. Prior to that he served as an Army Quartermaster Officer. He followed his military service with a tenure for the US Department of Defense where he negotiated critical telecommunications and logistical contracts while deployed to Kuwait, Egypt, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Read More

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Paul Mango as CMS's Chief Principal Deputy Administrator and Chief of Staff. Paul comes to CMS after a long and successful career at McKinsey & Company as a Senior Partner and having filled additional leadership roles within their U.S. and global healthcare practices and as the head of McKinsey's U.S. Center for Health Reform. He is a veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division and a graduate of U.S. Army Ranger School; Harvard Business School and Distinguished USMA Cadet. He has been active in community and civic causes including a run for Governor of Pennsylvania in 2017, and as a board member of HM3 Partner Independence Fund, a foundation helping veterans, first responders and youth. Paul brings more than thirty years of experience in the healthcare industry that will prove invaluable in his role supporting Administrator Verma in the fulfillment of the agency's mission. Read More

On July 28, the Class of 2021 were presented with their class colors during the Cadet Field Training (CFT) graduation ceremony at Camp Buckner. The class flag, mounted on a brass-tipped staff, is a gift from their 50 Year Affiliate Class, the Class of 1971 as part of the WPAOG 50-Year Affiliation Program.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1943jan | 1958 | 1967 | 1986 | 1988 | 1996 | 2001. Class Notes

Caroline Stanclift is participating in Team Challenge ALS to raise awareness to fight back against this terrible disease. Her father, Captain Jeffrey Stanclift '86 passed from complications due to ALS on March 7th, 2018. He fought with courage and dignity, yet it was heart breaking to watch the disease take hold. He was her role model, coach, comic relief, and biggest advocate. Now it is her turn to advocate for him and others affected by ALS.

Back in 1984 when many of his classmates knew him, he ran the Marine Corps Marathon and hopped right back on a bus to West Point. 34 years later, on Caroline's first Father's Day without him, she found his Marine Corps bib – an experience nothing short of transcendent. Caroline is honored to run her first marathon in his memory; literally following in his footsteps when he was just about the same age.

Gregory Crouch recently released the book "The Bonanza King: John Mackay and The Battle Over the Greatest Riches in The American West", published by Scribner. Crouch's new book is the epic rags-to-riches frontier tale of John Mackay, an Irish immigrant who outwitted, outworked, and out-maneuvered thousands of rivals to take control of Nevada's Comstock Lode, the rich body of gold and silver so immensely valuable—equivalent to more than $600 billion today—that it changed the destiny of the United States.

Mackay was a destitute Irish immigrant brought to this country when he was 9 years old, in 1840. He grew up in New York City's Five Points slum (the "Gangs of New York" neighborhood), came of age amid the violent mayhem of the California Gold Rush, and rose to the full power of manhood in the deep, rich, and outrageously dangerous mines of the Comstock Lode beneath Virginia City, Nevada, the ultimate Old West boomtown.

On the Comstock, Mackay worked his way up from nothing, battling the pernicious "Bank Ring" of California capitalists who'd monopolized the lode, and struck the legendary Big Bonanza, a stupendously valuable body of gold and silver ore buried 1,500 feet below the center of the town. The extraordinary wealth Mackay extracted from the Comstock Lode drove wild stock market frenzies in San Francisco and launched his wife, whose beginnings were every bit as humble as his own, on a meteoric social career among the finest European aristocrats. When John Mackay died in 1902—with a personal fortune equivalent to about $50 billion modern dollars—front page obituaries all over Europe and the United States hailed him as one of the most widely admired Americans of the age.

The Wall Street Journal's recent review described "The Bonanza King" as "A monumentally researched biography of one of the 19th century's wealthiest self-made Americans... Well-written and worthwhile... John Mackay spent a lifetime defying odds."

The West Point Association of Graduates is pleased to announce that Lieutenant Colonel Matthew R. Myer, Class of 2001, has been selected to receive the 2018 Alexander Nininger Award for Valor at Arms. The award will be presented on September 27, 2018, at West Point, New York. Myer is a third-generation West Point graduate. He is currently the Commander of the 1st Battalion-501st Infantry (Airborne) Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division.

Myer has deployed several times to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve from 2003 to today. While serving as a Captain and Company Commander in 2007-08, he commanded Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne) 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, known under his command as the most decorated company in the Global War on Terrorism. His command included a 15-month deployment to Kunar and Nuristan Provinces, Afghanistan. During this tour, Chosen Company earned a Presidential Unit Citation Award and a Valorous Unit Award. In addition, 87 individual valor awards were earned by Chosen Company, including two Medals of Honor, two Distinguished Service Crosses, and 13 Silver Stars. Read More

Three U.S. Military Academy cadets are visiting the Malaysian National Defense University (NDUM) this week to develop leadership, build character and broaden their development as leaders. While in Malaysia, they'll experience the day-to-day life at NDUM and be able to build relationships with NDUM cadets through panels, one-on-one interactions, and training opportunities.

Photo: Mike Casey ’04, Political Officer, LTC Sukhdev Purewal '01, Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation, Cadet Silas Martinez '19, Cadet Peter Elmlinger '19, Cadet Elizabeth Joy Orr '20, LTC Jordon Swain ’99, Asst. Prof. of Behavioral Science, USMA

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1956 | 1988 | 1993 | 1998 | 2010. Class Notes

Dennis Hopkins has been named among the 2018 Most Influential Black Lawyers by Savoy Magazine. In saluting their "exceptional legal achievement," Savoy said the list "showcases African-American men and women who have been recognized for their legal leadership and expertise in national and global-leading corporations."

Savoy noted the attorneys recognized are "the "best of the best" of Black lawyers that are partners within leading national law firms, corporate and general counsel from FORTUNE 1000 corporations. As diversity and inclusion for legal professionals continues to grow, Savoy's listing of "top lawyers" emerges with an influential cross section of legal professionals representing a diverse range of expertise with national and global responsibilities." Among the other honorees for 2018 are Eric Holder, Jr., former Attorney General of the United States, Dennis Archer, the first Black president of the American Bar Association, and Jeh Charles Johnson, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.

Dennis is active in many professional, community and legal associations. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association, the Advisory Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York and the New York City Bar Fund Board. He is deeply committed to guiding and grooming the next generation of lawyers and serves on the board of Practicing Attorneys for Law Students, a mentoring organization. In 2014, the Council of Urban Professionals named Dennis one of its Catalysts, designating him "Change Agent – Law" and he was a Fellow in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. He is a Board Member of the Sonia & Celina Sotomayor High School Judicial Internship Program. Read More

Captain Nick Vogt has a brand new, state-of-the-art home, thanks to the Gary Sinise Foundation. Captain Vogt lost both legs while deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. He stepped on an IED, losing both legs at the hips, suffering severe brain injury and developed a seizure disorder.

The Gary Sinise Foundation's R.I.S.E. program built him, his wife and his son a specially-adapted smart home in Richland County. They broke ground last September and on Saturday, July 14, the Vogts moved into the home.

The home features special features for Nick, including extra wide hallways and a shower with a lit-down platform. Story

Ashleigh Wehmeyer has been named as one of the Top Real Estate Agents in the DC Area for 2018 by Washingtonian Magazine. Agents who made the cut are those who produced the highest sales volumes in the Washington DC Area last year. The list includes agents in DC, Prince George's, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, and Howard counties in Maryland; and Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties and Alexandria in Virginia. Ashleigh was also named as one of "Northern Virginia Magazine's" Best Real Estate Agents in 2018 earlier this year.

Lieutenant Colonel Michael L. Lindley was inducted into the Distinguished Order of Saint Martin during a change of command ceremony. He was selected to serve in numerous critical positions. As a company commander, his organization achieved outstanding results during a rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, setting a new JRTC record for the most missions ever.

He was the first company commander of the Army’s only Force Provider Company, 506th Quartermaster Company, 530th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Fort Lee, Virginia. He was tasked with standing up the unit, and training soldiers prior to deployment in support of Operation Iraq Freedom. His insistence on nothing short of excellence raised his maintenance posture by 15 percent to above a 95 percent operational rating.

As the mobility officer for the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) deployed to Joint Base Balad, Lindley consistently positioned himself ahead of every requirement and ensured the Land Branch stayed on point with deployment issues. He identified and corrected ambiguities with the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program Statement of Work (SOW) and rewrote it to better capture asset locations, control assets and monitor utilization.

As the support operations officer for the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Lindley developed a plan to provide a Unit Manned Equipment team in Garrison while the brigade was deployed. This plan allowed the brigade to maintain its garrison organizational property which saved the Army millions of dollars while simultaneously conducting its ground maintenance in a wartime environment. Read More

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1937 | 1958 | 1960 | 1968 | 1984 | 1986 | 1999 | 2018. Class Notes

Currently at the United States Embassy Mexico City there are eight USMA graduates serving there.

Photo: L-R, LTC Mark Padgett '03, MAJ Vijay Gallardo '02, MAJ Star Hy Class '01, Fred Odisho '00, Steve Rothert '90, Mike Brennan '82, MAJ Scott Alvarez '06, - (not pictured), MAJ Patrick Hardin '04 (not pictured)

During some of America's darkest days at the beginning of World War II, the country thirsted for heroes. Colin Purdie Kelly Jr. was born in Madison, east of Tallahassee in Florida on July 11, 1915.

On December 10, 1941 five of the Group's B-17s were sent to attack a Japanese convoy- the first bombardment mission of World War II. The B-17s bombed from high altitude, recording damage to some of the transports. Later that day Captain Kelly, flying B-17C serial number 40-2045 alone and without fighter escort, attacked what his crew believed at the time was the battleship Haruna but was likely the cruiser IJN Natori instead. The Japanese destroyer IJN Harukaze was also damaged by a near miss. During the return flight back to Clark, Kelly's B-17 was savagely attacked by Japanese Zero fighters.

Sergeant William Delahanty was killed during the first attack. A second attack set the bomber ablaze. Kelly ordered his crew to bail out of the stricken bomber and continued to try and bring the aircraft back to Clark Field. Not long after the crew bailed out the B-17C exploded, killing Kelly. The wreckage of the aircraft came down about three miles east of the field. The bodies of Kelly and Delahanty were found in the wreckage. The rest of Kelly's crew survived the mission.

Kelly's feat of heroism was the kind of story the American people needed to embrace, and embrace it they did. For his extraordinary heroism and selfless bravery, Captain Colin P. Kelly Jr. was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Kelly's B-17C was the first B-17 lost in aerial combat during World War II. Read More

WPAOG is pleased to announce that Terence Sinkfield '99 has joined us as Vice President of Alumni Support. Prior to the accepting the WPAOG position, Terence ran the largest sales and service center operation for Daltile Eastern half of the United States. He had P&L responsibility for this flagship center in the greater Washington, DC Metro area. He also had responsibility for the Builder Distribution Center - the only dual retail and commercial operation of its type in the Daltile network, including logistical support for over 80% of builder business market share in the DC/Maryland/Virginia region.

Terence branched Military Police upon graduation from West Point. He deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 in an S3 role. He also deployed as KFOR (Province of Kosovo) and led a Platoon providing security and Military Police support for the 101st Airborne Division. During deployment, he served as an off-site Professor for University of Maryland University College, and worked with the Russians to coordinate the first ever joint patrols within Kamenica sector. His experience also includes working with FEMA as an environmental specialist.

The Hoover Institution at Stanford University is pleased to announce the appointment of LTG(R) H.R. McMaster as the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow effective September 1, 2018. McMaster will also hold the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Visiting Fellowship at the Freeman Spogli Institute (FSI), and serve as a lecturer in management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. McMaster returns to Hoover where he was a National Security Affairs Fellow from 2002 to 2003 and a Visiting Fellow from 2003 to 2017.

McMaster said of his appointment, "I look forward to joining the Hoover Institution and Stanford University. I have benefitted tremendously from my long association with Hoover. Hoover fellows helped me think clearly not only about complex challenges our nation faces today, but also emerging threats to free and open societies. Hoover's mission to advance the policy ideas that promote peace, prosperity, and freedom is vital and I will do all I can to contribute to that mission. I admired and loved my friend Fouad Ajami and it is a particular honor to occupy a chair named for him."

Until recently, H.R. McMaster was the 26th Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. He served with distinction in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring in June 2018. McMaster's has extensive experience leading soldiers and organizations in wartime. McMaster also served overseas as advisor to ambassadors and the most senior commanders in the Middle East. He led important strategic assessments including the Joint Strategic Assessment Team that rewrote the campaign plan for the Iraq War during the surge of 2007. He also led teams to redesign efforts to develop security forces and governmental institutions in post-war Iraq. From 2009 to 2010 he led a Washington-based cross-government effort to develop a comprehensive strategy for the greater Middle East. Read More

To further WPAOG’s vision “for the Long Gray Line to be the most connected alumni body in the world,” WPAOG today unveils a new networking tool, Grad Link, which provides an enhanced level of connectivity with fellow grads. Grad Link improves upon the popular “Find a Grad” feature from the WPAOG website, allowing you to directly connect with fellow grads. It combines data from WPAOG with information from your LinkedIn profile to help you quickly and easily find grads that share your interests. You will be able to conceal some of your personal information, such as your email address, location or entire profile. You can access this secure platform today on your mobile device through the Google Play Store, Apple App Store or with your web browser. To ensure an easy sign-up experience, please make sure the email address attached to your LinkedIn account is on file with WPAOG by contacting GradLink@wpaog.org. More information.

Dustin Starbuck has been named the Town Manager of Dixfield, VA. "The board was impressed with Mr. Starbuck's accomplishments and resume, and with the phone and in-person interviews" Chairwoman Norine Clarke said.

He retired as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army after 28 years of active duty and reserve service as a senior instructor for the Command and General Staff College. He's commanded troops, including those in combat. He has been awarded a Bronze Star, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Combat Action Badge for service in Iraq, and three Meritorious Service Medals. Puiia said Starbuck is a magistrate for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"I've been serving the public since I was 18 years old" Starbuck said Tuesday from Virginia. "I still want to continue doing that. Municipal government seemed like a place where I could continue to serve people, try to help solve problems, use my experience and have a nice life." Read More

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1959 | 1965 | 1992. Class Notes

Planet Home Lending, LLC, a privately held mortgage lender and servicer headquartered in Connecticut, has announced that Dierk Hohman has joined the company as Executive Vice President, Chief General Counsel and Enterprise Risk Officer. Hohman will oversee all legal, compliance and enterprise risk matters for the company. "His breadth of legal, compliance, and enterprise risk experience, and his entrepreneurial mindset will be a tremendous asset to the company as we continue to grow our distributed retail, correspondent, and servicing operations," President and CEO Michael Dubeck said.

Hohman has broad expertise in the mortgage, banking and financial sectors. He has previously advised financial intuitions on legal, compliance, and enterprise risk matters, litigation, and corporate and finance transactions. Most recently, Hohman served as EVP, General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer for NexBank Capital, Inc. Prior to his role at NexBank, he was SVP and Associate General Counsel for Nationstar Mortgage, LLC. Throughout his career, he has held positions at leading financial services companies including HBK Capital Management, Bank of America, GE Capital, and White & Case LLP. Read More

WPAOG had our second annual Ice Cream Social for New Cadet Candidates that were gearing up for R-Day (7/2), their families and friends. Everyone had the chance to cool down from the heat with some ice cream. The best of luck to the Class of 2022! Click here to view photos.

R-Day 2018 was a certainly a memorable day at West Point. Not only did 1,210 new cadets from the Class of 2022 take their first steps toward becoming leaders of character, but LTG Darryl A. Williams ’83 assumed command of the United States Military Academy as its 60th Superintendent. Furthermore, General Mark A. Milley, the 39th Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army, was on post to take part in the new Superintendent’s Assumption of Command ceremony, and he took time afterward to witness the transformative events of R-Day. Despite these extraordinary happenings, R-Day 2018 will perhaps be remembered most by something that has certainly affected R-Days of years past—a brutal heatwave that has settled over the Hudson Valley.

By the time most of the new cadets had finished their in-processing with Thayer Hall and filed into the cadet area dressed in the black Army PT uniforms and carrying nearly 50lbs of gear, the air temperature was feeling like 103 degrees Fahrenheit. “We knew the heat was coming and put contingencies in place,” said Cadet Jessica Maddox ’19, the “Queen of Beast” (or Cadet Basic Training Regimental Commander). As soon as cadets crossed Thayer Road after their in-processing, they immediately filled their CamelBaks at an M-149 Water Buffalo. “We’ve also put up camo netting in company areas to create shade and provided sunscreen in each company bathroom,” said Maddox. The latter was particularly useful for the male cadets coming back from the barbershop. Finally, new cadets were provided with double rations of Gatorade and nutrition bars, and the cadet cadre were tracking their consumption of these snacks (officially called “supplements”) to be ensure that the new cadets were consuming liquids and foods according to Army heat category guidelines.

While the new cadets will have 47 months to learn and live West Point’s famous three-word motto, “Duty, Honor, Country,” they quickly mastered another three-word response that was echoing all over Central Area on R-Day in response to orders from their cadre: “Beat the heat!” Click here to view more photos.