×

2020 Distinguished Graduate Award Recipients

Categories: Distinguished Graduate Award, Events & Awards, Grad News
Class Years: , , , ,

The West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) has named the 2020 recipients of the Distinguished Graduate Award. This annual award has been bestowed upon those West Point graduates whose character, distinguished service, and stature draw wholesome comparison to the qualities for which West Point strives, in keeping with its motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.” The awards will be presented in a ceremony at West Point on May 19, 2020. The 2020 Distinguished Graduate Award Recipients are:

2020 Distinguished Graduate Award Recipient Richard E. Nowak '64

Mr. Richard A. Nowak ’64

Mr. William H. Roedy Jr. ’70

2020 Distinguished Graduate Award Recipient William H. Roedy Jr. '70

Distinguished soldier, global media pioneer, freedom champion and global health leader, Bill Roedy “might be the most interesting man in the world,” says Mike Fries, CEO & Vice Chairman of Liberty Global. “He’s somebody who commanded nuclear silos in the Cold War, was friends with Mandela, and partied with Bono.” Upon graduation, Roedy volunteered for duty in Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star, Air Medal, and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He then commanded nuclear missiles as part of NATO and received the Meritorious Service Medal. Graduating from Harvard with an MBA in 1979, Bill joined HBO in the nascent days of cable television. Ten years later, he led a relentless expansion of MTVN Europe with a unique model of respecting and reflecting local audience diversity, including behind the Iron Curtain, bringing a groundbreaking window to the West. In 2004 Roedy was promoted to Chairman & CEO of MTVNI, where he built a global operation (200-plus channels, 200-plus countries, 30-plus languages, for two billion-plus people) and pioneered the concept of global corporate responsibility. Under Roedy’s leadership MTVNI became the world leader in fighting HIV/AIDS with its “Staying Alive” campaign, and he chaired the Global Business Coalition. His far-reaching global health roles have included the first Ambassador for UNAIDS, Chairman of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and Vice Chairman for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), which has saved millions of children’s lives. Bill’s numerous awards include UN Global Citizen, Cable TV Pioneer and an induction into the Cable Hall of Fame. Regarding Roedy’s work in the global health arena, Jeb Bush, 43rd Governor of Florida, says, “Bill is without a doubt a distinguished citizen of our world.” And Dr. David Brown MD, President of the Class of 1970, says of Roedy, “He is an ideal representation of our class and class motto: Serve with Integrity.”

2020 Distinguished Graduate Award Recipient LTC (R) Andrew F. Krepinevich '72

LTC (R) Andrew F. Krepinevich ’72

LTG (R) Kenneth W. Hunzeker ’75

2020 Distinguished Graduate Award Recipient LTG (R) Kenneth W. Hunzeker '75

“Our incredible institution produces many great leaders,” says GEN(R) Ray Odierno ’76, the 38th Chief of Staff of the Army, “but few who have served their country and Alma Mater embody the spirit of Duty, Honor, Country like Ken.” After graduating from West Point, he held various Field Artillery command and staff positions both in CONUS and overseas. The year 2000 began a decade of increasing responsibility at the Pentagon, in Germany, and in Iraq. As Deputy Director for the Army’s Program Analysis and Evaluation Directorate, Hunzeker was instrumental in developing strategies that would guide the early years of the Global War on Terrorism. Upon completing command of the 1st Infantry Division, in 2006 he assumed command of the Operation Iraqi Freedom Civilian Police Assistance Training Team, responsible for executing the “train, man, equip” mission for more than 400,000 Iraqi police personnel. In 2009, he relinquished command of V Corps and became Deputy Commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq, executing the mission of planning a withdrawal of over 160,000 military personnel while still conducting combat operations. After retiring from the Army in 2010, Hunzeker was appointed Vice President Government Relations for ITT Defense, later known as Exelis. In 2011, he was appointed President of the Mission Systems division which later became a separate company, Vectrus. During his five years as President then CEO, Hunzeker ensured that Vectrus delivered critical facilities, supply chain, and digital information services to support warfighters across the globe in an operationally excellent manner. A member of the Henry J. Arnold Lifetime Giving Society and former WPAOG Advisory Council member, Hunzeker is currently serving West Point as the Distinguished Chair of the Center of the Study of Civil-Military Operations. He was recently elected to serve on the Wounded Warrior Project Board of Directors.

2020 Distinguished Graduate Award Recipient GEN (R) Curtis M. Scaparrotti '78

GEN (R) Curtis M. Scaparrotti ’78

Distinguished Graduate Award

The Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA) is to be given to graduates of the United States Military Academy whose character, distinguished service, and stature draw wholesome comparison to the qualities for which West Point strives, in keeping with its motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.” The DGA is funded by a generous endowment from E. Doug Kenna ’45 and his wife, Jean.

Grad News

Subscribe to get grad news or cadet news delivered to your inbox daily around 4:30 EST when a new story is posted. We use Feedblitz for email delivery, which is separate from the WPAOG email system and preferences.

More News