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Laurel McHargue has released a new novel Waterwight. The story explores a post-cataclysmic world threatened by stinking ooze in which a brave girl searches for her missing parents with the help of talking animals and evolving superpowers. When a mountain spirit challenges her to save the planet, she and a flying frog must overcome a magical, malicious castle of sand and a shapeshifter who wants her dead. Why did McHargue write this story? She got the idea from a dream. When she shared her dream vision with another author friend, her friend told her she had the recipe for some fantastic fiction. As an English teacher, McHargue knew her students were always looking for fun, exciting novels. Click here to watch the video: https://youtu.be/RBb0VGFapU4
McHargue is no stranger to adventure and left Smith College to discover her true limits in all areas of her life. "The United States Military Academy was the best place not only to test myself, but to serve my country as well." Graduating with the fourth class of women at West Point, she then spent nine years on Active Duty followed by three years in the Army Reserves before resigning to raise her two sons. "I've jumped out of airplanes, traveled the world, and led groups of men and women in accomplishing challenging missions. I loved my time in the Army, and my experiences provided great material for writing some fantastic fiction in a fantasy adventure novel." Read More
Lee Staab will begin serving as manager on August 29. He served in the military for more than 27 years and was assigned as the Executive Assistant to the Secretary of the Army in the Pentagon. He graduated from the University of Illinois with degrees in Engineering. In 2012 he attended Harvard Business School and completed the Executive Education Program. In 2014 Staab was selected as the City Manager for Minot, ND. Staab answered a few questions about his new roll as Grand County Manager.
Tyson J. Quink was selected to receive the 2016 Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award in Geospatial Intelligence. Quink was presented with the award from Jack Dangermond, president and founder of Esri; Keith Masback, CEO of the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation; Heath Rasco, director, of technical programs for DigitalGlobe; and Steve Handwerk, geospatial intelligence faculty member with the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences' John A. Dutton e-Education Institute. Named in honor of Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Medal of Honor recipient and distinguished Penn State alumnus, the award recognizes achievement by a graduate of Penn State's geospatial intelligence program who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces or with the geospatial intelligence community and demonstrated exceptional contributions to the discipline.
"It is an honor to be selected for the Lt. Michael Murphy award for Geospatial Intelligence. Both in and out of the service I have seen the importance of GIS and how the capabilities of having correct data and products can help leaders make informed decisions. As a result of robust GIS capabilities, mission execution can be more precise and, more importantly, GIS can help keep soldiers safe," said Quink, who earned a postbaccalaureate certificate in geographic information systems as well as a graduate certificate in geospatial intelligence analytics through Penn State World Campus.
Quink served as a fire direction officer and platoon leader for the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. After combat, Quink returned to serve as assistant coach for the U.S. Army's athletics department. In 2013, Quink began working as a program manager for Hewlett-Packard while pursuing his master's degree online. He then completed an internship with U.S. Department of Defense as a GEOINT analyst before joining Esri as a solution engineer. Quink is on track to graduate this year with a master's degree in geographic information systems through Penn State World Campus. "We are very proud of this year's recipient of the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award in Geospatial Intelligence, Mr. Tyson Quink. The eighth person to receive the award, Tyson joins a growing list of individuals who have demonstrated academic excellence and provided significant contributions to the profession," said Handwerk. Read More
The Men's National USA Basketball Team got a lesson on what it truly means to represent your country last week when they met Major Scott Smiley, an American hero and Purple Heart recipient. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski invited Smiley to speak to Team USA in Las Vegas as they began training for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Krzyzewski first met Smiley when he took over coaching duties for USA Basketball in 2006. That's when Coach K invited then-Colonel Robert Brown (now a four-star general recently confirmed by the Senate as the new commander of the U.S. Army Pacific) to speak to his team. Brown brought with him several wounded warriors, including Smiley.
Smiley was wounded in April 2005 in Iraq by a suicide car bomb. The explosion nearly killed him, taking out both of his eyes and a large chunk of his skull. But Smiley didn't let his injuries adversely impact his life. Instead, he's become an inspiration. He returned to service as the first blind active-duty officer in United States Army history. In the years since, he's rattled off so many remarkable achievements, from getting his MBA from Duke to climbing Mount Rainier to completing an Ironman Triathlon last summer. So as the Men's National Team began their quest to bring home a gold medal next month in Rio, Krzyzewski invited Smiley to speak to the team once again and remind them what it means to wear the stars and stripes. Click here to watch the video.
"At the Military Academy, I thought I knew what a team was," Smiley told the players. "But waking up in Walter Reed Army Medical Center — blind the rest of my life, half of my body paralyzed, missing a quarter of my skull — I thought my life was over. I had nothing to fight for. I was all on my own. "But in true fashion, my wife, my family, my friends, and just as importantly, the Army was still there. The team had surrounded me with love and compassion and helped me understand that I wasn't on my own." Smiley closed his remarks with a charge to the team. "I encourage you all to have the same pride that we have wearing our flags on our shoulders, fighting for our country, serving our country, being a part of that team...and just to fight as hard as you can to bring that gold medal home," Smiley said. After Smiley spoke to the team, he took in a practice. Pacers forward Paul George was his eyes on the court, wearing a microphone that allowed him to communicate directly with Smiley via a headset so that he could understand what was happening. Read More
On 26 July 2016 LTC Therese Obidinski '98 was awarded Bronze De Fluery Medal from US Army South Chief of Engineers, COL Daniel George. The De Fleury Medal, an award of the US Army Engineer Association, was named in honor of François-Louis Teissèdre de Fleury, a French Engineer in the Continental Army. LTC Obidinski was honored for her support to the Engineer Regiment and particularly for community service and her volunteer work to promote a project to build a gym for her daughter's school. She currently serves as Deputy Director ACS-G7 and is preparing to deploy to Afghanistan in support of the Resolute Support Mission. LTC Obidinski is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom '07-'09 where she served with 4th Infantry Division MultiNational Baghdad Headquarters and deployed in 1998 to Ocotal, Nicaragua with 46th En BN to help rebuild after Hurricane Mitch devastating the area.
After serving as an assistant hockey coach at Army West Point, Zach McKelvie has been elevated to Associate Head Coach, announced by head coach Brian Riley. "Zach has been an incredible part of our program as a player and a coach," said Riley. "He is very deserving of this title due to his loyalty and dedication to the team. I am privileged to have one of the best young coaches in college hockey on our staff. We are very fortunate to have him here at West Point. As well as overseeing the everyday duties of the program, his primary duties will continue to be working with our defensemen as well as overseeing our penalty killing unit."
McKelvie returned to West Point in 2014 after winning the East Coast Hockey League title with the Alaska Aces that spring. He played in 42 games for the Aces, including the playoffs and had four points in the run to the Kelly Cup. He began his pro career with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League in 2011 and played a total of 29 games before skating in seven contests at the end of the season with the Reading Royals of the ECHL. He spent most of his career with the AHLs Abbotsford Heat, which is part of the Calgary Flames system. He played 65 games with the Heat in over a season of action. Read More
Kevin Byrne was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1999, while serving overseas in command of a U.S. Army Air Cavalry Troop. My MS and E is a children's picture book depicting a typical interaction between him and his daughter, Eleanor. They share an unbreakable father-daughter bond, even in the face of his ongoing struggles with MS. The story is "a heartwarming tale of how we grow, learn, struggle, and celebrate life in our mantra of Never Stop… Never Quit…" All profits earned from this book will be donated to the Oregon Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
The West Point Association of Graduates is pleased to announce MAJ Matthew A. Chaney '01 as the 2016 recipient of the Alexander Nininger Award for Valor at Arms. He will receive the award on September 22, 2016, at West Point, NY. Chaney is a Special Forces officer currently serving as the Executive Officer for the Commanding General, United States Army Special Forces Command (Airborne). Major Chaney received the Silver Star award for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy on 10 September 2007, while serving as the Detachment Commander, Operational Detachment Alpha 083, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Samarra, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. See Press Release
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum created a new award in 2015. The Bob Steenlage Iowa High School Outstanding Wrestler of the Year Award will be given each year to the top high school wrestler within the state of Iowa. The award was presented this year to Carter Happel, of Lisbon during the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa inductions on Saturday, June 11, in Waterloo. The award is named after Bob Steenlage, Iowa's first four-time state wrestling champion. Steenlage competed for Britt High School, winning state titles in 1959 (95 pounds), 1960 (103 pounds), 1961 (112 pounds) and 1962 (120 pounds). Steenlage went on to wrestle at West Point Military Academy where he went four years without losing a dual meet. He was also a third place finisher at the 1966 NCAA tournament at 123 pounds and a Division I NCAA All-American.
Steenlage is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) and the Airborne and Ranger schools. He was a platoon leader and company commander in the Vietnam War. Steenlage was awarded the Bronze Star medal for his service in Vietnam. He is a nationally known inspirational speaker and businessman. His biography, "Fighting Back," is in the sixth printing. For more details, visit Steenlage's website www.bobsteenlage.com. "It is very humbling to have this award given in my name," said Steenlage in a news release. "Wrestling has had such a huge positive impact on my life, and the thought of being part of awarding excellence greatly touches my heart. Wrestling taught me that taking charge of our thoughts determines our success on and off the mat." A special selection committee at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum will choose the winner of the award. It will be given to the best high school wrestler in the state of Iowa for that particular year. The winner can come from any class (1A, 2A, or 3A), any weight or any year of eligibility. Read More
Captain Lindsay Gordon '12 and Chief Warrant Officer 2 David Woodward were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their actions while flying an AH-64 Apache helicopter during an early December mission in Afghanistan. The cross is awarded to soldiers who distinguish themselves with "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight," according to the Department of Defense.
Throughout the night of Dec. 5, a Ranger regiment was engaged in a firefight with enemy troops near the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. After about 5 a.m., the ground force commander called for an immediate extraction after they learned of a larger enemy group approaching. Located in a deep river valley, the troops were not in a good position to defend themselves. Woodward and Gordon, flying along with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, guided their aircraft directly between the U.S. troops and the enemy forces as the extraction got underway.
"Upon landing to the (extraction zone), the (Rangers) immediately received fire from all directions, including their take-off direction," said Lt. Col. Jeffery Bragg, commander of the 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment. "With rounds impacting within a few feet ahead of the lead assault helicopter, Capt. Gordon and CW2 Woodward deliberately placed their aircraft in a position to distract and draw fire from the assault helicopters while they completed the exfiltration of the rangers." The whole place "lit up," Bragg said. Enemy fire was originating from more than five to seven points in the area. Woodward and Gordon's actions helped save dozens of lives. Read More
Boreas Natural Gas has commenced operations providing products, services and customized turnkey solutions for the natural gas fuels market. Founded by the industry veteran Cem Hacioglu, Boreas Natural Gas is the second natural gas fuels company Hacioglu has led after Applied LNG where he was the President and CEO from 2009 to 2015. Headquartered in Westlake Village, California, Boreas Natural Gas is the result of Hacioglu's vision to create a self-sustaining natural gas fuels supply chain which will make natural gas a permanent fixture in America's energy infrastructure. "We will initially focus on the operational and service aspects of the value chain and opportunistically move into the production and distribution segments," said Hacioglu.
"I feel very excited to set sail on this new venture with a group of talented professionals and experienced advisors who have achieved a great deal of success in the industry and genuinely share my vision for the future of the natural gas fuels market. This is the perfect time to invest in this industry where asset valuations are significantly reduced in response to low oil prices, creating tremendous buying opportunities for players with patient capital and longer term strategic vision," remarked Hacioglu. "Despite the narrowing of the spread between oil and natural gas prices, both the installed customer base and potential entrants are clamoring for customized, turnkey solutions to help them switch to clean burning natural gas in order to create economically sound and environmentally sustainable organizations," added Hacioglu.
Prior to Boreas, Hacioglu was with Applied LNG. Following his appointment as its President and Chief Executive, he led Applied through a successful Chapter 11 reorganization, turning a distressed company into a profitable industry leader. Previously, Hacioglu was a portfolio manager in charge of private equity investments for Sandell Asset Management and Millennium Partners and also held positions at Fletcher Asset Management, Merrill Lynch, and the World Bank. Hacioglu holds an MBA in Financial Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Read More
DefenseStorm announced the appointment of fintech and cloud veteran Sean Feeney as CEO.
"We have admired Sean's leadership and operating performance across his last two successful company-building endeavors," said Jeff Lunsford, Co-founder and Chairman of DefenseStorm. "Sean's proven ability to build enterprise software companies that delight their customers with world-class service will be immensely valuable as we continue to scale DefenseStorm within financial services and expand our value proposition to include additional verticals," continued Lunsford.
Prior to joining DefenseStorm, Feeney was the CEO at GT Nexus (GTN), the developer and operator of the largest cloud-based supply chain network platform. Feeney is credited in this role for realizing GT Nexus's vision and implementing its profitable growth strategies. Under his direction, GTN was acquired by Infor for $675 million. At the time, approximately 25,000 businesses relied on GT Nexus's cloud-based global commerce platform; including several of the top 25 supply chains in the world.
Feeney's work experience also includes roles as Executive Vice President at CheckFree (acquired by Fiserv for $4.4 billion), Chief Operating Officer at Clarus Corporation, and Executive Vice President at Dun & Bradstreet Software. He currently sits on the board of TrendKite and is a former board member and past Chairman of the Technology Alliance of Georgia (TAG). Read More
The West Point classmates are managing partners of Richmond private equity firm Battle Monument Partners. They founded the firm in 2014 to invest in single-tenant commercial properties in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Now, the company is raising up to $5 million through it first securities offering, according to an SEC document filed last month. The money will be raised through debt securities in a fund named STRAC Fund I, and will be used as leverage to add to its portfolio of 10 properties.
A former operating executive in venture capital and private equity-backed companies, Oliver had long hoped to start his own investment fund. Teaming up with Brumagin, a West End resident and restaurant franchisee, and Abbott, who retired from the U.S. Army five years ago and lives in Arlington, seemed like the perfect partnership. The firm also employs two interns from VCU at its 1805 Monument Ave. office. "We did a lot of work the past two years to get it set up," Oliver said. "It seems to be the right decision at the right stage of life, and I couldn't be happier."
Battle Monument Partners has 36 investors lined up, most of whom are military academy graduates. While Oliver said he doesn't want his fund to be exclusive, the self-described "Gray Hog" used the partners' military contacts to build the firm. The partners are focused on attaining above-market return for clients, but they also added a social mission to their firm. Battle Monument Partners committed to donate up to 10 percent of the carried interest from its portfolio sales to charities focused on assisting veterans. Read More
General John P. Abizaid is the Founder and Senior Partner at JPA Partners, LLC, positions he has held since 2007 General Abizaid also serves as Distinguished Chair Emeritus at West Point's Combating Terrorism Center and sits on the board of directors of RPM International and USAA From 2007 to 2010, General Abizaid was the first Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution General Abizaid is a retired U.S. Army four-star general and served as Commander of the United States Central Command from 2003 to 2007 and as Deputy Commander from 2002 to 2003 From 2001 to 2002, he served on the Joint Staff as Director and as Director of Strategic Plans and Policy from 2000 to 2001 General Abizaid was the Commanding General of the First Infantry Division headquartered in Wurzburg, Germany from 1999 to 2000 He was the 66th Commandant of Cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point from 1997 to 1999 General Abizaid was an Olmstead Scholar at the University of Jordan He received an M.A. from Harvard University.
Richard Kidd IV serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy & Sustainability, a position he has held since 2010 From 2008 to 2010, he served as a Program Manager for the Federal Energy Management Program at the Department of Energy Previously, Mr. Kidd held various roles at the Department of State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs from 2001 to 2008, including Special Assistant, Office Director, and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary From 1999 to 2001 he was a Program Manager for the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, and from 1993 to 1999 he was a Country Director, Operators Manager, and Emergency Logistics Officer for the United Nations Additionally, Mr. Kidd served as an Infantry Captain and Officer in the U.S. Army from 1986 to 1991 Mr. Kidd an M.P.P.M. from the Yale School of Management.
Dr. Scott Hamilton '84, former faculty member in the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, has been hired by York College of Pennsylvania as the Coordinator of its new Civil Engineering Program. Dr. Hamilton will be responsible for developing and managing the new civil engineering program, which will commence Fall 2016. He brings extensive experience to York College from his many years of service as an Army Corps of Engineers Officer. He has also taught at several institutions including the U.S. Military Academy and Northeastern University.
Colonel Glynn "Ranger" Hale was honored on July 14 and inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, GA. The Ranger Hall of Fame was established to "honor and preserve the spirit and contributions of America's most extraordinary U.S. Army Rangers," according to the U.S. Army Ranger Association. To be considered for induction, nominees must be deceased or out of active military service for at least three years, and must have served in a Ranger unit in combat or be a successful graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School.
Lt. Gen. Guy C. Swan III, USA, Ret., '76, has been reappointed to a three-year term on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Advisory Council. Swan currently serves as Vice President at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) after a 35-year Army career. An Iraq veteran, Swan gained wide experience in homeland security and emergency management issues, including commanding U.S. Army North, the Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region, and the 7th Army Training Command. A certified emergency manager and certified protection professional, Swan is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Aspen Institute Homeland Security Group. Swan holds a master of military art and science degree from the U.S. Army's School of Advanced Military Studies, and a master of arts degree in national security studies from Georgetown University.
He was a National Security Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. The 35-member FEMA council is made up of people with various backgrounds, such as cybersecurity, emergency response and management, communication, law enforcement and government. James G. Featherstone, the general manager of the Los Angeles Emergency Management Department, is the council chair. Swan is one of five current members reappointed to the council. In a statement, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said the advisory council "plays a key role to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of federal preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters." For example, in March the advisory council made recommendations about addressing the needs of children during disasters, and clarifying roles of emergency medical services public health and emergency management functions to reduce duplication and confusion during a crisis.
Butler Snow has announced L. Howard Belknap chief operating officer after an expansive national search. Belknap was previously with Baker & McKenzie, a leading global law firm where he served as COO and executive director of the firm's New York office. He has more than 30 years of executive leadership and management experience. "Howard has been a leader for our country and a top-notch executive who has helped to lead some of the largest and most successful law firms in the world," said Don Clark, Jr., chairman, Butler Snow. "We are thrilled to have him join the Butler Snow team and I look forward to working alongside Howard as we set the vision for our firm and implement our strategic plan."
Belknap served an honorable military career as an Army officer. He held key leadership positions, including strategic planner and speechwriter for former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army J. H. Binford Peay III and Under Secretary of the Army Joe R. Reeder. He also commanded field artillery units in Hawaii and Korea. After retiring from the Army, Belknap began his law firm career in 2002 as director of administration for the New York office of Shaw Pittman, a 400-attorney firm at the time, where he oversaw significant increases in profitability and multi-year business and marketing plans.
Brig. Gen. John P. "Pete" Johnson was named the 49th commanding general of Fort Jackson, the Army's largest initial training base. The change of command at Victory Field took place amid the pomp of a ceremony that dates back to the American Revolution. Johnson took the installation's flag from Maj. Gen. Anthony C. Funkhouser, commanding general, Center for Initial Military Training. Johnson will assume command from Maj. Gen. Roger L. Cloutier, Jr., who is leaving Fort Jackson to become the chief of staff for U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany. "This is one of the nation's best military communities, no question about it," Cloutier said in his remarks before about 150 guests, both civilian and military. "This will be your best tour, hands down."
Fort Jackson currently pumps about $2 billion a year into the Midlands economy, according a study commissioned by the S.C. Department of Commerce. About $40 million of that is direct spending by families. Since Cloutier took command, the Army announced Fort Jackson will receive an 11th training battalion in October 2017, a move that would boost the post's local economic impact and increase its value to the Army in the face of expected budget cuts. Johnson, in his first press conference Friday, said he is not yet aware of any major changes to staffing or the number of soldiers to be trained at the base in the future. "There's a lot of swirl out there," he said. "Our mission is just to watch our lane. ... The priority is to focus on the here and now, and when the decisions are made you deal with them." Read More
A Travelers Rest police officer graduated at the top of his Basic Law Class at the SC Criminal Justice Academy. Officer Ryan Marro was the recipient of the prestigious J.P. Strom award for achieving the class's highest grade of 97.1 percent, and he was the class's only distinguished graduate, a designation for those achieving a grade higher than 95 percent. Near the end of his training, Marro also completed the optional "challenge run," a three-mile run that has to be completed in 25 minutes or less. Marro achieved these distinctions while he was also serving as the class leader, an honor which gave him several extra daily responsibilities as he served as the official liaison between the Academy staff and the 55 students who ultimately graduated in his class.
Marro joined the Travelers Rest Police Department on March 1, 2016. An area local, he is also a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and a retired United States Army Lieutenant Colonel. "The Travelers Rest Police Department and the city of Travelers Rest could not be prouder of Officer Marro's achievements, and we are honored that he would choose to begin his law enforcement career in our community," said Travelers Rest Police Chief Lance Crowe. When Marrow completes his Travelers Rest PD field training, he will be assigned to agency's Uniform Patrol Division, Crowe said. Read More
Jeffrey C. Agnew '06, Brandon T. Frei '08 and Brandon B. Gilles '07 were welcomed into the Olmsted Scholar Program at the Annual Reunion on June 4,2016 at the Anderson House in Washington, D.C. The Olmsted Foundation selects the finest young military officers to become Olmsted Scholars. Top candidates show an aptitude for leadership and the qualities that accompany it: Self-discipline, drive, a spirit of adventure and a history of personal achievement. For over five decades Olmsted Scholars have pursued graduate studies at foreign universities in topics ranging from political science and history to literature. But the true power of the Olmsted Scholar Program comes from the experience of full immersion in foreign countries and cultures across the globe.
Archie Elam is on his third career transition. His two-decade Army career included acting as head of operations for the 18th Airborne Corps 24th Infantry Division in the first war against Iraq. The Army sent him to get an M.B.A. at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, a degree that started his private sector career in 1996. He was a manager at General Electric, United Technologies, Accenture and elsewhere, mostly focused on Six Sigma, a collaborative program for improving company performance by cutting out waste, and running customer relations management systems and overseeing other large-scale operations. His next act? Working at a nonprofit organization. Mr. Elam recently graduated from Encore! Hartford, a four-month training program for corporate professionals over age 50 looking for a career in the nonprofit sector, public agencies and government. "The stuff you volunteer for, you care about, you do for free, and then one day you realize you can get paid to do something you care about," he said. "How cool is that!" Read More
Captain William Reynolds was one of the athletes competing in the annual adaptive sports competition. Reynolds lost part of his left leg in a 2004 roadside bomb attack in Baghdad. The Warrior Games are run by the Department of Defense for injured or ill service members and veterans. Athletes who lost limbs compete against others with cancer or traumatic brain injuries. Some 270 athletes have competed at West Point at this years Wounded Warrior Games in events including cycling and wheelchair basketball. The competition was a homecoming for Reynolds, who graduated from the academy in 2002. Reynolds sees racing as just another of the milestones he began aiming for in his hospital bed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Story
Captain Nick Eslinger, class of 2007, has been featured in a new book titled, "American Warfighter: Brotherhood, Survival, and Uncommon Valor in Iraq, 2003-2011." Eslinger received the Silver Star after jumping on a grenade in Samarra in 2008 then throwing it back at an insurgent fighter before it exploded. The book tells his story along with others from the 82nd and 101st airborne divisions, a Green Beret, an Army Ranger, infantrymen, combat medics, and Marines. Together they received multiple Distinguished Service Crosses, Navy Crosses, and Silver Stars. The entire war is covered, including some of its most pivotal moments – the invasion, the Battle of Nasiriyah, the taking of Baghdad, the hunt for the infamous Deck of Cards, the fight against al-Sadr's Mahdi Militia in Najaf, the Second Battle of Fallujah, the Battle of Ramadi, the al-Qaeda insurgency throughout the al-Anbar Province, the surge, and the long withdrawal.
The National Hockey League announced yesterday that it will expand in 2017, becoming the first major professional sports league to bring a team to Las Vegas. The league's announcement brings a nearly two-year journey one step closer to reality for William Foley, the chairman of Fidelity National Financial and Black Knight Financial Services, who will lead the Las Vegas team as its owner. The rumors of Foley's NHL expansion push first surfaced in November 2014, when multiple outlets, including The Hockey News and Yahoo, reported that the NHL chose the ownership group that featured Foley and the Maloof family, who own several Las Vegas hotels and formerly owned the National Basketball Association's Sacramento Kings.
Earlier this month, the NHL's executive committee gave its approval to Foley's bid, leaving only a vote from the NHL's full board of governors to approve the expansion plans, which took place Wednesday. "This is a great day for the people of Las Vegas and it is extremely exciting to deliver the city's first major league sports team," Foley said. "This historic news would not have been possible without the overwhelming support of the Las Vegas community, our season ticket holders and public officials at the state and local levels." During the press conference officially announcing the expansion, Foley was asked about the team's name, which is rumored to be the Las Vegas Black Knights.
Foley said that the team isn't prepared to announce a name yet, but it certainly sounded like Black Knights is the leader in the clubhouse for the team's name, especially given that Foley graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, which calls its sports teams the "Black Knights" as well. "I love Black Knights," Foley said when asked about the team's name. "I'm an Army guy, but maybe that's not the right name for this team at this time," adding that there are some "alternatives" and other name options that will be be reviewed with the league before an official announcement is made. Read More
Deacon Douglas Adams '81 will be ordained at St. Patrick's Cathedral. He is a member of Sacred Heart parish, Suffern. He and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 34 years. They have one daughter, Abigail. He is a public school superintendent at Ramapo Central School District in Suffern. A superintendent for 20 years, he had served as a principal, teacher and coach. He holds a doctorate in education from the University of Arkansas, a law degree from the University of Arkansas, master's degrees from Iona College and the University of Florida. Read More
Colonel (R) Pamela Martis has been named the director of Veteran Student Services for Saint Leo University. Martis brings more than 25 years of leadership experience to the university, along with a desire to serve fellow veterans and their families. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Russian, Central European, East European, and Eurasian studies from the University of Kansas. In addition, she received a master's degree from the National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces. She served 4½ years in the artillery before transferring to the Military Police Corps.
Her experience includes serving as the legislative liaison for the Department of Army; commander of the 924th Military Police Battalion and installation provost marshal; U.S. Military Academy faculty member and regimental tactical officer; garrison commander at the Presidio of Monterey (CA); Combined Security Training Command-Afghanistan; director of Strategic Initiatives Group Army G8, Pentagon; liaison officer to the commanding general, U.S. Forces Afghanistan/International Security Assistance Force; and deputy director of the Joint Security Office, and provost marshal for U.S. Central Command.
Martis earned the Bronze Star in November 2009 for her service in Afghanistan as well as the Department of Defense Distinguished Superior Service Medal. She will enhance Saint Leo University's efforts to help veterans transition to civilian life and further their educations. The university serves nearly 5,000 active duty service members and veterans who study at University Campus in Florida, at more than 40 teaching locations in seven states—many of which are on military bases—or online from any location.
Click this link to vote: http://espn.go.com/espys/2016/?voting=bestplay
The national phenomenon that is Kasey McCravey's leap over the Lehigh catcher to score in Army West Point softball's semi-final game has not only gained her attention worldwide, but has also garnered her a nomination for an ESPY Award. The ESPY Awards are presented annually by ESPN to amateur and professional athletes for a variety of accomplishments. Fans are encouraged to vote for McCravey's play on the ESPN site and on Twitter. The Best Play category is setup in a bracket format with McCravey's leap as the 12-seed. The final winner will be presented the 2016 ESPY for Best Play on July 13, at the live show in Los Angeles. Read More
Brigadier General James Raymer, U.S. Army Engineer School commandant, awarded Major Andrew Swedberg '00, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, with the Bronze de Fleury Medal, May 20 at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Major Swedberg received the medal in recognition of his inspirational leadership and superior service to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The de Fleury Medal is U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' medal named after Francois Louis Tesseidre de Fleury, a French engineer, who volunteered to serve with the American Army in its fight for independence. In particular, de Fleury's courage under fire in the Battle of Stony Point, N.Y. in 1779 won him the accolades of Congress. The U.S. Army Engineer Regiment adopted the de Fleury Medal as an award because of the values demonstrated by the man for whom it was struck. Read More
Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg announced the appointment June 20 of an interim president, one who is interested in taking the job on a permanent basis. Brigadier General Timothy Trainor has spent the last six years as dean of the Academic Board at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. His retirement ceremony will be held June 24. It will take full effect Sept. 1, by which time he will be working at the Mount. According to a school spokesman, Trainor will serve on an interim basis until a new president is appointed. Asked by the Catholic Review if he would apply for the permanent position, Trainor replied, "Yes. I'm excited by what I see. Hopefully, this will be a long-term assignment."
"Trainor brings to the Mount extensive experience in leadership and a deep understanding and appreciation of the Catholic liberal arts tradition," said Mary Kane, chairwoman of the university's Board of Trustees, which made the appointment. "The hallmarks of his tenure at West Point – a commitment to the liberal arts, to the intellectual life of his students, and to the development of leaders of character – make him an ideal leader for the Mount." Read More
WEST POINT, NY – The Team Army archers earned two medals at the Department of Defense Warrior Games held at the U.S. Military Academy June 17. U.S. Army First Lieutenant Michael Matthews took the Gold Medal in the individual compound bow category, edging out the U.S. Air Force Silver Medal archer, 110-109. The team consisting of Matthews, U.S. Army Veteran Staff Sgt. Matthew Mihacsi, from Sterling, Virginia and U.S. Army Veteran Staff Sgt. Eric Pardo, from North Bergen, New Jersey took the Silver in the team compound category. Full Story »
He also won the gold medal in the air rifle standing open category.
Photo by Pfc. CaShaunta Williams
Dave Pelizzon '81 President of Squadron Capital LLC, is backing OrthoPediatrics Corp., maker of orthopedic implants for children, and plans to list on the Nasdaq Stock Market in an initial public offering.
OrthoPediatrics, of Warsaw, Ind., produces implantable devices used to correct deformities and treat conditions resulting from injury. Squadron Capital first invested in OrthoPediatrics in 2011, according to the filing. The Granby, Conn., investment firm acquired a majority stake in the company in 2014, according to the firm's website. Funded by a Chicago-based trust, Squadron Capital invests in companies with revenue of $10 million to $100 million in the U.S. and abroad.
Colonel Everett Spain '92 was named the head of the United States Military Academy's Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership. "It's the best job in the world," Spain said Friday morning before the ceremony. "It's something I'm truly looking forward to." Spain is a 22-year Army veteran with combat experience. In Iraq he received the Purple Heart while with the 1st Cavalry Division, and later served as the aide-de-camp of General David Petraeus, commander of the Multi-National Force-Iraq, during "The Surge." He is a graduate of the elite U.S. Army Ranger School. Spain also received the Soldier's Medal, the Army's highest award for valor in a non-combat situation for his actions during the Boston Marathon attack.
The Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Michael S. Linnington to the position of Chief Executive Officer, effective July 18, 2016. Mr. Linnington is joining WWP from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), where he was appointed Director by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter in 2015. His decorated 35-year military career includes three tours in combat operations and key command positions in numerous assignments around the world.
As permanent CEO of WWP, Mr. Linnington will oversee the organization's day-to-day operations and set the strategic vision to guide the organization forward. He will be responsible for ensuring that WWP's free, direct programs and services continue to have the greatest possible impact on the more than 100,000 warriors, WWP Alumni, caretakers and families who rely on the organization's life-changing services. He will be based at WWP's headquarters in Jacksonville and will report to the WWP Board of Directors. Read More
Colonel E. Scott Smith '92 took command of the Virginia National Guard's Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Colonel William J. Coffin '88 June 5, 2016, in a traditional change of command ceremony at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Brigadier General Walter L. Mercer, the Virginia National Guard's Assistant Adjutant General - Army, presided over the exchange of unit colors that represented the transfer of command from Coffin to Smith.
Fort Leavenworth, KS – Congratulations to Major William J. Denn '06, the winner of the General George C. Marshall Award for the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officer Course (CGSOC) Class of 2016. The award is named in honor of George C. Marshall who graduated first in his class of 1908 in the new Staff College Course. This award goes to the distinguished United States military graduate in each class in recognition of scholarship and leadership. Major Denn is also the winner of the Arter-Doniphan Award for CGSOC Class of 2016. The Arter-Doniphan Award is presented to the student in each graduating class who obtains the highest overall academic achievement. It is named for LTG (retired) Robert Arter, former Deputy Commandant and Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Kansas and Alexander Doniphan, a hero of the Mexican-American War and a key civic leader in the early days of Missouri. Both men are members of the Fort Leavenworth Hall of Fame. The CGSOC class of 2016, comprising of approximately 1300 officers, graduated on June 10, 2016 at ceremony at Fort Leavenworth, KS. The graduation speaker was U.S. Army Cyber Commander, Lt. Gen. Edward C. Cardon '82.
The 23rd Annual Alumni Golf Outing was held at West Point 9-11 June 2016. The outing included 36 holes of golf: Captain's Choice on Friday and Individual Play or Captain's Choice on Saturday. Other events included a reception and dinner in Herbert Alumni Center, a boat cruise, and breakfast and lunch at the West Point Golf Course. 67 graduates and guests, spanning 40 years of USMA classes participated. The senior graduate was Jim Looram '61 and the youngest was Mark Kaschenbach '01. The class of 1972 (Proud and True) with 13 graduates had the most number of Classmates attending. Not far behind with eight graduates each, was the Class of 1962 (Can Do) and 1968 (No Task Too Great).
First-place teams on Friday were:
First-place winners on Saturday were:
Photos are posted on Flickr -- https://flic.kr/s/aHskydoVXW
2017 Alumni Golf Outing -- We hope to see you next year, 8-10 June 2017.
Click on the link below if you would like to receive an email when registration opens in February 2017. http://www.westpointaog.org/AlumniGolfNotification
Throughout our history the Army has led the way in technology, research and development; creating many items that we use in our everyday lives. We have led the way in professional development, producing some of the greatest leaders the world has ever known. Soldiers have been at the forefront of our success and innovations. We reflect on the courage, ingenuity, and sacrifice of the Veterans, Soldiers, Families, and Civilians who have made up our Army Team for the past 241 years. Superintendent, LTG Robert Caslen cuts the cake in New York Time Square. Watch the "After the Show Show" on Fox News.
Charles W. Clements, II, M.D., a professor in the department of family and community health at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, has received one of the American Medical Association Foundation's top honors, the Jack B. McConnell M.D. Award for Excellence in Volunteerism. Since 2011 Clements has served as the faculty leader for Marshall Medical Outreach, a student-created effort that delivers health care to the homeless and to those at risk of homelessness. The program has been acknowledged locally, regionally and at the state level for its mission.
The volunteer effort, which has expanded into a multidisciplinary outreach that includes School of Pharmacy students and community health care volunteers, provides primary care, immunizations, screenings and ophthalmology services, as well as prescription services for dozens of patients every month. Clements joined the School of Medicine in 1999 after a 20-plus year career in the U.S. Army. Since then he has consistently been recognized as a determined advocate for those who struggle to navigate the complex health care system. Read More
The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association announced its Scholar All-Americans recently and seniors Austin Schultz and Jimbo Moore were among the names honored for their work in the classroom. The pair was included on a list of 43 scholar-athletes from around the country. Army was the only Patriot League member with two honorees as there were a total of seven players from the conference from six institutions. Schultz graduated in May with a degree in Economics and recorded a 3.625 cumulative grade point average at West Point and was an All-Patriot League First Team performer in 2016, while also being picked as a Patriot League All-Academic Team member as well. Moore joined Schultz in graduating from West Point in May. He earned a degree in Systems Engineering with a 3.582 GPA. Moore enjoyed his best season as a Black Knight in 2016 as an All-Patriot League First Team selection for the first time in his career. He was named to the All-Academic Team as well. Read More
Community leaders gathered in Academy Prep Center of Tampa's gymnasium to mentor young men. The nonprofit school serves economically disadvantaged fifth- through eighth-graders mostly from impoverished communities in east Tampa. At the center of the table sat Hugh Campbell. He told the students that his quest to be successful started with one simple idea. "I just decided at a young age, I wanted to make something of myself," he said. He's well-known in Tampa Bay's business and technology circles as the co-founder and CEO of telecommunications company Advanced C4 Solutions. Last year, AC4S's generated revenues of $38 million, Campbell said.
A mailer from the U.S. Military Academy caught Campbell's eye when he was in high school, and a visit to the campus sealed his desire to attend West Point. "I said, there's no way I'm not going," he said. But West Point would test Campbell in ways he hadn't anticipated. A West Point tradition is for freshmen cadets to serve upperclassmen during meals. Campbell said fulfilling this duty often meant the kitchen would close down before he could eat. After weeks of eating little food while juggling a demanding academic schedule, he decided he'd had enough. "I didn't like it," he said. "I almost quit."
But Campbell didn't leave. Instead he chose to overcome the challenges and get more involved in school activities. A big help was his singing with the Cadet Gospel Choir, which traveled to black churches all over the country. Seeing church and community leaders and young black people beam with pride at his and other choir members in their uniforms was heartening, he said. "I always understood the opportunity that (attending West Point) was," he said. "While it was difficult, there were hints along the way that it's meaningful."
After building and operating two successful multi-million dollar businesses, it would appear that Campbell would be within his rights to cruise easily until retirement. But Campbell said he's looking forward to deepening his involvement in community causes and organizations. Recently, he's turned his attention and resources to Academy Prep Center of Tampa. According to its website, the students' families face numerous hardships, including inadequate housing, lack of education, unemployment, poor health, lack of positive role models, a family history of crime or abuse, addictions and mental illness. It's these students who need to see more examples of successful black business and community leaders, Campbell said.
"Education is the difference," he said. "It's all the difference in the world." Read More
Trinity Industries, Inc. announced that W. Relle Howard has joined Trinity as Vice President, Chief Information Officer. Mr. Howard joined Trinity in February 2016. He was previously Vice President of Information Technology at Flowserve Corporation. Prior to his service at Flowserve Corporation, Mr. Howard served as the Manufacturing Information Technology Director for Celanese Chemicals, held several operation and technology-related roles while employed at Alcatel, and served in the United States Army, 1st Cavalry Division, Ft. Hood, Texas. Mr. Howard received an Executive MBA from The University of Texas at Dallas and earned a B.S. in Management and Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Read More
Lieutenant General Thomas P. Bostick '78 relinquished command as the 53rd U.S. Army Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) May 19, 2016, in a change of command and retirement ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (JBMHH), Virginia. He had served as the Chief of Engineers since May 22, 2012, and retired with 38 years of service in the U.S. Army. Lieutenant General Todd T. Semonite '79 became the 54th Chief of Engineers and assumed command of USACE during the same ceremony.
As the USACE commanding general, Bostick served as the senior military officer overseeing most of the nation's civil works infrastructure and military construction. He was responsible for more than 32,000 civilian employees and 700 military personnel who provide project management, construction support and engineering expertise in more than 110 countries around the world. USACE has a key role in supporting overseas contingency operations, with thousands of civilians and Soldiers having deployed to support military operations and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Before commanding USACE, Bostick served as the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, Personnel, responsible for developing, managing, and executing manpower and personnel plans, programs, and policies for more than 1 million Soldiers and 300,000 Army civilians. Other command and staff positions that Bostick held during his 38 years of service include Commanding General, U.S. Army Recruiting Command; Director of Military Programs in USACE with duty as Commander of the Gulf Region Division in Iraq; Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver), later Assistant Division Commander (Support), 1st Cavalry Division during the deployment into Operation Iraqi Freedom; Commander, Engineer Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia-Herzegovina; and Commander, 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized).
Bostick also served as Executive Officer to the Chief of Engineers, Executive Officer to the Army Chief of Staff, and Deputy Director of Operations for the National Military Command Center, J-3, the Joint Staff in the Pentagon from May 2001 to August 2002, including the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Recent Mechanical Engineering Graduates Cameron Hargris and Ryan Meyer and Drury Milke ('16) had a very successful Spring Semester, winning the MIT Soldier Design Competition and the Scott Clark Soldier Innovation Award for their Capstone Design Project. They were congratulated personally, along with their project faculty advisors, MAJ Brodie Hoyer and LTC Richard Gash, by the Superintendent, LTG Robert Caslen. Great work!
Major General Daniel L. Karbler '87, commanding general of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, or ATEC, commissioned Alexandra R. Noack, a West Point graduate, to second lieutenant April 25 at ATEC Headquarters. Prior to being commissioned, Noack, who is Karbler's niece, was in a year-long medical hold status after she suffered a seizure four days before her graduation from the military academy. After being on medical hold for a year, Noack was reassessed in February. Following her doctor's recommendation, West Point issued its approval for Noack to be commissioned as an officer.
While at the military academy, Noack was a member of the West Point Crew team. In May 2015, she graduated from West Point with a bachelor's degree in American politics. Noack is currently a program intern at ATEC responsible for assisting senior program analysts on ATEC system teams. In June Noack will attend the Air Defense Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Karbler expressed how proud he is of his niece's accomplishments and describes her as a wonderful young lady and an officer who is smart, possesses a terrific sense of humor, and has an unbelievable drive to persevere; qualities, he said, he believes are the makings of a great leader in the U.S. Army.
The third annual All Academy Challenge between USMA and Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine academies has kicked off! Our joint mission? To increase alumni participation and engagement at our respective academies. Join us in this challenge by making a gift to West Point between now and June 7. No matter the size of your gift or where you choose to designate it, your participation counts. Gifts will support Margin of Excellence opportunities for cadets and ensure that the Long Gray Line remains stronger than ever. The Academy that receives the highest percentage of alumni participation by June 7 wins! More information can be found at AllAcademyChallenge.com or by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com. Make sure to follow us on social media for updates and share with your own community at #AllAcademyChallenge. GO ARMY!
WEST POINT, NY - A West Point graduation presents an almost unparalleled spectacle of camaraderie, perseverance and adventure. These are tomorrow's military elite, passing through a 214-year institution steeped in honor and tradition. On May 21, as nearly 1000 white hats flew up in the air, cheers of joy thundered through Michie stadium. In the midst of the spectacle, in the front row, stood the soon-to-be pinned 2nd Lt. Alix Schoelcher Idrache. Tears covered his face as he looked back at the crowd. Alix had a reason to be emotional. In seven years he went from speaking basic English in a working class neighborhood in Port-au-Prince to graduating from one of the most prestigious military and educational institutions in the United States. Full Story »
Congratulations to Class of 2016 Cadet Katie Williams, newest LTG Leslie R. Groves Award winner. This prestigious award is presented annually to the Nuclear Engineering major with the most outstanding performance. Mr. Dick Groves presented the award. We would like to recognize other Class of 2016 Department Awards recipients: Cadet Alix Idrache received the Counts Award, Cadet Roberts Nelson, the Sewell Tappan Tyng Award, Cadet Jarrod Odom, the Goeppert-Mayer Award, and Cadet Justin Hall, the Thomas Young Award.
Registration is now open for the 23rd Annual Alumni Golf Outing. It will be at West Point, June 9-11, 2016. Reconnect with alumni, former classmates, and your alma mater. Registration fee includes two rounds of golf, all meals, a boat cruise, and some great prizes! (View Agenda) All graduates and guests are invited. Registration closes June 1.
All grads are invited to the 2016 Service Academies Global Summit, which will be taking place in Singapore this June 22-24, 2016. The Summit is a historic, seminal gathering that brings graduates of all five U.S. service academies together as a 'Super-Community' for professional and leadership development, networking and engagement, learning from peers and renowned global leaders, sharing experiences and advocating service. It is an extraordinary opportunity for learning, interaction, collaboration and exposure to new ideas and opportunities that is held in exciting locales of the world. In short, the Summit is a gathering of proven leaders from around the world from all sectors – government, business, military and NGO/nonprofit – to strengthen shared bonds and help each other become better leaders and members of society.
Al Peterson was selected to be the President and CEO of the National Test Pilot School at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave CA. He took over in June of 2011 after leaving Sierra Nevada Corporation in Sparks (Reno) NV after 9 years. The National Test Pilot School trains test pilots and flight test engineers from around the world and are the only civilian Test Pilot School in the World that is recognized by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He works regularly with Pat Garman '82 (also F-4) who is on the governing Board of Trustees. Pat is a VP at Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) in Sparks, NV. Al is also a local politician having run for and been elected to the Board of Directors of the Mojave Air and Space Port (a California Special District). He just finished up my term as President of the Board.
Nearly 30,000 family members, friends, and guests packed West Point's Michie Stadium for the Graduation of the Class of 2016. While rain was in the forecast, it was nothing but sunshine and smiles for the 953 graduates who received their diplomas. They also received their second lieutenant bars from four members of the Class of 1966, their 50-Year Affiliation Class, which has gripped hands with members of the Class of 2016 since their March Back from Beast Barracks in August 2012. The bars are engraved with "66-16" to commemorate the special bond between the classes.
Vice President Joe Biden attended the event and gave the graduation address. He told the graduates that they arrived at West Point four years ago as the most promising students in the country and leave today as the most promising second lieutenants of the greatest fighting force in the history of war, ready to meet transnational challenges and diverse missions. "The United States Military Academy has forged you into warriors and strategists, and with a bond that will never be broken," Biden said. "Where ever you go, you'll feel the bond of not just the classmates sitting next to you, but of the thousands of others of the Long Gray Line, the most elite fraternity and sorority in the United States of America, who may have never met you but know who you are before you arrived."
After taking the officer oath and tossing their white hats high in the air upon the order "Class of 2016, dismissed!" the graduates exited in mass to various bar-binning ceremonies across post. Almost all of the graduates will be commissioned as officers in the U.S. Army; three will be commissioned in the U.S. Navy, and one will become an officer in the Marine Corps.
This year's graduation class includes 151 women (7 of whom branched Infantry and Armor), 77 Hispanics, 71 Asian/Pacific Islanders, 69 African-Americans, and 12 Native Americans. The class also includes 25 combat veterans, 11 international graduates, and 66 members who are sons and daughters of West Point graduates (9 of which have parents who are both graduates).
The motto for the Class of 2016 is "With Honor We Lead." The Vice President reminded the graduates of this near the end of his commencement address. "We are counting on you; we are entrusting you with an incredible responsibility," he said. "Lead with honor and know that whatever challenges lie ahead, you are up for it because of the preparation you have received at West Point."
View photos here.
Frank B. Janoski was elected to serve as a member of the City Council for Webster Groves, Missouri in April 2016. In addition to his position as a City Council member, he serves as Council Liaison to the City's Historic Preservation Commission and the Old Orchard Special Business District Advisory Commission. Frank's election to this position continues his commitment to public service.
Frank practices in the areas of intellectual property and commercial litigation in the United States and around the world. He represents companies and individuals in the areas of cable and wire technology, transportation, chemical products, biotechnology, and many others. In addition, Frank works with companies in the development of branding and protection of their brands through trademarks, copyrights and trade secret law, as well as patent law.
Captain Kristen Griest, one of the first women to graduate U.S. Army Ranger School, has been assigned to the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade at Fort Benning, Georgia, according to Army officials. The Army granted Griest's request to transfer from the military police to the infantry branch April 25. Griest recently completed the Maneuver Captains Career Course at Benning, a requirement for infantry and armor officers to command front-line fighting companies.
For now, Griest will be assigned to the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade until she gets a permanent assignment to an infantry unit, which will likely come sometime next year when the other female armor and infantry officers get their assignments to combat units, according to Army spokesman Col. Patrick Seiber. "She is in an infantry officer assignment at Fort Benning, awaiting follow-on orders to an infantry unit next year," Seiber said.
The 27-year-old West Point graduate made history in 2015 by becoming one of three women to earn the coveted Ranger Tab after completing the grueling, two-month infantry leadership course. In April 2015, she was among 19 female soldiers approved to attend Ranger School as part of a pilot program to help the Army determine whether it could safely open front-line combat jobs to women. Griest, alongside 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, an Apache pilot and fellow West Point graduate, made history in August when they became the Army's first women to complete Ranger School. Two months later, a third West Point graduate, Maj. Lisa Jaster, also completed the course. Read More
A statewide partnership of hospital groups including Premier Health and Cleveland Clinic has named its first CEO. The Midwest Health Collaborative, the Columbus-based alliance of six of the biggest hospital groups in the state, has named Daniel Kueter as CEO, effective May 23. Kueter will help lead the development of the network and its patient-facing strategies.
Formerly CEO of the University of Iowa Health Alliance, Kueter has an MBA from Harvard Business School and 20 years of business leadership experience, said Premier Health in a release. The mega-partnership was announced early last year, including Premier, Cleveland Clinic, OhioHealth in Columbus, TriHealth in Cincinnati, Aultman in the Canton area and ProMedica in the Toledo area. In total the networks control 40 hospitals and hundreds of care sites in the state. Read More
Our 7-day challenge begins June 1st and we need YOU in order to claim victory over USAFA, USCGA, USMMA, and USNA. The service academy with the highest percentage of alumni participation during the Challenge wins, so make sure to make a gift! You can do so by going online or calling us at 845.446.1650/1657, any time between June 1 and June 7. If you would like to mail in a check, please make sure it will ARRIVE before June 7 to be counted. Whether the gift is $5 or $500, it counts, so let's come together and show the other service academies the strength of the Long Gray Line! GO ARMY!
Timothy F. Sugrue, president & CEO of Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, Clarkson University, was named professor emeritus at Clarkson's 123rd Commencement on May 7. He was honored for 16 years of exemplary service to the University. Sugrue has had a distinguished, multifaceted career at Clarkson. He came to the University in 2000 as dean of the School of Business, serving for 13 years and implementing several new programs. In late 2011, Clarkson President Tony Collins appointed Sugrue to serve as chief executive officer of the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, a subsidiary of Clarkson University. Transition is nothing new to Sugrue, who began his academic career after the military. He says, "I fit well with Clarkson University. What I'm most proud of is that business was an afterthought when I first came to campus, but it certainly isn't now."
As dean of the School of Business, he oversaw significant academic and administrative changes that resulted in national recognition and rankings for a number of programs, particularly supply chain management and entrepreneurship. "For small organizations, excellence comes through specialization. Both entrepreneurship and global supply chain management played well against engineering heritage of the university. It just made sense," he says. "We did those two things well." During his years at Clarkson, the University acquired a not-for-profit organization, the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries. Upon joining Beacon Institute, Sugrue immediately conceived and launched an interdisciplinary summer program for undergraduates, along with initiating a graduate program in engineering management that takes advantage of Beacon Institute's Hudson River location and environmental mission. As a non-advocacy environmental organization, the Institute "deals with data and facts and science," Sugrue says. "Water quality is one of our major scientific initiatives." Read More
WASHINGTON - The Heritage Foundation has honored Michael W. Grebe '62 for his philanthropic work with the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation of Milwaukee. The think tank presented its Founders Award to Grebe, the president and CEO of the Bradley Foundation, in recognition of "outstanding and continuing support" by a foundation or individual. A grant-making organization, the Bradley Foundation supports programs that promote: limited, competent government; a dynamic marketplace for economic, intellectual, and cultural activity; and a vigorous defense, at home and abroad, of American ideas and institutions.
The Heritage Foundation has benefited from Bradley's continuing support for more than 35 years, noted Heritage Group Vice President of Development John Fogarty. He added that, "With Mike Grebe at the helm over the last 14 years, the Heritage-Bradley relationship has become a truly productive partnership." Heritage President Jim DeMint said, "The Bradley Foundation sees America as a force for good in the world, and they are a force for what makes America so good. We are sincerely grateful for their leadership and their committed support."
Earlier this year, Grebe announced his plans to step down from his post at Bradley. Before coming over to the foundation, he was chairman and CEO of Foley & Lardner, one of the country's largest law firms, where he was a partner for more than 25 years. He is a former member and president of the board of regents for the University of Wisconsin System and past member and chairman of the board of visitors for his alma mater, the United States Military Academy. After graduating from the Academy, Grebe served in Vietnam, where he earned two Bronze Stars. In 1970, he received his law degree from the University of Michigan. Grebe is chairman of the board of The Philanthropy Round-table and is a former chairman of the Greater Milwaukee Committee and co-chairman of the seven-county M7 economic development project in southeastern Wisconsin.
Photo: Michael Grebe (Left) accepting the award during a special ceremony April 8 at The Heritage Foundation's annual Leadership Conference
The World Association of Detectives is proud to announce the selection of New Orleans native Raymond A. Pendleton as President Emeritus of the worldwide organization, originally founded in 1921 as the International Secret Service Association. The honor is given for a lifetime of dedication and service to the investigative and security professions.
WAD remains the foremost international association of professional investigators and security service organizations, and is represented in over 80 countries with business intelligence services operating throughout the global economy. One of its founders, Forrest Pendleton, was a former regional director of the U.S. Justice Department's Bureau of Investigation (later to be the FBI), who opened its New Orleans office in 1913 and started the first private detective and security service firms in the South in 1920. Raymond Pendleton, his son, assumed leadership of the family businesses in 1970, and led their growth with offices in five Southern states, along with regional drug and contraband searches, maritime support and investigations that spanned the international arena. He is a retired Army Colonel, Special Forces (Green Berets) combat veteran and former Inspector General, and remains actively involved in research for cases that deal primarily with forensic liability issues in both the domestic and foreign fields.
Following in the footsteps of his father, who served as General John Pershing's liaison to Poncho Villa during the 1916 punitive expedition into Mexico, Raymond and a fellow WAD colleague were tasked and supported by the US Defense Department in 1981 to conduct a private, covert study of East European military personnel and activities during the "Cold War".
Dennis Hopkins, has been named a 2016 Diversity & Inclusion Champion by The New York City Bar Association. The Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award, created in 2006, recognizes the critical role individuals play in initiating and sustaining change in their organizations and the overall New York legal community. The award recipients embody the New York City Bar's Statement of Diversity Principles, which defines diversity as an inclusive concept, encompassing race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, nationality, age, disability and marital and parental status. The New York City Bar Association is dedicated to maintaining the high ethical standards of the profession, promoting reform of the law and providing service to the profession and the public.
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. In 2014, the Counsel 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 was named one of five "Attorneys at the Top" for 2015 by The Network Journal. Dennis is a Board Member of the Sonia & Celina Sotomayor High School Judicial Internship Program. Dennis earned his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law. Dennis was a U.S. Army Attack Helicopter Platoon Leader and also served in the U.S. Army Reserves.
WOODSTOCK, IL - Deputy Police Chief John Lieb has been appointed to fill the chief position after Chief Robert Lowen retires in June. Lieb started with the Woodstock police in 2000 as a patrol officer and was promoted to sergeant in 2005 before becoming deputy chief in 2011. "We are extremely pleased that the results of this process validated the feelings of everyone who has worked with John Lieb over the past 15 years," Woodstock City Manager Roscoe Stelford said in a statement.
"John has proven himself to be an exceptional leader who will serve both the residents and employees of the Woodstock Police Department admirably." Lieb is a graduate of Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command. Lieb has recently received his master's in public administration from Villanova University. Lieb will oversee the staff's 51 employees and manage the department's $4.9 million budget. When he starts June 4, Lieb said he's looking forward to being in a more visible position with the city.
"As deputy chief you spend a lot of time behind the scenes making sure the operation works smoothly," Lieb said. "Now as chief, I'll have an opportunity to help steer the direction of the initiatives and programs of the police department." Lieb said there will be multiple position changes within the department after he takes over, but those changes, including who will fill the deputy chief position, have not yet been decided. Read More
John Bohnen has been appointed chief operating officer of RSI Communities LLC, an affiliate of RSI Holding LLC. Bohnen will focus on growing the company's Texas operations and play a key role in expanding the national footprint of RSI Communities. Along with acquiring land for its own developments, RSI is partnering with developers and will build homes for first-time and move-up home buyers, as well as single-family home rental communities. The company's unique approach to homebuilding offers high-quality, energy-efficient homes tailored to Millennials and Empty-Nesters who are looking to buy their first home or downsize. The company plans to have 25 to 30 communities in Central Texas by the end of 2017 and enter the Houston and Dallas markets within the next year or two.
"John Bohnen brings a unique, and hard to find, combination of strength in leadership and experience in homebuilding to the company," said Todd Palmaer, chief executive officer of RSI Communities. "We welcome his proven success in land acquisition, particularly in Dallas, San Antonio and Austin, where he impressively grew a homebuilding division to be one of the highest performing and most profitable in the country." Bohnen previously served in leadership positions at Cal Atlantic Homes, Standard Pacific Homes, KB Homes and the United States Army. Most recently, he was the Austin Division President for Cal Atlantic Homes and prior to that he was the Division President for Standard Pacific Homes. Read More
The head of U.S. Army Pacific at Fort Shafter, a command that covers half the globe, was turned over to Lieutenant General Robert Brown. General Vince Brooks, who is leaving Hawaii after nearly three years, took command of U.S. Forces Korea, Combined Forces Command and United Nations Command in a ceremony Saturday at Yongsan Garrison, South Korea. Brown, who will receive his fourth star for the U.S. Army Pacific job, returns to Hawaii from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was commanding general of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center. In past positions Brown was a plans officer at U.S. Army Pacific, and with U.S. Pacific Command as executive assistant to the Pacific Command commander and director of training and exercises. Read More
Christopher Mead, a 16-year veteran of Capital One, now leads PRA Group's Office of the Consumer as vice president, reporting to Chris Graves, executive vice president, Americas Core. In this role, Mead will develop customer insight strategies and design new products and programs to improve customer experiences. Additionally, he will lead PRA's disputes and complaints operations teams, which are responsible for addressing customer issues and ensuring continuing compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
Mead most recently served as vice president of fraud and merchant dispute operations for Capital One. His previous positions with Capital One include vice president of contingency recoveries, senior director of contingency recovery operations and senior director of compliance horizontal services. Prior to his roles with Capital One, Mead was a U.S. Army Aviation Officer serving in various leadership positions including platoon leader, battalion operations officer, brigade operations officer and battalion intelligence officer. He holds professional certifications including Six Sigma Green Belt and Lean Management, and is an Agile Scrum Master. Read More
Robert F. Hahn II, Ph.D. has joined the company as President, Government Solutions of Reed Tech. In this newly created position, he will have responsibility for leading and growing the Company's business with the federal government. This will include maintaining and growing the business with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as well as developing new business at other federal agencies. Dr. Hahn will also have primary responsibility for setting strategic direction in the government market and for executing on the strategy. Dr. Hahn comes to Reed Tech with over 35 years of experience in the defense and civilian agency market sectors. Most recently he served at Serco Inc., where he was Vice President, Citizen and Defense Services. In this role, he had P&L responsibility for the business unit with more than 3,000 employees that provided business process outsourcing, personnel administration, logistics, and training services at locations in the U.S. and overseas. He is noted as a visionary thinker with strong expertise in long-term planning, advanced technology integration, and program management especially for security and risk management issues. He has overseen contracts for major defense and civilian government agency clients including the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, and the U.S. Military. Read More
Panthers and Sunrise Sports & Entertainment (SSE), announced Matthew Caldwell had been promoted to team President and Chief Executive Officer. Caldwell had previously served as Chief Operating Officer for SSE the previous two years. "I have the utmost respect for Matt's tenacious efforts to build a sports organization that is a winner both on and off the ice," Panthers Chairman, Owner and Governor Vincent Viola said through the press release. "We look forward to having Matt in this leadership role."
Prior to joining the Panthers franchise, Caldwell was a Military Officer in the U.S. Army for five years in Germany. Caldwell, a one-time tank platoon leader who reached the rank of Captain, had deployments to Iraq and Kosovo during his tenure. According to Advance records, Caldwell cared deeply for the soldiers under his command. Upon noticing that 17 of his soldiers never received mail or packages, Caldwell asked his mom, Drema, if she'd seek donations for his comrades. A number of leagues and bowlers from Rab's Country Lanes took matters into their own hands to make sure Matthew Caldwell's request was met. Read More
MHG, a leader in biopolymer manufacturing and specialty toll manufacturing services announced their Board of Directors has approved a new Chief Executive Officer for the company. "I am thrilled to join the MHG team," stated Stephen Croskrey. One of Croskrey's first undertakings is the planned expansion of the PHA pilot biorefinery eightfold. PHA is one of the newest technologies offered by MHG and is also the world's first bioplastic to be certified as degradable in marine water. By expanding, MHG expects to increase PHA sampling activity and ramp up the customer application approval process. Additionally, the company will commission an engineering study for the nation's first commercial PHA biorefinery. MHG plans to begin the process of expanding this summer.
Croskrey is a proven leader with more than 20 years of experience in providing leadership for companies that manufacture and sell products including industrial fibers, medical devices and law enforcement gear. He previously served as the President and CEO of Armor Holding Products LLC, a major manufacturer of armor systems for the military, law enforcement and commercial markets. During his 6-year tenure at Armor Holding Products LLC, Croskrey completed 13 acquisition transactions, which resulted in the annual revenue increasing from $45 million to over $300 million. Read More
Former Fond du Lac City Manager Tom Herre has been appointed as interim president and CEO of the Fond du Lac Association of Commerce. Herre replaces Joe Reitemeier, who announced abruptly in March he would retire immediately after decades with the city's business development agency. Herre will serve until the Association's Board of Directors hires a replacement sometime in July. "We are pleased and grateful that Tom has agreed to serve in this important role while the AC transitions to new leadership," said Board Chair Tom Schneider. "His experience and passion for moving the Fond du Lac area forward make him uniquely qualified for this position."
His first business experiences in Fond du Lac were caddying at South Hills, delivering papers for The Reporter and Milwaukee Journal, and scooping custard at Gillies, according to a press release from the association. After a 30-year Army career he became the vice president of Referee Enterprises in Racine, and was also a new product development manager for Kimberly-Clark in Neenah. He has served on the board of directors of the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation, Fond du Lac Convention and Visitors Bureau and the United Way. Currently, he is the president of the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts board and a member of the boards of the Fond du Lac Area Foundation and St. Mary's Springs Academy. Read More
Lemza '76 New Book: American Military Communities in West Germany: Life in the Cold War Badlands, 1945-1990. On April 28, 1946, a small group of American wives and children arrived at the port of Bremerhaven, West Germany, the first of thousands of military family members to make the transatlantic journey. They were the basis of a network of military communities - "Little Americas" - that would spread across the postwar German landscape. During the 45 years of dynamic global change and tense moments during the Cold War, their presence confirmed America's resolve to maintain Western democracy int he face of the Soviet threat. Drawing on archival sources and personal narratives, this book explores these enclaves of Americanism, from the U.S. government's perspective to the homemakers' view. It describes interaction n American communities that were sometimes separated, sometimes connected with their German neighbors.
The West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that COL(R) Todd Browne '85 has been named as WPAOG's new President and CEO. Browne has served as the Association's Chief Operating Officer since 2014. He succeeds COL(R) Robert L. "Bob" McClure '76, the Association's President and CEO since 2007, who will retire from WPAOG on June 30.
West Point Association of Graduates Board Chairman LTG(R) Larry R. Jordan '68, said, "Since Bob's retirement plans were announced last August, the Board of Directors of the West Point Association of Graduates has been engaged in an intensive search to identify his successor. The Search Committee evaluated nearly 40 qualified candidates, and the final decision was challenging, as each possessed notable strengths and abilities. We believe that Todd Browne is superbly prepared for the responsibilities of leading the Association of Graduates and will be able to step in and be effective immediately. With his two decades of experience at West Point, serving in Admissions, on the faculty, as Director of Academy Advancement, and recently as Chief Operating Officer of WPAOG, he understands all facets of the Academy and its graduates." Read full press release.
WEST POINT, NY - The President has nominated Colonel Cindy Jebb to be the next U.S. Military Academy's Dean of the Academic Board making her the first woman to hold this position in West Point history. " I want to congratulate Cindy on her nomination for appointment to brigadier general and assignment as the U.S. Military Academy's Dean of the Academic Board," said Acting Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy. "Upon confirmation, Cindy's stellar academic record and military leadership will be instrumental in the future development of cadets. This is a historic time for our military and I'm excited for West Point to have its first woman to hold this position." Jebb currently serves as professor and head of the Department of Social Sciences and will replace Brigadier General Tim Trainor when he retires in June. Read the full press release.
Retired Army Colonel Charles R. Johnson of Troy, a Vietnam War veteran, is worthy of more than salutes for his leadership in community service and veterans advocacy. The Tri-County Council of Vietnam Era Veterans will honor Johnson during a testimonial on Tuesday, April 26, at the Century House, Route 9, Latham. The reception begins at 6 p.m. Cost is $40 per person. Make check payable to TCCVEV and send it to Gene Loparco, 22 Furlong Drive, Albany, NY, 12205. For information, call Gene at 456-4667 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.
Johnson retired from the Army in 1981 after 26 years of service that included tours in Vietnam. He served as a Vietnamese Army Ranger adviser, operations officer in a Special Operations Group and led 9th and 25th Infantry Division battalions. After he moved to the Capital Region in 1999, he volunteered for community service both as a civilian and as an active member of veterans organizations. In 2014, the Association of the U.S. Army and Friends of the state Military Museum named him Veteran of the Year.
Johnson was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He returned to West Point on the staffs of the physical education and intercollegiate athletics departments. His community service included the Troy Mayor's Ethics committee, the Board of Trustees of Oakwood Cemetery, Habitat for Humanity and the Governor's Commission for State Veterans Cemeteries. He is a member and past president of the Tri-County Council of Vietnam Era Veterans, American Legion Post 8444, Veterans of Lansingburgh and the Rensselaer County Veterans Association.
He served as a Stratton Veterans Affairs Disabled American Veterans Association van driver. The colonel also serves on an advisory board for a leadership program at Duke University and is president of the West Point Class of 1955. Johnson helped establish a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Albany High School. The colonel is a graduate of Command and General Staff College and Airborne and Ranger schools. He earned graduate degrees from Columbia University and Penn State University. Read More
Finding the right cofounder isn't easy. A successful union requires the ability to play to individual strengths, to strive for honesty and openness, to compromise when necessary and stay laser-focused on the startup's mission. Take Abraham Kamarck and Kevin Powell, two U.S. military veterans who cofounded True Made Foods in New York last year to make ketchup and other sauces sweetened mostly with vegetables. The first time Abraham Kamarck, who spent eight years as an aviator in the U.S. Navy, tasted his friend Kevin Powell's ketchup, he wasn't wildly impressed.
"Abe tasted it, and said 'this isn't really ketchup,'" recalls Powell, 35, a West Point grad who spent five years in the U.S. Army as an air defense artillery officer and is now the company's president. That initial bout of honesty would eventually set the stage for a successful partnership between two cofounders with very different personalities. "I think what makes us able to work well together comes from our military background," says Powell. "We are not afraid to tell each the hard truth in any facet of our business. And most importantly, after hearing that hard truth, we can still work effectively, because it's not personal. It's about the mission."
The duo first met in the summer of 2013, at a Techstars Patriot Bootcamp in Washington, D.C. to help so-called "vetpreneurs" start their own tech businesses. Kamarck, now True Made's CEO, was developing a tech startup with a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor. Powell was working on an app to help food companies distribute their products and running his own business delivering flavored butter to Yankee Stadium. On the side, Powell and his wife, Abbey, were bottling a ketchup recipe she'd invented to help him lose weight and sneak some veggies into his diet. The couple cooked and bottled their Amazing Tomato Ketchup in their kitchen and sold at Albany-area farmers markets. The ketchup included some unlikely ingredients – spinach, carrots and butternut squash. Read More
Do you know the proper conduct when the United States Flag is posted or passes in review, the National Anthem is played or the Pledge of Allegiance is recited? Congress has expanded veterans' rights in federal law in recent years; the most recent was the 2013 change which affected the Pledge of Allegiance.
Respect for the Flag. During the raising or lowering of the flag, when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, and also during the Pledge of Allegiance, there are different courses of action depending on your current status. In the instances mentioned above, all uniformed personnel should render the military salute, and members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present, but not in uniform, may also salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over their heart, or if applicable, remove their headgear with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over their heart. Citizens of other countries present should stand at attention.
During the National Anthem. During the playing or singing of the National Anthem, individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present, but not in uniform, may also render the military salute. When the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.
For additional information, you may refer to the following sections of United States Code (USC): Title 4 USC Section 4 "Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag", Title 4 USC Section 9 "Conduct During Hoisting, Lowering or Passing of the Flag", and Title 36 USC Section 301 "National Anthem".
Source: Army Echoes: The Official Newsletter for Retired Soldiers, Surviving Spouses & Families
Southwest Gas Corporation announced the appointment of Paul M. Daily as CEO of its Centuri Construction Group, Inc. (the construction services subsidiary of Southwest Gas Corporation). As CEO, Mr. Daily will lead Centuri's strategy in partnering with North American natural gas utilities as they increase investments in critical infrastructure upgrades. He brings more than 35 years of operational and financial experience in the construction industry, with a large portion of his career focused on natural gas distribution systems.
"Paul is an exceptional leader with the ideal skill set to take Centuri to the next level," said John Hester, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Gas Corporation. "He brings a deep understanding of the construction industry, long-standing relationships with gas distribution companies across North America and a collaborative management style. Throughout his career, Paul has consistently built world-class teams, developed and executed winning strategies and grown profitable businesses. Centuri has significant momentum, and we are confident that Paul will build on that progress to deliver even greater value for our shareholders, customers and employees." Read More
The Army Football club on behalf of the Friends of Army Football cordially invites you to attend a "Reception & Friend Raiser" On the 4th Floor of The Kimsey Athletic Center immediately after the Army football spring game on Saturday April 30th, 2016. The event will feature a silent and live auction, as well as raffle opportunities. Items already secured include: Army Sports Memorabilia, Golf Packages @ ATT Pebble Beach, Ryder's Cup & Victoria National Country Club Various West Point Artwork—Landscapes, Architecture, Athletics, etc. Outdoorsmen Packages: A Bass Fishing Trip in Texas, a Hunting Package on a private lease in Texas…and much more! For more information, or to contribute items for auction, contact the event Co-Chairs: Rick Dauch '83 firstname.lastname@example.com and Connor Crehan '06 email@example.com
*All proceeds will go to the "Friends of Army Football" a Non-Profit fund managed by the West Point Association of Graduates to specifically benefit the Army Football program.
Applied Software, announced that Clay Smith has joined the company as its chief operating officer. Smith offers nearly two decades of executive experience leading manufacturing, sales, engineering and software development organizations from start-up through high-growth transitions. Prior to joining Applied Software, Smith was vice president, BEM Software Solutions, at Southwire, Inc. "With his excellent track record of leading high-growth construction industry companies, Clay is uniquely qualified to help guide our next phase of growth and is a welcome addition to our executive team," said Richard Burroughs, president of Applied Software. "Clay has guided companies in aggressively seeking continuous improvement and successfully leveraging new business opportunities presented as part of the changing nature of the construction industry." Read More
Brigadier General Diana Holland '90, Commandant of the United States Military Academy, spoke as the guest speaker during the 2016 USMA Founders Day celebration hosted by the West Point Society's Heart of Texas Chapter at Club Hood, March 24.
Photo, courtesy of Spc. Jacqueline Dowland: Captain Richard Martinez '86 (left), cuts the cake as the oldest graduate in attendance, while accompanied by Lieutenant Andrew Nkansah '15, the youngest graduate in attendance
Army General Joseph Votel recently had a busy and historic day. It's the first time a Socom commander has been put in charge of Centcom. In the morning, Votel, relinquished command of U.S. Special Operations Command, which he held since August 2014. Votel handed the Socom reins to Army Gen. Raymond "Tony" Thomas during an 11 a.m. ceremony at MacDill. Votel has been widely lauded as a good choice to run Centcom for his overall military background, understanding of the Centcom region and Washington D.C. policy making. But beyond that, two of the top combatant command leaders in the battle against jihadis are now Army generals with extensive experience in the world of special operations.
During both ceremonies, Defense Secretary Ash Carter lauded Votel for his "experience with all elements of the joint force — air, sea, ground, special operations, also cyber and space." Carter also remarked that Votel has an "extensive experience and deep understanding of the Centcom area of responsibility." And he has the "politico-military skills and strength as warrior-diplomat,". "We have important partners and allies in the region, including Israel," which is not in the Centcom area of responsibility, but always a looming factor in relations with the Arab partners who are. Read More
Thomas told a large crowd gathered under a hot sun that this was at least the fourth time he was replacing Votel '80 who was put in charge of Centcom. "Each time, it gets harder," said Thomas, who became the 11th Socom commander, and the third in a row to have been promoted from the Joint Special Operations Command, headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Socom, headquartered at MacDill. He follows Votel and, before that, retired Navy SEAL Adm. William McRaven.
Before running JSOC, the military's elite hunter-killer counterterrorism command, Thomas served as Assistant Director for Military Affairs at the CIA, commanded all special operations forces in Afghanistan, served as senior special operations officer on the joint staff at the Pentagon, and held command positions with the Army, including the Ranger Regiment and Delta Force. Read More
If you were unable to attend a West Point Founders Day event in your area, LTG Caslen would like to share his message with you. Watch this informative video for a comprehensive update on the Academy.
1LT April Ortenzo knows that when it comes to softball, she plays for the name on the front of her uniform, not the back. "The Army is definitely my number one priority," Ortenzo said. "Softball is a luxury that I get. I truly believe that playing All-Army was such an honor to be able to represent people that have come before me, people that have died, and people that are fighting now. It's a game but it represents so much more than that." As the starting shortstop for the All-Army Softball team in 2015, Ortenzo and her teammates swept the Armed Forces Championship 9-0 to win the gold medal. For her part, Ortenzo batted .575. Winning gold was one of the most memorable moments of her life, according to Ortenzo.
"The team was so successful this year," said Ortenzo, who was also named to the 2015 All-Armed Forces National All-Star team, which took home the national championship. "It was a very young team, all rookies except for two. Our team as a whole -- we did not know how to lose. That's the best way to put it. Our team did not know how to lose. We came together no matter what the circumstances and games, and definitely had fighters on the team that were very skilled. It was an awesome team to be a part of." "I just feel at home on the field," she said. "It's the foundation of where I got my leadership skills, where I learned how to be a teammate, how to be a part of a team, how to follow before I could lead, how I could fight through adversity, everything. Softball correlates so much to the Army and leadership. That's truly where I feel at home." Read More
Donna McAleer was selected by the Washington, DC-based Impact Center for its 2016 Women's Executive Leadership Program after a highly competitive application and interview-based process to find the best and brightest women leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Donna McAleer has extensive and varied leadership experience in public, private and not-for-profit corporations, including the People's Health Clinic based in Park City. In 2013 the Secretary of Defense appointed Donna to serve on the Defense Advisory Council for Women in the Service (DACOWITS). She is an award-winning author and teaches skiing at Deer Valley. The Women's Executive Leadership Program is designed to accelerate growth for women leaders at critical junctures in their careers. It includes two Retreats that focus on building a leadership identity, embracing strengths as a woman leader, and building social capital. In-between Retreats, leaders meet regularly with an experienced executive coach and monthly with peers to incorporate and refine new skills. Building long-term professional networks with a diverse community of peers and accomplished leaders is a distinguishing characteristic of this program.
The Saint Pio Award has been established to recognize the selfless and outstanding contribution to the Catholic Church of those individuals who have strongly committed to support the Saint Pio Foundation and its vision. Guests of honor and Saint Pio Award winners will be the acclaimed Actor Gary Sinise and Hon. Jim Nicholson, former Secretary for Veteran Affairs and former US Ambassador to the Holy See. Part of the proceeds of this event will be allocated to support the VA Maryland Healthcare System's Homeless Program in Baltimore. Read More
Charles E. Cheever Jr. is among four who will be honored on April 21 for his impact on the banking industry, his community and the state as an inductee in to the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame. He will be recognized during a ceremony in Sam Houston State University's Lowman Student Center Ballroom. The Texas Bankers Hall of Fame was established by SHSU's Smith-Hutson Endowed Chair of Banking to recognize outstanding bankers for their contributions to the field, as well as to those around them.
Cheever has been a family businessman almost his entire career, whose career in banking has been devoted to Broadway Bank. Currently chairman emeritus of Broadway Bank, he joined the bank in 1957 and assumed the position of president in 1961, at the age of 32. During his time as president, Cheever was the driving force behind much of the growth and expansion of the bank and worked alongside his father, Col. Charles E. Cheever Sr., to create an environment of innovation by working to extend the bank's drive-thru hours and guiding the bank through the hard-hitting recession of the late 1980s, when many banks and financial institutions closed.
Before joining Broadway Bank, Cheever served as an Air Force pilot instructor and then as lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force Reserves. He also earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law in 1957. Throughout his life, Cheever has embraced the spirit of giving back to the community, which his parents also instilled into the culture of Broadway Bank, by serving as co-chairman of the San Fernando Cathedral Restoration Project and the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas Capital Campaign; as a trustee of the United Way, University of the Incarnate Word, and Southwest Research Institute; and on the University of Texas Health Science Center's advisory board for the Center for Medical Ethics and Humanities.
Honoring a family legacy of supporting the space program, he spearheaded the capital campaign for the Challenger Learning Center on the San Antonio College campus. The Star Tower, the most visible feature at the Challenger's Scobee Education Center, bears his name. In addition, Cheever served as the chairman, contact banker and regional director of the Texas Bankers Association, as well as as a director of San Antonio Branch of the Federal Reserve. He was the founding co-chairman of San Antonio Education Partnership and chaired many projects and organizations, such as the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, the Leadership Division of Forward San Antonio and others—giving his time and expertise to many community organizations.
A warning from a stranger. "Nothing you know is real. Your name isn't Shawn Jaffe, you're not an investment broker, and you're not from Ohio." But the stranger is murdered before he can explain. Now Shawn isn't sure who he can trust. Even his own memories are suspect. Someone is watching him, controlling him, using him. To survive, he'll need to find out who and why. But the stakes are much higher than one man. Our humanity is on the line, and on the eighth day, it could be the beginning of the end.
Six Old Grads celebrated Founders Day in Honduras Soto Cano Airbase. Being an aviation unit, they have quite a few graduates stationed there. On Saturday 19 March they held an unofficial Founders Day dinner at their unit bar, the Lizard Lounge. They were six Old Grads strong, and the uniform was "as close to a cadet uniform as possible."
Photo: Left to Right - 1LT Mark Richard '14; 1LT John Janigian '14; 1LT Max Vandervort '13; 1LT Wayne Pak '13; CPT Eric Rathun '09; CPT Nick Kanakis '09
Matthew F. Dabkowski, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army who is completing his PhD in systems and industrial engineering at the University of Arizona, has received a 2016 Omar N. Bradley Officer Research Fellowship in Mathematics. The three-year fellowship recognizes Army officers who are actively engaged in the study of mathematics, have the best-developed plans for conducting significant work and have demonstrated analytic research ability.
Dabkowski received the award to conduct research in applying optimization to network science, or social network analysis, which is not to be confused with online social networking. He began studying network science for his minor in sociology and has integrated it into his doctoral research on the cost estimation and growth of major defense acquisition programs. As an operations research and systems analyst for the Army, Dabkowski uses the tools of mathematics -- statistics, optimization, simulation, mathematical modeling -- to streamline military procedures, increase efficiency and minimize risk. He has applied these tools to help the military address practical issues, such as how to reduce the number of soldiers on duty while maintaining a certain level of capability. Read More
They wouldn't make it, the men said; the math and science wouldn't interest them, the physical routine would be too tough and the opposition would drive them out. On May 28, 1980 the men behind those words were proven wrong as dozens of women tossed their caps alongside men at America's prestigious military academies.
Photo: Andrea Hollen receives her diploma from West Point in 1980, becoming the academy's first female graduate
The Class of 1980 broke ground as the first to have women graduate from the U.S. Military Academy (USMA), the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy. Among those pioneering women was Andrea Hollen, the first female graduate from West Point. Click here to watch the video.
"This is a symbolic day, but it's also a day for, I'd say, very careful consideration for exactly what we've done," said Hollen in a 1980 interview with correspondent Ike Pappas that aired on the "CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite." Full Story »
LTC Luis Alvarez was recently awarded the 2015 Researcher of the Year award by The Geneva Foundation. This award recognizes one outstanding researcher who exemplifies Geneva's mission of advancing innovative medical research within the U.S. military, for the benefit of U.S. service members and veterans, their families, and the global community.
LTC Luis Alvarez is the founding Principal Investigator of the Regenerative Biology Research Group at the U.S. National Cancer Institute. He also serves as an Academy Professor and Director of the Center for Molecular Science in the Department of Chemistry and Life Science at United States Military Academy at West Point. Previously, LTC Alvarez led the DoD's $720M Bio scavenger pharmaceutical development program and was Deputy Director and co-founder of the Tissue Injury and Regenerative Medicine Project Management Office at Ft. Detrick. He has also served as a Visiting Scientist for both the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was a Hertz Foundation Fellow during his time at MIT. Read More
Brigadier General (Ret.) Anne Macdonald, a combat veteran, graduate of the first gender-integrated class of West Point and senior Army aviator, is the new leader of the U.S. Army Women's Foundation. She was elected by the board of directors and assumed her duties March 15 in Washington, DC. The Army Women's Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the women who serve or have served in the U.S. Army. Its programs preserve history, facilitate discussion, fund research and award scholarships for post-secondary education. "I am absolutely honored to have the opportunity to lead this organization," BG Macdonald said. "This is an opportunity to empower women, to connect with them, to respect them and to honor their service."
Until her retirement in 2011, BG Macdonald served over 30 years in the U.S. Army, leading and building highly effective teams. She is qualified as a UH60 Blackhawk pilot, a paratrooper and is air assault qualified. BG Macdonald served 4 years in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and 18th Airborne Corps, 7 years in the Republic of Korea, 2 1/2 years in Germany before, during and after the fall of the Iron Curtain and 6 years as a General Officer. BG Macdonald completed two combat tours. The first was in Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq. She completed her second combat tour in Operation Enduring Freedom, serving as the Deputy Commanding General for the NATO Training Mission to develop police in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Her key assignments in the Army include serving as the Deputy Director of Operations, Military Command Center, Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Pentagon; Deputy Commanding General, 7th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, Colorado later designated Division West, First Army and Fort Carson; and Chief of Staff, United States Army Reserve Command, Fort McPherson, Georgia. BG Macdonald continues to train high-performing organizations after her military career. She serves as an executive coach and seminar facilitator with True Growth Leadership. Along with her husband, Major General John Macdonald, USA, Ret., she also volunteers to facilitate an annual West Point Ethics and Leadership Seminar for the faculty members of 45 High Schools in the DC Metro area.
The GI Film Festival is proud to present a Cinematic Salute to the Troops, in select cinemas nationwide for an extraordinary one-night event! This April 7th showcase is the first time Fathom Events has ever screened a military themed show and if there is enough interest, they will screen even more positive military stories.
Hosted by actor and comedian Jamie Kaler, this incredible event will feature two true stories of bravery, integrity and leadership in the inspiring Wounded Warrior story CLIMB and the WW2 special operations thriller THE REAL INGLORIOUS BASTARDS, plus celebrity commentary from First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, Gary Sinise, Adam Driver, Danny Trejo and more!
After both features, catch a behind-the-scenes look into GI Film Festival DC X, including a sneak peek at the military apocalyptic zombie movie Range 15 which premieres at GIFF X in DC this May. Range 15 stars William Shatner, Sean Astin and Danny Trejo and was produced and directed by military veterans!
Gather friends and family as we all come together to honor the warrior spirit!
Find a local theater and buy tickets here: (http://www.fathomevents.com/event/gi-film-festival).
The GI Film Festival was founded by West Point '94 grad Laura Law-Millett and her husband Brandon Millett. Described as "Sundance for the Troops," GIFF's mission is to preserve the stories of military veterans through film, television, training and live special events. GI Film Festival events provide an exceptionally diverse line-up of programming, covering all branches of service, every major conflict, and every major film genre while addressing a variety of issues of concern to the veteran community, including post-traumatic stress, homelessness, and unemployment. For more information, visit www.gifilmfestival.com
On 16 March 1802, Thomas Jefferson signed the document that founded the United States Military Academy. It read, "that the said corps, when so organized, shall be stationed at West Point in the state of New York and shall constitute a military academy." This spring, West Point Societies are celebrating USMA's 214th anniversary at traditional Founders Day events around the globe. In New York City, David McCormick '87 delivered a poignant speech, centered around the notion that "one of the most important reservoirs and guardians of American exceptionalism is found in the institution, cadets, and alumni of the U.S. Military Academy."
The Aspen Institute announced Dr. Craig Cummings '93 and Dwayne Bernal '01 to its 2016 Class of Henry Crown Fellows. The Henry Crown Fellowship mobilizes a new breed of leaders, all under the age of 45, to tackle the world's most intractable problems. All are proven entrepreneurs, mostly from the world of business, who have reached a point in their lives where, having achieved success, they are ready to apply their creative talents and skill sets to building a better society. Henry Crown Fellows spend four weeks over the course of two years in structured retreat – exploring their leadership, their core values, their vision for a "Good Society" and their desired legacies. But the Fellowship is not just about reflection. It is also about action: Each Fellow launches a new Venture that will stretch them and have a positive impact on their communities, their country, or the world. Read More
The West Point Association of Graduates is pleased to announce that Robert S. Mueller III, the sixth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, will receive the 2016 Sylvanus Thayer Award. The award will be presented on October 6 during ceremonies hosted by Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr., Class of 1975, superintendent, U.S. Military Academy. West Point Association of Graduates Board Chairman retired Army Lt. Gen. Larry R. Jordan, Class of 1968, said, "The West Point Association of Graduates is honored to present the Thayer Award to Robert S. Mueller III, who served as the sixth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Having Director Mueller forever associated with West Point through the Thayer Award speaks directly to its purpose of recognizing a citizen of the United States, other than a West Point graduate, whose outstanding character, accomplishments, and stature draw wholesome comparison to the qualities for which West Point strives. Read More
GEORGETOWN, KY - The Scott County Board of Education unanimously chose a new school superintendent at a special meeting. The board voted to offer a contract to Dr. Kevin Hub, who is currently the superintendent of Logan County Schools, according to a school board member. Dr. Hub is a graduate of the Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond with a Masters of Arts in Education degree in Geography Education, and Spalding University in Louisville with a Doctorate in Education in Leadership Education.
Prior to becoming superintendent of Logan County Schools, he was Assistant Superintendent and Chief Operating Officer for Madison County Schools in Richmond. Dr. Hub is in his twenty-second (22nd) year in education after serving in the military for forty (40) months including a six (6) month tour in Desert Storm where he was awarded the Bronze Star medal and the Army Commendation medal with "V" device for Valor. Read More
CAMDEN, NJ - Campbell Soup Company announced that the company's Board of Directors has elected Keith R. McLoughlin as a member of the Board, effective Feb. 24, 2016.
McLoughlin, recently retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of AB Electrolux, a multinational appliance company producing and selling more than 50 million products a year in more than 150 countries. Under McLoughlin's leadership, Electrolux increased investments in consumer-led innovation, focusing on profitable growth areas and leveraging the scale of the company through global integration. Read More
LTG Raymond "Tony" Thomas has been nominated to be the new leader of U.S. Special Operations Command, announced Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. "General Thomas has big boots to fill, but he has proven himself — as a soldier, special operator and leader, time and time again over the course of his illustrative career," Carter said during a news briefing alongside Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In a statement prior to be confirmed LTG Thomas said; "I am humbled by this potential opportunity to continue to serve our country and its Special Operations Forces, and I am honored by the trust inherent in this nomination," Thomas said in an emailed statement. "If the Senate confirms the nomination, I will be committed to keeping our nation safe and maintaining and supporting the world's best Special Operations Forces." Thomas, has led troops in both the Army's elite Ranger battalions and Delta Force. Thomas spent almost 12 years Afghanistan before taking a post as the top military liaison to the CIA in 2013. In 2007, Thomas served as assistant division commander for the 1st Armored Division during a 15-month stint near Mosul, Iraq. Read More
LTC Cullen Jones, PE, PMP, LEED Green Associate, ENV SP, a Training with Industry (TWI) fellow with Dewberry, has been promoted from Major to Lieutenant Colonel by the U.S. Army. Jones also received the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Washington, D.C. Post's Outstanding Contributions by Young Military Member Award and its nomination for SAME's national Sverdrup Medal.
Jones was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on February 6, 2016, at the Fort Belvoir Officer's Club. TWI sponsor Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh (Ret.), Dewberry's director of water resources and coastal resiliency, presided over Jones' promotion ceremony. In attendance were Dewberry CEO Donald E. Stone, Jr., PE; Dewberry Vice President and fellow TWI sponsor Col. Grant Smith (Ret.), PE, PMP, CFM; Jones' family; and colleagues from his past 16 years of service in the U.S. Army.
Jones was also honored with SAME Washington, D.C. Post's Outstanding Contributions by Young Military Member plaque on January 14, 2016, at the National Press Club during its 20th Annual Awards Luncheon. Dewberry Vice President and Principal Neal T. Wright, PE, PMP, F.SAME, F.ASCE, F.NSPE, nominated Jones for the award, stating that, "Maj. Cullen Jones' contributions to our nation, his community, and the engineering profession exemplify the personal and professional qualities the Society of American Military Engineers seeks to inspire in our young members." Read More
Top honors were awarded to Barrett LeHardy named overall Age-Group Triathlete of the Year. LeHardy was the overall winner of the USA Triathlon Olympic-Distance National Championships, and posted the fastest overall time of the day en route to the 25-29 world title at the ITU Age-Group Standard Triathlon World Championships in Chicago. He also won Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon and the Tidewater Sprint, which he won by more than 5 minutes. Read More
Yinka Faleti was awarded the Salute to Young Leaders, saluting excellence in performance and service to others. He was one of 20 under 40 young leaders in his community that are: competent committed and empathetic individuals whose service is already making a positive impact. He is a works with the following organizations: United Way Young Leadership Society, Charmaine Chapman Society, Multicultural Leadership Society, and Men's Leadership Society. Read More
While the world hopes for peace, Rotary works to make it a reality. CPT Michael Niemiec has been named as one of 100 Rotary Peace Fellows to study peace building and conflict resolution. The program was created as part of Rotary's ongoing effort to promote greater tolerance and cooperation among people worldwide. Niemiec will attend the University of Bradford in Bradford, United Kingdom, one of six Rotary Peace Centers. He will obtain a master's degree in Middle Eastern Politics and Security Studies. He graduated in 2011 with a degree in Arabic, Spanish, and Terrorism Studies.
After completing the Army's Airborne and Ranger Schools, Niemiec was stationed with the Second Calvary Regiment in Vilseck, Germany, a unit that trains with NATO allies across Europe. As an infantry platoon leader during the unit's 2013 Afghanistan deployment, he worked with local police and military forces to increase security in southern Afghanistan. Through the Rotary Peace Fellowship, CPT Niemiec hopes to gain new perspectives on how stability can be restored to areas torn by terrorism and war, and use that knowledge throughout his Army career to help further the cause of peace.
Nearly 1,000 Rotary Peace Fellow alumni are now working in high-level positions at prestigious organizations such as the United Nations, the European Parliament, Interpol, USAid, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Organization of American States. Read More
Eastern Air Lines Group, Inc. ("Eastern") is pleased to announce the election of General (R) Raymond T. Odierno, to the Eastern Board of Directors. General Odierno recently retired, after graduating from West Point and 40 years of active military service to our nation, as US Army Chief of Staff, and prior to that assignment served as Commander, United States Joint Forces Command and Commander- United States Forces- Iraq.
"We are very pleased to have Ray Odierno join our board and provide us his unique global perspectives which will be invaluable to a growing international airline," said Admiral (R) William Owens, Eastern's Chairman. Eastern's CEO, Ed Wegel, added, "We are honored to have General Odierno on our board and to advise our management team, as well as continue to serve as an inspiration through his prior leadership of the United States Army. He will be a key advisor to our team on security issues as well as continue to help us build on Eastern's core values of Team Work, Respect and Integrity in all that we do."
General Odierno commented, "Growing up in New Jersey, I flew the former Eastern often and know well its legacy and its traditions which have been continued with the new airline. I have been attracted to the great entrepreneurial spirit here at Eastern, and the strong principled foundations laid by Admiral Owens and our majority investor, Vince Viola, so I very much look forward to working with the board and management in the continued development and growth of the airline." Read More
CDT Taylor Endres '17, Secretary for the Class of 2017, arrived at the Pease & Curren refinery in Warwick, RI on the morning of February 22, 2016 with eight of her classmates confident that she knew what the 16th Annual West Point Class Ring Memorial Melt was all about. "I familiarized myself with the details beforehand and grasped the logistics of the event," she said. Fifty-four rings, the largest number to date, were being donated. The rings ranged from the Classes of 1914 to 1984. Ten of the rings came from the Class of 1967, 2017's 50-Year Affiliation Class. The gold from these rings, along with a "legacy" sample taken from the gold of the 356 rings donated in previous ring melts, will be added to the class rings they are going to receive this August during Ring Weekend. Then, the ceremony started, and Endres heard the words of the family members, classmates, and friends as they placed their loved one's ring into the stone crucible for melting. "It was then that I understood the meaningful connection between members of the Long Gray Line and the significance of this event," Endres said. "They want us to feel and experience the qualities that their loved one demonstrated throughout his life." With each "ping" of an old ring into the crucible, cadets grasped a new ingredient that will be vivified in the rings they will don come August. Full Story » | View Photos
The story of the 5th Marine Regiment in World War I is now available, it will be published in March. More than 8,000 men served in the Fifth Marine Regiment of the U.S. Army's Second Infantry Division during World War I and the occupation of Germany. Marine units were among the first to arrive in war-torn Europe in 1917, and sustained greater casualties than other American units. This book tells the human story of the "Devil Dogs" in World War I and the years following through the recollections of veterans recorded over the past century. The influenza epidemic that raged during the war is discussed. An annotated roster of the regiment lists each Marine, with service details provided where known.
Robert D. Boyd honored among Georgia Super Lawyers for 2016 in the area of family law. Boyd, who has been included in the guide annually since 2004. Only five percent of the lawyers in Georgia are selected as Super Lawyers, and no more than 2.5 percent are named as Rising Stars. The complete list of honorees is available today at http://www.superlawyers.com/georgia. Additionally, Boyd is recognized among the Top 10 List of all Georgia Super Lawyers. These accolades are impressive, considering the selection process evaluates outstanding lawyers throughout Georgia from more than 70 practice areas. Boyd, Collar and Nolen have been ranked by Georgia Super Lawyers for 13 consecutive years. The selections for Super Lawyers are made by Law & Politics, a division of Key Professional Media, Inc. of Minneapolis, MN Each year, Law & Politics undertakes a rigorous multi-phase selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the Law & Politics' attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area, and a good-standing and disciplinary check.
STORE Capital an internally managed net-lease real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests in Single Tenant Operational Real Estate, announced the appointment of Einar A. Seadler to its Board of Directors. Mr. Seadler will serve on the Company's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Seadler is currently a managing director of Accenture Strategy, an operating unit of Accenture PLC, which he joined in 2008. His responsibilities include advising senior executives of Fortune 500 companies on increasing shareholder value, primarily in the consumer, retail, fast food dining, services, technology, industrial, infrastructure and governmental sectors. Previously, he had served in similar roles with McKinsey & Company's Operations Strategy Practice, advising Fortune 500 senior executives in business and operational strategies to improve financial performance. Mr. Seadler has also served in senior executive roles in telecommunications and retail operations. Mr. Seadler began his career as a United States Army Infantry officer in various command and staff assignments and served as an associate professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Mr. Seadler received a Master of Science degree from Cornell University. Read More
U.S. PATENT AWARDED: Gun - Launched Anchor Projectile for Climbing. 1LTs Ryan Freitag, Cameron Martin, Patrick Coe, Kevin Lucas, Brian Walter, and Chris Knittle – members of the Mechanical Engineering program Service Academy Design Challenge team in 2012, were awarded U.S. Patent # 9,074,856 B1 effective 7 July 2015. The team, led by advisor LTC Mike Benson, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, developed an M203 launched climbing system that deploys a tungsten - tipped projectile and hammer system that could embed into reinforced concrete. A leader line from the back of the anchor allows a climbing rope to pull through, and the team used the system to ascend a 90 - ft concrete silo during the competition. The new system provides a potential alternative to the ladder – which remains the Army solution to ascending vertical obstacles for maneuver access from ground locations. The team collaborated with the Army Research Lab, including the penetration testing of reinforced concrete, developing a stable projectile that effectively created the system anchor. Efforts are underway to reward the team members with a fiscal prize in accordance with Army Regulation.
Toys"R"Us, Inc. announced the promotion of Joe Venezia to Executive Vice President, Global Store Operations, effective February 22. In this newly elevated role, Mr. Venezia will continue to be responsible for delivering an exceptional shopping experience across the company's more than 850 Toys"R"Us® and Babies"R"Us® stores nationwide, with expanded responsibilities for providing strategic direction and support for Global Store Operations. This includes leading global initiatives and facilitating best practices in the operations area. He will serve as a member of the company's Global Leadership Team. "Since joining Toys"R"Us two years ago, Joe has played a critical role in our transformation process, leading efforts to drive the business forward and deliver consistent operational execution across all stores, as well as improving customer satisfaction and developing a strong store operations team," said Mr. Brandon. "I'm proud to have Joe as a leader on my team and believe his guidance will be an asset as we seek to grow our brands globally and create a world-class shopping experience for our customers."
Mr. Venezia joined Toys"R"Us, Inc. in February 2014 as Senior Vice President, Store Operations. Earlier in his career, he held key operations and management positions at The Pantry, Walmart U.S., Wells Fargo Merchant Services and Procter & Gamble. Mr. Venezia also served as an Airborne Ranger Officer in the U.S. Army Infantry for nine years and was deployed abroad three times, receiving a Bronze Star Medal for demonstrated bravery during Operation Desert Storm. Read More
The Standard announced that Todd Johnston has been named vice president of Customer Service and Shared Services. Johnston's responsibilities at The Standard include leading teams responsible for policyholder and customer service and support functions, as well as all shared services supporting the Employee Benefits business unit. Johnston has more than 16 years of experience in financial services. Most recently he served as vice president of Life and Annuities New Business at Genworth Financial. Prior to that, he was vice president of Long Term Care New Business and director of Process Excellence at Genworth. He also spent six years in various operations and analytics roles at Capital One. Johnston is a veteran of the U.S. Army where he commanded explosive ordnance disposal units deploying all over the world. "Todd is an engaging leader and a forward-thinking customer advocate who understands the value of relationships," said Dan McMillan, vice president of Employee Benefits at The Standard. "His industry expertise and passion for developing people make him a strong addition to our senior leadership team." Johnston received his MBA from the University of North Carolina. Read More
The Army formally welcomed its 44th surgeon general, Tuesday. Nadja West made history as the first African American to serve as the service's surgeon general. She's been in office since December 2015. During the ceremony, West was promoted to lieutenant general. An orphan, West is the first black woman to hold the rank of lieutenant general and the highest-ranking woman of any race to graduate from West Point. "She has performed brilliantly in the two months she's been the surgeon general, and I can personally attest to that," said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley. West said one of her priorities on her new job will be to ensure the Performance Triad continues to prosper. The initiative focuses on sleep, nutrition and activity as key factors to help soldiers stay at peak performance. Read More
Sirqul, Inc., a leading platform in rapid application development for Internet of Things (IoT) and Connected Devices, announced that veteran executive Luis Cifuentes has joined the company as Chief Operating Officer. Cifuentes was most recently Head of Sales for North America FBA at Amazon.com, responsible for accelerating adoption and growth of Amazon Fulfillment Services. In this capacity, he led a team of sales and customer success professionals increasing units shipped from strategic Sellers by +196% YoY and increasing sales from new Sellers using FBA by 110%.
At Sirqul, Cifuentes leads all B2B and customer-facing departments including licensing, professional services, product development, operations, sales and customer success. Cifuentes will bring a combination of extensive sales experience, operations improvement and global go-to-market expertise to his work in ensuring Sirqul's customer success initiatives. Having driven growth strategies for Dell previously, Cifuentes will also focus on fueling Sirqul's continued expansion into Asia and the Americas, as more ODMs and Brands license Sirqul's "white-label" platform offerings. Read More
WEST POINT, NY: February 11, 2016 – The West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) has named the 2016 recipients of the Distinguished Graduate Award.
Since 1992, 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 17, 2016. The 2016 Distinguished Graduate Award recipients are: Louis Gross '54, John C. Bahnsen Jr. '56, Joseph B. Anderson Jr. '65, William P. Foley II '67, Richard A. Cody '72, Keith B. Alexander '74.
Read more https://www.westpointaog.org/2016-dga-recipient-announcement
Afghanistan veteran Matthew Griffin can count on a standing ovation when he talks about his dream of propelling a manufacturing company in the country where he once fought. He ends his tale with an invitation to join him in the "unarmed forces," preventing conflict by spurring industry in troubled places. This past Friday the company that he co founded Combat Flip Flops won support from the name-brand investors who sit on the panel of ABC's "Shark Tank." His Issaquah-based company was one of four businesses picked to compete in a special veteran-themed episode of the show. Griffin and his partners have been building their company since 2011. They had a few setbacks, such as air strike in Pakistan that led to restrictions on travel in the region. Read More
COLUMBUS, GA - One of the architects of the National Infantry Museum Foundation, Ben Williams, will soon step down as president and COO. The statue of an infantry soldier was a key component of the museum foundation, and it has become quite the focal point. The Army's newest soldiers are brought here after graduation, and just about everyone wants a picture made in front of the statue. Williams is being replaced by Retired COL Greg Camp, who's been serving as Executive Vice-President and Chief Development Officer. He was selected in a unanimous vote last week. Read More
Last year's successful fundraising campaign provided a platform on which we must build. We need to press forward and sustain this important support. Throughout the year, you may be asked to contribute to the following funds, each of which meets the immediate, annual needs of the Academy and Association:
♦ Superintendent's Annual Fund/ West Point Parents Fund (unrestricted funds for cadets and USMA) ♦ Long Gray Line (unrestricted funds for graduates and WPAOG) ♦ Army A Club (unrestricted gifts for intercollegiate athletics) ♦ Class Gift Funds/Restricted Gifts (restricted by classes in reunion campaigns/specific programs)
Growing up as a first generation immigrant from South Korea, Bill Song '98 witnessed his parents' hard work and understood the value of a great education. To him, West Point was the perfect place, in that it offered a rigorous academic program and allowed him to serve the country that offered his family a new life. Today, Mr. Song credits his West Point education for his career and skill set and sees his contributions as a way to show his gratitude and invest in our country's future leaders. Read more.
Attorney Leo Flor '02 was working for the Northwest Justice Project when an unusual case came in. A veteran who had been injured by an IED blast was being told to repay benefits he had received from the VA. An oversight in paperwork was threatening this soldier's livelihood and his ability to take care of his family. Although it took more than a year to clear up the matter, Flor was able to get the agency to forgive the veteran's debt and for him to keep his home. Read the entire story here.
Paul D. Tomlingson published his 11th industrial maintenance management textbook: Maintenance in Transition – The Journey to World Class Maintenance. Mining Media International is currently publishing a series of six articles based on the book in both Engineering and Mining Journal and Coal Age. In his 44 year management consulting career, Tomlingson has published over 100 trade journal articles in Engineering and Mining Journal, Mining Engineering, Coal Age, Plant Engineering, Maintenance Technology, Uptime Magazine, Production Engineering, World Coal, Coal, Better Roads, Public Works and Ski Area Management. His short stories have been published in The Monterey County Herald (California), The Vermont Sunday Magazine and the Grand (County) Gazette (Kremmling, Colorado).
ACell, Inc. announced that it has named Patrick (Pat) McBrayer President and Chief Executive Officer. McBrayer has more than 20 years of healthcare senior management experience. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Misonix, Inc. and was President and CEO of AxioMed Spine Corporation. "Pat has strong executive experience in regulated healthcare environments, a track record of maximizing the potential of early-stage technology, and a proven commitment to improving patient care," said Kerbawy.
He received the Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award in 1998 for a biological implant for bone repair that is now a market leading product. McBrayer held positions of increasing responsibility for Johnson & Johnson, Inc. He has over 20 years healthcare senior management experience and served as an Infantry Officer Company Commander in the U.S. Army prior to beginning his business career. Read More
The Folded Flag Foundation, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization focused on raising and awarding money in the form of educational scholarships to surviving family members of military and government employees who have lost their lives in combat while serving our country, is pleased to announce John Coogan has joined the Foundation as Executive Director. Coogan has more than 20 years experience in the non-profit and technology sectors, specializing in strategic fundraising planning, fundraising infrastructure management, donor operations management and fundraising data analysis. In his previous roles as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer for Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation and as Director of Technology and Fundraising Infrastructure for Wounded Warrior Project, Coogan helped raise millions of dollars in charitable gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations.
"I am pleased to be a part of the Folded Flag Foundation and to lend my management and fundraising skills to this very worthy cause," said Coogan. "The mission of the Folded Flag Foundation is unique in that it provides substantial educational grants to children and spouses of our fallen heroes. Another factor that attracted me to this great organization is that all of its administrative costs are underwritten by two companies -- Black Knight Financial Services and ServiceLink, so all of the money we raise goes to the families. I look forward to helping the Folded Flag Foundation grow so we can provide even more educational grants to the families of our fallen heroes." Read More
The Tristate Veterans Community Alliance (TVCA) Board of Directors has appointed Dan Knowles as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2016. Dan is an Army veteran who served 7 years on active duty before accepting a brand management position with Procter & Gamble in 1986. He left P&G in 2000 to become chief marketing officer of Reynolds & Reynolds in Dayton. In October 2002, he started his own consulting firm and over the past 13 years has worked with both multi-national and regional companies in pharmaceuticals, healthcare delivery, information technology, construction, and banking.
This appointment is an acceleration of plans to formalize the TVCA organizational structure in July 2016. The decision was made in recognition of faster progress than anticipated toward achieving our goals. Board Chairman Maj Gen (ret) Leonard Randolph, Jr. MD said, "Recent feedback from key stakeholders indicated that this was the right time to make this move. As a co-founder, Dan has been instrumental in creating the vision, building the organization, and helping us recruit and align key donors and partners to better serve veterans and their families in the Tristate. The progress achieved to date has been extraordinary and has exceeded our very high expectations." Read More
1st Advantage Mortgage, a Draper and Kramer company, one of the top 100 Mortgage Bankers in America, announced Craig Achtzehn has joined the company's Chicago office as Vice President of Mortgage Origination. Achtzehn has been a top performing mortgage originator throughout his career. With 14 years of experience in mortgage banking, Achtzehn has held management and sales positions at both regional and national mortgage lenders. He proudly served our nation as an Officer in the U.S. Army for 2 years and holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Notre Dame.
"I chose 1st Advantage because I believe they provide the best resources and support to grow my business. I am amazed by the company's technology and excited by their vision for growth," said Achtzehn.Achtzehn has a structured, disciplined and consistent business style which has helped him to grow as a leader in his field. His primary focus throughout his career has been to provide world-class service and he feels that he is only as successful as his last transaction. By going the extra mile to ensure his clients receive the best available rate and terms, Achtzehn has earned an exceptional reputation with his past clients and referral sources. Read More
American Systems, a leading provider of government IT and engineering solutions and one of the top 100 employee-owned companies in the U.S., announced the addition of Jeff Jancek to its executive team. Jancek, with more than 30 years of experience in providing military, civil, and business leadership, will serve as the vice president and director of the Live, Virtual and Constructive Training (LVC) Directorate and oversee this group's business development, financial management, and workforce management goals.
Jancek will be responsible for the identification and prosecution of new business opportunities and the execution of the programs within the LVC Directorate within American Systems' Custom Solutions offering. In addition to business development, Jancek will oversee all activities related to program, project, and technical performance and contract, financial, and personnel management. "In his new role as vice president/director of the LVC Directorate, Jeff will pioneer new opportunities and elevate existing programs, and we expect that he will act as a significant growth catalyst for an important and long-standing facet of the company," said Pete Pflugrath, vice president and GM of Custom Solutions for American Systems. Read More
MG T.K. Moffett was appointed chancery judge in Northeast Mississippi's First Judicial District Gov. Bryant announced. Moffett, who owns Moffett Law Firm, PLLC, in Tupelo, has practiced law for 35 years, while pursuing a dual military career. In 1974, he received a master's degree from the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. He graduated with a juris doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1979 and completed a National Security Fellowship at Harvard University in 1996.
"I appreciate the confidence Governor Bryant has shown in me by appointing me chancery judge," Moffett said. "Judge Mask, Judge Malski, Judge Hatcher and the attorneys of the First Judicial District all do a great job, and I consider it an honor to work with them. Judge Littlejohn was a hard-working, capable judge, and I hope to serve the attorneys and people of the First Judicial District by following that same tradition."
His military career spanned more than 37 years and included assignments with the 25th Infantry Division, the 155th Armored Brigade and the 66th Troop Command of the Mississippi National Guard, the 91st Division and the 104th Division. He commanded at every level from platoon leader to division commander. Read More
Effective January 10, 2016, people using a driver's license from the states of Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico or Washington will have to use another approved form of identification in order to enter West Point and all other military installations. If you possess a valid Department of Defense issued identification card this new requirement does not affect your ability to enter military installations.
Acceptable alternate forms of identification are a US passport, a permanent resident card/ Alien Registration Receipt Card (form 1-551), a foreign passport with a temporary I-551 stamp or visa or an employment authorization document that contains a photograph (Form I-766).
Visit the Homeland Security website more information on the new requirement.
NEW ORLEANS - Democrats in Louisiana rejoiced as they reclaimed the governor's mansion for the first time in eight years, while the state's GOP leader insisted "our Republican brand is strong" even amid the defeat of a one-time political powerhouse, Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter.
John Bel Edwards' victory in Saturday's runoff election was once-unthinkable in the conservative state and a stunning turn of events for Vitter, who started his campaign nearly two years ago as the race's front-runner. With his 12-percentage point loss, Vitter announced he wouldn't seek re-election to the Senate in 2016.
Edwards' win offered a rare pick-up of a governor's seat for Democrats in the conservative Deep South, but Republican leaders insisted it was a one-time fluke that didn't suggest the GOP was on the ropes in Louisiana. Read More
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