Checkpoints March 2011

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Tact ical arms t raining wit h t he r cadet Combat Shoot ing Team

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C HA IRM A N ' S J O U RN A L

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SU PERIN T EN D EN T

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LIN E O F FIRE

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Tact ical arms t raining with t he Cadet Combat Shooting Te am ID EA S FO R T H E FUT U RE

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Academy researchers give a boost t o indust ry

LETT ERS

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STA FF D IREC T O RY

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R E P IFY

N EW S

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This new company founded by graduates rates reputations o n t he web just like a credit score.

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A N I M A L C O M PA S S IO N

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Lauri Cross, '81, heads up t he Wild Blue Animal Rescue a nd She lt e r

O N T H E C O V ER C 1C Ke n n et h C o st e llo an d C 1C Pet e r Sh uf e ld t

conduct training maneuvers for t he Combat Shooting Team. Photo by Lewis Carlyle

O F F

T H E

S H E L F

M O U N TA IN W EST C O N F EREN C E

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PO RT RA IT O F W A R

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St eve Simon, 7 7, makes a st rong argument for reconsidering USAFA's place in t he MWC.

Jim Nance, 7 1, creates a smaller, personalized scale ve rsio n o f the Southeast Asia Pavilion map.

D IST IN G U ISH ED G RA D UA T ES

J A BA RA A W A RD

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Max James, '64, and Gen. Ralph " Ed " Eberhart , '68, a r e honored wit h t he 2010 Dist inguished Graduat e awards.

Capt. Michal Polidor, '04, is named recipient of the 20 11 J ab ara Award for airmanship.

RA N G E R S C O U T S

N EW W IN G S

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Cadets take on leadership roles as Ranger Scouts at t h e

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Jay Kelley, '64, t akes t he reins at t he Falcon Foundat ion.

Ph i lm o nt Sc o ut Ra n c h in N e w M e x ic o .

REU N IO N M A G IC A C A D E M Y A S S E M B LY

One cadet 's perspect ive of t his t ime honored event .

c lass re u n io n .

C EN T ER FO R O RA L H IST O RY

TO P G UN S

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USAFA's new program sets out to archive audio recordings o f t he se rv ice m e m b e rs and t he ir st o rie s.

A LEG A CY O F G EN ERO SITY

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Graduates visit America's nat ional parks en route to t he ir 40 t h

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72

Two graduat es lend t heir expert ise to t he Arizona Science Foundat ion for t he defense cont ract ing indust ry W A LD O D U M B SQ U A T

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Dr. Paul Kaminski, '64, comm it s $2 m illio n t o t he Cent er f o r

Character and Leadership Development.

D R T RIAT H LO N

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Olympic hopeful Capt . James Bales, '01, earns Air Force A t h let e o f t he Ye ar t it le .

REA C H IN G FO R T H E STA RS

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Falcon Sat-5 st reaks across t he heavens in yet anot her successful cadet space vehicle capstone project .

74 A LL IN THE (UN IT ED) FA M ILY George and Tom Rayl, '70, fly t he friendly skys.

FA LC O N H O C K EY

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Air Force skates, shoots and scores against the toughest competit ion in the nat ion.

BO A RD O F D IREC T O RS CA N D ID A T ES

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Meet t he new list of candidates running for t he 2011 A O G B o a rd e le ct io n s .

C H A PT E R S U C C E SS

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B A C K

T H E

Volume 39, number 4

Checkpoints(ISSN 0274-7391) USPS898-080 ispublished quarterly in March,June, September and December by theAssociation of Graduates, U.S. Air ForceAcademy. (Phone: 7 19-4 72-0300, D SN : 333-2067. FAX; 7 19-333-4 194, E-mail: editor@aogusafa.org.) A portion of your duespaysfor your magazinesubscription. Additional copiesmay be purchased for $2.50 each, plus $4.60 for shipping. Periodicals postage paid at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., and additional mailing offi ces. PO.STMASTER: Send change of address to Checkpoints, Association of Graduates, Doolitde Hall, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475.

TheEditorial Board servesthe Checkpointsmission by providingatop quality magazineto theAir ForceAcademy's broader community.Together, theeditor, VP of Communications, Ex ec u t iv e V P an d t h e A O G C E O co llab o rat e to ensure that all articles meet the standards of excellence readers have come to expect of Checkpoints. TheAOG reserves the right to publish or omit submissions at i ts d isc ret io n .

Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors. They do not necessarily refl ect the opinions, policy or att itudeof theAOG, itsoffi cersor theeditorial staff. Theappearanceof advertisementsin thispublication does not constitutean endorsement by theAOG of the products or servicesadvertised. Copyright, Association o f Graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy, March 2011.

O F

B O O K

G O N E B UT N O T FO RG O TT EN

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C LA SS N EW S

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FIN A L T H O U G HT

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I A sso c iat i o n o f G r a d uat es B U ILD IN G .

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^ e^?^f ^ ACADEMY

BY W ILLIA M " T" T HO M PSO N , ' 7 3 , PRESID ENT A N D CEO

M

an y y ear s ago at a

was quite a bit steep for me, I bought the

I w as ask ed t o m ak e a

So why in a relatively short period of time did I give ten times as much money to an organization that I still had no par

relatively early point in my professional career, $20 donation to the

American Cancer Society (ACS). I had not been “touched” by cancer in my family, h ad n o o t h er co n n ect i o n t o t h e A C S an d

did not have any particular relationship with the person who asked that I make the donation, so I politely declined. Several months later, I was asked by a fellow Delta employee who was also my neighbor, to attend an event for the benefi t of the A C S.

T he cost of the t ickets w as $ 100 each and

I was asked to buy two. While I still had no connection with theACS, and the price

4

t wo tickets and attended the event .

t i cu l ar co n n ect i o n t o ? W el l t h e an sw er i s

fairly obvious. I had a relationship with the person who asked. More specifi cally, my neighbor had been a great mentor to me as a new employee at Delta and she and her husband had been very helpful as I settled into the neighborhood. Because my neigh bor had been such a supportive friend, I felt an obligation to be supportive of her in her challenge to sell tickets for the affair. I went to the event and it literally changed my life.

I didn’t know that my friend was one of

the co-chai rs of the event , and because of

her role, my guest and I were seated at a

table that included; Jim Palmer, the H all

of Fame baseball pitcher, theTV hostess of PM Magazine and the Executive Director o f t h e l o cal b r an ch o f t h e A C S. A s a r esu l t

of conversation that evening with the

Execut ive D irect or, I w as inv ited to serve on t he local board of directors of the A C S

and accepted the invitation.

O ver time, the Executive D irector and I

developed a close relationship and, because of my strong support of her efforts, I was nomi nated by her to the state board of directors.

At the state board, I developed a relationship with the Chairman, a prominent Boston businessm an , w ho, in tim e and because of

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cadet and a graduate OIC who were in my offi ce recently seeking support from the AOG for an upcoming function. When we began the discussion about their event,

ship helpsprovide that support. We also discussed the impression created when one has the opportunity to support someone (or

on a somewhat nostalgic journey down memory lane of some key lessons learned in my own professional career.

The take-aways for me from that long ago experience were three: 1. There can be great value in develop ing relationshipsbut they comewith responsibilities.

2. There is an obligation to support those who support you even when the price seems a bit high.

3. While the price of support may initially seem high, it oft en proves to be min iscule compared to the benefi tsyou receive from the relationship over time.

I told the story aft er I asked the cadet and the graduatewhether they were members of theAOG. They both were not. I then explained how theAOG provides numer ous opportunities to build and strengthen relationshipswith both classmatesand other grads. Those prospects exist through

very organization.

as our recent wine tasting event and the Founders Day celebration, or through our growing Ghapter network around theworld.

I also explained some of the many ways the AOG supports theAcademy, cadets and the graduate community and how member-

we w ill continue to w ork on so as to better

I h ad no idea that our t alks w ould lead m e

my support for his initiatives, became quite a mentor to me. Stanley appointed me to key AGSpositionsand, I believe, laid the ground work for my becoming Chairman of the state board a few years later. He subsequendy went to serve on and becom e Chairman of

the national board of directors and, yes, I fol

low ed h i m t o th e n at io n al bo ard a w h ile later.

I should also note that Stanley was instru

mental in getting me appointed director of a Boston bank, a position that camewith quite handsome director fees. Additionally over time, we did several businessdeals together w orth tens of millions of dollars.

So what does any of this have to do with theAir Force Academy or the gradu ate community?It’s a story I shared with a

reunions, functions at D oolittle H all such

in this case the Association), chooses not to,

and then comes seeking support from that

Well needless to say, they got the message.

Aft er all, our cadets and grads are pretty smart folks. They only need to be “enlight ened” at tim es. A nd the end result w as that

w e now have two new m em bers of the A O G .

Th is scenario w ith the cadet and the

graduate unfortunately is not an isolated occurrence. I have met with gradslooking

to do business w ith the A O G who were not members or donors. Grads have called the

AOG seeking assistance or to complain about some issue at theAcademy and investigation shows that they are non-members. I have had a graduate faculty department head who has a lifetime giving record of less than $100, ask for tensof thousandsof dollars of support for a program. I couldn’t help but ask him, “Where do you think the funds for these programscome from?” There isa basic lack of understanding among some of our gradu ates about thevalue of relationships and the concept of mutual support. This isan area inform and educate the graduate community.

In thewordsof that old American Express slogan, “Membership has itsprivileges” and our graduatesshould understand that applies here, as well. Go Falcons! B

5

C h a i r m a n ’s

J o u r n a l

BY T ERRY ST O RM , ’6 1

□

n February 4, 2011, your Board of Directorsheld itsq u ar terly meeting and I’m pleased to report that the AOG continues to become a stronger organization. The AOG received an unqualifi ed audit and the Board accepted t h e audit report at the December meeting. At thismeeting, t h e Board reviewed the fi scal year 2010 IRS Form 990, which isprepared by theauditorsfrom theaudit results. TheForm 990 isrequired by the IRS for non-profi t organizations in place of th e n o r m al t ax st at e ments fi led by commercial fi rms. It will soon be posted on the website for anyone to review. If you have questions, please refer them to A lton Parrish , our Chief Financial Offi cer, at Alton.Parrish@aogusafa.org.

On Saturday, February 5, Bart Idoladay, ’65, the USAFA E n d ow m en t Chairman and I were invited to update the USAFA Board o f V isit o rs o n our collaborativeprogressover thepast year. Weare 15 months into the ini tial two-year Memorandum of Understanding and I am optimistic that our progress in working together will continue to proceed w el l i n to th e f u t u re.

Please vote! T he 20 11 Election of D irectors w ill be held from M arch 3 1,

through May 2. Not only will we elect six AOG Directorsfrom among the 18 outstanding candidates but we will be able to signifi candy improve our currendy awkward Bylaws. The six candidates who receive th e m ost vo t es will be elected regardless of how many members vote, but we need 25% of our members to cast ballots (about 6,100) to validate the vote on the

updated Bylaws. Please vote, and strongly encourage al l o t h er A O G m em bers to vote aswell so we can improve our effi ciency in fulfi lling our threepart mission of supporting the Academy, our graduates an d o u r m u t u al heritage. If you don’t receive either an email or a postcard telling you how to accessthe electionswebpage by April 7, pleasecontact Gary Howe at the AOG: gary.howe@aogusafa.org or 719-472-0300, ext. 107.

TheAOG Board of Directorsstrongly encouragesyou to vote in favor of the proposed Bylaws, but regardlessof how you choose to vote, pleasevote!

The Class of 1959 initiated an exciting new “tradition” in conjunction with their 50th Reunion. They presented the gold bars of a seco n d lieu t en ant to each graduate at their Commissioning Ceremony. T h e “ G o ld B ar Legacy” tradition was continued by the Class of 1960 and now, as diffi cult as it is for me to believe, the Class of 1961, my class, is deep into our plan ning for our 50th reunion. We will continue this tradition fo r t h e C lass o f 2011 and we strongly urge the Class of 1962 and all subsequent classes to participateas their time comes. Thisprogram ispresently not an AOG pro gram. TheAOG reminds the class of this opportunity when reunion plan ning begins but the class works directly with the Academy. T h is is an o th er example of evolving heritage programs being developed, strengthened and maintained by the classes, theAcademy and theAOG. On behalf of the entire Board, we appreciate the opportunity t o s e r v e our USAFA community.

GO FALCON S! PLEASE VOT E! S

6

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Fr om t h e

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Superintendent

LT. G EN . M IKE G O ULD, 7 6

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reetings follow graduates! We are nearly halfway tli rough the

ing avery cold Colorado winter. Despite the freezing temperatures, we continue to make great stridesin our construction projectsaround USAPA. These projectsare essential to developing our cadets into leaders/offi cersof character and many of them would not be possiblewithout the support of our generousgraduatesand other friends in the donor community. The GE Johnson construction team has made

great progresson the Holaday Athletic Center (HAC); they arewell on their way to completing thisworld-classfacility. Asyou can see from the picture, we have completed the foundation and plumbing and, as I write on Valentines Day, the pre-cast exterior wall panelsare going up. We are right on target for a HAC dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony in mid-summer 2011. Asyou’ve undoubtedly heard, thismajor construction project iscompletely donor funded. Not only will our cadet athletesbenefit from being able to train year-round, but we have also involved our Civil Engineering majors in the design and construction effort. Thiskind of academ ic im m ersion is inval uable, real-w orld

experience for our cadets. We are incredibly grateful to Bart Holaday, ’65, hislatewife Lynn, and other donorsfor their contribu tions; thisfacility will have a lasting impact on our Academy.

Many classes elect to use their reunion planning time as an opportunity to organize 8

t

The new Center for Character and Leadership Development is the next major construction project for USAFA.

a classgift through the USAFA Endow

m ent for their alm a m ater. Several classes

have supported the HAC, and USAFA has many moregreat projectsgradscould decide to support. The new Center for Character and Leadership Development (CCLD) isour next major infrastructure project.

U nlike the H A C , the C C L D w ill be fu nded

through a hybrid of military construction and donor dollars. The taxpayerswill supply the building, and our donor community is contributing to the interior, landscaping, and maintenance of the facility. We expect to begin construction mid-year, depending on the federal budget timeline.

The new CCLD facility will serve two important purposes. First, it will consoli d at e al l o f t h e act iv i t i es o f t h e C en t er f o r

Character and Leadership Development in one location. To date, this crucial organiza tion has been stretched across our campus, an d ev en n eed s t o h o l d so m e ev en t s o ff -

base. T his is a drain on our cadet s’ t im e and

our resources. Second, the new facility will become the home of pioneering intellectual efforts and energetic cadet programs. We

will have five divisions in the CCLD : 1)

intellectual and scholarship efforts; 2) char-

ways others have contributed to making our alma mater better. For example, my class of 1976, “Spirit of ’76,” will celebrate i ts 3 5t h reun ion this fall . W e are i nvest i

gating a number of ways that we can pull together to make a signifi cant, unifi ed contribution towards the fi nishing touches on the CCLD. We are following in the footsteps of many classes before us—I

would like to thank the Classes of ’62, ’64,

acter and leadership (C& L) development programs for the Cadet Wing; 3) training and education effortswith faculty and staff; 4) leading-edge capstone programs such as the National Character & Leadership Symposium (NCLS) and Falcon Heritage Forum (FH F); and 5) home for our cadet

honor committee and the cadet honor pro grams. Another emerging function will be

outreach to the rest of the A i r Force and to other educat ional inst it utions. W e w ill use

this facility in a variety of ways such asAir

A bove : Th e CCLD w ill b e f u nd ed

’66, ’69 and ’90 for their generous support

Force-level sum m its, nat ional-level events

of the C C L D as w ell .

and high-profi le ceremonies. The CCLD is going to signifi cantly contribute to the

In case you’re not aware, I should men tion the CCLD hosts many programs and events that are generously supported by our donor community. Each semester, the CCLD organizes a Falcon Heritage Forum which offers a fantastic venue for gradu

future of the A i r Force and our nation!

We have had a number of graduates

exci ted to donate to the C C L D . I ’d lik e

to thank some of our lead donors. D r.

Paul (’64) and Julie Kaminski, Bill (’63)

at es t o i n t er act w i t h t h e cad et s an d sh ar e

and Mary Linn Wecker, and Max (’64) and LindaJames. While not everyone has the resources to provide such generous individual gifts, there are a number of

valuable lessons from their experiences in the A ir Force and life. Last fall , 40-som e

grads from the Class of 1980 spent two and a half days with cadets from all 40 cadet squadrons; positive feedback from cadets was overwhelming. ’6 1, AO G Chairman of the Board,

by a compilation of govern ment appropriated funds and private

presented an informative briefi ng that

d o nat io ns f ro m a lu m n i a nd

estingly, only 57 percent of our graduates are AOG members while Army and Navy have 100 percent and 90 percent, respec tively. Since I took the reins in June 2009, I have spoken extensively about building a sense of fanatical institutional pride. I maintain that if we, the faculty and staff. are doing our jobs here at USAFA, and if the graduate community is engaged as well. our new lieutenants should be departing theAcademy with fanatical enthusiasmready to make their marks in the world’s

friends of the Academy.

Below: Const ruct ion for the new

Holaday Athletic Center is well underway thanks to the gener-

ous support of Academy alumni.

included al um ni association statist ics. I nter-

best A i r Force.

Think about it—^when only a little over half of our alumni belong to theAOG— what message does thissend to our cadets?

Spread the newsof the excitement that exists our alma mater and challenge each other . to fi nd a syay to contribute. We look forward to driving our membership statistics up to

rhal OUTcounterpartsaf USA^ and USNA.

^ 1“Asalways, thankyousomuch^r)i|ur

* 1^ ntinuedsupport foryt>ut|VnitedStatesAir

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The Holaday Athletic Center /

• C JL L T '

Polarizing Part ies

Waldo, Regs and the Gang

I know that Checkpoints is a highly acclaimed magazine, an d I salute it as such, though I am admittedly ignorant of any formal criterion by which such acclaim is reckoned. I don’t k n ow D o n Hall, ’76, but I do know that the exploits of Waldo, W arren , and Regsare the best thing in Checkpoints—even better than my Class News (sorry, Dick, but it’s true). Although the esoteric i n d ex severely restricts Don’s audience, if I use the “number o f t i m es that I have to dry the tears of laughter from my eyes’ of effectiveness, he plays in the same ballpark as Woody Allen and Dave Barry. Thank you, Don, for keeping all the Living I n Th e a s a

m

e a su r e

Past (tip ‘o thehat to Jethro Tull) memoriesin readily accessi b l e RAM , and in perspective for all of us former slide-rule

u se r s.

John Rankin, Class of 1970 Do n ’t Ask Do n ’t Tel l

Today the President signed into law a repeal of the D o n ’t A sk Don’t Tell law. I served 24 years in the Air Force both enlisted and as a cadet and offi cer. I knew gay cadets as well as gay enlisted and offi cers throughout my career. These were men just as dedicated as other men serving their country. I am confi dent that gay men and women in the future will pose no other additional problems other than logistic considerations. Afterall, there incidents of rape of women by heterosexuals. Should gays commit acts that would discredit the uniform they are wearing then they should be discharged. Being gay is not a violation of the U niform Code of Military Justice.

Howard M . Tomme, Class of 1963 a r e

n u m

e r o u s

Fo r t he Reco rd

In the December issue of Checkpoints, we sat down for interview with the Commandant of Cadets, Brig. Gen. R i ch ard Clark. By a slip of the pen, we accidentally indicated t h at t h e Commandant graduated from the Academy in 1984. Through a n

hisgraciousgood humor, Gen. Clark had a good laugh

at o u r

error and humbly requested that we make note of our m i st ak e i n the following issue. If only all generals where so good natured!

For the record: Brig. Gen. Richard Milo Clark, Commandant of Cadets, U SAFA Class of 1986.

CheckpointsEditor 10

I read with dismay the article “Attitudes Aren’t Free” by Dave Levy and Jim Parco. Have we really become so politically c o r r e c t as to believe “diversity” is a national security imperative?W h at about m erit ? W h en som eone starts w it h “all the l i terat ure says” rather than “experience and common sense,” their thesis usually heads downhill. If by diversity the authors mean skin color, their premise has no merit. To follow that logic is to suggest w e sh o u l d hire more (insert race here) because they are good at (insert st e reotype here). Alternatively, if by diversity you mean cultural, you end in a place where all cultures are equal. But to get there you must tear down the western judeo-christian culture t h at h as b u i l t the place you’re standing in. With respect to religion, co n si d er “Congress shall make no law ...” The authors presume to be open minded by listening to “polarizing parties” from the “far right and far left.” As if Ronald Reagan and Fidel Castro had equivalent points of view. The last thing we need is a balkanized A i r Fo r ce with cliques of hyphenated Airmen. What we need are A i r m en who can fl y and fl x jets, hack the cyber and space m i ssi o n s an d excellently do all the things expected of them. The military is a meritocracy with the purpose of fi ghting our nation’s w ar s. Pu r su ing diversity as an end comes at the expense of excellence. I n t h at regard, I expect the authors and I can agree that diversity i s a national security issue.

Rich Donnelly, Class of 1987 Rising from the Ashes

I really enjoyed the article on “What Killed the Dodo” by my friend Fred Malmstrom that appeared in the December 2 0 10 issue of Checkpoints but I would like to add a few points.

TheDodo, as you can well imagine, was born from the cad et desire to fl aunt authority in a humorous and irreverent m an n er. I t was started in 1957 by members of the Class of 1959 an d i t s i n i

tial “chairman” (what the editor was called then) was John Reeves.

Other distinguished members of the Board were Brad H o sm er (who would later become a Rhodes Scholar and the U SAFA

Superintendent), Dick Lee, George Burch, Jim Reed, an d M i k e Murphy. By 1957, the Dodo was a fi xture of cadet life b u t t h e USAFA leadership attempted some form of control by assigning the Deputy Commandant, the legendary Colonel Ben Cassiday, as the Off icer in Charge of Dodo. “Bent Wing” Ben was fi r m b u t fair and had a sense of humor. I wrote a couple of articles, during my cadet days from 1957 to 1961, under the pen name “Spanish Flyer.” In 1961, after publishing four issues. TheD od o w as d i s banded. It was reborn again in 1962 under Pat Wynne, ’63 (KIA in Southeast Asia 1974). W hen I returned to U SAFA in 1967 as

a member of the faculty. TheDodo was in full swing under my classm ate Bobbie G race as O I C .

Sadly, the USAFA leadership around 2002 discontinued Th e Dodo. However, in anticipation of this, a group of graduates created an in ternet site called eD odo i n 1997 w i th the slogan “Online and Underground.” Gadets, graduates, and other interested parties contributed and continue to contribute t o t h e

eDodo. I am proud to say that I am still a contributor. T h e eD od o can be found at http://www.edodo.org/.

Those who could not accept the criticism of TheDodo arguably those with weak leadership skills. For the st u d en t s o f history, I cite the case of Napoleon and his “grumblers.” N apo leon’s “Grumblers” were the most feared troops of the Napoleonic Wars. These most favored troops of the Emperor were al so an el i t e strike force which Napoleon kept in his reserve to be called upon at the most critical point of a battle to break the enemy line or to w e r e

stave off defeat . Th e G renadiers of the O ld G uard w ere kn ow n as

“les Grognards,” or “the grumblers,” because they were al l ow ed to speak their minds to Napoleon. It is said that Napoleon w ould dress in a simple soldier uniform and walk around the cam p t o hear what his soldiers were complaining about so he co u l d t ak e corrective action. Sadly, the USAFA leadership that destroyed The Dodo were not students of history and could not accept The D odo’s criticism. The only way to maintain high morale is to fi nd w hat

the cadetsaregrumbling about so wecan do something ab o u t i t .

For the sake of theAcademy, I pray that TheDodo rises from it s ashes like the Phoenix of ancient mythology.

Hector AndresNegroni, Class of 1961 Maintaining Honor

TheAir ForceAcademy has many programs designed to t each honor. For example, wehave the Center for Character & Leadership Development. Thiscenter has three divisions, the Honor D ivision, the Character and Leadership Education division, and the Excellence Division. Under these divisions we have VECT OR (Vital E ff ec

tive Character Through Observation and Reflection), the Respect

and Responsibility Workshop (R&R), Leadersin Flight (LIFT ), the

Academy Character Enrichment Seminar (ACES), theAdventurebased Learning Facility (ABE), the National Character and Leadership Symposium (NCLS), the Falcon Heritage Forum, and Cadet Ser v i ce Learning. We even amended the Honor Code several years ago by adding the Honor Oath. The question we should ask ourselves i s: can you “teach” honor?We are obviously trying to do that in many waysbut I think that approach isproblematic. Rather, I think you get honorablegraduates by maintaining high standardsof honor and sur rounding cadetswith leaderswho have the highest standards of honor.

I believe that a missing ingredient today isstrict enforcem ent of the Cadet Honor Code. Maybewe should adjust our priorities.

Roy Miller, Class of 1967

not holding the medal, I deeply value the experiences that I gained at U-Tapao. My duty as OIG, Race Relations, brought me daily in contact with issues of prejudice and discrimination that have helped shape my interactionswith others ever since. Now that I ’m m u ch older, nearing retirement, I oft en look back on my life to assess it .

Perhapsa lot of other grads in their 60’shave done the same thing: Did we give enough? Did we accomplish enough?In the end, m ed al s d o n’t answer those questions. Each of usknowswhen we gave fully, and we can draw inspiration from those times to continue our service, even in retirement. That may be the richest legacy from theAcademy and military service.

John 'JC"Miller, Class of 1969 Enduring Reminder

GI G Ford is indeed fortunate (“The Ring that Would N ot D ie,” Gheckpoints, Dec. 2010, p.48). The Galifornia Highway Patrol helped him retrieve hisclass ring. I “lost” mine in avery diff erent m anner. In 1977, several yearsaft er my discharge from the USAF, I w as still look ing for my niche in civilian life. While pursuing some st ress m an age ment in the form of study of yoga disciplines and philosophy, I read of the concept of non-attachment. It was discussed i n t ex ts su ch as the Bhagavad Gita (to which, coincidentally, I was fi rst exposed while taking a “Religionsof theWorld” course at USAFA in 1968). I began viewing my class ring as an attachment—an object of self-praise, in a sense—that interfered with my perception of personal development at the time. Aft er some careful thought, I contacted ajeweler in Chicago, where I was living at the time, and sold it to him. H e had it m elted down to reprocess thegold. I did save the bloodstone from it , which I retain today. Over the span of 34 yearssince then. I’ve oft en thought

about my decision. At timesI must admit to somenostalgiafo r th e

class ring. Most recendy, especially aft er viewing the six-hour D V D set ft om our 40th class reunion (thanks Rocky Van Zelfden, ’69), I realize the important role that my USAFA experience played in helping shape decisionsthat I’ve made—professionally, in personal disciplines, and in physical fi tness, especially. Would I appreciate the class ring now?

Certainly more than I did in 1977. Do I regret the decision that I made then?For the most part I’m OK with it as avaluable lesson in, yes, letting go of transitory symbols. (Frankly, I also found the ring too large to wear on a regular basis.) I do take pride i n occasio n al u se o f other Academy memorabilia such as an AFA athletic jacket, class pin, and prop-and-wings insignia (a more enduring reminder of the whole four yearsat AFA. Try it as a tie tac).

John “JC”M iller, Class of 1969

The Richest Legacy

Reading “Road to Afghanistan” (pp. 46-47, December 2010) brought back a memory of being offered the Bronze Star, despite not being in combat, when I served at U-Tapao, Thailand during theV i et n am w ar.

Of course, Lt. Col. Donley wasn’t, either- but he oft en w as i n h ar m ’s way, whereas I was not. I, too, like Lt. Col. Donley, had to extend, and fi nally prepared to depart U-Tapao aft er a little over six t een m o n th s there. My supervisor at U-Tapao (Maj. Paul Anderson, by coincidence

aformer instructor at USAEA) appreciated my work enough t o off er me the Bronze Star if I agreed to write up the citation for it . Th at struck me as too self-serving, and I did not pursue it. And despite

Let t e rs Sub m iss io n Guid e li nes

Checkpointswelcomes letters from its readers. Please l i m i t your submission to 250 words. For your letter to be co n si d

ered, you must includeyour name and graduating year, i f

you are an Academy graduate.

Letters should be e-mailed to editor@aogusafa.org. C h eck points reserves the right to edit all submissions.

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Associat ion of Graduat es

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UNITFOSIAIFSAIRFORCEACADEMY U

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T h e U S A FA E n d o w m e n t A N EW A PPROA CH T O GI V I N G

STA FF D IRECT O RY 3116 ACADEMY DRIVE, USAF ACADEMY, CO 80840-4475 (719) 4 7 2 -0 3 0 0 T H E A S SO C IA T IO N O F G RA D U A T E S

To e-mail a st aff member, please use t he first and last name. Example: Gary Howe | gary.howe@aogusafa.org A O G EX EC U T IV E O F F IC E

PRESIDENT & CEO William "T" Thompson, '73, Ext . 101, T.Thompson@aogusafa.org EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Gary Howe, '69, Ext . 107 SENIORVICE PRESIDENT FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Mart y Marcolongo, '88, Ext . 146

S E N IO R V IC E P R E S I D E N T F O R F IN A N C E & C H I E F F I N A N C IA L OFFICER A lt o n Parrish, Ext . 123

EXECUTIVE ASSISTA NT Rut h Re iche rt , Ext . 106 FIN A N C E

ACCOUNTANT Joyce Love, Ext . 110

ACCOUNTING CLERK Janice Baca, Ext . 111

C O M M U N IC A T IO N S

VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNICATIONS Bo b M cA llist e r, Ext . 14 2

EDITOR/ PHOTOGRAPHER Lewis Carlyle, Ext . 140 SENIOR DESIGNER Sarah Larrab ee, Ext . 144

CLASS NEWS & OBITUA RY EDITOR To m Kro b ot h, Ext . 133

DIRECTOR OF WEB COMMUNICATIONS Troy Surratt, Ext . 125

SYSTEMS A DMINISTRATOR J aso n Finkle, Ext . 124

PROGRAMMER/ SYSTEMS ANALYST Gayat ri Parepalli, Ext . 1 18 WEB DEVELOPER Toby Lortz, Ext . 141

DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS J ack M uelle r, '70, Ex t . 12 2

A L U M N I A F FA I RS

MA NAGING DIRECTOR, A LUMNI A FFA IRS C o rrie G rub b s, Ext . 10 5

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Wayne Taylor, Ext . 150 DIRECTOR, CONSTITUENT RELATIONS Stella Grayson, '99, Ex t . 12 1

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES SPECIALIST Don McCart hy, Ext . 139 ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Paige Buoye, Ext . 143 CLASS PROJECTS OFFICER A l Burre ll, Ext . 115

D O O LITT LE HA LL EV EN TS/ SPECIA L FU N CT IO N S ALUMNI REUNION EVENT COORDINATOR Jennifer Ganzier, Ext . 13 8

DIRECTOR OF EVENT PLA NNING A shlee Pet erso n, Ext . 147 SPECIA L FUNCTIONS COORDINATOR Jean Bickfo rd , Ext . 148

A LUMNI REUNION EVENT COORDINATOR Em m a Ross, Ext . 136

C U ST O M E R S E RV IC E A N D FA C I L IT Y M A N A G E M E N T

DIRECTOR, DATA INTEGRITY & CUSTOMERSERVICE Sandy Luckhurst, Ex t . 130

DATA INTEGRITY SPECIA LIST Jo hn Rice, Ext . 132 DATA INTEGRITY SPECIA LIST Kim W ilso n, Ext . 127 FACILITIES SUPERINTENDENT D ave Pf eil, Ext . 155

CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPERVISOR M iche le Cow an, Ext . 15 1

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Angela Hug, Ext . 154 CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE M urlea Vance, Ext . 15 2 CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Jan How ard , Ext . 153

MA INTENA NCE SPECIA LIST Jake J aco b s, Ext . 155 T H E A SSO C IA T IO N O F G RA D U A T E S B O A R D O F D I RE C T O RS

BOARD CHAIR Terry St orm, '61 V IC E C HA IR B r ia n B i n n ' 7 2

SECRETA RY Bo b M unso n, '73

TREASURER Jack Fry '67 Rip Blaisdell, '62 J im W hee ler, '64 V ic A nd rew s, '66

George Van Wagenen, '67 Wild Bill Stealey, '70 Pat Ro se now, '76 To m Lo ckie, '79 Frank Schm uck, '88

Steve Beasley, '93

M ark Rosenow, '03

Roger Carleton, '67 T H E U SA FA E N D O W M E N T

To e-mail a st aff member, please use t he first and last name. Example: Mark Hille PRESIDENT Erv Ro kke, '62 VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT M ark Hille, '97, Ext . 202

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Dennis Scruggs, Ext . 203 ASSOCIATEVICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT Greg Knedler, Ext . 2 24 DIRECTOR OF MAJOR GIFTS Jimmy Mart ello, '00, 719.229.4202 DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING Regina Clark, Ext . 221 MAJOR GIFT OFFICER D ale Zscho che, 7 19.238.7510

mark.hille@usafaendowment .org

MAJOR GIFT OFFICER Frank M arino , 7 19 .208.9 19 1 LEA DERSHIP A NNUA L GIVING OFFICER Jaso n Hub er, 7 19 .330 .9660

CLASS GIVING OFFICER Razelle Dohert y, Ext . 222

MATCHING GIFT COORDINATOR A m and a Brow n, Ext . 223 DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE G ina Sim le r, Ext . 200

STEWARDSHIP & SPECIAL PROJECT COORDINATORAllison Page, Ex t . 2 20 DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION OFFICER A nn Co llum, Ext . 2 4 0

STA FF ACCOUNTA NT Pat ricia D e Sim o ne, Ext . 204 12

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Your Sabre Society level gift to the Air Force Acad emy Fund will provide the best possible resources in

73

support of the Academy, its cadets, and the graduate community. The Academy's mission- developing lead ers of character for our nation- is simply too important to leave to federal funding alone. The bridge between

sufficiency and excellence is built by private funding.

Generous contributions from graduates, parents and f rie nd s e nab le t he A O G and USA FA End o w m e nt t o

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n 1979, as part of my master’sdegree pro gram, I researched and wrote a paper entitled “Marketing theAir ForceAcademy Football Team.” It addressed the diff icultiesof publi cizing and selling ticketswhen theprogram was enduring thoselean times. Speaking stricdy from the football program perspec tive, the paper lamented thelack of “the publicity and prestige that goeswith being

four straight bowl games, refl ect very positively on the Academy.

conference affi liation for football also include

W h ile m ost U SA FA t eam s do w ell

affi liated w ith a conference.” Benefi ts of

By Lt Col [Ret .)

St eve n A . S im o n , ’7 7

league-related revenuesand guaranteed bowl game opportunities.

Shortly afterward. Air Force joined a conference. Again speaking strictly from a football perspective, it has been a success,

w i th the realizat ion of all the benefi t s m ent ioned above. T he football team has

done very well, earning national rankings

and bow l victories. T he team’s fi nish i n the

upper half of the Mountain West Confer ence (MWC) in each of Troy Calhoun’s four seasons, as well as participation in 14

W i th all that said , how ever, I bel ieve

it is long past time to look at the Acad emy’s participation in the MWC from not strictly a football perspective. To be

sure, some of the above-described benefi ts,

particularly the fi nancial ones, have

accrued to the benefi t of the other athlet ic

programs, but at what cost?

in the non-conference portions of their schedules (over which they have control), once they get into conference play, they struggle. A brief look at the records of a f ew o f t h e o t h er A i r Fo r ce t eam s i n

the M W C show s how dire the sit uat ion

is. The women’s volleyball team lost 74 straight conference matches between 2005 and an October 2010 victory over San Diego State. The team has won only two of its last 110 league contests. Also i n O ct ober, the w om en’s soccer t eam

Previous page, L to R: Falcon mid-fielder CI C Kyle Moses (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Mike Kaplan) Falcon guard CSC Desiree Wilson (U.S. Air Force photo/ J. Rachel Spencer) Falcons quarterback C2C Tim Jefferson (U.S. Air Force photo/ Bill Evans) Above, L t o R: Out f ielder CI C Nat han Cart er (U.S. Air Force photo/ Mike Kaplan) Falcon guard CI C Evan Washington (U.S. Air Force photo/ Bill Evans) Volleyball player CI C Nichole St ilwell (U.S. Air Force photo/ J. Rachel Spencer)

broke a 41-game conference winless streak that had dated back to 2003. W om en’s

basketball entered 2011 conference play

with a two-plusyear, 34-game regular

season conference losing streak going (they have won three conference games this year). The men’s basketball team has barely exceeded the women’s team’s record recently, with six regular season conference wins the past two seasons combined. The teams have a combined 9-63 regular-sea son conference record since the beginning of the 2008-2009 campaign. Writing in the M arch 8, 20 10, issue of the Colorado

Springs Gazette., Jake Shaller reports that, “During the past two college basketball seasons, no D ivision I school has w on few er m en’s and w om en’s conference

games than Air Force.” It is true that the men’s basketball team enjoyed a fi ve-year burst of success a few years ago, but that increasingly looks like an aberration.

Baseball has not fi n ished out of the confer

ence cellar since 2002, when many current players were in elementary school. The team has an 18- 183 conference record in

that time span. Both tennis teams, men’s

golf and women’sswimming/diving fi nish at or near the bot tom of the conference

standings year after year.

Pointing out this futility is in no way intended to be a knock on any of the coaches or players, who represent the Academy with tremendous effort, grace, and skill. Academy coaches and athletes have earned our praise and our pride. No athletes in the country compete harder or with more class than ours, fi ghting until the very end of every contest. I am second to none in my appreciation of their desire and their commitment. They are just, quite literally, out of their league.

T he M W C has a rule that if the confer

ence contests a sport, all schools that fi eld a team in that sport must play in the conference. That ties theAcademy to

the conference, even for sports in which we cannot effectively compete. When the conference does not contest a sport, how ever, m em ber schools are free to

make their own arrangements. It is with these teams that the Academy’s great

est (non-football) athletic success stories

have come: Hockey won the Atlantic Hockey Association championship three straight times between 2007 and 2009, each time earning a spot in the 16-team NCAA tournamenL In 2009, they were an overtime goal from reaching the pinnacle of hockey, the Frozen Four. Water polo, men’s soccer, and lacrosse all play in other conferences and have been competitive.

Men’s and women’s fencing compete as independents, and in 2009-2010 boasted

fi ve nationally ranked fencers, including

the fi fth ranked man in epee.

I recall that in earlier days. Academy literature proudly trumpeted the fact that cadet student-athletes won X% (usually in 15

the 65-75% range) of their intercollegiate contests. This claim spoke to the success of the Academy in producing not just topquality graduates, but winners. We don’t seem to see that statistic any more. It has been replaced with the simple statement that “The intercollegiate program has 17 m en’s and 10 w om en’s N CA A sanctioned team s.” G ranted, now here in our m ission

statement or objectives does it say we should produce winning athletic teams.

The Academy exists to produce leaders of character for the nation. Participation in intercollegiate sports is one of many pro

gramsat theAcademy that allowscadetsto demonstrate leadership, maintain physical fi tness, and represent the school. Regard less of t he w on-lost records, I believe that

the intercollegiate cadet-athletes are better for the experience. Anecdotally, the large num bers of form er U SA FA athletes w ho

go on to become leaders (to include our current Superintendent, Commandant, Dean, Director of Athletics and Prep

join over the next couple of years. Air Force is frequently mentioned as a candi

there won’t be embarrassing scandals or NCAA recruiting violations coming from our campus. Perhaps most importantly from the Mountain West’s perspective, our graduation rates bring the conference averages waj up. For all these reasons and more, the Academy needs to use its leverage and more aggressively advocate for its best interests, rather than blindly accepting the

Actually, the Mountain West Conference may have provided the perfect solution. In December 2010, MWC school presidents approved bringing Hawaii into the confer ence as a football only member. That prec

allow some of our teams to either play a

sacrifi ced at the tw in altars of football and

Force. C onference leaders can be confi dent

league’srules. Weshould request relief to

reduced conference schedule or be released

School Commander), bear this out. But

to play elsewhere. I’ve been told that we tried thiswith the baseball team a few years

thing. No lessan authority on thesubject

again. If rejected again, we should consider

while winning isn’t everything, it is some

than General Douglas McArthur famously said, “On the fi elds of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days and other fi elds will bear the fruits of victory.”

Learning to lose repeatedly and gracefully is not necessarily helpful.

To many sports fans, USAFA athletics

begin and end with football. Theperpetual

diffi culty of theother sports teams (if they are even aware of other Air Force teams’ records)

isapparently an acceptable price to pay to have the football team in a top conference.

That, in my opinion, is too narrow a focus.

Please don’t think I am a disloyal, renegadeAcademy sports hater. I’ve been a supporter of Air Force athletics since my

youth. I wasa football manager all four yearsasacadet. I am alifetimemember of the Air ForceAcademy Athletic Associa tion. My wife Paula and I have basketball and hockey season tickets, and attend as many soccer and football games as our soccer-playing daughter’s schedule allows.

Paula and I have funded in perpetuity the

Outstanding Men’sBasketball Player Award presented each year at the Cadet Individual

Awards Ceremony. My interest lies in the Academy doing what is best for a// of its athletes, not just the football players. We 16

sponsored a female soccer player. Class of 2009, who went through her entire cadet career without tasting victory in a confer ence game. That shouldn’t happen.

While the Academy earns prestige from being in the Mountain West Conference, the Mountain West Conference gains even more prestige from having Air Force as a member. As I said earlier, no program com petes with as much grace and class asAir

ago and were rebuffed. We need to ask

leaving theconference. Thiswould certainly

be a blow to the football program, but we

should be able to m aintain our core rivalries

with Colorado State University, Wyoming,

and other MWC schools. We could also go back to a more national schedule befi tting our status as a national school. Bowl game invitations might be harder to earn as an independent, but Navy has shown it is doable. (In truth, there are now so many

bowl games that simply becoming bowl eligible by winning six gamesvirtually guar antees post-season participation.) Unfortu nately, leaving the conference would likely decreaseAthletic Department revenues, but it just might be worth it. All options should be carefully considered. These include becoming an independent, joining another conference, or even requesting a waiver to return the women’s programs to NCAA Division II (where they enjoyed great suc cess in the ’80s and ’90s).

Conference membership is in fl ux now throughout the nation. In the Mountain West Conference alone, BYU (going inde pendent for football, to the West Coast Conference for all other sports), Utah, and TCU are leaving. Boise State, Fresno State, N evada and H awaii are slated to

date for m ovem ent t o anot her conference

(Big 12, PAC 10). Again, while such a move might add prestige and luster to the Air Force football program, it would probably worsen the plight of USAFA’s other sports teams. With other schools making moves that are best for them, why shouldn’t the Academy seek an arrange m ent t hat benefi ts all of it s at hlet es?

edent seem s to render their old rules m oot ,

and Academy offi cials could follow-up with negotiations for a similar arrangement.

Are theAcademy’s other athletic teams, particularly the women’s teams, being money?It seems that they are. Should the Academy pull out of its current arrange

m ent w ith the M ountain W est C onference?

I can’t declare unequivocally that leaving the conference outright would be in the Academy’s best interests, but, certainly, if

the football team had a conference record

approaching any of the teams’ records described above, people would at least be

seriously contemplatingthesequestions. S In addition to hisextensivenon-fi ction writing.

Colonel Simon istheauthor of two novels, On T he D ead Run and Service Before Self

NOTE: Theviewsexpressed in thisarticleare

solely thoseof theauthor, and do not refl ect the ojfi cial position of theAir ForceAcademy.

Statistics current as of January 1, 2011

ServiceAcademy^ _^

C a r eer C o n f er en c e

May 26-27, 2011 Washington, D.C. W h a t is SA C C ?

The SACC is t he Service Academy Career Conference support ed by t he Associat ions of Graduat es from t he U.S. Air Fo rc e Academy and t he U.S. Milit ary Academy, and Alumni Associat ions from the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Previous conferences have been att ended by hundreds of companies and t housands o f alumni. Go t o www.sacc-jobfair.com for a list of companies att ending, t he complete schedule and t he online regist rat ion f o r m .

W h e r e w i l l t h e SA C C b e h e ld ?

T he next SA CC w ill b e he ld at t he O m ni Sho reham Hot e l, 2500 Calvert St reet NW, Washington, D.C. Call (202) 2 34 -0 70 0 f o r re se rv at io ns a n d ask f o r t h e SA C C rat e .

SA C C Sc h e d u le o f Ev e n t s

Thursday, May 26 H o w t o W o rk SA C C J o b Fa ir ,

5:00 p.m. ,6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Friday, May 27 Walk-in Registrat ion Pre-Paid Regist rat ion

...8 :0 0 a .m .

SA C C

.. 9 :30 a .m .

Lu n c h

12:30 p.m. . 1:45 p.m.

All Day All day 12:30 p.m.

1:45 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

C a n d id at e C a re e r Se m in a r .

SA C C

. 9 :30 a .m .

Sat urday, May 28

Interviews only if directly scheduled between company recruit ers and candidates; Companies will cont act you direct ly

regarding any on-site int erviews during t he SACC. Regist rat ion

The SACC Candidate registrat ion fee is $40. To register, submit a one-page resume (for recruit er's book) and pay online at www.sacc-jobfair.com. This limited resume is designed t o give t he recruit ers an indicat ion of your capabilit ies. It is N O T t h e

resume you should bring t o hand out t o t he recruit ers at t he conference. Regist rat ion dead line for inclusion in t h e re c r u it e r 's book is Sunday, May 15, 2011.

N e x t Sc h e d u le d SA C C

Seattle, Wash. August 18-19, 2011 For more informat ion, contact Wayne Taylor at (719) 472-0300 or go online at www.sacc-jobfair.com.

T H E W R IT T E N

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l i st cl o u d s d r i ft acr o ss t h e ar i d w ast el an d

^ of theAirburst rangejust west of Pueblo Colorado. I n t he di st ance, C old W ar era t ank

carcasses lay heaped amid the make-shift city built of old railroad car containers, giant generator hulls and burned out vehicles. Every metal structure as far as the eye can see is riddled with bullet holes and the dry earth is scattered with empty shell casings underii . foot. An unseasonably hot burns down on the January training day. All around • there is quiet, save the light breeze which shift s i n from t he w est . su n

'

Coach Kelly Hohnholz gives a command and the Air Force Academy*6 ombat Shooting Team raise their rifl es in ti nison. The cadets are lined up six-wi

w i t h o ne shoo ter in f ron t and one

cadet pulls his magazine fr ee of the rifl e, , slaps a new one into place, chambers the Ite t round and checks the dust cBver!

' 1h ree m o re r o a n / Jrt ..eaish e

ter behind—their eyes trained on the atotal of l &^hots^p ^ heair. The '* f u l l t actargets down range. Each cardboard targets shudder with gunfi re erupt from the desert tical combat gear ■a vest jammed wit h., . . , and du^t .. spare ammunition, a side clinging down rah^ WKI ref he bi to his leg, hearing and vision protection the ground. Shell casings fl itter across t he li ne and t he ru m ble of t he second in place and, most important, a sharpened awareness of his weap an d h is volley slowly echoes over the wasteland. surroundings. With another command The command to stand down is given. the team begins slowly walking toward Each cadet pans his head back and forth, ^ the targets, their steps perfectly matched searching for the fi nal all clear. Rifl es to keep the line together. are lowered, safeties locked in place. Ihe T li reat !” bark s t he coach. team stands still. No one speaks. No one Rifl es are raised and sighted and the ai moves. The coach makes his way towards a s

w e a r s

a r m

o n

Aft er the fi ring line comes to a halt, each cadet scans h i s surroundings for further threats before securing his w eap o n .

C A L L T O A C T IO N

Jump back threeweeksto the cafe in Fairchild Hall. Cadets busy

themselves with their daily routines and the Hall of Exemplars is

bustling with activity. Cl C Kenneth Costello and civilian coach Kelly Hohnholz take their seats for a meeting with Checkpoints

magazine. They are here to discuss the importance of t h e n ew

cadet Combat Shooting Team, what it means for the Academy

and for the f ut ure of A ir Force offi cers w ho receive t h ei r co m m i s si on from U SA FA .

Costello is the Cadet-in-Charge of the Combat Shooting Team , and provides a brief history of how this new club came into being.

He illustrates that the team was founded by cadets who recognized a need for a combat oriented shooting program at the Academy.

Costello was a freshman then, and recounts the club’s primitive

origins. “TheAcademy had a stockpileof weaponsfrom t h e i n t er collegiatepistol team that had been shut down someyears back

for lack of interest. Therefore, we had the weapons an d t h e A i r Force began allocating ammo for us.”

Casually organized at fi rst, the club began searching for a fi gure head with extensive knowledge in the tactical shooting a r e n a t o provide guidanceand mentorship. Fortunately, the club’spath

wassoon aligned with Kelly Hohnholz, a seasoned tactical practitioner who teaches fi re-armssafety courses in D enver, Colo a r m

rado. “Before Coach Kelly came along,” Costello explains.

20

w e

s

were pretty much just picking up these weapons to hone o u r b asi c marksmanship skills. We were really struggling for membership and participation.”

Kelly has since become the volunteer civilian coach of t he Combat Shooting Team. A lifetime shooter, fi rearm enthusiast and safety professional. Coach Kelly recalls his initial i n t r o d u ct i o n to the Academy shooting club. “At the time, my wife an d I w er e

holding open range days, which we called ‘making payments.’ I

got a call from the CIC of the Academy’s Combat Shooting T eam , asking if he and the club could attend. We didn’t have r o o m t o accommodate their 14 shooters at the time, so I agreed t o c o m e down to the Academy and do a range day for them.”

When Kelly arrived at the Academy, he was surprised t o fi n d that the team only had fi ve rifl es for 14 shooters. “They had no holsters,” he recounts, “no slings, no basic gear at all . So I decided it was my calling to help them.” Kelly went to work contacting all of his affi liates in the gun industry, making a case f o r t h e cad et

team. “My contactscame through in spades,” Kelly remembers.

“Remington and Bushmaster donated rifl es. Beretta hasd o n at ed

M 9 pistols to the program. There was a real out pouring of sup port to help these kids with the basic equipment that i s si m i l ar t o

what they will be issued on active duty.” D>

RIFLE MAGAZINES

Magpul PMAG AR- 15 Magazines:

St andard load o ut is six

HEARING/ VISION PROTECTION

Revision Sawfl y glasses and Howard Leight Impact Sport electronic hearing protection.

magazines, 180 rounds.

PISTOL MAGAZINES Standard load o u t is t hree

magazines, 45 rounds

PRI MARY W EAPON

Bushmaster XM 15E2 type

SpecOps Brand Overarmor

caiE i ne: 5.56 N AT O . 30

V est and ar mo r: used to car ry

round magazines. Primary weapon in layered offense.

Effective range: 550 yards.

most equipment such a s magazines, medical supplies, and water. Armor replicates

w h at w i ll be used i n com bat .

SECONDARY WEAPON C lock 34 o r Berett a M 9 : 9X 19 m m . 15+ round

magazines. Part of layered off ense, used i n case t he

primary weapon goes down.

Effective range: 50 yards

C1C KENNETH COSTELLO

C(

Were not out there to turn gunpowder

i nt o n oi se. W e re ou t t h ere t o t rai n .

“Coach Kelly has played a huge part in developing a cu r r i cu lum for the team,” Costello adds, “getting us equipped w i t h n ew weapons. He’svery well connected with a multitudeof companies,

including Remington.” Just recently, the USAFA Endowment played a pivotal role in accepting a gift of 20 M-9 pistols from

Beretta on behalf of the Combat Shooting Team. The group also uses the AR-15 rifl e, which is essentially the equivalent o f t h e A i r Force’s standard issue M4 rifl e only without the fully au t o m at i c fi ring capabilities. With the new plethora of weapons in place, the team went to work on how to safely and effectively use t hem in sim ulated com bat sit uat ions.

“For the most part,” Costello describes, “a typical practice is designed to cover the basics. We learn how to shoot targets, how to reload and how to handle malfunctions.” One of the program’s main objectives is to begin familiarizing cadets with the weapons

they will be issued while in theAir Force. Coach Kelly d iscu sses

his strategic plan regarding young off icers freshly m in ted from t he Academy who are preparing to go on active duty. “Em not a police offi cer,” he clarifi es. “ I don’t kick in doors for a living, but I felt a

calling to turn my knowledge over to the Combat Shooting Team , to the people who are preparing to go into harm’s way.” C o ach

Kelly emphasizesthe importance of making the cadet training

22

environment as realistic as possible. He has created a cu r r i cu l u m

that pitscadetsagainst the three most probable combat sc e n a r i o s

they will face on active duty.

“The fi rst,” Kelly begins, “involves a downed pilot. O ffi cers need to be able to pick up fi eld weapons—be they U.S. or foreign manufacture—and use them effectively. The second scenario involves theJoint Expeditionary Tasking, or JET program. T h i s is where Air Force personnel are being used for convoys, logistics and fuel delivery where they are performing roles that w o u l d traditionally be handled by the Army or Marines. So, our training teaches them how to respond if they get ambushed in a vehicle.

The third most likely scenario involves taking cover in a building or house during deployment. We teach cadets the basics o f h ow t o safely and effectively clear each room to take cover o r sh el t er .”

The team has built a foundation on the teachings of M ast er Sergeant Paul Howe, former Army special operations an d i n st r u c tor for Combat Shooting and Tactics. MSGT Howe has published literature on shooting, and explains the basics on what a gun fi ghter should know in a combat situation.

Costello declares that the team starts off every combat sh o o t

ing practice and squadron training session by reciting t h e f o u r pinnacle rulesof weaponssafety. The cadet recitesfrom memory,

“Rule number one: treat every weapon as though it is l o ad ed .

Two: Never muzzle anything you are not willing to destroy. T h r ee: fi nger off the trigger until you are ready to fi re. Four: know your

target, what’saround it, and the statusof your weapon.”

Shooting Team Roster C l C K en neth C ostello C I C Pet er Sh ufeld t

C l C Joshua Auerbach

C2C Joseph Springfi eld C2C Christopher Moede C2C Parker Jamieson C 2C D erek Schillaci C 3C A aron K erk hofF

C3C M ichael Jones

C3C Zackary Watkins

C 3C Sebast ian C onstable C 4 C O l iv er Sf ei r

C 4C A lexander Severson

C4C Jason David

C4C Jared Hafi ch

Si

C 4C G len H anson

OIC: Major Meghan Ripple AOIC: Major Joseph Granistosky NCOICs: TSgt Jon Hyder, TSgt Andre Bell TSgt Adrian Oriade Coach: Mr. Kelly Hohnholz

S H Q D T IN G Working in conjunction with other shooters in a three d i m en

sional environment with live ammunition is infi nitely

m

o r e

complicated than resting in a prone position at the Academy’s

rifl e range. “Outside of being shot at,” Costello says, “ w eat h er

is t he num ber tw o st ress i nd ucer for service m em bers. W e’v e

trained in sub-zero temperatures, when it literally h u r t s t o

move.” No one ever said war was easy, which iswhy t h ese cad et s

take their training so seriously. Considering the harsh reality that many young graduates will one day deploy to Iraq or Afghani

stan, the Combat Shooting Team is offering training of i m m ea surable value. The organization is 100 percent voluntary. C o ach

Kelly, the cadets, the OIC and the NCOIC(s) devote t h ei r t i m e simply because they believe in the program. This brings up the

inevitable question: when will tactical arms training b eco m e a

part of the Academy’s mandatory curriculum?

Back on the Airburst range, the fi ring line prepares f o r t h e transition drill. Just as before, the line advances on the targets, rifl es raised. The cadets get off one shot with their A R- 15s before

thesimulated rifl e malfunction takesplace. The primary w eap o n s are quickly stowed and in the same movement pistolsar e u n - h o l stered, sighted and fi red. The roundscrack through t he ai r as shell casingsdance in long shimmering arcs in the mid-day su n . T h e

rumble of gunfi re dissipates, safeties are locked, weapons bolstered

and thegroup once again goes into the assessment phase.

“This year’s been really good to us,” Costello refl ects. “ W e’v e

gram last semester and the Cadet Wing Training Offi ce—under the Commandant’soffi ce—picked it up. Thev’ve given u s t h e

go-ahead to start a training program that gives cadets so m e b asi c weapons familiarization. The program has been received very well by the Cadet Wing.” A look of satisfaction washes over the cadet ’s

face. “We’re not out there to turn gunpowder into noise. W e’r e o u t

there to t rai n .”

Coach Kelly could not agree more. With a decided increase in Joint Expeditionary Tasking, it is clear that cadets w i l l b en efi t from any weapons training they can get. AsAir Force personnel continue to be cross-integrated with Army and Marine o p er a

tions on the ground, the need for tactical arms training is upon

us. “You can’t always choose your battle fi eld,” Kelly says. “We try very hard to be adaptable, and there’s always an opportunity to learn. We try to teach these cadets to fl ow like w at er ar o u n d potential obstacles.”

Much like water, the cadets are fl uid as they reload t h ei r weapons and prepare for another volley. “Eyes and ears!” cal l s out the CIC. “Eyes and ears!” the cadets chorus in u n i so n .

Hearing and eye protection are secured. The Combat Shooting Team takes up their positions. Each cadet clears his m i n d t o f ocus on t h e t ask at hand . Saf et ies are fl ick ed off and the range

goes hot; the fi ring line proceeds towards their targets an d training continues, ever vigilant. H

made a lot of progress. We implemented a squadron training p r o 23

It t akes a ded icat ed t eam t o f ly one of t hese.

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Air Force Academy re se a rc h d e liv e rs

boost to indust ry

BY A M Y G I L L E N T I N E

41

C O U RT ESY O F T H E C O LO RA D O S PRIN G S B U S IN ESS J O U RN A L p- r

;i# r

dea s f o r 26

W

h i le t h e A i r Fo rce

Academy’s main goal is train ing tomorrow’s military leaders, it is also engaged in something else that’s off m ost

people’s radar but is equally important—research that can be t r an sf er red t o t h e co m m ercial sect o r.

The Academy receives more research funds than any other undergraduate university in the nation, and its cadets are involved in projects often seen at the graduate and post-doctoral level. More than 100 staff ers at the Academy—all with Ph.D.s—are involved solely in research.

The Academy’s research program is funded at $60 million a year, and houses 13 areas of research ranging from social sciences to aerospace to biology and chemistry. Some of the projects are years away from the com m ercial m arket , w h ile ot hers are closer

to production. But a few Academy profes sors over the years have created start-up companies and some have seen their work commercialized with great success.

U P, U P IN T H E A IR

Learn space by doing space—that’s the goal of the aerospace program at theAir Force Academy, one of the more visible areas o f research at t h e i n st i t u t i o n . C ad et s i n

the program are responsible for building, launching and tracking their own multi-

m illion-dollar satellite. K now n as Fal conSat

and FalconLaunch, they are the only under-

graduate programs in the nation that allow cadets this sort of hands-on experience.

Teams of cadets are responsible for everything from building rockets that get the satellite into orbit to the fi nal launch

and data-collection on their projects. The programs have so far launched four satellites, each carrying research projects about nearEarth space, where most of Air Force satel lites operate, gathering information that will assist military satellites operating in space.

Not surprisingly, most of the research in theAcademy’saerospace program has military or government applications. Cadets and professors in the department areworking to aid customers in the active-duty Air Force, the Department of Defense, NASA and the Naval Research Laboratory. Research projects from theAcademy have been launched by NASA and are operating at the International Space Station. NASA, among others, has benefi ted from research conducted via the

Academy’saerospace program. Recently, for example, the government agency started using a gas sensor developed through cadet resear ch fo r i t s rock et s.

W AT ER, W ATER EV ERYW HERE

Dr. Stefan Siegal heads one of theAcad emy’s research projects that seems destined for the commercial sector: He’s developing new ways to capture energy from ocean waves. While the project isn’t new—for the past 30 years, various projects have attempted to harness the ocean’s energy to create electricity—Siegal’s approach is dif ferent, and apparently very promising. “In the other projects,” he explained, “they have

the device residing on top of the water. But nothing lasts more than six months in the open sea. I take a different approach.”

Siegal’s device is placed about 100 feet under the water, where it is safe from high winds and rough seas, but can still capture about 95 percent of a wave’s energy. The device is designed to capture the energy of a wave and translate that energy into power for U.S. cities and military bases.

Once the device is proven to work, the rest of it is easy: underwater cables will deliver electricity to port cities—and beyond.

It works in the lab, and Siegal is ready for the next step: testing a larger version of the device in the G ulf of M exico. H e has

a partnership with the OffshoreTechnol ogy Research Center Wave Basin at Texas A& M University to create the bigger device and then to test it in the open ocean. Not only does Siegal believe he’s conquered the violent storm s of the ocean, he also thinks h i s m ach i n e is m o re effi ci en t .

The project has received funding from

the N at ional Science Foundat ion for the

past two years and, thisyear, the U.S. Department of Energy has kicked in some dollars, too. Siegal believeswave energy will soon prove to be more effi cient than either solar or wind energy. “Waves are m ore consistent t han either solar or w ind ,”

he said. “When you go to the ocean, there are always waves; they’re constant. It’s not a new idea, on the scientifi c end, but no one

has really seen this kind of device before.”

He’ll be building the larger-scale model this year. The one in theAir Force Acad emy lab is built to 1/250th scale. The new

u t u r e 27

Cadets maintain satellite operations from the

Dr. John Wilkes in the USAFA chemistry lab.

l ab at U SA FA .

one will be 1/ 10 scale, or 25 times larger.

Siegal has created a company, called Atargis Energy, to seek venture capital or angel investment for his project. “We’re really trying to start the transition to bring this project into the world,” he said. “There’s a focus on fi nding specifi c hydro-kinetic energy, and ocean wave energy does that.”

T H E RIG H T C H EM IST RY

Shunts to ease ocular pressure in glaucoma patients, a miniscule video camera that reacts as quickly as an insect, storage cells for hydrogen fuel and research into ionic gases—all are part of the research and development going on in the Academy’s biology and chemistry departments.

Biochemist D r. John W ilkes has been

a researcher and teacher at the Academy for decades. And, during those years, he’s partnered with defense companies like Ball Aerospace to bring his inventions to market. His latest project could clear the hurdle in bringing hydrogen-powered cars to market. It’s a hydrogen fuel storage cell—sort of a battery. It stores hydrogen as a near-solid because doing so takes up less volume and more can be packed into the fuel storage cell, he said.

28

Wilkes explains, “It’s then released

at t he rat e needed for the device to run

properly. The idea of a fuel cell isn’t new; it’s been around since 1840. But storing hydrogen—that’s been the problem. This type of device is combined with the fuel cell i n order t o use it in a device.”

What device?Well, essentially anything that needs power, including automobiles.

Wilkes’ fuel battery is about half the weight of previous batteries, and he believes his device gets past the stumbling block of how to store hydrogen fuel. But it won’t solve all the problems associated with hydrogen, he said. “Hydrogen is very fl ammable. It’s one of the negatives—there’s a lot of energy in hydrogen, so you have to be very careful.”

Wilkes is leaving the tech-transfer pos sibilities to his partnersat Ball Aerospace, which isheadquartered in Boulder, Colo rado. It may beyears before any of hiswork on the storage cell goes to market, but one of Wilkes’ earlier projects took just a month to go from lab to marketplace. He managed— with a corporate partner—to create a new battery pack and re-charger for the nation’s u n m an n ed aer i al v eh i cles. T h at w as b ack i n

2003, and W ilkes has continued to w ork on

batteries and storage cells for vehicles.

B u t h e i s b est k n ow n as t h e “ f at h er o f

ionic liquids,” a way of taking liquids and ionizing them so they absorb dangerous chemicals—things like methamphetamines and mustard gas. Some of Wilkes’

r esear ch h as b een sh ow n t o cl ean m et h o u t

of walls, making it possible to renovate an d r eu se f o r m er m et h l ab s w i t h o u t

making new tenants ill. His research could also prove to be the solution to cleaning up the Pueblo Chemical Depot, where the Army has stored mustard gas since World War II, but has yet to fi nd a safe, effective way of destroying the cache.

Another Academy professor. Dr. Mike Wilcox, has produced research that has led t o t h e est ab l i sh m en t o f sev er al n ew co m

panies. Wilcox’s interests span a number of disciplines. At the moment, he has at least three projects in various stages of develop ment including one that is starting human trials and could gain Food and Drug Administration approval as early as 2012.

The concept of using a shunt to displace fl uids from the eye isn’t new. But Wilcox’s design addresses many of the complications associated with surgery to correct glau coma, a disease of the eye in which pressure from ocular fl uid builds up, causing blind-

r

r

Marcus Roemer (left ) and Dr. Stefan Siegel stand near a water tank containing a 1:300 scale model of a wave energy converter they designed in the fall of 2008.

Dr. MikeWilcox from the Biology Department looks into a microscope.

ness in som e cases. H is shunt is a 28-m illi

meter long cylinder with two prongs at the end. When embedded, it occupies only 10 millimeters of space in the eye.

H is research show s, he said , that the

device is able to drain fl uids 16 tim es

more effi ciently than other shunts that are thicker. The device is now being marketed

by Aqueous Biomedical, a company set up by Wilcox. He also has developed a tiny camera that reacts like an insect’s eye.

After months of studying the complexities of a fl y’s eye, Wilcox began to try to apply what he learned to a tiny camera that w ould be used in robots and unm anned

aerial vehicles. “Imagine if a robot or plane could respond to a threat as quickly as a fl y,” Wilcox said. “That’s what we’re trying to do here.”

The “fl y camera,” as its known, isn’t ready for commercial production, nor is Wilcox’s other project—a glove that will help stroke victims regain their grip—a glove so sensitive that patients can pick up an egg or a coffee cup. “Right now, we’ve just proven we can do one fi nger,” he said. “So now this semester we’re going to spend it on the entire hand.”

The glove creates a sort of “exoskel

eton” and is like an ext ension of t he ski n ,

he said. “It’s pretty exciting,” Wilcox recounted. “This will allow people to change their grip and get more control. It’s really an assistive therapy.”

Of course, a lot of the research under

way in the labs and classrooms at the Academy is, in a way, assistive, too.

BY T H E N U M B ERS

The Air Force Academy’s research lab at a glance: • $60 m illion — val ue of research

grants received annually cooperative research and development agreements with private industry • 550 — scientifi c journal articles pub lished annually by its professors.

• 90

• 13 — research centers and tw o inst i

tutes at the Academy • 100 — Academy doctoral staff engaged solely in research projects Source: Air Force Academy.

Visit the Colorado Springs BusinessJournal

onlineat csbj.com. H

29

w

2 0 10

By Lewis Carlyle

4

EV E RY Y E A R ,

T H E U S A IR FO RC E A C A D EM Y A N D T H E A SSO C IAT IO N O F G RA D UAT ES

SELEC T T W O IN D IV ID UA LS FRO M T H E RA N KS O F T H E LO N G BLU E LIN E W H O HA V E G O N E A BO V E A N D B EYO N D SERV IC E T O O U R N AT IO N . T H ESE D IST IN G U ISH ED G RA D UAT ES A RE H O N O RED W IT H T H E A C A D EM Y ' S M O ST PREST IG IO U S A W A RD FO R T H EIR SERV IC E T O BO T H T H E M ILITA RY A N D C IV ILIA N SEC T O RS. T H E RO ST ER O F PA ST

D IST ING UISHED G RA DUAT ES INC LUD ES CO RPO RAT E CEO S, FO UR-STA R G EN ERA LS A N D EV EN A M EM B ER O F T HE UN IT ED STAT ES CO NG RESS. T HIS YEA R, TW O M O RE O F T H E A C A D EM Y ' S FIN EST J O IN T H IS ELIT E G RO U P O F IN DIVIDUA LS A S MAX JA M ES, C LA SS O F 1964, A N D G EN ERA L RA LPH E. " ED " EBERHA RT, CLA SS O F 1968, A RE H O N O RED W IT H T H E 20 10 D IST IN G U ISH ED G RA D UAT E A W A RD .

Max James | Class of 1964 During his years on active duty. Max Jameswas assigned t o t h e astronaut recovery program at Patrick Air Force Base, Fl o r i d a. A f t er volunteering to become a rescue helicopter pilot in V ietnam , he w as shot down twice over the course of his 200 combat missions. James

holds numerous commendations for courage under fi re.

The chopper pilot refl ects pensively on his time at the Academy and how it played an infl uence on his military career. H e recalls, “I think that understanding the purpose of what the Academy was providing in the way of training in all fi elds was critical, e.g., understanding the role of the Air Force in defending this country; understanding the necessity of mental preparation and strength for courage and endurance under stress; realizing the physical strength that was our potential to perform; respecting t h e ch ai n of command and how to deal with disagreement within a military organization; and trust of those with whom you were performing any demanding task.”

As all graduatesknow, before entering the academic year at the Academy, each basic cadet must fi rst face the dreaded B asi c C ad et Training. James shares a cascade of memorieswhich began with his boots in the mud on those critical fi rst days. “I loved t h e o b st acle course,” hesaysof BCT “I did well enough to be chosen as a can d id at e for the Panama Games (though I didn’t ever make it there). During BCT, an upperclassman told me he couldn’t wait for my hair to grow back because the ‘bumpsand lumps’ on my shaven head were disgust ing. It washilariouswhen a First Classman cut his ear w i t h th e saber during ‘Present Arms’ command on the parade fi eld.”

With BCT behind him, James delved into the Academy at f u l l speed. Among his favorite memories are being President o f t h e Cadet Offi cers’ Club, receiving one of the distinguished cad et awards (sculpture of the Eagle and Fledglings) at one of the gradu ation ceremonies during June Week, performing at the N at i o n al

M u si c U n d er w r i t er s C o n v en t i o n at t h e B r o ad m o o r R eso r t w i t h

his folk singing quartet, the Pikesmen, and being selected as t h e editor of the 7a/on Magazine.

Like many cadets, James had a life-changing experience during his time at the Academy. During his senior year, when serving as Squadron Commander, he awoke one morning to fi nd h i s Air Offi cer Commanding at his dorm room door. The AOC accompanied by a sweat-covered, frightened looking d o o l i e i n BDUs and holding a rifl e. James quickly learned that t h e f r esh man was being punished by another upperclassman who d i d n o t personally oversee the punishment. This was a gross v i o l at i o n o f conduct, and because all parties fell under James’ jurisdiction, he was removed as Squadron Commander, demoted to Cadet F i r st Class, physically isolated from the squadron, and placed on proba tion. It was during this time that the Group AOC and his m ent or, Lt. Col. Ashmore, told him the story of two young lieutenants— straight out of pilot training—who had been placed u n d er h i s command in the China-Burma-India Theater. After fl ying t h ei r missions, the two pilots, eager to bolster their cockpit experience as quickly as possible, would practice combat maneuvers against each other. Recognizing the added danger within an already dangerous war, Ashmore confronted the two lieutenants. James recounts the story in Ashmore’s words, “When I fi nally got them on the ground I chewed them out, read them up one side an d down the other. I thought the problem was solved. Two m i ssi o n s later, we came back and these two did the same thing again. Only this time, they crashed into each other. We lost both m en an d both airplanes. I was immediately removed from my command as a combat offi cer and was shipped back to the Pentagon. T h at ’s why I have this silver clover on my shoulder rather t h an so m e thing more signifi cant.” And then, James recalls the l esso n t h at would change his life forever. Ashmore had said solemnly, “ H er e’s w a s

31

General Ralph E. Ed Eberhart , 68

my point: You are always responsible for your men, w h et h er i t ’s your fault or not. You can delegate authority, but y o u can n o t delegate responsibility.”

Jameswould go on to place thislesson amid hispersonal code of ethics, where it still livesin every decision he makes today (further more, hewas evenmally given a second chance and placed b ack o n Ashmore’sGroup Staff with full privileges). James recounts, “T he phrase ‘You can delegate authority, but not responsibility’ h as b een central to all the leadership positions I have held both during my mili tary career and through all my businessand philanthropic en d eavo rs.”

After serving his tour of duty, James finished his military com m it m ent and m oved on to the civ ilian sector, w here he quickly became a tenacious business man, even serving as the E x ecu t iv e Vice President of Days Inns of America. He owned 18 h o t el s i n the western United States along with seven ReMax territories i n northern C alifornia. H e is also the ow ner of A m erican K i o sk an d

North American Kiosk, a special retail operation with al m o st $200 m illion in annual sales.

A true believer in service before self, James applies t h e A i r Fo r ce core values to his philanthropic efforts as well. He is a generous supporter of the Boys and Girls Clubs, and is founder of Camp Soaring Eagle, which provides free medically based camping services to chronically ill children. He is also on an advisory board of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and a major supporter o f t h e M uham m ad A l i Park inson’s Research C enter.

Today, James is also a proud supporter of theAcademy. “My most satisfying role as an alumnus,” he says, “is the r o l e I h av e been honored to play in the development of the new Academy icon: The Center for Character and Leadership Development.

That responsibility ranks right up there with serving a s a

32

r esc u e

pilot with theJolly Green helicopter force in Vietnam.”

James is excited for the future of the Academy. He, along with many others, is devoted to maintaining the high standards w hi ch gave him the tools to become successful in both the military and civilian fi elds. Today, he is setting an example to others by giving back to the institution which has given so much to him . “ Th e most popular book ever written,” James says thoughtfully, “ st at es that when you give, it comes back tenfold. Philanthropy w i l l continue to be my major work, which will require that I manage and monitor my personal assets and resources to provide t h e b est possible outcome for service to my fellow man.”

General Ralph E. " Ed" Eberhart | Class of 1968 A true leader from thevery beginning, Ralph Eberhart serv ed as Cadet Wing Commander hissenior year, the highest rank av ai lab l e t o a cadet. Refl ecting back on his time at theAcademy, E b er h ar t rem em bershow it shaped him as a person and as an offi cer. “Without ques tion it established the foundation,” he recalls sharply. “Every graduate of theAcademy, whether they made a career of the military o r w e n t on to the civilian world, would have to say that their experience at the Academy paved theway for their success.”

Eberhart details his experience at USAFA as challenging i n many ways. “It certainly wasn’t insurmountable,” he clarifi es, “ but the Academy challenged us in ways that built character. A s cadets, we developed a work ethic that was key to getting things d o n e.

Basic Cadet Training was a real eye-opener. When we f el l o u t o n the fi rst morning the cadre played ‘You Were a Big Man Yesterday’ over the PA system. That song captured our plight at t h e t i m e.

Outside I wasn’t laughing, but inside I was grinning.”

While theAcademy presented itschallenges, the cadetsstill m an aged to make room for morale-boosting activities. “I was there during the Commandant change-over from Brig. Gen. Ted Seith to Brig.

Gen. Robin Olds,” Eberhart remembers, “two remarkable lead ers

who were so very different. Having the privilege of being the Cadet Wing Commander for both of those individualsis an experience I cherish to thisday. 1still remember when the spirit co m m i tt ee d rove trucks across the terrazzo and dropped off cases of b eer. T he d o rm s emptied and the cadetswent out and drank the beer. The Deputy Com mandant didn’t think too m uch of this and it almost c o s t m e

my job as theWing Commander. But Gen. Olds thought t h e w h o le thing was funny and hehad a good laugh.”

Af ter receiving his commission, Eberhart fl ew 300 combat m issions in Southeast A sia as a forw ard ai r con troller. D uring

the span of his 36-year career, he logged more than 5,000 fl ying

hours and fi nished his service as t he C om m ander, U .S. N o r t h er n

Command and NORAD. During his fi nal command, he worked to form a stronger cohesion among our air, land and m a r i t i m e defenses in the w ake of the 9- 11 at tacks.

Looking back over the history of his storied career, E b er h ar t cannot help but refl ect upon the changes which have shaped the Academy over the years. “The Academy has changed a l o t in terms of the disciplines offered and the academic str ucture,” he begins. “The co-educational movement is also a very positive change. I applaud all of these changes as necessary and appropri ate. I don’t think that an inst it ution can afford to be stagnant or to be content with the status-quo.”

Eberhart is very happy to see that while many things h av e changed, the core values of integrity, service and ex cel l en ce h av e remained. In considering the most essential gifts he r eceiv ed from the Academy, he explains, “I think the most important i s integrity. Your word is your bond. The work ethic you develop is a close second. You have to work just as hard and just as long and do whatever it takes to get the job done. The importance o f

Today, Eberhart is the President and Chairman of Armed Fo rces

Benefi t Association (A FBA). In addition to his duties at AFBA , he also

serves as director for the N ational H om eland D efense Foundation and

isan advisory member for Segs4Vets, a grassrootsprogram assisting wounded veterans. Having a lifetime of experience in both military and civilian sectors, this Distinguished Graduate has am assed a w eal t h of experience that any young graduatewould bewise to l ist en t o . “ I ’m very careful about providing advice these days,” says Eberhart thought fully. “The next generation of cadets isgoing to be living in aworld that isvastly different from theworld that shaped my career. However the basics remain the same: integrity, excellence, service before self, work ethic, and that life is a team sport.”

Much like Max James, Ed Eberhart iscommitted to supporting t h e Academy which shaped hiscareer. “The USAEA Endowment an d th e Falcon Foundation are both important organizations that support our alma-mater. I will continue to look for ways to give back, through

government serviceand charitableorganizations.” H

Max Jamesand Ralph Eberhart are currently members of the USAEA Endowment Board of Directors.

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1

W h om C an Yo u T r u st ?

Creating an online

m o d e l f o r t rust w o rt h in ess

By Nathan Atherley, '99 and Ji m Parco, 9 1

T

heAir ForceAcademy conjures up many images in the minds of Americans. Aside from its institutional beauty and rigorous programs, one aspect routinely stands above all others.

Just ask anyonewhat they think of graduates from America’s military academiesand they’ll oft en usewords like “honor, integrity and trustworthiness.”

Integrity isn’t exclusively a concept embraced by military academ ies. I n fact, most academ ic institutions in the U n i t ed St at es

hold it in equally high regard. The diff erence, however, is m anifest in the culturesof military academies. Integrity defi nes them . It’s of no surprise to anyone that “Integrity First” are the fi rst words any new cadet will read when arriving at USAFA and thosew o rd s w ill fo llow h im o r h er fo r th e rest o f th ei r liv es.

Trustworthiness isessential in our day-to-day livesbecause every one prefers to deal with trustworthy people. However, in an age of increasing technological complexity, knowing whom t o t r u st i s becoming more of a challenge. Because many online environments provide a level of anonymity to other users, one can never be sure if they can or should trust someonewhom they’ve never m e t .

Imagine if a person’s reputation based on a lifetime of good behavior could be reliably captured and predictions ab o u t t h ei r trustworthiness could be reliably modeled. Fortunately, t h i s may soon be a reality thanks to a hi-tech startup co-founded by two USAFA grads.

In 2009, Nathan Atherley, ’99, and one of his former USAFA professors, Jim Parco, ’91, formed a company i n Si l i con Valley called Repfy . As a portable reputation company, i t is one of the fi rst to develop a portable reputation sy st em .

Built on the ideals and principles learned as cadets a t USAFA, the founders developed Repfy , a product that seek s t o fi nd the most trustworthy people in society and provide t h em a tool to showcase a lifetime of honest behavior. By giving its users the power to safely and reliably prove their reputations to others, Repfy places reputation scores under their u ser s’ co n trol allowing them to break away from costly feedback si l o s t o transact in the previously anonymous forums and “take t h ei r reputations with them.

Repfy ’s CEO Nathan Atherley, ’99, explains, “Our vision i s to not only identify those people with a bad reputation an d allow you to avoid them when transacting or interacting w i t h those online, but really to identify those people who d em o n strated lifelong good behavior, allowing them to benefi t f r o m those behaviors. We really seek to improve the world, interaction at a time by rewarding good behavior.”

Although there are other companies developing similar products, Repfy is unique in its approach to modeling t r u s t worthiness. Co-founder Jim Parco, ’91, explains; “Think o f o n e

i t as the FI C O score of trustw orthiness. W e believe t h er e i s a

mathematical structure that underlies today’s social i n t e r c o n -

nectedness of onl ine t ransact ions and social netw ork spaces.”

Although Repify ’s algorithm for modeling trust is proprietary, Parco says, “No one else is doing what we are because it’s very

di fi cult to m im ic w ithout direct access t o the black b o x . W e’r e

collaborating with some of the brightest minds in the w o r l d i n terms of how to best model the social graph. Our Chief R & D offi cer is the leading economics expert in this area.”

Repify seeks to solve some fundamental problems encoun tered on the web today. Current reputation programs only work within a single site, such as ebay. For example, a sel l er on ebay builds his reputation by selling quality products an d providing swift service. These good deeds are rated by happy buyers and therefore improve the seller’s approval rating. A high approval rating builds customer confi dence which i n t u r n improves sales.

Repify is designed to work across all platforms, building your reputation from your interactions on a larger c r o ss se c t i o n of sites such as Ebay, Facebook, MySpace, and Linked I n . T h i s gives users the incentive to be on good behavior no m a t t e r where they maintain an online presence. All of these i n t e r a c tions culminate to a reputation score, similar to a credi t score, which improves a user’s rating on e-commerce sites. Repfy incorporates a social vouching system that rewards each u ser for trust commitments from other trustworthy individuals, but also downgrades parties for any untrustworthy user act i o n .

Preserving the integrity of one’s established trust n etw o r k i s a powerful motivation to behave honorably at all times.

In the end, Atherley and Parco seek to go far beyond t h e m ere creation of a system to producewide-reaching reputation profi les that can be ported acrossdomains to facilitate exchange. I nstead, they hope to change theway in which people behave tow ar d s o n e another. “We believe that by providing transparent reputation his tories and eliminating anonymity among actorsin the t ran sact io n , social and fi nancial domain, Repfy will not only improve effi ciency of markets, it can fundamentally alter theway in which people behave in a profoundly positive manner,” saysAtherley.

Topping the list of Repfy s’ guiding principles is the p r o t ec tion of individual privacy. Once a user creates an a c c o u n t o r claims an existing profi le in Repfy s’ database, the i n fo r m at io n is completely under the user’s control. Since launching i n O ct o ber 2009, they’ve attracted the support and attention o f t h r ee of USAFA’s most successful entrepreneurs from three previous generations of grads who comprise Repfy s’ Board of A d v i so r s.

From the 1960scomes Dick Schlosberg, ’65. Schlosberg i s a former chief executive of the Denver Post, LosAngelesT i m es an d Packard Foundation. Schlosberg sees the potential for Repfy to revolutionize the new m edia of tomorrow. From the 1970s, c o m e s

JW “Wild Bill” Stealey, ’70. Stealey established his reputation as a successful USAFA entrepreneur aft er co-founding MicroProse in 1982, which produced over 250 games including Civilization, 35

F-15 StrikeEagle, Red Storm Rising and F-117A Stealth Fighter.

Twenty-one of MicroProsesgameswere subsequently i d en t i fi ed as “thevery best of the 1990s.” Under hisleadership, the company grew from an initial $1,500 investment to $43 million i n sal es an d eventually went public. And from the 1980 s comesChuck W al lace, ’86. Like Stealey, Wallace isan alum of theW h ar t o n Sch o ol

CompUments of

M ar at h on

Technologies!

of Business. W allace co-founded and built Esurance i n t o th e

r ev e n u e s

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fastest growing auto insurance company in the USwith approaching $1 billion, 500,000 current customers, 2,000 employ ees, and 11 offi ces nationwide. Providing all of Repij yslegal services isJosh Smith, ’91. Smith practicessmall businessan d i n t ellecm al property law in Portland.

So why hasn’t this been done already?According to th e fo u n d ers, for one, it’savery hard problem to solve and the solution goes beyond a mere clever idea. They acknowledge the companiesw h o have attempted developing a similar product in the past, but all have either failed or morphed into something else. They claim Repij y is diff erent, not only in that it is the fi rst company to have thevision of creating a portable reputation that will have an eff ect of getting people to behave better, but also because of who they are. “Our core team is unlike any other,” saysAtherley. “ Fro m t h e fi rst day of basic training, wewere taught to believe in the goodwill of humanity and subscribed to the Honor Code. We have bel ieved that honorable behavior begetshonorable behavior when people who have reputationson the line interact with one an o th er.”

Parco explains how Repify s’ algorithm seeks to reward t h o se who behave according to the values of the honor code as they t r an sact an d i n t er act w i t h o t h er s o n l i n e. A n d t h o se w ho don’t ,

Pr oud t o be a Pa r t ner

Arch Chemicals, Inc. is proud of our greater than 50-year heritage in hydrazine hydrates and propellants. During this time, Arch hydrazine has fueled the race to space, helping propel the Voyager spacecraft and Space Shuttle as well as military and telecommunication

satellites. A rch

looks

forward to continuing to serve as a "mission-

essential" supplier to the Defense Logistic Agency-Energy, NASA and U.S. Air Fo r ce .

won’t be tolerated. A person’s RepiScore will be his or her badge of honor and available to show the world that (1) they t r u s t others and (2) are equally worthy of being trusted t h em selv es.

“Just imagine aworld where everyone knowseveryone else’s rep utation,” repliesAtherley. “When you contemplate buying a M acBook on Craigslist from someonewith an exceptional RepiScore, you’ll know the likelihood of it being a positive transaction f ree from fraudulent intent. Likewise, when you go to sell your car in the local want ads, otherswill know of your exceptional RepiScore and will be far more inclined to pay you what your car is w o r th instead of discounting it for the risk they would otherwise if you happened to be overstating the car’s quality. Knowing you have a reputation to uphold, the risks of transacting go down and the effi ciency of markets increase. Repify believesit can change the way people think about online commerce in the future.”

In the coming months, this team of grads from across four decades hopes to create a business model for Repij y t h at assu m

e

show cases U SA FA’s values and it s ideals of t rustw orth iness, integrity and reputation similar to what FaceBook did for social netw orks at H arvard . W h en asked w hat’s next , A t h er

ley replied, "'Repij y seeks to change the way in which people

behave tow ards one another. A nd w hen w e succeed, the w o r l d

will be a better place for all in an evolving ecosystem o f t r an s

act ions and social int eract ions w here the one st able v ar i ab l e i s

(and always will be) human behavior.”

To learn more about the company or establish a free

w w w .hy d ra zine.co m

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w w w .a r c h ch e ni i ca l s . co n i

account, visit www.repify.com. RH

2011 Tax Law Changes: Are Your Est at e Plans Impact ed?

The New Year has brought changes t o federal est ate t ax laws, which may have a subst ant ial impact on t he t axes your est ate will owe.

Your est ate can receive charit able t ax deduct ions if you make provisions t o gift t he port ion

of your assets that are not needed to support your surviving spouse or ot her loved ones.

An ideal charit able recipient is t he USAFA Endowment , who provides ongoing t ransforma t ive support t o t he Air Force Academy and its mission of developing leaders of character.

Review your plans wit h your est at e planning attorney as soon as possible t o determine if updat ing is needed . To help you prepare, we offer a free, no-obligation information packet on t he estat e planning process. Contact Dale Zschoche at t h e U SA FA En d o w m e nt o f fic e :

719.472.0300 ext. 212 or dale.zschoche@usafaendowment.org.

T h e U S A FA E n d o w m e n t

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t seems that every edition of Checkpoints contains profi les of graduates performing heroics, participating in acts of service. and fi nding success in careers that don’t seem linearly related to the USAFA experi ence or active duty service- •at least not to many outside of the USAFA community.

A unique and local addition to this spec-

says Lauri. “It took a while to get things organized

U SA FA’s N orth G ate w here L auri C ross, ’8 1, estab-

and Susanne Fi ayes, North American Riding for the Fl andicapped Certifi ed Instructor, and Equine Facilitated Mental Health Specialist.

Since those fi rst days, kauri’s relied on a patchwork of benefactors and helpers to grow WBARS. Her volunteer group includes grads Marty

t rum of service can be found not far f rom

lished the W ild Blue Animal Rescue and Sanct uary

(WBARS) on acreage near the home she shares with

her h usband , Scott Trim bol i,’80.

I have always been an animal lover and wanted to help animals after I retired from the Air Force

after I retired in 2005, but I decided to take the

leap and just go for it in late 2009.” In kauri’s

words, her husband, Scott, has served as “the

well-stocked base camp from which to climb this m o u n t a i n ! She has also had signif i cant support I

from her Board M embers: Karen Eberhart (wife of General Ed Eberhart, Class of 1968 and 2010

Distinguished Graduate). Dr. Cristy Fisher, DVM;

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Insid e t he W ild

Blue Animal Rescue and Sanct uary

By Col. Mart in France, '81 a time, based on square footage. It has four large rooms for cats (not cages) as well as a large play where cats can run, j ump, and climb. The rooms also have pet doors to outdoor kennel areas so the cats can go outside for fresh air or to sun themselves on the grass. Although WBARS doesn’t have facili ties for dogs yet, Lauri did take on one large dog for whom she was able to fi nd a wonderful Army family to adopt, and she also assists folks with placing dogs they’ve found or can no longer keep.

Wild Blue’s philosophy is the biggest difference between it and other animal rescue organizations in El Paso County. WBARS is a “No Kill” organization that is also energetically trying to help move El Paso County to the same policy. In 2009, El Paso County put down nearly 4,700 cats alone, and over 20,000 a r e a

*

France,’8 1, Julie Kadlubowski, ’86, and her husband

Mike Kadlubowski, ’81, Courtney Hemmert, ’06, Bobby Wright, ’81, Ross Conrad, ’06, and his wife

Jill Trimboli Conrad (USNA ’07).

Several cadet squadrons have also volunteered their time on community service projects at Wild Blue, and local Boy Scout troops have already com pleted three Eagle Scout projects there. The USAFA Athletic Department donated a miniature football helmet, autographed by head football coach Troy Calhoun, as well as four tickets to a football game for a silent auction fundraiser earlier this year.

Today, Wild Blue consists of a small facility reno vated from a detached four-car garage and is gener ally authorized to house between 18 and 20 cats at

w ere euthanized state-w ide.

According to Lauri, “thevast majority of these

cats and kittens would have gone on to live happy and healthy lives had they been given the time to fi nd an adoptive home. Often, our animal control facilities are unable or unwilling to give the animals more time to be adopted out. One of the more popular reasons given for the killing is that there just isn’t enough room to house the animals, and that there is an overpopulation problem in general.

Research by No Kill organizations has found, how ever, that there are more people looking to add pets to t heir fam ilies than t here are ani mals k il led , so t h e

o v e

lulationxil ^ seisconsidered amyth by those

hoping to save more animal lives.”

One of WBARS many goals is also informational; to help the general population understand that far t o o many pet animals are being killed in our nation’s shel tersand that the vast majority of these are not mercy killings. The community uses the term “euthanasia” broadly, and many people believe this means putting

an animal down fo r mercy reasons (e.g., put it out o f misery due to terminal illness or incurable pain). I n fact, “euthanasia” simply means to kill or put down animal in a humaneway—one that does not induce additional pain, fear or discomfort to the animal.

WEARS ispart of a network of organizations striv ing to make the United States a “No Kill” nation by

a n

20 15. Lauri cites M ahatm a G andhi w ho said, “T he

greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by theway its animalsare treated.” She adds that, “In order for us to help put El Paso County on the ‘No Kill’ map, we need a facility large enough an d appropriate to the task of taking the pressure off shelterswhich are overwhelmed with large numbers of animals being surrendered.”

Despite the hardships along the way, Lauri has some special memories. Wild Blue has saved the lives of 50 cats sinceApril 2010. She’s been thrilled by t h e involvement of local young people (including cadets mentioned above) helping develop the Kitty Com munity. Furthermore, Pine Creek Veterinary Hospital has been wonderful, providing care of Wild Blue animals at discounted rates. They have also voluno u r

Top, Lto R: Curious cats are never kept in cages at Wild Blue.

Instead, they cohabitate in large rooms. Lauri Cross, '8 1, is t he f o u nd e r of W i ld B l ue .

Bot t o m : The s he lt e r is h o m e t o

cats young and old.

teered their time on Sundays for the WEARS “Snip and Chip” program that aims to provide low cost but high quality spay/neuter for local pets, as well help with reuniting lost pets with their humans using microchips implanted in the animals.

In the long-term, Lauri seesWild Blue as a as

Lto R: Dr. Cristy Rsher provides the much-needed service of spaying and neutering cats. Local volunteers are the lifeblood of Wild Blue. Cadets volunt eer

at Wild Blue Animal Rescue as part of t h e i r c ivi l se rvi c e .

beacon on the hill for anim als, as w ell as anim al

lovers in the community. The facility is already a wonderful sanctuary where animals feel safe and comfortable in a cage-free environment as they await their forever family to fi nd them and take them home. Future goals include being able to provide veterinary care to any animal who needs it, even those belonging to families who need an extra hand during diffi cult times. Wild Blue animals will give back to humans by giving them comfort through programs developed to help soldiers, airmen, sailors, marines and coast guardsmen with PTSD and/or other physical and emotional condi tions, senior citizens who are lonely but are unable to care for their own pets due to physical conditions or a lack of fi nancial means, and young people who need to learn or practice compassionate leadership.

Lauri envisions a larger facility for the future of Wild Blue. It is her hope to become yet another at t ract ion for our local area, one t hat w ill dem on

strate compassionate leadership. Until that goal is met, Lauri will continue to accept support from the local community. Wild Blue also is in constant need of towels, kennels, cat food, kitty litter, pet carri ers and a constant stream of volunteers willing to

open their homes as foster families for pets awaiting permanent placement. Wild Blue is also seeking additional Board Members with skills/knowledge in legal, business, and fundraising areas.

L auri credit s t he sk ills she learned at U SA FA

and developed over the years during her military career as key to her progress to date and vision for the future. While WEARS is a non-profi t rescue, it is still a business that requires leadership, integrity, dedication and service beyond self The consider able daily challenges of running Wild Blue, while still working full time as a defense contractor with PatchPlus Consulting Inc, demand the sense of bal ance and the ability to multi-task that she learned as a member of the fi rst group of female cadet candidates at the USAFA Prep School and later at the Academy. She calls on those lessons to help her prioritize her many commitments, remembering that which is most important to her.

You can learn m ore about W ild Blue A n im al

Rescue and Sanctuary, as well as make a tax-deduct ible donation at: www.wbars.org.

41

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U SA FA R A N G E R S A legacy of service

at t he Philmo nt Sco ut Ranch Bycic Patrickxracy

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| ^“So, whal is different between here and your home?” T h e v o i ce I pierces the silent crisp night. The crew sits motionless, still taking in their surroundings. They are perched high atop an eer i e m esa, the cool black mountain night descended around them. The only movement is a shooting star, perhaps a passing satellite. T h e W ash ington D.C. teens gather a few words—“no lights ... no cars going down the street ... it’s peaceful.” As a group, the speaker has the kids recount theWilderness Pledge: Through good scout camping, I

pledgetopreservethebeauty and splendor of thePhilmont Wi lder ness. I commit myself to: 1. Theabsence of litter or grafi ti 2. Respect

f or Philmont’s wildlif e3. Conservation and proper use of water 4.

Respectf or trailsand trail signs5. Proper useof campsites.

Their chant dissolves into the cool night air, bonding t h em as conscious stewards of the wilderness. Their pledge adds yet another group of scouts into a special alumni of those f o r ev er mindful of the gift that is the outdoors. The leader of the group— the one most mindful of his surroundings—is the Ranger Scout , a USAFA cadet who has been blessed to spend his summer l ead er ship credit on the Philmont Scout Ranch.

Since 1938, Ph ilm ont Scout Ranch has served as the c r o w n

ing expedition for all scouts and adult leaders in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Initiated by a grant from Oklahoma o i l b ar o n Mr. Waite Phillips, Philmont now annually receives upwards of 21,000 scouts and adults. They come from across the n a t i o n t o venture out on ten-day backpacking trips through the w i l d er n ess.

Complete with activities like mountain biking, rock climbing, blacksmithing, and shotgun shooting, Philmont has cemented itself as the premier high adventure base for the BSA. Up front, guiding each new crew of scouts is their ranger.

As storied as the Ranch itself, Philmont Rangers serve as t h e face of the Ranch—guiding each crew of scouts and adults f r o m the minute they get off the bus through their fi rst few days on the trail. Throughout all circles of outdoorsmanship, r an ger s are widely recognized as experts of outdoor living. Representing thousands of hours in the wilderness, rangers are able t o d r aw upon years of experience to help prepare crews in everything f r o m keeping bears out of a camp site to making dehydrated d i n n er s taste great (or so they say).

Woven into the great ranger legacy. Air ForceAcademy cad ets h ave served as Philmont Rangers for over half of the Ranch’s history. When asking around thissummer, the USAFA Rangerslearned they were the 40th year of continuous ranger presenceon the ranch, dating all the way back to 1971. While theoriginsof thisprogram rem ain unclear.

Mark Anderson, Director of Programscommented that “this w as a good connection that just fell into place.” Besidesjust USAFA and Philmont linking up, “falling into place” tells the greater story of the military and scouting in America. Over 100 yearsyoung in 20 10, the Boy Scoutsof America has prepared millionsof youth for leadership.

Most notably among the military profession. Secretary R o b er t G at es and General David Petraeusare both Eagle Scoutsalong w ith 13% of current USAFA cadets. This natural affi nity between military and scouting is the centerpiece of USvVFAs40 yearsof ser vi ce t o Ph il m o n t .

Aft er 40 years, Philmont has engrained itself as a cov et ed lead er ship option for cadets. Last summer over 380 male and fem ale cadets submitted applications to be a ranger. With only 25 slots allotted last summer, Philmont GIG , Gadet First Class Kory Carpenter h ad so m e tough calls to make. While he admits many more than 25 were quali fi ed to be rangers based on their outdoor skillsalone, “ W e selected only the best rangers based on their ability to work well with young teens, be outgoing, and fl ex to whatever the situation required.” Aft er cadetsareselected via application and grueling on-the-spot interviews, they are trained by USAFA Rangersfrom the past year (known as Ranger Trainers, RTs). Working with their limited free tim e, cadets spend two weekendsin the spring and four days over D ead W eek training through all the skills a ranger must be an expert in. Relating to this training, Mr. Anderson praised cadets for their “quick learning curve.” The training cadetsaccomplish in six days is completed by regular traineesin 14 trail daysand their leadersar e RT s w it h at least fi veyearsof experience. Such trust is placed in USAFA Rangersthat they go out with a crew a few days aft er they arrive for the sum m er.

While cadets only get to spend threeweeks as rangers, they are noticed immediately. In the year 2009, cadetswho served as r an ger s fi rst summer period arrived the day of the Ranger Rendezvous. T h e Rendezvous culminates ranger training and allows them t o co m p et e in various frontier and outdoor skills. Fresh off the road. A ir Force

cadets competed and won the team award. In addition to healthy competition, cadets embody the cheerful spirit of scouting in all they Previous page: A Cadet Ranger Scout enjoys serenity i n the wilderness during his summer leadership session.

Below: Camp rangers enjoy a training ride on one of the many trails at Philmont Scout Ranch.

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\ From top: A father and son share the trail at Philmont Scout Ranch. CI C Kory Carpenter stands atop an overlook at the end of a hike. CI C Patrick Tracy leads his team in the wilderness. Ranger Scouts meet at a trail crossing while pract icing wilderness navigation.

do. Philmont Director Mark Anderson highlighted “cadets bring fresh faces, ideas, and enthusiasm” to the Philmont st aff .

One thing USAFA rangers teach is the lesson on how t o u s e the backcountry latrines at Philmont. Since recurring problems result from scouts avoiding the latrines for days at a t im e, cadet s encourage their scouts to use the latrines right away. I n A i r Fo r ce fashion the latrine is introduced as the “cockpit” an d t h e b u si n ess at hand transforms into a “mission.” The inventory of “cockpit” types is then rolled out as well as what types of “bombs” may be employed as scouts are fl ying their “mission.” After introducing their crew to the cockpit, the ranger dismisses his ground crew, fl ying the fi rst “mission” of the trip.

Besides creative teaching methods, cadets’ spirits sh i n e ev en i n their off-days. John Nagib, a longtime Philmont staffer r eco u n t ed how in 2009 he accompanied current Cl Cs Kevin Horn an d Brian Riley in the Ranger Marathon, a 45 mile nonstop h i k e with a 40 lb pack from the north to the south of the R an ch . A f t er leaving a crew the day before and not sleeping more t han 2 hours, they completed the trek in 18 hours. Such feats demonstrate t h e higher standard to which cadets hold themselves.

Anderson relayed, “The mere presence of a cadet ranger aro u n d t h e campfi re telling why he chose to go to an Academy reachesk i d s m o re profoundly than any other recruiting method.” All adult lead er s w ill relay the same: scouting’score is the development of youth into lead ers. Asgreat examples and mentors to their crews, USAFA Rangers are invited back annually. “Having the ability to affi liatew i th cad et s is a good thing for us,” commented Anderson.

Cherished by the Ranch for their example and spirit, U SA FA Rangers remain invaluable to theAir Force aswell. A s am bassadors for theAir Force and theAcademy, cadets represent the military to many w ho have never com e into contact w ith it before. I n many cases, both staff and young scoutsalike have never before met a military service member. Cadet rangers then form a critical fi rst impression o f t h o se who wear the uniform. In addition to their military identity, cadets are important advocates for an Academy education. In the last l i n e o f t h e Scout Oath, scouts swear to “keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” Since thesevaluesalign so succinctly with theAcademy’scorevalues, cadetsenjoy an attentive au d i en ce among scouts. With these close tiesto scouting’scommitment t o lead ership, Academy rangersare surrounded by thevery youth who match the profi le to one day become the “offi cersof character” U SA FA commits to graduate. Cadetsare in the right place to talk to the right people about an opportunity of serving in theAir Force.

Today, with their backpacks and tents long since stored away for the winter, USAFA Rangers may seem to be far from their at Philmont. But just like the crisp silence atop that eer i e m esa, there remains that timeless memory among those scouts o f t h ei r time at Philmont and their ranger who called USAFA his own. H su m

m

e r

Dedicated to the lif eand memory of Scott M. Manley, f ellow USAFA

Ranger and cadet, classof 1988. May hissoul restf orever i n sco u t

ing paradise. (He wasstruck by lightning on Aug. 2, 1987 and di ed instantly) seePolaris Yearbookf rom 1988.

44

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Photo by Lewis Carlyle

T H E A CA D E M Y A S S E M B LY

T H E N AN D An Enduring N OW

Tra d it io n L iv e s O n

By C2C Zachary Crippen, Class of 2012 - Director, 53 rd Academy Assembly and C2C Clayton Schmitt, Class of 2012 - Deputy Director, 53 rd Academy Assem bly

F IFTY-T W O thefaculty y ear s ago ,

of the Department of Political Science teamed up with cadets to host theAcademy’svery fi rst academic conference. TheAcademy’sfi rst Dean of Faculty, Brigadier General Robert McDer mott, recognized the necessity of instituting a forum that allowed cadets to debate relevant

international issueswith equally talented peers from universitiesacross the country. In response to thischallenge, theAcademy Assembly staff focused the inaugural conference on “Interna tional Stability and Progress.” However, perhaps what proved more important wasestablishing the objective of bringing together elite students from undergraduate civilian and military institutions in order to inform fu ture leaders

of salient national and international issues and

From top:Jack Adler, a survivor of theNazi

H ob caust, addresses the

to encourage serious academic debate over the same. What followed over the next fi fty years quickly became one of the most recognized annual events in our institution’shistory, and the commitment to fulfi lling these enduring goals isalive and well today.

The 52nd Academy Assembly which ran from October 19th through 22nd 2010 featured the topic: In Defenseof Freedom: Protecting Human Rightsat Homeand Abroad.

Wehosted 65 delegates from 26 different universitiesand showcased some of the premier academic and legal mindsas speakersand

ro u n d t ab le d iscu ssio n lead ers. Fo r m er A m basAcademy Assembly del egates in aplenary session. sador at Large for War Crimes Issues, David A m bassad or M i chael Scheffer, opened the 52nd Assembly and chalKozak delivershiskeynote lenged delegates, cadetsand faculty to consider add ress to over 2,000 how “lawfare” will shape future confl icts.

After an inspiring string of plenary speakers cadetsand delegates in A r n old H al l . and dynamic roundtable sessions, Ambas48

sador M ichael Kozak , Senior A dvisor fo r the

Department Bureau of Democracy, Human Rightsand Labor U.S. Department of State, concluded the conferencewith a poignant keynote address on the impact of human rights on military contingencies in Afghanistan and beyond. Our hand-picked group of “Candle light Committee” delegateswrote a policy report sent to over one hundred universities and the Department of State.

For the past fi ft y years, the Academy Assembly has focused on prescient issues

that are bound to be at the forefr ont of U .S.

policy in the near future. This year is no exception: The 53rd Academy Assembly will focus on the changing global atmosphere, examining human, economic, political, and cultural power bases and exploring their interconnectedness. The topic. Sources of Power: Global Dynamics in the Modern Age, is one that will allow us to invite a variety

of infl uential speakers from academic, civil sector, and governmental backgrounds.

Since its inception, theAcademy Assembly has been a truly premier conference. However, recent yearshavewitnessed several organiza tional challenges, including new scheduling and fi mding challenges. Thisyear, the staff of theAssembly is dedicated to continuing the conferences upward momentum as it becomes a magnet for the nations best subject matter expertsand undergraduate students. Funding from the Olmsted Foundation, through gift sto the USAFA Endowment, has helped support the programssustained growth. Thesupport of the graduate community in promoting aware nessof theAssembly isalso vital to our success.

One of the greatest benefi ts theAcademy Assembly offers isan extraordinary venue for cadets to develop leadership. Thisyear, our hand-picked staff of over forty cadets istasked with offi cer-level responsibility of exercising fi scally sound management of our operat ing budget, curriculum design for a serious academic topic, publication of all conference materials, logistics planning, and coordination with major NGOs, government agencies, and universities. As the two cadets responsible for all elementsof thisyearsAcademy Assembly (and staff members for last year’sAssembly), we havewitnessed fi rsthand the leadership rein forcement that cadets receive at the strategic, organizational, and tactical levels.

From a strategic perspective, theAcademy Assembly serves to bring academic prestige to our institution. Chief among thisyear’sobjec tives isensuring that thisgoal is refl ected in our planning for every aspect of the conference.

Primarily, we hope to draw high-caliber speak ers to theAcademy. We are aggressively work ing to recruit several highly esteemed fi gures, but at the same time are being very intentional about recruiting an array of diverse talent and

From lef t: C2CZachary Crippenprepareshisintro cadets from avariety of academic departments ductory statementsf or the opening banquet of the52^ and personal backgrounds.

Academy Assembly. USAFA To that end, theAssembly demonstrates cadetsand midshipmen to the rest of the academic community that f rom the United States Coast Air ForceAcademy cadets are committed to addressing global issues in ajoint civil-military Guard Academy United StatesNaval Academy paradigm. Especially in today’sworld of asym and United StatesMilitary metrical confl ict, this ability to stand next to our Ivy League counterpartsand examine for Academy are well represented eign policy implications of the changing global among our student delegates. scene is essential. As cadetsgo on to become senior offi cers, legislators, cabinet members, community leaders, or executives in the private sector, a proper understanding of these issues will prove critical.

TheAcademy Assembly does not only benefi t staff membersand delegate participants.

The keynote speaker of theAssembly tradition ally addresses the upper two classes of the entire Wing. In addition, the numerous plenary sessionsof the conference are open to all cadets and faculty. Last year, one of our most popular sessionspitted a CIA offi cer against a distin guished international relationsprofessor in an animated debate. Thisyear, we hope to bring some of the same disagreement to the table, welcoming controversy in hopes of reaching common ground. Asthe entire Cadet Wing isexposed to these key issues of global politics and international relations, they are receiving experience. That same diversity is refl ected in

the nature of our staff- we have selected these

i n f o r m at io n t h at w ill b e in v al u ab le to t h ei r ro le

as lead ers i n o u r U n it ed States A i r Fo rce.

For these reasons and m ore, w e believe in

the Academy Assembly and the opportuni ties it presents to cadets and civilians alike.

We invite you to join us in creating a truly

premier conferencethisyear. S

49

U SA FA

W el com es N ew C en t er f or

O ral

t isspring semester, 2074. USAFA cadets enrolled in a history classare given what may appear to be a daunting assignment ... write a six-thousand word research paper on Operation Allied Force, the 1999 NATO air campaign in Kosovo. The instructor guidance is explicit ... be sure to include at least fi ve personal accounts from people who served in the confl ict. Just writing a brief synopsisof the controversial campaign isa daunting task in and of itself The 79 day NATO air campaign ultimately led to the end of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and brought about the downfall of Yugoslav Presi d en t Slo b o d an M ilo sev ic. B u t t o

include personal accountsfrom at least fi ve peoplewho served isjust about impossible, as veterans from that brief confl ict have

almost all passed away. Fortunately, cadets en ro lled i n t h e co u rse h ave access t o t h e

recollectionsgathered by the U.S. i\ ir Force Academy Center for Oral History, and the Operation Allied Force Oral History Project was one of its fi rst initiatives.

Although the assignment described in the preceding paragraph would take place in the distant future, the U.S. Air Force Academy Center for Oral History is now a reality. The Center for Oral His tory represents the newest of 14 research cent ers and i nst it utes established and

operated at the Academy. Although the Center itself, currently housed in the 50

By Lt Col. Timothy J. Matson, '87 Assistant Professor of History, USAFA Department of History, is new, the concept is not. The USAFA Oral History pro gram originated in the 1960s at the direction of then-Colonel Alfred F. Hurley, per manent professor and head of the Department of History. In subsequent decades, the program endured uneven support, as faculty were engaged with normal teaching efforts, with oral history functioning as an additional duty. When forced to choose between responsibilities involving direct contact with cadets (teaching, counseling, fl ight instruction, squadron representation, athletic team s, and cadet sponsorship), and responsibilities such as oral history, cadet-related responsibilities necessarily took priority. As a result, even before the beginning of the 21st century, the Department of History was compelled to report that the Academy’s oral history program was “in a bad state of disarray.”

In an effort to begin a new chapter in the preservation of the history of the U.S. Air ForceAcademy, Brig. Gen. Dana Born, ’83, the Dean of Faculty, directed the establish ment of aTiger Team, led by Colonel Mark K. Wells, permanent professor and head of the Department of History. Aft er careful consideration of the team’s two-year study and recommendations, USAFA Superintendent Lt. Gen. M ichael Gould, ’76, m ade the decision to support the formal establishment of the USAFA Center for Oral History as a center of excellence in July 2010, and agreed to support it for fi veyears. The center’s mission isto collect, preserve, and disseminate thepersonal memories, refl ections, and lessonsoffered by leadersof character from the U.S. Air ForceAcademy and the U.S. Air Force. The inaugural director of the center is Dr. Robert Wettemann, who previ ously served for two yearsas avisiting professor in the Department of History. “Dr. Wettemann was the obviouschoice to head up this new center,” explains Col. Wells.

“As avisiting professor from 2007 through 2009, he brought tremendousenergy and vitality to the department, and we knew that hewas the right person to give thiscenter the dynamic start this kind of initiative needs. He has an intimate understanding of this institution, he is familiar with itshistory and is uniquely suited to take and build the Center for Oral History into something of lasting importance.”

W ettem ann also know s the diffi cul ties

of both preserving and writing institu tional history. A historian of the 19th

Century U.S. Army and author of Privikge vs. Equality: Civil-Military Relationsin

theJacksonian Era, 1815-1845 (Praeger Security International, 2009), he has spent time researching and writing about the formativeyears of the U.S. Military Academy. “Just think if an entity like this had existed during West Points forma

tive decades,” he observed. “If we had oral interview s w ith that institution s founders,

we might have a better understanding of why decisionswere made, and how these decisions infl uenced the cadets w ho w ere

there, especially thosewho have gone on to successful military and civilian careers.”

To date, the USAFA Center for O ral

History has undertaken a number of research efforts. Working closely with the Center for Character and Leadership Development, Wettemann interviewed representatives from the Class of 1980.

Excerpts from these interviews formed the basis of a short , eleven-m inute video that

was shown at the 2010 Falcon Heritage Forum, which highlighted the fi rst class at USAFA that integrated female cadets into the Cadet Wing. When Christopher Graveline and M ichael C lem ens, the lead

prosecutor and lead investigator of the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse trials, visited theAcademy, the Center for Oral History took the tim e to record the observations

of each with regards to leadership, moral courage, and the signifi cance of the scan d al . I n t er v iew s h av e also b een co n

ducted with USAFA pioneers, including representatives from Skidmore, Owings and M errill , the architect ural fi rm that

designed USAFA, and the head of theAir ForceAcademy Construction Agency.

W ettem ann has also interview ed Rhodes, Trum an and M arshall Scholars from

the class of 2010, and the most recently graduated Cadet Wing commander.

Collectively, these will provide valued additions both to the history of USAFA as well as to the history of the nation, as these distinguished individuals all have or will go on to bigger and better things.

These personal stories arejust the begin ning of a larger effort to preserve the his tory of theAir ForceAcademy through the voices of the peoplewho made it. “History

Director of the Center for Oral History, Dr. Bob Wettemann, m e et s w it h c a d et s t o discuss a writing project .

is, above all else,” Wettemann offers, “a compelling story ... a narrative. Without voices, that narrative is dull and lifeless. Preserving thewords of thosewho have experienced these eventswill contribute greatly to a much more exciting and more human story about the Air ForceAcademy, the institutions history, and the successes and failures of itsgradu ates.” He believes that all graduateshave a story that isworthy of being told.

The exploits of other USAFA graduates are already poised to form the basis for the fi rst major research and writing project undertaken by the Center. Working in conjunc tion with a history of air power course offered by the Department of History, Wette m ann w ill direct cadets enrolled in the course in the collection of oral history interviews with USAFA graduates who served in Operation Allied Force. Th ese interview s w ill then serve as the foundation for a series of cadet-researched papers dealing with the Kosovo air campaign that Wettemann anticipateswill become the basis of a larger book. He hopes to continue this research model in future projects involving graduates, targeting USAFA athletes, USAFA legacy families and a host of other subjects that can inform future graduates of theAcademy.

“Th e eff orts of this new center w ill do m uch more than simply preserve history,” says C olonel W ells. “Th e lessons that a historical research center like thiscan provide are invalu able, not only now, but to generationsof cadets to come.” Funded through the summer of 2015, Wettemann hopesthat adequate resourcescan be secured to ensure itspermanency, ashe anticipates that the oral history research program will fi nd a home in the upcoming Center for Character and Leadership Development. The Class of 1980 has already recog nized thevalueof offering episodes in moral courage to USAFA cadets, and has made a class gift to support the center in these efforts. Colonel Wellscontinued by saying, “the character and leadership lessons that we can collect today will be invaluable to cadets of the future.

Itsone thing to read about problemsthat cadetsfaced in previous decades. It’ssomething completely different to hear them explain how the decisions they made helped make them better Air Force offi cers. I ’m confi dent that there areenough graduatesout therewho are willing to tell their story and help develop future generationsof Air Force offi cers.”

The Center for Oral History is currently seeking USAFA graduateswho served in Oper ation Allied Force, though it isinterested in the accomplishmentsof all USAFA graduates.

If you plan on being in the Colorado Springsarea and would like to shareyour USAFA or Air Force experiences, please do not hesitate to contact the U SA FA C enter for O ral History. The USAFA Center for Oral History can be reached at (719) 333-2878. Center Director Dr. Robert Wettemann may be reached at robert.wettemann.ctr@usafa.edu B 51

The Ceremonial Entry of the Center for Character and Leadership Development. Below: Dr. Paul Kaminski, Class of 1964, is a 2002 recipient of the Air Force Academy and Association of Graduates Distinguished Graduate Award.

A Legacy of Generosity b y A n n Go llu m . r no t o s Go u rt e sy o r t n e UbA r A t n a o w m e nt

D

r. Paul Kaminski hasworn many hatsover the course of hisprofessional life: he served as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, advised presidentsand government agencies, servesas Chair man of the Board of the RAND Corporation and as the CEO of two successful investment banking and consulting co m p a nies, and has been recognized as a Pioneer of the Stealth Program and theNational Reconnaissance Program.

But he will assert that one of his most pivotal roleswas being a young cadet at theVkir ForceAcademy, foregoing scholarships a t engineering schools to work and learn alongside his f el l ow o fh cer candidates in the Class of 1964. He remembers wanting very much to make a difference, although he wasn’t yet sure how t o d o so .

Looking back. Dr. Kaminski says, “If you had asked cadet what the prospects were of me having those kinds of profes sional experiences and accomplishments, I would have sai d ‘n o t a chance’. The Academy directed me toward a future I co u l d n ’t h av e m

52

e

a s a

0 .0 L o r Q. O L o: <

imagined at that time.”

When he arrived at the Academy, Dr. Kaminski found h i m sel f surrounded by highly dedicated and talented people, w h i ch m ad e a lasting impression upon him. “The people factor was w h at fi r st attracted me to the Academy. I was extremely impressed an d inspired by the caliber of people I met— my classmates, squad ron-mates, and the faculty,” he says. “I still treasure the people and the relationships I developed during my four years t h er e.” H e soon realized how critical these friendships were to h i s an d h i s friends’ success. “Given great people, the next step is getting them to work together for a common cause,” he says. “I learned t h at n o one person is as smart as all of us working together: we adopted the motto ‘Cooperate and graduate’. Strong partnerships fundamental to our way of life.”

The Academy’s Honor Code also provided the structure, o r d er and integrity needed to guide the cadets’ development. “ W h en we, as cadets, all arrived at theAcademy, I think w e w ere al l str uck w e r e

by the Honor Code and the signifi cant impact it had on our daily lives. It was simple to state ‘We will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tol erate among usanyonewho does,’” he says. “But it was profound in its impact, and I could see theextraordinary value provided by the Honor Code, and the principles underlying everything at t h e Academy, so I was determined to carry them with me f o r l i f e.”

Along with discovering thevaluesof collaboration an d d i sci pline, theAcademy also proved to be an ideal place t o l ear n ab o u t persistence and overcoming limitations. “Basic cadet sum m er and the entire fourth class year defi nitely helped each o f u s d i scov er that we could do much more than we thought was possible,”

D r. K am insk i relates. “ Even w ith all of the tal ent , teamw ork and

integrity you can muster, it’spersistence that makesaccomplishing the mission possible.”

He applied what he learned at theAcademy throughout h i s professional career, working in both the public and private sectors

and in areas ranging from investment banking to engineering t o Department of Defense program management, rising to the top of his fi eld. During this time. Dr. Kaminski began to notice emerg

ing changes in the fi eld, especially related to national security

and defense. “ W h en I start ed off as an A i r Force of fi cer, w e h ad

a clearly defi ned FEBA, or Forward Edge of the Battle A rea,” he says. “The people on our side of the line were safe, an d w e w er e protected geographically by oceans. The confl ict took place on the other side, and those in our military who were engaged in these confl icts made very real, very personal sacrifi ces. One of my motivations for helping to develop stealth aircraft was in response to the suffering that my classmates and good friends en d u r ed as prisoners of war in Southeast Asia. But the world has changed, placing us all potentially at risk. The classic notions o f w ar f are have given way to the unpredictability of terrorism, l EDs, biologi cal agents and cyber threats.”

In a world in which the defi nition of war is rapidly evolving and physical borders become less relevant, the effectiveness o f n ar rowly defi ned specialties or military functions has d i m i n i sh ed . I t has given rise to a need for a comprehensive approach, utilizing collaborative partnerships across areas to prevent t h e b r eak d ow n of communications and system integrity. “You can’t be an expert in every fi eld, so you have to be able to create structures i n w h i ch you are dependent on other people, and they are dependent you,” Dr. Kaminski says. “It has come up time and again, b u t i t ’s more pervasive today as we contend with advancements in cyber technology and medicine—fi elds with many good aspects, b u t which also contain the potential for destruction. Coordinating teams of people who can do this kind of work—based o n a f o u n dation of trust, character, and leadership—is critical.”

Dr. Kaminski decided the best long-term approach to ad d ress ing these paradigm shiftswas through returning to h is ro o t s at t h e Academy. In 2006, he established the Paul and Julie Kaminski Visiting Lecture Seminar Seriesfor Engineering and Systems Engineering. “I wanted to bring back Air Force engineersas mentors,” he says. “People who were on the frontlines, graduateson active duty, w h o co u ld sh are their real-world experienceswith cadetsand expand t h ei r h o r izo n s.”

Since then. Dr. Kaminski has remained closely involved i n h i s support of the Academy, becoming one of the Founding D i r ect o r s o n

of the Endow m ent . D>

From top: One of the Center’s Air Terraces. The Cadet Wing Honor Board Room.

The Forum, looking nort h 53

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Then, last year during a discussion, he became aware of his next opportunity to make a signifi cant impact at his alma mater. “My fi rst gift to theAcademy was leading in a certain direction, and when I learned about the new CCLD , I understood its signifi cance and the importance of fully supporting it,” Dr. Kaminski says. “Given my past experience in manag ing large-scale defense program development and production, I knew that w e w ould be able to make the Center something to be truly proud of, while making the facility functional and applicable to its mission—creating a better understanding of character and leadership. It will simultaneously refi ne and expand upon what we do right at theAcademy.”

Dr. Kaminski and his wife, Julie, were so inspired by the Center’s mission that they com m i t ted $2 m il li on t ow ards it s const ruct ion .

The Center for Character and Leadership Development will be the fi rst organization of its kind in the nation, integrating theAcademy’s character and leadership development programs into all aspectsof the cadet experience. It was specifi cally developed as a response to the dynamic changes in the modern profession of arms, in order to better prepare future leaders. For the fi rst time in Academy history, all elementsof character and leadership development will be housed in a single facility: the Scholarship Division, the Character and Leadership Education Division, the Capstone Events Division and the Honor Division. Each division supports and reinforces the next. The Scholarship Division will conduct sophisticated research concerning the contem porary challengesof the military profession and its relationship to theAcademy’s mission, while tracking the effectsof the character and leadership development training.

If the Cadet Chapel can be considered the soul of theAcademy, the Center for Character and Leadership Development will act as its heart. It stands to b eco m e t h e n ex u s fo r n at io n al ch arac ter and leadership dialogue in the 2L‘ century.

The Center’s unique physical design reflectsits underlying principles. A skylight projects from the roof at a 39-degree angle, pointing unwaveringly tow ards Polaris as a rem inder of the Academy’scorevalues. The Forum providesa centralized open space for discussion and interac tion with educatorsand visiting speakers, and the Cadet Wing Honor Board Room provides a privatesetting befi tting the gravity of its purpose.

D r. K am i n sk i sees t h e C C L D as t h e lat est evo l u t io n in theAir Force tradition of investing in people fi rst. “In thisCenter lies thewonderful opportunity to look at how we defi ne leadership, in a broader, holistic context,” he says. “That’s the piece I’ve been trying to bring back in my relationship with theAcademy, expanding on the principlesfor successthat I learned at the Academy. I wanted to let cadets know that • there are uniquewaysto bring their own skills

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By David Edwar ds, Academy Spirit

I

t’s a long way from a sheep farm in eastern Colorado to the Olympic stadium in London, but Capt. James Bales is determined to run, cycle and swim his way there. A native of the tiny plains town of Brighton, Bales was a four-year letterman in swimming at theA i r ForceAcademy before graduating in 2001. He now works an orthopedic surgeon for the 10th Medical Group. as

H e’s also the 20 10 A i r Force A t hlet e of the Year and ,

as an added bonus, a prospective Olympian in triathlon.

When he’s not in his scrubs at the Academy clinic, h e’s most likely at the Olympic Training Center sporting thing a bit more aerodynamic. “My specialty is Olympic triathlon,” he said. “I tell people I can do the Ironman, b u t it’s like asking a quarterback to play linebacker.”

Triathlon debuted as an Olympic sport at the 2000 Games in Sydney. Competitorsswim 1.5 kilometers, cycle 40 kilometersand run 10 kilometers. By comparison, Ironman triathletes face a swimming distance of nearly 4 kilometers, cycling distance of 180 kilometers and a marathon-length (42.2 so m

e

a

kilometers) footrace. Australia has won four total m ed al s in

Olympic triathlon, the most of any country. New Zealand an d Switzerland follow with three apiece.

Bales said the U nited States is considered one of the t op

eight countries in the sport. That means it has three sp o ts available. Countries not ranked in the top eight are al l o cated only two spots. Triathlon came into Bales’ life rather recendy.

His involvement in competitiveswimming dates back t o h is childhood, and he swam the breaststroke as an Academy cad et .

Image courtesy of

Capt. James Bales, ’01

He attributeshisathleticism to hisexperiencegrowing u p o n a sheep farm. The other two componentsof triathlon arrived later and in a far different environment. While attending medical school at Georgetown University in Washington, Bales made a financial decision that turned out to be quite fateful .

“In order to save on the $6-a-day parking,” he said, “ I st ar t ed biking and running the 10 miles to school.” He entered h is fi rst triathlon in 2002 and fi nished as the runner-up in the A rmed ForcesNational Triathlon Championship six consecutive year s before fi nally winning it in 2010. In January 2009, as h e w as completing the fi nal two yearsof his residency in San A ntonio, he turned pro. Baleswas subsequendy selected for theA i r Fo rce World ClassAthlete Program, which affordselite athletes th e opportunity to develop further and achieve the ultimate goal of qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team. As part of the selection, hewas allowed to choose a training site. “Colorado Springswas the most logical choice for me because the OlympicTraining Center ishere and it allowed me to be an orthopedic surgeon.”

Balesjoked that because of the frequency with which Academy cadets break bones or damage muscles, ligaments and tendons, there are plenty of occasions for him to apply his Georgetown training. And with any luck, from those George town dayswill emerge not just James Bales, M.D., but al so

JamesBales, 2012United StatesOlympian. 9

Court esy of t he Depart ment of Ast ronaut ics and t he Space Syst ems Research Cent er

he latest cadet-built satelli te, FalconSAT -5,

roared into space from Kodiak, Alaska aboard a converted Peacekeeper ICBM on

N ovem ber 19, 20 10. T he event unfolded to

the cheers of on-lookers at Kodiak along w^ith several hundred gathered in Fairchild Hall’s F-1 Lecture Hall watching live video at an event sponsored by the USAFA Endowment.

The launch culminated nearly four years of hard work by cadets, faculty, staff, and several Air Force organizations—designing, building, integrating, testing, and (in several cases) repairing the most ambitious small satellite ever built by an undergraduate engin eer m g p r o gr am .

| S< s|

R e a c h in g f o r FalconSAT-5 makes a perfect la u n c h int o e a r t h o r b it

More than 300 cadets, faculty, staff, and local community, industry, and military leaders attended the Fairchild H all event, w hich kicked

off with cadetsgiving toursof theAstronautics Laboratory and the satellite operations facility.

CadetsJamesTaggart, Adrianna Eaton and Col. (Ret.) Jack Anthony, ’78, showed guests through the lab and answered questions regard ing operations relating to FalconSAT-3 (FS-3) and the upcoming FS-5 operations.

At approximately 6:10pm, Col. Marty Erance, ’81, Astro Dept Head, called into the assembly from the launch complex in Alaska to discuss the status of the launch . C adets

Eric Prince and Brad Sapper were also in Alaska for the launch. Just fi ve minutes from t he scheduled launch , the crow d in Fairchild

had swelled to almost 300 people. The room quieted just a few minutes prior to launch until everyone could hear the countdown at T minus ten seconds. At 4:25pm AlaskaTime (6:25pm MST) when the Minotaur IV rocket lift ed from the pad exactly as scheduled, the room erupted with applause.

At the Kodiak Launch Complex, on a remote peninsula in the southeast corner of the island, the rocket’s bright solid rocket made it easy to follow as it arched southward into its 72-degree inclination, m

o t o r s

6 50 k m alt it ude orbit .

58

The FalconSAT-5 mission is sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory, headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. Its mission is to perform space

w eat h er m easu r em en t s w i t h o n - b o ar d sen

sors in collaboration with remote ground sites. This suite of experiments will mea sure the local ionosphere, stimulate the local space weather environment and mea sure the subsequent changes, and evaluate ionospheric effects on radio frequency signals for communication impacts.

Design work on FalconSAT-5 began almost three years ago while FalconSAT-3 was undergoing preparations for its March 2007 launch from Cape Canaveral Air

Force Stat ion , Fla. C adets w it h the C lasses

of 2007 through 2010, along with their faculty mentors from several academic departments and the Academy’s Space Systems Research Center and Space Phys ics and Atmospheric Research Center, completed key design, engineering, and prototype testing milestones in prepara tion for fi nal construction and testing that began during the 2008-09 academic year.

The Class of 2010 completed assembly of the satellite and prepared for satellite system testing at Kirtland Air Force Base, NM , and Edwards AFB, CA, last year.

FalconSAT is one of theAcademy’s capstone undergraduate systems engineer ing courses managed by the Department of Astronautics and the Space Systems Research Center. Realizing the department’smotto, “Learning Space by Doing Space,” a cadet team actsas the satellite system integrating contractor. The spacecraft bus, with all the supporting subsystems, is designed, built, and tested to meet the requirements of real-world Department of Defense payload and mis sion requirements. Cadetsfrom the Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineer ing, Space Operations, SystemsEngineering, SystemsEngineering Management, and

Management majorshave all participated in EalconSAT, making thisa truly multidisci plinary capstone experience.

C ad et s i n t h e C l ass o f 2 0 1 1 h av e b u si ed

themselves with operations planning, reconfi guring the FalconOPS ground sta tion to conduct FalconSAT-5 passes. The past year has also seen the installation of t w o n ew 14 - f o o t sat el l i t e d i sh es en cl o sed

within 18-foot protective white radomes on the roof of the Fai rchild H all A nnex .

T h e n ew co m m u n i cat i o n s i n f r ast r u ct u r e

will provide for more reliable contact with FalconSAT-5, uninterrupted by wind, rain , and snow.

“It’s really amazing what thewhole FalconSAT team has accomplished since this m ission w as conceived in 2007,” said France.

“We now have a second functioning, cadetbuilt satellite on-orbit performing a real D oD m ission. FalconSAT -3 w as launched

in March 2007 and is still gathering data.

Thiswouldn’t be possiblewithout the hard

w ork of our cadets and a staff of com m itted

professionals like theAstro Dept’s Schriever Chair, Professor Bill Saylor (USMA ’72), form er SSRC director. C ol . T im Law rence,

’88, now at Wright-Patterson AFB, Falcon SAT engineers Maj. Steve Hart (USAFR)

a

and Don Waite, and our operations lead, Col. (Ret.) Jack Anthony, ’78. They’ve put in incredible hours mentoring our cadets and guiding this process. We also know that there are dozens of cadets and form er staff

out there supporting FalconSAT-5 and the whole team, knowing they played a part in t h e m i ssio n .”

Plans are for the satellite to be fully operational, performing its experimental space environment and propulsion charac terization studies early in 2011 and for full experimentation to occur on schedule. The satellite is expected to remain operational for up to three years. The FalconSAT team is already busying themselves with the design of FalconSAT-6, another AFRLsponsored small satellite that is intended to demonstrate innovative propulsion technologies while also continuing the tradition of carrying space environmental sensors on-board. FalconSAT-6 is planned to be complete in 2013.

Yo u can l ear n m o r e ab o u t t h e A cad

emy’s FalconSAT program on Facebook by ‘friending’ the program at “USAFA Astro nautics” or by contacting Colonel France and the department at 719-333-4110.

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SculptorJim Nance, 71,

stands beside the new one-

third scaleprototypeof the

Southeast Asia M emorial

Pavilio)! map.

A PO R T R A I T O F W A R Re-sculpting the Southeast Asia Memorial Pavihon Dragon M ap BY DOUGLASCLARK

M

onumental fi gure sculptor James Nance, Class of 1971, is a portrait specialist with over 120 portrait statues to his credit. After 25 years as a sculptor, he knows how to capture the essence of an individual’s personality in clay.

For the past several months, however, his talents have b een focused on a slightly different project. Nance has b een

t ask ed t o cr eat e a l i m i t ed ed i t i o n “ Po r t r ai t o f W ar ” t o h o n o r

the 50''^anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War. H e has designed a bronze sculpture which can be personalized for any individual. The objective is to capture each person’s unique Vietnam experience, with proceeds contributing t o the further development of the Southeast Asia Memorial Pavilion located on the HeritageTrail at Doolittle H al l .

In early 2010, Nance began creating the eight foot tal l bronze map of Southeast Asia for the Classof 1970’s So u th east Asia Memorial Pavilion. The fi nished sculpture now resi d es as the centerpiece of the memorial’smap room, a spectacle which garnered much attention from everyonewho attended the pavilion’s October 2010 dedication ceremony. Shordy aft er the bronze map was unveiled, Nance began receiving inqui riesfrom graduateswho were interested in a smaller v ersio n for their homes. Thismotivated the sculptor to spend sever al monthsdesigning a scaled-down version. During that p rocess he developed the concept of a “War Portrait.”

The fi rst step was the design. Nance explains, “The thing that all of the inquirieshad in common was the d esi re to memorialize that individual’spersonal war experience. Th e map needed to be large enough to be touchable, signifi cant, and retain enough vertical projection to be sculptural; y et n o t so large as to become too overwhelming in weight and cost .”

Aft er spending monthsexperimenting with photographsof the o n e

I AM FS N ANT F ST lJ j ’T I IBF ST I TFli n

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original monumental elements, Nance designed a composition which included not only the map, but theVietnamese dragon, Ha Long and the F-105 compassrose. Hisexperimentation concluded the perfect size to be 30 inches tall, which is approxi mately a one-third scale of the original 96 inch high m ap .

On the right side of the piece, Nance arranged the dragon and the compass rose in the original size taken directly from the monumental mold. At the top of the map, to frame in the ocean, he hand-sculpted a portion of the Chinese coastline up to Hong Kong, which was not the original map. The composition is fi nished off with memorative lettering and service seals.

Nance isparticularly excited about the “Portrait” i n n o v a t i o n for the limited edition, as he now has the ability to personalize the panel for a specifi c individual or organization. C o ll ect o r s interested in commissioning a map can now include such custom elementsas name and assignment information, wings, branch of service seals, unit emblems, and the sculpted aircraft of choice on the compass rose. Each of these elementsw i ll b e added to thewax and cast as part of the bronzepanel, making it a truly personalized and custom “Portrait of War.” Using these same techniques, locationsof personal signifi cance can al so b e included. If a graduate bagged a MIG, punched out, pushed another aircraft at a certain coordinate, that l ocat io n can be immortalized with a bronze icon and lettering.

At present, Nance isdeveloping the prototype and molds while trying to gauge the interest in a limited edition release; hewelcomes any feedback, questions, or suggestions f ro m Academy graduates. A signifi cant portion of each salew i ll b e o n

c o m

o r ev e n

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opment of theSoutheast AsiaMemorial Pavilion. B

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61

o o

Captain Michal P. Polidor, '04, Named 2011 Jabara Award Recipient By Steven A. Simon, '77

c

aptain Michal P. “Ox”

Polidor, Air Force Acad

emy Class of 2004, has been select ed to receive

the 20 11 Colonel James

Jabara Award for Airmanship. Captain Polidor, a member of Air Force Global

Strike Command, distinguished himself through heroic actions in an Operation Enduring Freedom sortie supporting United States and Afghan National Army ground forces.

“Thisyear’scompetition was extremely

tough,” wroteAcademy Superintendent, Lt.

Gen. Mike Gould, ’76, in hiscongratulatory letter to Captain Polidor. “You can be proud

of your selection. It isatruetestament of your exemplary performanceand profession

alism.” Captain Polidor was one of a record twelveAir ForceAcademy graduates nomi nated for theJabaraAward thisyear by major commands, forward operating agencies, and direct reporting units.

On October 3, 2009, Captain Polidor was the Flight Lead of an F-15E Strike Eagle twoship tasked to support Coalition Observation Post Keating in the Nuristan province of

Afghanistan. Morethan 80 Coalition soldiers werepinned down and taking fi refrom a well-orchestrated 360-degree attack of 250

Taliban insurgentsin thesteep and rugged

Kamdesh Valley. Shordy aft er arriving on station. Captain Polidor assumed the tactical

62

air control- airborne role. He quickly assessed

theground picture, which revealed multiple fi ghting positions, several insurgentsinside

the boundary, and more than 90 percent of the post either on fi re or destroyed. He immediately began deconfl icting aircraft and establishing a communications relay amid smoke, approaching thunderstorms, and radio communication that was severely degraded by the surrounding terrain. Hewas also forced to perform a batde damage check for hiswingman, who experienced a severe hydraulic failure and had to return to base.

The weapons systems offi cer on that aircraft was Captain Prichard R. Keely, ’04, Polidor’s Academy classmate and close friend. Coincidentally, Keely won theJabara Award in 2010, making it two consecutiveJabara Awards for the Class of 2004. Upon learning of Polidor’s selec tion, Keely said, “Without Ox being overhead there would have been signifi cantly more casualties. This was the fi rst attack of its kind and his quick thinking in the dynamic environment paid huge dividends for the A m erican forces on the

ground.” Captain Polidor made the trip

to USAFA last year to see his classmate receive the Award. Keely hopes to repay the favor this year.

Low on fuel. Captain Polidor continued to orchestrate incoming air assetswhile aerial refueling. Back on station, he safely

managed another airborneemergency when

an F-15E experienced a rapid cabin decom pression and had to leave the fi ght. Later, while relaying target data, he recognized that one of the coordinates w as w ithin dan

gerously closeproximity of friendly forces.

He ordered the bombing run aborted until the coordinates could be updated, which resulted in the employment of 14 guided bom bs w ith zero fratricide.

During his7.8-hour sortie, hewasable

to coordinate and integrate 19 aircraft, to include six F- 15Es, four A - 10s, tw o

AH-64s and a B-1, orchestrating precision strikes on the enemy. He also arranged for additional tanker assets, ensuring con

tinued air power over the battle area. He didn’t just remain above the fray, relaying information and direction. During four different attacks, he expertly expended four bombs and executed a perfect 20mm strafe against a target in close proximity to friendly forces, effectively destroying multiple enemy fi ghting positions.

In all, over 30,000 pounds of ordnance and 170 rounds of strafe eventually elimi nated enemy strongholds, saving 72 Ameri can and Afghan National Army lives. Eight soldiers from Fort Carson’s 4th Brigade C om bat Team w ere killed in the battle.

Captain Polidor joinsan extremely

exclusive group, becoming the fi ftieth Ai r ForceAcademy graduate selected for the

I

f ’ '/ U J

Lt Col. Chri stopher Anthony presents Capt. Mike Polidor, ‘04, with a Distinguished Flying Cross medal at

/ i iJ

Seymour-Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Apri l 9, 2010.

(U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson)

i u ii

1

2 -

JabaraAward. Among the previouswinners are such notable al um ni as V ietnam W ar

heroes Karl Richter, ’64, and Steve Ritchie,

’64, pioneering astronaut Karol “Bo” Bobko, ’59, and Hudson River landing pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, ’73. Established in 1967, the Colonel JamesJabaraAirmanship Award ispresented to a USAFA graduate, living or deceased, whose actions directly associated with an aerospacevehicle set him/ her apart from contemporaries.

The annual award isjointly presented on behalf of the Academy, the Association of Graduates, and theJabara family. Colo nel JamesJabara was the first jet ace and the second leading ace in the Korean War.

I n 195 1, he w on the A i r Force A ssocia

tion’s most prestigious award and in 1957 was recognized as one of the 25 Americans w ho had cont ributed the m ost to aviat ion .

Polidor was excited and hum bled to

learn he had won theJabaraAward. “I am tremendously honored to be receiving this award from theJabara Family, theAOG, and

theAir ForceAcademy,” hesaid. “Adding

my name to a list of aviators that includes

Richter, Ritchie, and Keely isa very proud

moment in my Air Force career.”

The Jabara Award is not the fi rst honor Polidor has received for th is m ission . H e

and hisweaponssystemsoffi cer. Captain

A aron D ove, also received the D ist in

guished Flying Cross, which is awarded

for heroism or extraordinary achievements during fl ying operations.

Therewere clear signs during hiscadet career that Polidor had the potential for greatness. He graduated with a 3.98 major’s

gradepoint averagein astronautical engi

neering. Colonel Marty France, ’81, head of theAstronautics Department, said, “We’re just so overjoyed to hear that Mikewon the JabaraAward! I think the message here is that academic excellence isa huge part of one’s duty—that excellence and professionalism in the classroom and lab translates into excel

lence and bravery in the battlespace, too.”

France also proudly pointed out that, like Polidor, Keely was also an astro major.

Polidor didn’t just excel in the class

room . H e w as also a m em ber of the

Academy ice hockey team. A four-year letter winner and three-year starter, he was named the Air Force Academy’s scholar-

collegiate student-athlete,” Serratore said.

“Mike Polidor displayed this and more as

a hockey player at theAir ForceAcademy,

excelling at one of the most dangerous and pressure fi lled positions in all of sports, that being an ice hockey goaltender. It should surprise no one that Mike went on to become a decorated pilot in the

United StatesAir Force. Nothing surprises

m e w hen it com es to M ike Polidor. H e is

simply a remarkable person.”

Polidor will be presented the 2011Jabara Award for Airmanship on May 6, 2011 during the Noon Meal at Mitchell Hall, and

will befeted with adinner and award recep

tion at Doolitde Hall later that evening.

Captain Polidor’sexceptional airmanship, dynamic leadership, outstanding initiative,

and unparalleled achievementsrefl ect great

credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. TheAcademy, theAOG, and the

athlete of theyear and the College Hockey

Jabarafamily areproud to nameCaptain

year in 2004. That year, he also earned CoSIDA (College Sports Information

JamesJabaraAirmanship Award. H

A m erica con ference st uden t-athlete of the

Michal P Polidor the recipient of the 2011

D irectors of Am erica) Academic All-

America honors. Air Force Academy head coach Frank Serratore was not surprised that his former player has gone on to do great things in the Air Force. “The focus, commitment, and discipline needed to become a great pilot are the same attri butes needed to excel as an eli te level

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Steven A. Simon, ’77, is the

Academy’sgraduateliaison, working in the Development and Alumni Programsofi ce.

In addition to hisextensivenon-f iction writ ing, he is theauthor of two novels. On The D ead Run and Service Before Self

63

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JAY KELLEY, '64,

W NGS Writt en and Phot ographed

by Lewis Carlyle 66

For any Academy graduatewho has benefi ted from attending one of the fi ve service academy prep schoolsacross the nation, chancesare good that he she is familiar with the Falcon Foundation. The orga nization providesscholarshipsso that young men and women who aspire to enter a service academy have an opportunity to sharpen their academic skills up to th e level required to become one of Americasbest.

Recently, Randy Cubero, Class of 1961, handed the reins of his presidency over to the newlyselected Jay Kelley, Class of 1964. A product of the Naval Academy’s prep school, Kelley himself has close ties to the young men and women who enter our nation’s service academies through prep o r

school programs. Thesharp-witted Kelley bringsa new enthusiasm to the job which comes through in his conversation regarding the Falcon Founda tion. “This organization was the second major

foundation to be established after the A i r Force

Academy started up. Our focus ison scholarships.

The primary purpose of the Falcon Foundation is to bring in those youngsters who have an intense

desire to serve their nation, and to do so through the Air Force Academy.”

Kelley explainsthat thefocusof theorganization

ison those kidswho didn’t quite make it into the Academy. “They applied and werewithin just an inch

Kelley statesthat theorganization hasastrong

backbone, with a myriad of robust vertebraewhich allow little room for weak ness. “W e have I 6 l t rust

eesof the Falcon Foundation,” he begins. “They are an extraordinarily talented and experienced group of men and women. They are mostly retired senior Air Force offi cers; however, we do have business giants and civilian leaders of our government. They’rejust a top notch group of people who have indicated a desire to participate in the Falcon Foundation’s mission—which is to provide scholarships.”

In addition to providing scholarships, Kelley is quick to point out that the organization brings a number of other assets to theAcademy’s disposal that go beyond just fi nancial support. “When you have a collection of people such as our trustees,” h e says, “you have the ability to apply their collec tive knowledge to any number of problems. For instance, when the Superintendent or the Dean or

the C om m andant or the D irector of A thletics has a

particular problem that he or she can’t readily solve, the Falcon Foundation gets a phone call. We’re usually able to reach out and identify fi ve to ten o f our trusteeswho can lend experience or insight into that problem. We are a stable of resources which can support theAcademy in any number of ways.”

Kelley is optimistic for the future. He isconfi dent

or so of thecut line,” heclarifi es. “Weidentify th o se

about thecaliber of young men and women passing

their academic skillsjust alittlebit more—especially in theareasof math, chemistry and English.”

for thoselooking to apply to theAir ForceAcademy.

youngstersand offer them a chance to go sharpen There are fi ve prep schools across the nation

that areassociated with theAir ForceAcademy Program. The Falcon Foundation offersyoung

men and women a choice of which school they would like to attend and provides them a scholar

ship. Each school also providesa scholarship and the family pays the balance. “We have an extraor

dinarily high success rate for thoseyoungsters

getting into USAFA,” Kelley says proudly.

Thenew President goeson to explain that the

foundation has accum ulated contributions over

many years, and that these have been packaged into over 100 scholarships. “My job,” Kelley says, “is to make sure that all the fi nancial machinery which

runsthisoperation doesn’t get off track. I also stay in touch with theAir ForceAcademy on itsstrategy

and policy for acquisition of new cadets, class size,

what kind of youngstersthey arelooking for, and

what their expectations are of each new class. We also want to make sure the prep schoolsout there are preparing these youngsters in the right way for their transition into theAcademy.”

through today’sprep schools, and shares some advice

“He or she needs to be academically wise, physically if t, and extremely well motivated to serve our nation.

We look for kidswho arewell qualifi ed, well recom m ended, and w ho demonstrate their desire to be

among the best by attending theAir ForceAcademy and serving their country.”

Refl ecting back on hisown timeat theAcademy, Kelley isreminded of how theschool reshaped his

perspective on life, his career, and his personal com mitment to integrity. “My time at the Academy was a major period of growing up for me,” he recounts.

“I thought I understood the concept of team from playing high school sports, but it’s a whole different dimension when you’re part of an Air ForceTeam.

Theprep school and theAcademy prepareyou very

well for that. The mentoring I received at the Acad emy is something I will never forget. But above all was the sense of character and integrity that was instilled in us! That’s something you just don’t lose.”

For more about the Falcon Foundation, visit

www.falconfoundation.org. S

67

Graduates visit America's nationa p a r k s n rd ut e t o t h e ir 40th r e u n i o n For t hose of us w ho revere our alm a

mater, class reunions are special events.

Having attended our 10th, 20th, and 30th

reunions, my wife and I looked forward to the 40th reunion of my Class of ’70.

We remembered the outstanding job our AOG staff did in organizing the past reunions. They were able to recruit just the right team of classmates for serving as our class reunion com m it tee m em bers. T heir

dedication refl ected a strong affection for m m

The group visits Zion

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Nat ional Park in Ut ah.

Fro m t h e lef t : B ru ce

and Lynne French, Don m

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and Len Mills, Dana

and Linda Arbaugh, Eric and Nancy Myers.

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our alma mater, or “ foster mother.”

Also, having enjoyed the Ken Burns PBSTV special “America’s Best Idea” about our beautiful national parks, we thought about leaving our California home early to see some of the Utah national parks on the

way back to theAcademy. Wethen thought of contacting our west coast friendswho

had graduated with me in Cadet Squadron

Seven. Four couples agreed to join us on the trek to see fi ve national parks plus a ride on the Durango-Silverton narrow gauge railroad. On Saturday, September 25th, 20 10 w e all m et at Z ion N ational Park in Southw est U tah .

DK and Nancy Shelton, Don and Len Mills, Bruce and Lynne French, and Eric and Nancy Myers joined us. DK retired from the Air Force as a Flight Surgeon and is presently Chief of Radiology at U C D avis in C alifornia. Bruce ret i red

11 r

'■-.f

By Dana Arbaugh, 7 0

as an Air Force pilot and is now in the California computer business. Eric fl ew jets for the Air Force and went on to retire

I

Lf f i f I

from Alaska Airlines as a senior captain.

/ ‘gj

D on , l ik e m e, had ret ired as an A i r Force

navigator. Hewent on to serve in hispres ent position as an executive with vVaska

,

2

f

A i rlines. I have also ret ired f rom a Sil icon

Valley electronics career. One week after our graduation, DK, Don, and Bruce were saber bearers in our 10 June 1970 wedding in my wife’s home town of Sheridan, Wyo ming. It was hard for us to believe that 40 years had gone by so quickly. For the next fi ve days, we proceeded on our automobile “fl ight plan” seeing not only Zion but also Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Mesa

Verde N at ional Parks. W e fi nished our

trek at the peak of the aspen color season on the Durango mountain train.

Finally back at the Academy, both our AOG staff and Academy leadership, along w ith our C lass of ’70 reunion com m it

tee, came through in their usual superb manner. They provided us with a wonder

f ul and m em orable 40th reunion . T he

dedication of our Academy staff and leadership was especially apparent. We felt more like family than just old, gray alumni. About 320 of the 690, or 46

percent, surviving members of our class

at tended . Th is w as further confi rm at ion of

the value many graduates place on friends, the Academy and our Air Force experi ences. We not only had beautiful weather for the entire trip, but we also beat Navy!

My message here is for those of you attending future reunions: consider emulating what we did. We turned a great r e u n i o n i n t o a magical” trip by visiting fi ve of our 58 national parks. Califor nia, Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming and U tah are hom e to about a third of these

parks. Our reunions provide us with a

way to reconnect with friends who have so m uch in com m on w i th us. A s w e all

get older and have more time to refl ect, it is crystal clear that the Academy experi ence and our ensuing military years were truly life-molding events. So, treasure the friendships you have made with your classmates, and continue to support the institution that gave us all our start. I hope we all live long enough to enjoy many more reunions. H

rm From top: Lynne French faces the camera as Bruce French, Do n M i l ls a n d DK Shelton huff their way up to Windows Arch in Arches Na t io n a l Pa rk . Da n a and Linda Arbaugh at Landscape Arch, Arches Nationai Park. Moab, Ut ah.

One of the many arches in Bryce Canyon, Utah.

69

C L A SS R I N G D I SP L A Y The Association of Graduates is proud to announce our newly-

enhanced Class Ring Display. Located in Doolittle Hall, t h i s

kiosk proudly displays rings from every graduating class of the Air Force Academy all the way back to the very first C lass of 1959. Each ring in the display has been worn by an actual gradu ate, and wasgenerously donated to help preserve the heritage of this great institution.

Several rings from each classwill also be maintained i n

reserve. These will be melted down to form an ingot w hich w ill then be used in the forging of class rings for each new graduat

ing class, thusplacing a traceof all previousgenerations i n t o t h e ringsof thosewho will step up to serve our nation’sf u t u r e.

TheAOG is now accepting ring donations. Graduatesw ho w ish to donate their ringswill be recognized for their generosity, and

any donation isfully tax deductible. Help uspreserve the A cad emy’sgreat heritageby keeping thecircleof tradition unbroken .

Supporting the U.S. Air Force for more than 50 years

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wo military offi cershave put retirement on the back b u r n er as they takeon a new command: an initiative to bolster th e state’saerospace and defense industry. Science Fundation Arizona (SFAz) has attracted retired Brig. Gen. R. T h o m as Browning, ’64, and retired Lt. Gen. John F. Regni, ’73, to be co-directors for an A& D Institute (AD I) that will w o rk

to strengthen thestate’smilitary and defense sector an d makeArizona a moreviable prospect for growing compa n i es.

A rizona. H e ret ired from the A i r Force in 1992.

Regni was chosen for hisleadership and experience i n t h e education and A& D industry. Hewas the Superintendent of theAir ForceAcademy, commanded theAir Univer sity overseeing Air Force Institute of Technology asw ell as the Community College of theAir Force (theworld s

Each year military and defense industries pump nearly $18 billion ($9.1 billion from military instal lations and $8.8 billion from private sector) into t h e state’s economy and create 190,000 jobs. Because careers of the 2L' century require educated and skilled

employees, theADI will also addressissues related

to

the availability of a well-qualifi ed A& D workforce.

“These distinguished generalshave the knowledge,

expertise and enthusiasm to propel this state’sA& D industry to the fullest potential,” said William C H arris, President and C EO of SFA z. “ T heir com bined decades

of experience in the defense, business and education sectors will be critical to providing a vision and sary leadership to our state’s eff orts to fortify, cr eat e an d n e c es

grow more high quality jobsin thissector.”

Browning, a highly decorated veteran and champion for statewide economic development, graduated from theAir ForceAcademy in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in engineering science and received his master’s in public administration from Shippensburg State College in Pennsylvania. Browning served in Thailand and Vietnam, returning stateside in 1973 to NellisAir Force Base pilot, instructor, fl ight commander and assistant opperations offi cer. Later he served as chief of the operations as a

72

division of the D irectorate of Electronic C om bat in

Washington, D.C. The Scottsdale resident also served i n leadership positions at installations in Texas, Japan an d

largest community college) and commanded theSecond

Air Force, operating all theAir Forces technical training schools in 250 job specialties. Regni s40-year Air Fo rce

career began at theAir ForceAcademy, wherein 1973 h e

earned his bachelorsof science degree in biology. Regni hasserved in avariety of personnel, training and co m m an d assignmentsat the Pentagon and at bases in Korea, H aw aii, Illinois, Mississippi and Texas. Over theyearsthe Litchfi eld Park resident has served on the board of directors f o r t h e

C ivil A i r Patrol and the M ountain W est C onference, an d

representsArizona on the Southwest DefenseAlliance.

SFAz also will provide $1 million in grant funding t o the Arizona State University to work with a consortium of academic and A& D industry partners through an Aerospace and Defense Research Collaboratory, further

developing technologies used in aerospace and military applications. The collaboratory will focus on three interconnected areas of A& D technology:

1. M achi ne-to-m achine and hum an-t o-m achine i nter

actions and integration 2. Visioning, simulation, modeling and visualization

3. Information management andinformationassurance B For m ore about the Science Foundation A rizona, visi t

T he Secr et Lif e of

Waldo F. Dumbsauat

BY D O N H A L L , 7 6

I

t was a dark and stormy night.

Somewhere a dog barked.

CMC Waldo F. Dumbsquat sat at his desk and stared out the dormitory window. Snow fl akes drifted slowly around the quadrangle darkness, illuminated only by the dim lights of the New Dorm. The Dark Ages pressed down upon the freshman like a suffocating, depressing blue class blank et . Foot ball season, Christmas leave, all in the past now. With only foosball and a Barry Manilow Allied Arts performance to look f o rw ar d to, W aldo t ried to hide the tear t hat st reak ed h is ruddy cheek.

He glanced around the room to be sure no one noticed. H i s roommates, “Regs” Buch and Warren Heels, sat at desks fl an k ing Waldo and, oblivious to his pain, the doolies toiled at t h ei r English assignment. The trio of cadets suffered from co l l ect i v e writer’s block. Who knew a short story could be so diffi cul t to craft?Waldo did not relish another all-nighter.

“I hate creative writing!” moaned Warren.

“Regs” snapped a pencil in half “I can’t think of anything

hom ew ork before dinner.”

“Good luck with that,” “Regs” said sarcastically. “We can ’t seem to get inspired.”

Wags smiled knowingly. “Jack London wrote that you can ’t w ai t for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.”

“So I supposewe should just write about what’shappening t o

us,” whined Waldo, “you know, that life stuff.”

“So you’re saying write what you know?” asked Warren.

“Every author in some way portrays himself in his works, even if i t be against his will ... that’s Goethe,” quoted Wags.

Waldo, “Regs,” Warren, and Wags all turned with stunned real iza tion and looked at their Author quizzically. The unspoken philosophi cal question hung in the air like a bloated metaphorical sim ile. But their Author appeared frustrated, his creativity blocked, u n ab le t o answer the question- to fi nish the story.

Suddenly, a man came through the door with a gun in h i s

hand .. . &

to

w r i t e ab o u t .”

FLY W IT H O UT A D ET A I L ED PREFL IG HT C H EC K A N D FLIG HT PLA N?

“I can’t imagine trying to write stories on a regular basis,” m used

N EV E R !

Waldo ashestared at theblank computer screen that glowed accus

Then why commit engineering resources wit hout det ailed

ingly at him. “For instance, it must be really hard writing for a quarterly magazine. I mean you only have three months t o t h i n k o f something to say.”

“What happens when there is no creativity?It’s not l i k e so m e

p r o g r a m co st s a n d p r o d uct io n p l an s?

A

thing you can forceto happen,” lamented “Regs.” Heco n sid ered himself well versed in theAcademy regulations, but he never

dreamed of putting good order and discipline via the w r i t t en w o rd o n p ap er.

“Well, the great Walter Wellesley always said that writing was easy. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein ,” ’ Warren said knowingly.

“What’s a typewriter?” asked Waldo.

“Regs” ignored his friend. “The celebrated author Raymond Chandler was quoted assaying that when in doubt, have through the door with a gun in his hand.” a m

an

Suddenly, the heavy dormitory door slammed open and

co m

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e

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snow-covered fi gure, armed with an M-1 rifl e, rushed through the doorway from the alcove.

C / 4C D im i t ri H isazov brushed the frozen C olorado w eat her

from his parka and grinned at his classmates.

“Wags!” exclaimed Waldo. “What’sgoing on?”

“Just fi nished the last of my tours. Thought I’d let you know.

Well, see you at the evening meal. I have to start my English

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73

A ll in the

(United) Family

Identical twins George and

Tom Rayl, ’70, will soon wear t h e sam e un iform

Courtesy of HemispheresMagazine

O

ne day last November, two pilotswalked the con course at Denver International Airport (DEN) side by side looking like mirror images, except for one detail: One waswearing a black uniform, the other blue.

When they stepped into the fl ight operations base, another pilot was confused. “Is that our new uniform?” he asked, pointing to th e blue un iform .

No, the two men—who happen to be identical twins—were both dressed in their current uniforms. George Rayl i s a C o n t i nental 777 Line Check Airman Captain; Tom Rayl is a U n i t ed 777 First Offi cer. The merger of United and Continental brought together more than two of the world’s greatest airlines—it

reunit ed a set of tw in brot hers w ho have devoted their l i v es t o t h e

glory of fl ying.

The Rayls met in Denver to share their unique perspective the merger. As veteran pilots, both see great potential in United’s co m b i n ed future. “I think the merger will be very positive for bot h sides, especially for the younger people,” George said. “The n e w r o u t e structure can’t be duplicated—not at any price and not in anyone’s lifetime.” Tom is more cautiously optimistic: “If management an d coworkers together can really create a place where people want to come to work every day, then it will be a wonderful merger.”

Tom lives with his wife, Sandy, in Merced, California, an d fl i es t o in ternat ional dest inat ions out of San Francisco. He began fl ying with United 20 years ago and has piloted the 727, 767, 747-400 and 777 aircraft. He was captain on the 767 for three y ear s.

George fl ies international routes out of Newark, New Jersey.

He began his career in 1981 with People ExpressAirlines, w h i ch merged with Continental in 1987. He has commanded 737, 727, o n

A300, 757, 767 and now 777 aircraft . H e lives with his w ife,

Patty, in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Tom and George grew up in Worthington, Minnesota. They both graduated from the United StatesAir Force Academy an d

74

completed fl ight training at ColumbusAir Force Base i n M i sso u r i .

They served together as offi cers in the U.S. Air Force, fl ying T-38s at Columbus. Eventually, both were assigned to B-52 se r v i c e a t Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, South Dakota.

R E T I R I N G T O T H E SK I E S

When asked about what they plan to do if they retire f r o m United, both brothers put fl ying on the agenda. “What we’d really like to do,” Tom says, “is buy a couple of old T-34s and do som e formation fl ying, or dog fi ghting. That would be an unbelievably exciting gift.”

So what about the questions everyone asks twins?

Did they play tricks on friends or have to compete for girl friends?Not often, they both say. “We liked a diff erent kind of girl from the start,” says George. But Tom claims he took the rap every time a baseball went through a window, while George says he was always the one to go fi rst when there was a dirty job t o d o .

Did they compete all the time?Absolutely, they say. “ T o m w as the quarterback,” George says, “and I was the center.” Eventually, they decided to pursue separate sports, so they could get a break from the endless competition. George was a wrestler an d T o m played basketball.

Did their mother dress them alike?Yes, until about junior high, when they both said enough was enough. But they’re looking forward to dressing alike again in the new United uniform.

Do they really like each other?Clearly. “That’s the beauty of this merger,” said Tom. “We spent the fi rst twenty-eight years of our lives together, and we’re thrilled that we’re back o n t h e sam e t eam

for the next chapter.” 9

File under “You Cant Make ThisStuf Up”: George went to workf or United in 1979 but was unable to start dueto af urlough. H e w en t t o PSA, PeopleExpressand Continental. Tom interviewed w i th C on t i n en tal in 1990 bef ore being hired at United, hemispheresmagazine.co m

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Falcon 9 launched successf ully December 8, 2010, its s e c o n d fl ight and first demonst ration mission for NASA’s Commercial

Orbital Transportation Services program. The flight a c h i e v e d 100% of its mission objectives and made history, marking t h e

fir st t ime a commercial company successf ully reentered a n d recovered a spacecraf t from Ear t h or bit .

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u -

Fal co n

Hockey FA C IN G T H E C H A L L E N G ES O F T H E A T LA N T IC H O C K EY A S SO C IA T IO N

By Lewis Car lyle Photo by Mike Kaplan

A SK A N Y H O C K EY L O V ER and he or she

Tim Kirby takes thepuck outside

76

will tell you that hockey fans are among the most devoted and rowdy in all of sports. This season, the Falcons have experienced such enthusiasm and more. Skating to sell out crowds on their home ice, Air Force hockey has enjoyed a string of tremendously successful seasons in the Atlantic Hockey Association (AFFA).

There are a number of things which make this game so exciting. The speed, the skating, the buzzer-beater goals, the teamwork (and let’s face it, the fi ghts). Yet despite the colossal roster of physical attributes these players bring to the ice, hockey is more than just muscles, pucks and blades. A true hockey player possesses a devotion and spirit which cannot be quanti fi ed in the physical world. Checkpoints met with Falcon head coach Frank Serratore to go beyond all the goals, assists and other stats to better understand what makes a great player.

“There are very few players in the entire world who have it all,” Serratore begins. “Some guys are gifted offensively, some guys are gifted defensively. Some guys are playmakers

while others bring you a strong physical presence. There are all kinds of different players. You can easily compare hockey to m usic. Th ere are a lot of diff erent inst ru

ments which make up the orchestra.”

It is not long into the conversation that one realizesj ust how important the element of team is to the sport of hockey.

Baseball will always have its grand-slam hitting super sluggers, football its star quarterbacks and basketball its powerdunking forwards—and while all of the aforementioned sports do rely heavily on team play, none is as interconnected as hockey. On the ice, the game moves so quickly and changes so rapidly that defensem en of ten fi nd them selves at tack

ing an opponent’s goal while offensive players are just as likely to be scrambling backw ards to defend their ow n net . Each

player must take on a myriad of roles and be able to perform those tasks compe tently. In this aspect, hockey is unique among all other sports. Never in the history of the NFL has an offensive line man dropped back to return a punt for a touchdown. Center fi elders do not readily take on the role of pitcher or catcher and NASCAR drivers, well, let’s just say the debate is still open as to whether car racing is actually a sport.

Coach Serratore explains that while a good hockey player must know how to take on a number of roles on the ice, a

coach doesn’t w ant to have all the sam e

type of player. “One thing you do want in every player is character. You have to have team players because there’s no room on the ice for selfi sh people. Hockey is the ultimate team game, because everyone has

a role that he has to em brace.”

Thehistory of Falcon hockey has no shortage of character. Just thisyear, former hockey goalie Capt. Mike Polidor, ’04, received theJabaraAward for airmanship.

Coach Serratore beams, “The focus, com

mitment, and discipline needed to become a great pilot are the same attributes needed

to excel as an elite level collegiate smdentathlete. Mike Polidor displayed thisand more as a hockey player at theAir ForceAcademy, excelling at one of the most dangerousand pressure fi lled positions in all of sports, that being an ice hockey goaltender.”

Serratore isquick to draw comparisons between hockey and the United States armed forces. “When you look at theAir Force,” he says, “not everyone isa pilot; but everyone’s job isvaluable in termsof accomplishing the mission.” Being a military college, the Air ForceAcademy is the perfect place to exemplify the connectionsbetween the inter-workingsof a hockey squad and an Air Force combat group. Pilots rely on their communications offi cerswho rely on ground support who in turn rely on pilots. All great teams have a cyclical relationship. Everyone works hard and does his/her jobs—they support one another and trust one another.

In thisway. Academy sportsare the perfect proving ground for the cadetswho will go on t o b eco m e o ffi cers.

Like any team, the Falcon hockey squad is made up of both rookies and veterans.

Coach Serratore illustrates the importance of the upper classmen mentoring theyounger players. “Most of the mentoring on the team happensearly in theyear. Freshmen have it tough, coming out of Basic Cadet Training.

Our older guyslook after the younger guysas best they can. The fi rst and second classmen encourage them through timesof diffi culty.

That’svery special and I admire our players for it , because som etim es those freshm en

coming in aregoing to be taking thejobs of some of thosejuniorsand seniors.”

Serratore also points out that many of the new playersare different from the typical freshman cadet entering theAcademy. “We don’t bring in a lot of young freshmen,” he says. “Most of our freshmen are 20 years old or more, having been through a prior enlisted program or even the prep school. They tend to come in with a higher maturity level.

They’ve all been away from home for a few yearsand have gotten past missing mom and

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dad. They have a more realistic view of what they’re getting into here at theAcademy.”

Going back to the fanatical fans, Ser ratore illustrates the importance of having such a strong outpour of support on the home ice. “There’s no question that having a good crowd really matters,” he says emphatically. “Playing in front of a full house creates an atmosphere and has a very positive effect on our team while having an intimidating effect on our opponents. It really energizes our guys.”

Having won a string of nail-biting close calls, the Falconsare fi ghting harder than ever to maintain their ranking among the best in the nation. “ I would like to see us m aintain

what we’ve been able to accomplish over the last four or fi ve years,” Serratore refl ects.

“We’vewon four league championships and played in three NCAA tournaments. On thoseyearswhen we have a strong cycle of playerswe’d like to continue contending for league championships and NCAA berths.”

And so the musical dance of skates, ice and

slap shots continuesasAir Force prepares for the rest of their season. Each player knowshis role and is ready to back up his teammates at a moment’s notice. And while a symphony may occasionally call for a stellar soloist, in the end, it isalways the orchestra which puts o n

the show. H

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The Progressive Era, marked by a desire for economic, political, and social reform, ended for most Americans with the ugly reality and devastation of World War I. Yet for Army Air Service offi cers, the carnage and w a s t e witnessed on the western front only served to spark a new progressive movement—to reform war by relying on destructive technology as the instrument of change. In Benefi cial Bombing Mark Clodfelter describes how American airmen, horrifi ed by World War I s trench warfare, turned to the progressive ideas of effi ciency and economy in an effort to reform war itself, with the heavy bomber as their solution to limiting the bloodshed.

They were convinced that the airplane, used as a bombing platform, offered the means to make wars less le thal than confl icts waged by armies or navies.

Clodfelter examines the progressive idealism that led t o the creat ion of the U .S. Ai r Force and it s doc trine that the fi nite destruction of precision bombing would end wars more quickly and with less suffering for each belligerent. Drawing on a wealth of archival material, including critical documents unavailable t o previous researchers, Clodfelter presents the most complete analysis ever of the doctrinal development u n d er pinning current U.S. Air Force notions about strategic bombing.

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Living a successful life doesn’t happen by accident. People become successful because they set goals, make a plan and build a route ... They’re on a marathon. Mike Matte’s book , “ M arathon Fit To Lead. 26.2 Transform ational Ideas That Will ff elp You To LiveYour Best Life ... NOW!” will inspire readersas it takes them along on M at t e’s marathon through life. He helps readersget their marathonsstarted- to visualize and make a plan- and encourages them to keep going when they encounter problems and hit the “wall.” Thisis not a dry step-by-step self-help manual. Instead, the author shareshisown personal journey, the upsand downsof his marathon. You will fi n d humor, humility and victory asyou read the pagesof Matte’sbook. Matte, president and owner of Marathon C EO , isan international keynotespeaker who inspireshisaudiences to make consciouschoicesthat improve their personal livesaswell as their job performance. He uses the sport of running both literally and metaphorically ashe explores the root causesof soaring health costs and mediocrity in theworkplace, while promoting mental, emotional, physical and spiritual fi tness. The author has completed more than 400 road races, including seven marathons.

Available at ww w.am azon .com and www .m arathonceo.com , I SBN N um ber : 978-0-9843 106-9-2

Boo k Tit le: “ Do n’t Look Bef ore Yo u Lea p” David W. Webb, ’ 8 4 Don’t Look Before You Leap is not exactly my dissertation on leadership, but I will take you through the fi rst stage of my campaign for President of the United States. You will also fi nd answers to questions like: Why are people afraid of heights?Is it safe to pilot a KC-10 while on a diet that consists entirely of junk food?H ow can you make it to pilot training when your eyes are subst andard ? A s an added bonus, learn t he fi ve t heorem s of car ownership, full-proof advice on how to get rich and why you may NOT want to convert a vehicle to run on vegetable oil. Hopefully none of what I have written will jeopardize my chances of being selected the Academy’s next Superintendent, but I’m willing to take that chance to provide you with a few laughs. a s

Fr om r ev i ew s at A m azon an d B ar n es an d N obl e;

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80

Ec h o es o i MXn d Thi nki ng Deeply About Humanshi p

Ec hoes of M ind: Think ing Dee piy A bout Hum anship Dave Levy, Ph.D., ’88 , Jim Parco, Ph.D.,’91

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Thus, we have the basis for Levy and Parco’slatest book, Echoes of M ind: Thinking Deeply About El unmnship.

The next step in your leadership journey just may be a step back, a refl ectivejourney into unexplored aspectso f th e self and it’s relationship with others. Enjoy the trip.

See what others are saying about Echoes of Mind: Levy & Parco have done it again.

In their eminendy readable style, the authorsexaminewhat it meansto be human. Levy & Parco takeyou on a jour ney away from the hustle & busdeand minutia of your daily life so that you ask yourself thehard questions- the about who you are and who you want to be. They wash off thegrit and fog and make self-examination- cessible. I loved thisbook and couldn’t put it down! Well done.” Enlightened Skeptic, 7\ mazon.com review (30 Jan 2011)

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Available from online retailers and fi ne bookstores everywhere. For more information, visit www.think-

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JSAJE for Alumni - Joint Service Academy Jobs Electronically is a Web site designed to allow you to browse through job listings and contact employers. It contains a resume repository for graduates who are in an active transition mode, and a job retriever for t hose who prefer to remain in a passive mode. JSAJE For t he Employers - JSAJE is also an exclusive job Web site designed for companies in corporate America to advert ise t heir career opportunit ies direct ly to service academy alumni. Companies may also purchase access to a repository of resumes of graduates in an act ive t ransit ion mode. iS A B R D An online Service Academy Business Resource Directory wit h over 36,500 act ive profiles from USA FA, USCGA, USMA, USMMA, and USNA. An excellent resource for advert ising, career networking, and building business connect ions.

Visit www.usaf a.org f or more inf ormat ion

Johnson’s rise in rank

Of the approximately 280 generals in the U.S. Air Force, 60 to 70 are two-star generals, including only four to six women. M i ch el l e Johnson, Class of 1981, is included in this elite class. She began her 30-year military career as a distinguished graduate of t he U .S. Air Force Academy, where she was named the fi rst female wing commander as a senior cadet . Johnson earned a Rhodes Sch o l ar

ship to Oxford University and fi nished graduate school i n 19 8 3 .

She was promoted to major by 1991 and colonel in 1999, having spent much of the 90s deployed to Abu Dhabi, United A r ab Emirates, where she fl ew jumbo tankers from a base in the Persian Gulf From 1992-94, Johnson served as the Air Force ai d e t o t h e

president, working for both President George Fi .W. Bush and President Bill Clinton. Between December 2007 and June 2009, she was on the joint stafl Fat the Pentagon. She’s been a brigadier general since 2005, and was promoted to major general in August 20 10. (Air Force Link)

Ast ronaut Hall of Fame

A space shuttle commander who fl ew two orbiters’ maiden fl ights and a spacewalker who set a duration record working o u t si d e t h e International Space Station (ISS) will be inducted i n t o t h e U .S. Astronaut Fl ail of Fame in Florida this May. Col. (Ret.) K ar o l “ Bo” Bobk o, ’59, and L t . G en . Susan H elm s, ’80, have been con

if rmed as inductees by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, not-for-profi t organization that oversees the Hall of Fam e’s annual selections. The two veteran space shuttle fl iers will b e ad d ed t o t h e 77 space fl yers honored in the Astronaut Hall of Fame since 1990, including all of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo program pio neers. An induction ceremony is scheduled for May 7 at N A SA ’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which the Astronaut Hall of Fame is a part. (Space.com)

lieutenant was unanimously voted the tournament MVP af t er the United States won the championship. (Air Force Times) Air Force Space Command Air Force Space Command welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony Jan. 5. Gen. William L. Sh el ton, ’76, accepted command from Air Force Chief of St afl FG en .

Norton Schwartz, ’73, in front of an audience of family, munity members and AFSPC personnel. In General Schwartz’s opening comments, he bid a fond farewell to General K ehler and gave a warm welcome to General Shelton and his wife b ack t o AFSPC and Colorado. “General Kehler, you are well-prepared f o r the challenge of U.S. Strategic Command and you are certainly deserving of this honor,” said General Schwartz. “Suzie an d I w i sh you and Marj all the best as you turn a new page in t h i s ex ci t ing chapter for your family. “As we look forward to the prospects of the New Year, we congratulate Willie and Linda on this very special occasion, as we welcome them back to Colorado w h er e they have enjoyed a number of assignments over the years, includ ing several here at Air Force Space Command,” General Sch w ar t z continued. Upon acceptance of command. General Shelton said , “I’ve been in and out of Air Force Space Command since 1986, so to have the good fortune to come back to command this great organization is truly a special privilege.” (Air ForcePublicAff airs) c o m

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Ba s k et b a l l M V P

A 2009 Air Force Academy graduate was named the Most V al u able Player for leading Team USA to the 2010 SHAPE I n t er n a tional Men’s Basketball Championship in Mons, Belgium, N ov.

29-Dec. 4. Second Lt. Matt Holland, who played with t h e Fal co n s basketball team from 2006 to 2008, had 14 points in t h e U n i t ed States’ 78-71 victory over Lithuania in the SHAPE championship game. “I was honored to be able to represent the United St ates, the military and theAir Force as a whole,” Lieutenant H o l l an d said. “Being selected for the team took dedication, b u t as I ’v e learned from my parents, hard work and persistence pay ofl F.” The 82

AETC Commander retires after 37 years of service

The commander of Air Education and Training Command, G en .

Stephen R. Ix»renz, ’73, retired in the grade of general efl PectiveJan. 1, 2011, culminating more than 37 years of commissioned se r v i ce .

Among hismany accomplishmentsasAETC commander. General Lorenz oversaw development of an innovative Remotely Pil o t ed vVircrafi :pilot and sensor operator training course as w el l as t h e creat io n of cyberspace coursesat theAir Force Institute of Technology. In addi tion, he improved the Batfl efi eld Airmen training program an d st o o d up theAir Force’sJoint Expeditionary Tasking combat skills training program, enabling theAir Force to meet combatant commander requirements. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, ‘73, Air Force C hief of Stafl F, said that, asAETC commander. General Lorenz has “exemplifi ed t h e same great leadership qualities that he has modeled for others through out hisremarkable career.” (Air ForceLink) B

A sso c iat i o n o f G r a d uat es U N I T E D ST A T E S A I R F O R C E A C A D E M Y

US'

2 0 1 1 A S S O C IA T IO N O F G R A D UA T ES B OA R D O F D I R ECTO R S E L ECT I O N T he Board of D irectors elect ion w ill be conducted from March 31, 2011 through noon, May 2, 2011. The election w i l l b e co n d u ct ed primarily by electronic voting. Members with an e-mail address on fi le w ill receive elect ronic not ifi cat ion w i t h i n st r u ct i o n s o n h ow t o

vote electronically. Members without an e-mail address will receive a notice by mail on how to vote electronically. M em b er s w h o h av e n o t received an e-mail or notice by April 8, 2011 should contact theAOG. The election is being run by Survey & Ballot Systems, Inc. in Min nesota. Members may request a paper ballot from them.

J O H N N Y W H I TA K E R C LA S S O F 1 9 7 3

CA N D IDA CY STAT E M E N T

Johnny Whitaker is a 1973 USAFA gradu atewith a BSin Management, and aMaster s in Communications from the University of Oklahoma. He served nearly 30 years on activeduty, primarily asapublicaffairsoffi cer, including tours as PA director for ACC and AETC, and in the Pentagon as deputy direc tor of all Air Force PA operations. He also served asasupport group commander. Retir ing in 2003, hebecamethefi rst Director of Academy C o m m u n i cat io n s and offi cial liaison with theAOG. He iscurrently Director of Program

It would be an honor to serve on the board of directors fo r t h e U n i t ed

and I nternational Com m unications for Lockheed M artin A ero n au t i cs

Company, Fort Worth, Texas.

CA N D IDA CY S TAT E M E N T

I am a candidate for the A O G Board of D irectors because serving on

theBoard ismy way of giving back to our Academy that m an y y ears ago helped set the foundation upon which much of my success in l if e w as built. It instilled or reinforced in me the importanceof values, integrity, character, perseveranceand service. Coming full circleback to U SAFA , I can bring my professional and personal life experiences t o t h e A O G boardroom to help providethestrategic insight and tactical planning for programsto benefi t current and future graduatesof o u r al m a m at er.

K A T H L E E N R O C K C LA S S O F 1 9 9 8

Thereisa faded photograph on my refrigera tor that always brings a smile to my face. It is a picture of me and my little brother over looking the Academy Chapel in 1982 four J yearsbeforetheVisitor Center and itsrelated landmarks were built. I was only seven years old at thetime, but thisearly visit, alongwith my fathers service in the Air Force, inspired me to attend the Academy. Aft er six and a half years on active duty, I separated from theAi r Force, but have con tinued to serve the military as a defense consultant ev er si n c e .

StatesAir ForceAcademy. My professional and personal experienceshave prepared me for this role. I am ready to address the reco m m en d at io n s that have been raised among fellow graduates regarding areas w h ere th e AOG can be more supportive. One example is by building an d fo st er ing infl uential networks for graduares to leverage. Forum s that offer business and mentoring opportunities are critical for this type of out reach. We share a common bond as graduates-let s embrace this foun dation and together meet the challenges of tomorrow.

H O W A R D J . F R Y C LA S S O F 1 9 6 7

Jack Fry is retired from paid employment but serving in multiple volunteer capaci ties in the Tri-Lakes region of northern El Paso County, Colorado. Jack served in the US Air Force for 29 years retiring as a C olonel in 1996. H e earned a M ast er’s

degree in Applied Mathematics from No. Carolina State University prior to entering pilot training. He has accumulated over 3,000 fl ying hours (330 Combat in South Vietnam and N o r t h er n Iraq) in A-37, T-38, F-4, F-15 and F-16 aircraft. His key AF assign ments were as Deputy Commandant for the Cadet Wing U SA FA , 53rd TFS Squadron Commander (F-15, Bitburg, Germany), 52nd T FW Commander (F16/F-4, Spangdahlem, Germany), and C o m mander USAF Space Warfare Center. In addition to the degree in Applied Math, he holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College. Following r e t i r e ment from the Air Force he worked in the defense industry w i t h Lockheed Martin and Averitech, Inc for six years and then spent fi ve years as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones I n v est m en t s (offi ce in Palmer Lake, Co.). He retired completely t o c o n c e n t r a t e on family and do volunteer work in the community in Jan. 2008.

He and his wife Molly have three children and three grandchildren and have lived i n C olorado si nce 1994 .

83

CA N D IDA CY S TAT E M E N T

My experience includes being my Class Senator, a volunteer m em b er

of the BO D Finance and Investment Committee, Treasurer o f t h e

AOG sinceJuly, 2009, and a Director in Nov. 2009. I am a SA B R E Society member and Life Member of the AOG. I continue t o b e involved with Gadets through individual Gadet Sponsorship an d participation in Gadet Leadership Enrichment programs. I feel our AOG Board is making signifi cant improvements in support t o o u r Membersand theAcademy and ask for your vote to continue t o s e r v e our membership as a Director on the BOD for another four years.

R O B E R T M U N S O N C LA S S O F 1 9 7 3

Dr. Robert (Bob) M unson retired from the

Air Force in the rank of Colonel with ratings as Command Pilot, Senior Flight Surgeon, and Pilot-Physician. He is on staff at the USAFA hospital, is assistant medical direc tor at Evercare Hospice in Colorado Springs and occasionally does consultant work. He received his medical degree from Loyola University and had various assignments as pilot-physician within theAir Force. Bob is currendy an elected A O G Director and Board Secretary, president of his class an d ser ved as secre tary to theAOG GlassAdvisory Senate.

CA N D IDA CY STAT E M E N T

Pleaseconsider, very carefully, which candidatesyou ch oo se i n th is el ec

tion. Why?Because in the next two years, your Board of D irectors has

one critical task that w ill aff ect the A ssociation of Graduates for decades

to come: setting in concrete a cooperative relationship w ith the A cad emy and the non-profi t organizations that support it. The recent coop erative agreement I helped craft with the USAFA Endowment isonly a fi rst step. I am now on that agreement’sJoint Goordinating C o m m i t tee, and I can say that much more work needs to be d o n e. T h is w o rk will be diffi cult, involvesmultiple players, requiresfrequent face-to-face involvem ent , and is critical to the future success of th e A O G . I t w i ll

determine whether you as graduates will have a signifi cant rol e i n th e fi imre of the Academy or not.The Board has already focused on other important issues. The Board has codifi ed a best-practice gover n an ce model and now operates to those standards. The Board has set end points it wants the AOG staff to achieve, and the staff is now making incredible progress towards those ends. But the critical t ask n ow is t o lock in the external relationships that will provide an en v i ro n m en t f o r success. Carefully choose thosecandidateswith theskills, relationships, and time they can devote to this task.

B R U C E W R I G H T C LA S S O F 1 9 7 3

Bruce Wright completed 34 years of service in the U SA E, retired as a Lieutenant General ,

and commanded joint and coalition combat operations, including 65 combat missions.

He is currendy the Vice President, C4ISR, Lockheed Martin, Washington Operations.

A 1973 USAFA graduate, heholdsa masters degree in public affairs from Golden Gate University. He is also a graduate of the Syra84

cuse University Senior Executives in National Security course. A ir W ar College, and the USAE Fighter Weapons School.

CA N D IDA CY S TAT E M E N T

My motivation to seek nomination for the USAFA AOG Board of

D irectors and, if elected, serve our Association of Graduates, is founded on three beliefs. First, our U nited States A ir Force an d all o u r A i rm en

are increasingly important to the security of our Nation. Second, our Association of Graduates has unlimited potential to provide leadership and support for our Air Force Academy mission to help b u i ld lead ers of character for our Ai r Force and our nation so t h at o u r A i r Fo rce

will continue to grow stronger. Third, our Association of Graduates has wide-ranging capabilities to further support and empower t h e co m m i t ment of our total membership and all graduates.

M A R K R O S E N O W C LA S S O F 2 0 0 3

M ark Rosenow is the A rea D efense Gounsel

assigned to Holloman AFB, NM .Aft er grad uating from the Academy, he was awarded a Presidential Scholarship to the Harvard Kennedy School and there accomplished a Master in Public Policy focused in political advocacy and leadership. Hewasnext admit ted to the Funded Legal Education Program and the University of Texas Law School. He

was elected to the Board of D irectors in 2009 for his fi rst two year term

and served on theNominating Committee and BylawsTask Fo rce. H i s father and older sister, two uncles and a cousin are also graduates.

CA N D IDA CY S TAT E M E N T

First, I am running again to continueworking toward the three goals I stated when elected in 2009: increase graduate membership, secu re t h e fi nancial stability and successof theAOG through expanded donations and more intelligent investment and ensure the AOG ser v es i t s m e m bers as well as it does the Cadet Wing. Second, I am running to main tain a recent graduate presence. As part of the Nominating C o m m i t t ee I helped recruit and appoint directors from 1979, 1988 and 1993 over the past two years; remaining on the Board gives me a ch an ce t o co n tinue representing the near graduate perspective myself M I K E T O R R E A N O C LA S S O F 1 9 7 0

Upon graduation from theAcademy in 1970, I embarked on a support career as I was not pilot eligible. Aft er nine years active duty, the last two years on the Faculty, I separated to begin my career in 1979 with Northwestern Mutual-Colorado Springs. I remained in the Reserveshowever, retiring in 1996 as a Colo nel. For 15 years, I was Managing Director of the Colorado Springs Northwestern Mutual Financial Network offi ce, stepping down from that position in January 20 10. 1 am involved w ith the A O G as a Life M em ber, and w as o n e o f

the principalsof the recendy completed SEA Memorial Pav il io n o n th e HeritageTrail adjacent to Doolittle Hall.

CA N D IDA CY S TAT E M E N T

CA N D IDACY S TAT E M E N T

I am interested in serving on the AOG Board for several r easo n s. I

now have the time to devote to being an active member, an d I h av e

an interest in helping the AOG move forward in three key areas.

The fi rst is to fi nd more ways to help the AOG connect w i t h an d help the graduate community. Second, I would like to help theAOG continue to move forward in further refi ning the AOG/Endowment Eoundation relationship so we can have even more effective f u t u r e fundraising efforts. Lastly, I would like to see the B o ar d an d t h e A O G partner together in developing a vision of what we want the orga nization to look like in 10 years from a networking, fundraising, services and communication perspective.

received an MS in Astronautical Engineer-

.

-

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CA N D IDA CY STAT E M E N T

the BOD, AOG, and UE are on the right path. It is now t i m e fo r al l to work together and strive for a smooth, responsive to graduates, orga nization that makes a better Association for graduates, t h e U SA EA an d the US. I want to help in whatever way I can.

K E N T T R A Y L O R C LA S S O F 1 9 7 5

Robert Kent Traylor, Colonel, USAF (ret), is an executive manager for military sat w ith

CEOssince retiring in Colorado Springs in 2003. I’m co n cer n ed t h at the AOG has been greatly distracted in recent years w i th i n t er n al d i s agreementsover governanceand fund raising. I believethe A O G focus needs to return to the Cadet Wing and providing a single v o ice o f leadership and support to the institution and the larger USAFA gradu ate community.

R O N S COTT CLASS OF 19 7 3

I

tank strategist; CEO; and board chair and j

■i f

Aft er the controversies of the 2006 era (Blue Ribbon Advisory), I think

com munications

intendents, D ean, C om m andants, A thletic D irectors, an d tw o A O G

squadron, group, and wing levels; think- I

ing and entered the AF Directorate of the W National Space Program, where he spent 17 years, with a 5 year break in the middle to attend Armed Forces Staff College and a tour on theAir Staff. During the time on the Space Program he served, as an engineer in the Program O ffi ce, as a Deputy SPO Director, and as a Program Director, beforeh is ret i rem en t assignment as Commander, Aerospace Data Facility, Buckley A FB, CO. In private industry, he was VP of Timberline Industries, a w h ol e sale distributor and industrial manufacturer in CO. John lives with his wife Kathleen in Castle PinesVillage. They have2 sons, a daughter, and 5 grandchildren.

ellite

and personally with the senior staff of the Academy including Super

Ron has37 yearsof leadership experience- j

J O H N G R O S S C LA S S O F 1 9 6 5

Aft er graduating from the USAFA in 1965, John spent 3 years as a Base Procurement Offi cer in SAC before attending AFIT. He

I’m an enthusiastic and engaged AOG Life Member and candidate to

serve on the Board of D irectors. I have interfaced both professionally

Lockheed

Martin Information Systems and Global Services. He also served as Director, Flight and Mission Support Services. A Colo rado resident, Kents fi nal Air Force assign ment was Vice Commander, Space Warfare Center, Schriever AFB. He has fl ying and command experience in the RF-4, F-15, and U-2. Staff assignments includeNATO, Pentagon, and USEmbassy, Australia. A 1975 gradu ate, he holds masters degrees in Systems Management from U SC , and National Security Strategy from the National War College. H e is an AOG Life Member and Sabre Society contributor.

director. Throughout hiscareer, heprovided |

strategicvision and led peopleto effectively I adapt to changingcircumstancesin dynamic | and stressful environm ents, w hether achiev-

1

ing results in combat or advancing new |

concepts. Recently, he has focused on ways to connect cutting-edge theory with national and international lev el problemsthrough strategiesto thwart WM D proliferation an d n u clear terrorism, national conference presentations, journal article publica tions, and the founding of a 501(c)(3) think-tank focused o n i n t er national development. He is Chairman and CEO of Leading-Edge R esear ch I n st i t u t e.

CA N D IDA CY S TAT E M E N T

The AOG is a critical link in the Long Blue Line by providing impor tant support to theAcademy mission and our membership. Thislinkage and support happen through effective board governance, staff leader ship, and program management. My credentials in strategic thinking, policy analysisand public management, combined with nonprofi t board director and CEO experience, can build upon and contribute t o t h e AOG’sstrategic endsand eff ectiveboard governance. I pledgetotal com mitment to advancing the AOG mission and vision and facilitating its growth and maturity with an uncompromising sense of stewardship, transparency and accountability.

M I C H A E L L I S C H A K C LA S S O F 1 9 7 5

M ike Lischak is an A O G life mem ber. Sabre

Society member, an active ALO, principle initiator and past president of both theAloha and Badger Alumni Chapters. Dr. Michael Lischak holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University(M PH ), the National War Col

lege and the University of Wisconsin(MBA).

Col. Lischak is Command Flight Surgeon, commercial/instrument pilot, and senior

FAA Aviation M edical Exam iner. H e is the M edical D irector fo r C o r

porate WORx at Columbia-St Mary’s in Mil-waukee, past president of the Medical Society of Milwaukee County, board member o f t h e W is consin Medical Society and numerous non-profi t organizations.

85

CA N D IDA CY S TAT E M E N T

Building leaders of character and preserving cherished t rad i t io n s o f integrity, excellenceand service to country are more than the m ission of USAFA and thevision of theAOG, they are the duty o f each w h o h av e participated and benefi ted so richly from thosetraditions. I am sincerely grateful for those gift s, proud to be a graduate and w o u l d b e h o n o red to contribute as a member of theAOG board. Each generation b u ild s upon the contributions of those before. We must support each newly formed class, sustain our graduates during their service and assist our mem bers aft er retirem ent from honorable service.

T I M W E LT E R C LA S S O F 1 9 9 7

Tim grew up in Santa Rosa, California and attended pilot training at Laughlin AFB aft er graduation from USAFA. He flew the C-5 at Dover and Travis AFBs, joined the AF Reserve in 2005, and has accum ulated over

3,000 hours, including over 100 combat hours. Aft er working for Senator Gordon Smith, Tim washired by Congressman Steve Buyer as a military legislative assistant, later serving as communications director and currently as legislative director and deputy chief of staff . He is also a professional st aff m em b er w i t h the H ouse Veterans Aff airs Com m ittee. H e resides in Washington, DC with hiswife and daughter.

CA N D IDA CY S TAT E M E N T

I expect themakeup of thosecharged with providing thestrategic vision for our organization to be refl ective of its membership, a feeling I share with many of my fellow members. I will honor that ideal w i t h a f resh perspective, one that encompasses ALL voices of those that have gone before, capitalizing on past successes to move forward w i t h an A O G that all of its members are proud of while wholly preserving o n e o f th e few places in the world where countless opportunities exist to expose our nations developing leaders to the enduring values upon which our l i b er t ies t h riv e.

PATRICK K. GARVEY, CLASS OF 1972

Pat serves as a Business Development Direc tor in The Boeing Company, responsible for growing the company’sdirected energy busi ness. He’sworked now with Boeing for more than 13 years. He graduated from USAFA in 1972, served as an Air Offi cer Command

ing of Cadet Squadron 32, and commanded the 510th Tactical Fighter Squadron. With over 25 yearsof Air Forceexperience, he fl ew tactical fi ghters in the Pacifi c, Europe, and the United States and served as a Division Chief on a MAJCOM staf . He and hiswifeJane live in Alexandria, Virginia.

CA N D IDA CY S TAT E M E N T

The Academy provided me the critical foundation that’s en ab led m e to serve eff ectively in the military and now in industry. Ser v ice o n th e Board will allow me to more eff ectively give back to t h e i n st i t u t io n th at gave me so much. In addition, theAOG must support b ot h th e n eed s 86

of its graduates as well as the institution and the Cadet Wing. Our AOG is moving in the right direction to meet both those n eed s in a balanced manner, and I would now liketo moreactively assist th e A O G in continuing moving further down that path.

T O M L O C K I E C LA S S O F 1 9 7 9

Tom Lockie is a 25 year Captain with

A m er i can

A i r l i n es. W h i l e at

A m er i can

Airlines, Tom has worked as a Flight Stan d ar d s

C h eck

A i r m an

an d

v o l u n t eer ed

with its pilots union, the Allied Pilots Association. As a small business principal managing partner, he participated in the development of two businesses in south Florida. Fi is spends his free time outdoors, and loves boating and sports. He comes from his own long military line where both grandfathers served in WWI , his father r et i r ed f r o m the USAFR after serving as a B-17 Pilot in WWII, both u n cles w er e B-25 pilots, and his sister is an ‘85 grad. Tom retired from the A i r Force Reserve, where he spent hislast 13 yearsas a L i aiso n O ffi cer f o r theAcademy. He and hiswife live in Naples, FL. Tom is currently a D irector on the A O G Board of D irectors.

CA N D IDA CY S TAT E M E N T

I’ve considered myself lucky serving as a Board Member f o r o u r A O G this past year, as I fi lled a one year vacancy on the b o ard . A s t h e A O G continues to move forward, we must actively search for innovativeways to link graduates together through new communications technologies and affi nity group development. Continuing to strengthen and grow our business networking capabilities on behalf of our civilian graduate community should beacorefocus. Expanding thenumber of chapters, to include new chapterson active duty baseswill provide th e b asis fo r a moreactiveand informed membership. Providing thisf resh o u t reach t o graduates through a visionary strategic growth plan will be the catalyst in off ering members reconnection through camaraderie an d b u si n ess opportunities going well beyond the reunion environment. A strong, well informed membership isthecornerstoneof our ability to meaning fully support each other, theAOG, and theAcademy.

B E B E O ’ N E I L C LA S S O F 1 9 8 3

Bebe ONeil is the Southwest Region Assis

tant Chief Pilot for U nited A irlines. O ver

the past 20 years at United, Bebe worked in the Training Center as a Pilot Instructor and Line C heck A irm an . She w orked w ith the Ai rline Pilots Association on the Train

ing and Professional Standards Commit

tees. H er husband, Jim, fl ies for American

Airlines. Married 23 years, they have four great kids. Her daughter, Megan, a fourth class cadet in CS-30, plays basketball. You’ll oft en find her cheering at family lacrosse, basketball , and hockey games. Bebe retired from the USAFR aft er 23 years. The ONeil family resides in Aurora, CO.

CA N D IDACY S TAT E M E N T

I feel 1represent alargenumber of graduateswho areA O G m em bers but

infr equent patronsof the servicesand amenitiesoffered. It was recently when my daughter, a fourth class cadet, received information ab o u t signing up for membership. I thought it odd that the A O G w o u l d solicit a doolie for membership services; I was enlightened. I k n ow many members are unaware of what goods, services, and available. I would like to see that those that approach theAOG as only a reunion year asset, be politely reminded that membership h as v al u e well beyond the reunion year festivities.

start my second career, I was surprised to fi nd that th ere w as n o act iv e alumni network in the area. Endeavoring to change this, I recr u i t ed other graduatesin theareaand worked with them to found the St . Louis AOG chapter and have served as president for the past three years. We now havealist of over 100 members. I hopeto bring thesameentrepreneurism, spirit and ability to get thingsdone to theA O G b o ard .

r eso u r c e s a r e

K I R K M C D O N A L D C LA S S O F 1 9 9 0

Kirk McDonald works for Fiduciary Asset Management in St. Louis, MO where he has worked as a portfolio manager for insti tutional equity portfolios and currently is responsible for all of the company’s quan titative research. Before joining FAM CO, K irk w as a consultant for A rthur A ndersen.

He spent nine years as a pilot in the United

States A ir Force. K irk is a m em ber of the class of 1990 and has an M .B.A . from the U niver

sity of Oklahoma. Kirk ismarried to Toni McDonald and has two sons,

Andrew (8) and Josh (4).

CA N D IDACY S TAT E M E N T

It is my sincere desire to serve you on the AOG Board of D irectors.

When I separated from Active Duty in 1999 and moved t o St . L o ui s t o

AOG Corporat e Sponsor Th e USA FA A O G Th an ks

our Platinum Sp onsor Henley -Putman University

Henley-Putnam University IN T EL L IGEN CE

CO U N T E RT E R R OR IS M P R OT E CT IO N

EARN YOUR MASTER’S OR DOCTORATE IN STRATEGIC SECURITY

■

S T E V E B E A S L EY C LA S S O F 1 9 9 3

A 1993 graduate, Lt Col Steve Beasley has served as an ai r traffi c controller, B- 1 Bom ber

pilot, and staff offi cer. He has deployed in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, and recently returned from an ENDURING FREEDOM deployment.

Steve spent two years in operational plans at 9th A ir Force and U S Central Com m and

Air Forces, and two more years in opera tional planson theAir Staff beforeattending ACSC and the school for Advanced Air and Space Studies. H e’s rently the 34th Bomb Squadron Commander. Steve, his wife, N icole, and their fi ve children regularly journey back to USAFA. c u r-

CA N D IDA CY S TAT E M E N T

My goal isto rejuvenate theAOG to connect old friendsan d b u il d n ew relationships upon common experiences. The AOG should c o n t i n u e its service to cadets, while searching for opportunities for graduates to connect. While considering this position, I was stunned by how many graduates were not AOG members but were open to the idea. Many of A O G ’s outreach is to current A O G m em bers. I w ish to expand this focus to all graduates to expand our membership. I belive my active service in theAir Force provides a unique perspective t o o u r A O G t h at representsa large unrepresented portion of our membership.

ADAM GRAYSON, CLASS OF 1999

p

Adam Grayson joined Edward Jones as I

a fi nancial advisor aft er serving as an Air I

Force logistics offi cer. He earned a Master K

of Business Administration degree from H Baker College and is working on a Doctor H of Psychology in Organizational Leadership H through theUniversity of theRockies.Adam H

is an active community member in the ■ Tri-Lakes region of El Paso County, Colo rad o . H e serves as a b o ard m em b er fo r th e

Cham ber of C om m erce, the Tri-Lakes YM CA , and is active i n o t h er

community organizations. Adam is married and enjoys spending time outdoorswith his two daughters.

CA N D IDA CY S TAT E M E N T

I respectfully request your support of my nomination t o th e B o ar d o f Directors. I believe in theAcademy and theAOGskey role in support ing theAcademy’smission. I havepersonally benefi ted from the A O G s services and am eager to give back, measuring the success of my tenure by the positive outcomes I can effect on behalf of t h e A O G an d o u r Academy. I consider myself a leader in my community an d w an t to be counted among our nations next generation of optimists and patri ots. As such, it w ould be an honor to serve on the B o ard o f D i rect o rs.

87

A sso c iat i o n o f G r ad uat es U N I T E D ST A T E S A I R F O R C E A C A D E M Y

2 0 1 1 M EM B ERS H IP V OT E R EV IS ED BY LA W S AOG Bylaws call for an election of directors in odd-numbered years and for the Bylaws to be reviewed biennially. T h e m o st r ecen t r ev i ew h as l ead t o reco m m en d ed am en d m en t s which must be put to a vote of the membership and will t ak e place in conjunction with director elections in 2011.

Thisyear-long review began in the fall of 2009 when Director Rip Blaisdell, ’62, was asked to chair the Bylaw Task Force (BLT F). The BLT F consisted of: Brian Binn , ’72

Board V ice C hair

Ron Scot t , ’73

C lass Senat or

D ick Sexton , ’60 President , C lass Senat e

Tom Hayden, ’74

M ark Rosenow, ’03

Cary Howe, ’69

C l ass Sen at o r

D irector A O C Execut ive V ice President

AOC Board Chair Terry Storm, ’61, and AOC President and CEO William “T ” Thompson, ’73, served as advisors.

The current Bylaws were rewritten by the Blue Ribbon Council in 2006 after signifi cant changes to the previous Bylaws had been approved by the membership in 2005. The 2006 Bylaws, while functional, are not easy to read, lack an i n d ex or table of contents, contain redundancies, have some glaring omissions and are generally diffi cult to use. T h ese w er e t h e problems the BLTF set out to correct. The BLTF was committed to conducting a comprehensive, thorough review b u t was cognizant of the changes made by the membership in 2005 and chose to avoid changing those provisions.

At its May 7, 2010 meeting, the Board approved the fi rst draft which was then sent to the Class Advisory Senate, class presidents, former AOC CEOs, Blue Ribbon Council members and a few other selected graduates. All comments re ceived were considered and several suggestionswere adopted. Each person who commented received information on why their suggestion was, or was not, incorporated into t h e d r af t .

On October 25, 2010, the task force distributed the updated draft to the Board and the directors submitted additional sugges

tions w hich the BLT F reviewed. O n D ecem ber 3, 20 10, theBoard accepted thisdraft , with afew additional adjustments, for pre

sentation to the membership as part of the 2011 Election. T H E B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S ST R O N G LY R E C O M M E N D S EAC H M EM BER V O T E “YES” T O A PPRO V E T H E BYL AW S A S A M M EN D ED .

T H E CU RREN T BYLAW S REQU I RE A 25 PERCEN T V OT ER T U RN O UT F O R A V O T E O N B Y L A W S T O B E E F FE C T IV E .

Please educate yourself and VOTE! Information about the candidates and the Bylaws is on the AOG website an d an nounced in ZoomieNews, the Election Update, and special videos and mailings. The Board encourages questions w h i ch will be answered on the Election pages of theAOG website. However, no changes will be made to the document before t h e el ect i o n .

Voting will be conducted electronically through a secure website. For what may be the last time, members may r eq u est a paper ballot.

Questions may be referred to elections@aogusafa.org

88

I N T EG RIT Y A s cadets and graduates of the A cademy, you hold

integrity in the highest regard. Your offi cial ring i s created with that same integrity by Jostens, your partner in expressing pride in the United States A ir Force A cademy.

M .d

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' #

.d .

A

j

1

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io sten s

TM

i

The AOG's Chapter Program

strengthens the graduate community

C REAT ING A ST RO NG A N D VIBRA NT G RA D UAT E CO M M UN ITY IS O N E O F T H E PRIM A RY F U N C T IO N S O F T H E A SSO C IAT IO N O F G RA D UAT ES. W E SUPPO RT O UR G RA D UAT ES W HO IN T URN SUPPO RT T HE A CA D EMY; T HE PRO CESS C REAT ES A SELF-SUSTA IN IN G C IRC LE T HAT CO NT IN UES TO PLA C E USA FA A M O N G T HE HIG HEST RA N K ING UN IVERSIT IES IN T HE NAT IO N . IN M A RC H O F 2010, T HE A O G B EG A N A N EW IN IT IA T IV E T O H ELP FU RT H ER ST REN GT HEN T HE G RA D UAT E CO M M UN ITY T HRO UG H ITS LO CA L A O G C H A PT ERS.

In short, a chapter is an organization in which Academy

graduatesconcentrated in a geographic area came together

to share their support for their alma mater. Chapters ex i st in all shapes and sizes in towns and cities all across t h e world. They provide a centralized location—or home aw ay

from home—wheregraduatesreconnect with old friends,

share their interests, enjoy sporting events and expand t h ei r social and business networks. Stella Grayson, ’99, i s D i r ec tor of C onst i tuent Relations at the A O G . She’s been at t h e

helm of the new initiative for the past year, helping t o gr ow what has become a global network of AOG chapters.

“Ultimately,” Stella begins, “the goal of theAssociation o f Graduates isto bring graduates together and to continue t o support theAcademy. Therefore, we encourage chapterst o

form geographically becauseit allowsgraduateswithin a c e r t ai n

area to concentrate together to socialize and network. So m e o f our more established chapterseven set up fundraising ac t i v i t i es to help support theAcademy.”

Stella explains that chaptersaredesigned to provide graduates access to a local social and business network w here they can con nect. Over the past year, the graduate community hasenjoyed a tremendous increase in new chaptersall acrossthe n at io n . “ L ast

After 52 years of waiting ... year,” says Stella, “theAOG initiated itsNew Chapter Program.

In March of 2010, therewere a mere 31 chapters. Thanks to th e campaign, that number hasgrown to 58.”

This recent success rate is due in part to the level o f support provided by the AOG. Starting a new chapter i s both simple and easy. Stella lays out a list of steps. “ Fi rst , a graduate should express his or her interest to the A O G . W e will then send a chapter handbook and a graduate release form which provides contact information for other gradu ates in that area. It’s really up to the graduates t o d eci d e how formal or informal they want their chapter to be an d what their goals are. I strongly encourage anyone starting up a chapter to begin by holding a social event.”

Selecting a fun restaurant or coffee shop is great w ay t o get started. This way, graduates have a way to meet f ace t o face and break the ice. This also allows chapter leadership to gauge the level of interest and participation from gradu at es in the area. G raduat es can also share ideas about w h at

they would want from a new chapter. Stella explains that if a new chapter decides to create bylaws and a constitution, or even gain non-profi t status, the AOG is here to help with that too. She adds, “The New England AOG Chap ter, located in Boston, has several fundraisers each y ear, including a golf tournament. This past year, they donated at least ten thousand dollars to various projects supported by the USAFA Endowment.”

Tom L ock ie sits on the Board of D i rectors for t he South

west Florida Chapter of the AOG. When we asked him to provide some insights into their recent start up, L o ck i e explains, “My experience working with the AOG starting new chapter was great. Everyone was so quick to respond.

Our fi rst step was requesting a list of area grads, an d t h e AOG provided us a list of grads within a 60-mile radius.

Southwest Florida doesn’t have a military presence cl o se by, so we were surprised to fi nd 72 grads in our area w i t h connections to the AOG. After 52 years of waiting and couple of informal events to see what kind of interest t h er e was in forming a chapter, we chose offi cers and set fi rst “offi cial” meeting date. The AOG also sent us a l i st o f a

a

o u r

curren t cadets from the local area so w e can invi te t hem to

events when they’re back home. We’re also keeping in t o u ch with grads from the local area currently on active duty as well. All in all, it’s been fairly easy starting the chapter thanks to the dedicated professional staff at the AOG an d to our enthusiastic group of initial offi cers.”

TheAOG isavailable to provide guidance and assistance with new chapters. Stella pointsout that each chapter i s i t s o w n sovereign entity. Financially speaking, chaptersare f ree t o st ar t up and free to maintain. TheAOG does not collect dueso r fees of any kind. Because chaptersareself-governing, they can elect to collect regular duesfrom their members, or remain fr ee.

Stella is very optimistic about the progress the AOG h as

made thus far. “We want to grow chapters at an appropriate pace while also continuing to support our current chap ters,” she says. “We’ve given legs to the program, and right now, it’s not just about putting as many chapters as on paper; it’s about sustaining the momentum we’ve b u i l t .”

As the program continues to grow, Stella is constantly searching for new and better ways to solve the critical challenges which face any new program. How do wehelp new chapters establish themselves?How do we help make them known?How do we help them gather af ollowing?

Back in Florida, Lockie discusses the benefi tsgraduates enjoying thanks to the freshly conceived Southwest Fl o r i d a Chapter of theAOG. “Most importandy,” he begins, “it’s p ro vided area grads a chance to get together, reconnect, h ave a f ew well earned laughs, and reminisce about our shared experiences.

In an areawith no military presence, this isawelcomed change for all. We’re also providing future networking opportunities fo r distributing our chapter roster to all members, completew i th contact and career info. Every grad contacted hasexpressed interest in being a part of the group and has mentioned i t ’s n i ce to know other grads in thelocal area. Everyonewonderswhy wewaited 52 years to get around to starting a chapter!”

Stella isalso busy planning the upcoming Chapter Presidents Conference this September at theAOG’s Doolittle Hall. I t i s here that the Distinguished Chapter awards are presented. T h e award is based on a pointssystem and recognizes those chap terswhose efforts have made signifi cant contribution t o th e Academy and thegraduate community. There are fi ve c r i t er i a chaptersmust satisfy in order to become eligible: 1. H old a Founders Day dinner. 2. Send a representative to the Chapter Presidents’ Conference. 3. Send a Chapter Presidents’ C onfer ence summary to chapter members. 4. Submit a membership roster. 5. Accumulate at least 300 points by support o f U SA FA Admissions, air liaison offi cersand parentsclubs.* TheAOG is looking forward to handing out thisyear’s rewards, because they represent avast culmination of hard w ork and dedication by the graduate community in support of th e Air ForceAcademy. For anyonewho islooking to start u p a chapter in hisor her local area, please contact theA O G t o l ear n how you can get started. We have made great strides in just one year, and with every new chapter our network growsst ro n ger and more diverse. The time is now—catch up with old f r ien d s and make new friends all together. Starting a chapter in your local area is the best way to stay connected to theAcademy and w e

c a n

are

an

to thegraduatecommunity. SI

*To learn moreabout starting a chapter in your local area, or about earning pointsf or your chapter, please contact Stella Grayson at chapter.support@aogusaf a.org or visit us onlineat chapters,usaf a.org.

91

G o n e

B ut

N ot

For got t en

Gar y L. Kar schnick , '60 Gary was born 6 June, 1937 and entered the Air Force Academy from St . Charles, 111. with the first class in July 1955. In 1957, h e fell off a t r am poline in gym class resulting in a broken back which forced a lengthy convalescence and fall back to the Class of 1960. During the years prior to graduation we all grew to know and respect him for h i s se n se o f f a i r ness and kindness. A bit of adventurer, Gary was never shy about tak ing part in a prank, particularly when it was directed t o w a r d h i s f o r m e r classmates. He proved to be a man of integrity and grit with fine leadership skills.

Following graduation, he re ported to EE. Warren AFB, Chey enne, Wyo. as a missile launch of

duty in 1984 and worked in the private sector as a computer scientist , designing and developing software for both military and civilian appli c a t i o n s.

Bob was a lifelong outdoorsman; in fact , his daughter’s f i r st m e m o ry at three years of age is being out with him hunting deer in upstate N ew Yo r k .

fi cer. W h il e t h ere, h i s w aiver cam e

through for pilot status and Gary reported to Williams AFB, Ariz. for training. In 1965, after an initial

t ou r i n B-52s at M ar ch , A FB, Cal i f ,

Gary returned to Vance AFB, Okla. a s a T - 3 8 i n st r u c t o r . A f t e r a n a b o r

tive attempt to enter the astronaut program (at 6’2”, he was too tall) he resigned from the Air Force in 19 6 9

Gary Karschnick

as a T-3 8

St a n d a r d i z a t i o n

and Evaluation Pilot and joined Delta Airlines. In 1970, Gary met D i a n e a n d i n 19 7 6 c o n v i n c e d h e r

to m arry him . Ending a successful career with Delta during which he fl ew t h e D C-9, D C -8, B -727, L - 10 11, an d M D -88, h e an d D i a n a r a i se d

their daughter Rhema and enj oyed a life fi lled with ex t e n si v e t r a v e l .

Gary retired from Delta Airlines to Melbourne, Fla. i n 19 9 4 a n d e m barked on restoring a 40-year-old Brantley helicopter, w h i ch h e l a t e r learned to fly. Not surprisingly, Gary accumulated total flying time in excess of 28,000 hours throughout his life.

Recently, Gary worked with the American Cancer Society “ Ro a d t o R e covery” program and Holmes Regional Medical Center a s a v o l u n t e e r .

On Jan . 23, 20 11 h e su ccu m b ed t o a can cer h e h ad b een courageously battling for 14 years. He will be remembered for his unfailing energy and positive outlook on life He is survived by his wife, Diane, daughter Rhema M ack, grand daughters Arielle and Kaleigh, and his constant four-footed c o m p a n ion Barney. He was cremated and his remains will rest i n t h e B o o k e r T .

Washington Cemetery in Melbourne Fla. Godspeed Gary, we will miss you. (A. Biancur ’60)

Rob er t R W h it e, ’6 1 Bob White died on Dec. 13, 2010 after battling congestive h e a r t f a i l ure and cancer. Bob was born in Naugatuck, Conn, on Feb . 22, 1940, the son of Helen Pieksza and the stepson of Chester P i e k sz a . A se c o n d generation immigrant who grew up speaking Polish, he was appointed to the United States Air Force Academy in 1957, and graduat ed in the third class from the Colorado Springs Academy in 1961. W h i l e a t t h e Academy, he met Donna Barbara Helmers, whom he married i n 19 6 1.

During the Vietnam conflict. Bob was a fi ghter pilot flying F-105 Wild Weasels, completing more than 100 missions over North V i e t n a m . H i s distinguished service awards include the Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Meritorious Service Medal, 16 Air M ed al s, as w el l as several others. Followi ng his tours of duty. Bob was reassigned stateside and served in several offi ces, including the Inspector G e n e r a l ’s o f fi c e and as a Computer Systems Program Director. He retired f r o m a c t i v e 92

H i s so n w a s b o r n t h e r e .

Though he was not a native Colo radan, he enj oyed all the bounties Colorado has to offer. Along with his family, he avidly enjoyed skiing and snowm obiling. He also loved explor ing Colorado’s many ghost towns with his wife’s family, and was espe cially fond of St. Elmo and the area leading to the Alpine Tunnel. He was an avi d fisherman and hunter, enj oy ing fly-fishing, hunting deer over the years (and making venison stew and spaghetti), and bagging his first bull E l k i n 19 9 2 . A t t h e t i m e o f h i s d e a t h

he was exploring options to do fly-in fishing in Canada. In the 1990s he B ob W h i te became involved with showing and breeding Akitas under the moniker “White Eagle Akitas” with much success, breeding and owning topranked and specialty show -winning akitas. His dogs w e r e so v e r y sp e c i al t o h i m .

Bob was preceded in death by his mother and step-father. H e i s su r vived by his wife, Donna; his daughter Laurie and her h u sb an d , Col e man Nemerov; and his son Daniel along with his wife, Bon n i e; t w o grandchildren, Benj amin and Caroline; and a step-grandson, A n d r ew .

B o b w i l l b e i n t e r r e d a t t h e U n i t e d St a t e s A i r F o r c e Academy this spring.

Memorials may be sent in Bob’s name to the American C a n c e r So c i ety. (Bob’s daughter, Laurie Whi te, and his wif e, Donna)

Jer r y K. Bower s, '63 While vacationing in Vail, Colo, on Oct. 3, 2010 with h i s w i fe, Lesl i e, Jerry Keeler Bowers (Jer-Bob) passed away tragically f r o m a f a l l o f f a V a i l mountain pass bridge during a multi-car accident. True to form , Jerry exi t ed t h eir car t o d et er m in e w h at w as t h e cau se o f b l o w n t i r e s d r i v e r s

had experienced, and to aid anyone who needed help. H e f e l l 10 0 f e e t off a nearby bridge to his death. There were no witnesses. T h e c a u se of the multi-car accidents and thus Jerry ’s death was a large metal ex pansion j oint that had been lifted up so severely passing c a r s c o u l d n o t av o i d i t .

Jerry was born M arch 14"’, 1940 in Granite Falls, Minn, t o W i n i f r e d and Joseph Bowers. Upon graduation from high school i n Jack so n , Minn., Jerry enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed a t K e e sl e r A F B .

Following a year in electronics, Jerry applied and was appointed to the Air Force Academy. In the spring of 1963, prior to Jerry’s graduation, he met Leslie Gail Dahman. He asked her to marry him on t h e i r f i r st d a t e .

Fo r m o r e cu r r en t i n f o r m at i o n ab o u t

graduate deaths, please visit the AOG web site. v\rww.usafa.org.

If you know of a graduate’s death, please notify the A O G a s soon as possible. There have been cases in which the a sso c i a tion was not informed in a timely manner.

They were married July 4, 1964 and have been soul mates f o r m o r e t h a n 46 years.

Jerry received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the Academy and his M aster’s Degree in Public Administration from Auburn University while attending Command and Staff College. He served a s a n a i r c r a f t

commander of a KC-135 during the Vietnam War. Following h i s t o u r,

Jerry j oined the Air Force Reserve and flew the C- 130 an d C- 124 , th en retired. During this time, Jerry also fl ew as a commercial pilot for Trans World Ai rlines flying a Boeing 707, an L - 10 11 an d an M D -80, an d t h en

r et i r ed .

During the furlough years, Jerry

w o r k e d f o r t h e FA A a n d b e c a m e a

certified kitchen designer whereby he j oined his wife’s interior design b u si n ess i n Lak e Tah oe, N ev. A f ter

26 moves all over the country, Jerry an d Lesl i e set t l ed i n t h ei r d ream

home at Perry Country Club in Larkspur, Colo. Jerry’s perfect day was enj oyi ng nature and wildlife from bis deck and playing a game of golf with Leslie. He considered it an even more perfect day when Jer ry B ow ers barbecuing a meal for his children and grand kids who live in nearby Castle Rock.

Jerry’s passions were boating of any kind, fishing, wake boarding, and teaching his grandkids how to drive the boat. Just give him some wa ter and let him go! Jerry also loved golf and in winter you could fi nd Jerry and Leslie in Lake Havasu, Ariz. boating, golfi ng and funning in t h e su n .

Jerry is survived by his wife, Leslie; daughter Kelly an d h er h u sb an d , Richard; his son Jeb and his wife, Laure; grandchildren Makayla, Katie, Faith, Brodie, and Elly. He is also survived by two foster children, Kenny and Tina, as well as pseudo daughters Donna and Larry. H e a l so l e a v e s

siblings Newell, Joel, Mark, Jon, and Ruth.

Jerry was buried at the Air Force Academy on Oct . 29, 2010. A young friend, Lt. Col. Matt Rytting, Director of Operations of Wings of Blue, had a United States flag jumped into the stadium honoring Jerry during the Air Force-Utah football game. His Academy squadron was well repre sented at the funeral. Additionally, his best man, Prest o n D avi s,’63, an d ro o m m at e Joh n H al u sk a,’63, fl ew i n t o at t en d t h e ser vi ces. I give all of you my heartfelt thanks for your support and love. (Jerry ’s wif e, Leslie D a h m a n B ow er)

Har ry F. Wil son, Jr., '63

was assigned to the Joint Staff as the Joint Chiefs of Staff ’s Represen tative to Arms Control Negotiations and Meetings. In this capacity, he

was the military member on U.S. delegations to Geneva, Sw i t z e r l a n d .

In 1981, Harry was assigned as the Deputy Special Assistant f o r I n t e r

national Affairs to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe. T h i s w a s followed by a two-year tour as the Chief of Plans for U SA F i n t h e U n i t e d

Kingdom and Chief of Negotiations with Her Majesty’s G o v e r n m e n t f o r

U.S. Forces in the country.

He was then assigned as the Base Commander at Florennes A B, Bel gium , establishing the new cruise missile base there. Harry then served in the Air Staff Plans and Operations Directorates u n t i l 19 9 0 . H e t h e n

became the Special Assistant for Arms Control and Intelligence M at t er s,

Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Atomic Energy). In this capacity, he worked in the areas of arm s control and the U.S. pro gram of assistance to the Republics of the former Soviet U n i o n i n t h e i r efforts to destroy their weapons of mass destruction.

Harry was a Master Navigator with 2,600 flying hours. His military awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Se r v i c e M e d a l with one oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit, the D e f e n s e M e r i t o r i o u s Serv i ce M ed al w i t h t w o o ak l eaf cl u st er s, t h e M er it o r io u s Se r v i c e M e d a l an d t h e A i r M ed al w i t h tw o oak l eaf clu st er s.

After more than 30 years in the USAF, Harry returned t o sc h o o l f o r

eight years as a 3'^* and 5* grade teacher at Willow Springs Elementary, Fairfax, Va. “Eight years and I laughed every day,” a quote from Harry about 18 months ago.

Harry is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, M ary Eliza

beth Roberts, of Potomac Palls,Va.; four daughters: Sa r a h Po w e l l o f K a n

sas City, Kan.; Cassandra (Tim) Rosado of Burke, Va.; Jennifer (Eoghan)

Wilson-0 ’Raghallaigh of Dublin, Ireland; and Mary (Aaron) H i n d e r e r of Naperville, 111. Harry is also survived by six grandchildren: Yoh an , Thomas, Evelyn, Meabh, Marcas, and Eoghan Harry.

A Celebration of Life service was held on Jan. 22, 2 0 1 1 a t t h e C h u r c h of the Holy Cross, Dunn Loring, Va. Internment will be at Arlington Na tional Cemetery on Thursday, M ay 26, 2011 at 11a.m . a t t h e O l d Po st Chapel, Fort Myer. A reception will follow. In lieu of fl ow er s, d on at io n s may be made in Harry’s name to the Pancreatic Cancer A ct io n N etw or k , 1500 Rosecran s Aven u e, St e 200, M an h at t an Beach , CA . 90266, o r w w w .

pancan.org. (ClassmateJohn Elf ers, with maj or contributions by Harry ’s f amily)

Rober t W. Reyn olds I I I , '67 Robert W. Reynolds was a man that could be described in many ways: a quiet m an of exceptional intelligence, a strong patriot w h o l o v e d h i s

country, a loving husband and father, a loyal friend, a n e n t h u si a st o f ham radio, scuba diving, photography and fi shing. He played many roles in his lifetime: high school football hero, USAFA graduate, USAF offi cer, computer consultant , and an outstanding husband, father and grandfather.

Bob was born on Sept. 20, 1944, in the small town of Prescott, Ark., a devoted son of two proud Christian parents. From an early age he be came very interested in ham radio, fi shing, hunting, football, and his country. As a Boy Scout he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and never

Retired Col. Harry Follmer Wilson, Jr., U.S. Air Force, passed away on

January 17, 2011 after a two-and-a-half-year battle with pancreatic can

cer. The diagnosis came soon after Harry attended the 4 5 '" r e u n i o n f o r t h e C l a ss o f 19 6 3 .

Harry was born in Bridgeport , Conn., Nov. 8, 1940. He graduated

from the U.S. Air Force Academy i n 19 6 3 a n d e a r n e d h i s M .A . f r o m

Georgetown University. Harry was also a graduate of both the Armed Forces Staff College and the Na tional War College.

After he completed Undergrad uate Navi gator Training in January l 965, Harry served as a KC-135 Navigator, Instructor Navigator and Flight Examiner in the U.S.

an d Sou t h east A sia f r om 1965 t o

H a r ry Wi lson

1970 and again from 1972 to 1974.

Harry commanded a ground ra dar bombing crew in Vietnam and Thailand during two six-month pe

r i o d s b etw een 1970 an d 1972. H e serv ed as an A i r St aff A c t i o n O f fi c e r

from 1975 to 1977, followed by an assignment as a Research A sso c i a t e

with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC.

Eollowing graduation from the National War College in 1979, Harry

lost his love of nature, especially t h e t al l , sn ow -cov ered m ou n t ai n s of Co lo rad o.

Bob Reynolds

Bob was an exceptional student who showed great potential in math and science. He was appointed t o t h e U SA FA w h er e h e b ecam e a

proud member of the 12"’ Squad ron and never forgot his cadet training or his staunch loyalty to the Air Force Falcons. After graduation he married Judi, a young teacher from the Chicago area, who he had met at a dance after an Air Force-Navy football game at Soldiers Field.

Witbin the next few years, he left the Air Force and began a career in computers in the private sector. He got in on the ground f l o o r a s c o m

puters developed from huge machines that took up a f u l l r o o m i n t o t h e technological wonders that they are today. He was an exp er t at p r o gramming and a skilled problem -solver for the companies h e w o r k e d

93

for: Allstate Insurance, Kemper, Signature and General E l e c t r i c . H i s i n novative ideas and ability to solve problems made him a sought -after consultant in later years.

Bob fl ou r i sh ed i n h i s fem al e-d om i n at ed h ou seh ol d of two daughters.

Carl was ext raordinarily kind, generous, and gracious, a n d h a d a wonderful twinkl e in his eye. He will he deeply missed by his family and

active interest in his daughters’ lives and some of the youngest daugh ter’s fondest memories are of being in the YM CA Indian P r i n c e ss P r o

er A r t M u seu m or th e Pr esen t at i o n Par i sh . [P u b l ish ed i n T h e Sa c r a m e n

Tiffany and Elyssa, and later an adorable grandchild,

K atie. H e t o o k an

gram with her dad, who eventually became Mohegan Nation C h i e f . H i s older daughter. Tiffany, remembers that she was planning her wedding in 2004. Bob’s late occurring Muscular Dystrophy had m a d e i t d i f f i c u l t for him to walk a very long distance. She offered to m e e t h i m a t t h e fr o n t of t h e ch u r ch . H e refu sed t o l et h er w alk d ow n t h e a i sl e a l o n e a n d

escorted her the full length.

His wife, Judi, remembers that her last Christmas gift f r o m B o b w a s one that in 2009 he requested his younger daughter Elyssa to buy her for Christmas. He was so very ill and Judi could not believe t h a t h e w o u l d think of givi ng her a gift. It was to be a falcon, perhaps the Air Eorce fal

con, in flight. Elyssa thought it was strange, but Ju d i fel t sh e u n d er st o o d the gift immediately. Bob’s first love was flying, and she thought he felt his spirit would soon be free at last to soar through t h e h e a v e n s.

Bob was a big John Wayne fan and had collected most o f h i s m o v i e s

f r i e n d s.

A m ass of Ch r i st i an b u r i al w as h el d Oct . 22 at Pr esen t at i on C h u r c h .

The family requests that donations be made in Carl’s n a m e t o t h e C r o c k to Beefr om Oct. 21 to Oct. 22, 2010.)

Ru ssel l A . B r ow n , '6 9 Bor n in Gr an d I sl an d , N eb . i n 1946 t o W W I I v et er an s (a pilot and a

nurse), Russ Brown lived in Air Force communities while growing up.

The family lived in New Hampshire, Florida, Alabama, New Jersey, Japan and Tennessee. After graduation from high school, attending USAFA was the next logical step for Russ. While at the Academy, he not only made many lifelong friends and many wonderful memories, he also discovered his love of flying.

Russ served in Vietnam as a pi

l ot of t h e Car ib ou air cr aft , an d w as

awarded The Distinguished Flying C r o ss. H e w e n t o n e a r n T h e A i r F o r c e

and had seen all of them . Like John Wayne, Bob was also a man of courage and strong convictions. In the face of his daunting ill n ess, h is fait h n ever

Co m m en d at i on M ed al at Col u m b u s

AFB, Miss, serving as an Instructor Pilot for the 14th Student Squadron, 14th Flying Training Wing. Wh ile liv ing in M ississippi, Russ also earned an M BA degree at M ississippi State University. Finally, he served as Flight Commander and Wing Stan

w avered an d h is d et er m in at i on t o recover n ever falt ered . I t i s d o u b t f u l i f

John Wayne himself could have handled adversity any better, or perhaps not as well. His strength and his family are his legacy. His memory and the love he gavewill forever live in our hearts until we meet again. (Judi Reyn olds, Bob’s wif e; Tij f any Harris and Elyssa Reynolds, his daughters)

Car l G. Knopke, Jr., '68

d ard i zat i o n / Ev al u at i on Off i cer f or OT S at Lackl an d A FB, Tex as.

Carl George Knopke, Jr. of Sacramento, age 66, died on the morning

of Oct . 16, 2010 while hiking with longtime friends n ear M t . Lassen , Ca lif. He had a full, active, and accomplished life. Carl is survived by his

wife of 42 years, Gloria; his son Dr. Carl George Knopke I I I an d h i s w i fe, M ariel , of Riverside, Calif ; his son Carter B. Knopke, J.D., of Washington D.C.; his twin brother Robert (Tat), his brother William , a n d h i s si st e r

Ginger Cook, all of St. Paul, Minn.; and his sister Kat i e Bar t h ol om ew , of Yar m ou t h , M ai n e.

Carl was born in Fargo, N.D. on July 13, 1944 to Carl and Avery Knopke, who predeceased him . He grew up

and People Express, then spent the rest of his career a t C o n t i n e n t al A i r lines. As a captain, he was in his element and right a t h o m e i n t h e r o l e

of mentor to his first officers. During his years at Co n t i n en t al , Ru ss w as based in Newark, Denver, Cleveland and Houston, although t h e B r o w n s m a d e t h e i r h o m e i n t h e D e n v e r a r e a si n c e 19 8 8 .

Russ and his wife enj oyed raising llamas and hiking w i t h t h em , as w ell

as playing with the farm goats and cats. He rescued sev e r a l a n i m a l s a n d

cared for them well. Riding his tractor to mow the fields or plow snow

was simply play for him. Anything related to flying sparked his interest

miles by canoe over 28 days, with

catan .

h i s b r ot h er Tat an d f r i en d s, f r om t h e Co n t i n en t al D ivi d e i n Br it i sh Col u m b i a t o For t Ver m il i o n on t h e n or t h er n

prairies of Alberta.

In 1968 Carl graduated from The United States Air Force Academy w h er e h e receiv ed h i s Bach el or of Sci en ce i n Eco n om i cs an d w as a

member of the varsity gymnastics t eam . H e m ar r i ed Gl or i a Fesen m ai er

on Dec. 29, 1968. He served his country at McClellan A i r F o r c e B a se i n Sacramento, and Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base in Saigon.

and he enj oyed soaring with a good friend. For m any years, the Browns

spent a lot of time during the winters skiing in the m o u n t a i n s o f C o l o rado. Russ also enjoyed snorkeling and diving in the w a t e r s o f t h e Yu -

A history buff and a benefactor to several Native American organi zations, Russ has a brick inscribed with his name in t h e N a t i o n a l M u seum of the Am erican Indian, in Washington D.C. With his wife, M aggie, he sponsored several children through Save the Children, a n d b e c a m e especially close with a New Mexico family while doing his part to help improve the lives of the children. The Browns also h a d a t r a d i t i o n o f d o nating to the Heifer Project at Christmas time on behalf of their family members. Russ supported environmental causes through such orga

nizations as Greenpeace and the Sierra Club. He was politically active at the local and national levels during the last several years, working to support candidates who he believed would be instrumental in improv ing the quality of life for all Am ericans.

the University of the Pacific. Carl began practicing law by working for

Four years ago, Russ decided to sponsor three incoming c a d e t s a t t h e Air ForceAcademy. Over the years, he spent many hours getting to know these young men, encouraging and supporting them in ev e r y w ay p o s

practice where he worked until his sudden passing. H e w a s a n a c t i v e

For the last fourteen years, there was nothing that Russ enj oyed more

Upon his return from Vietnam Carl attended, and received h i s Ju r i s

Doctorate and LL.M . in Tax Law from The McGeorge School o f L aw a t

th e Cal i fo r n i a St at e Fr an ch i se Tax Bo ar d b ef ore l at er opening his private

member of the Sacramento County Bar Association and t h e T ax a t i o n and Probate Sections, and the Sacramento Estate Planning C o u n c i l . H e was also a member of and thoroughly enj oyed his association w i t h , t h e

Point West Rotary Club, the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Com m er ce,

si b l e .

Fo r m o r e cu r r en t i n f o r m at i o n ab o u t

graduate deaths, please visit the AOG

The Sutter Club, and Presentation Parish.

web site, www.usafa.org.

in, and read profusely about history, politics, religion, t r av el , ar t , m u si c, opera, ballet, public policy, food, wine, and his family ancestry. He was a

If you know of a graduate’s death, please notify the A O G a s soon as possible. There have been cases in which the a sso c i a

Carl was a man of many passions and interests. His family was his main passion, and he deeply loved his wife and sons. H e w a s i n t e r e st e d f or m er m em b er of t h e Fou n d at i o n Bo ard s fo r t h e Cr o ck er A r t M u se u m an d t h e Cal i fo r n i a M u si cal T h eat re.

94

Upon entering civilian life, Russ worked briefly for World Airways,

primarily in New Ulm, Minn, where at a young age he developed a pas sion for the outdoors, hiking, and canoeing. In 1960, he traveled 830

Car l Knopke

R u ss B r o w n

tion w as not informed in a timely manner.

than being with his grandchildren Al ek, Lachlan, Ella, Avery, Ivy, Riley and Henry. He loved each of them generously and uniquely.

Russell passed away at home on Nov. 24, 2010, after a long and cou rageous battle with cancer. Burial was at the USAFA Cemetery. Russ is survived by his wife, Maggie, and children Tina Brown Teed, Jeffrey

on the grass” to show their respect for a brave pilot and wi sh him good luck on his fi nal fl ight. John now rests on a knoll overlooking the San Fernando Valley, under the watchful eyes of a family o f r av e n s t h a t t o o k wi ng as John was laid to rest . (Darrell Whitcomb, USAFA, ’69)

Bob, and sisters Stephanie and Lynda also survive him . He will be dearly missed by all who knew him and enj oyed his humor, charm a n d w i n ning smile.

Donations may be made in Russell ’s nam e to one of the following organizations: Red Cloud Indian School, Save the Children, T h e H e i f e r Project , or the Sierra Club. (Maggie Merrill, Russ’s wif e)

On Nov. 17, 2010, Gregory M itchell Acuff -- "Aruna” to his legion of friends - passed from thisworld to the next quietly and peacefully in his

Br ovm , Josh u a M er r ill an d Set h M er r i ll . Ru ssell ’s m ot h er, En i d , b r ot h er

Joh n A . D avi dson I I , '69

John A. Davidson II, Class of 1969, passed away on D ec. 30, 20 10,

following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Gone too soon, he is sorely missed by his wife, Tricia, his family, lifelong friends, U SA FA cl assm at es, a n d f e l l o w v e t e r a n s.

Born in 1947 to John A. Davidson, M D, and Mary Vannah D av i d so n , Joh n w as t h e el d est o f six ch il d ren . H e w as rai sed in Springfi eld, Ohio,

and entered the Academy in June 1965, servi ng in the 5th and 12th ca

det squadrons. After commissioning in 1969, he received his pilot wings at

W ill iam s A FB, A r iz. H e t h en received

an assignment as an 0 -2 forward air

co n t rol l er (FA C) i n V i et n am , w h ere h e serv ed w i t h t h e 19t h an d 2 1st Tac

tical Air Support Squadrons.

After six months in country, John volunteered and was accepted for duty with Proj ect 404, which was a covert FAC operation in which Air For ce FA Cs, cal led Raven s, w o rk ed

Jo h n D a v i d so n

directly with allied forces in Laos. Af ter qualifying to fl y the 0 -1 aircraft, he reported to his assigned duty at Savan n akh et i n cen t r al Lao s. Wh il e

there, he fl ew missions directly in support of Laotian forces and interdiction missions o v e r t h e H o C h i M in h Tr ail .

On a mission in 1972, John was wounded by enemy ground-fi re. F o r his combat service, he was awarded a Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and 14 Air Medals. After recuperating, Jo h n w as assigned to Sheppard AFB in Texas as a jet instructor pilot where he

trained several classes of fl edging pilots. He served in that assignment until 1974, when he was ordered to Thailand to train pilots for the Cam b o d i a n A i r Fo r c e .

I n 1975, Joh n l eft t h e A i r Fo rce t o at t en d th e H arv ard B u si n e ss Sc h o o l an d receiv ed h i s M BA . Joh n m oved t o Sou t h er n Cal i for n i a w h e r e h e

served as a fi nancial consultant, CFO, and chief operations o f fi c e r f o r companies such as 20th Century Fox Film Corporation, the Hydril

Company, Coldwell Banker, Herbalife International, a n d t h e A i r Sh o w Network. In 2008, he became a management and program analyst with t h e Vet eran s A d m i n ist r at i on H ealt h care Cen t er i n Lo s Angeles, with a focus on programs for wounded veterans. He maintained his lifelong passion for skiing, nurtured during his years at the Academy, and avidly

pursued during his association with and leadership o f t w o sk i c l u b s i n Los Angeles.

A memorial service on Jan. 5 was attended by hundreds of family members, friends, and fellow veterans. The eulogies offered by so many

were deeply moving. They resonated with heartfelt love a n d a d m i r a t i o n for a talented man who truly enjoyed life, lived it to the fullest , and gave

immense devotion and laughter to everything he did. Joh n t o u ch ed so many in his own special way that his untimely loss is deeply felt by fam ily and friends across the country.

Covered by our Nation’s fl ag, John was taken to his resting place in the

Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Chatsworth, Calif. U SA FA c l a ss

mates and fellow Ravens H. Ownby, Darrel Whitcomb, and Terry Murphy j oined John’s brothers as his pallbearers. John was rendered military hon ors by an Air Force honor guard as Taps played by a lone bugler echoed across the hills. The honor guard folded the fl ag and presented it to John’s

wife, Tricia, a symbolic gesture of thanks from a grateful n a t i o n .

John’s friends and family gathered at his graveside t o “ t h r o w a n i c k e l

Gregor y M . Acuff , ’71

home. For all of us who knew Greg and remained close t o h im , w e w i l l m i ss h i m fo r a l ot o f reason s, b u t n ot l east o f t h em h i s i n c r e d i b l e m i n d

and scathing wit.

Greg was born in Houston, Texas on Aug. 31, 1948 and w a s r a i s e d i n nearby Friendswood. Early on, Greg was always the class cl ow n , so as h e grew older his father directed him toward Texas Military Academy. He thrived in the structure offered by the school and graduated in 1966 with the goal of gaining an appoint ment to the Ai r Force Academy.

To further prepare for his applica tion to the Academy, he attended The M illard School in Oregon and received his appointment for the C l a s s o f 19 7 1.

After graduation from the acad emy, Greg entered active duty and had several assignments around the CONUS, serving as a fi nancial offi cer. After separation in 1978, Greg entered the private sector in California and enj oyed a rapid rise in position and accomplishment in several private fi rms. He held his GregAcuff own in a very volatile economy but later on in the 1980s, Greg, like so many others, fell victim to signifi cant

changes in the corporate world and the country’s economy. H e c o n t i n ued to job shop for several years and then, wanting a f resh st ar t , m ov ed to Colorado Springs. Being back in a comfortable setting w h e r e h e c o u l d be with old friends and live in familiar surroundings, he made his way as best he could. Regardless of whether he was fl ush or t h i n , h e n ev er l ost

his sense of humor. In the last year of his life, he began to struggle with health issues but remained upbeat, reporting in with Casey Scott and o th er cl assm at es w h o l ived i n Co l or ad o.

There is a certain bond that develops among thosewho do hard things together. When a thousand young men from all over the country and the world are thrown together in a pressure-cooker environment , one might think that having so many high end over-achievers together might lead to some stressful social dynamics, but as things played ou t , su ch co n

cerns never arose. Instead, each of those young men became part of something incredibly durable and resilient -- the Class o f 19 7 1.

The last time I spent any time with Greg was in 1996 at our 25th year class reunion. I was living in Colorado Springs then, so I tried to spend as much time with Greg as I could. I left the Springs so we stayed in touch through email and phone calls, but that was about i t . I t al k e d t o him this past summer for over an hour on the phone and got an em ail from him in October. He was one of the biggest fans of my radio show and was quick to critique when I got things wrong. I loved hearing from him , even when we disagreed on issues.

Greg Acuff was a noble warrior and a staunch patriot, serving his na tion with honor and distinction. He was my friend and cl assm at e. I , and the rest of our class, will miss him . Rest In Peace, buddy.

Greg is survived by his sister Suzanne Smith of Horseshoe Bay, Texas.

A m em or i al fu n d h as b een est ab l i sh ed i n h i s n am e at the Holy Com munion Church, RO. Box 725, Spicewood, Texas, 78669-0725. P l e a se

send any remembrances to the Gregory M. Acuff Memorial Fu n d . (Sa m Clovis, classmate and f riend)

Fr ed L. M at t h ew s, '7 1 Fred Lewis Matthews of Eatonville, Wash, was an “Offi cer a n d a G e n

tleman” and a “gentle man”. He graduated with the class o f 19 7 1. H i s l i f e was lived with courage, loyalty, compassion and hope. H e m a r r i e d h i s Michigan blind date, Carol, who he met at Western Michigan University while on a track meet from the USAFA, and remained a true partner for 40 years. They had two daughters, Kim and Katie, who h a v e f o l l o w e d their father’s example of living to fi nd the best in the people they meet .

95

G O N E B U T

N O T

FO R G O T T E N

Fred had his fi rst heart attack at the age of 36 on M t . Ra i n i e r w h i l e

cross-country skiing, and during the next 25 years h a d t w o m o r e a t tacks, multiple stents and bypasses. Throughout all, he was hopeful and lived every moment to its fullest while working with only 15 percent of his heart capacity. He was preparing for a place on the transplant list when he passed away in Seattle on

International. His j ob at Netj ets provided Steve with many opportuni ties to fl y celebrities all over the world. Steve loved to travel and always loved sharing a humorous story associated with his many travels.

Steve was diagnosed in June with pancreatic cancer. After a sum mer of being in and out of the hospital h e w as ab l e t o fu l f ill a w i sh t o at t en d

N ov. 2, 20 10.

After the academy in 1971, Fred worked closely with army para troopers as a combat controller at Pope Air Force Base, Norton AFB, and fi nally ended up at McChord AFB in Washington. Upon leaving the service, he worked as a

the Air Force-Navy football gam e with his son Ben, who will graduate in M ay from the Air Force Academy.

Al though very weak from his ill

a sal es fo rce i n t ou r i sm adv ert i s

from squadron 39. It was on his re turn trip to New York, on his way to the Denver airport that Steve had to be hospitalized. Ben, Jill and Steve’s

n e ss h e r a l l i e d a n d w a s a b l e t o fi n d

the strength to cheer on Air Force to an exciting win. At the game he w as a b l e t o r e c o n n e c t w i t h c l a s sm a t e s

police dispatcher; then managed ing and medical equipment sales.

He and his family owned and op

er at ed a reso r t of cab i n s ou t si d e

m F r ed M a t t h e w s

Mt . Rainier National Park for eight

years. During the next 15 years, he b ecam e t h e d i rect or of a ch il d r en ’s h an d s-on m u seu m . Pi on eer Far m ,

and secured a state grant during

theWashington State Centennial year to provide living history programs t o sch o ol ch i l d ren . H e l at er b ecam e an in st ru ct or i n h u m a n r e l a t i o n s

and communications with the Dale Carnegie Course. Fred’s philosophy was to become a master of many things; throughout his working life, he made friends with everyone he met. He had the uncanny ability to fi nd a common thread to form those friendships.

In 2005, he went returned to school and got his high sc h o o l t e a c h

ing certifi cate from Pacifi c Lutheran University, and w o r k e d t o m o t i v a t e kids in the alternative school setting. His connection w i t h st u d e n t s a n d

making learning something of value in their world won t h e i r a d m i r a

t io n . H i s career w as sh o rt -l iv ed d u e t o h i s h ealt h .

But the best part of growing older was becoming “grandpa” t o h i s f o u r grandchildren Breann, Natasha, Sophia and Max. Slowing d o w n a n d seeing the world from their viewpoint was always his delight . He began hunting and shot his fi rst deer at the age of 58. He fi sh e d f o r sa l m o n i n the Puget Sound waters, and caught a 30-pounder. He c e l e b r a t e d h i s l a st days in Hawaii, making memories with Carol and daughters.

“Life is not a j ourney to the grave with the intention of arriving safely

in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to ski d i n b r oad si d e, th o r oughly used up, worn out and proclaiming... ‘WOW, What a r i d e !” ’

b r ot h er Jeff w ere at h i s si d e w h en h e

passed.

Although his daughter Sam antha was unable to attend the game with the rest of the family, she was able to share with her father the exciting news that she h a d l a n d e d h e r fi r st teaching job. Steve’s family was what made him the most proud and he left this world with the knowledge that they are at the beginning of what

Steve H essn ey

w i l l b e su c c e ssf u l c a r e e r s.

Steve was cherished by his family, friends and co-workers. I t w a s ev i

dent at his memorial service on Oct . 12"’ how many lives Steve bright ened with his great smile and the twinkle that was always in his eyes.

His fun spirit will be forever missed by all who had c o n t a c t w i t h h i m . W e miss you Steve. (Jill Hessney, Steve’s wif e)

Mar k C. Kar gul , ’78

Mark C. Kargul, Class of 1978, received clearance to land on Sept . 22, 2010 after a fi ve-year battle with cancer of unknown primary. Growing up in the Bay area of San Lorenzo, no one in Mark’s family can remem

ber a time when Mark didn’t want to be a pilot . He and his family spent many Sunday afternoons driving out to local airports in the Bay area to watch planes land and takeoff.

At the age of 15, Mark got the bug and started taking fl ying les so n s at Si er r a Avi at i o n in Oakl an d , Cal if . H e al so w or k ed th ere d u r

ing high school to support his fl y ing dreams. After a few years of

This was Fred, a man who is missed by all who loved h i m , b u t com

forted by the knowledge he is with his Heavenly Father. He always told everyone “God and I talked and He never said it would be easy. He only

training, he received his private pilot ’s license at the age of 17. He

said it would be worth it .” (Carol Matthews, Fred’s wif e)

st ar t ed h i s A i r Fo rce career t h e

John S. “ St eve” Hessney, '73

morning of his 18th birthday on

July 2, 1972. He then entered the

Steve Hessney passed away on Oct. 7, 2010 after a four-month b a t t l e

with pancreatic cancer. This cruel disease took away o n e o f t h e m o st kind, funny and fun-loving human beings on this earth.

Steve grew up in Lewiston, N.Y. where he attended Lewiston-Porter High School and was the student council president. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1973. From there he went to fl ight school in Lubbock, Texas where he became aT-38 instructor pilot.

After separation from the Air Force, he moved back t o L ew i st o n i n

1982. There he resumed fl ying in corporate aviation. Shortly after his return to New York State he met his wife, Jill. They w e r e m a r r i e d i n 19 8 3 and had a daughter Samantha in 1985 and son Ben in 19 8 8 . St e v e ’s a v i a tion career moved his family back to Texas then to O h i o a n d T e n n e sse e .

For the past 15 years Steve lived in Rochester N.Y. while fl ying for Netjets

Fo r m o r e cu r r en t i n f o r m at i o n ab o u t

graduate deaths, please visit the AOG

web site, www.usafa.org.

If you know of a graduate’s death, please notify the A O G a s soon as possible. There have been cases in which the a ss o c i a tion was not informed in a timely manner.

96

AFA Prep School in 1973 and was accepted to the United States Air Force Academy the following year i n 19 7 4 .

Mark Kargul

Mark’s passion for fl ying grew

an d h e b ecam e o n e of t b e 20 ca

det soaring instructors in his class.

He competed on the newly-formed soaring team in 1977-78. H e w a s a proud member of Wolfpack, CS-05. Following graduation i n 1978, h e attended pilot training at Craig AFB, Ala. and received h i s R F - 4 C a s signment to Kunsan, Korea until 1984. While at Kunsan, he successfully ej ected from a burning RF-4.

After the Grenada invasion, Mark’s assignment options w e r e t o b e

co m e a Com b at Co n t r ol Team Offi cer or r et u r n t o U SA FA a s a n i n st r u c t o r i n t h e T G-7A . H e ch o se t o r et u r n t o t h e n est t o teach Falcons to fl y

with the 94'" Airmanship Training Squadron. He also b e c a m e O I C f o r the Cadet Flying Team and took them to National Intercollegiate Fly ing Association (NIFA) competitions around the country. Many in the classes of ’85-’87 experienced the passion Mark had for fl ight .

In 1986 Mark was hired by American Airlines where he fl ew D C - 10s, 727s and M D-80s. He also j oined the Air Force Reserve, 7 8 t h A i r R e f u e l

ing Squadron, fl ying the KC-10 at March AFB in his h o m e st a t e o f C a l i

fornia. He fl ew missions supporting Desert Shield/ Desert St o r m . M a r k

retired from the Air Force in 1995. He becam e a Captain a t A m e r i c a n

the football, wrestling and track teams. In each of t h e se e n d e av o r s h e

nosed with stage four, inoperable cancer. He fought t h e c a n c e r w i t h a l l

Following graduation he was ap pointed to the Air Force Academy

A i r l i n es i n 1995 an d fl ew u n t il D ecem b er o f 2005, w h en he was diag

gave his all because to do less was not in his being.

t h e t r e a t m en t s m ed i ci n e h a d av a i l ab l e .

Mark also worked for AeroVironment as an acceptance pilot for the Hunter RPV. M ark would run newly-manufactured vehicles through their paces and would train Army Spec Ops personnel in their opera

w h ere h e w as a m em b er of th e A i r

Force Academy Choral. He loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. With three of his academy buddies they formed the “Spontaniety” quartet and provided great enj oym ent for

t io n . H e w o rk ed w i th th em fr o m 2004 t o 2005.

Mark loved all forms of aviation including his radio-controlled airplanes and helicopters. He flew an RC airplane al most daily up to the very end of his life. He also had a huge passion for the Oakland Ra i d e r s. H e an d h i s family had season tickets and would fly to most games in the Bay area.

Mark never let the battle of cancer bring him down or discourage him to do anything that he wanted to do during this time. Whether it was fly ing his RC airplanes, exercising, or spending time with family, M ark was always living his life to the fullest while never letting his cancer present him wi th any type of disappointment or depression. M a r k ’s m o t i v a t i o n to be active has truly brought inspiration to everyone w h o k n ew h i m , especially his son M itchell.

Mark is survived by his loving wife, Susan, and his son Mitchell, age 14, and sister Kimberly Tolan of Boston, Mass. A memorial se r v i c e w a s

h el d n ear M ar k ’s h om e i n San Cl em en t e, Cal i f , on Oct . 10, 20 10. I n t er n

ment of his ashes at the Academy is planned in the spring. He is missed.

(John Nelson, Class of 78, Jim Leli, 78, and M itchell Kargul)

D ean Wal t on , '82

Dean Walton died peacefully at his home in Colorado Springs on Nov. 26"’, 2010. He was born to CM Sgt Fred and Christine Walton on Aug. 9, 1959 in Landstuhl , Germany. Dean was appointed to the U SA FA C l a ss of 1981, but left USAFA after his freshm an year due t o a n e x t e n si v e k n e e inj ury suffered while playing soccer for USAFA. It w a s a t t h i s t i m e t h a t D ean

co m m itt ed h is life to T h e

Lordship of Jesus Christ.

The following year he was once again readmitted to USAFA following an extensive period of rehabilitation

o n h i s k n e e . D e an m e t t h e l o v e o f h i s

life, Kathy, the summer of his senior year, and married her two days after graduation on June 4* , 1982.

H e at t en d ed U PT at Reese A FB, i n Lub b o ck Texas, an d w as as

signed as a T-38 Pilot Instructor.

Following a shortened assignment

at Reese A FB, h e w as st at i on ed at M at h er A FB i n Sacr am en t o Cal if , w h e r e h e fl ew T - 4 3 s.

D ea n W a l t o n

Dean was hired by United Air

l i n es i n 1989 w h er e h e serv ed as

a commercial airline pilot for 21 years. He was well respected as a man of integrity a n d sk i l l .

Dean and Kathy moved to Colorado Springs from Woodland Pa r k i n 19 9 8

t h e m s el v e s a s w e l l a s o t h e r s.

Af ter graduation in 1986 he con tinued flight training and when he found he couldn’t be a “Top Gun” he opted for a “heavy” C-141 hop ing to prepare for a future with a d o m e st i c ai r l i n e . H e fl ew w i t h M A C

during Desert Storm , sat reserve at M cG u i r e A F B an d act ed as an A c ad

emy liaison officer in the Philadel phia area while in the service.

In 1995 he j oined United Airlines and flew for them for 15 years. He was First Offi cer on the 767 flying transcontinental fl ights out of New York. He absolutely loved flying and he often spoke o f h o w b l e sse d h e M ike B urk lu nd

w as t o see Go d ’s w or l d fr o m 30,000 f eet .

Mike is survived by his son Gabriel, his wife, as well as h i s m oth er, M arilyn, his brother Dean, his sister Kelly (James) Carey, nieces Grace and Natalie and many extended fam ily members and friends.

On Oct. 12 a military funeral was held in “the church o n t h e co r n er ”, M ilford Presbyt erian Church, in M ilford, Mich. We know t h a t M i k e i s now singing in the heavenly choir with his blessed Lo rd an d Savi o r, Je sus Christ and we know that when we pass this world w e w i l l b e r e u n i t e d with him again. (Marilyn Burklund, M ike’s mother)

M ar c T. L ew i s, '98

Marc Trevor Lewis passed away peacefully on Oct . 10, 2010 after wag ing a courageous 15-month fi ght against rhabdomyosarcom a, a r a r e fo r m o f c an c er. H e w as 34 .

Those who shared Marc’s life will remember his deep love for family,

his good humor and sharp wit, his intellectual curiosity, his profound

sense of personal integrity, and his passion for quantitative reasoning.

M arc pursued a life punctuated by challenge and accomplishment . He enrolled in demanding academic programs, aim ed for the most competitive professional oppor tunities, and devoted great energy to his personal relationships. M arc brought great j oy to his family and t o a d i v e r se c i r c l e o f f r i e n d s f r o m

every corner of his life. During hislast year, he was a popular fi gure who brought cheer and encour agement to the staff and patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Can cer Center. Sim ply put, Marc Lewi s

where they devoted their lives to their family, church, a n d f ri e n d s. D e an

is survived by his brother Alex Walton, and his children: M atth ew , a 2007 USAFA graduate: Joseph, a 2010 USAFA graduate; Caitlin, a n e d u c a t i o n m a

jor; and Anya, the wife of Guillaume Peaux; and granddaughter C a i t l i n .

D ean w as a d ed i cat ed h u sb an d an d fath er. H e w as a fat h er figure to many cadets as a cadet sponsor dad. His will be remembered a s a m a n who opened up his heart and home to provi de a place of refuge, and refreshment for cadets, and for many young men and w o m e n a t N e w L i f e C h u r ch w h er e h e w as a m em b er .

Dean loved the mountains, family get -togethers, and serving others. He will be missed greatly. His services were held at New L i f e C h u r ch i n C o l o rado Springs, and burial was at USAFA on Dec. 3’" 2010. “I have fought the good fi ght, I have fi nished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous

Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only, b u t al so t o a l l w h o have loved His appearing.” 2 Tim 4:7-8 (Kathy Walton, Dean’s wif e)

M i ch ael A . Bu r k l u n d, '86

Michael Al an Burklund died tragically at his home in Ki n t n er sv il l e, Pa. on Oct. 3, 2010. He grew up in Milford, Mich, and graduated with

honors from Milford High School in 1982. He wasvery i n v o l v e d w i t h t h e Vocal Ensemble award-winning choral group as well being a m e m b e r o f

w as o n e o f a k in d .

M arc w as b or n o n D ec. 30, 1975

in Stamford, Conn. He graduated from Am ity Regional High School in 1994, was an Eagle Scout, and received an appointment to the Academy.

Marc was a proud member of the “Wings of Blue” and se r v e d a s a f r e e f aJl instructor, a j umpmaster, and an air-show performer. I n 19 9 8 h e w a s a distinguished graduate from the Academy, earning a B.S. in Biology.

Following graduation. Lieutenant Lewis was assigned t o H a n sc o m A i r Force Base in M assachusetts. During his tenure at Hanscom, M a r c m e t Susan Norton. After a long-distance courtship, M arc a n d Su s a n w e r e married in Savannah on M ay 26, 2001. In 2001, Marc a n d Su sa n m o v e d to Dayt on where Marc earned a M .S. in Cost Analysis a t t h e A i r F o r c e Institute of Technology and received the Dean’s award f o r h i s t h e s i s research. Upon graduation in 2003, Captain Lewis was assigned to the Cost Analysis Agency where he led a series of successful p r ocu r em en t proj ects involving maj or weapons systems.

M a r c L ew is

(Continued on page 143.)

97

C la s s

N ew s starting at 10:30 at night! He’s saving up some money for m ed i cal sch ool , which he’ll start next August. He’s been accepted to U. of Kentucky, U. of Louisville and U. of Cincinnati. Ironically, his first acceptance, which of course he was sweating out, he received via email on the morning j ust before we started our bike ride. He was in great spirits f o r t h e r i d e .”

Tom St ack ’s Christmas note informed us that he’d surpassed o u r 17 grandchildren (closing in on Steve and Patty Ham er?) w i t h t h e b i r t h o f #18, grandson Lucas Vaughn McClanahan, born on 5 October. Ju st b ef or e that arrival, he and Karen reported attending another “grand” event . “On September 30“’, we attended Grandson Nick Longphre’s graduation from the US Army Boot Camp at Fort Benning, Georgia. We swelled with pride as we watched several companies of clean-cut, physically sculpted, deter mined young men parade before us. PFC Longphre made our hearts sing!

He is currently attending SyOps Training at Ft. Bragg, N or t h Car ol i n a, an d then will begin college at UNC-Greensboro in January.”

Bob Oak s reports that he has taken on an additional duty as the As

N ew s Pet e To d d

1250 Big Valley Drive Colorado Springs, CO 8 09 19-10 15 H: (719 ) 531-5874 E-mail: petet odd59@comcast .net

si st a n t D i r e c t o r o f L D S C o r r e c t i o n a l Se r v i c e s f o r U t a h a n d h a s l e a r n e d a

On 6 November, several of our number gathered to witness a n d c e l e brate the end of the long drought in Air Force’s annual pursuit of the Commander-in-Chief ’s Trophy. The Falcons’ 42-22 victory over Army sealed the deal following the earlier win over Navy. (See photo at the bottom of the page.)

Mike Bender wrote to follow up last quarter’s mention of the family’s amazing ride in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fo u n d a t i o n .

“We’re starting to spool up for our fourth ride next October. In the gym now, on spinning bikes, but when this dang snow melts and it warms up a bit, we’ll be outside. I hope to improve o n my close-to-last place finishes 2 of the last 3 years. I t ’s not a race, but the longer you’re out on the course, t h e more delay in getting that first BEER at the fi nish l i n e !

“I had a knee replacement 6 weeks ago, and the re covery is doing well. Just about back to 100%. My men Sabre Society tor during my recovery has been Casey Kay, who had Do n o rs the same Dupuy knee implanted 3 weeks before me. So 27 I ’m always checking with Casey to find out when I’ll b e

m

great deal about the challenges facing those who have gotten their lives crosswise with the law and have ended up in j ail or prison. He goes on to say, “We have had rewarding travel opportunities, returning to Pitts burgh after ten years absence to visit with dear friends and participate in a community program. We also took an Alaska cruise in September and were delighted by the special sights of the Alaskan coastline, especially the Hubbard glacier. Compared with our two years in Europe, our travel schedule was very light, but it was more than enough f o r u s.” L i k e h i s t w o classmates mentioned above. Bob got a new knee, wiping out the limp that has been such a part of his life for the past 53 year s.

As many of you know, my Wendy had a pretty rough 2010, warding off not only her persistent cancer, but also a variety of other painful afflic tions. I thought she needed a little R&R, so I took h e r t o H aw a i i f o r a c o u ple of weeks over Christmas and New Years. We stayed a t B el l o w s A F S o n O’ahu, one of the best-kept secrets in the Air Force. (Only down side: you have to make reservations a year in advance.) The warm breezes, calming surf and relaxed atmosphere made for a most enj oyable and therapeutic get aw ay.

Thought f or the Quarter. A fanatic is someone who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subj ect . - Winston Churchill

A.J. (Rosie) Cler, Jr. 54 23 Myrt le Wood Sarasot a, FL 34 23 5-4 6 24 Phone: (941) 371-48 4 3

ab l e t o d o t h i s o r t h at .

“The ‘Run Around the Earth at the Equator’ has caused me some embarrassment in the past . I finished t h e d i st a n c e o n a hiking trail in Anchorage. When I got back, I was feeling pretty ‘puffed up’ about it. Arohanui and I went to a running shoe store (a SERIOUS running shoe store) to buy new shoes. A friend of mine was helping us and I men tioned my ‘feat .’ I didn’t get much of a reaction, so I a sk e d F r e d h ow f a r h e had run in his career. Well, he was closing in on the SECOND lap around the world! Should have known better than to brag in a running shoe store!

I’ll bet there may be others in our class that have d on e t h e 25,000 m iles.

Sam St ar rett comes to mind. Not only has Sam run some major distance, bu t h e’s don e it f ast ! At ou r reu n i on , h e m en t ion ed winning a bunch of age group first places! “ Ou r son M at th ew h as fou n d ou t w h at it w as like for his Dad to get up in the middle of the night, drive down to Louisville, and fly the rest of the night to Anchorage or Cologne. He’s working in a biotech laboratory.

E-m a il: RCt he ro s e @a o l.c o m

Class Web Site: www.usafa.net/ 19 60

“ I w as sel ect ed f or t h e Sm ith son ian Lifet im e A ch i evem en t Award by Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum. It is given every other year to one or two people; this year it was awarded to me and to a Canadian gentle m an ,” w rot e Bob Od en w el l er . “ On e of t h e ear li er aw ard ees w a s P r i n c e Rain i er. Th is aw ard is cal led ‘Sm it h son i an Ph il at el ic A c h i ev e m e n t A w a r d ’

instead of ‘Lifetime,’ but it’s the same as the one given at the other Smith sonian museums. The ceremony was at a gala reception in Washington, DC on Saturday, October 16, 2010. This will be my last activity of the year, although Jane and I went to Venice in November.”

’59ers CelebrateVictory Over Navy —Finally!

Par t of theAir Force cheer ing section.

98

n ie St ev en s an d , m e, A aro n T h r u sh . (To m an d Car ol e Seeh o d e an d Jim

Thomasson had planned to attend, but icy roads and sn o w m a d e t h e i r a t tendance impossible: Keep in mind that this event took place during that period when every one of our 50 United States was covered by snow, with the exception of the Sunshine State, although it was still pretty darned cold down here at night. The roads were not a problem in this part of

t

Flor id a.)

“Guests at the Tuesday, January 11th dinner included L i n d a H o r n e (Elaine Futch’s sister): Don and Joannie Stevens’ daughter Er in ; A aron Thrush ’s daughter Teresa and her friend John O’Day: a n d A a r o n ’s f r i e n d Mike MacCar rolI, Class of ’67. We also had the good fortune to be joined by three ATOs from our doolie year at USAFA who now l i v e i n N W F l o r i d a : Earl Caudell (Gulf Breeze, FL), Bill Hatley (Panama City, FL), and Al Rob erts, Jr. (Tallahassee, FL). Another ATO, Harry Gornto (Ft . Walt o n Beach , FL), had planned on attending, but was unable to attend due to a change in his plans. A female ATO from the 1975-77 eras who l i v e s i n t h e l o c a l area, Kathryn Newton, also attended with her husband, Rich ard New t on , a Class of ’77 graduate.

Quick Hits; Fred Por ter still teaches full time in t h e A e r o n a u t i c s ’ D e partment at the Academy, and “we think that he’s the oldest grad teaching full time,” writes Mary Lou Porter . “And, he teaches evenings at Colorado Tech and UCCS. The Secretary of the Aero Department j ust retired at the age of 83 -- after 50 years; so, Fred has a ways to go yet. He loves to teach!”

Mary Lou went on to say that “Some of Fred’s classmates sa t i n o n so m e of his classes, and the next day one of his cadet-students r a i se d h e r h a n d and said: ‘Sir, 1 was really surprised how sharp they a l l w e r e .’ F r e d ’s st i l l trying to fi gure out what that says about him!”. . . K a r e n a n d I l u n c h e d a t the tony Crab ‘n Fin on glitzy St. Armand’s Circle t h i s New Year’s Day with Nancy and Bill Siebecker , who live in Wausau, WI and have a lovely vacation villa looking out on the Gulf waters off Longboat Key across from Sar asota (m ore in “ M arch 20 11 Web Colu m n ” ). . . You ’ll

be excited to devour Lew Pr ice's recipe for “Roast Po s sum” which accompanied his 2010 Christmas Newslet ter!. . . “I ’ll arrive in DC on 4 February to give the M ay

n a r d Su n d m a n L e c t u r e a t t h e Sm i t h so n i a n N a t i o n a l

Post al M u seu m on th e 5"’,” sai d Bob Od en w el l er .

ii

Sabre Society Do n o rs

17

“Linda and I got back Saturday morning (30 Octo ber 2010) from that cruise around Italy,” wrote Den nis O’Keefe. “The cruise was great, but airport transits were a nightmare.

Here’s the wedding photo you asked me to send; we were m a r r i e d 17 September 2010.” Shortly after that, RG Head said: “ Here’s a good photo from our wedding in July 2010. We had the ceremony a t a sm a l l c h u r c h i n Coronado (CA) and the reception at Coronado Cays Yacht C l u b . A l l se v e n grandchildren were at the wedding. This was taken after w e d i se m b a r k e d from our electric boat, coming up the ramp to the Yacht Club patio.” RG also m en t ion ed t h at “ Som e classm at es asked (at ou r 50"’) where they could get F-4 ties and WW II fi ghter belts -- ties are at DoppleDecker on their web; www.2decker.com; and Sporty ’s Wright Brothers a t 1- 8 0 0 - 7 7 6 7 8 9 7 se l l s t h e b el t s.”

“Neither the chilly weather here in Northwest Florida’s Pa n h a n d l e n o r the snow and ice in the Carolinas and Georgia could stop the Class of

1960’s M in i -Reu n i on in For t Walt on Beach / D est i n (FL) on Jan u ary 11- 12,

2011,” wrote Aaron Thrush, Host and Chronicler of this party. “This event was planned around the visit of Ed Leonard to Pensacola N A S f o r h i s a n nual POW follow-up physical , and 12 Class of 1960 classmates enjoyed a relaxed two days at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel o n O k a l o o sa I sl a n d on t h e Gu lf of M exi co. A t t en d ees in cl u d ed M i ch ael J. an d Em m a Cl ar k e,

Walt and Elaine Futch, Bill Goodyear , Frank and Faye Gor h am , Bill an d Barbara Hal es, Ace and Louise Holman, Karl and Mary A n n Jo n e s , Pe t e and Linda King, Ed and Suzanne Leonar d, Jon McClure, D o n an d Joan -

“After a delicious Tuesday dinner, Ed Leonard shared some of his expe riences that resulted in four Silver Stars during theV i e t n a m W a r t o i n c l u d e five years as a POW. Don Stevens, our Air Force Cross an d Jab ara Aw ard winning classmate, also spoke about his career. We enj oyed a Gulf Front hospitality suite in the Sheraton with a wonderful vi ew on both Tuesday afternoon and all day Wednesday. There were stories t ol d , excellen t food devoured, liquid refreshment imbibed and perhaps a f ew e m b e l l i sh m e n t s occasionally indulged, as the relatively small group was able to spend a leisurely time visiting and reminiscing. There appeared to be general agreement as Wednesday drew to a close, and as we went ou r sep ar ate ways, that we may choose to try this type of event once again in the fu ture at some ‘to-be-determined time and place.’ Next t im e, w e’ll n eed t o order less snow and ice for the Southeastern Region.” (Ph ot o, fro m l eft i n the front row: Ace Holman Jr., ATO Kathryn Newton, Bill Goodyear , and ATO Earl Gaudell. Second Row: Pete King, Bill Hal es, ATO Al Rober t s Jr. an d D on St even s. T h i rd Row : Ed Leo n ar d , Fran k Go r h am , A T O B i l l H a t ley, Aaron Thrush, Walt Futch , Karl Jones, Jon McClure, an d M ich ael J. Cl ar k e.)

Two classmates made excellent commentaries on this gathering: “Al though Elaine and I left home driving on slushy ice a n d t h e w e a t h e r i n F t .

Walton Beach was cold, the atmosphere for the mini-reunion w a s w a r m and comfortable,” offered Walt Futch. “While we enj oyed t h e 5 0 "' Re u n i o n immensely, this smaller group really gave Elaine time to get to know class mates and their wives. The stories related by Ed Leonard about his captiv ity were thought-provoking and caused me (and I hope everyone else) to consider how I would have acted. My hat is off to Aaron T h r u sh , Fran k Gorham , Bill Goodyear , and Pete King for their efforts in planning and producing this outstanding event.” And, Bill Hal es w r o t e : “ Si n c e B a r b i s still ‘new to the class,’ I was very pleased that this wonderful venue gave her an opportunity to get more insight about my background through longer interactions with classmates and spouses. The even t w as sh or t er, time-wise, and a much smaller group than at the 50th, b u t w e n ev e r r a n out of things to discuss, remember, and, maybe enlarge upon. The ‘han gar fl ying’ was superb, and the ‘back stories’ were very enlightening. After 50 years, there was a store of adventures and experiences t h a t m a d e t h i s ‘gathering’ an enriching opportunity. Neither Barb n o r I ev e r t i r e d o f t h e r e c o n n e c t i o n s.”

Andi and Carole Biancur have planned another River Trip with Grand Circle Travel. The Romance of the Rhine and Mosel departs Au gu st 10, 2011 from Antwerp (Group Number G123163). Register a t 1- 8 0 0 - 5 9 7 2452, Option #2. Beginning prices are $125/ person/ day, d o u b l e o c c u pancy (includes three fabulous meals, with wine), and some tours along the way. Go to www.GrandCircleTravel.com to view the ship, optional day tours, and air fares. Contact Carole at Bacfly60@msn.com or phone (719)-

4 8 8 - 4 3 17 .

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C la s s

N ew s

Ea r l N . “ Ne ls o n ” O ’ Re a r

50 5 8 2 St onington Drive Granger, IN 4 6 53 0-8 24 3 H: (574 ) 273-2 597 E-mail: enoandtj o@gmail.com Class Web Sit e: www.usafa l 9 6 1.org

Our class was diminished by the loss of Sue Stover (6 N ovem b er) , Bob White (13 December), and Roger Woodbury (8 November) this past quar ter. Additionally, we learned of the passing of Vic Apodaca’s sister Dolores Alfond (who was deeply involved with POW/ MIA issues), a n d o n e o f o u r m ost m em orabl e ATOs, Joe Yeager.

John “Smokey” Stover and his family celebrated Sue’s l i f e o n 2 0 N o v e m ber, with a reception later at their daughter Laura’s h ou se, b oth in Ph oen ix , AZ. George Buchner , Gene Hopp, Jerry Mason, and Fred W o h r m a n a t tended the celebration. Smokey appreciated not only th eir att en dan ce, b ut also the e-mails, notes, and phone calls from other cl a ssm a t e s a n d w i v es.

Pat Buckley and Hector Negroni attended the memorial for Rog er Woodbury in New Jersey on 13 November. Pat made an eloquent short speech about Roger and the Class of 1961. After H e c t o r m a d e so m e introductory remarks about our class and the significance o f t h e A i r Fo r c e chorus, the two of them sang “Here’s a toast....” for t h e a t t e n d e e s. N e l so n O’Rear and Paul Stephen attended Roger’s military burial se r v i c e s a t a family cemetery near Secor, IL, and the following reception o n 2 0 N o v e m ber, paying their respects to Roger’s family.

Bob White passed from our midst on 13 December. Donna, h is w i d ow ,

and his family held private funeral services in Colorado Springs.

50th Reunion Plans, as reported by Charlie Neel : 23-25 M ay 20 11 - Mini-reunion at USAFA during “Graduation Week.” Key events are having a class get-together at Cubero’s the evening of 23 May, sitting together and being recognized at the Graduation Parade 0930, 24 May, presenting gold 2nd Lieutenant’s bars to the graduates later that day, and sitting on the fi eld during Graduation on 25 May. Uniform TBD. 02-06 N o v 2 0 1 1 - - 5 0 t h Class Reunion, Marriott Hotel. Key events: dedicating the class gift , hold ing a memorial service, beating Army, and visiting w i t h e a c h o t h e r . C h e c k ou r cl ass w eb sit e for t h e l at est i n for m at ion on t h ese ev e n t s. W e a r e st r i v

ing for 100%attendance of all classmateswho started at Lowry on 5 Jul 57, those who j oined our class from earlier classes, those w h o d r ift ed on , lost souls, widows, next -of-kin and children, spouses; everybody a sso c i a t e d

w i t h t h e C l a ss o f 19 6 1.

Brice Jones said that fund-raising for the class gift f o r o u r 5 0 * r e u n i o n has been very successful, thanks to all of you. Cash on hand and pledges currently total just over $350,000. Moreover, counting all pledges and “undecideds,” we will be very close to our goal of 100% participation. Brice has set up a web site that reflects participation of t h e cl ass, <U SA FA 6 1fift i ethreuniongift .org>. Only three classmates have not responded to our at

tempts to communicate with them: Richard Goddard, David H m i el , an d

Albert Johansen. We are now seeking help from the class or anyone just willing to assist in achieving our 100% participation goal by contacting one or more of them. Please keep Brice <brice@emeritusvineyards.c o m > apprised of your efforts. He also asks that those with pledges outstanding consider making them current. Just a reminder since all are good as gold, and we have a few months before needing all the cash.

Stu Boyd has flown a number of missions with the Civil A i r Pat r ol ,

training Army and Air Force personnel prior to their deployment to Af ghanistan, and he is still Wing Chaplain for the Utah Civi l A i r Pat r ol , on the pastoral staff at their church, and filling in at the Hill AFB Chapel when requested. He is also involved with a company that has developed technologies that can be used to locate low-strength radio signals. Both the Army and Homeland Security are interested, and they are bidding on several government contracts. He and Mam ie enj oyed a n ex t e n d e d t i m e with their grandchildren last summer, both in Utah a n d i n C o l o r a d o . A high note at year end was singing in a choir that was recorded as part of a new CD by a friend.

Pat and Marilyn Buckley headed south after the victorious A F/ Ar m y

game. They visited Pat’s cousin in Dover, DE, where h i s c o u si n ’s so n

(USAFA ’87) arranged for Pat to fl y an hour in the C - 17 si m u l a t o r . T h e n

^oteforyourBoardofD irectors

Please vote for your choice of candidates for our upcoming Board elections. The election will be conduct ed from March 31 to April 30 2011.

Yo u r v o t e co u n t s !

10 0

they stayed with Charley Dixon in Virginia for a few days and attended the Washington DC Lunch Bunch event. After visiting a n o t h e r c o u si n in Wilmington, NC, they terminated their 4-month trip upon arriving in Satellite Beach, FL. They enjoyed Thanksgiving with a n o t h e r c o u si n a n d Pat ’s b r oth er (U SM A ’64) in Orl an d o an d sh ared Ch r ist m as d i n n e r w i t h

Gene and Judy Davi s, 5 miles down the road in Indian Harbor, FL. They are now enj oying quiet time at home.

Doug and Dee Cair ns went to Italy for Spring Break, w h e r e t h e i r so n Rob and his family live, and returned for an Al pine C h r i st m a s.

After many years of unsuccessful elk hunting, this was Clair Carling’s year. He drew out for a limited area bull elk hunt, f o r m u z z l el o a d e r r i fles only, in far southeast Utah. During the last part of September, he shot his fi rst bull elk - the biggest he had ever seen, anywhere, any time. It was the biggest elk killed in Utah in 2010, and the second largest ever killed in Utah with a muzzleloader. It is also the 6th largest ev e r k i l l e d i n t h e w o r l d with a muzzleloader. The mount was displayed at the Western Hunting Expo in Salt Lake City the first week of February.

Richard “Dick” Cooper called to say ‘hi’ to everyone. He is living in Cal ifor n ia (333 Fir st St . #E302 Seal Beach , CA 90740) and hopes to make o u r 5 0 "’ r e u n i o n .

Bill Fost er , recovered fr om h is m edi cal b ou t s in 20 10, is back volunteering multiple days per week. Besides two days of volunteer work at Inova Fairfax Hospital, he is the elected presi dent of the 1,200-member auxiliary. One day a week, he also volunteers at the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum. Bill and Theda’s son has j oined the ranks of retired military. As of October, Chris (’89) is the a ssi st a n t men’s soccer coach at the Academy.

Sabre Society In November, Casey and John Goodl ey fl ew to Aus Do n o rs tralia and took a 29-day cruise back to Los Angeles, w i t h stops in New Zealand, Tahiti, Pago Pago, Bora Bora, 12 and Hawaii. In Bora Bora they ordered a Coca Cola at a sm all sidew alk cafe: 2 Cokes for $9 U S, b ut th at di d i n

clude ice. John worked up enough courage to ask about a hamburger: $18 US for one burger, but he’s not sure whether that included a pickle. They held off on the burger.

Erna and Wayne Har ing also j ust finished a great 29-day cruise. They went to the Holy Land and visited Patmos, Ephesus, Bet h l eh em , Jer u sa lem, Nazareth, and Galilee. Then they visited Cairo a n d A l ex a n d r i a . A f t e r the Bible cruise, they went to Sorrento and Rome, Italy, a n d t o u r e d P i sa .

Then, it was on to Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Spanish M oro cco, Casab l an ca, the Azores, Bermuda, Fort Lauderdale, and home. They st a r t e d t h e c r u i se in Athens, spending two nights touring there before boarding the ship.

Henry and Peggy Howe look forward to a quieter new year after fi nish ing 2010 with a blur of activity: their daughter’s wedding on 15 October in Bellingham, WA; Thanksgiving with Peggy’s father in For t Colli n s; t h eir daughter Tricia’s Lt Col pinning in Hawaii; and a very busy December for the pastor and congregation. Right after Christmas, they did slip away for a couple of days to relax in Austin and enjoyed a couple of days in Galves ton with their seven-year-old granddaughter before returning to host their traditional New Year’s Eve bridge party.

In October, Lynda and Charlie Neel cruised the Canal d u M i d i i n so u t h ern France, in a 5-barge flotilla, three Misty FAC couples per barge, for a week. Bud Day was on Charlie’s barge (a floating, low-powered RV). Lynda and Charlie toured Provence, Aquitaine, the Pyrenees, a n d B a r c el o n a f o r two weeks. In November, they attended the USAFA/ USMA game with the usual suspects and their significant others (Anderson, Boesch (ex-6 1), Boyington (60), Buckl ey, Cai rns, Cubero, Eller , Jones (Br i ce an d D ean ), Lane, McConnell , Negroni , Dennis Parks (78), Saunders, G e n e a n d D o e Str inger , and Bob and Rees Wagner). Lynda and Cbarlie enj oyed Thanks giving with family in Steamboat, with good skiing. D e c e m b e r f o u n d t h e m enj oying dinner parties, including one with their local cl assm at es, h ost ed

by Tom and Anne Eller . Christmas week was in Scottsdale.

Joan and Hector Negroni spent the Christmas holidays surrounded by children, grandchildren, and snow in upstate New York. In January they packed up and headed for Naples, FL, for a couple of months, where they will meet with the Rogers, the Skillings, and anyone else escaping the cold.

December was supposed to be a fun month for Bob and Pat Sm i t h , w i t h an ot h er cru i se sch ed ul ed . In st ead Pat m ad e tw o trips to the ICU at a local hospital with severe respiratory problems and a m i l d h e a r t a t t a c k while in the ICU. She is recovering slowly. The high point was a visit by all t h ree of h er ch ild ren f or N ew Year s cel eb rat io n s, for th e f ir st t im e in a very

long while. Bob was elected president of the board o f d i r e c t o r s o f t h e l o c a l H ealt h Care D ist r ict . H e h as b een on t h e b oard f or 28 y ear s.

Terry Storm asks everyone to vote in the upcoming AOG el e c t i o n f o r t h e

Bylaws Update/Revision and Board candidates. Carleen is fi nally healing from her hip replacement surgery, shingles, and fractured pelvis from their car wreck. Carleen and Terry are j oining Anne and Tom E l l e r o n a N ew Z e a land-Australia cruise at the end of February. The Ellers’ hosted a delightful ’61 Christmas party at their beautifully decorated h o m e i n W o o d l a n d Pa r k .

Charlie and Gina Thomas enj oyed another cruise. They t r av e l e d f r o m

San Francisco to several Mexican ports, through the Pan am a Can al , th en

stopped in Cartagena, and on to Miami. After disembarking in M iam i ,

they spent a week in Florida visiting Gina’s aunt, who will be 100 in May, a s w el l a s o t h e r f r i e n d s.

Neal Westbrook said that anyone stumped for a gift for his spouse

sh ou ld con sid er a r id e on a B- 17, B-24, or B-25 as an exciting and memo

rable choice. For her birthday, he gifted Gwen with a flight on a Com

m em o rat ive Ai r Force B- 17, so sh e n ow h as a fir st -h an d c o n n e c t i o n w i t h

“Twelve O’clock High” ’ and “Memphis Belle”. When Neal t o o k t h r e e o f h i s grandsons to the Independence Bowl, they saw Carl Cranberry, and they recognized each other, thinking they looked pretty much like they did 50 years ago. Neal also got a trophy “U of Oregon" cap f r o m D a n B a t e s a s a result of Auburn winning the BCS Championship. He gets a l o t o f c o m ments on that cap, Dan. Neal is looking forward to the 50“' and hopes we can get all who entered to attend.

4""

I

Jo h n W . “Ja c k ” Ja m b a

4 Judy Court

S at e llit e Be a c h , FL 3 2 9 3 7

H: (3 21) 777-5520 0 : (3 21) 8 61-6 279 Cell: (3 2 1) 4 32-1370 E-Mail: j wj amba@aol.com

Hi Redtags,

Well, the holidays have passed and we are embarking o n a n ew y e a r

that should prove to be challenging on the personal, n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r national levels. On the personal level, I am still retired and trying to figure out how to arrange my daily schedule to do 30 hours o f st u f f i n 2 4 h o u r s.

I ’ll work it out someday.

The fi rst item comes from Gail Peck . “Happy New Year Jack. Al l is w ell on our home front and trust the same is true with you. Tw o n o t a b l e ev e n t s for 2010 that are perhaps worthy of inclusion in the Checkpoints column.

First, Bunky Reeves was in Vegas last summer and I had a super visit with him at his brother Billy’s house in Vegas. The next day I took them on a little tour of Nellis. Billy took our picture in front of the Aggressor Squad ron’s MiG-21 static display. From my MiG flying days the j et is the one we k n ew a s 0 4 .

I T

,,

^

,■..1 .

i

son Jeff and two grand kids are about 40 Minutes away. We get to the East Coast twice a year to visit our other son Steve in Alexandria, Va. and spend th e m on t h of M arch in Kon a, H aw ai i . We also h ave a condo at Pacific City on the Oregon Coast where I have discovered some excellent fishing! Mike and Terri Schieber” Thanks for the update, Mike. Nice looking minnow you have there.

Now a quote from Herb Weatherbead in an email to the Redtag net about sponsoring a gift of Brown Bars to a graduating class. “Guys, I ’ve given this some thought (or at least as much as my 74-year-old brain will allow). It ’s a good tradition -- the passing on of a c o m m i t m e n t o f Se r v i c e to Country from those who have served to those who a r e a b o u t t o se r v e symbolized by the presentation of the brown bars. It ’s n o t c l a ss c o l o r - it is the Academy and what it means to the Air Force. N o w t h a t I ’v e sa i d my piece I ’ll go back to my rocking chair and my Geritol (spiked, of course).” Thanks for that Herb. Good t o know that the oldest Redtag is doing well.

Also got one from Brad Van Sant . “Jack, Just got our copy of the December 2010 Checkpoints magazine. As usual I turned first to your Class News report and r e a d about the “new addition” called Shepperd Hall. My first Sabre Society thought was, “Boy have I been out of the loop.” Is t h e Do n o rs National Guard edifice in Washington or at the Acade my? Glad Don S. has been recognized for his good work 20 for the Service and our country. Let me know about the NG center. BTW, keep up the good work. We RTBs need to keep in touch. Also, are plans being put together f o r o u r 5 0 t h ? I f I can help I ’d like to do a service at the chapel to honor our departed grads.

T h an ks Brad .” Brad , t h e N at io n al Gu ard Cen t er is i n Washington.

An d a m issiv e fr om Ch u ck Ch eesem an ar r ived . H e t alked a b o u t t h e

“Second, the Altmans, Butchkos and Pecks met regularly f o r b r u n c h

during the year and a picture is attached. Hesh and Bobbi Altman, Kay and

Christmas festivities at his town of Spruce Creek (Fly-In), Fl o r i d a . “ O n e o f t h e n eat even t s at ou r h om e ‘dr om e’ is th e an n u al Ch r i st m as Toy Parade. It started 20 years ago when the population was a lot sm aller, an d i n volved only airplanes. Over the years, additional categories of “toys” have been added - cars, motorcycles, golf carts - and the event n ow op en s w i th a 30-40-ship formation flyby. Outdoor food for the 500-600 people that usually attend and a visit from Santa for the kids are now also part of the festivities. There are 500 airplanes based here. Cheezie.” T h a n k s C h e e si e .

Sou n d s l ike a w on d er fu l celeb r at ion of Ch r i st m as. Look for me next year.

Mike Butchko and Gail and Carol Peck from left to right. T h e l a st tw o t i m e s

we got together Rudy and Betty Bow joined us and it was great to widen our RTB Vegas Group. Rudy and Betty live in the Phoenix area but get to Vegas fairly often. I think we took prx with the Bows but I c an ’t fi n d t h e m . N ex t

time, OK?Sorry Rudy and Betty -- it was great to havey o u t w o .

“I ’m still teaching at the Weapons School, flying our C e ssn a a n d w o r k

ing on an all metal 2-person airplane in the garage shop (RV-8). The RV is a hobby (in lieu of golf, etc) and I am just fabricating the wings. Fuselage

com es n ext , i f I can afford it .

“Carol’s travel agency has really taken off The specialty i s W O W H o n

eymoons for couples. But it is full service. So, if you know someone that is getting married or looking for an assist with a trip (complicated or simple) call her and let her set things up. No cost to the tr avel ers an d , sh e i s st ill doing real estate. Prices here are rock bottom! Kids are all healthy. Newest

grandson (number 9) just started walking and we enjoyed C h r i st m a s i n Sacramento with him, Jen and Mike and other daughter L i z .

“Talked to Warren Robbins the other day. He is still struggling with health issues but has a great attitude and seems to be holding his own. All th e b est for 20 11 t o th e RT Bs an d th eir fam ili es.” T h ank s, Gail .

I also received an email from Mike Scheiber . To wit, “Hi Jack, Thought I would drop you a line and a couple pictures for the n ex t n ew s l e t t e r .

Terri and I now live in Lake Oswego, Oregon (a suburb of Por t l an d) . Ou r

We had a gathering in Melbourne a while back with seven o f u s. O u r class president, Dick Klass, was in town to visit some r e l a t i v e s. So w e h a d a gathering. From left are Colin Richardson, Dick Klass, Tom Young, Jack Jam ba, Willie Gray, Duke Green and Chuck.

And just in the nick of time, Jim Mack sent this. “We a l l m e t a t Ph a n t o m Canyon today to watch USAFA trounce the ‘Ramblin’ Wrecks’. Oh m an , Gilm ar tin, Staples, Rokke, Robinson PK, Blai sdell, Mack and a group 10 1

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N ew s

of very lovely younger women; beer was consumed, lies t ol d , f u n h ad .”

Thanks, Jim. I watched the game on TV and enj oyed every b i t o f i t .

Tom Young is hosting a Hog Hunt in Central Florida i n t h e n e a r f u ture. He has lined up some Redtags to j oin him. I ’m looking forward to

receiving some pictures of the occasion. Willie Gray h a s v o l u n t e e r e d t o

be the official photographer. Cheeseman is going to compute the muzzle velocity of the guns to let the hunters know how close (or far) they should stand or sit or recline from the target. They don’t w a n t t o d e c i m a t e t h e

hog population so they will hunt only at night... with b l a n k a m m u n i t i o n .

nent Academy personnel to resolve the issues requiring Academy align ment. Complete Academy endorsement of the UCH is the goal of these meetings. A late April meeting of the Gift Team will d i sc u ss t h e r e su l t s o f this effort and a fi nal “go-no go” will be made. Expect f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n by mail or email.” Thanks to Mick Roth, Gift Team Lead, for the update.

If you recall, the last column described the Southeast A si a M e m o r i al Pavilion somewhat. Jimmie Butler j ust provided the following photo graph of a few of our classmates and the view from t h e M e m o r i al .

JU ST KI D D I N G.

Jim Whitted had scheduled a trip to this area to see a Sh u t t l e l a u n c h .

But it was rescheduled. So he cancelled. Don’t forget there are only two more Shuttle launches remaining. Be here if you can.

Unless I find more to write, this is it. I wish a happy and prosperous New Year to you all. I ’m very proud to be one of you. Keep in touch. GO RE D TA G S!

t

Norman I. (Skip) Lee

6 3 1 1 9 E. Cat Cla w La n e

Tucson, AZ 8 5739-20 58 Home: (520 ) 8 2 5-798 0 Cell: (520 ) 241-34 98 E-m a il: 5 4 w rs@m s n .co m

From lef t are M ike Christie, Bill M itchell Pres Davis, Joh n H a l uska a nd

D e Ver e H en d er so n .

The Association of Graduates recently learned of the d e a t h o f o u r c l a ss mate Col (Ret) Harry F Wilson, CS-14 Class of 1963. Harry passed away January 17, 2011 in Virginia as the result of pancreatic c a n c e r . Se r v i c e s were held Jan 22”" at the Episcopal Church of the Holy C r o ss i n D u n n T u r

ing, VA. The family requested that, in lieu of flowers, d o n a t i o n s b e m a d e in Col W ilson’s n am e t o t h e Pan creat i c Can cer A ct i on

Network; 1500 Rosecrans Ave, Ste 200; Manhattan Beach CA 90266 www.pamcam.org. Condolences may be sent to his family in care of his wife, Mrs. Mary E W i l son, 20520 Falcons Landing Circle, Unit 2102, Potomac Falls VA 20165-7597, Internment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, Thursday, May 26, 11:00 a.m.. Old Post Chapel, Fort Myer. Reception to follow.

Th e Pan creat ic Can cer Act ion N etw ork b ecam e a

m

i

Sabre Society Do n o rs

Garet Nenninger retired September 30th from the Johnson Space Cen ter after 26 years with the last 10 years in the Astronaut O f fi c e a s a c r ew representative. He says the Astronaut Office was an ideal place to work as it has a unique mission, staffed with highly qualifi ed people, and the quickest humor on the planet. Garet wrote “Before leavi ng, I w a n t e d t o leave a token of my appreciation for the astronauts w h o a r e A i r F o r c e Academy graduates. Attached is a picture of the presentation I m a d e t o Steve Lindsey, Class of 1982. He will be commanding ST S- 13 3 w h i c h i s t h e n ext sh u t tl e m issi on sch edu l ed t o lau n ch on N ovem b er 1.” (Edi t or ’s n ot e:

The mission is on hold due to fuel tank repairs with a proposed launch date of Feb 24"’ ) The presentation is a Don Eckelberry L i m i t e d E d i t i o n print of Baffi n. Eckelberry was commissioned by the AOG i n 1972 t o p ain t the White Gyrfalcon.

cause for our classmates in the DC area. Bud Gill igan 34 started it off saying a class gift to the Pancreatic C a n c e r Action Network in Harry’s name would be a good idea.

He then ante-upped $100. So far the count of donations is over 16, all of w h om h ave com m i tt ed at least $ 100. D ick Gu i l d t ook over the respon sibility of heading up the contributions and collections process because Bud is recovering from surgery. If you are interested in making a donation just contact Dick (or me) and the donation form to be mailed with your c h e c k c a n b e se n t i n a n e - m a i l .

Many thanks to Caroline Pickens for keeping us up to d a t e w h i l e E d

w a s o u t o f t ow n .

Caret presents Whi te Gyrf alcon to Steve Lindsey (’82).

Thanks to Garet for the input. Something I just now l ear n ed ; it t u r n s out Garet, Barney Bar tlett and I served as FACs in II Corps during 1967 and we all worked out of Bao Loc in Lam Dong Province during that year but obviously at different times.

In a recent e-mail exchange I discovered that Ken Kopke c o n t i n u e s t o work as a subcontractor working for the Air Force in the Joint Space Op erations Center on Vandenberg AFB. Ken says he still h a s an A i r F o r c e em ai l accou n t . T h e e-m ail h e u sed w it h m e w as h i s Yah oo a c c o u n t : k e n .

kopke@yahoo.com.

Dave Skilling provided an update saying he is fully retired, traveling quite a lot, flying light planes a bit, and enjoying life. Dave got his FAA

DC Golden Boys out to dinner last November. From lef t a re D ick Gu i ld, Doug Hardgrave, Bud Gilligan, Ed Pickens, Harry Wilson, Th e Ven k an d Ji m H a n na m .

Cl ass Gi f t Team : “ Th e Gi ft Team h el d a t elecom on 1/ 14 / 1 1. A m o t i o n

was passed authorizing the website development subcommittee t o c o n t i n u e Ph ase I I t o h ave ki osks i n Ar n ol d H all acr oss from the class cups by Ju n e Week an d t o h ave t h e fu ll U SAFA Cl ass H i st or i es (U CH ) w eb sit e t ech

John Borling wrote he had nothing special for the Class N ew s b u t t h e n on second thought, he told me about his just published book Poems f or

nical development completed later this year. This Phase is to stay within defi ned financial guidelines. In the next months, the T e a m w i l l c o n c e n trate on resolving these issues: (1) technical feasibility and supportability of th e U CH , (2) t h e valu e t o cadet s an d t h e U SAFA , (3) funding issues, and

Pilots (and other people) and suggested it might be w o r t h a m e n t i o n i n this column. As usual John was right! He also added “ . . . the poems and

Team will meet with a leadership team (suggested by our Team) of perti-

Denny King reports a spelling error was discovered o n t h e C l a ss C o m -

(4) a permanent home for the UCH. A working group from w i t h i n t h e

10 2

CFII through a new FAA procedure allowing your military i n st r u c t o r t i m e

to substitute for a flight test. One caveat is that you must have a formal in st ru ct or cou r se in t h e record s, i n ad di t i on t o I P flight time. Dave never instructed in ATC, but his fighter weapons school course counted. If you know anyone who’s interested, have them contact Dave (Abbyndavid@ aol.com) and he’ll advise them on how to study for t h e t e st .

prose were mentally composed and kept memorized those m a n y y e a r s ago in Hanoi as a weapon to make time an ally and stay mentally acute. . . .” The Book is on eBay or guys can email John if they have any interest.

memorative Cups case and a fi x is in the works. Turns o u t t h r e e c l a ss mates spell their last name HOFFMAN and one spells h i s H O F M A N N . W e have four spelled alike on the case.

Jerry Adinolfi alerted us to an article published in M ilitary Of icer that covers the story on Lou Matj asko. Lou is the Executive D i r e c t o r o f a n o n profi t organization called Circle of Change, in Rocton, I L . Lou ’s w ife, Kar en, also works in the organization as a program director - they are both volunteers. Through the program, veterans with depression, PT SD a n d oth er m en t al h ealt h issu es w ork w it h a t rain er t o reh ab il it at e dogs that once were abused, neglected, or unwanted. Pretty neat! I w o u l d l i k e t o include the photograph of Lou in the article, however, d o n ’t k n o w h o w t o get the MOAA’s permission. Thanks to Jerry for sending.

Good works by members of our Class never end. The USAFA E n d ow ment announced recently, on behalf of the Academy, t h a t B i l l W e c k e r a n d his wife, Mary Linn, have committed $1 Million towards t h e c o n st r u c t i o n

of the new Center for Character and Leadership Development. T a k e a look at the AOG web page to see some pretty nice conceptual drawings f o r t h e C en t e r.

This week (Jan 17-21) is the 50th anniversary of the JEK Inauguration

and of course the parade that about half of the wing m a r c h e d i n w h i l e t h e

rest of us flew back to Colorado when our planes couldn’t l a n d a t A n d r ew s

b e c a u se o f w e a t h e r .

Bo b Hovd e 2 0 6 Wa lke r Ave .

H u nt sv ille , A L 3 5 8 0 1

78% M e m b e rs '

(H) (2 56 ) 532-39 23 (M) (2 56 ) 34 8-9794

Boats and Dogs - Matt Feiertag wrote that he has a new daughter-in-

law, a new truck (accident), and a new dog. He spent quite a bit of time

with his dog on his boat at Lake Tahoe last year.

Bandit supervising Matt ’s boat handling.

Playboys - Jon Prenez is still Chief Coordinator for the 19"’ Squadron Playboys and has started campaigning to get all of t h e m t o t h e 5 0 '" r e union. (Other squadrons?)

Jon and Judy took a cruise to Alaska last summer and had a great time. On

thedrivehome from Seattle, they stopped at the Evergreen A v i at i o n M u seu m

in McMinnville, OR and got to climb around the “Spruce Goose.” He reports that it’s a great museum and well worth a side trip if you’re in the area.

Trolls - Meanwhile, Doug Jenki ns reports that the Colorado O l d T r o l l s continue with their regular lunch meetings. Pictured f r o m l e f t a r e H o w i e Cohen, Doug Jenkins, Wally Wolniewicz, Tom Jobin, Bobby Beverly, and Jerry Butler . Not pictured, Tom Morr is.

b o b @h ov d e .us

H o n or s - M ax Jam es w as an n ou n ced as on e of t h e w i n n er s o f t h e A c a d

emy’s Distinguished Graduate Award for 2010. (The other reci p i en t w as Gen Ed Eberhart.) The award will be presented during Founders day in April. Congratulations Max! D on at i on - Pau l an d Ju li e K am i n sk i h ave com m it t ed $2 m il lion t ow ard s t h e con str u ct i on of th e n ew Cen t er

for Character and Leadership Development. Wow! That

should help meet the Class Gift goal. [For everyone

else, this doesn’t let you off the hook. It’s a CLASS G i f t - not a “classmate” gift.]

Ret u r n ed - Li n Bot hw ell w r ot e t h at h e an d Su san

are back in the U.S. after fi ve years in Beijing, China,

and three years in Lautoka, Fij i. After he was turned

out of USAFA in January of 1964 as “academically un

Old Trolls in November: Still looking good!

Sabre Society Do n o rs

46

fit for higher education.” He went on to get a doctorate from Harvard and eventually a posting in the Graduate School of Business at Tsinghua University (China) as a visiting professor.

Li n h as w r it t en several b u si n ess b ooks an d n ow t h at h e’s ret i red , h as fi n

ished a novel based on his time at USAFA. Lin says that many of you will

fi nd familiar people in the characters in the book.

Li n a nd Susa n Both w el l - H om e a t Last!

Sad News - Bill Sweetay died in late October as the r e su l t o f a r a r e f o r m of cancer. Bill’s wife, Cindy, still lives in Travelers Re st , N C .

Another Classmate Moves Nor th - Tony Covais wrote that h e a n d B a r b m oved t o M assen a, NY. I h ave n o i d ea w h ere M assen a is, but it ’s a long way from the places most people think of a “retirement” areas. Of cou r se,

it’s snowed 15” this winter here already, so...

Visit the AOGWeb Site: www.usafa.org

KX

Memor ies - Last quarter, I started the story of Bill G a r r e t t a s a C a d e t .

The second installment is below. This story will answer many of the ques

tions you’ve had for 50 years, like, “Who did that?”

Instal lment 2: My Life as a Cadet: Billy Blaine Garrett aka The Midnight Skulker During the last installment, Billy arrived at USAFA and promptly was diagnosed with mononucleosis. Barely recovering in time to rejoin his classmates (or else get washed back a class) he left the hospital with a 102° temperature - but survived Basic Summer. Later t h at w i n t er, h e an d Dave Neal climbed the (still under construction) chapel steeples to hang a huge “CLASSOF ’64” flag. And now, on to the next thrilling chapter...

Chapter 2: Billy is Assigned to 2"" Squadron - What Were They Think ing? “After the basic summer I was assigned to 2nd Squ ad ro n . Th is w as critical. 2nd Squadron was on the sixth fl oor of a 6-story building. We could stand on our chair on the top of our desk and r e a c h o u t o u r w i n d o w and grab the metal rail used by the maintenance crew a n d w i n d o w w a sh ers. My roommate Pat Hardee was a gymnast. He could grab the rail while facing out and kip onto the roof in one motion. 1had to push and squirm li ke a m ere m ort al . On ce on th e roof w e h ad access to every room in the dormitory. One of our classmates fell out of his window. T h e f a l l d i d n ’t k i l l him, but he died from exposure. You must appreciate the military mind.

When you investigate an accident, the last step is implementing a plan to m ake su re th at a sim il ar accid en t n ever recu r s. In this instance they came arou n d an d screw ed all of ou r w i n d ow s sh u t . We cou l d only open them about 8 inches (unless you had a screwdriver).

“The most memorable occasion was right before recognition. H a r d e e and I mapped every upperclass room. We hung over the roof and painted

a huge 64 (backwards) on every upperclass window. Stealth w a s p a r a mount. The upperclassmen were upset when they awoke to our graffi ti.

They were even more upset when they realized they couldn’t r e m o v e i t because their windows were screwed shut. Even if they u n sc r ew e d t h e windows, they couldn’t safely reach far enough to remove i t a l l .

“I got one of my old high school buddies to send me a large, live ta

rantula. When I took it out of the box, my roommate (n ot H ard ee) w en t berserk. He was screaming hysterically. An upperclassman whose nap

was interrupted barged into the room and dressed down m y r o o m m a t e .

I had put the tarantula on top of my head. The upperclassman w a s sh o r t

and focusing entirely on my roommate. 1j ust stood a t a t t e n t i o n a n d t h e t ar an t u l a w en t u n n o t i ced .

10 3

C la s s

N ew s

“I once took a black widow and hung it over the entrance t o t h e r o o m

of an upperclassman I didn’t like. But the spider died and wasn’t terribly

challenge). So here I go - Vice-President of Membership and Chapters

f or N D IA (N at i on al D efen se I n d u st r i al A ssoci at i on ). Should be interesting

was that I had some good grades.

“One of my favorite tricks was to go into the latrine i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e

and fun -- some travel and I expect that Maria will be able to accompany on many trips. We are really going to enjoy.” “Hard work never killed any body, but why take a chance?” - Edgar Bergen.

Some of us love to travel - the following is from Joe Koenig: “Soon after our 45* reunion, Marlene and I headed for Ankara, Turkey to stay with a Turkish Ai r Force AFIT graduate and his family. They h a d l i v e d w i t h u s while he was in AFIT. We basically just rested, visited w i t h o u r f r i e n d s a n d several other Turkish Officer graduates and their families. I d i d m a k e a

and a substantial portion of the 100 cadets would head t o t h e l a t r i n e w i t h zero johns available.

and archeological sites in the southeast region of Turkey.

One certainty when you travel is the moment you arrive in a f oreign country, the Ameri can dollar will f all like a stone". Erma Bombeck.

impressive.

“I met my wife-to-be when I was invited back to the Academy to meet

an A cad em i c review b oard at t h e en d of ou r secon d sem est er. I h a d

flunked EE and Aero. The board said go home or get t u r n e d b a c k . I o f fi cially became a member the class of ’65. My roommate (n ot H ard ee) w as

not given the choice and I never saw him again. I was t o l d t h e d i f f e r e n c e night. I would lock the door to each john and crawl o u t . A f t e r r ev e i l l e i n the morning we all had to form up for roll call. Then w e w e r e d i sm i sse d

“After I met my wife-to-be, my grade point went from 1.6 t o 3 .8 . I w a s

weekend trip to Diyabakir and made a road trip to several m o n a st e r i e s

on the Dean’s list and the D list (deficiency). I lost privileges on one list and got extra on the other.

“When I lost my privileges, about the only place I could legally meet my fi ancee was the athletic complex. It was easy for me to get there but not for her. I showed her how to come through the subterranean t u n n el s. I never knew when we met if the big smile on her face w a s b e c au se sh e w a s

happy to see me or because she had to walk through t h e m e n ’s b a sk et b al l locker room to get to me.”

Next: Billy Returns to ’64 - and Other Mischief! /,

B ruc e W o o d 76 10 So n at t a Co u rt Lin co ln , N E 6 8 5 1 6

r7JBV Joe at Monastaryin, Turkey -- Iraq on the horizon.

Cell: (4 02 ) 470-7152 Home: (40 2 ) 4 20-7394 Brucewoodl 96 5@gmail.com

Hello Silver Tags! Since the last issue, we lost one o f o u r b e l o v e d comrades. Donald M. Douglas (Mike), 9* Squadron, Col (Ret), passed away Sept. 13, 2010. Mike was a fixed and rotary wing pilot; served in

Viet Nam at Cam Rahn Bay AB; filled critical

tired in 1992. He is survived by his wife, Linda.

Condolences may be sent to 3590 Round Bot t om Rd , PM B F32 186, Cin ci n n at i , OH 453443026. “ To l i ve i n h ea r ts w e lea ve beh i nd is n ot

snowing until we had about fi ve inches of perfect ‘play ing-in’ caliber snow. By the time we all headed back to our respective homes, the roads were clear, and w e

to die.” -Thomas Campbell, “Hallowed Ground”.

Sh ort n ot e ab out a little kn ow n AOG att ribu te:

all had safe, uneventful travel. In the attached picture,

Some of you may not be aware of an existing group designed to afford better communication between graduates and tbe AOG. The following is provided by Bob Giff en: “A few years ago, after som e cr it icism th at t h e AOG w as “ou t of t ou ch

ate input, an ‘AOG Senate’ was created to assign a

since Kay didn’t have to decorate so much, and Jill h a d

more room to accommodate the crowd. In this part of the world the weather was perfect. It started snowing about noon on Christmas, after we had opened pres ents, had some spirits and food, etc., then it continued

positions in analysis and management: and re

with graduates” and didn’t offer avenuefor gradu

And some of us j ust love to enjoy life - the following i s f r o m C h a r l e s Price: “I have been trying to come up with something interesting that has happened since the reunion, but our world has been pretty quiet - which is not a bad thing at this stage. We always get together with our daughters and their families over the Christmas holidays, usually here at our house, but this year we went to our oldest daugh ter’s new home in Winston-Salem. It was great for us,

D . M . D ou gl as

Sabre Societ y Do n o r s

23

you see me defeating daughter Jill in an Olympic-esque luge competition. Also, we are planning a train trip o u t t h e G r a n d C a n yon and the southwest sometime this spring, so maybe we can drop in on some of our colleagueswho have settled out that way.” “In my retirement I gof or a short swim at least onceor twiceevery day. It ’s either that or buy a new golf ball.” - Gene Ferret.

focal point for each class - a ‘Class Senator’ [Bob is ours). Th e aim is t o cre at e b ett er com m u n i cat ion from Grads to t h e AOG. Th e Se n at e m e et s o n c e

per quarter.” Please provide input about any appropriate issue to rgiffen@ comcast.net. Bob will enthusiastically take your issues t o t h e Se n a t e f o r d i s cussion and action. “ When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; Tm beginning to believe it.” -Clarence H a r r o w .

Some of us aren’t ready for retirement -- the followi ng i s f r o m T o m Owen: “After nearly 30 years in the AF and nearly 10 years with Boeing, I was settled into my retirement life of taking care of family members, tu

toring at local elementary school and doing some consulting w i t h a l o c a l consulting firm. Out of the blue I was asked by friend i f I w o u l d l i k e t o go back to work full-time. I thought for just a short t i m e a n d d e c i d e d t o give it a shot - if it does not work out to my liking I will just retire again.

So (after modifying my wardrobe) I had to adjust to the routine of getting out of bed early every morning. I am going to miss taking grand-kids to school (albeit they are now starting to walk unaccompanied) and tutoring underprivileged students (in my last sessions I had four Iraqis - what a

for your Board of Direct ors Please vote for your choice of candidates for our upcoming Board elections. The election will be conducted from March 31 to April 30 2011.

Yo u r v o t e c o u n t s !

10 4

Chals and daughter on the slopes.

SCRIBE NOTES: In the January Checkpoints a glitch in “cut and paste” resulted in my e-mail address being shortened (the “ 1965” after my name was left out) and resulted in bounces of e-mail sent t o t h a t i n c o r r e c t a d dress. “ To err is human, but to really f oul things up requires a computer.”

Earmers’Almanac, 1978”. I apologize and have been assured i t w i l l b e c o r rect in this issue. If you attempted to send input before, please try again.

Also, since the only phone calls I ’ve received in the past few years on my landline have been from cranks, people who don’t punch numbers very well, and telemarketers. I ’ve cancelled the line and will rely only on my cell phone (number in heading). I almost always have it with me except when it is in the charger, left it in yesterday’s clothing, or simply on the fritz! Please leave messages and I will get right back to you. Please note t h at (at l east fo r n ow ) I d o n ot h ave t ext i n g, In t er n et capability, or any

other new phone technology - it’s j ust a “bare bones” cell phone that takes messages and stores numbers I call or receive. (I resisted buying a cell phone for a long time because 1 periodically WANTED to disappear for a while!) But, “Science and technology multiply around us. To an increasing extent they dictate the languages in which we speak a n d t h i n k . E i t h er w e use those languages, or we remain mute.” - J G Ballard.

That’s all I have for now. I wish I had Rick Zurbrugg’s m e d i c a l c r e d e n tials to strengthen my encouragement to take care of yourselves. I have a tendency to slack off -- winters in Lincoln, NE don’t make walking easy!

So, as Rick has said, " ...be grateful, eat 5 servings of fruit and veggies every day, floss, take a walk with the ones you love and stay fully involved in the struggle of your choice.” Bruce. ’65, Best Al ive!

r et i r e f r o m r et i r em en t ?

You will get to hear all of these stories and more when we all get togeth er for the 45'*' Reunion this Eall. Bill Riley is on the Planning Committee and sent this “heads up” notice: “Work on the 45th Reunion is proceeding.

T h e for m at an d ev en t s b e si m il ar t o t h e 40t h Reu n ion , except that the tim ing will be as early in the Eall as we can make it a n d st i l l r ev o l v e a r o u n d a home football game. You should have received a mailing by now with Re union details, but it may not include the Reunion dates. A second mailing will be coming in mid May with registration information a n d t h e d a t e s.

Th e Reu n io n Com m it t ee con si st s of : Ch ai r, M ik e H een an ; V ice Ch air, V i c

Ryan Denny 163 5 Mary Todd Lane

O’ Fa llo n , IL 6 2 2 6 9

H: (6 18 ) 6 24-4 25 5 W: (314 ) 23 2-5117 E-mail: ryanden@aol.com

Greetings, Redtags!

Once again. I ’m writing this article at 32 thousand feet, while winging my way from snowy St Louis to sunny California to spend a week trapped i n a c o n f er e n c e r o o m . So m e t i m e s I f e e l t h a t Pm t h e only member of the class who is still working; but then I get a card, email, or newspaper article about one of you over-achievers who is still out there - getting rich or famous (they don’t always go together).

Bill Bowen, that intrepid conservative blogger who j ousts at windmills and tries to maintain the political balance in the l i b e r al Sa n F r a n c i sc o area, has written a novel -- The Target. It is a great read, and the descrip tions “ripped from today’s headlines, thought provoking, action packed, etc” all come to mind; but classmate Neil Crist gives a better description in the book’s j acket notes. He says ‘“ The Target’ per suasively captures the rarely-presented perspective 1^/ of the war veteran who has managed the sometimes overwhelming transition from the ‘extreme highs and nearly bottomless lows of combat to a normal life. T h e choices that he and his friends make are chillingly p o s sible in today’s world.’” Bill has a very direct style t h a t Sabre Society packs a lot of story into few words. That ’s tough for a Do no rs V

m

o nt i. f

w r it er t o d o. (Th is ar t i cl e coul d b e a l ot sh ort er i f I h a d m ore t i m e t o v« -it e it .)

Bill Wacker has taken a more relaxed approach to senior citizenship. If you remember. Bill took a part-time j ob at a golf course near Myrtle Beach after retirement from the Air Eorce so that he could play golf on a regular basis without paying too much. His latest Christmas card says that he has now retired from that job so that he could play even more. How do you

29

From a little further north, we got a note from Mike and Judy Blair in Alaska that directed me to a web si t e on which Ron Blake had posted some pictures of his Gh r i st m a st i m e m o o se hunt. In addition to several pictures of Ron standing by a dead moose, armed only with a bow and arrow, there were two great quotes - one by Robert Service (The Cremation of Sam Magee): “Talk of the cold, through the parka fold, it drove like the driven nail”, and the other by Ron Blake (The Moose-slayer): “Af ter 11 days of tromping around in t h is col d -ass w eath er, does anyone know a good chiropractor?” My hat is off to those guys who not only live in that frozen world, but seem to actually enj oy it.

Ron Blake and his moose. “Now that I 've shot my transportation, T m going to have to walk out of here!”

Another classmate that j ust won’t slow down is Arne W e i n m a n . A r n e is one of the more seasoned members of our class who j u st tu r n ed 70.

In addition to owning a construction/ home remodeling b u si n ess, h e w as also the president of the non-profi t organization in Spokane that puts on the country’s largest Armed Forces Torchlight Parade. As part of this j ob, he attended/ participated in over 20 parades in the last year. Arne is also leading the effort to fi nish the Armed Forces and Aerospace M u se u m i n Spokane. I wonder if he’s still running marathons?

Andrews: Hotel and Dining, Marty Daack ; Class Gift an d M em or ial , H an s Mueh; Merchandise, John Fal and Dick Oliver (putting together a class CD similar to what Kenny Boone did for the 40th); Entertainment, B i l l R i ley: Golf, Tom Guenther and Bob Gr avelle; Finance, R i c k P a r so n s . E a c h Squadron has a representative who should be getting in touch with you soon. Email questions/ comments/ suggestions can be forwarded t o you r Squadron Rep or to Bill Riley (mtntennis@msn.com). T o m a k e t h i s t h e best reunion ever, we need to reach all of you. We rely on the AOG data base for addresses, phone numbers and emails. If your i n f o r m a t i o n i s o u t of date, please call the AOG at 719-472-0300 and update i t .”

To get the DC area crowd into the reunion spirit, Gary P al m e r a n d F r i t z McDougall are planning a mini-reunion on 8 June (why d o e s t h a t d a t e seem familiar?). Gary says that he and Fritz were talking t o D a n H e i t z a n d Walt Schrecker at a Daedalian meeting and it seemed like a great idea at the time, so they are planning this replay of our graduation. T h e sa m e group organized a similar “replay” of our 100"' Night Dining In - which brought back a lot of suppressed memories for those w h o h a d n o r e c o l l e c tion of the original event. Gary and Fritz are also trying to get some June Week pictures to put together a slide show - he says to send any (already digitized) pictures to Fritz at fj mcd@cox.net .

Phil Bruce was interred at Arlington in November and M ike Con n or s, Fritz McDougall , Mary and Walt Schrecker attended. W a l t w r o t e t h a t “ I t was a beautiful fall day, and the USAF Honor Guard, Chaplain, and Arling ton Lady did a wonderful job. It had been since some past reunion that 1 had last seen Phil. He was the party organizer who was responsible for Mary and me meeting in Georgetown some 44+ years ago. We f lew Ga r i b o u s i n Vietnam together and went through Gastle AFB together. T h o se w e r e b e t t e r times. It is a blessing for us all that our mind gives us only the picture of the young man and classmate with whom we ‘cooperated and graduated’ and then served our country together.” Thanks for those w ords, Walt .

Harry Icke and several other Redtags cheered the Falcon f o o t b a l l t e a m to victory in the Independence Bowl. Harry and wife, Betsy, j oined up with Gary Van Val in and his wife, Sally, for the tailgate party, the game, and dinner afterward. At the tailgate party, they ran i n t o H a n s M u e h a n d Eddie and Deborah Shirley. After the game, they ate d i n n e r a t t h e sa m e restaurant as Rick and Nancy Par sons (that Taco Bell m u st h av e b e e n crowded) and captured the event on film - see the picture.

Gary VanValin, Rick Parsons, Harry Icke -- still on their f eet af ter a long day at the I ndependence Bowl f ootball game Pencil in our 45'" Reunion on your calendar for this Fall (b efore t h e snow starts). Until next time....Happy Landings!

JO I N T H E SA B RE SO C I ET Y !

YO U R M O N EY H EL PS F U N D CA D ET W I N G PRO G RA M S T H AT W O U L D OT H ERW I SE G O U N F U N D ED .

CA L L T H E A O G F O R I N F O .

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72% Larry Wilson

1 3 10 0 Pine h u rst Ave . N E

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M e m b e rs

Albuquerque, NM 87111 H: (50 5 ) 29 1-894 9

E-m a il: Lw ils n 6 2 8 @a o l.c o m

Greetings one and all, and happy still-mostly-new 2011. I n N ew M exi co, the winter has been pretty mild and - unfortunately - dry, courtesy of El Nino and/ or Al Gore and/ or the Tea Party and/ or... choose your favorite scapegoat . It seems that most of the rest of the country would be happy to trade as we have NOT had prolonged subzero temps o r m u d sl i d e s o r snowdrifts or flooding. On balance -- weather-wise, l i f e i n N ew M ex i c o i s OK. For those of you who are in the midst of the crap py winter almost everywhere else - time to recall the words of Shelley (remember him?): “ .. .If Winter comes, •i can Spring be far behind?”

But enough of that - good input from a number of folks, so awayyyyyy we go.

First of all - from Fex Page: he, Stu Wood and Stump

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So w a d a w e n t t o F l o r i d a l a st f al l o n a N O T o f f i c i a l U SA -

Sabre Society

FA recruiting trip. They forced themselves to endure some mediocre sporting events (Orlando Magic, the University of Florida, Tampa Bay) and they connected

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w i t h Ar t Tai l , w h o,“ . .. w h il e con fi n ed to h i s ol d -folk s h om e. .. (h as) re

mained quite active in recruiting efforts and had... t w o . . . r e c r u i t s o u t a t the old-folks home for Veterans’ Day festivities. Naturally, M r . (w e ) w e r e only too happy to assist Mr. Tait in his recruiting act iv it ies, an d w e t r u st that the two young recruits will be as well received at the Academy as they were by the Vets...”

Pat and Kathy Finnegan contributing heavily (according to Pa t. ..) to th e negative US balance of payments. sk i n n e d f r i e n d s i n Sc o t l a n d a n d I r el a n d h av e su i t a b l e company to keep them warm on those cold and wet North Atlantic nights...”

Con r ad H o u ser - n ow set t led in Gran d Ju n ct i on aft er living around the world -- threw down a gauntlet of a different kind: “ ...I probably hold the class record having raised eight super children (with a bit of help from my frau Gloria) who have propagated 34 grandchildren ... I t w o u l d b e interesting to see if anyone from our class, or any class, can m at ch th at number of progeny... ” Conrad is now semi- retired though still “ .. .doing a great deal of consulting work as an expert vdtness in mining-related cases and in due diligence, A&D, restructuring, etc... We’ll likely stay in Grand Junction for the near future... A well kept secret we found two years ago after living in five states and Japan, Australia, and Zambia over the past 40 years. I spent a goodly portion of this last year solo i n C a m e r o o n ...” W o w - to the family claim (any of us have larger family?) a n d t o t h e t r av e l e d r o a d . W el l d o n e .

Pat Dowling and some 13 guys gathered in Colorado - h e r e i s a n o t e a n d pic from Pat: “Eleven members of 13th Squadron got together to watch the Falcons beat Navy in October. The next day the whole gang drove down to visit the widow of Gary Lorenz at their ranch in Cotopaxi, Colo.

In the picture (roughly front to back) are Ron Mor ishige, Beau Crosby, Ri ck Sch m i d t , Fran k Bl ah a, Fred M i i an ovi ch , Ross L eo n ar d , D a l e H o e k s -

t ra, Thom Evans, Buz Carpenter , Mark Stugar t and me. It was a great win and an even greater party afterwards.”

I t ’s a Dirty Job but... well, you know: Art Tait and t w o r ec r u i ts h e i s so l i c itingf or CS-16, class of ?

Incidentally, Lex is alive and well and unrepentant (obviously...) in Oregon. Pat Finnegan started a stream of comments when h e d e sc r i b e d some recent travels: “After only 65 plus years, I finally got to the ‘old sod’.

Spent 15 glorious days (no rain) all over and had a great time. Enclosed is a snap of Kathy and me wi th the Cliffs of Mohr in the background. Really an awesome sight . Note the ’67 Reunion cap. I can recommend the trip to any Son of Eire that hasn’t made the j ourney. I guess my spending caused a bank collapse after I left and stopped the Euro flow.” (See photo at the top of the next column.)

In response -- Rick Rowan described travels “ ...to b o t h Sc o t l a n d a n d Ireland... when stationed in northern Germany (1983) . . . w e t r av el e d around Scotland by train with our five year old... i n 2 0 0 6 w e d r o v e c l o c k wise through Galway and Connemara... and down the east c o a st t o D u b lin before (ending at) Shannon .... I don’t recall meeting any Irish in Scot land or any Scots in Ireland.” The heritage gloves w e r e t h r o w n d o w n w i t h Bruce McFadzean ’s articulate response: “Glad you enj oyed your visit to the ‘old sod’... something I would like to do before it ’s t oo l at e! H ow ever, as a Scotsman, I think the only reason to go to Ireland is to play golf at some of its fi ne courses and to try to keep up with the drinking prowess of the typical Irishman... (hard to do, but possible). As for th e I r ish cu lt u re, w e Sc o t s a r e st i l l m i f f e d ab o u t t h e I r i sh w h o u se d t o sn e a k a c r o ss t h e b o r d e r

and (rephrased to ‘make love to’) our sheep. In fact, I think it still goes on.” Then from Ron Bet tner: “It’s comforting to know that some things (and some people) never change. Since I ’m of German lineage, we were never introduced to sheep on a social basis, but it ’s good to know our fair 10 6

CS-13 guys reassembled in Colorado.

A sad note: Bob Resling passed away in November - as h i s m e m o r i a l service describes it, he has “gone west.” Unknown to me, and perhaps others. Bob was active with the Lao- Hmong community. As described by a non- grad friend: “ ...one of Bob’s big passions of over the last couple of years has been to get a monument built in Westminster, Colo, honoring the Lao-Hmong, who fought on America’s behalf in Laos during the Viet nam War. My last communications from Bob involved his r e c e n t a c h i ev e ment of establishing the National Lao-Hmong Memorial F o u n d a t i o n . . .

Bob has been the real driving force in the effort, and his leadership will be missed greatly. If your class has any Vietnam vets living in the Denver area who might want to j oin in the effort in Bob’s absence and memory, we’d welcome the help... there will be a contingent of Laotians attend (ing) B o b ’s f u n e r a l ... H e saw t h e m a s b r o t h e r s- i n - a r m s a n d was highly thought of by the Denver-area Hmong community... we’ve lost a good friend and a n o b l e w a r r i o r .”

From Bob Muldrow and Roger Carleton; many of us went o v e r t o Tobe and Paul Henry’s home ... the group included the Jacks (?Fry), Tom M enz a, Jeff Sch oefi el d , Fran k Ch u b a, Joe Bu r k e... Ot h ers at the grave site included John Holstein, Ralph Femr ite, and the Fedels.” Sad news, ongo ing as I write this: Mike Francisco had a stroke recently and his recovery is not all going smoothly. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

On that note - I hope that all our 2011 resolutions included losing weight, exercising, and following the recommended health screenings from our physicians are going well. We are entering that age where CV and bowel and prostate and other fun issues likely w i l l b e c o m e ev e n m o r e parts of our lives. Do all you can to stay healthy to enj oy thoseGolden

izes in hand-made traditional breads and pastries. T o se e m o r e a b o u t t h e Mann’s “new baby,” please go to www.theblackroosterbakery.com.

Ye a r s.

Vaya con Dios.

Tim Dav id so n

9712 Hidden Valley Road

Classmate and his ALO: Greg Shuey, at lef t, and Col John Riff le.

Vie n n a , VA 2 2 1 8 1 -6 0 9 4

(703 ) 2 55-53 13 Fax: (703 ) 2 55-5377

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Class Website: wwwl.usafa68 .org

HELLO ’68! Happy 2011 to you and yours!! Many thanks f o r a l l w h o wrote to Pat Russell and me during the holidays. Your greetings and breaking class news are always much appreciated. ’6 8 ’ S F I R ST U SA FA D I ST I N G U I SH E D G RA D A N N O U N C E D : I a m d e

lighted to report our very own Ed Eberhart was named o n e o f t h e t w o USAFA Distinguished Graduates for 2010. “The award recognizes Academy graduates whose singular and dis tinctive contributions to our society and nation have set them apart from other graduates.” Ed and Max Jam es (USAFA ’64) will be honored at a Founders Day banquet at USAFA on Friday, 1 April 2011 and during a parade on Saturday, 2 April. I am working with the Sabre Society AOG to provide our class with a reserved section for Do n o rs the parade and am encouraging as many classmates I f who are able to participate to attend both functions.

36 time and resources permit, it would be great to have these events serve as a mini-reunion prior to our 45th i n 2 0 13 . Po i n t s o f c o n t a c t f o r ’6 8 a c t i v i t i e s r e l a t e d to Founders Day will be Carl Jan ssen and Garry Dudley in the Colorado Springs a r e a a n d Pa t R u s sell and me for information in general. As specifi c d e t a i l s b e c o m e av a i l able, Pat will post them on our class website. A hearty ’68 congratulation to Ed on this distinctive honor and recognition!

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’68ER REUNITES WITH ACADEMY LIAI SON OFFICER: Greg Shuey noted, “After 40 years of enjoying the merry adventures of my classmates in Checkpoints, I thought I would finally add a bit of fodder for your quar terly updates on old friends.” The photo is of Greg an d Colon el Joh n Riffl e, USAF (Ret) and was taken during Colonel Riffl e’s 95"’ birthday party. Greg wrote “John Riffl e was my Academy Liaison Officer (ALO) w h o i n t r o d u c e d me to the Academy when I was in 8"’ grade (1958) and m e n t o r e d m e u n t i l my appointment. He was the fi rst regional ALO Director i n t h e K a n sa s City region when the Academy was first built and was responsible for doz ens of candidates being selected over the years. As a life-long cattleman.

C o l o n e l R i f fl e w a s h e a d o f t h e C a t t l e m e n ’s A sso c i a t i o n i n t h e M i d w e st a n d

is an icon among Air Force officers who inspired generations of young people, including myself.” Greg ended by saying he is looking forward to the next reunion and is taking up the challenge to come up with some new musical treats to beat bis last effort during our 40"'.

N O RT H C A R O L I N A M A Y O R D O E S B L U E G RA SS A N D A L M O ST SA W S

OFF FI NGER: Classmate and Mayor of Hendersonville, N or th Caroli n a, The Honorable Henry T. Johnson, began his 12"’ year as leader of his city.

In addition to mayoral duties, H.T. finds time to play standup bass in a bluegrass band, gets in a round of golf when he gets t h e ch an ce, an d d oes some amateur woodworking. While working on some Christmas gifts he confused one of his fingers for the piece of wood he was shaping and ended up in the emergency room with a mangled fi nger a n d a l i f e t i m e reminder to be careful around power tools.

In his Christmas letter, H.T. mentioned some highs a n d l o w s f o r t h e year. He writes, “The highest of the highs occurred when daughter Caro line and her college sweetheart became Mr. and Mrs. Chase Livengood o n 10 . 10 . 10 .” C a r o l i n e a n d C h a se b o t h l i v e i n L .A . where they work in the entertainment industry. Caroline is an actress (most r e c e n t w o r k “ H e l l o Movieland”) and Chase is a lighting and electrical t e c h n i c i a n f o r t h e T V se r i e s “ H o u se .” T h e l ow s i d e h a s r ev o l v e d a r o u n d h i s w ife. Fair ’s, h ealt h .

She is dealing with a progressively dehabilitating c a se o f “ Pa r k i n so n ’s plus” or “multi-system atrophy.” The disease causes her to have difficulty reading or communicating and the loss of her dexterity l i m i t s h e r c o m puter use to read-only. H.T. said with the help of a full-time caregiver and some home aides. Fair and he are doing the best that they can with cards they have been dealt.

Young Rob Linsmayer blasts two goals against the Falcons.

L I N SM A Y E R SO N ST A R S O N FA L C O N I C E : I r e c e i v e d n o t e s f r o m C a r l

Janssen and Liz (Linsmayer) Johnson who met at the U SA FA F i e l d H o u se to watch our classmate Rob Li nsm ayer ’s son (also named Rob ) sk at e f or Holy Cross and nearly score a hat trick against our Falcon Hockey Team when the two teams met on 4 December. The photo was t a k e n a f t e r R o b (#26) ch eck ed on e of ou r Fal con d ef en d er s. Liz sai d that young Rob is the same height as Rob, Sr., but is 210 pounds of solid muscle. If you happen to be a college hockey fan, Carl suggests you r o o t f o r t h e F a l c o n s first and should you happen to catch a Holy Cross game then please ch eer f o r # 26 .

B A SI C SU M M E R R O O M I E M A K E S G O O D B R EA D : I r e c e i v e d a sh o r t

n ot e fr om Basic Su m m er room m at e D av id M an n , w h o w i t h w i fe, M arch e-

Ann, established a new enterprise in Fort Worth called t h e B l a ck Ro o st e r Bakery. David said the bakery has a neighborhood appeal and special-

Jack and Fred Webb beam warm smiles by a cold glacier.

SEAFARI N G COU PLE D OES AL A SKA : Jack Web b an d w ife, Fred (a.k .a.,

Susan), logged another year on their beautiful vessel “ T h e D e n a l i Ro se ” traveling from Curacao to Wasilla and all points in between. Their j our neys were marked by meetings with friends and family a n d d r a m a o n t h e high seas with onboard fires and emergency surgeries required at neigh boring ports. To get a much better appreciation of Jack’s an d Fred ’s ad ventures, see their newsletter and travel history at our class website along 10 7

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with some absolutely beautiful photos taken with Jack’s n ew u n d e r w a t e r c a m e r a .

R E E SE A F B 7 0 - 0 1 R E U N I O N : T h e Re e se A F B C l a ss o f 7 0 - 0 1 w i l l h o l d

its next reunion at the San Diego Embassy Suites Downtown H o t e l f r o m 13 - 16 O c t o b e r . C o n f i r m e d a ct i v i t i e s w i l l i n c l u d e a Navy SEAL tour, lunch aboard the USS Midway, and visits to local venues such as Balb oa Park, San Diego Zoo, and Seaworld. For more information, please contact Bob Daley or me.

COVEY FAC REUNION: A Pleiku Covey FAC reunion is in t h e w o r k s f o r spring 2011. For all who are interested, please contact E d Eb e r h a r t o r G e n e R o se .

G O N E B U T N O T F O R G O T T E N : W e l o st o u r c l a ssm a t e G l e n n G i l l e t t e o n 1 Nov 2010. Following his Air Force career, Glenn became o n e o f o u r c l a ss’

wittiest authors and had several of his books published. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Jeanne, and his children Tanya, Diana, Scott, an d B ar b .

THAT’S A WRAP: Mind the flak; keep ’em flying, and keep those cards, letters, e-mails, and photos coming in to Pat Russell and me. Please go to our ClassWebsite to see photos included in this column in full size by click ing on Scribe’s Page. Also, check for updates on Founders Day activities where Ed Eberhar t will be honored on 1 and 2 April. C i a o f o r n ow . T i m

Jim Petek reports from Huntsville that Jeff Posner r e t i r e d f r o m C SC i n December: he and Ann have decamped to Cancun where they are plotting to execute the plan for which they have been preparing for ages, to get their yacht sea-worthy and set sail starting in the fall. Those of you living near coastal ports of call, be on the lookout .

Last November, Brian Nelson secured a perfectly lovely a b o d e i n P h o e nix for a small ’69er get-together to solve the world’s problems -- with some golfing on the side. Along with Nels were John Bu ck n er (I h ear Joh n h a s e r e ct e d a se a l e d f l a t sc r e e n T V i n h i s sh o w e r st a l l t o e n su r e h e n o t m i ss

a single superlative shot), Craig Collins (who honchoed ch ef d u t i es), Ger ry Schwar tzel (“Who is John Galt?’’, anyway), Steve Cherry, myself, and CaddyShack and Animal House DVDs. Bookending the week w e r e St ev e ’s bottle of ‘fighter-pilot’ Jeremiah Weed, which lasted only twice around the table ’til spent and my bottle of Red Breast pot -distilled Irish as a fitting con clu si on t o t h e w eek , w h i ch also cou n t ed sever al road r u n n er s, at l east

three coyotes, and one (non-rattling) snake. Gerry S. was cruising at fourunder heading into the 16"’ on one round, giving him a f u l l st r o k e’s fl ex ibility to shoot the mystical, magical score of 69. He can tell you how that played out. Heckuva round.

Lindsey Parris 6 16 King’s Cloister Circle

Alexa n d ria , VA 2 2 3 0 2

Home: (703 ) 836-3604 10 2177.1033@compuserve.com

Greetings, Grey Tags

Sh ou l d b e arou n d or aft er th e Id es of M ar ch an d St Paddy’s by now, so time to ready for spring cleaning and sports. Much has transpired since our last writing, so let me see what we can relate in the allocated space.

Guy and Linda Gardner report their blessing at having C h a r l i e B al d w i n marry their daughter Sarah (West Virginia Army Guard, and undergoing Special Forces Med Training) at the Airlie House/ Center outsideWashing t o n , VA .

In the “What happened to oF ...?’’ Department, Rick O l a f so n h a d o c casion to spend some time with V Sam Reid and family o v e r t h e r e c e n t holidays, up in the hills of Issaquah, WA. Rick reports that Sam and family are doing well, and Sam his own self is hoping to return t o t h e sc e n e o f many a caper past when he and Sara attend our 45* reunion. H op e so.

Pl ease com e, Sam an d Sara!

Nels, Col, Buck, Gerry, and Steve on the tee box in P h o en ix .

Tom McGr ai n joined us for some tennis and dinner one evening, and told us he had won a knockout tennis competition, which m a d e h i m a special guest of the USTA for a celebrity charity doubles match featuring (non-’69ers) Anna Kournakova-Jeff Tarango vs. Ashley Harkleroad-Wayne Ferreira. In addition, Tom won the honor of conducting t h e m a t c h ’s c o i n toss. Now, many of you will not believe that Tom turned down this privi lege, citing “it was j ust too far to drive round-trip f r o m A h w a t u k e e t o Su r prise.” Yes, T-Mac did really graduate with us all, an d n o, Ah w at u k ee an d Surprise are not in Florida, but on the outskirts of Ph o en i x .

I had the pleasure of dinner, an RON and some golf vd t h T o m a n d K a r e n Keck , still in Tucson with Raytheon. Tom and his father, L t G e n Ja m e s M .

Keck, had the “event of a lifetime” when they shared t h e h o n o r o f i n d u c t i o n i n t o t h e Rh o d e I sl a n d A v i a t i o n H a l l o f Fa m e - - A i r F o r c e c a r e e r s t o taling 62 years, the only father-son Mach 3-i- team i n the world (both SR-71j ocks), both 8* AF stalwarts, a n d

thousands and thousands of flying hours, a high pro portion in combat . Wow. In Tom’s typical self-effacing manner, he quipped “it was depressing when all the airplanes you flew were in museums.” Class congrats

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a n d sa l u t es t o T o m a n d h i s D a d . T o m a n d K a r e n w e r e

Super Sleuth Rick Olaf son, with Sam Reid.

Down Texas way, Tom Solomon continues to run the tri-service-acad e my monthly meetings in Houston, and Rocky Van Zelfden ’s monthly note tying USAFA and ’69 to the calendar dates is always w e l c o m e .

Bill Haney reports he has transitioned easily into grandfather-hood. Be sure to ask him to recite for you his story from BCT about the strategic use of prunes by one of our classmates, in the era when each of our bodily functions was monitored by the ever-caring training c a d r e .

for your Board of Direct ors Please vote for your choice of candidates for our upcoming Board elections. The election will be conducted from March 31 t o April 30 2011.

Yo u r v o t e c o u n t s !

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Sabre Society in fine fettle and high spirits, and would love to se e a n y Do n o rs of you who are passing through Tucson.

David Bruce Ander sen, who you will recall proposed 47 to Barbara Good during our 40* Reunion’s dance, is now a married man, he and Barbara having tied the knot in a private ceremony before Christmas. Welcome t o t h e Class of ’69, Barbara, we are lucky to have you.

Tim Mason, the proprietor of Glenwood Canyon Brew Pub, pulled down a gold medal at the Great American Brew Festival, is still carding some top triathlons, with three firsts and a second in his (and our) age group: one Tri, in Leadville, CO, was at a breathtaking 10,200 f eet . Barb ara keeps the high school students in line as Tim lines up May’s sprint Triath l o n a t U SA FA t o k i c k o f f h i s se a so n .

In November, a group of ’69ers gathered in Vegas for the UNLV game and to visit with tough-as-nails Rusty Spradling, still in his fierce fi ght with esophageal cancer. In Vegas were Bruce Andersen, Mike Th i essen , M ik e Beezley, Roy Coppinger , Bill Haber , Marty Cavato, Denny Fletcher , Gary Hoe, Gerry ‘Dirt’ Brown , Brian Nelson, John Buckner , Craig Collins, Steve Cher ry, and myself. Although pictures were taken in separate waves, and others yet were at the tailgate before the game, here a r e so m e o f t h o se w h o watched the second half of the Falcons victory at Rusty’s home. Gerry, along with Roger Har tm an and Butch Hinkelm an, continue to visit Sprad regularly and e-mail updates regularly. Team ’69 at i t s b e st .

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Some of the usual suspects (hint: Thiessen ’s the tall one) visi t w i th the Las Vegas’ Hardest Rock, Rusty Sprad l ing.

Finally, even as Rusty battles intrepidly, John Davidson l o st h i s t o o brief battle with a virulent cancer, passing away on D e c e m b e r 3 0 . D a r rel Whitcomb, among those many who saw John at the FA C a n d Rav e n s reunion in October, noted he was feeling good and full o f l i f e t h e n . F e l l o w Raven H. Ownby rallied the Raven fraternity, and many ’69ers, including fellow ’69er Ravens Terry Murphy, H., and Darrel, attended Joh n’s fu n eral in Northridge, CA, on January 5.

Bennetts and Bushes Root Falcons to Victory—and try to keep warm!

Had the chance to link up with Tim Sharkey ’s son Ryan a t t h e N ew M ex ico game. We enj oyed a great tailgate and lots of adult beverages to keep us warm while watching the Falcons stomp the Lobos. I had the pleasure of commissioning Ryan. He is now an engineer with a company in San Diego. Tim would be very proud of him.

Ryan Sharkey and The Phantom gear up f or thumping of L o b o s.

Honoring John Davidson: Stan Rosen, H Ownby, Tom Oli ver, George Wood, Ed Weise, and Darrel Whi tcomb (back row); Terry M urphy, John Young, Steve Cherry, and GeneJustin (f ront).

T h e f i r st l i n e o f t h e Rav e n s t r i b u t e - - a n d l a m e n t -- says it all; "And I ’d have been a better f riend, but I trusted time." Take time to spend time with and for those you love, fellow ’69ers. Tomorrow isn’t promised. ’Til next we chat, hand salute, all. Lindsey D ic k R a u s c h k o l b

130 Luxur y Lane Colorado Springs, CO 8 0 92 1 H: (719 ) 761-5764 Cell: (719 ) 310-69 28

Em a il: AOG 7 0 @co m ca st .n et Ric ha rd Ra us c h ko lb@u sa f a .e d u

Arriba Falcones! How about them Falcons! Our men brought h o m e t h e Commander-in-Chief ’s Trophy after thumping an improved Ar m y t eam .

The Falcons then went on to beat Georgia Tech at the Independence Bowl in a close and hard-fought game. The highlight of the se a so n f o r m o st o f u s was seeing the Falcons beat the dreaded Middies at o u r Re u n i o n . T h e t e am finished with a 9-4 record and given the number of seniors coming back at key positions next season, let’s hope we can continue t o h av e su c c e ss i n t h e Troy Calhoun era. I have gotten to know Troy over the last few years and I greatly admire him and his superb staff. He took himself out of the running early for the head coaching positions with Colorado a n d t h e D e n v er B r o n cos. He is firmly committed to the Academy, its mission, a n d o u r c a d et s.

The Academy sold 10,000 tickets for the bowl game which m ak e s u s a n attractive opponent for future bowls. Navy sold 13,000 t i ck et s, so w e st i ll h av e so m e w o r k t o d o .

Terry and Sharon Dessert , Keith and Betty Bennett , Larry and Marleen Bush were at the Bowl game. Wild Woodhead, George Keys, and Rudy Ar agon watched the game at Rudy’s home in Florida.

On the basketball front, the team already has two conference w i n s— more than they had all of last year. They have played so m e r a n k e d teams—BYU, SDSU, and UNLV—close. Jeff Reynolds has a v e r y y o u n g team and the future is bright for the Falcons. Gary an d Sh ar on D ah l en , Greg and Janice Gilles, and Larry and Marleen Bush are regulars at the games. Speaking of basketball, how about Gregg Popovi ch a n d h i s Sa n Antonio Spurs?! As of this writing, they are tearing up the league with a 40 and 7 record. Let’s hope Popo gets another ring!

Hope everybody had a great Holiday Season. Got several m i ssi v e s f r o m many of you—apologies if I leave someone out.

Chuck and Barb Weir enjoyed having twins Gordon and Jim h om e for th e Christmas. Jim is a Lt in the Army and Gordon is working o n h i s M a st e r ’s.

Mike and Melissa Huber were in Ft . Worth spoiling their granddaugh ters and they also welcomed another granddaughter to t h e f o l d i n N o v e m ber. Mike may have to go back to work with all these young ladies entering the Huber clan. Mick and Jan Davey had the best line in their card. They referred t o I the new TSA procedures as “not a grope, but a freedom pat.” AMEN! Dave and Donna Sterl ing are new grand parents. Dave’s and Ken Greene’s tickers had a few problems since the Reunion, but they are doing well Sabre Society now, as is Tony Mar ietta.

Do n o rs Pat Collins has taken early retirement from USPS and is considering purchasing an airplane. Rex and 53 Lynn Levoy did lots of traveling the last year. Rex u se d

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h i s C h r i st m a s l e t t e r t o b e m o a n t h e f a c t h i s t e a m l o st

the Reunion golf tournament. Get over it Rex! Fran and Kathy Buchan enj oyed their girls in Birmingham. Ron and Pam Kelly get the award for the smallest print in their newsletter. Ron—how about jacking up the font next year for us old guys! Jack and Margie Mueller are gearing up for some cruises this year. Joe and Diane Burke had the most grandchildren on their card. I counted eight! Both are gearing up for retirement -- possibly in Virginia Beach. John Hale is the man in charge of Pu b l i c A f f a i r s a t t h e VA. Marilyn and 1enj oyed chatting with Henry Mitchell a t a l o c a l M ex i c a n dive. Henry continues to give skiing lessons in Vail. H e m u st b e i n m u c h better shape than me. Walking the Eisenhower links is a challenge!

Se e m s l i k e t h e m e n f r o m C S- 0 3 h a d t h e i r a n n u a l Re u n i o n a t A 1 M a r -

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quis’ ranch in Vegas. Tommy Thompson, Bill Lundberg, Bill Jump, Ted Coulson, Fred Jonas, Jeff Sletten, and John Gunyou a t t e n d e d .

Flere is a nice picture of our Mayor Chuck Reed, Dana Arbaugh, and Kim Reed. Kim just made Lieutenant Colonel early. Way t o go Kim !

chaplain and the honor guard helped with the final farewell. Interestingly, when I stopped hy the Memorial Building, Greg’s information was already o n t h e w al l .

Tom, Bill Maggio, Honi Garvin and I represented the c l a ss a t t h e a n nual AOG-Rampart Chapter business meeting. Bill mentioned that Scotty Bowen was heading out to Haiti to donate his services f o r a w e ek . H o n i ’s twin sons have accepted nominations to the Class of 2015, which may mark a milestone for the class. Does anyone else wish t o m e n t i o n ch i l d r e n or grandchildren in any present or future class?

Congratulations to Gary Payt on on his retirement from the Depart ment of Defense, where he was Deputy Undersecretary for Space. Previ ously, he retired as a colonel after being an astronaut and working in NASA. I am curious as to whether he’ll be retired-retired, or whether he’ll be heading for o t h e r c a r e e r s t o ex c e l i n .

Also heading for new worlds to conquer is John Ragan , who won election in the Tennessee House of Rep resen t at ives i n N ovem b er. H i s fi r st “offi ci al ” act

Dana and Chuck celebrate Kim’s early promotion!

Special thanks to Mike Lam bert , Ed Rashid, and John Kupko for their assistance and recommendations on a health issue. They really exempli f i e d w h a t t h e w o r d “ c l a ssm a t e” m e a n s. W e a r e b l e sse d with a special bond among all members of the Class of 1970! Thanks men!

There was a great article in the last Checkpoints about t h e SEA Pav i l i o n we donated to the Academy. The Class of 1970 has left a lasting a legacy t h a t w i l l st a n d t h e t e st s o f t i m e . W e sh o u l d a l l b e very proud!

As I mentioned at in my last newsletter, we are looking for your ideas for the interior of the pavilion. Gary DaJi len, Mike Torreano, Curt Emery, and I are working with our map sculptor, Jim Nance, ’7 1 o n m o n u m e n t s honoring POWs and MIAs. One of our planned kiosks will b e a c r i t i c a l e l e ment in keeping the Pavilion a living part of the Academy and a great re source for our cadets. Please email me your ideas. Our goal is raise $250K in the next 15 months to finish the interior. We hope all of you will contrib ute to this lasting memorial for our alma mater.

Okay men—attention in the area! All of you who work o r u se d t o w o r k for defense contractors that produced airplanes and/ or equipment for the SEA War can help us out in raising funds for the Class. In conjunction with Jim Nance and the AOG, we are marketing copies of the large map in the SEA pavilion. It isn’t cheap -- $150K -- but the Class will get a good portion for our Class fund. Of course, if you as an individual w a n t a c o p y w e c a n arrange that. I would get one, but Marilyn and I can’t f i t i t i n o u r d o u b l e wide. I am in charge of marketing the map, so if you have contacts please have them email or phone me. We are also looking at smaller options for individuals. There may be an ad for the map in this issue of Checkpoints.

Vote! The AOG is facing a critical vote on its bylaws a n d a n ew b o a r d .

It needs to have 25% of the membership vote in the e l e c t i o n . Pl e a se t a k e the time to vote! Most importantly, Mike Torreano is running for the AOG Board. His many talents and skills will be a great b e n e f i t t o t h e B o a r d a n d o u r A O G . I h av e r ev i ew e d t h e l i st o f c a n d i d a t e s a n d Mike is by far the best qualified. Johnny Whitalcer also gets a ringing endorsement.

The temperature with wind chill is minus 25 today. I think I will go into hibernation. Come on Spring!

Sabre Society was leading the chamber in the Pledge of Allegiance, Do n o rs closely followed by introducing his daughter’s vocal quartet, who sang the National Anthem and the Ten 35 nessee Waltz. 1 listened to the streaming video, and they did quite well.

This is a little bit tardy, but Roel “Roy” Campos, Partner-in-Charge at Cooley, LLP law firm, in Washington, DC, is one of Pr e si d e n t O b a m a’s President ’s Intelligence Advisory Board members. Roy’s c a r e e r i n c l u d e s stints as a prosecuting attorney in LA, a business ow n e r i n h i s n a t i v e Tex as, and a Securities & Exchange Commissioner.

Larry Ham mond recently heard about Dan Ledford. Evidently h e i s b a c k on active duty at Davis Monthan, and thence to Iraq. At least , t h at ’s w h at Larry thinks that Dan’s Christmas card said. Any confirmation o u t t h e r e?

Gene Kr aay’s daughter Stef Golan gets two column mentions i n a r o w .

She was named the Patriot League’s women’s soccer Coach o f t h e Ye a r f o r 2010. By the way, Geno’s latest book, “The Hamsa”, i s av a i l a b l e b o t h i n print and electronic editions through Amazon and Barnes & N o b l e . I h av e read it , an d it i s excell en t .

Concerning last column’s photo from Biaggi ’s after the Navy game and caption; I heard from Paul McKay with a correction. Fir st , an d m ost im portant, his bride’s name is Deborah, not Mary. She is wearing a hat. Doras Ladd (Dito) wasn’t in the photo, but Cindy Huffman (Jake), wearing an AFA shirt, was. My apologies to all concerned.

Dave McCloy sent along a photo from the Navy game festivities a s w el l : “Attached is a photo of our cross-country/ track group (’7 1 & ’72) , w h i ch has been meeting for the past several years for one home game of the group’s choosing. This year it was the Navy game and the karma was right.

We try to plan these so as not to conflict with the respective class reunions.

Out of the “magnificent seven”, only three are in the st a t e o f C o l o r a d o . T h e photo was taken in front of the Colorado City Creamery a f t e r a d i n n e r a t Jake & Telley’s. We always have a great time getting together every year.

We’ve decided next year that we’re going to break with tradition and go to the Navy game in Annapolis. There are two members missing in the photo: Bob Banks (’72) and Larry O’Reilly. Larry went to the game with us, but wasn’t able to go to dinner afterwards.”

Pa u l D . K n o t t

5 5 6 5 La nt a n a D rive

Colorado Springs, CO 80 915 H: (719 ) 570-9 162 E-mail: pk71knott @gmail.com

How ‘bout them Falcons! We got the Commander-in-Chief ’s trophy

b ack , w h i ch m ak es i n i t sel f for a su ccessful season . Losses t o San D iego

State and Utah kept them out of the Top 25 lists, but the Independence Bowl win against Georgia Tech should help make up for those disappoint m en t s.

O n e o f t h e sa d d e r d u t i e s t h a t I h av e a s Sc r i b e i s t h e n o t i f i c at i o n f r o m t h e A O G w h en w e l o st a c l a ssm a t e . T h i s t i m e a r o u n d I have to report on Fred Matthews and Greg Acuff. Tom Berry helped represent t h e c l a ss a t both Greg’s and Jim Sanderson’s funerals. Yours truly w a s u n a b l e t o m ak e

the service for Greg, but Tom reported that he and two classmates, Greg’s sister and her friend from Texas attended Greg’s inurnment. An Academy

n o

Bob Brod el, D en n is Sbach (7 2) , Ti m Wh i tlock (’72) , Dave McCloy, and A l Jones (’72) .

Cindy Davi s (Harry) has retired from her position as c h i e f e d u c a t i o n officer at the Academy in preparation for their leaving the Springs and heading to Ohio. Charlie and Candyce Sylling also left the corporate world and the Springs for the Northwest.

Jeff McBr iety commented on an article in the last Checkpoints a b o u t the life and death of the “Dodo.” As one or two of you may remember, Jeff h el d t h e t it l e of CI N CD OD O, an d t h i s is h is t ak e: “ T h e risk to the academy was underscored last week by that Navy Officer who j ust went way over

the line and got caught and fired. Stuff like that really hurts careers of se n i or officer s. Th ere is t oo m u ch r isk in t h i s m u lt i m ed ia society for a Wild Dodo. It is a bird that went extinct, right?”

Sean Riley updated me on some of our airline pilot b ret h ren : “Joh n Har tnett has retired from the Washington ANG (brig gen) and last July retired as an Am erican Airlines captain on the B767. He was flying out of MIA and now is back and retired in Spokane, WA. Back in September John and his wife, Pat, were going on a vacation in Ireland and I ended up as the captain on their fl ight (pulled a few strings). Anyway, the attached picture is of Pat, John, their daughter Erin and me doing what you should be doing in Dublin . . . drinking Guinness!

Slainte! The Har tnetts and Sean Ri ley in Dublin.

“In November John joined a few of us for our annual fishing trip to the

San Ju an River in n o rt h er n N ew M exi co. Cl assm ates in a t t e n d a n c e w e r e

John, Dave Br igm an , Charlie Brown and me. The group photo isn’t the greatest - we look like a couple of terrorists -- but a few action photos to prove that we actually caught some big fish. Charlie and John were prep school classmates so they had a fun time reminiscing.

eluded Tom Brumlik, Dave McLaughlin, Bruce Bran don and Mike Boryswicz to name j ust a few with whom he still keeps in touch today. Previous to his career with FedEx was a four-year stint with N a t i o n a l / Pa n A m .

Jim also reflected on living out some of his early years in Shillington, PA having been born in Reading. He still has relatives i n t h e a r e a a r o u n d Reading and Wyomissing, very close to Sinking Spring, w h e r e I h a v e b e e n anchored for the last 22 years. (Now I will have to c h e c k o u t t h i s l o c a l delicacy of Screpses Ham on Roll sandwich that Jim says he still drools at the thought of ....) Come by any time you are in town, Ji m .

Rick Wil liams sends an email with a photo of the above-mentioned group including (from left in the photo) Rick Wiliiam s, Tim Sim m on s, Joh n Roe and Jim Stettler . They met for a golf outing in Panama City Beach, EL last October in part to celebrate the retirements of Joh n from Kai ser in Sacram en t o, CA an d Jim fr om Fed Ex in

Memphis,TN. Tim lives in Baltimore and his USAFA graduate son is currently in Baghdad, while his other son is in his second year at West Point. Oh yes, and by the way, the guys are sporting their golf hats and sp e cial sunglasses for the tournament in that classic photo, hence it is reported that a good time was had by all.

T b e w o r k c o n t i n u e s o n t h e c l a ss w eb si t e c o n st r u c

Sabre Society Do n o rs

tion by our crack staff of cyber-guru volunteers, pri 35 marily Tom Maddock and John Buchan an with input from several others - forgive me that more names are not listed. Several iterations of email, web meetings a n d o t h e r w o r k h av e occurred already with great plans for a user-friendly v e h i c l e t o a l l o w c o n

t a c t b e t w e e n c l a ssm a t e s a s w e l l a s Re u n i o n c o m m i t t e e su p p or t . (We are

Here Fishy, Fishy... Riley, Brigman, Brown and Hartnett r o l l i n ’ o n t h e r w e r.

“Dave Brigman and I are still flying for American out of DFW and hope to make it to 65 in one piece. Charlie missed the age 6 0 c u t a t So u t h w e st by about a month (Dave Patton made it by one day!) so a l l h e d o e s i s f i sh and hunt and drive his wife, Cindy, crazy.” GBA

/ ^ 53% X

B o b B e ll

V

Members

J

1 3 P a c if ic A v e .

Sinking Spring, PA 19608 (610 ) 6 78-3 18 2/ Fax: 6 78-4 513

gearing up for that 40"' in 2012 already.)

One aspect of the class website project which was surprising t o m e w a s the fact that of 718 living grads, we have emails for 5 7 1 w h i c h i s a b o u t 80%. Altbougb they may not all be current, other address lists may exi st that could be used to update where needed. Some have requested “no em ai l ” fr om th e AOG, an d th ere are al so som e (a few ) spouses of deceased grads on our list .

W e l l I sa i d i t w o u l d b e sh o r t a n d so h e r e w e a r e - - a t t h e e n d . W r i t e w h e n

you can and I will print what fits, not just what’s fit to print, eh?Thanks to a l l o u r c o n t r i b u t o r s.

‘i

/

Jo e Ka h o e 4 1 4 0 Sa d d le Ro c k Ro a d

sm r M e m b e rs

Colorado Springs, CO 8 09 18 Cell: (719 ) 2 10-5 568 j oekahoe@gmail.com htt p:/ / 73 .texascomputerhelp.com

E- m a i l : ra b e l l 7 6 7 @ a o l .c o m

Happy New Year, Classmates of ’72. This issue of your c l a ss n ew s i s shorter than others with only a couple of inputs to report. Hopefully there will be a few more in coming editions as you folks dig out from under whatever weather conditions might have been affecting you these past f ew m o n t h s . . . .

Ji m St et t l er w r it es in fr om Ger m an t ovm , T N w it h a career update and to tell of a small gathering that occurred in October. That gathering was a golf outing with recently retired (November) Dr. John Roe of Sacram en t o, CA, Tim Simmons and Rick William s (whose own report w i ll f ol low ).

Jim retired in November after 27 years with Federal Express (right on time at age 60 as he had always planned), fi nishing up on the A300. Previ ously he had been in Air Force C-130s with his fi rst assignment at Okinawa along with John Hanson and Tom Brown . His squadron at Pope AFB in-

Class of ’73, all news clips in this hard copy Checkpoints h a v e b e e n a b breviated, but your complete inputs are on our web site http:/ / usafa73. org. VR, Joe Kah oe, CS-07.

Steve Lorenz reported that Donny Wurster is retiring t h i s su m m e r . M i k e “Farmer” Edwards was just reappointed for another term as The Adjutant General of Colorado. Soon, Norty Schwar tz, Brad Young, a n d Fa r m e r E d wards will be our last standing Generals. CSAF Gen Norty Schwar tz is now an honorary member of Tuskegee Airmen of WW II fame.

Our Legacy class of 2013 held an Exemplar Dinner on 2 9 O c t 2 0 10 . A t tendees from ’73 included Trapper Carpenter CS-09: D r . T i m a n d W a sa n a Cooper CS-40; Charlie and Donna Felton CS-I O; Joe Kahoe C S- 0 7 ; T o m and Sally Mayberry CS-38:.Mike and Sandra Mosier CS-34; B o b a n d Pa m Munson CS-34: Dr. Ron and Mary Scott CS-34: Dr. Mike and Amy Sm ith CS-24: BJ St an t o n CS-38: Bill Sw an CS- 12: an d Bru ce “ Orv ill e” Wr i gh t CS-

39. Go to our web for a picture from Don McMillan : Jack Hudson, Denny Boyce and Don McMillan at Denny’s son’s wedding.

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Gongrats to General Steve Lorenz, who gave up Command of AETC 17 Nov 2010 and retired ef fecti veJan F', 2011 with more than 37.5 years "as a beacon f or leadership development.”

Skip Sanders, Chief of theACMI range at Tyndall AFB, was recognized as AF Disabled Employee of the Year by the Under Secretary f or Personnel and Readiness. Theref or 73 were Gen Norty Schwar tz (f ellow LooseHawg), Gen Steve L or enz, Bob M u n son , M i ke M osi er , Ron Scot t, a n d P a u l F r e u n d .

Buddy Gam mon’s “daughter Sarah will graduate from The F l o r i d a Coastal School of Law on May 14. She is considering j oining the AF as a JAG. Her paper, along with her law school application, f o c u se d o n o u r USAFA Honor Code. (Sarah’s photo alone is worth the trip to our web sit e.)

Congrats to LtGen Frank Klotz,f ormer AF Global Strike Go m m a n d co m mander, who retired 6 Jan. shown here receiving the Distinguished Service Medal fr om General Norton Schwar tz, CSAF (USAF photo/ M Sgt Corey Cl em en t s)

Photo of “37 Smilers” on our web site, with Doug Hulsey, ChrisYoung, Ed Heisey, Ron Hoskins, and Geoff Michael. Five members o f 3 7 Sm i l e r s a n d four spouses held a mini-reunion at West Point, and c h e e r e d t h e Fal c o n s on to victory and the CIC trophy. Chris Young (Nina) an d Ron H osk i n s (Su san ) drove in fr om Nort h Carolin a.

Doug Hulsey, who’s usually piloting FedEx 757s to Eu rope, flew in from Little Rock. We shared memories o f our fallen squadron-mate Steve Hessney with his wife,

Jill , son Ben (cl ass of 20 11), sister Su san , an d b roth er -in -

law Larry. Steve had planned to join our cheering sec tion, but we know he was there in spirit.

From Jim Heironimus {CS-15 War Eagle): “Greetings

c kft RE.Sr v .

m Sabre Society

f rom Oh io! I ret ired f rom th e AF in 1993, lat er retired f ro m

medical practice to teach high school science. This is my tenth year at Upper Arlington HS, and it has been great. 1

The Great CWDS-28 USAFA Beat TCU Party 22 Oct 10 - Ph o t o o n w e b site of Tony DeRosa, Beth DeRosa, Brenda Tillman, and M i k e T i l l m a n .

Mike Tillman reports that "in spite of our best efforts, w e w e r e u n a b l e t o cheer the Falcons to victory, but we did have a good t i m e !”

SeewebsitephotoofDonnyWursterreceivingtheOrderoftheSword.More than 700Airmen paid tributeto Lt . Gen. Donald Wurster ,AFSOCc o m m a n d er, by inductinghim intoTheOrder of Sword Nov. 19. Wow! CongratsDonny!

Trapper Carpenter reported our Class Fund financials: $4 15,000 in N ov 2009 in pledges and account; $60,000 for 2010 NCLS; $ 10,700 for 20 13 Ex emplar Dinner; $43,000 for 2011 NCLS (so far); $18,000 pledge write-offs.

That leaves us $190,000 in the bank and $93,000 in pledges still due. Bot tom line: we continue to have enough to get through t h r e e m o r e N C L S’ (20 12, 20 13, 20 14) at th i s b u r n rat e w i t h som e ext r a for another year if most pledges come in.

Ron Scott , Trapper Carpenter , John Stefonik, Charlie Fel t on , an d Bob Munson met with the NCLS staff. “Bigger, better, and w i t h m o r e c a d et and more grad involvement (24-25 Feb). Our ’73 keynote speaker will be Medal of Honor winner Sgt Sal Giunta.” Our 18* Annual N a t i o n a l C h a r a c ter and Leadership Symposium’s (NCLS) overarching theme is “Strength Wi thin, Leadership Throughout.”

Tom Kennedy reports the Grim Reapers have located one a d d i t i o n a l member, who was with us for 3 of our 4 years. Bob Err ickson, doing well and living in New Jersey. He left with a torn up shoulder.

From Jack Hudson: “ President Bush spoke at the Museum o n V e t e r a n s Day, to a packed house.”

Dono rs

39

livein Applevi ley, asmall lakecommunity about 80m i n u t es N E o f C o l u m

bus. (photo on web) taken last summer during a trip my wife and I took to Wilmington, NC to celebrate our 35th anniversary and visit daughters.

Joel Al len (CS-22) (j oelmallen@aol.com) “completed a n o t h e r 12 month ‘remote’ tour in mid-Feb with his departure from K ab u l . T h i s a s signment follows 2009 in Baghdad. For both tours, he w a s a c o n t r a c t o r with his own company, Joel M. Allen Consultants, LLC. Kathy and Joel have two children: daughter Kimberly, 34, in Reston; son Gregory, 30, and in Rich m o n d .

Mike Nishimuta reports his wife, Catherine, director of Randolph AFB library, has accepted a librarian position at Aviano AB, Italy in the Spring.

They are excited about “One more DEROS” and are looking a t a st a n d a r d three-year tour, if not more.

"7

for your Board of Direct ors

Please vot e for your choice of candidates for our

upcoming Board elect ions. The election will be conducted from March 31 to April 30 2011.

Yo u r v o t e c o u n t s !

1 12

Veterans Day 2010, Marsha Hudson, f ormer President B ush, a n d Jack

H u dso n .

St eve an d Ju li e D i eh l m oved in t o t h ei r Li t tl e H ou se at Martinsburg, PA Airport (KAOO) with Puddle Jumper the cat. “Drop-ins a r e w e l c o m e t o observe the light traffic from the front porch and c h e c k o u t so m e o f L o u Drendel’s art, including two paintings of Robin Olds. We live adj acent to the Altoona-Blair County Airport in a retirement community, although I ’m far from retiring... I hope. Town has one stoplight. W e a r e 10 0 0 f e et NW of the touchdown zone for runway 21. Call my cell before dropping in , 8 14-2 15-7756.”

Congrats to Maj or General Dan O’Hollaren who retired e f f e c t i v e 1 N o v .

Jim Scully and Pat Rooney attended and all had a great dinner party. Dan w as t h e A N G A ssist an t t o Com m an d er, A FM C. D an w as a Distinguished Grad u at e, w i t h a BS in A eron au t ical fro m U SA FA .

1have another input from Dave Daley. The D.C. group o f 7 4 c l a ssm a t e s is an active fellowship. Blair Bozek organized a holiday Dining Out type of celebration. They met at the Toscana West on 20 N ov 20 10, on t h e 40t h anniversary of Basic Cadet Training. From a few pictures, i t se e m s 2 9 classmates and spouses/ friends enjoyed this gala event. B l a i r h a d “ B e st Wishes” phone calls from several other classmate invitees w h o c o u l d n o t attend. Thank you Blair for hosting and planning with Ja n e .

t ::'

■WS.* . .

Dan O’Hollaren and spouse, Diane, granddaughter Keelie, daughter-inlaw Karen O’Hollaren, son Paul with grandson Tate and daughter Ashley f ollowing retirement ceremony, Portland AN GB, 6 Jan 2 0 1 1 .

From: Jim and Buzzy Callard [callardj im@msn.com] “I n o t i c e d o u r classmate John Bar ry was recognized as Superintendent of the year! Our new mai ling address: 1100 Pacific Marina, Apt. 404; Alam ed a, CA 9450 1.

Jim and Buzzy moved from Durango to California, and are loving life on a beautiful 29’ “yacht.” Check it out on our web site, along with their family update.

O u r l a t e st C o l o r a d o c l a ss l u n c h w a s a t L a C a sa F i e st a r e st a u r a n t i n

Monument on 24 Jan. attended by: Bob and Pam Munson; N i c k e r so n and Nora Wiley; Ron and Mary Scott ; Joe Kahoe; Steve an d Lesl ie Lo r en z ; Trapper Carpenter ; Dennis and Ginny Haugh; T Thompson; an d Joh n and Lynn Stephonik .

J o e B r e z o v ic

t i id *

Impromptu dining event in D.C.

An email surprised me from my fi rst full roommate as a cadet ! Joh n Gary Pennett . Gary retired in ’95 as on 0 -5. He has b e e n i n t h e D C a r e a since ’88. He started there in the Pentagon in the o f fi c e o f O SD f o r P r o gram Analysis and Evaluation. After a short trip to F t B e l v o i r a s a n i n structor, where he retired, he returned to OSD again. T h e r e h e i s n o w a comptroller of budgets for all aircraft and intel programs. During one visit he got a 2-ship hop in a T-38. What a dream j ob! He and Susan are happy with their 4 boys, ages 27, 25, 18, 17. He added a short note realizing he was getting old; “I had an Ai r Force Maj or working for me on a leadership rotation. She was a ’96 Academy graduate. When 1 told h e r I w a s a ’7 4 graduate she said gee, that ’s when 1was born.”

120 9 Bayou Oaks Drive Frie n d sw o o d , TX 7 7 5 4 6

H: (28 1) 48 2-68 60 E-mail; Jbrezovic@comcast .net

Hello Classsmates! This letter starts with hearty congratulation s! C a r r o l l H o w i e C h a n d l e r r e t i r e d a s A i r F o r c e V i c e C h i e f of Staff on January 14

in the Andrews AFB Ceremonial Hangar with an F-15 and a n F - 16 o n st a t i c display. Howie’s last position was Vice Chief of Staff of th e A ir Force, re sponsible in Air Staff for the training and equipping of 680,000 ai r m en and civilians. Former AF Chief of Staff Gen John Jumper o f f i c i a t e d f o r this momentous event. Eva Marie was also recognized f o r h e r c o n t r i b u tions as an Air Eorce wife. Their daughter Rose Marie beautifully sang the National Anthem a cappella! Also attending was their ol der son , a cadet second class and the spitting image of his father as a c a d e t . A f t e r H o w i e made his appreciative remarks, the Air Force Honor Guard passed in re view with the Drum and Bugle Corps. [From Dave Dal ey, w h o a t t e n d e d

w i t h sever al ’74 cl assm at es!]

Pennett af ter a T-38 Flight!

Bill Yucuis sent in note and picture. Bill retired to Orlando with Lyn in 1994, teaching in the public school system. “I taught 8“’ grade Math for six years and that was certainly more challenging than flying fi ghters. I then moved to high school in 2002 where 1was hired to begin an Aerosp ace En gineering program for an Engineering Magnet school.

With my Master’s in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue and four years at USAFA in the Department of Astronautics, 1 have used all my Air Force training t o 3 I 1 develop this program.” Bill considers it the best pub lic school teaching j ob around. He won several awards including being named to USA Today’s 2007 All USA Sabre Society Teacher Team, one of only 20 teachers chosen nation Do n o r s ally. “I have also gotten involved with the Air Force A s sociation (AFA) and 1am currently the President of t h e 23 Central Florida Chapter.” Bill discovered that JJ Duran,

m

a fell ow 38t h Al l St ar Cl ass of ’74 al u m n i , l iv ed i n Tam p a

w h i l e B i l l i s i n O r l a n d o . B i l l h a d se a so n t i c k et s a n d invited JJ to a Tampa

Eva Marie and Howie at D.C. ’74 Dining Out.

Bay Buccaneers game. They haven’t seen each other since graduation!

Charlie Justiz checked in to say “Hi ”! 1 followed up... He’s still using his PhD skills in aerospace development . Charlie retired f r o m N A SA t h i s June 2010. He is still in the Houston area, and is president of his company JFA Aviation Safety Consulting. As part of scheduling h is t im e, Ch ar l ie 1 13

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N ew s

has completed book one, Specif ic Impulse, of a space trilogy that critics compare to Michael Crighton and Robin Cook.

Dan Surber is on the mend. He’s about 13 months post complete knee replacement done on his right knee. It was most definitely t i m e f o r so m e new parts. Dan was able to keep his knee cap and the ligaments on the sides, but otherwise did a total knee replacement . T h e o t h e r k n e e i s st i l l fully operational so he feels he is “good to go.” Recently, D an w as p r om ot ed to Engineering Fellow at Raytheon Technical Services C o . T h e o t h e r two Fellows have deep expertise in a technology but he feels he is the “boy scout knife” kind of systems engineer. His other duties i n c l u d e W M D Pr o liferation Prevention related work; teaching a graduate Systems Engineer ing course for Purdue University in their Aero & Astro Department; and co-instructor for Johns Hopkins University in his business u n i t . W i t h t h e i r four girls graduated from Purdue, Dan wrote he and Sa r a h av e r o o m f o r '74 visitors through Zionsville, IN. Joe Br ezovi c is b ack i n Ai r Force u n if or m as th e Sen ior A erosp ace &

Science Instructor at a high school in Houston. Short d efin it i on : Ju n i or

RO T C . T h i s i n c l u d e s t w o N C O r et i r e e s a n d ab o u t 19 0 c a d et s f r o m f r e sh

men to senior year. These youth, although volunteers, are not quite what I remember AFA fourthclassmen to be! Challenging classroom times again!

Some fun times include marching and drill, unarmed a n d a r m e d . W e w i l l be exploring other activities...! j ust started before C h r i st m a s.

Rich Bowman is the torchbearer in lighting the way to continuing the Academy legacy. As the person in charge for 1974 Legacy even t s. Ri ch wrote in a report for the activities in the 2010 Acceptance o f t h e n ew e st fourthclassmen: “Here’s my report for the Class of 20 14 A ccep t an ce Pa rade -- It went GREAT! A BIG thanks to everybody who c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e planning, funding or who attended the event. We had 18 C l a ss m e m b e r s there, 10 to present Contrails to the outstanding Basic C a d et f r o m e a c h Basic Squadron. Ron Sega did a marvelous job representing t h e C l a ss with his speech to the wi ng. It was right on target . I ’v e a sk D i n o Sc h weitzer to post it on the Class of ’74 web page. It can be accessed through the AOG Web Site - Class of ’74 Legacy page.” [Classmates, visit this page for a group of pictures on this fi rst 1974 Legacy Heritage w eek en d !) Ri ch adds that “the Class of 2014 Contrails is very similar and yet very different from ours... their eyes need to be much better, the print is 1/ 2 the size of our Contrails. Fundraising for the Legacy project is going well. We have achieved about 80% of our $50K goal and the donations c o n t i n u e t o c o m e in. Thanks everybody who has already contributed. It’s not too late if you haven’t - just contact the AOG. “The Next Legacy Class event will be in the Fall of 2 0 1 1. T h e C l a ss o f 2014 will be celebrating the selection of their Class Exemplar. We’re invit ed to the dinner. Get your squadron mates together, plan a mini-reunion and come to the Academy to see how our Partner Class is doing.” Rich will be emailing more on this later this summer. May each of you live long and prosper.

C S- 3 0 a t o u r 3 5 t h r e u n i o n

Academy gambling games; remembering those in the Chapel, thinking of all the knowledge lost. But then the bright spot , where was my doolie roommate Mike Biedermann? Found out he was the Chaplain a t t h e m e morial; wish I ’d known then. So many others I would h av e l i k e d t o h av e seen; j ust didn’t have time. Did see my non-grad classmate Fred Basi n , remembered the engine from Kevin Cheek’s Corvette being brought to life in squadron supply closet by Fred. [Scribe would love The Rest of the Story on that one; nobody could make this stuff up!] Sitting by classmate Tom McKee, I discovered he had rented a house in my community from my Delta pilot friend. This friend was a graduate of VM I; I ’v e m a d e su r e h e knew of his ignorance.

Rich Chanick: If there are no pictures, I deny doing i t !

From Hugo Gray: For a retired guy, Charlie Wlnter meyer su re get s around: He is a State Department Foreign Service Officer assigned in at our Embassy in Lima, Peru. The picture shows him with t h e b a n n e r a t Antarctica recently; check ZoomieNation for another sh o t o f h i m i n m u f t i with the Af ghans in ’06.

Jeff Chappell

1 4 7 2 9 B irke n St .

He rri m a n , UT 8 4 0 9 6

Charlie Winter meyer in Antarctica.

(8 01) 878-HOWDY j t mj bda@sbcglobal.net

7 5 B e st A i i v e : T h e N ex t G e n e r a t i o n . D av e E h r h a r t ’s so n B r i a n i s a n O SI

35th Reunion, Par t Deux. Things have been pretty quiet this past quarter, so here are some leftovers from the reunion.

Joh n Lou ck s: “ Of cou r se al l th e CS 24 Ph an t om St reaker regular reunion groupies were present. But the highlight for Susie and I had to be seeing D r. D en n i s Car t er an d h is w i fe, Suzan n e, w h om w e

had not seen since our wedding 35 years ago...we had a great dinner and reminisced about all the guys who

w e r e n o t t h e r e .”

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CS-30 post -gam e rally: Picture includes JO Magof fi n (non-grad), Rick Laym an, Stan Collins, Scott Smith, Randy Davis, Randy Bar rett , Jim Kochevar , Bob ShapSabre Society pell, and Stan Siefke. Bruce Linster , Joe May, and Ru ss Do n o rs Trinter were at the reunion, but unable to join us t h a t evening. (See photo at the top of the next column.)

25 Ray Marden, USAFA Junior College: Leaving the Academy mid-way of j unior year left many friendships.

Even had to cancel the order for my Corvette. Material i t e m s h av e c o m e and gone, but my wonder of what happened to so many have lingered. My wife, who communicated during my years at Academy, h a d n ev e r b e e n t o Colorado and wondered if many of my stories were true. O u r i n t e r a c t i o n with squadron and football teammates brought back credibility: M e e t ing Gary Voshurgh, the skiing marvel (made the paper as being the Most Average Cadet, I ’ve got the article); Mark Beesley, the quarterback who needed a good hit; John Fouts who still couldn’t pay t h e l O U f r o m t h o se 1 14

agent serving in Iraq, deployed from Nellis. Your Humble Scr ib e (YH S) bad the honor of commissioning youngest son Adam in the Army, upon his graduation from Aggieland. Adam will train in Light A r m o r a t F o r t Knox - watch out, Osama! Jim Carlson says his new t win daughters were so excited after the reunion that they showed up 6 weeks early (26 Oct).

After some of the struggles typical of preemies, Annika an d Ju l i an n a ar e doing well. The girls are being taugbt that they each h av e o v e r 7 5 0 “ u n cles” spread all over the world, each of whom their dad trusts implicitly and respects greatly. Note the custom onesies.

Ju l i an n a an d An n i k a

Alert reader Bill Murr ay sent a piece about the passing o f L t G e n W al t e r T. Galligan, USAFA Commandant our fi rst two years. N o m a t t e r w h i c h o f

his lists you were on, you have to be impressed with his accomplishments: West Point Class of 1945, barely catching the end of WWI I, through the Berlin Airlift, flying many historic aircraft and holding sev e r a l st a f f a n d command positions. To the Commandant : Hear, Hear!

Paul Martin, Curator of Collections at USAFA, inquired a b o u t t h e o r i gins of our “Nuke 'Em” mug, with the nuclear cloud and “shapely” handle.

They have one in their collection, but no background on it. Anyone who can help with its origins, history, etc, email paul.martin@usafa.a f .m i l . I a l so m e n t i o n e d t h e i n f a m o u s B u d M a n sw e a t sh i r t a s a n o t h e r unique class item. If any of you have one semi-intact that you might be willing to do

unfortunately I was on day shift duty that day and couldn’t get another pilot to cover for me.

n at e, con t act h i m al so.

Budding Broadway musical writer Steve Duresky wrote a t r i b u t e t o al l of us, but due to space limitations I could not fit it i n h ere, so look for it on ZoomieNation. I can hardly wait to see the live skit!

YHS flew a trip with Gene Holley, returning a planeload of War Eagles and Ducks fans from the NCAA football championship in Phoenix the day after the game. I also ran into Rich Tkacs in the ATE c r ew r o o m ...w e d i d n ’t get time to talk, but it’s always fun running into you guys!

My goal as Scribe during my sentence/ reign is to make famous as many of you as possible in the 20 (plus or minus) articles I ’ll have written by the time someone more talented volunteers for the job. By my count, in the first year/ four articles, about 180 of our members h av e b e e n i n c l u d e d in this esteemed publication -- about a quarter of you; not a bad start.

Some classmates are more prolific in their correspondence t h a n o t h ers, meaning that they would, in a purely democratic environment, get more frequent mention. However, this being a non-democratic p r o c e ss, I solicit your experiences, thoughts, travelogues, musings, and just plain “howdys!” so I can actually put some meat in here with you r n am es. Vot e early and often!

I n the back row f rom lef t are Gregg Holm, Ben Thom son, a nd Joe Wysocki. Front: Steve Heinz, Doug Fry, Willie Shelton, D oug L over ro, Tom M uckenthaler, and Greg Whaley at Wille’s CoG. Joe & JulieWysocki also attended Kevin ‘Chili ’ Chilton’s Change of Com mand & retirement along with Willie Shelton, Doug Loverro, Bill Craig, TJ Hedding, and Jon Subik.

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Dan Beatty 12 19 6 Stanley Canyon Road Colorado Springs, CO 8 09 21 H: (719 ) 4 88-19 62 E-Mail: whrlybrd76@aol.com Dan. Beatty® usafa.af .m i I htt p:/ / www.AFAcademy.com/ 76

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f ell ow ’76er s,

Happy New Year to you all. I hope it has started well.

SS'** Reunion update: The Committee is formed. Tony Przybyslawski and I are the Co-Chairs. Class leadership encourages y’all to j oin Zoomienation/ inCircle (https:/ / zoomienation.usafa.org). This si t e w i l l b e o u r primary connection to get the word out but there will also b e em ai l b l ast s from t h e AOG, sn ail m ail n ot es (so

m

make sure the AOG has current contact info!), and you ■ can also send questions to me and I will make sure t h e Committee gets them. Still no firm football schedule out as of this article, so no firm date set yet.

Sad News: We j ust found out thru the AOG that Sabre Society Eloyd Sawyer died on 25 Oct 2006. His services were 2 8 Dono rs Oct 2006 in Rocky Mount, NC. Please keep his family i n your thoughts and prayers.

37 Movi ng up/moving on: Kevin ‘Chili’ Chilton retired as of 01 Feb. Tony Przybyslawski retired in Jan. Willie Shelton pinned on his 4"’ star and is now AFSPC/ CC. Mark Welsh pinned o n h i s 4 "' st a r a n d i s n o w U SA F E / C C . M i k e W i l so n se l e c t e d for Maj Gen, -

-

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U SAER. H e i s M OB A sst t o D CS/ OPS, PLAN S & REQU I REM EN TS, H Q

USAE (Thanks to Karen for the note!) Congrats to you Chili, Tony R, Wil

l i e, M ark , an d M ike!

General Class Stuff: Am checking to see if any other c l a ss h a s ev e r had 3 sitting 4-stars. Will let you know what I find out. Roger & Sandy Yauchzy attend Mark Welsh pin-on and change of command. Says Mark’s speech was “humble, motivating, and insightful." No pics yet, maybe next article. Joe Wysocki , Doug Loverro, Doug Fry, Tom MuckenthaJer , B e n Thom son, Greg Whal ey, Steve Heinz, Greg Holm , Don Olynick , a n d M i k e Gould attended Willie Shelton’s Ghange of Gommand. Joe says it was a very classy event. He and Doug f ry also chided me for not attending but JO I N T H E SA B RE SO C I ET Y !

Y O U R M O N EY H E L P S F U N D C A D E T W I N G P R O G RA M S T H A T

W O U L D OT H ERW I SE G O U N F U N D ED .

GA L L T H E A O G F O R I N F O .

- x t tLl: Nf v Ly / .

From lef t are Willie Shelton, Doug Loverro, Bill Craig, Ch i l i Ch i l ton, Joe Wysocki, TJ Hedding, Jon Subik at Chili ’s retirement.

G o t a n o t e f r o m C h i l i a n d h e w i l l r e t i r e h e r e i n t h e C-Springs area.

Again, thanks to Karen Wil son for her note on Mike’s promotion. She says Mike is still at the Pentagon and also fl ies for Delta as a 777 Captain, while she holds the fort with a teenager and an elementary school-ager. Thanks for your kind words about my articles Karen and hang i n t h e r e !

Dave Ar butina and Kevin Lally hooked up at the American College of Surgeons Ball in October. Dave & Kevin were Wing staff roomies 2-degree year. Stan Correia got seated next to Mike Blythe on a recent Delta Plight.

Hadn’t seen each other since HQ/AFSPC in 1996. Says they both plan to attend the reunion. Way Moy checked in looking for c o n t a c t i n f o o n E r i c Leong. Was only able to get him a snail-mail address. B u t w a s a b l e t o hook Way up with Les Gar rison so the t wo old gyreens could catch up.

Les is still with Dept of State. His Lance Corporal son just returned from an Afghan tour.

Scott Satre and Jerry McFarlane sent updated email a d d r esse s. E r n i e & Pam Woolard sent a couple of notes with reunion suggestions t h a t t h e c o m m i t t ee w i l l l o o k a t . D a n P r i c e t h a n k e d m e f o r t h e n o t e o n M a r k W e l sh

an d asked for som e con t act i n fo. Saw an ar t icl e ab ou t Jim D ol an an d h is w ork w ith w ou n d ed t roop s in Texas. Th e H eroes on th e Wat er p rogram is

actively reaching out to wounded veterans, engaging them in kayak fishing and made them feel at home with holiday festivities. GREAT w ork Ji m !

Jim & Joan Crowe have moved to North Atlanta and recently enj oyed the Georgia snow. Jim saw Bryon Hepbur n at AMSUS just before Byron pinned on 2'’‘*star. Gary Montgomery flies for United, o f t e n t o H aw a i i . H e and Jeff Lar sen hooked up recently in Kona. Jim Turner st ill JROT C b oss a t f a l c o n H S h e r e . T a m i n o w i n t e r i m C C o f 7 0 "’ I SR Wg at Pt Meade. Jim sent pic of himself and his ‘date’ for the recent JROTC b a l l . Si n c e T a m i w a s gone, nine-year-old Ella went with Dad. (See photo o f Ji m a n d El l a a t t h e top of the next column.)

Jim says Ella thinks “teenagers are nuts”. Sorry Jim, t h a t a t t i t u d e W I L L change...soon! He thinks he and Tony Donisi may be oldest ’76 parents.

I think Jeff Becker may have y’all beat Jim. Ed Fairbrother ’s so n N i c k fi n ished UPT, headed to EAIP duties at Randolph. Daughter K a t e i s a m e teorologist at Holloman: her Army husband j ust finished 2"" Iraq deploy ment. Ed still flying World Airways hauling troops. Randy Schavr ien ’s son did two months flying C- 130Js in Afghanistan.

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G la s s

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Rough Draft; Donna Clodfelter sent me a copy of the a n n o u n c e m e n t of the publication of Mark’s book, Benef icial Bombing - The Progressive Foundations of American Air Power, which was published in January.

Mark does a nice j ob in this one discussing the historical genesis of Air Force doctrine with respect to strategic bombing and i t s c u r r e n t st a t u s.

Well done, Mark. I ’m glad to see that something useful is coming out of Chapel Hill these days.

Mark Castellani (Susan) dropped me a note with the n ew s t h at K u r t Ci ch ow sk i (Lau r a) h as b een m oved fr om h is th r ee-st ar sl o t a t A F SO C a t

V -y

Jim Tur ner an d Daughter Ell a John River a sent a long note. Saw Tim Hass at O’Hare recently (Tim Flies for AA), went to the Army game with Dave & Joyce Ar b u t i n a, sat b e hind Joe Wysocki , went to both of Don Nerge’s kids weddings (Don mar ried John’s sister Teresa in Jun 76), got the annual C h r i st m a s n o t e f r o m Greg Schneider (Greg teaching HS physics in Illinois), and says his life is always like Peewee’s big adventure. Ed Morley still world-hopping. Heard from JW Whitehead, he’s now left -seat 747 j ock for Delta mostly on Asian r ou t es. M ike Fr i can o , D ave M er r i l l , Br i an M eeh an , an d B i l l C a r o l a n d i d th e 20 10 Ai rli ft / Tan k er A ssociat io n co nven t i on , an d M i k e v i si t e d w i t h

Dave Berg (married to Mike’s sister) at Langley.

Dave Berg moved off the NSTR (see below) list ...finally! Says he’s spending a lot of time in Santa Barbara on a current proj ect . ‘Papa” Joe Marchino attended HQ/AETC & AFA symposium in San Antonio. F o r su r e saw Jack Catton, Denny ‘Diller’ Rea, and Terry William s; t h i n k s h e a l so saw Dave Searcy. Joe still at AFPC officer assignments. He and Becky still enj oying the Alamo City. A1Patriquin saw Ray Casey in London (Ray flies AA 777s), and lunched with Tom Trai nor in Minneapolis. T o m i s D i r e c t o r of Facilities Management at Bethel University.

NSTR (nothing signifi cant to report): Jim Boma, Charlie V o n o .

Well classmates, again time to stick a fork in it. #3 daughter’s hubby headed to AC-130J at Hurlburt, but now orders yet for Melissa and grand daughter from England to Hurbie. Soon we hope. Martha a n d 1 w e n t t o winging at Corpus Christi. Stopped in to see Enrique Sa a i n L u b b o c k o n my return. Brother Saa doing well.

Sorry I couldn’t accommodate all the pics this time. Send me your notes, inputs, address updates, suggestion, junk mail, et c a n d I w i l l d o my best to keep all of you in the loop. As always, if you are headed to the Springs, let me and the other locals know. Keep flying your flags and let our deployed troops know you have them in your thoughts and prayers.

The Spirit of 76 is STILL alive and well! Until next time, Beatty.

Jo h n “ Lo u ” M ic h e ls , Jr.

4 107 Harvey Ave. Western Springs, IL 60 558 Off ice: (312 ) 86 1-7975

Hurlburt to head the CIA’s Military Affairs Office. I a ssu m e t h i s m e a n s a move back to Northern Virginia, vwth the associated housing and trans portation issues, but congratulations, Kurt . I guess I won’t be getting any more news releases from you about how your j ob is going, a t l e a st n o t f o r a couple of years. Feel free, however, to drop in on one of my cell phone calls anytime.

Mike Weinstein (Bonnie) got tagged as the Person of the Year by Ameri cans United for Separation of Church and State. As reported here and pretty much everywhere else, Mike has been carryi ng the banner of religious toleration for years now and this award goes on top of his group’s Nobel Peace Prize nomination. Congrats to you and Bonnie, Mike.

Jerry Hust (Sharon) wrote to let me know that he was doing the roast at Rick Perr aut ’s (Joann) retirement ceremony. Rick is finishing up as a two-star - pretty Sabre Society good career for a guy who started with me at Mather, b ack i n t h e su m m er of 1977. Well d on e, Ri ck , an d

thanks, Jerry.

Fir st Edits: Dave Gragan (Mary) wrote to let me know that he is moving from his j ob as the head of p r o

Donors

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c u r e m en t f o r t h e D i st r i c t o f C o l u m b i a o v e r t o t h e f e d e r al si d e (m ak e t h at

the real federal side) at Treasury. Dave also noted that he thinks the pic

t u re of Ji m An t i st el in t h e last colu m n looks lik e Matthew McConaughey.

I ’m sure that comment will result in some type of legal a c t i o n f r o m M r .

McConaughey within a month or two. Dave is now the procurement di r e c t o r o f a n ew f e d e r a l o f f i c e u n d e r t h e D o d d - F r a n k R e f o r m A c t c a l l e d t h e C o n su m e r F i n a n c i al Pr o t e c t i o n B u r e a u . A s h e h e a d s u p p r ocu r em en t there Dave is going through another very steep learning c u r v e i n t h e n ew

j ob. Well, every one of us in this business is going through a steep learning c u r v e w i t h t h a t st a t u t e . G o o d l u ck a n d t h a n k s f o r t h e nice update, Dave.

Paul Higgins (Nancy) popped up on Facebook to let me k n o w t h a t h i s son, who is a junior at the Zoo, was part of the cadet chorale appearance at the BCS national championship game in Phoenix in January.

Bob Soucy (Beth) sent me a copy of his Christmas letter t o l e t m e k n o w that he had moved back to lovely Las Vegas. This is quite a transition, cli matically, demographically, and geographically, from working on a farm in the Philippines, which was part of Bob and Beth’s previous lifestyle.

However they seem to have made the change, and with o n e k i d i n sc h o o l at UNLV and the other a grad finishing up her Master’s degree in physics, things are stable in the Soucy household. Thanks for th e ext en d ed n ot e.

Bob, and our best wishes on the new locale and lifestyle.

Duff Muir (Mary) sent along a recent picture of son Steve’s pin-on to captain. I must say, I am as impressed as Duff with his ability to get into his uniform without obvious alterations being required or buttons pop ping. Congratulations to all.

Jo h n .J.M ic h e ls@Ba ke rn et .co m

As I write this, we are under a blizzard warning here in Chicago. Given that it seems that I and most of the people around m e h av e b e e n si c k si n c e December, this is simply the cherry on top of a miserable pile of winter dessert . I hope everyone else is enj oying the season m o r e t h a n w e a r e up here.

Before I start whining too much about the almost-empty mailbag, let me remind you that we have a Facebook page that is an easy w ay t o u p date status, add photos, and make sure that whatever you’re interested in makes it at least to my doorstep. Please log in a n d a d d so m e c o n t e n t .

Many thanks.

for your Board of Direct ors Please vot e for your choice of candidates for our

upcoming Board elections. The election will be conduct ed from March 31 to April 30 2011.

Yo u r v o t e c o u n t s !

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Duff, Mary, Steve and Amy Muir Finished Product: I spent a day and a half teaching b a c k a t o u r a l m a mater, courtesy of Paul Pirog (Mary). As I mentioned, Paul heads up the Law Department at the Academy, and I think needed some comedy relief to break up the Dark Ages academic run the cadets find t h e m se l v e s i n from now until spring break. Paul has a terrific faculty, and I ’m sure they are currently correcting all of the many misstatements t h a t I m a d e o v e r the course of presenting to seven or eight different c l a sse s. N o t w i t h st a n d ing that, it was a marvelous experience for your humble n a r r a t o r . So n i a and I were able to go to dinner with Paul and Mary, who are defi nitely en-

joying the empty nest aspect of life there in the foothills. My thanks again to Paul and his staff for the opportunity to interact w i t h t h e i r st u d e n t s a n d spend some time walking around the place.

That’s it for this issue of the column. Again, I can u se so m e i n f o r m a tion, photos, wild tales, etc., and I will assume that as the weather gets better your activities and reports of activities will pick up. Have a great spring. Be seeing you.

Bob Kay

40411 Tesoro Lane

Pa lm d a le , CA 9 3 5 5 1

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Home:(66 1) 274-2 20 1 Work: (6 61) 8 24-64 26 Email: president @f4 phant om.com

Greetings ’78ers from sunny California...we may not have any money in this state but we still have plenty of sunshine and great weather. Guess that’s why we stay here...that and that nice-to-have entity called a job.

Anyhow, been kind of a slow quarter news wi se. My bride a n d I schlepped to the Army-Navy game in December having m o r e t h a n a great time. We took our youngest son who has a dream of playing football for...uh ...West Point (this is killing me)! Our squid son (secon d sem est er senior going USMC Infantry after grad school) drove up with the rest of the Brigade allowing for a most e n j oyable mini-family reunion. The bad news is that you I 1 almost were subj ected to a family pic (complete with my “blood is thicker than water’’ Navy hat) taken in t h e stadium nose-bleed section where we were sitting (my ever present threat for due to lack of inputs!). It’s a c Sabre Society tually a pretty cool shot with the entire squid Brigade Do n o r s marching onto the fi eld.

However, not to fear because the good news is that 23 our own uber hero Jay Ellis sent some great pix and a c companying prose nine days before the article dead line. The occasion was Ed Rice’s four-star pin-on and AETC change of command back in November. It isn’t every day that a c l a ssm a t e b e c o m e s a four-star and fortunately, Ed had a great showing o f ’7 8 e r s.

The fi rst shot is of a mini 26 Squadron reunion after the ceremony with Ed’s four stars affi xed (tough to see in the photo though). From left are Tim Parker (Susan), Jay (Merrill), Ed (Teresa) and Billy Nichols (Carol).

The fi nal photo is a picture of (front row) Billy, Jimmy Keaton, Tim and Jay at the last Beach-to-Bay Marathon Relay in Corpus Christi. They have run the race together every year since 2000, missing in 2002 when Jay was deployed after 9-11. Jay said Ed is going to join their team this year (in his free time Tm guessing!). The two gents in the back row are (left) a neighbor of Jay’s and Jay’s son-in-law. Major Matt Walsh, C-5 pilot and USAFA Class o f 2 0 00 . .

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Much to his surprise, and pleasure. Jay’s daughter met and eventually married a Zoomie. They have a baby boy, 7\ ndrew, who w o u l d b e U SA FA Class of 2032 (Jay promised that there isn’t any pressure). Concerning the lowdown on everyone, Jay is in private practice as an anesthesiologist and pain medicine physician. He decided to rough it and r e t i r e i n Sa n A n t o nio, TX after 24 years in the Air Force. Tim is a captain w i t h D elt a, lives in Peachtree City, GA and flies international routes. He is very active in the pilots union, and worked on the merger of Delta and N o r t h w e st A i r l i n e s pilots. Billy and Jimmy are both captains for American and living in Dallas.

Jay also mentioned that he keeps in touch with some o t h e r c l a ssm a t e d o c s who went directly from the Academy to medical school. Ken Kaylor (Karen) is an orthopedic surgeon and Director of Trauma for Ke r n M e d i c al C e n t er in Bakersfi eld, CA. Marshall Wong (Melodie) also is an anesthesiologist and in private practice somewhere in the Dallas area. He and Jay were stationed together in Germany and at Wilford Hall. Chuck Millik en t o o k a c o m m i ssi o n out of medical school into the Army and remains on active duty as an Army psychiatrist in the DC area. Chuck, Jay and Merrill got together for dinner on the River Walk a couple of months ago (one of the many perks of living in San Antonio). Jay further mentioned that Chuck has done a great deal of work on the Army’s need for mental health treatment for returning veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Great input.. .thanks again Jay! In oth er n ew s, a few of ou r G.O. cl assm at es h ave ret i red f r o m t h e A F

&

The next shot is later that night at Ed’s new house at Randolph Air Patch. From left are Tanker Snyder , Jay, Ed, Tim and Billy.

in the past few months. Two-stars Bob Steele, Kevin Kennedy, and Keye Sabol all have moved on to the civilian world but unfortunately T m n o t sure where they went or what they’ll be doing. Steve Sar geant has also m o v e d t o Sa n A n t o n i o b u t i sn ’t r e t i r e d a s f a r a s I k n o w . N o t su r e w h a t h e’l l

be doing there.

Well gents, that’s all in the mailbag this time. Please follow Jay’s lead and contribute or that Army-Navy picture will somehow show up. May you all have a great Spring season.

G o d B l e ss. ’7 8 i s G r e a t !

Mike “Trash" Ashley

9 6 4 9 Re a c h Ro a d Pot o m a c , M D 2 0 8 5 4

Here is a great shot of Ed, Teresa, Jay and Merrill looking disgustingly trim and healthy (yeah. I ’m envious...I ’ll admit it).

V i si t t h e A O G W eb Si t e.

Merchandise, Gone But Not Forgotten and m ore! www.usafa.org

79t rash@gmail

3 0 4 - 7 2 8 -4 8 8 8

Gentleman, take seats! I can’t welcome you in my customary “ w i l d a n d wonderful West Virginia” greeting. I ’ve moved. It all st a r t e d w i t h To m Fe r nandez, Keith Abbott (Sue) and I skiing last year in C o l o r a d o . Yo u saw t h e photo in my 2010 article. This fall. Fern and Rabbit i n v i t e d u s t o C o l o r a d o 1 17

C la s s

N e w s

for the Navy game. Fern made it from San Diego, but F r a n c e s a n d I w e n t to Scotland...where I proposed and she accepted. We w ere m arr i ed Jan 7"’ with our small gathering of family. At least Tom and K e i t h w i t n e sse d t h e sinking of Navy and had a good visit. Frances and I will be honeymooning in Hawaii at the end of January.

Speaking of Hawaii: Mike “Puppy” Donatelli (Jan) sent m e t h i s f r o m Pa r a d i se . “ M e l e K a l i k i m a k a ! I ’d r a t l i e r b e o n v a c a t i o n than fighting bliz zards on the East Coast. Pupukahi I Holomua! A’ohe H a n a n u i k a a l u ’i a .” I think Pup has had too many pineapples.

can’t think of anything remarkable to report, except that after 10 years of being in the business management group of my law fi rm, Or r i ck , I ’ve d e cided to seek a new adventure (perhaps with another fi rm, perhaps with a company in the IT and business services sector). So we’re dusting off the resume and interviewing skills. Otherwise we stay busy with things around the community. (I ’ve stepped up my participation in j oining the board o^jlhe“SAIL” school (a charter school focusing on kindergarten through

8^^ grade education, with a focus on the arts- hence “ Sc h o o l f o r A r t s i n

Learning.”) We did get up to the Air Force Army game - it was a great day and the score made sitting with the West Point brass a l l t h e n i c e r . L e t m e know if you are passing through DC and want to tear up the town.”

From Jon Box: “Just keeping on keeping on here in the A i r F o r c e Pr e d a tor/ Reaper remotely piloted aircraft work -- my daughter Elizab et h , U SA FA Class 2011, isWing Stan/ Eval this go-around, graduates in May and has a pilot training slot.”

Fr om JR D al l as: “st ill at AA L - - D FW 767 F/ 0 I n t er n at i on al . O l d e st

Spearheading the class gift is a tough proj ect. Puppy has fought a good battle and deserves a good vacation as well as Mighty F i n e t h a n k s. E n r o l l ment goes on, but inclusion in the class honors section e n d e d D e c e m b e r 3P'. Groundbreaking and construction has begun.

Also visiting Paradise: Jeff Moore sent me this Christmas photo of Jam mer, wife, Pattie, and daughters Amanda and Andie. T h e M o o r e s h av e m oved t o a n ew locat ion i n Al exan d r i a, VA . Jeff i s a Senior Analyst at ManTech International / SRS Technologies in Wash, DC. He didn’t say exactly where Paradise was for this photo.

daughter, Megan, j ust graduated from U of Arizona -- she and I spent three cold days in London as her graduation trip/ present seeing the sites.

Was a blast . Youngest daughter, Drennan (17, high school sen ior ), i s col lege searching - - accepted to TCU (Ft Worth), U of Arkansas (Fayetteville), and SMU (Dallas). I need that long-awaited pay raise! CS32 guys are in beginning stages of a Napa valley mini-reunion in 2011.”

John Susal la (Kathy) is Captain of A320 for Delta North and living in the Detroit area. Kathy is a part-time flight attendant for the same, formerly Northwest. Sus says, “We had been talking about a cottage f o r sev e r al years. But a boat ended up being our cottage, name of it is Kathy’s Kottage! We hope that gas prices can stay “reasonable” a s h e h av e t w o B I G BLOCK V-8s to move this thing around the water. It d o e sn ’t t a k e m u ch t o put +$300 at the gas dock! AND we don’t even “fill her up”! The next time you see Mike Glenn you can give him grief about the “golf ankles” that he has! We wish that the boating season was a little longer than we see up here in the “great white north”! The good thing is we keep it on the water at Lake St Clair (near Selfridge ANGB and the DTW area) so t h a t I c a n “ si t reserves” on the boat! It’s a great way of life for u s!” A d i f f e r e n t f o r m o f Paradise, I guess.”

Bob Edmonds sent me this picture and a note: Pete Melim (Carol) an d I (Ann) have boys the same age and are best friends. My son, Greg, just grad uated from USAFA (2010) and is going to UPT. Pete’s so n A n d r ew w e n t t o Georgia Tech, as did his sister Lauren. So, for the Independence Bowl, we got together to watch the Falcon victory. In the picture, Greg and I are on the left and Pete, Andrew, and Lauren on the right. Pete is clearly conflicted, wearing his USAFA T-shirt and his GT hat! His quote for Checkpoints: “I am indebted to the USAF Academy, and in debt to Georgia Te c h !”

i

Movers and Shakers: John O’Neil is the new Flight Standards Manager at UPS, living in the Louisville, KY area. John McCor mack i s n ow Se n i o r Manager for Engineering at Boeing and living in the greater Philadel phia area. Rick Pfautz is currently VP of Programs a t U S Sa b r e i n t h e D C area. Randy Helms is Director of Logistics Research a t National Defense University in DC. Michael “Omar” Bradley is owner and President of Securifense, Inc. i n the Springs. Verner Mitchell is the Director of Graduate Studies, Dept of English at the University of Memphis, TN. Been a long time Mitch! Rich Hal l is President o f USAFA Way of Life Alumni Group and a pilot for United living in the Miami area. All can be found on Linkedin.

Sabre Society Do n o rs com, a professional business networking tool. Join u s on the USAFA Class of ’79 group and stay linked and 16 r R F V, ....

in f orm ed . I kn ow Joh n Par d o (Su m m er Scr ib e) u ses

Facebook for keeping in touch, so look him up!

News and Quotes from around the world: From Jay Snyder : “Happy New Year! Not much happening here. Just trying to get two steps ahead of the alligators this year. At the moment I am doing systems engineering and inte gration on a 350-foot-long unmanned airship (Blue Devil II). It ’s a 12-m onth program from start to arrival in Afghanistan. I am helping put detail to the payload design and identifying problems they didn’t Imow they had before they become hardware. I am hoping to get enough IRAD to prot otyp e a cou ple UAVs and a ground vehicle this year.” Sounds overwhelming Jay. From Pat Tisdal e: “Happy Holidays. Liz (wife), Allie (2nd year at UVa) and I have j ust finished visiting my mother and a few siblings in Seattle. I 1 18

Tru Eyre is CC at the 140* Wing for the ANG. A BGEN n ow , Tr u h ad t i m e to go elk hunting with his “grandfather’s Winchester M odel 54, 30.06 f r om the 1940s. Been an elk shooting machine for many years.” T r u i n c l u d e d a hero photo, but I ’ve run out of my allotment of photos...plus t h e r e w a s n o el k !

And that’s it for another year. Don’t forget to vote f o r To m L o c k e i n t h e coming AOG election; he’s the only 7 9er on the ballot.

Don Myers 4 0 1 Chambray Hill Peacht ree City, GA 30 269-4 247 (770 ) 63 1-14 29 E-mail: DMyers8 0@hot mail.com ZoomieNat ion.usafa.org FB group: “ USAFA Class of 1980 ”

Folks, I have just enough space, so let ’s get to it!

From External Sources. The following are promoted from M G e n t o LGen: Stanley T. Kresge to Commander, 13th AF, PACAF, H i ck am AFB; M i chael R. Moeller to US Security Coordinator, Israel-Palestinian Authorit y;

Douglas H. Owens to Vice Commander, AETC, Randolph AFB; Su san J. Helms to Commander, 14th AF, AF Space Command/ Commander, Jo i n t Functional Component Command, US Strategic Command, Vandenberg AFB. Susan also will be (has been, as you read this) i n d u c t e d i n t o t h e W o m e n i n A v i a t i o n P i o n e e r H a l l o f Fa m e . T h e P r e si d e n t h a s a n n o u n c e d

h is i n t en t i on t o n om in at e BGen (ret .) Al liso n A . (H i l sm an ) Hickey to Un

dersecretary for Benefi ts, Veteran Affairs.

Since 2003. The eighth annual ’80s Ladies Tea was another s u c c e s s , judging by the smiles on their faces.

A m i/ % ifl

D ea n st i l l a t i t !

Ju n e (Van H or n ) (Bob ) Li n d n er w rot e u s fr om t h ei r Texas h o m e : O l d e st daughter, Rachel, graduated from A&M , getting her Master’s at Tech , i s engaged to a fellow runner, and continues competing in t r i at h l on s, m ar a t h on s, an d u lt ra-m ar at h on t rail r u n s. D avi d , ROTC at UT, loves leading PT session s. Sar ah an d H an n ah ar e n ext i n li n e. Ju n e continues teaching

A fi rst-class gathering f or a f irst-class group.

M u c h o f w h a t f o l l o w s c o m e s f r o m a n n u a l m i ssi v e s se n t this way. By the

way, I didn’t get many from the rest of the group—YOU?—this year. Please add me to your list.

Scott (Jan) Car rothers son Kasey is about to head off to college and second son, Kyle, is on his heels. Lots of prep and paperwork, but each son is an Eagle Scout, j ock, and smart, so Scott ’s hoping for scholarships or academy appointments! “Speaking of colleges and paperwork, despite what you may have heard from NPR, right wing radio, A 1 G o r e a n d G l e n n Beck, et al about global warming and deforestation, it’s really caused by all the colleges and credit card companies in the US. For the past two years we’ve been inundated with literally tons of college brochures, many of them proclaiming how green they are. The colleges a n d t h e c r e d i t c a r d offers are probably the only things keeping the post o f fi c e a f l o a t .”

Ri cki (Sm i t h ) an d Pau l Selva celeb rat ed Ch r ist m as “ h ere, in our Virginia home, for an unprecedented fi fth consecutive year.” Ricki ’s year seemed longer due to time she dedicated to housebreaking two puppies; Paul’s seemed longer due to his constant travels, as he ended his third year as the Assistant t o t h e %I 1 Chairman of the JCS. Ricki also spent time with fellow d i d n ’t quilting friends in Tokyo and India. “And no . . . I build any houses on these trips, but I did take lots of pic '*7, tures and returned recharged as an artist and as a h u Sabre Society man being.”

Do no rs Dean (Carla) Eisberg emailed their annual missive.

“Greetings from Eagle River, Alaska where the snow f al l s 31 and the earth quakes. Dean is still on active duty i n t h e Army and donewith Afghanistan (for now). After 22 y e a r s of being Air Force-free, he fell into relapse and is working for the AF Joint Base. The 12-step program is helping him deal with the boys in blue. He went to his 30'^ year reunion at the Academy where t h e f o o t b al l t e a m m a d e more points in one game than in the whole four years h e w a s i n C o l o r a d o .

Carla works at the famous quilt store in tovm and keeps the house in Eagle River. She continues to kayak the blue waters of Alaska. Kim is still pursu ing her Civil Engineering degree from the University of Alaska-Anchorage and interning with the Public Health Service CE department. Kelly earned his enlisted aircrew wings on his way to be an Alaska A i r N a t i o n al G u a r d search and rescue loadmaster on HC- 130 four-engine airplanes. He got to experience Texas heat fi rst hand last summer and is in Lit tle Rock, Ar kan sas aiming high. Jeff is setting new standards at the Eagle River High School AF JROTC department when he’s not home schooling. He has enough merit badges to be an Eagle Scout once he fi nishes his proj ect n ex t su m m er . Je sse is playing basketball, lacrosse, and soccer until football season starts again next fall. He j oined the Boy Scout 100* anniversary c el e b r at i o n at t h e N a tional Jamboree in Washington, DC this summer.”

The photo is of Dean getting off a Dutch helo at one of their compounds in Afghanistan. “I was assigned to the Counter l ED/ EOD Com b in ed Join t Task Force Paladin in Regional Command South. A US Navy Master Chief and I would travel around southern Afghanistan to talk to the battle space ow n ers (com m an der s) w h o w an t ed ei th er an EOD or CI ED team assigned to them. Paladin then decided who would get one of the highly coveted teams. Before we deployed a team, we had to ensure they would have all the necessary infrastructure (real estate, tents, communications, el ect r ic ity, latrines and showers, dining facility access. Force Prot ect i on m at eri al , fortifi ed place to store their explosives, and a nearby Baski n Rob in s).” r

AWANA and also chemistry to their home school co-op. She’s training for h er fi r st u lt r a-m arath on t r ail r u n , “ b u t it ’s h ard as you get older—things keep falling apart!" Bob went to both Mexi co and the Texas Hill Country on his motorcycle last year.

Chris Cuell ar sent his son Jason off to Naval flight school after graduat ing from u se . Younger son Kevin uses his new driving license to get to his volunteer position at the local fi re department. Chris sends, “In April, 1 spent a week in New Orleans with some of my church buddies, helping t o r ebu il d aft er t h e Kat r in a d evast at ion . Yes, th ere i s st i l l m u c h w o r k t o b e

done.” He’s very happy for the United/ Continental merger.

Anne Moore is still with the FAA in / near Washington. Although she didn’t make our 30th, she partially fi lled the square by attending the USCGA ’s 3 0 t h w i t h a f r i e n d .

From Peggy (Dennis) (Bob) Car nahan : “Okay—so. I ’m here a t t h e Re naissance [in Orlando], starting aircraft Recurrent in the morning. Went down to the bar to get some dinner to take back up t o t h e r o o m . A s 1 was getting into the elevator, this guy walks out . H e looks fam ili ar, b u t 1 just nod then keep walking. He stops and says, ‘Patty? Peggy? Dennis?’

It was Paco Burrell . He retired from the AF fi ve years ago out of SOCSOUTH (Miami). He now works for Lockheed, living in C O S. So n i s i n college in Minnesota (St. Olaf ’s). He missed the reunion b e c a u se h e a n d his wife were on their 25th anniversary trip to Italy.” F r o m h e r C h r i st m a s letter, there were two steers they were “feeding for din-din. In searching for n am es, w e w an t ed on es th at refl ect ed th e st eer s’ u n cer t ain fu t u re, so

w e c h o se D r ea m l i n er a n d A -3 8 0— w o r k s f o r m e ! U n l i k e the airplanes, Tm

betting these steers vdll be on time and on budget .”

Sadly, not long after our reunion Daniel L. Reinhar t passed away. I ’m certain you can read more about Dan in a future Gone But Not Forgotten se c t i o n .

See the wonderful color photos in this part of Checkpoints'! I get to include three each issue. Fach should have the grad and be at least 300dpi (a high resolution photo). Send some. Be safe and take care, my friends. Don R ic h T r e n t m a n

1 1 10 2 As be e St .

Fa lco n , CO 8 0 8 3 1 -8 17 0

Home: (719 ) 4 94-8 4 38 Work: (719 ) 234-0754

rt re n t m a n @ f a l c o n b ro a d b a n d . n e t

Cla s s W e bs it e : w w w .us a f a 8 1 .c o m

Christmas and New Years have come and gone and Winter w i l l b e w i n d ing down by the time you are reading this article. It will be fun to get to gether this year and see how everyone is doing. Please m ak e a n e f f o r t t o a t t e n d o u r 3 0 * r eu n i o n .

Class News: Shirley (Hilsgen) Kr ing sent a nice update o v e r t h e h o l i days. Shirley and Roy traveled to Hawaii last year a n d m e t f o r d i n n e r w i t h Sean and Karen Murphy. Sean is the PACAF Command Surgeon a n d l i v e s on Hickam AFB. Shirley was stationed there in the ’90s. They compared notes over recent Australia trips. Sean and Karen Murphy h a d f u n i n so m e wild Wii dance competitions with Mike and Donna Keltz o v e r t h e H o l i days. Word has it that Mike was having flashbacks to A r n i e ’s d i sc o a n d w a s t h e c l e a r w i n n e r . M i k e a n d D o n n a ’s o l d e st i s i n the Army stationed in Korea. Their youngest is in the Marines and has served tough tours in 1 19

C la s s

N e w s Academy as he will represent us at quarterly meetings. H e w i l l a l so o c casionally send out emails with documents or presentations requiring a class opinion or input. Scott is excited and will do a fantastic j ob repre senting ’81.

R e u n i o n N ew s : Re u n i o n c o - ch a i r s B o b B l e d so e a n d Sc o t t Sc h a f e r a r e

working hard to get things ready for this Fall. They h av e m e t w i t h t h e A O G to do some preliminary planning and discussions. Everyone sh o u l d h av e received a letter and email. It is very important for a l l o f u s t o h av e c u r rent contact information on file with the AOG (www.usafa.org) t o i n c l u d e a good email address. Also, they are soliciting inputs on class gift options.

There are opportunities left in the new indoor practice facility under con

f Si

st r u c t i o n a s w el l a s t h e so o n - t o - st a r t C e n t e r f o r C h a r a c t e r a n d L e a d e r ship Development to be built in the grass quad next t o t h e A r n o l d H a l l

'■ f4

i 'i r

theater (where they showed outdoor movies on the side of the building when we were cadets). A maj ority of squadrons have representatives to build a good contact list and solicit inputs. Some of the weaker squadrons still need reps (CS-01-06, 12, 14, 35, and 40) as of t h i s a r t i c l e . T h e f o o t b a l l schedule will be out by the time your reading this art icl e, so t h e act u al

i KTOH rf DAJ3

L

i

d a t e a n d h o t e l w i l l b e se t .

Shirley (Hilsgen) Kring and Sean M urphy in Hawaii.

Ramadi and Falluj ah. He is now an instructor at Camp Pe n d l et o n . T o m a n d D e n i se A r k o h av e m o v e d t o Sa n A n t o n i o w h e r e T o m w o r k s f o r A R I N C supporting AFSAT and the Saudi Arabian office. Their three kids are doing well with their oldest . Tommy, a Lance Corporal in t h e M a r i n e s st a t i o n e d i n H aw a i i .

Staying with Hawaii, Brooks Bash is the Vice Commander f o r PA CA F at Hickam AFB. Marty and Becky France came over to my house for the Holidays along with Lauri Cross and Scott Trimboli ’80. We had a great time catching up over some glasses of wine. Marty and Becky have been quite the world travelers hitting Japan, Korea, England, Vienna, and some boring trips across the U.S. Marty and Becky are now proud grandparents, too. Marty has a pretty amazing story about driving h i s son and daughter-in-law across country, heavy snow, taking them to the hospital, and becoming a grandpa.

•T O

Pl e a se a sk h i m a b o u t i t a t t h e r e u n i o n .

I-: NV

Sabre Society Do n o rs

In other grandparenting news, Jeff and Paula Braley are proud grandparents, too. Jeff and Paula live in F t 22 Collins and Jeff is getting ready to start 757 training.

Jeff sees Terry Foley, Alex Baggett , Keith Beam , Lantz Bal thazar , and Sean Jessur un at the Memphis hub. I saw T i m H ar r i s a t a recent AF basketball game and I see Frank Cheeseman a t a l m o st a l l o f the AF games. Both are doing very well! Jim Kilty and h i s t h r e e so n s a r e doing fantastic outside of Chicago. I get to see Jim at both our AF and high school reunions. Terry Pobst -Mar tin and I have been bantering via Facebook about Boise St j oining the MWC this year. Terry is a Boise St (an d AF) fan, so I was asking her how she would handle AF at B o i se St t h i s Fa l l . O f course, she will be wearing AF blue! Speaking of supporting o u r b e l o v e d Falcons, John Far ris and his daughter Kellee ’ 14 were at the Independence Bowl cheering our team to victory!

Again, thank you for your inputs, support, and kind w o r d s. I w e l c o m e your updates and pictures. It doesn’t take much time to zip me an email.

We h ave cl ass sit es on Zoom i eN at ion ( 120 m em b er s) (w w w .zoom ien at i o n .

usafa.org) and Facebook (62 members). Go Air Force!

Ji m Rat t i

4m

2 8 6 0 A r b o r Po i n t e D r i v e

M id dl et ow n , OH 45042 (9 3 7 ) 7 6 0 - 2 3 3 3

rattij m@mindspring.com

Greetings Redtags!

The Christmas season brought several updates from our cl assm at es, so there’s plenty of news this quarter. Unfortunately though, and j ust like last quarter, I must begin with somber news by announcing the passing of Dean Walton . According to Tom LaVal ley, Dean passed aw ay p e a c e fully sitting in a chair at home on 26 Nov 2010. Dean h a s t w o so n s w h o are USAFA grads, as well as a daughter attending Pacific L u t h e r a n U n i v e r sit y. All three (along with Dean’s widow, Kathy) were h o m e w h e n h e d i e d .

Kathy & Dean also have a daughter and son-in-law in F r a n c e w h o c a m e back for the memorial service. Please keep all of them in y ou r p r ay er s.

On a happier note, MGen ‘Zan Vautr inot is now the commander o f 2 4 ''’ Air Force and Air Force Net work Operations at Lackland. It ’s exciting to se e h e r b e c o m e t h e c o m m a n d e r o f a n u m b e r e d A i r Fo r c e a n d t o t a k e o n

this new responsibility. And speaking of new responsibilities, o u r o w n A l fredo Sandoval has been appointed by the U.S. House of Representatives to serve on the USAFA board of Visitors. Congrats, F r e d o ! I f I r e m e m b e r correctly. Heather Wilson was on the BOV when she was in congress, but to the best of my knowledge she and Fredo are the only t w o o f o u r c l a ss mates to have that distinction. If I ’ve got that wrong, please let me know!

Dan Rooney, ever the runner, headed over to Aviano i n N o v e m b e r f o r the Headquarters Air Combat Command Cross Country Championships.

I guess that would be the HQACCCCC... Dan took four or five recent grads from ACC, plus several others from USAFE, to compete again st ru n n in g t e a m s f r o m six o t h er N A T O A i r F o r c e s. D a n se r v e d a s t h e t eam ’s coach , an d

was looking forward to beating the Poles and the Brits - always the tough est of the competitors. No word on how his team made out though.

Kellee ’14 and John Farris at the Independence Bowl.

Scott Land (paulscottland@cox.net) has graciously relieved me of my duties as our Class Senator after five years of service. I was having too many conflicts with my Boy Scout and sports volunteering - t h an ks, Scott .

Please contact Scott with any inputs, ideas, opinions or questions on the

for your Board of Direct ors Please vot e for your choice of candidates for our

upcoming Board elect ions. The elect ion will be conduct ed from March 31 to April 30 2011.

Yo u r v o t e co u n t s !

12 0

Chaplain Paul Franz and hi s wife, Cindy

Tom LaValley sent word that Paul Franz is a newly-minted chaplain in the Air National Guard. According to my Register, Paul resigned his com mission in 1990, so this is his first foray back into the military in around 20 years. Welcome back, Paul!

Rich Simpson chimed in to let us all know that Col B o b W a t e r s r e t i r e d from the Texas Air National Guard after 28 years of se r v i c e i n D e c e m b e r .

Tom LaValley, Mike Dam al and Rich were all able to attend the ceremony. Everyone had a great time and it was a mini CS-35 reunion. Bob’s family, extended family and many friends j oined in the celebration. T h e festivities were held in the museum on Camp Mabry in Austin, and everyone shared lots of great stories. B o b ’s son Patrick is a 3-degree at USAFA and was able to join Sabre Society in tbe fun. Congrats to Bob for his service to our n a t i o n Do no rs and for helping to advance the cause of freedom for a l l those years.

11 Bob Weller sent me a copy of his Christmas letter, and it was very informative and professional looking!

Highlights from his family’s year include a vacation to the Philippines and job changes for both Bob and Tess. Bob now works for D e l o i t t e a f t e r h i s previous employer (BearingPoint) was acquired by Deloitte. T e ss i s st i l l working for the same company (AE Petsche), but with n ew o w n e r s. B o t h transitions were positive ones. Their daughters are doing well in school, with the youngest (Melissa) in her senior year of high school and eyeing the University of Texas at Austin. Middle daughter M a r i a i s a f r e sh m a n a t LSU, and the oldest (Martha) is a senior at the University o f N o r t h T X .

1 received a note from Julie (Hughes) Ryan letting u s k n o w t h a t sh e’s now an Associate Professor and Chair of the Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Dept at George Washington University i n D .C .

She says that if you’re wondering how the heck she got appointed as chair of a department, a clue might be, “Don’t ever leave t h e r o o m w h e n a v o t e is ab ou t t o occu r.’’ Bu t , sh e al so sai d t h at sh e h as a cushy office at the cor n er of 18"’ an d G in D.C., an d w el com es vi si tor s for a nice, fresh cup of cof fee and some great conversation any time you happen t o b e i n t h e a r e a .

Seemingly permanent expats Mike and Gloria (Montoya) Ryan are off on another adventure, this time to Stuttgart , Germany. M i k e h a d b e e n the DoD’s rep to the European Union in Brussels, but is now the Deputy J5, Security Cooperation at HQ US European Command. H e a n d G l o r i a will have some extra space now that the kids are back in sch ool (Bost on ), so feel free to drop in and take part in the two maj or b e e r f e st i v al s h e l d i n Stuttgart each year!

As reported here last quarter, Rick Burgess was planning t o r e t i r e a t t h e e n d o f 2 0 10 . H e m a d e i t o f f i c i a l o n 2 1 D e c e m b e r i n Tel Aviv (h e w as

th e Ai r At t ach e t o Isr ael) . H is tw o son s Ju st in an d Josh m ad e it ov er for

the ceremony, and now Rick & Sandra are back in the St a t e s. N o t su r e yet where they’ll settle, but Rick’s looking for opportunities in the Eangley, Colorado Springs, Vegas, Phoenix or Washington D.C. a r e a s .

Got a quick blurb from Mark Baker . He and Diane just se t t l e d i n t o a brand new house in C-Springs, where Mark is serving a s D i r e c t o r o f T e c h nology and Future Concepts, Joint Functional Component C o m m a n d f o r Integrated Missile Defense (JFCC IMD). They’re planning on retiring in the area to get the kids through high school and off to college.

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Peter Bryan t and his daughter.

The pictures are of Peter with his son and daughter following a local pickup hockey game. Peter’s son is a freshman at Towson University in Maryland. His daughter is a junior at The Eawrenceville School (prep school) in New Jersey, and is a very accomplished goalie. She hopes to play Division 1 hockey somewhere after she’s through a t Eaw r e n c ev i l l e .

A n d t h a t ’s a b o u t i t f o r t h i s r o u n d ! T h a n k s f o r a l l t h e n ew s, an d for all

that you do. Until next time, be safe. Ratman

Ray Blust 7 Highland Park Wheeling, WV 2 600 3 H: (3 04 ) 24 2-718 2 C: (3 04 ) 28 1-162 1 rj mablust @comcast .net

Greetings yall and Happy New Year. My mail bag and Poop (I had to explain this term to our ten-year-old daughter -- Poop is just a funny word to her) are quite full. The poop came from Eou Caporici ; he recently re tired from AD and took a job as Program Manager with a C a l i f o r n i a c o m pany called Vista Research, and is working here in Wheeling! Eou and I have been enjoying a lunch every now and then. Lou’s poop bag says that Charlie Garcia has his own merchant banking fi rm in M i a m i a n d c o n t i n u e s t o se r v e o n t h e B o a r d o f V i si t o r s a t U SA FA . O u r fi rst photo comes from Lou’s poop bag at Cecil Gr ant ’s 50'" birthday party.

1.

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i

The Mod Squad - ’83 Style!

I Peter Bryant and his son.

And last but certainly not least, Peter Bryant wrote with an update. He’s still a pilot with FedEx (21 years and counting!), currently serving as an A300 Captain. Peter says there are scads of ’82ers at FedEx, including fi ve from Phantom 24. They include Frank Her man, Johnny Johnson, Chip D o r m an , Br i an Fi n n , an d of cou r se, Pet er.

V i si t t h e A O G W eb Si t e.

Merchandise, Gone But Not Forgotten and m ore! www.usafa.org

Celebrating are Lou Caporici , Cecil and Kevin Car reno. C e c i l i s a c a r

d ealer i n Jackso nvill e, h as 2 son s i n th e AF, on e in college and a daugh

ter living in NYC. Kevin and LeAnn call South Beach i n M i a m i h o m e . H e started his own Law firm while also doing consulting work. They have a son at Florida Inti U. and a daughter in HS. Davey Lawlor set up his home between Sarasota and the Area of Operations. When he’s not busy “over there”, he’s brokering AC in Florida. Dave and Tina Wr ight are camped out in San Antonio as Dave flies for Southwest . They have t wo girls in college.

D r ew W a c k e r i s c l o se t o M e c c a i n M o n u m e n t w i t h h i s bride and 3 year old. That’s it for the Lou poop.

Julie and I headed to California in Sept for Bill Rujevcan ’s wedding. Af ter a courageous 3-year battle with cancer Bill lost his wife. Holly; she was a great lady! Bill then headed home to Hobart, IN for his 30-year HS re union and met up with Kim (again) and the rest is history. P i c t u r e d a t t h e wedding are Marielle (14), Bill, Claudia (6), Kim and M ad ison (10) . Yes, that’s the Pacific Ocean in the background.

12 1

2 0 1 1. So n M i c h a e l i s n ow m a r r i e d a n d i s a TA C P i n t h e Air Force as Sgt .

John (’84) and Gayle (Johnson) Denny write from Cincy w h er e Joh n st ill flies for ABX Air as a 767 FO while Gayle travels around the country as a consultant for Apex Learning. Daughter Grace graduated from Hope Col lege while son Wes is a 3-smoke at the Academy. He is on the golf team and doing well. That ’s it for the mail bag.

Got a nice email from Trish and Jon (’82) (Riley) Kimminau. Jon is st ill AD at Bolling while Trish home-schools their four children: Reb ek ah - 17, Erin-15, Riley-14, and JJ-10. While in the DC area, she was able to meet up with her two basic roommates -- Dawn (Bizub) Androsky and Lynn (Don aldson) Clemons. She also ran into Linda (Telkamp) T o r r e n s a t a h o m e school co-op. Cheryl Newhouse has organized at least 3 ’83 get -togethers, so if you’re an ’83er in the DC area, track down Cheryl f o r t h e so c i al c a l e n dar. Thanks for the e-mail Trish; pictures next time.

N ow for som e AOG offi ci al b u sin ess. For A OG m em b er s (1 guess if you’re reading this, you’re a member) please vote for Beb e (Cr o n i n ) O’Nei l i n t h e 2 0 1 1 B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s e l e c t i o n . Yo u c a n se e her write-up and bio on page 79 of the December 2010 Checkpoints. Voting w i l l b e h e l d f r o m March 31, 2011 to April 30, 2011. Like in Chicago, “Vote early, vote often”.

Congrats Bebe!

Al so for u s m em b er s, n ow i s t h e t im e t o con n ect w i t h o u r l o st n o n

The Bill and Kim Ruj evcan Family.

Al so i n at t en d an ce w ere Ku r t an d Su e (Fer k au ) Nu em an n w h o m a d e

the trip north from Tuscon, AZ. Susan just left the ANG/ USAFR test flight center to join her husband at Raytheon specializing in ops research and simulation-based analyses. Great wedding guys!

Andy and Jamie Lagrone finally made it back home to Texas, n ot q u i t e to El Paso though! With two new knees, a new j ob, Andy’s ready for racquetball -- bring it on. Their son is a senior at Bellarmine U. in Kentucky while daughter Cameron is a sophomore at Baylor. Ben and Maggie Wilson write from Kentucky where Ben still flies for Delta. They’re oldest son. Bo, has signed a letter of intent to pitch f o r the Falcons and enter in 2012 -- Congrats! Ron and Tonia Gr aves write from Virginia where he flies for

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U n i t e d o u t o f D u l l e s. T h e i r so n E r i c r a n X - C a n d t r a c k

for Radford U. and graduated in 2010 while daughter Kathryn has been accepted to Brown U. -- get another j ob Ronaldo, you’ll need it ! Mike and Gisela Shanahan

member souls. Please pass along the AOG address www.usafa.org. O u r 30-year reunion is j ust around the corner and if Bebe i s e l e c t e d t o t h e Board she promised to chair the next reunion. A vote f o r B e b e i s a v o t e f o r a great 30 year reunion!

The USAFA Endowment, a new approach to giving through t h e A O G and Academy, has j ust appointed Dan Schnepf to its B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s.

Dan is currently living in the COS area; his full resume c a n b e f o u n d a t aog@aogusafa.org or at the AOG website under Zoomie N ew s.

Ju l ie an d 1 h ead ed t o San An t on io an d Lackl an d t o cel eb rat e o u r so n ’s

BMT graduation in Dec. While in San Antonio we were a b l e t o h a v e a quick Mexican meal with Robert and Edith Englehar t . M o r e o n t h e Sa n A n t o n i o c o n n e c t i o n s l a t e r a s w e t a k e a l i t t l e m o r e relaxing trip south in Feb. A special thanks to Gayle Yam azaki who has been ou r cl ass Sen at or ; thanks for your help. Also, Gayle got a hold of Al an A r a t a w h o w a s a b l e t o save our left over reunion apparel from the AOG. Thanks guys. As usual please keep our men and women in uniform in your prayers. Our spring article is due to Jon Duresky by mid April. Please send info to duresl^ jb@ a o l .c o m .

Sabre Society Do n o rs

13

M ik e Je n s e n

1 2 0 3 5 M ila m Ro a d

w r i t e f r o m C O S w h e r e M i k e w o r k s f o r t h e E PA w h i l e

Colorado Springs, CO 80 908 1-(8 00 )-G0 -AFA-G0 michaelj ensen@remax.net

Gi sel a i s t h e CEO f or COS A P. T h ei r ol d est son , Sean , entered Army OCS in May while son Kyle was married on 31 Dec. Robert an d Ral i n d a (’82)

Gregor wrote from Louisville where Robert flies for UPS. Their daughter, Rachel is at U of Louisville, and young Richard is 10 and loving Scouts, soccer, and archery. Our final photo (sorry, only 3 a l l o w e d - w i l l se n d the rest to Jon Duresky for the next article) is of Ch r i s (’82) an d Lesl ee (Forsber g) Washer .

3 9 %* ■ M e m b e rs

w w w .us af a 8 4 .co m

www.twitter.com/ usafa84

Facebook Users: Checkout the Class Page on Facebook. Yo u c a n se a r c h it by loading USAF Academy 1984 on Facebook. Thanks V i n c e E a si e r f o r setting it up! We are limited to 1200 words here, so see the “full” story on

lin e!

Thanks for the updates: Howard Hayes recently retired after 26 years of service as the Minnesota Operations Group CC (F-16s). Flying the A319/ 320 Airbus for Delta. The family plans to stay i n D u l u t h . E a c h o f t h e i r three kids is currently serving in the military, so t h e t r a d i t i o n c o n t i n u e s.

Steve Winters left Vandenberg this past August as the V i c e C o m m a n d e r of the 30th Space Wing. He was selected to be the new Air Force Space Command Chair “Space Chair” to Air University as part of the faculty at Air War College. H e retires effective 1 Feb 2011. Married to Carolyn with 3 kids: Gregory (22), Leslie (16), and Jared (I I L Will b e movi ng to Tennessee where he has been hired as Op erations Manager at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

“TransAm” Joe Her ron reminded me of some things Sabre Society Dono rs that have not been released for public dissemination yet, but I can tell you that he is completing his swan 14 song tour living in London working at the Embassy as the Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation. Their upcoming events will be the Royal Wedding this spring, the Farnborough Air Show and the Olympics in the summer o f 2 0 12 . Tw o classmates have come through with RONs from American an d U n it ed ; Mike Burns and Beth Austin, both getting to experience a si d e o f L o n d o n not usually seen by tourists! Unlike many of our classmates with next gen erations being at USAFA, Joe’s oldest son is a sophomore a t H a r v a r d a n d the youngest a 10* grader at the American School in Lon don . Joe i s p ret ty

m

The Washers - M ilitary Family of the Year.

Chris and Leslee are retired, but couldn’t resist dressing o u t o n e m o r e time for the kids. Rebecca finished nursing school i n D e c e m b er a n d w a s commissioned in the Army, while son Jacob is in his freshman year at the USMMA (Merchant Marine Academy) where he, like dad, is playing foot ball. Congrats, guys! Doug and Kim High wrote from COS where Doug is in his 8* year (post AF retirement) as a supervisor in proj ect development at Schriever AFB. One daughter is at CSU and another is in the 6* grade.

Pete and Gerry IHcCaffer ty sent a card from Abu Dhabi w h er e Pe t e i s doing not sure what, but Gerry is glad his 2-year contract is up in March 12 2

su re t h e acad em ic n at u r e com es fr om h i s w i fe, Lesli e, an d h er fol ks, Col

(Ret) John May, Class of ’61. (Joe, we are M ORE than pretty sure!)

Max Batson’s son Chris will graduate this May from C S- 18 . P i l o t t r a i n ing to follow. He’s also getting married in the Chapel o n 4 Ju n e . M ax t a l k e d to Mark Blumenthal last week. Mark’s a UPS MD l l captain i n A n c h o r age. Max spoke with Glen Ewt on. He’s on the 777 in Atlanta getting ready to upgrade on the 320 in Salt Lake City. Max is a Delta M D 90 cap t ain in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Jon (“but I REALLY want to split 10s’’) W i k st r o m and 1 had an all night blackj ack session after the Falcons Bowl victory in Shreveport. Son, Wylie graduates this spring. Jon received a n e m a i l f r o m Sandy McFarland that her son Josh (son of Dillon ’84) an d Jord an Pavl i ch (daughter of Sean ’84) got engaged. Sounds like an August wedding. Josh is a ’10 grad and stationed at LA Space in Acquisitions.

Ed Lorenzini is still working for Raytheon in the DC a r e a . T h e i r so n graduated last year from the Academy. Even though Tom W i l so n w i l l n o t recognize this fact, 1believe, that makes the Lorenzini family, the first fam ily to graduate a generation. Robert Car riedo is in Colorado Springs and just returned from a deployment in Iraq. His second daughter, Maria Christina, is a 3-degree at the Academy.

Speaki ng of Thomas R. Wilson, he reports that daughter Haley (who may be the first female third generation cadet) is a proud Grim Reaper and is “training” Jeff and Brenda Follansbee’s boy C l a r k . T o m a l so l e t s u s know that; Gary Seifr ied is finally a Captain at AA after almost 20 years of se r v i c e . M a r k T o r r e s t u r n e d 5 0 a n d t u r n e d a n a n k l e running across the street. (It’s OK; I ’ve been hurt watching TV.) Jerry Slym an is an S-80 FO at AA and has his oldest daughter playing soccer on a scholarship from TCU . D ave D u n t em an an d h is w i fe are ou t of Ph oen ix , with Dave flying for Southwest. Bobby Sullivan still has a Boston accent ev e n a f t e r 18 + years of living in Kentucky and flying for UPS. Jimmy Mackey is a 767 FO for AA at DEW and spends a lot of time as a big wig at th e Joi n t N aval Ai r

event with a bunch of attendance. Their UAS is replacing the Boeing Insitu Scan Eagle.

Scott Studer is still working for the Florida Air National G u a r d a s t h e State A3. Still gets to fly F-15s. (I REALLY want a r i d e, Scott ; I w r it e for Checkpoints you know!)

Wade Har lan, his wife and two kids have been teaching improved farm ing methods to poor minority village farmers and training h o u se c h u r c h

l e a d e r s i n A si a si n c e 19 9 9 .

K e n n W h i t e r e t i r e d a s a n 0 5 f r o m M i l d e n h a l l b a c k i n ’0 5 . H e t o o k a G S

j ob at RAF Molesworth in order to stay in the UK - H e j u st w en t over 18 straight years there. His wife, Helen, and Kenn celebrated t h e i r 2 6 t h a n niversary last fall.

Mike Benevento and his family have been living in his h o m e st a t e o f Ver m on t si n ce 1998. H e an d h i s w ife, Kr i sti n e, h ave tw o son s, M at th ew

and Calvin. Mike ran for the Vermont House of Representatives this past

N o v em b er.

Chris Rowzee is a guardsman in the 180“’ Fighter Wing, O h i o A N G . Sh e w o r k s f u l l t i m e f o r t h e L o u i sv i l l e V e t e r a n s A f f a i r s M ed i cal Cen t er, an d in

her “spare” time she is an official working D 1Women’s B a sk e t b a l l G a m e s.

(That ’s a lot of “travelling” calls, get it?)

That is it for this edition; keep in touch. Check in o f t e n a n d t h e b e e r i s always cold at the tailgates. GO FALCONS! jens

Frank “Q.” Williams 13 209 Topsf ield Court

He r n d o n , VA 2 0 17 1

(70 3 ) 6 57-3 2 27

St a t i o n i n F t . W o r t h .

I was able to spend some time with Tom as we brought b a c k t h e C I N C Trophy after the Army game. Tom rushed for 17 hot dogs w h i l e I t a c k l e d a 12-pack. John Hanlon was there with his wife and 2 boys, as well as Vic Haynes on a boy’s weekend with his 2 sons. I heard that the “BigGun” Her m an Bak er w as t h ere t oo, b u t w i t h all t h ose can n on s on cam p u s, H er m an d i d n o t st i c k o u t .

Jack Forsythe will retire on 1 May after nearly 27 years of service! He is happy to say that his time in service to our country h a s b e e n a b l a st ! H i s family (Amy, Katie & Rob) will remain in the Washington, D .C . a r e a . Pa u l Suarez and Jack work together in HQ Air Force A8 An update with photos! Marybeth Ulr ich (Peter son) promotion t o O 6 in the USAF reserve last year. Our classmate. Brigadier G e n e r a l E d e n Murrie (Al t) was the presiding official. Eden is on the National Security Council Staff as the Director of Legislative Affairs. Marybeth is still teach ing at the Army War College. In her Reserve j ob, she w o r k s f o r D IA a s t h e Re se r v e a t t a c h e t o M o sc o w . T i m B r o w n i s a l so a t t h e Army War College in an active duty 0 -6 billet in a sister department.

USA FA 1 9 8 5 @a o l.c o m

H ello !

First let me apologize to everyone, especially our w o n d e r f u l C h e c k points editor Tom Kroboth, for not being able to work out anything better on the pictures last time. Again, the pictures were taken on my iPhone 3Gs, which after all is primarily a phone which by d e f i n i t i o n d o e s n o t h av e t h e b e st c a m e r a a n d i t d o e s n o t ev e n h a v e a fl a sh . A n d r a t h e r t h a n r i sk

tarnishing our award-winning Checkpoints magazine by trying to resend sub-par pictures, allow me to simply refer you to our Fa c e b o o k w e b si t e where you can see the remaining three pictures intended f o r u se i n t h e previous Checkpoints. In fact, those of you who are already members, please bear with me as I share info for the benefit o f t h o se w h o a r e n o t yet members and may need this additional encouragement t o b e c o m e members and see the other pictures on-line. We currently h a v e 13 4 m e m b er s on ou r “ U SA FA - Cl ass of 1985 ” faceb ook w eb si t e w h i c h i s l o c a t e d a t

http:/ /www.facebook.com / home.php#/ group.php?gid=230224199744.

And there are 66 photos posted there, most of which a r e f r o m o u r 2 5 t h Reunion (4 out of 5 pages worth). Note the AOG and I don’t get any money from the web site or anything; I ’m j ust sharing info.

Next let me thank Joe McBrearty for sending an e-mail and including a great, usable family picture. Joe said he is in his second year of “return to active duty tour” at Creech. He recently upgraded to M Q- 1 I P. A n d Joe i s now permanent party at the FTU as an IP and the Director o f A c a d e m i c s .

He said this picture is from one of those rare occasions that his stepson (Nick on the far left) is with his wife, Regina, son Lu cas, an d h i m self Th ei r picture was taken Thanksgivi ng day in Las Vegas, NV.

w.

L A S V EG A S G en er al M u r r i e an d C o l o n el U l r i c h

Steve Reed j ust finished up his first deployment fl ying the U-2 again after a 15-year break. He is on a leave of absence from FedEx for voluntary recall to active duty from retirement.

Ed “KTOWN” Knouse reports: Kalimera! (Greek/ Cypriot for good day!). He is still “Living the Dream” in Cyprus (retired h ere in Ju n e 08 as an 0 6!) and “Sharing the Dream” with his wife, Diana, (ak a "Pr i n cess” an d / o r “ T h e Br it Ch ick ” ) an d th ei r tw o Per sian cat s Sakk ar a a n d B a i l e ez e .

Anita Figner Latin retired this summer from Los Angeles A F B w h e r e she was the 61ABW/ CC. She now lives in Tucson, AZ w h e r e sh e l o v e s t h e

w a r m w e a t h e r a n d t h e i r b e a u t i f u l h o m e i n n o r t h e a st T u c so n .

Truly a Flach Sighting: Yes, Steve Flach will be returning t o U SA FA i n

March. He will be coming out for fi rst fl ight as it is going to be quite an

The McBrearty f amily. From lef t are Nick, Lucas, Joe and Regina.

Also, let me thank Ms. Joan McGovern for sending an e - m a i l w i t h a n ar t icl e at t ach ed t h at ch r on icl es a t r ib u t e t o ou r d eceased classmate Maj or 12 3

C la s s

N e w s

Edward J. McGovern, USAF Retired. I have included the a r t i c l e b el ow a n d added a picture of Ed.

writing. Brig Gen Dick Cl ark better come through for h i s c l a ssm a t e s o r there will be a blanket party at the Commandant ’s quarters t o k i c k o f f t h e event - actually, we should j ust plan now for a roof stomp; so Dick - get cracking on refreshments and the football schedule.

Good n ew s is th at w h en w e d o h ave ou r reu n i on , w e w ill be able to go visit with our old friend, the Commander In Chief Trophy - a s i t w i l l b e back at USAFA where it will hopefully stay for a good long time.

Speaking of BGs - saw my old roommate Daryl Hauck is o n t h e o n e star list - so congratulations to D and Leslie (Lester) - there were many others, however, and congrats go out to all who were on this latest promo t i o n l i st .

Maj or Edward J. McGovern, USAF Retired To honor the memory of Maj . Edward J. McGovern (USAF Ret ., U SA FA ’85), fellow U-2 pilots and friends attended a dedication cerem ony at the new U-2 Mission Procedures Training Facility at, P ' Re c o n n a i ssa n c e Squadron, 9* Operations Group, 9'*’ ReconnaissanceWing, Beale Air Force Base, CA. Many of the pilots and friends were in the Sa c r a m e n t o a r e a t o attend the SS* Anniversary of the U-2 Dragonlady Association.

As an instructor pilot and evaluator in the U-2 Dragonlady program for t welve years, Maj. McGovern was respected for his leadership, exceptional airmanship and gifted instructional abilities. As a d u a l qualified Command Pilot in both the U-2 and T-38,

Major McGovern amassed over 460 combat hours fly

ing U-2 reconnaissance missions in multiple theaters, including seven tours as a deployed operations officer and three tours as a deployed squadron commander.

He was a recognized, preeminent operational and training expert. His dedicated efforts to U-2 moderniza tion initiatives, such as the new glass cockpit and avi o n ics upgrades substantially improved the U-2’s combat capabilities and ensured its viability into the future. Maj.

:)(

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'S'

Sabre Soc iet y Do n o rs

12

M cGover n w as a lead arch it ect in th ese ef fort s an d h e

subsequently taught several generations of U-2 pilots to employ this ad vanced system. His leadership and instructional abilities w e r e se c o n d t o none, exemplified in his selection as the P' Reconnaissance Squadron In structor of the Quarter 3 times and Instructor of theYe a r i n 2 0 0 3 .

He was a recipient of the Bronze Star while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following his retirement from the Air Force after 20 years, he continued to serve his country in government contracts t h a t w e r e i n t h e best interests of the US in helping to fulfill our national security obj ectives throughout the world. During this time he had the opportunity to pioneer and be an integral part of some of the Air Force’s newest remotely-piloted aircraft. He was employed in Afghanistan at the time o f h i s d e a t h .

Fellow aviators honored his legacy to the U-2 program a n d o u r N a t i o n ’s defense by dedicating the new U-2 Mission Procedures Training Facility at Beale AFB in his name on Sept. 10, 2010. A portrait of h i m , w i t h Lak e Tahoe in the background, painted by a friend, was unveiled and will hang there. Because Lake Tahoe was one of his favorite places i t se e m s t h i s i s a perfect reflection of Ed’s love of flying and being a U-2 pilot and instructor.

(Written by Stephanie Roberts, dear friend and coworker.)

Finally, there is an obituary posted on the Memorial W a l l o f t h e V e t e r ans Airlift Command (VAC) web site: http:/ /wvw .veteransairlift.org/ VACMemorialMcGovern.htm. TheVAC is the charitable organization se l e c t e d

For those of us not making BG and waiting to get SERBd as we drag our feet into retirement from this military life it would be great to hear from some of you on Facebook to do some old fashioned “net working” (or as we called it back in the day “reporting around for a coke”) to help make the house, car, tuition, braces, e t c payments. - just go to USAFA Class of 1986 group and ask to j oin - we check your credentials and before y o u know it, you are back in touch with - as of now - 140 o f your classmates (and a few Russian teenagers looking for rich American ticket to US, our admittance process Sabre Society has some gaps, nyet?). In all seriousness - we run a Do n o rs tight operation so if you are on FB - j oin the group - i f you aren’t, just ask your kids to show you how.

8 On the email side of the house - I got a great note from Grandpa Jerry Heikkinen who is retired down at Tyndall AFB - he is a long-time reader, but was waiting for something re ally great before he sent in a submission.

“I retired from the Air Force back in 2008 following a n F - 15 c a r e e r .

Now I ’m flying QF-4 Phantoms as a civilian DoD employee in the Weap ons Evaluation Group at Tyndall. We’re the squadron that provides aerial targets (full scale F-4s and subscale BQM 167s) for al l o f t h e D o D A i r - t o Air missile test programs, some Surface-to-Air programs (like Aegis and Patriot), as well as the operational Weapons System Evaluation Program.

It ’s a fun, challenging and plain old fantastic j ob that gives me the op portunity to keep contributing to the Air Force mission. We’ve currently got three retired USAFA graduates here flying and remote-controlling the Ph an t om s: m e ( 1986), M at t L aCou r se (1978), an d V in n i e Far r el l (1983)

plus Tom Mudge (Central Washington Univ). One of our j okes is that when t h e F-4s w ere m od ifi ed i n t o d r on es, w e h ad t h em m ove the ej ection seat back enough so us nearsighted old guys could still r e a d t h e i n st r u m e n t panel . . . Another bonus: my son Tom Heikkinen is in t h e U SA FA c l a ss

of 20 13, so w h en h e cam e h om e f or Ch r i st m as vacat ion w e w e r e a b l e t o get him a Phantom sortie. He flew with another pilot of cou r se, b u t w e

both flew in the same Phantom on the same day! See photo. Plus, I ’m a new grandfather... (Mallory, 9 Dec 2010) She’s the biggest miracle in my life right now. We’re absolutely blessed.” Score! But Jerry, you could’ve/ sh o u l d ’v e w r i t t e n so o n er .

WWW

by Ed’s family and donations in Ed’s honor can be submitted t o t h e m .

Take care until next time. Sincerely, Q. Bo b Co le lla

9247 Nort hedge Drive Springf ield, VA 22 153

rka sc o le lla @ve rizo n .n et co le l la r@n d u .e d u

(70 3 ) 4 55-3176 Facebook Group: USAFA Class of 8 6

Greetings Classmates! We are getting close to our 25* Reu n ion , b u t th e dates for the event won’t be released by the time I have to submit this up date, but likely are already in hand as you read this. T h e f o o t b a l l sc h e d u l e determines the homecoming dates, and that is still up in the air as of this 12 4

T h e H e i k k i n e n s 19 8 6 v s 2 0 13 !

The Colell a Clan went down to sub-freezing Florida f o r C h r i st m a s a n d

just missed the Bartczaks - Summer and her girls departed a s w e a r r i v e d

but did leave some merchandise for us to purchase -- w e d i d r u n i n t o JT Taylor and his family all decked out in arch rival Irish-wear- see photo. i t ’s high-school-aged son Brent is an aspiring USAFA cadet , an d h i s daughter Laura is currently a junior at (who could have guessed?) Notre Dame. (The hoodies don’t come with paid tuition, unlike U SA FA .) T u r n s out all of us were all staying at Shades of Green. I didn’t have any paper to write down all the particulars, so he gave me his b u si n e ss c a r d - h e i s at Nellis running the ISR Center, and just be warned, w h e n I d r u n k - d i a l e d him and told him I was in a Vegas j ail and needed to get bailed out, he laughed and said, “I get this call 3 times a week brother - YOYO (you’re on your own)” - so if you only have one call. . .

As for us in Disney - 1got a new watch cap - with a mouse logo - appar ently that is why it cost so much, but it goes with my USAFA parka - and we froze with the record low temps but Sam (my 10-year old son) enj oyed his fi rst trip to Disney as did Allie (16) who had been 10 years prior.

4

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II MI

Steve Lee’s pinning-on ceremony,

The Taylors: Laura, Brent , Renee and JT.

J

It w ou l dn ’t b e Ch r ist m as w it h ou t card s an d let t ers i n t h e m a i l f r o m t h e

Malfers, Sutherlands, Faulises and Bartzcaks and by all accounts they

are all doing well. Steve Sutherland’s son Brian is n ow a j u n i or at West Point and Steve is off for a 6-month tour in Afghanistan w i t h t h e C o l o r a d o AN G w h ere h e con t i n u es t o serv e as a fu ll Colon el - our prayers go with you. In Hawaii, the Mal fers report nouns like:“Triathlon” a n d “ I r o n M a n ” and not as spectators - so apparently life continues f o r M a l f a t f u l l a f t e r

a Re se r v i st a t Jo i n t B a se L ew i s - M c C h o r d w h e r e h e i s on the Wing Staff.

Additionally, he serves as an Admissions Liaison Offi cer f o r t h e A i r F o r c e Academy and is an Assistant Chief Pilot for Delta Airlines o u t o f t h e Se a t t l e base where he flies the A-330. Steve and his wife, Suzan n e, h ave a fiveyear-old son named Alexander.

A s m en t ion ed earlier, ou r cl ass h ad an aw esom e n u m ber of new Briga dier Generals selected by the latest board, including superior representa tion of former AFA Prep School students, “preppies.” Here is a photo taken at the Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City on January 2P‘ 2 0 1 1 a t t h e B G - sel e c t party that was so graciously hosted by our new Generals. Way to go fellas!!

burner (including their dog, Sydney, recently clocked a t 2 5 .2 M P H - - i n a

15 MPH zone!). I just did a Triathlon with my son; w e h it D u n ki n D on u t s, Krispy Kreme, and Mr. Donut - and we are going to sit d o w n t o w a t c h I r o n Man on the Sony HD Plasma - kind of the same, but kind o f d i f f e r e n t .

Lastly, to complete the trifecta - got this update f r o m C a r l M a r t i n o n

Fa c e b o o k :

Brigadier General (Select) Roger Teague and I recently a t t e n d e d a c e l ebration of tbe 40th Anniversary of the Defense Support Program on orbit operations here at the Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (N GA S)

facility in Redondo Beach. Roger is the current Director of the IR Space System Directorate at LA AFB and I ’m the Spacecraft Operations Manager

for DSPhereat NGAS. Roger was our distinguished speaker a n d I se r v e d a t emcee for the event. I was proud and happy to announce Roger’s nomina

t ion for BGen t o t h e cr ow d an d th at h e w as a m em b er o f t h e b e st A i r Fo r c e Fa l c o n t e a m o f a l l t i m e !

25 years -- it is getting to be that time and since time is getting short , I am looking into surgical options as none of this stuff that I buy at 2 a.m. (can’t sleep worrying about the future) seems to getting me any closer to those abs of steel I planned to wear to the reunion . . . See all of you soon!

B o b C o l el l a

John & Carolyn Sammart ino

loman AFB, NM, where he is currently the Vice Wing C o m m a n d e r . H e

3 1 0 7 Wo o d s Cove La n e

Woodbridge, VA 22 192 H: (703 ) 4 9 2-549 2 W: (703 ) 808-6 234

j s a m m a r@ve rizo n .n et

Here we go again ’87 - not too many inputs this month, b u t t h e r e i s HUGE news with all the new ’87 Brigadier General selects, but I will get to that shortly. Here is what ’s been happening around t h e w o r l d o f ’8 7 . . .

Steve Lee wrote in from Joint Base Lewis-McChord (formerly k n o w n a s

McChord AFB) to congratulate the class of ’87’s fi rst general. Steve had the privilege of attending Brig G e n Balan (Bal) Ayyar ’s pinning-on ceremony performed

by SECDEF Gates this summer. Balan was the Mili tary Assistant to the SECDEF until j ust recently when he pinned on the STAR and became the Commander, Air Force Recruiting Service at Randolph AFB, TX. (See photo at the top of the next column.)

“This picture is of me and Balan at my pinning on

Jim Marrs, Dave Stil well, Tom Sharpy, Joe "Gus" Guastella, Jejf McDan iels, BJ Shwedo, and Tom ‘Big” Deale.

Dave, Jeff, BJ and I were all prep school students together, and Dave and I were reminiscing about our days in Korea as airmen before we even got a chance to attend the Prep School! Everyone promised an update soon as we ran out of time that night at the Ritz, and I plan to hold them to it!

Either that or we can all catch up at our 25'^ reunion which is j ust around the corner next year.

I also ran into Dave Sullivan at the BG party; he was i n t o w n f r o m H o l

mm

promises an update on a bunch of folks also, hopefully f o r t h e n ex t i ssu e .

On a lighter note, got an interesting email from Jay Tung - he claims that a copy of our class’ Contrails was “on sale” on A m a z o n . I d i d n ’t c h e c k it out but heard Fred Mahony was hot on someone to buy it. Apparently, it ’s been there for at least six years, so maybe there i s n o r u sh . H e r e ’s t h e link if you are interested http:/ /wvw .amazon.com / Contrails-Force- c a det -handbook-305-16/ dp/ B000100ZIG. Marc Munafo is making a play to be the next class scribe I b e l i ev e - h e was hosting a book signing up in Huron, OH (his hometown) i n F eb r u ary for his second book; check it out on Am azon.com: Enlightenment for the Knucklehead: A Real Man’s Guide to Happiness (978 14 19669026): Marc Munafo: Books. It is also available on his website, a n d c a n b e o r

dered at most major book stores through Ingrams publishing d i st r i b u t i o n .

Marc’s website is wvw .enlightenmentfortheknucklehead.com ... H ey M arc, how about writing us some mega updates for this column n ext qu art er !

That ’s it for this go-round; take it easy and fly safe!

Sabre Society Do no rs

ceremony where Bal was the presiding offi cer. (Steve 12 Lee, unidentified, BG Balan Ayyar , Todd Ray) Bal is d o ing awesome as always and has a great wife (Kristin) and three wonderful kids (Vasan, Leela and Meera). C o l i n C a r r i s al so h ere at M cCh ord an d is t h e Com m an d er of th e 728t h A ir lif t Squadron. My good friend Brad Johns (BJ) retired from the service and is a pilot / instruc tor for Boeing. BJ missed the Air Force so much that he recently returned

JO I N T H E SA B R E SO C I ET Y! Y O U R M O N EY H E L P S F U N D CA D ET W I N G P R O G RA M S T H A T W O U L D O T H E RW I SE G O U N F U N D E D .

CA L L T H E A O G F O R I N F O .

I I 1

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back to active duty for a three-year Germany assignment. BJ an d h i s w i fe, Marcella, have three great kids (Bradley, Eric, and H an n ah ).” St ev e i s st ill

12 5

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N ew s If that is not enough evidence as to how small this world is, my most re cent encounter should make you a believer. Earlier th is w eek , I w as i n l i n e at the DFAC (dining facility) to get my food. Walking t o w a r d m e i s a n A i r

Craig McCurdy

Force Col on el . I l ook cl oser, an d it ’s a cl assm at e o f m i n e f r o m t h e A c a d

4 6 9 9 2 S m it hw o o d Co u rt Pot o m a c Fa lls , VA 2 0 1 6 5

Cell: (202 ) 570-30 58 ccicdj mccurdy@yahoo.com

Thank you for all of your letters and pictures. I had t o e d i t so m e o f

them in order to meet my word and photo limit . Send m e a n e m a i l i f I missed something that you wanted posted. Craig First letter is from Michael Miller : In the span of on e w eek , I en coun tered 3 people that I never met prior to now, but they know people from 3 different “circles” of my life. This week I ran into a c l a ssm a t e - h er e a r e brief snippets of those encounters. i iiiiiit '

"r

L t Co l M i ch ael M i l l er

The first encounter was with a guy named Jim Rooney. H e w o r k s f o r

m e an d I rel ocat ed h i m from on e FOB t o an ot h er. H e h a d t o c o m e i n t o the HQ where I am located to get to his new location. O v e r l u n c h w e c h a t

ted about the reassignment and the usual “where are you from?” types of questions. Turns out that he played football in the ’80s for Syracuse Uni versity. When I told him I grew up in Yonkers, NY, he immediately asked me if I knew “Chubby” Jenkins. I laughed and said, “ O f course I know him! Not only that, but we were just t o

gether in March for my class reunion. Additionally, h i s wife and I grew up together. Well, needless to say h e

:4

Hi;

just because I said I was from Yonkers, didn’t mean I

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m e n t i o n e d Yo n k e r s.

Sabre Soc iety

was astonished! He said he thought it was a long shot, kn ew h i s for m er t eam m at e - b u t h e h ad t o ask w h en I

D«( I

The second encounter involves a guy by the name of George Smith. George is from Arkansas and is a true biker/ hunter. George was new to the AOR and I struck

Do n o rs

13

up a conversation. When he mentioned he was from

Camden, AR I told him that my company has a presence t h er e . H e a sk e d me the name of my company, and I told him Aerojet. He laughed, and

emy. I yelled his nick-name, “Rosie”, and we spent lunch reminiscing and recalling how much we enjoyed seeing each other at t h e r e u n i o n i n 2 0 0 8 .

As we parted company, I told him to tell his wife’ Li n d a (an oth er cl ass mate)’ hello! He sent me an email the other day saying, “ M i k e - L i n d a found out you were here from a note your wife sent to Checkpoints. She sends her best and a hug (sorry, only one per TDY from m e ) .

How about that! Pretty neat stuff! I think it’s neat h o w G o d a l l o w s o u r lives t o con n ect an d in t er sect w i t h oth ers in var i ed and unpredictable ways. For me, it demonstrates that I am never alone, a n d t h a t H e i s w i t h me no matter where I may fi nd myself in this great big world!

The second letter and photo is from Gary Helfeldt . “ I r a n i n t o R i c k L o Cast r o at t h e v isit o r cen t er Sat aft er n oon w h il e I was giving Mike Tepley, Rick Watson, and Ron Swanson a tour. He arranged a press box VIP tour for us, and we picked up the other classmates listed at the LIFT tailgate before the game. Wish you were there!

“An impromptu gathering of ‘88 classmates came together i n a m a t t e r

of h ou rs an d cu l m in at ed i n t h i s m i n i -reu n i on cl im b for a falcon’s eye view

overlooking the Air Force - Utah game. Not quite the climb up to Eagle’s Peak, but it was the highest point in the stadium. F r o m l e f t a r e M a t t M i l l e r (Prep School), Mike Tepley (Ret; TeraLogics), Rick Wat son (JFCOM / I G) , Rick LoCastro (l OABW/ CC), Ron Swanson (General Dynamics), R i c h Mandeville (Prep School), Joel Witzel (Center for Character a n d L e a d e r

ship Development), and Gary Helfeldt (USAFA/A6). Thanks t o c l a ssm a t e

Rick Lo Cast r o for t h e VI P t ou r of som e of t h e b eh i n d the scenes activity at

a Falcon football game.”

The third letter is from Kip Turai n: I figured I ’d assist in helping you fi ll the ‘white space’ with updates from those I ’ve seen over the past months.

I ’m enj oying the first 5 months of my tour at Ramstein A B, as th e Com mander, 521st Air Mobility Operationsw ing. TheWing is very ‘non-tradi tional’, as it focuses on aircraft maintenance, aerial port , and command & control for Air Mobility Command aircraft / aircrews transiting the Euro

pean & Southwest Asia areas. There are some 3,000 people in 2 Gr ou p s, 12 Squadrons, and (depending on the day) 14+ detachments/operatin g locations, in 15+ countries. Needless to say, Tm racking up the frequent flier miles and every once in a while I find myself “ T D Y t o R a m st e i n .”

said, “My wifeworks for Aerojet!” I said, “Noway.” H e t h e n a sk e d i f I k n ew

Jim Valetutti. I told him that Jim and I are part of the contracting leader ship at Aerojet, and we work together regularly. To that he replied that he and Jim are hunting buddies, and ride bikes together. So o n t h e c o n v e r sa tion became one Jim Valetutti story after another.

The third encounter in the span of 5 days was with Boyd Long. Boyd fin ish ed h i s 6-m on t h t ou r an d w as h ead ed h om e. H e w or ked for m e, b u t

we never met . I took the opportunity to get acquainted by asking where do you work when you’re state-side. He said that he worked in Dayton, OH. So I asked by chance if he knew Col. Doug James. H e l o o k e d a t m e and said, “He’s my commander!” As you know, Doug and I a t t e n d e d t h e

Academy together (he was 2 years ahead of me), got o u r m a st e r s’ f r o m

AFIT together, and most recently, worked together at SMC (Space & Mis sile Command) in Los Angeles. I told him about our time together and how he would often have us over for dinner whenever you joined me for

duty. I asked him to tell Doug and Pam hello for me.

^Oit foryourBoardofDirectors

Please vote for your choice of candidates for our upcoming Board elections. The election will be conducted from March 31 to April 30 2011.

Yo u r v o t e c o u n t s!

12 6

Gilster, Regenor and Tur ain Enough about me... the first photo is of Tom Gilst er , w h o i s i n A F R I COM . We have the good fortune to see each other as our son’s participate in the same Olympic Development Soccer Program. Jim Regenor is also smiling from ear to ear, and is the Commander, 521st Air Mobility Opera tions Group at Rota NS, Spain. We talk regularly, but to my chagrin it is

mostly on e-mail. The three of us ran across from each o t h e r a t t h e A i r l i f t /

T a n k e r A sso c i a t i o n C o n v e n t i o n i n O c t o b e r 2 0 10 .

Pa u l W . Tib b et s , IV

379 AEW/ CV

s

A PO A E 0 9 3 0 9 Ho m e : 0 1 1 -3 9 -0 6 5 -4 2 2 -1 9 2 2

E-mail: p2a2t ibbets@gmail.com or p2a2 me.com Class web site: htt p:/ / www. usafaclasses.org/ 1989/

Hello classmates. Unfortunately, I have some sad new to pass on. Will share the letter our class president, Don Simpson, sent recently: “USAFA ’89 Classmates and Friends, I am writing to i n f o r m a n d a sk f o r your extension of deepest sympathies to Trace William s (CS- 12), h is w i fe, Beth, and daughters Hailey and Hannah. I was so very sa d t o h e a r a b o u t th e death of Tr ace’s son A aron on D ecem b er 9t h , 20 10. I d i d n o t h av e t h e

honor or pleasure of knowing Aaron but have learned so m u c h a b o u t t h i s bright and kind young man since the tragic event in December that I feel confident in saying that he would have been a remarkable man to know. My heart goes I 1 out to the Williams and I pray for the calm that belief in greater good and higher power provide. Aaron was an aspiring doctor with a lifelong goal of helping t h o se ' Ok who are struggling with illness and hardship. The Wil Sabre Society liams have set up a memorial fund in his honor at the Do n o rs Medical University of South Carolina in hope that Aar b e on’s desire to bring aid and comfort to others may 10 fulfi lled by assisting other students to become doctors.

If you would like to make a donation to the Aaron Wil liams Memorial Scholarship Fund, you can do so by personal c h e c k m a d e payable to: The MUSC Foundation, Aaron Williams Memorial Scholarship

■Im

In other news, I wanted to update everyone on the fi nal wrap-up of our 20-year reunion class giving. As you will recall, we set a goal of raising $150,000, with the maj ority of these funds supporting t h e C l a ss o f 19 8 9 Heritage Trail plot to honor our classmates who are “ Gon e, Bu t N ot For gotten.” This proj ect was realized, and many of you w e r e a b l e t o a t t en d t h e d e d i c a t i o n w h e r e w e h o n o r e d o u r f a l l e n c l a ssm a t e s and paid special tribute to Kevin Shea, who was killed in Iraq. As additional f u n d s w e r e raised, we identifi ed several worthy cadet projects w i t h t h e a ssi st a n c e o f the AOG to support . Although we fell a little short of the ultimate goal , I have good news to pass - thanks to your generosity we are able to provide the proposed $26,300 to the cadet flying club! Many thanks again to each of you for your selfless giving.

My friend Eric “Shmo” Chandl er wrote with exciting news: ‘wife, Shelley, retired after 23 years of service! Congrats to all. The Chandler family had a busy year with trips from coast to coast visiting grandparents, and a little vacat ion t o H aw aii . Grace (7) an d Sam (10) are b oth heavily involved in Suzuki piano. Shmo is still serving as squadron commander a n d ex c i t ed a b o u t t h e r ec e n t ar r i v a l o f n ew e r B l o c k 5 0 F - 16 s. G r e a t to hear from you!

A l so h e ar d f ro m Sc o t t an d M el i n d a M a d i so n w h o ar e st i l l enjoying the Chicago area where Scott is flying the Super 80 for A m e r i can a n d M el i n d a i s teaching 4* grade. Their traveling took them to some diverse places this year, from a Caribbean cruise to the Boundary Waters and Disney World. The holi days were spent with family in Minnesota. Thanks for the update guys!

Lastly, Chris Kulas (379 EOG/ CC) and I enj oyed a visit from a couple classmates recently at our “undisclosed location” in So u t h w e st A si a . A l l a n D ay , 22 M XG/ CC at M cCon n ell an d Jeff Tal i af er r o , 28 BW / CC at Ell sw ort h ,

spent a few days here for a Force Providers conference. Great opportunity for some cross-talk with several of the wings that provide the aircraft and mx/ ops personnel that make the mission happen. Good t i m e s!

1

Fu n d , 26 1 Cal h ou n St reet , Su i te 306, M SC 182, Ch ar l est on , SC 2 9 4 2 5 . O r

via online donations at: http:/ /www.musc.edu, click o n t h e “ M e d i c i n e” link on the right side of the page, click on the “Online Giving - Donate N ow ” lin k , u n der “ D on at i on In for m at i on ,” sel ect “ Oth er ” from the drop

down menu, type “The Aaron Williams Memorial Scholarship F u n d ” i n

the space provided, and complete the donation information. If you are unable to give money, then you may give blood to the A m e r i c a n R e d C r o ss i n t h e n a m e o f A a r o n W i l l i a m s.

“The tragic circumstances of Aaron’s untimely death a r e su ch t h a t T r i -

Care will not cover most of the medical expenses making t h e h e a r t b r e a k

that much more unbearable. If you can afford to give, i t w i l l m a k e m o r e of a difference than can possibly be imagined and I encourage you to do so. James Thompson has setup a PayPal account to direct f u n d s t o t h e Williams family. The PayPal address is: PayPal, usafa89TraceWill i a m s@ yahoo.com, put in the notes of transaction, “Donation f o r T r a c e W i l

liams”. If you do not have a PayPal account, you may st i l l c o n t r i b u t e v i a :

https:/ /www.paypal.com / cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_butt on_id :=B5BNA 7W CYM CC.

“The link will take you to a donation web page where t h e r e w i l l b e a l i n k on the lower left side of the bottom of the page for you to follow. Please take a few moments to help if you can and also to send T r a c e a n d h i s f a m

ily a note (williams5family@yahoo.com). Respectfully, D on Si m p son , Presid en t , U SAFA Cl ass of 1989.”

Received a note from Steve Nordhaus (actually from h is w i fe. Sh an non...thanks!) with an update on their whereabouts. Spock recently took command of the 180*'’ Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air N a t i o n a l G u a r d i n T o ledo. They have been in Ohio for 12 years and have 5 k i d s. P r ev i o u s a s signments include Homestead, Shaw, Kunsan, and Mountain H o m e .

1 j I

ki Allan, Jef , Chris and I enj oy some time together in t h e A O R .

That’s awrap for this quarter. Still looking for any retirement or deploy ment stories, so please drop me a note so I can pass them along. Best wi shes to you and your families. Take care and God b l e ss!

Mike Shepherd 38 0 1 Derby Circle Quartz Hill, CA 9 3 536 (6 61) 266-213 3 michael.shepherd@edwards.af .mil Cla ss We b S it e : w w w .u s a f a 9 0 .c o m

This was shaping up to be a quiet month when I received t h e sh o c k ing, sad news that Mario Mathis passed away overseas o f n a t u r a l c a u se s.

Few details are available, but our condolences go out to his wife, Aida. We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

As I alluded to, the mail bag wasn’t exactly overflow ing for this edition, but I did receive a couple of updates to relay from two of our recently retired classmates.

Charles Lee completed twenty years in the intel career Sabre Society fi eld and retired at our first opportunity and resides i n Do n o rs San An t on i o w h ere b r i d e, Su san ’s, civil i an career w i th

The Nordhaus f amily, Christmas 2010. From lef t are Steve, Sha n n on, Noah and Austin (7), Whitney (20) and her boyf riend Andrew, Clay (18) and L u ke (9) .

the Air Force is in full swing, but left him with enough 6 time to adopt a new dog. “I spent a lot of time at o u r r e union reminiscing with Chris Menold about CS-30 and some of our characters.” Also announcing his retirement from active duty was Bob Watwood, who served 20 years in the Army and is working on several proj ects for USG and looking for the next j ob. His family is voting for a m ove t o Color ad o aft er a w i n t er ski vacati on .

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C la s s

N ew s

I began the New Year with a trip to A1 Udeid AB, Qatar a n d r a n i n t o classmate Mark "WX" Weather ington . Mark is the Chief o f t h e A CC E N T Commander Action Group and has been extremely busy hustling around the theater ensuring ops are running smoothly for his b o ss. M a r k w i l l complete a year in theater this summer and then is se l e c t e d t o t a k e c o m mand of the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AEB, SD flying B-l Bs, marking the fourth summer move together with bride, Stephanie, a n d t h e i r t h r e e girls. He will also have his hands full bringing the Reaper on-line, as an MQ-9 squadron is scheduled to be activated by Jan 2012, b u t w el c o m e s any classmates traveling his way for a visit.

Our class was able to enjoy a mini reunion of sorts a t t h e “ K a sb a h ” O -

/

i

I

clu b in A1 U d eid , w h ere Som Ch ai Od om , D ave Al m an d , WX an d Joe “ Bo”

Deane were able to spread some Christmas cheer together. I d i d n ’t c a t c h what exactly brought the group together, but do know Dave was running the Air Mobility Division of the Combined Air Ops Center. I n o t h e r d e ployed news, Ray Luevanos is fi nishing up a tour as an Air Expeditionary Group Commander and is due home in May.

Proud papa Marcus Schul thess with son Kyle while preparing f or Af ghanistan deployment.

Carl Brenner provided an update on the rest of our c l a ssm a t e s a t A i r War College. “Assignments are trickling out for the Mighty 90 Grads at Air War College. Ted Det wi ler is headed out to Altus as Ops Gp/ CC. Kyle Voight will cross the pond to serve as vice commander a t RA E M i l d e n hall, probably as a geo-bachelor. John “Bugs” Bunnell will further develop

h i s sou t h er n accen t s in Fl or i d a. Joh n w i ll serv e as V i c e C o m m a n d e r f o r the 505th Air Command and Control Wing. Scott Arcuri , M ark B r ow n , TJ

Coulter , Jr., Paul Kasuda, Jill Singleton and myself are still awaiting news o f o u r f a t e s.”

As the rest of you all get news of your own fates, please send me a line as to your whereabouts. Look forward to hearing from you, and enj oy a safe and prosperous New Year. Mighty 90! -- Flash Som Chai Odom, Dave Almand, Mark “WX" Weatherington a nd Joe "Bo” rocking the Kasbah at Al Udeid AB, Qatar.

Closer to home, I received some Christmas letter updates. M i k e “ Z u l u ” Contratto will be promoted to Colonel this spring, and will pack up the household goods with Laurie and move to Eglin as the vi ce w i n g com mander at the 46"’ TW. Always the musician, Zulu has j oined daughters Sophia and Liza taking piano lessons to keep up with Laurie who plays piano for their church. Two other piano playing daughters are gracing the Colorado home of “Team Greene” where Kelly (Kr atochvil ) G r e e n e i s spending more time since her retirement after 20 years, 1 day of USAF service. Chris (’89) and Kelly took the children to M a u i t o c e l e b r a t e r e t i r e ment, which coincidentally lined up with their 20-year wedding anniver sary, which the pair celebrated in Napa Valley!

Ca rso n Tave n n e r 6 8 2 8 Ra c c o o n Co u rt Wa ld o rf , M D 2 0 6 0 3

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(20 2 ) 23 1-248 4 DSN: (312 ) 4 28-24 84 Home: (3 01) 374-2752 Carson_wendy@comcast .net

2011...wow! It’s a big year ahead for us all, in many different ways. I think of those who have long before made the transition t o c i v i l i a n st a t u s and look forward to enj oying the unity of the reunion a h e a d . T h e n t h e r e are classmates whose military careers have dramatically a c c e l e r a t e d su c h that passing 20 is j ust a cool milestone on the way to 30, including many who won’t be able to j oin us. And I think of those w h o h av e m a d e t h e military a career yet now see their transition to civilian st a t u s ah e a d a n d wonder what unexpected j oys and challenges the change will bring. This is a year in which we all ought to refl ect on our common heritage with c el e b r a t i o n .

By the time you’re reading this, if you’ve not already heard a great deal about our reunion, then your email is clearly not updated o n t h e c l a ss website. Help us help you, and get your email updated, please. Since you can find information about the re u n i on on u saf a9 1.com , Faceb ook , an d Lin ked i n , I w on ’t

Team Greene: Kelly, Chris, Oli via (age 7) and Amelia (age 10) at the Grand Wailea Luau, Maui together with their new Hawaiian f riend.

Marcus Schulthess is no stranger to Maui since he is working at the Starfi re Optical Range at Kirtland AEB, NM and travels t o H aw a i i sev e r al times a year to review proj ects at the AFRL telescope on top of Mt Haleakala. Marcus is preparing for a deployment to Kabul, w h il e b r i d e, San dr a, w i ll h old d ow n t h e for t w i t h ch ild ren A n ik a, Ad am an d 1-year-old Kyle.

(See photo at the top of the next column.)

Not letting Marcus hold the youngest child record for long, Geoff Geness Gr izzard checked in announcing daughter #2 was on the way - he and MaryAnn are expecting another daughter to j oin Sophia in the Spring.

Phil Wielhouwer and Val enj oyed a busy summer leading up to Air War College, flying his fi ni-flight in the A-10 and taking t h e i r f o u r c h i l d r e n t o watch a very memorable launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery from Cape Kennedy - “the sheer magnitude of such an endeavor makes you proud t o b e a n A m e r i c a n !”

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bother giving you info that by now is three months o l d .

But I will say “Thank You!” on behalf of everyone to t h e friends in Colorado Springs helping us get this thing t o gether. If you’re in the USAFA area and have not been Sabre Society helping out the reunion committee (I was tempted to Do n o rs print your names here), we need you to make contact and contribute some time and effort , please.

9 We have a bunch of 0 -6s in our ranks! I never pub lished this list last year, to my recollection. I j ust k n o w all these folks must be getting comments from their 0 -6 peers and the generals about how much younger the Colonel ranks are looking these days. Congratulations, of course, to all of you! If we’ve missed anyone, please let us know!

Tony Bauer nfeind, Paul Bauman, Ken Bibb, Steve Bleym ai er , Angie Cadwell , Jim Clavenna, Chris Craige, Ken D’Al fonso, Jim Dutton, Stacey Hawkins, Chris Hill , James Hodges, Corey Mar tin, Brian Newberry, Erik Rundquist (who rolled out to Bagram, Afghanistan to t ake a on e-y ear command of the Mission Support Group this summer), Ji m Sear s, Tr oy Thom as, and Dee (Ferguson) Witham . So who’s going to b e t h e fi r st t o put on a STAR, is what I want to know.

So what’s up with the rest of the class? I’ve been hearing from a lot of folks as I plan my retirement ceremony. Here are the quick bits: Mike Hower will be retiring this summer, going on a 5-week A l a sk a v a c a t i o n with his little boy, and then will take the Chief Technology O f fi c e r / C h i e f

Learning Officer job at a small knowledge management / IT company in Kansas. Ida (Lee) Widmann is in the Springs waiting for Rob to get back from his latest deployment. She retired last August - along with several other preppies, I imagine. Laura (Gray) Foglesong is servi ng in Kabul; she got there in time for a Christmas dinner of goat with h e r N A T O b u d d i e s.

Laura expects to be moving to a San Antonio assignment in July. Tony Clavenna is in Charleston, SC. He works in the maintenance group there and has spent quite a few of the last years working w i t h t h e C - 17 . K ev i n Quamme is at Langely AFB, and Jerome Osur man retired a t L i t t l e Ro c k this past December.

Then there’s the substantial update I received last year from Jim Parco, but could not fi t into the previous column (you might remember reading an article in the previous Checkpoints magazine that highlighted Jim ’s recen t publication): Josh SmitJi got married a few years ago and just had their fi rst child: a little girl named Quinn. He and his wife, Zoe, live in Portl an d , OR. They are both attorneys. She’s an assistant DA and Josh i s an in tell ectu al property lawyer. Chris Sullivan is an 0 -5 and still i n t h e U SA F. H e PC Se d from Hickam (PACAF HQ) last year and is back at Scott working at TACC. He started skydiving a few years ago, and just took his son Jack, w h o’s ab out 5 or 6, into the wind tunnel for his fi rst freefall experience l a st m o n t h . H i s w i f e and daughter Callie just looked on! Dan Zubryd is still w i t h t h e Re se r v e s b ut al so fl ies for Jet Blu e. He lives in Ch arlest on with his wife, Amy, and daughter. Big news there; maj or house remodeling. They are very happy and content. Zub’s sorry he didn’t run for governor [last] year. Mike Gingras is doing hi-tech civilian work in northern Virginia, which apparently doesn’t keep him busy enough as he and his wife. Nan, just h a d t h e i r n i n t h c h i l d .

That has to be a class record. (I ’ll say! Any takers?)

Jim Parco works with Tom Jah n at ACSC. They are both planning to re tire this summer. Tom plans to stay in Montgomery and b e c o m e a c e r tifi ed financial planner. He still plays tennis and is the undisputed local champion. [John Greco and Mike Hower (mentioned earlier) a r e a l so a t Air University but apparently don’t have such a great tennis game].

Jim co-founded a company, www.repify.com, and has written a couple of books recently with another grad (Dave Levy, ’88). Th eir fi r st . The 52 nd Floor: Thinking Deeply About Leadership (highlighted in the previous Checkpoints volume) came out in 2008. Last year, they put out Attitudes Aren’t Free: Thinking Deeply About Diversity in the U S A r m ed F o r ces a n d do a lot of public speaking and workshops. Great update, Jim! I hope to learn from your experiences.

And to close out, here’s an update on something new in my own life. My wife, Wendy, and I have been put on staff with the A sso c i a t i o n f o r C h r i s tian Conferences, Teaching, and Service (ACCTS). This g r o u p su p p o r t s the work of the Association of Military Christian Fellowships (A M C F ) which those of you active in OCF and MCF might be familiar w i t h . A C C T S does work with several nations in Europe, Africa and So u t h A m e r i c a .

Wendy and I are on the China team, which is building a strategic vision for providing ethics training and spiritual leadership for professionals in China. This has been an exciting move for us, given our mutual passion for that country and its future. Turns out we are also the youngest couple on staff ...by far. I think they’re telling us that they expect a lot of hustle and sweat on our part . If you’d be interested in knowing m o r e a b o u t w h a t Wendy and I are doing, please let me know and I’ll be happy to give you

to our destination in Italy all in 5 hours. We really are enj oying traveling around Europe and have a year and a half yet to go. If you come out this way. I ’ll be disappointed not to hear from you.

Let ’s get rolling! My fi rst e-mail was from Layne Kasper w h o i s f a st earning the title of my most frequent writer. Layne m a d e i t b a c k t o t h e Zoo for the AFA Baseball Reunion in September. Troy Simon and Layne represented ’92 well “ ...with Troy catching almost the entire game and Layne keeping both of his hamstrings intact.” Troy i s t h e C EO o f t h e G r e e ley Medical Clinic in Ft. Collins and lives there with h i s w i f e a n d t w o k i d s.

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Layne and Troy at theAFA Baseball Reunion.

Col (Ret) Charles Rush sent me an update on Trevor Rush, who you may remember cross-commissioned into the Navy upon graduation.

Trevor eventually became a Navy JAG and later attended the UVA to get his Master’s of Law. He then wrangled a slot teaching law at the Army’s JAG school adj acent to UVA. He left in May 2010 for Afghanistan to lead a team to establish an Officer’s Legal Course for the Afghan military. Thanks to Trevor’s dad, we are once again up to date on Trevor.

m o r e d e t a i l s.

Well, that wraps up another column. Shorter than usual, but these days I ’m feeling “short ” anyway. Here’s to seeing you soon, w h e t h e r i n o n e Washington or the other. We’ll party from the Potomac to the Puget!

Enj oy your spring, ’91. Your friend, Carson.

Ja m es S . M e ht a PSC 3 , Box 1 5 1 5 A PO A E 0 9 0 2 1 DS N : 3 1 4 -4 8 9 -6 0 7 7 Ja m es m e ht a @u s .a f .m il Ja m e s m e ht a @e a rt h lin k .n et

Greetings awesome cl ass of 1992! I ’m writing to you fr om 36,000 feet ov er t h e At lan ti c. Wh at b et t er t im e t o h ave a few moments, or say

9-t hours, to write my column? And, since I ’m traveling internationally, a plastic cup of red wine to help the thoughts flow ...

We continue to enjoy our Germany assignment and squadron c o m mand is everything I had expected it to be. Since we will only be here for 2 years, we are traveling every chance we get. W e h a v e m a d e sh o r t trips to Prague, Hamburg, Munich, and many nearby destinations. A f t e r Christmas, we made an amazing drive through the mountains o f n o r t h e r n Italy to visit some of Michelle’s cousins who live in the Alps. Sarah, my 4-year-old, looked up from the iPod from time to time t o a sk i f w e w e r e in another country yet. And, on one day we could answer yes each and every time. We drove from Austria, through Lichtenstein an d Sw i tzer lan d ,

Trevor wearing his Combat Christmas Santa Hat f rom Camp Alamo out side Kabul, Af ghanistan.

1992’s Drug Czar ! Sean Lawler has been a Special Agent w i t h D EA (Drug Enforcement Administration) for several years and was working investigations in New Jersey. He had a unique opportunity t o m o v e t o Et .

Worth, TX with his wife, Ann, and two boys Ethan and C h r i st i a n t h a t I ’l l let him describe: “A year ago, the DEA had an opening in the Aviation Division flying our Learj et and asked m e to put in for it . Even though 1was having a blast o n t h e streets in New Jersey and NYC, this was an opportunity I coul d n ’t refu se, so w e t ook th e t ran sfer t o Ft . Wo rt h ,

TX. I ’m flying the Lear and the Cessna 206 now, and will be working up to be a Stan pilot in both eventually.

Sabre Society Flying the Lear for DEA has already taken me through Do n o rs out Central and South America, with the most trips t o Bogota, Colombia. My most high-vis trip so far was 10 to extradite a high-level drug lord from Jamaica a f ew months ago. His organization was fi ghting the army and 76 people died in the firefi ght.” How ironic that Se a n l e f t t h e A E a n d went to the DEA and became a pilot anyway!

Sean passed along an update on Cris Fer ris. Cris is living in Raleigh, NC and flying KC-l Os full-time in the AF Reserves at McGuire A F B , N J. Er i c Moeller (’91) also lives nearby in Keller, TX. Eric is flying for American Air lines and Sean recently saw him at the Air Force/ TCU game in Ft . Worth.

Sean said the hardest thing about leaving New Jersey was having to give b ack h is seized I n fi n it i G35. N ow , t h at ’s w h at I call a G O V !

Rokaw on the move. After 5 years, Mike Rokaw is leaving t h e w a r m 12 9

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weather of LA and heading off to Newport, RI for Naval War College where he will freeze to death. As Mike says, “I have already bought my eye patch and parrot and am practicing saying, ‘ahoy’ and making my kids greet me as ‘The Captain.’” A few notes from some of the boys. Gary Jenkins got married last October and is commanding a training squadron a t V a n d e n berg. Art Primas is the Chief of Safety at A1Udeid. Jay Schueler still lives in Tennessee flying for FedEx and is in the Reserve flying congressmen around on DC visits. Tommy Roberts works in NIL Troy B r a sh e a r i s o u t in LA after a short stint at ICAF and is expecting h i s fir st ki d . El ai n e (Ri ley) Sersun is out here working for Quantech and just bought a house and planting some roots. Dave Radem acher flies for FedEx with Jay, but lives i n M o n u m en t Co l o r a d o .

I can always count on Nicole (Foster) G r e e n w o o d t o

Chr istmas car ds. keep me on her Christmas card list. This year, she and her family are once again on the move. They will be PCSing after 5 years in Colorado Springs and her husband, Jeff, is waiting on a command assignment after pinning on Lt Col this past year. Jeff Stamp’s wife, Al isha, always includes me on their Christmas card list and the Stamps have an exciting year ahead. Jeff is retiring this summer and he and Alisha are moving t o T a n z a n i a w i t h their three children where Jeff will teach History to high school students at the Haven of Peace Academy (HOPAC) with the sponsorship o f t h e i r ch u rch .

Craig Allen

4 4 0 W illow Co u rt

78% M e m b e rs

Warrensburg, MO 640 93 H: (6 60 ) 747-808 8 C: (660 ) 8 64-5374 keggerallen@embarqmail.com

Spr ingtime 2011. There has been good snow here in Missouri t h i s w i n ter and that has meant a lot of sledding, snow forts and treks through the woods. It’s been cold and football season ended quite rudely in the Allen house. Air Force had a great bowl game win down in Shreveport, but then the Jets went up to New England and beat the Patriots in the playoffs. I can’t stand t h e Jets. Rex Ryan and company are one of the most unlikeable teams of all time. Bart Scott’s postgame rant was pretty funny though, when referring to the Pats defense he said, “They can’t stop a nosebleed”. I had Sabre Society to laugh at that one. Anyway, we’re ready to thaw out D o n o rs and move on to spring. I heard from a lot of people t h i s quarter. It was an eventful end to 2010.

7 Dave Kirby sent me a note from a deployed location, where he and Ryan Cr aycraft are fl ying the MC-12. He said there are a lot of grads deployed there and that he likes the fl ying.

Dave included a pretty cool picture of the two of them an d t h eir crew , in combat gear in front of their airplane. Dave and Ryan are on the right and they are the pilots of this combat platform. I suspect the other two guys are the specialists who work in the back of the plane. I think the guy with the Saints hat is the door gunner...reminded me of the guy in Full Metal Jacket, only instead of repeatedly saying “Git some, git some” as he goes about his work, he says, “Who Dat, Who Dat?” V v

T h e St am p s

True Blue Germans. Well, not actually Germans, but st a t i o n e d i n Germany. I need to fi nd all the ’92 folks here in Germany and organize a lunch or happy hour. Off the top of my head, Mike Florio and Tony Shenk are here as I mentioned last quarter. Maybe this summer PCS cycle will bring a few more in addition to Bob Seifert . If you’re headed this way or are already in Germany, shoot me a note.

Old Tarantulas. I missed Bob Seifert’s redeployment since he bypassed Germany, but am looking forward to his tentative PCS to Germany this sum mer. The funny thing is you’re probably wondering what squadron Bob vdll be in.. .well, it’s not Bob’s PCS; he will be the dependant moving to be with his wife, Amy. Amy is an allergist who tentatively has an assignment to I^ dstuhl Medical Center. Old Man Bob is retiring this su m m e r. Si n ce h e w as a Preppie, he has one year active duty more than most o f u s an d r ea ch es 2 0 t h i s year. We’re hoping to have them live close by and see t h em a l o t .

Dave Kumashiro is finishing up National War College a n d i s h e a d e d t o a CSAF Fellowship as his follow-on assignment to another federal agency i n t h e D C ar ea .

Aufweidersehen. Keep my mailbox full and for those of you who have access to the Defense Social Network (DSN), the original so c i a l n e t w o r k ing technology, give me a call. Until then. Tr ue Blue ’9 2 , Ja m es.

M ic h a e l D. S u n d st e d 1 8 0 5 M a ca d a m s Pla ce Alexa n d ria , VA 2 2 3 0 8

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From Right: Ryan Craycraf t, Dave Kirby and two members of their M C-

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Steve Goodman sent me an expanded update after he appeared i n t h e last issue, in a picture with Todd Hudgins. Steve is in Okinawa serving as the 31st Rescue Squadron commander. He is enj oying the Guardian Angel community, where he says he gets to do plenty of “jumping o u t o f a i r planes and doing other cool stuff ”. Unfortunately, his Rambo gig is com ing to an end, as he is headed to the Pentagon this su m m e r . St ev e sa i d h e and his wife, Kris (Vanderberg, ‘95), have really liked living in Okinawa with their two sons. They have traveled extensively arou n d t h e Pacifi c, including a visit with Todd and his family in Hong Kong recently. On that trip, much like the Griswalds taking a side trip to see t h e h ou se of m u d , they were able to take a gondola ride up a mountain t o se e t h e W o r l d ’s largest Buddha. Steve also reported on some other ‘94 grads in Okinawa.

Dave Eaglin is there as the 67 FS/ DO; Daymen Tiff any i s t h e 9 6 1 AW A C S/ DO; and Dave Mineau is the 18 OSS/ CC. A solid group o f R e d H o t s o n t h e i sl a n d t h e r e .

Class Websit e: www.highf light .com

for your Board of Direct ors (7 Sabre Society Donor s) {Editor’s note: We did not recei ve an input f rom M ikef or this issue. Please send him your inf o and photosf or the next issue.)

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Please vot e for your choice of candidates for our upcoming Board elections. The election will be conduct ed f rom March 31 t o April 30 2011.

Yo u r v o t e co u n t s !

R. Tra v is Ko c h 1 0 0 Trie st e Blv d .

Panama City Beach, FL 324 07 W:(8 50 ) 283-4 23 1 DSN 523 Ho m e : 8 5 0 .2 4 9 .8 8 2 0

Cell: (8 50 ) 4 99-8 24 2 richard.koch@tyndall.af .mil t raviskoch@yahoo.com

Spr ing has Sprung: It is warming up here in the frigid panhandle of Florida, April and all. Sorry to everyone north of the 30 degree latitude line. By the way. I ’m sittin’ here, watching the Grammy’s and the banj o player from Mumford and Sons is sporting a Gold Class C o l o r B a se b a l l Cap. “YouTube” it if you don’t believe me. The Avett Brothers had a pretty sweet performance too; they’re no Johnny Northon but still pretty good.

Cee Lo Gr een i s a freak ; t u r n s ou t , h e an d Cu r t i s Gr een

Todd and Steve on their way to see Buddha.

Another healthy ‘94 contingent is up in Alaska, at Elmendorf, according to an email I got from Roel Zam or a. He is there as t h e c o m m a n d e r o f t h e 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron. Also there with Ro el a r e Ro b “ B r u tus” Jackson, flying with the 90th FS; Dave “Piff ” Piffarerio commanding the 302nd FS Reserve squadron; Greg “Doc” Miller , who c o m m a n d e d t h e 19th FS and now works in the Ops Group; Dave Ham commanding t h e Maintenance Ops Sqdn for the AK ANG; and Mark “Otis” Sn o w d e n w h o is the 3rd Wing Chief of Safety. This ‘94 team does a good job helping the Russian Bear bombers stay on their proper route of flight. Roel also said he recently saw Deb Lovette who stopped through on a trip to Korea with the CJCS. Deb is a special assistant to Admiral Mullen and gets to travel quite a bit in that capacity. Roel included a picture of h i m self . D eb an d “Tiny Elvi s” from Base Ops that day. I told him I was going to need a little more on the signifi cance of “Tiny Elvis” before I included i t i n t h e a r t i c l e .

He said he was inspired by an SNL skit our senior year and bought one to take on spring break. Roel’s had it ever since, documenting a l l k i n d s o f trips and events with it in his photos (including one of Tiny Elvis and his newborn twins). An impressive tradition...a bit creepy, b u t h e a ssu r e d m e that Tiny Elvis doesn’t talk or give him orders.

are cousins. (Ms. Green, no, your son is not cousins w i t h this guy, j ust like he did not perform a “break-off ” o n MTV back in the day. We’ll call it our fi rst “April Fo o l s” of this article. Send our best to your family.)

N o r t h e r n T ex a s : I w e n t o u t t o a m a i n t e n a n c e - d e a t h -

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spiral course at Sheppard and ran into a ton of grads.

Joining me for the course were classmates of ours, Sabre Society Do n o rs Halsey Burks, who is flying C-17s at Dover, Ben Mai tre who has hung up his epee and is the MC-130 Sq/ CC 6 at Mildenhall, and Sean Slaughter , the most interest ing man in the world. Ben was happy to see the “dap” I ’ve been passing the USAFA Fencers lately and Sean sa t i n t h e c o r n e r and drank Dos Equis the entire time. Joining us was “ Re d - H o t t e r ” C o n ner Blackwood (’94), who is the Reapers DO at Lakenheath and provided the English Ales for the BCS Championship game; “Proud t o B e ” D a r r e n Hall (’93), hoopster extraordinaire turned C-21/ CC at A n d rew s; “ Tr u eBlues” Don “Big Papa Pump” Groves (’92, Hurlburt) and B r i a n “ Tw o - fi n ger-death-punch” Porter (’92, Yokota); “Bold-Colder” Andy Leshikar (’91, Hickam C-17/ CC); and “Mighty-Ninety” John Reimer (’90) who is flying EC- 130s at DM. Reimer wanted me to remind all the Willy grads from back in the day about Wes Hallman’s safety speech about “carci n om a, melanoma, some kind of noma.” The one non-grad in the c l a ss w a s D av e “Radome” Radomski , and we all sat around making fun o f h i m a n d h i s Yellow Jacket ’s butter-sandwich pre-game meal. HOW ’B O U T T H E M FA L CONS! Sorry, Slam. We took a trip down to LM -Ft. Worth for some propa ganda and a photo shoot:

1, m Ro el , D eb an d Li t t l e Elvi s

I ’ve seen several people recently, including Cary “Pistol” Cu l b er t so n ,

w h en I fl ew a B-2 ou t t o N ell is in D ecem b er. Pi st ol i s t h e D O a t t h e F - 16 Weapons School. We only had a quick lunchtime visit, h ow ever, as I h ad t o

take the stealth bomber redeye-flight home after just one day there. It was good to catch up with my former roommate. I also had l u n c h w i t h B r e n t “Raygun” Brockinton on a T-38 flight through Holloman, N M . Raygu n is the OSS/ DO there, flying Predators. We even got to stop by his son Luke’s elementary school on base for a geography-bee. Raygun’s w ife, M ered it h , was there too and I got to see Luke cruise through the fi rst couple rounds of questions, before having to leave to fly home to W h i t e m a n .

Eric “Rock” Void checked-in from Sheppard AFB. He is there fl ying T38s as an IFF instructor. He said his wife is finishing up her degree at the local Midwestern State University and that their two young boys are doing well in school. I heard from Carla Hunst ad, who is living in her native Minnesota. She said she met up with Dan Bunts a n d C h r i s St o f fel at the AF v. Utah game this season. Finally, Mike M or gan p r ovi d ed a

live update from the AFC Championship game in Pittsburgh w h i l e I w a s

writing this article. He and wife. Tiffany (Reitnauer ), w e r e i n a t t e n d a n c e at Heinz Field. It turned out good for his Steelers, who will be moving on to the Superbowl against the Packers (so glad they beat those dang Jets).

Thanks for all the input this time. Keep me posted and have a great Spring - Kegger.

Givi n’ ’em the “ Dog-Face” !

Guess which guy went to Georgia Tech? There are a load o f o t h e r ’9 5 e r s flying at Sheppard: Mark Lewi s (co-captain for the ‘Young Guns’ softball team), Andrea (Rolfe) Themely, Tony Mulhare, Steve Lygren, Chad Meyer ing, and now-Reservists Brad Seger , Marcus Gregory an d Jam i e M o ss.

Ran into some of these guys down at Toby’s smokin’ cigarettes with all the Europeans. By the way, if you have not had a Frisco Burger at Gene’s Tasty Burger in Wichita Falls, you are missing out.

Idaho Rules: We were out in Idaho last summer. That place is righteous, especially Boise. Took a look at the “Smurf Turf ” and am not going to lie, it ’s obnoxious. Also got to hang out with Andy Kerkm an (’79). Actually, I have no idea when Andy graduated but it was forever before us. That guy i s a r i o t . H i s w i f e i s b e a u t i f u l a n d sw e e t a n d h i s kids play lacrosse. Fantas tic. Aaron Kerkm an (’93) is now up near DC. How do I r e m e m b e r w h e n Aaron graduated? Because he and Fred Phal en (’93) were a l c o v e m a t e s with me and Pugh and we used to find them curled up in the fetal position n aked on th e b at h r oom fl oo r .. .w ow . A n d rea (Ker k m an ) a n d M i k e M i l l e r

(’94) are over in Germany. Dre is a M SS/ CC and was happy I sent Andy a Penguin shirt . Millhouse is the Comptroller Sq/ CC over t h e r e .

Here are a few other Lacrosse Team miracles: John Conmy (’92) is on his way to CC in the desert, teaching the Iraqis how to fl y Mi-17s. Dave 13 1

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Abba is commanding the 94th FS. Those guys flew ten F-22s into Tyndall a few months back and it was HIS SQUADRON. Righteous. It gets better; Dave and Carla are also foster-parenting a ton of kids (they’ve had seven so far). Great to see and hear how well you all are doing. Rick and Cathy Bol ander are gearing up for their fourth kid! Mike Conley (’96 and former Magic Bus DJ) is two years below-the-zone (2BTZ) to L t C o l . M i k e F e l l o n a (’96 and former Magic Bus DJ) is an Air Staff Officer in Madrid and fights bulls in his spare time. Tim Morris and I are taking so m e b r u t a l c i v i l i a n personnel management course together. I got to fly w i t h B r i a n L ai d l aw (’97) the other day, he’s 2BTZ. Buck Rogers (’97), Chris MacAuley (’98), Rob Makros (’98), and Shane Vesely (’98) are also all BTZ to LtCol. Wacky.

Thanks, Coach Leary.

single parent operations going on at the Cunningham h o u se f o r t h e n ex t 4 1/2 months. It ’s tough to transition from man-to-man t o z o n e d e f e n se and in the spirit of March Madness our twi ns have been posting up on me. Thankfully, I have wonderful friends and neighbors here willing to help me every day.

On to the updates: Norm “Jaws” Vuchetich, F-15E IP at Seymour John son AFB, NC shot me a quick email. He is the Chief of Wing Exercises and Inspections. When I heard from him they had j ust passed a P h a se 1 O K I and were spinning up for a Phase 2. Not the best time to probably solicit an update but he humored me. Earlier in the year he a n d h i s w i f e t o o k a 10 day scuba trip to Hawaii and had ringside seats a t a n u n d e r w a t e r t u r t l e fight. Hopefully Norm has another trip scheduled to decompress from the latest inspection.

T h e Pr o u d A O Cs

Random Updates: Russ “Dirk” Driggers dropped me a note from Europe.

He’s drinking good beer in Germany, planning some strategy a t U SA F E . B o b Wack er is out th ere t oo, as th e D O for th e w eath er Squadron at Sembach.

Jason Pal m a is al so th ere in th e 3AF. Brian Pat t er son is doing some good work for AST but has recently won a yodeling competition f o r t h e G e r m a n equivalent of American Idol. Mike Henkelman was in t o w n a n d c a m e ov er for a steak dinner. Henks is living in Scottsdale, flying F-16s and 737s for Southwest. Had a drink with Matt VanWieren recently. Eggar lives in Jack sonville and just adopted a child to add to their other three. Jeremy Durtschi is taking over as the OSS/ CC at Holloman. I called t h e n ew To n e ch i l d “Alice” in my last issue which was incorrect. Allison M o o r e a To n e w a s b o r n July 30th. I fi nally tracked down Rob Kinerson. Bob, Tiffany, and their two boys are livi ng in Kingwood, TX where they are celebrating t h e i r el ev e n t h edition of the Punxsutawney Times and always reminding u s, th e road t o success, “IS PAVED WITH IRON!” Here’s that picture of Mike Thompson, Gabriel Griess and Kevin Sell ers 1couldn’t get in l a st t i m e :

Bringing back the “High-Five”!

Now for the Jon Hamby section of the update. I got t o “ F a c e - t i m e ” w i t h Bone. Technology is fantastic. I know this will shock many of you, but during the Face-time, he was lying on his couch, watching T V B o n e i s st i l l trying to figure out how that Falcon Football player C a d e t F r e e d o m w a s a l l over the field during the bowl game. Nutty. Coach Calhoun, please lose the T-Bird uni’s; thanks. Till then. Keep the Faith, T .K o c h Melissa S. Cunningham 578 5 Ft . Wright Oval

Fa irc h ild A FB , WA 9 9 0 1 1

W: (509 ) 247-1138/ DSN: 6 57-1138 H: (50 9 ) 244-9775 Melissa.cunningham@fairchild.af .mil f c h d r id e r@m s n .co m

The Neilson Fam ily I got a great update from Suzy Nielson (Ledyard ’02) m a r r i e d t o o u r classmate Josh Nielson. Josh and Suzy are still in t h e N Y A i r N a t i o n a l Guard flying LC-130s to Antarctica and Greenland. Suzy gave birth to a little baby boy named Brighton John on Sept 21, 2010. T h i s i s a r e c e n t photo of the Nielsons and also includes their first “baby,” their dog named D ak o t a .

The Rober ts Fam ily Ted Roberts (CS-24) is currently working at HQ AMC a s t h e C h i ef o f t h e Information Operations & Aerospace Integration Branch (A3D I) . H e, h i s wife, Ruth, and two daughters Nyla (9) and Alina (7) have really enj oyed Scott AFB and the St. Louis area. They’re due for a move and anxi ously await word from AFPC on where they’ll relocate this summer. Ted just completed Space 300 in Colorado Springs and earned his Command Space Wings this month.

I recently read the new Consolidated Support Squad ron Command Release and wanted to pass along a sin cere congratulations to several of our classmates taking command this spring and summer: ' <>/{< I Michael Malley is headed to Los Angeles to be a Sabre Soc iet y Block Division Contracting Commander. Ann Igl is go Do no rs ing to Peterson AFB, CO to take the 21st Force Support Squadron. Sara Beth Deaver will be packing her parka 7 (hoods worn up) to command the CE Sq at Grand Forks.

Rich Dwyer has a year in sunny A1 Dhafra to take the 380 CES. Madison Morr is will go to Buckley to command the CE Squad ron . Pat r ick Ob r u b a i s Fairch il d b ou n d t o t ak e t h e CE Squadron. Joyce Storm will be moving the family to Cannon AFB as she t ak e s c o m m a n d of the Logistics Readiness Sq. Jasin Cooley will wrap up his three glorious years of working on a PhD in Gainesville, FL to command the 50 SFS Sq at Sc h r i ev e r A F B .

Greetings from Fairchild AFB, WA! The snow is starting t o m e l t a n d it looks like we are going to have a wonderful Spring in the great Pacifi c Northwest. Fred deployed for a tour over in Qatar until June so I ’ve got 13 2

Thank you to the families that sent updates this quarter! I f I h av e n ’t heard from some of you out there in the last few years please take the time to drop me a line and photo!

Here’s to a Happy 2011! All the best! Mel

Melvin E. Maxwell, Jr. 14 109 Kelly Drive

WM

Be llev u e , N E 6 8 1 2 3 m e L m a xw e ll9 7 @h ot m a il.co m m e lv in .m a xw e ll@of f ut t .a f .m il

Greetings ’97ers, Hope this update fi nds you well. Hope everyone had a w o n d e r f u l h o l i day season and is handling the lack of college football b e t t e r t h a n I a m .

Proud of the Falcons for a great football season and optimistic for another great season next year. Al ready ..N" * '-' V ), been working on a few classmates to get set to travel t o I y I Notre Dame and Boise State next year for some great road games. Also, congrats to my wife, Louella, and t h e USAFA volleyball coaching staff who got their fi rst v o l leyball conference victory since 2005 this year and t h e i r fi rst recruiting class is shaping up extremely well. L o o k Sabre Society

m

out for the AF volleyball team next year! Ok, enough

Do n o rs

about Falcon athletics...on to a few updates.

9 I received an update from Bo Luzey, who is the Dep uty Director, DLA Energy Americas East in Houston, TX. Bo recently graduated from the Senior Executive Fellows Program at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government along with 80 others. The 4-week program is designed to help promising upper-level managers develop integrated skills of strategy and leadership. Congratu lations to Bo for completing such a prestigious program.

Capt. Dave Allen US Army Class of 2001 and Maj . Sean Bradley USM C Class of 1997 in S. Marj eh, Af ghanistan. different treatment plans. Please keep Chuck and his wife, Sara, in your thoughts and prayers as he continues to battle cancer. K E E P F I G H T I N G B RO T H E R ! T h a t ’s a l l I h av e f o r t h i s r o u n d . U n t i l n ex t t i m e . . .M e l

P a t Fo x

1520 Pershing Dr., Apt . E San Francisco, CA 94129 pmf6@pge.com

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Member^

Kerrie (Gribuski ) Dunker and her speedo-wearing husband. M a t t Dunker , helped me out writing this update - a huge thanks their way.

Nine years ago I was honored and humbled when they a sk e d m e t o b e their daughter’s Godfather; I hope they felt equally h o n o r e d a n d h u m b l e d when I asked them to assist in writing this update.

Much like parenting, writing class updates pays noth ing, never goes away, and requires subjectively mak ing up white lies...most of which are believed by y o u r audience. Dunkers - as parents of three kids, you’ll b e n a t u r al s a t t h i s.

Before 1 hand it off, I owe an apology to the people

Some quick updates...Tracy (Wal ler) Hasse is in her second year at Re gent University School of law in Virginia Beach and w i l l b e c o m m i ssi o n e d as a Navy LT and JAG officer in 2010; Noemi An tedomenico, Heath Frye and Carrie Wor th graduated from Naval Postgraduate Sc h o o l i n D e c 2 0 10 - Carrie is starting a staff assignment in Stuttgart, Germany with SO-

CEUR; Mike Bailey and wife, Kate (Meyer), are expecting t h e i r f i r st c h i l d

this summer; Quan Truong is married and a sales representative f o r a medical technology firm, Stryker Corporation; Chris Kay and family will

be headed to Andrews AFB to be the Contracting Squadron C o m m a n d e r

after ACSC - congrats to everyone who came out on the C o n so l i d a t e d Support Squadron Command release in December; Nate Scopac and his wife, Cynthia, are expecting baby #2 - Olivia Grace is expected to make her appearance at the end of February. Also, got thisgreat picture of class mate Sean Bradley in Afghanistan from Jason Ausdemore. (See photo at the top of the next column.)

Chuck Creech wrote in this past November. Chuck is st a t i o n e d a t MacDill in Tampa where he flies the C-37A Gulfstream V. Pr i or t o t h at , h e flew the EC- 130H Compass Call down at Davi s-Monthan. In N ovem b er, Ch u ck w as on a m ed ical T DY to t h e M D A n d erson M ed i cal C e n t e r w h e r e

he was undergoing treatment for Stage 4 colon cancer. In recen t m o n th s, he’s been going back and forth between Tampa and Houston working on JO I N T H E SA B RE SO C I ET Y !

YO U R M O N EY H EL PS F U N D CA D ET W I N G PRO G RA M S T H AT W O U L D OT H ERW I SE G O U N FU N D ED .

CA L L T H E A O G F O R I N F O .

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did not mention in the last update. Consider me a ‘ca 2 det in bad standing’, but I chalk up my unintentional oversight to too much time reading Contrails and not enough time at A-Hall getting to know the best of our class. In any case, a big congrats goes out to Max Pear son, Nick Hague, George Granholm , Jay Daniels, Dan Dobbels, and Scotty Rowe. Forget ting Scotty in the last update did not go over well; I ’ve received more nasty emails from fellow ‘wool pullers’ than my Congresswoman r e c e i v e s f r o m Tea Party supporters. Ben Menges, Tate Stam p, and Tosh Smith - enough already with the emails; it was an honest mistake on my part. With that I h a n d t h i s o f f t o t h e D u n k e r s;

So w h en w e fi rst t alked ab ou t h ow t o d o th i s Kerr i e se n t a Fa c e b o o k

message out threatening how she would just use status updates if no one gave us info. Well, apparently no one wanted that because w e got a TON of responses! So many, that we couldn’t use them all a n d st i l l m e e t t h e word limit requirement - so thank you all for the great updates and if you don’t see your update in this edition of Checkpoints w e ’v e f o r w a r d e d i t back to Foxy for the next issue...that is if he doesn’t slack it off on us again.

Re m e m b e r t h e 6 Ps F o x !

Je n n i e St e l d t w a s m a r r i e d l a st su m m e r t o a w o n d e r f u l I r i sh m a n n a m e d

Alan Kidney; they’re happily settled in Seattle. Jenn Fugiel , Jaimee (Otis) Summers, Renee (Fukum oto) Fuels, Heather (Huot) vanMaar tb (‘02), Tim Gonyea, Jeff Engberg, Justin Joffrion & Zach Barker were at the big event. Al an works for Amazon and Jen got a j ob as a 7 7 7 / 7 8 7 si m u l a t o r instructor for Boeing that will start in March. She hopes to continue fl y ing in the Reserves with the 3 I SAS at McChord - the 313'^ already includes fellow classmates Mo Kidney & Justin Tomlinson.

Jamie Rhone is currently deployed to Camp Dwyer in SW Afghanistan supporting the Marines - see the great picture that Jamie sent along. He ended his command tour of 62d Contracting Squadron in September and upon his redeployment, he’s heading to General C o m m a n d a n d St a f f Sch ool (I D E) at Ft Leavenw or th , KS. Jam i e w as cool enough to provide 13 3

C la s s

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updates on additional classmates: Henry Jeffress is currently living back

at USAFA with his wife and daughter where he’s an AOC. Tim Senk engu (TQ Mukasa-Magoye) is engaged and living in LA. He’s very active as a leader in his church and is running a dialysis lab. Steve Pipes and Candice (McBrayer) Pipes are at WPAFB, OH. They have a beautiful baby girl, Si enna, who already has more hair than Steve could ever dream of having.

Dr. Candice Pipes recently graduated from The Ohio State University with h e r Ph D !

W T W '-— ^

preparing for her physician assistant exams. Guess that isn’t enough to keep Chad busy, because he has somehow found time to t r a i n f o r a n o t h e r I r o n m a n t r i a t h l o n ! C h r i s H a r l o w a n d f i a n c e e K a t h l e e n Rock are living in D.C. Chris is a commercial litigator at the SNR Denton l aw fi r m , an d Kat h leen works at The Cohen Group, a business consulting company started by former Defense Secretary Bill Cohen. 1 thought I ’d a l so m e n t i o n t h a t Kathleen is running for the AOG Board of Directors. C h r i s a n d K a t h l e e n recently j oined Dave Lewis and drove to Philly for the long weekend to celebrate Craig Fitzpatr ick ’s wedding, Dave also lives in DC. They had a great time at the wedding and caught up with Beth Fer r i l l , as w ell as James Blanchard and Shawn Kelly (both living in COS) w h o w e r e i n t h e wedding. James is currently enrolled through AFIT in a PhD program at the University of Colorado. He’s been putting that U SA FA M an agem en t degree to good use with his brother by starting Blanchard Family Wines, a wine company based out of the Sonoma Valley in California, a n d h e a l so formed an investment group of ’98ers to get involved i n t h e C o l o r a d o Mountain Brewery in Colorado Springs. If anyone wants to get involved in that, they can contact him at j ames@blanchardfamilywines.com.

Liza (Mar tinez-Perez) Hedden is in Denver. She and h er h u sb an d , JJ, have 2 awesome boys, Rome-4 & Zeke-1, who light up their lives. They’re

a very busy family, running and expanding their family-owned b u si n ess.

“

01/ 08/ 2(

Jamie Rhone with local kids in Helmand Province, Af ghanistan.

Jamie is about to head to Ft. Leavenworth, and anther classmate, Shay War ahomski , j ust wrapped up Army Command & General Staff College there and is heading to Luke to take command of a Communications Squadron this summer. Udi (Heat) Piyasena extended h i s st a f f r o l e a t t h e Directorate of Aeronautical Engineering and helping in the R&D proj ects analysis in the SLAF HQ. After sitting for the staff college selection exam in June, he was selected to go to Beij ing, China following A C SC . A s U d i ’s career continues upward, his family continues to grow; h e a n d h i s w i f e welcomed another boy, Chamitha. Brandon Mar oon is the D i r e c t o r o f Operations for the 730 Air Mobility Squadron at Yokota AB, Japan. He’s been fortunate enough to do some local activities like tour Tol^ o, climb Mt Fuji, scuba dive in Diego Garcia, and his wife’s expecting their third child in April. He just had lunch with Kate (Joynt) B u ss w h e n sh e f l ew

through; Katie flies C-17s in the 517'*’ Airlift Squadron at El m en d orf , A K .

She and her family are doing well and she mentioned sh e w a s h e a d e d t o Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, CA, in the fall.

Peak to Peak Roofing & Exteriors. Jen Bagozzi got out o f t h e A F i n 2 0 0 7 and received her doctorate in physical therapy in 2010. She’s now working in Florida and just got engaged to Matt Laurentz, (’99). They are planning to have an October 2011 wedding.

To continue with the Fantastic Mr. Fox’s updates on t h o se c l a ssm a t e s and friends that may not have walked the graduation parade with us, but are always a part of our class: Paul Fer guson dominated the first two years with us but ended up a shiner after spending a month i n a c o m a a n d r e habbing, truly inspirational recovery. Paul’s now at AFPC working Acqui sition Officer Assignments. He replaced Wade Henning a n d w o r k e d w i t h Susan Olsen and Greg Sevening for a year. He’s now working with Tom Clohessy, husband of Gretchen (Rhodes) Clohessy. Paul and his family live near Scott Chandler , his wife and their four boys. T a l k a b o u t a sm a l l world. Another update comes from Marika Bar to who is i n N ew O r l e a n s wrapping up her PhD in Education. She’s an assistant principal of culture and discipline at a public high school and in her free time plays soccer a n d w o m e n ’s t a c k l e f o o t b a l l .

That’s all the room we have in this update!

Ja m e s W . B usc h

Cell: (83 0 ) 734-2411 DS N: 4 3 6 -1 7 8 5

buschf l 6@yahoo.com j ames.busch@afcent .af .mil

Shiners - greetings from the sands of Arabia. About half way through a 179 to the Deid, and I have to say it ’s been inspiring to see all the great things our c l a ss is doing out here. Seth Deam is the legal advisor to the Combat Operations Division; Marc Maltby was the

I

1

D I RM OBFOR exec t h en l ef t t o b e t h e Com m an d er of

the first -135 Det at A1Asad. Chris Malpass pretty m u c h runs the Air Mobility Divi sion at the CAOC, and Scott Michaelowski is here diabolically planning a maj or t h eat er exerci se. Pau l Jef f or d s is t h e b rai n s of A3; s o o n

i

Sabre Soc iet y Do n o rs

5

headed back to the Academy for AOC duty (wouldn’t have guessed that one). Matt Allen is the aide to the CSAF, an d m ar r i ed t o the former Jana Day who’s pregnant with #1. He promised m e a p ictu re

Udi Piyasena and hisf amily at the Beij ing Olympic St a d i u m .

Chad Connor is the lone Pediatric Cardiologist at Wright -Patterso n AFB. Chad and his wife have a 17-month-old daughter a n d h i s w i f e i s

for your Board of Direct ors Please vote for your choice of candidates for our upcoming Board elections. The election will be conducted from March 31 to April 30 2011.

Yo u r v o t e co u n t s !

13 4

From lef t are Seth Deam, me, and Kevin Lord (2000) conducting uncon ventional warf are against thefi sh of theArabian Gulf

when he gets a free minute, so I don’t expect to hear f r o m h i m f o r a f ew years. I think you get the picture - we pretty much run things out here.

Got an e-m ail fr om M ike H ar t so n , w h o af ter a f an t ast i c t o u r i n t h e C - 9 a t

Ramstein and an assignment to McGuire flying the KC- 10 (great airplane, not so great base), got out in 2007. He and his wife, Laurie, are living in Montgomery, AL where he manages to hold down a j ob a s a n a i r f r a m e engineer for Sikorsky Aircraft Co. He’s currently working o n t h e U SN M H 60R Seahawk program, second cousin of the Army’s Blackhawk.

Fellowship in Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation at the VA hospital.

She plans to continue teaching Anatomy and Physiology o n - l i n e a t A P U S

part-time and will enj oy staying home with their little boy for the year.

Bessie and I were talking again about how great it w as t o see every on e at the Reunion in September. She also recently talked to Kelsey (Ellingson) Kramer; her Husband, Joe Kramer (’99), was deployed, so Kelsey was unable to attend the reunion. Although Joe did return h o m e i n t i m e t o c el ebrate their little girl, Hadley Rose’s 1st birthday. Kelsey is now expecting baby #2 (a boy). They’re at Ellsworth, but moving this su m m er t o Al ab am a f or Joe’s ACSC. Bessie also h eard

from her fellow CS-36 squadmates Aaron Edwar ds, Joann Kenneally, and Kristen (Discal a) Westby. Aaron and his wife, Beth, who live in Greenville NC, had a boy in November and Joann Kenneally who is currently the stationed at Altus AFB had a little girl around Hallow een! Kristen, Josh Westby, and their little girl Taylor (Al Sabre Society Dono rs most 1 year) are leaving Altus and heading to a new a s signment at Fairchild AFB and back into the Tankers.

4 Kirk Olson notes that he is still in the Air Force, b u t considering he’s in USAFA’s Physics Department teach ing, we all know he’s having fun in C. Springs and probably lived up the ski season this year. Also at USAFA are Logan Sission, Jar on Ro ux , Kr i st i n a (Welde) Pina, along with several others; plus some n o w c i v v i e s i n t h e l o c a l area like Jason San Souci , Shawn Thomas working for Boeing, and Jimmy

ii:

M a r t e l l o o n t h e A O G st a f f .

M ike Hartson still making up f or f our years of alcohol deprivation...

Other news came from Danielle (Tutt) Yeager . She separated f ro m th e A F at Travis AFB in Jan of 2010 and now has the fabulous j ob of stay-home mom. She and her husband, Jeremy Y aeger (2000), are stationed at Chievres, Belgium, where he flies the G5 for the SACEUR. They have two kids, A ustin 6 years and Elizabeth

18 months. Sounds like you guys have it all figured o ut , th an k s D an iel l e !

That’s it for this time. Keep the e-mails coming, and if you’re rotating through in the next few months give a holler. -James

In additional baby news, Kristina and Tom Pina are having a baby #4 and should find out this month if they are in for a boy or Girl #4! Brook and Matt Rillos are having baby #5 but this time it is a girl so the first girl of the group. Shelly and Matt Zitzisperger just baby Boy #3 and Marta (Blizniak ) Bonds recently had her baby.

Lastly, please keep Rob Ellis and his family in your prayers as they move to Tanzania to do missionary work with the New Tribes Mission. They de part in early March and will be there for anywhere from two to four years.

That ’s it for now. Send some family pics and certainly so m e f r o m m e e t ing up with other classmates! Later, Jason

Ja s o n S im m o ns 1 0 7 Ha n d s Cov e La n e S ha lim a r, FL 3 2 5 7 9 S im m o ns @USA FA2 0 0 0 .c o m Ja s o n .S im m o ns @u s .a f .m ii

Cl assm at es,

Please send me updates; our class news is only as good as you make it.

I’m at HQAFSOC these days on Hurlburt Field with my wife at Eglin. Since I ’ve been h ere I ’ve r u n in t o som e fam il iar faces. I ran into Jason Goldberg an d w i fe, Br ooke, at M cGu ire’s; M att A st r oth is at H u r l b u r t t o o . I ’m n o t su r e

who is at Eglin, but I know Summer Koons is in the area too working for Ar gon ST; she had a baby boy, CJ, over the summer and is having fun here too.

I’m enjoying Florida myself, but can’t wait for this long winter to end. So much for only freezing two to three nights out of theyear. I can’t complain too loud though, especially when some of you have had to shovel through five feet of snow this year! Hit me up, if you’re in the panhandle, we’ll jump on the boat or float around in my pool with some beers.

Fait h (Hit chcock) Dunn

6 4 2 3 NW 9 4 t h Co u rt Jo h n s o n , lA 5 0 1 3 1 Fa it h d 0 3 @hot m a il.c o m

Hi all and Happy New Year! It is 2011 and that means i t i s a l m o st t i m e for our 10-YEAR REUNION! I am working with Jason Har r is t o st ar t orga nizing some things as we wait for word on the date fr om t h e AOG (w ait ing for the football scheduled to be set but should b e so m e t i m e f r o m m i d September - early October). We know we will need squadron r e p r e se n t a tives from each graduating squadron to assist in getting updated contact info for everyone. We will also need volunteers for t h e Reunion Committee; it would be very helpful to have SVy , a few grads that are currently stationed in Colorado I 1 Springs. If you want to volunteer, please contact me o r

Ja so n v i a e m a i l .

I

Jason and I will continue to keep everyone updated via the Class of 2001 Facebook page, so if you haven’t Sabre Society joined yet , please look it up! You can also go to the Do n o rs AOG Reunion website to find information and update your contact information at http:/ /www.usafa.org/ re5 union/ 2001/ 2001/ aspx. Thanks and see you all soon!!

I received the following update from Raul and Ange la (Feldman) Ochoa: All is good in the Ochoa household and this last year was a year of change. We are enj oyi ng some down time following the birth

of Elsa Marie Ochoa on Dec 11th. I’m happy to say Angela a n d E l sa a r e d o

Su m m er an d CJ Koo n s

I heard from Bessie (Fontenot ) Granier; she noted that she and Jay are ready for their baby to come on Super Bowl Sunday. Jay and she are mov ing to Richmond, VA in the summer so Jay can complete a year training

ing well. She’s a wonderful baby and we are truly blessed! Angela’s looking forward to getting back to the squadron and being a line flyer following her maternity leave. I medically separated from the A F i n N o v e m b e r d u e to an MEB. I ’ve enj oyed the downtime, taking care of some house proj ects and catching up on my long reading list . I ’m not sure what’s ahead just yet but am setting myself up to potentially head back t o sc h o o l i n t h e f a l l .

We’ve heard or seen a few people the last couple of months. Jenna (Shar p) Reed is living in Little Rock; she separated a couple of years ago and is now worki ng in the real estate business. Denny Davi es is our next door neigh bor and we love hanging out with him and his wife. Erica. He recently moved to a Wing j ob to stand up a GAG at Little Rock. Tony Mar iapain made a visit to Little Rock on his way back from the Sugar Bowl. He’s sta tioned at Peterson AEB, flying the Twin Otter and taking the Wings of Blue all around the country. He got married in March and l o v e s m a r r i e d l i f e .

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Jesse Goolsby is wrapping up his time at USAFA teaching in the English Department and is on his way to D.C. to serve on the speechwriter staff for the CSAF and Secretary Donley. He and Sarah have t w o k i d s n o w a n d have really made the most of their time in Colorado Springs. Jordan Col lins is finishing up a tour at the CAOC on the heels o f a m o v e t o M a c D i l l

AFB. Barry Weaver is stationed at Little Rock and welcomed t h e b i r t h o f

their second child, Nolan, in October. Kylene (Grove) Ru t h w h o i s n o w st a tioned in Germany is busy as the interim CC and will deploy in the spring.

Her husband is working USAFE staff and they are making t h e m o st o f t h e i r time with son Gabe. Michael Thompson is at Little Rock going through C-130J transition. He was looking forward to getting h o m e f o r C h r i st m a s to spend time with his wife and two kids. We also caught up with JD Foy, who is stationed at McGuire AFB and enjoying the Phoenix Mobility. He spent quite a bit of time in Pakistan following the tragic floods in the re gion last year. Thanks for the great update Raul and Angela!

Raul and Angela Ochoa with newest Air Force Falcon E l sa !

Josh Slade started a new job back in September as Director o f N o r t h e a st

Region for EADS Defense Security and Systems Solutions n ea r Sc o t t A F B

and was recently engaged to Stephanie Braccini. Greg Ball was just sworn in to the New York Senate and appointed Chairman of Homeland Security.

Mike Reil ly is at Columbus AFB instructing in the T-38, recently got en gaged and is planning a July 2nd wedding in Panama City Beach, FL. Stacy Boggs is living and working in Dallas. She recently w en t o n v a c a t i o n w i t h Tara Copas in St. Kitts and had a blast dancing with the locals and lying on the beach. She also got a chance to meet up with Lisa Jorgensen and her husband for a Cowboys football game. Hector Collazo just got married in

tunity. Laurel is stationed at Whiteman fl ying A-10s but deployed to Ba-

gram for a non-fl ying exec j ob. Brandon is an F-22 I P a t H o l l o m a n b u t i s at Bagram fl ying the MC-12; his wife is a JAG and was T OY at Bal ad , so sh e took her mid-tour to live in a B-hut at Bagram. Teague i s a l so h e r e w i t h the MC- 12s after helping the last F- 15Cs depart Mountain H o m e . T h e r e st of the guys are with the F-15Es of the 336* Fighter Squadron from Sey m ou r Joh n so n AFB.

Pat McClintock wrote me awhile ago and I am j ust getting i t i n t o t h e article! A crazy and wild clash of ’Ol ers and other grads met up at his wedding to Stacie Fakes in Sacramento on September 4 "’ . Pa t P C Se d t o Dover AFB (from Travis) were he is working as a C-17 Ev a l u a t o r i n t h e 3 r d Airlift Squadron

The McClintock Wedding Party f rom lef t in the top row are Ryan Principi ’99, Jeremy Taster '00, Shane Terry, Craig Anders, Andy Rule ’02, Matt Pommer, Pat McClintock, John Flynn ’99, Nate Bump ’02, a n d E r i c W a l d o ’02. Bottom Row: Tom M urphy ’92, Steve Berger, Nora Cho ’02, Ana Ortega, Jachin Finch, M ike Pasquino, Brittany Smith, and Matt Joseph.

Thanks again and keep the updates coming!

Amy Schult z Kauvar 2 3 5 H St .

Salt Lake City, UT 84103 (2 15) 280-1760 amykauvarOgmail Class Website: www.usafa0 2 .org

England to his girlfriend Anthea. Frank and Audra Lyons are at N ellis AFB,

NV where she works as the Operations Officer in the Force Support Squad ron and Frank is the Flight Commander for Network Warfare Operations in the 57 IAS. Frank just did the Las Vegas Marathon and got to run a half marathon at Val ley of Fire State Park with Matt Hall and Ray Rylander (‘03).

Jon Mueller is PCSing from Japan to Creech AFB, NV i n Su m m e r 1 1. A l ex Price and his wife, Keryn, got out of the AF last year a n d m o v e d t o D C t o w ork as a GS w i th D IA . Jason an d Ber n ie (Fel i ci an o ) Sm i t h live in Atlan t a,

Happy 2011!

Bill Johnson wrote to let us know that in September t h e C S- 2 9 B l a c k Panthers of 2002 along with their families held a mini reu n i on i n Or l an do, Fl o r i d a.

GA with their family and are running a production company. Ryan Ander son is stationed in Germany with his family. Jimmy Mikes and his family re cently PCSed to Japan. Bobby Schmitt and his wife, Teresa, just had their

if rst baby, Katarina, on 29 July 2010. They are stationed a t Pet er so n A F B a n d are enjoying being new parents. Kate Kernan and her so n G a b e PC Sed t o

Creech AFB, NV this year. Dave Schichtle completed JAG Sch ool in M on t gomery, AL in late 2009; other USAFA folks there were Cody Fowler , Matt Lund, John Bone (’04), Matt Karas (’03), and Aaron Jackson (’03). D ave passed his bar in Colorado and has been doing civil law, discharges, and courts at Yokota Air Base, Japan and will deploy to JT F-Gu an t an am o Bay, Cuba for 6 months. Chris Geisel recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan and is now pursuing his PhD at Purdue University.

Laurel Lee got several ’01 grads together at Bagram for a photo opporShown in the picture from left are Andrew Beckett (C-17/ McGuire), Joh n Chapman (B- 1/T-6/ Sheppard), Kevin Sousa (Civilian/Washington D C), Bill Johnson (F-15E/ Seymour Johnson), and Patrick McGar ry (F- 16/ Sh aw ).

Carlos Jaym e sent in a photo of him and Paul Scheglov right after New Year’s at Victory Base Complex in Iraq. (See photo at the top of the next colu m n .)

Bagram ’Ol ers f rom lef t are Dan Olthof f, Matt Swanson, Ch r is Sch u l tz, Brandon Zuercher, Teague Bodley, Laurel, Jason Flouston, and Kurt Bruggem a n .

13 6

Carlos has been deployed for 8 months and Paul has b e e n t h er e f o r a b o u t 3 months. They both work in the J6 (Communications) shop for United States Forces-Iraq. Carlos is actually in J6 Forward a n d w o r k s at o n e o f t h e Forward Operating Bases on strategy and policy and Pa u l w o r k s w i t h t h e network side. Carlos was at VBC during the transition f r o m O I F t o O N D a n d is grateful for the experience. While deployed, Carlosjoined a band.. .that’s right, a band and of course, it has an acronym ! His b a n d i s c al l e d M i n i m u m Essential Chords (MEC) and he plays the keyboard and sings! Upon his re deployment, he will be PCSing to Scott AFB to work o n A M C / A 6 st a f f .

tween the graduate community and the AOG leadership. As an adj unct or outreach arm of the AOG leadership, the CAS seeks m e m b e r v i ew s o n relevant issues and attempts to resolve these differenc es. The CAS is consulted by the AOG Board of Directors and provides advice based on member inputs. If any o f you have any concerns or issues you would like me to bring up, please let me know. Also, if ANYONE is inter ested in being the class CAS representative, I will gladly relinquish my position.

Sabre Society Our ten-year reunion is coming up NEXT \ 'EAR! Do n o rs WOW! Does time fly - or do most of our graduates?

The AOG will be responsible for choosing the weekend.

1 As soon as I know ... I will let you all know. The Class o f 2 0 0 2 w i l l n e e d f o u r f o l k s t o f u l f i l l a t l e a st f o u r m aj or

r ol es, w h i ch in clu d e; Com m it t ee Ch ai r, H ot el / En t er t ai n m en t (this always

Paul Schegl ov and Carlos Jaym e Carlos, like many, is excited to get home and celebrate h i s so n ’s b i r t h day two months late, and Christmas! Christmas in the s u m m e r . . . n e v e r sounded better. Good luck Carlos and enj oy reuniting with your family!

Suzy (Ledyard) Nielson and her husband. Josh Nielson (’96), are st ill in the NY Ai r National Guard flying LC-130s to Antarctica a n d G r e e n l a n d .

Suzy recently had her first child, a little baby boy named Brighton John on Sept 21, 2010. He has certainly brightened up their world. Congratula tions Mommy and Daddy!

includes a Food Tasting), Merchandise, and the Golf T o u r n a m e n t ! I t i s a l so recommended that we get Squadron Representatives’ help with early re cruitment and encourage our classmates to attend. I am presenting this information early to our class to see if we would have any volunteers.

Please email me if you are interested.

Off we go. . .

[69% Susa n Lynn (Doyle) Maly (70 3 ) 909-38 30 USAFA2 0 0 3 @gmail.com susanlynnl 98 1@yahoo.com Class Facebook Page: Usafa Zerot h ree

Greetings Bongers, I hope 2011 is off to a great start. Thank you for all of the updates! Elia Hicki e wrote about a mini Bong r e u n i o n a t t h e A i r l i f t Tanker Association last year in Orlando. Mark and Elia Hickie are doing well - they are stationed in Germany now. Elia is flying C-2 1s at Ram st ei n , and Mark is flying F-16s at Spangdahlem. Tenaya (Goc) Humphrey is fly ing C-17s at Dover, Jamie Turner is flying C-17s at C h a r l e st o n i n t h e Re serves, Jill Rodgers is flying T-l s at Laughlin, and Lisa Balias is flying T-6s at Laughlin.

Josh, Suzy and Brighton Ross Gr ah am an d h i s w i fe, Reb ecca, h ad t h eir f ir st baby, Anetta Eliza

beth Graham, on November 24‘^ the day before Thanksgiving. Sh e w a s born in Bethesda, MD. She is an amazing blessing and they are very thankful to God for her. Ross will be heading down t o San A n t on i o, TX t h i s summer for his ER residency! Congratulations to Ross and his family!

ATA mini-reunion. Jill Rodgers, Tenaya (Goc) Humphrey, Ja m i e Tu r n e r ,

El ia H i ck i e, a nd L isa B a l i as a t the A TA .

Dustin Pratt (CS-21) recently earned his M BA from the St a n f o r d G r a d u

at e Sch ool of Bu si n ess. H e n ow resid es i n M en lo Park , CA w it h h is w i fe,

The Graham Family I am still the Class of 2002 representative for Class Advisory Senate (CAS). The mission of the CAS is to serve graduates of the Academy and members of the AOG by providing an expanded two-way c h a n n e l o f c o m munications, based on representatives from each graduating class, b eV i si t t h e A O G W eb Si t e.

Merchandise, Gone But Not Forgotten and m ore! www.usafa.org

Cassie Pratt, where he works for Barclays Capital as a n Investment Banker in the Technology sector.

Jake Hostetler is a flight commander at ENJJPT at Sheppard AFB, TX. He and his wife, Melanie, celebrat ed their sixth anniversary in December. Their oldest daughter, Adora, is almost three and welcomed her baby sister Salem in October.

Carmine Muscarella (CS-13) spent some time over Do n o r s the holidays cutting down a Christmas tree with his (2 ) .

6 little girls: Madison (7), Kayleigh (5) and Gianna He’s not sure if he’s the first grad to turn something l i k e weight room CIC into an actual career...but he spent the last three years as a Fitness Center Director and h a s h a d a n aw e so m e time doing it. He’s now a consultant in the Airman & Family Readiness Center at Columbus AFB. (See photo at the top of the n ext colu m n .)

Also, Keny Ruffin sent in this last minute update about all the Bongers he saw at Nellis AFB a few months ago. While he was there, he stayed with Andy Bogusky who’s flying Reapers at Creech and also h a s tw o k i d s. O t h e r people actually stationed at Nellis are Marc Fulson, Eric Zeigler and his 13 7

Stephanie Cornell and Fiancd Terry The Muscarella f amily at Christmas. Carmine, Madison, Kayleigh, and

G i a n n a M u sca r e l l a c u t d o w n a t r ee.

wife, Sarah (Kotte), who recently separated. Both the F u l so n ’s a n d Z e i gler’s recently made additions to their families, so congrats to them and good luck since now Vegas truly will be the city that never sleeps. Grant Coppin is also there going through A-10 Weapons School a n d Pa t r i c k A n d er so n , M ark H i ck i e, Josh Bou d r eaux , an d Josh Rasm u ssen are all flying Vipers and were at Nellis for an exercise in preparation for deploym ent.

Lastly, Matt Steenman is essentially a test pilot / engineer f o r A F SO C d o w n at Hurlburt Field, Hallie Day is an Aide for the AF/A2, F r a n k i e W o o d s i s a n analyst at Edwards, and Michael Kelley is also taking a break from his day j ob to be an ALO at Ft . Bliss.

Keny sends a “BONG to all of my friends.” Thanks for all of your emails to our class Gmail account and posts to our Facebook page. I look forward to hearing from more of you! Take care, Susan

Of course, consistent with our beloved military’s “hurry up and wait” philosophy, these love birds are currendy anticipating his 365-day deploy ment with the USArmy l Ol st out of Ft Campbell through 2011. They will get married upon his return in March 2012 and move to Australia, where Terry will continue to serve in the Australian Army and Stephanie will play hostess to any classmate that wants to come visit - okay, so 1may have embellished that last part myself, haha...hey, we can all dream. Thanks, Stephanie, for sharing all the info, and best of luck with all the wedding plans!

Ryan and Leigh-Anne (Wither s) Fitzgerald also sent in a wonderful up date this quarter. On June 27, 2010, they welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Reese Ireland (is that not the most beautiful name!)...fi tting, a s i t w a s i n the middle of theWorld Cup! The proud mommy says little Re e se i s a m a z ing and such a blessing. Ryan upgraded to Instructor P i l o t i n t h e RC - 13 5 before heading out on deployment #5 over Christmas 20 10. M eanw h il e, Leigh-Anne (aka “Super Mom”) graduated from Creighton University with Bachelors #2 in Nursing in December 2010. She is also still an Intelligence o f fi c e r i n t h e U SA F R e se r v e s a n d w o r k s a t U SST RA T C O M when on duty.

Breezy (Long) Heddinger 22 17 Republic Ave.

Ab ile n e , TX 7 9 6 0 1

Cell: (719 ) 213-320 5 windyshort 8 2@gmail.com

Happy 2011, everyone! We have lots to cover, so let’s dive right in: Stephanie Cornell separated from the AF in 2007 and h a s w o r k e d f o r GE for 3 years. She recently left “corporate America” t o f o l l ow h e r h e a r t a n d n o w se r v e s o n t h e st a f f f o r t h e Ro n al d M c D o n a l d H o u se o f N o r t h w e st F l o r i d a a s t h e D i r e c t o r o f V o l u n

teer Services. Living in the military town of Pensacola, Steph runs into other USAFA alumni all the time, and sh e h a s a f ew t i d b i t s t o sh a r e :

John and Katie (Rutchka) McGregor ’s latest adven tures include a PCS to Anchorage - another garden spot, if a little more rugged than Australia! Brandon Cole was recently engaged -- congrats! Kelly McPher son is back at USAFA as a Philosophy Instructor and engaged to be married this summer. Enjoy the view

Sabre Society Do n o rs

1

f r o m t h e “ o t h e r si d e” - - o f b o t h Fa i r ch i l d H a l l a n d m a r

r i ed l ife! D erek an d An n e (Ch u m l ea) Po r t l ock w elcom ed b e a u t i f u l b a

by Elise this year. They are both in Oklahoma flying AWACs. To top off all the excitement, OU just accepted Anne’s thesis! Megan (Tod or of f ) Km on and her husband are the new proud owners of WTR Outfitters i n M o n tana...j ust living the dream!

As for Stephanie’s big news...she thought she was done w i t h t h e m i l i tary lifestyle herself when she met her fi ance, Capt Terry Jasch, a mainte nance offi cer in the Australian Army. Terry is on exchange i n t h e U S f o r 3 years, and they got engaged in June 2010 - congratulations!

Reese Fitzger al d’s Baby Dedication, November 2010.

Tom Filber t was deployed this past fall /winter in Kabul, Afghanistan, with the NATO Air Training Command - Afghanistan (NATC-A). H e a n d his unit are mentors/ advisors who are teaching and training the Afghans how to operate and maintain an Air Force, with the end goal being a to tally independent Afghan Air Force (AAF) that supports t h e n e e d s o f t h e government and provides for national security ...so t h at w e (NATO) can step down as the primary security force, and go home! As you all probably know, the end goal is for them to be independent by 2 0 16 . To m d e sc r i b e s this deployment as a challenging but rewarding experience. O n e a n e c dote he was able to share goes a little something like th i s: I n th e U SAF, maintenance folks NEVER touch an aircraft without having a “ t e ch o r d e r ” (TO) with them that takes them through a procedure step by step. Well, to be able to do that, you have to be able to read. Only 20% of the people in Tom’s area of operation can read Dari (the local language/ dialect )...an d of cou r se, t h e Ru ssi an -b u ilt ai rcraf t h ave T Os w r it t en i n Ru ssi a n ...w h i c h a r e

for your Board of Direct ors Please vote for your choice of candidates for our

upcoming Board elections. The election will be conducted from March 31 to April 30 2011.

Yo u r v o t e co u n t s !

13 8

translated to English...but not Dari. So...they do m o st o f t h e m a i n t e n a n c e simply by “memory” without looking at the TOs -- any U SA F m a i n t e n a n c e troop’s nightmare! On a lighter note, Tom and a group of fellow deployed USAFA grads contacted Falcon Football Coach Calhoun this past season and sent him a fl ag that they flew in Afghanistan onboard a l l t h e A A F a i r craft - President Karzai’s personal helicopters (Mi-17 cargo helo and Mi17 VIP helo), Mi-35 gunships, and C-27 cargo aircraft. In ret u r n . Coach Calhoun sent them a football helmet from the 9/ 11 game against BYU for

them to put on display for the members of the command. To say thanks, all the grads posed with a US flag, and Mi- 17 helicopter, a n d t h e h e l m e t .

C l a ss o f 2 0 0 5

“Thank You!”f rom Grads in Af ghanistan to Coach Calhoun a n d t h e F a l con Football Team - f or an awesome 8-4 season and f or bringing home the Trophy af ter seven long years!

From left are Sean Master s (01), Frank Bryant (95), Jeff Par k s (94), Ber -

Jeremiah Carlson was awesome enough to hunt me down to get us this update! He sent along a picture of our classmates in t h e 4 9 4 t h F S a t RA F Lakenheath when they were deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan. A l l t h e se guys were flying the F-15Es with the squadron this p ast year.

n ie W i l l i (90), Tom Fi l b er t , Lee Ow en s (94), M att Gam b l i n (94) , Rob St r asser (9 1), M ike Sm i t h (92), Ji m M u el l er (92), an d Ab e Sch n au f er (05) .

Lastly, 1have a little shout -out for all the classmates 1ran into during

SO S C l a ss 1 l A ! T h e m i n i - r e u n i o n w a s a d e f i n i t e b o n u s f o r t h e m a n d a

tory “fun” of PM E. Dan Bl ackl edge is living it up in DC and keeping an eye on the world’s bad guys for us; Glenn Dahl is a family man these days and still the guy who helps folks place AL chaos a n d st r e ss i n a better, more easy-going light ; M anuela (Layendecker ), sw e e t a n d sm i ley as ever, is married and a mommy, but for the life o f m e I c a n ’t r e c a l l her new last name (sorry!); Apphia Tayl or is still looking fabulous and keeping everybody honest with her rapier wit; Juan A r a o z i s m a r r i e d and a proud papa, and he is actually cadre for OTS; G r a h a m D e w s t o w is still taking it one assignment at a time (aren’t we all!) while enj oying the airlift pilot life; Scott Cr owel l is married and at the tip of the fighter pilot spear, where we all knew he would be someday; Joe Kopke is also in the married with children club while keeping up with bomber pilot d e m a n d s . A n d I K N O W I s a w a n d c h a t t e d w i t h se v e r a l o t h e r f o l k s . . . b u t

I made the classic mist ake of NOT j otting down names w h i l e I w a s s t i l l at Maxwell . Anyway, it was great t o see how everyone h as b een , an d SOSwas a reunion for all kinds of acquaintances from previous assign ments, deployments, TDYs, et c -- you know you’re getting “ o l d ” i n t h e AL when you can’t place exactly how you recognize someone! A l l i n all , I think that ’s a blessing, too. To the individuals I f a i l e d t o m e n t i o n by name I sincerely apologize, and 1 hope ALL of you are happy and healthy after a post-Proj ect X, shenanigan-free, well -deserved Ji oliday b r eak !

Thanks to those who shared news this quarter. Take care, an d I l ook forward to hearing from you soon!

Paula Delapasse

1 9 6 Ca m b ria D riv e Be a ve rc re e k , OH 4 5 4 4 0

w l &

Class of 2005f rom the 494"' FS at RAF Lakenheath.

From left are Rudy Orozco, Eddie Cannon, Jeremiah Carlson, C h r i s Collins, Kala’e Leong and Ben Dean . Eddie j ust got engaged by the way and has left the Strike Eagle for Raptors, and Rudy’s se c o n d c h i l d i s w el l on the way, while Chris Collins just celebrated his fi rst anniversary after they all got home. Jeremiah, Kala’e, and Ben all continue living the life of single fi ghter pilots living in Europe. Ain’t life tough? Good luck in the future guys!

W e h av e a w o n d e r f u l n ew a d d i t i o n t o t h e C l a ss o f 2 0 0 5 family with the birth of Veda Maxine Bulger. Veda was born to Emily Haag Bulger and Andy Bulger last summer and she is now a healthy little one enj oying life in Colorado Springs. Veda arrived at Et. Carson Medical Center very early in the morning on July 16'^ 2010. Emily is an instructor a t w i t h t h e U SA FA M an agem en t D ep ar t m en t .

(22 5) 60 3-44 50 j pdelapasse@gmail.com r

Hey classmates, I hope this finds you all well and enj oying a wonderful 2 0 1 1. W e have had some news here and there throughout the past few months that I wanted to share. There was a contingent of ’05ers that were at SOS in residence t h i s past fall 2010. Celia Palm Jarr att , Marie Juan Roque, Katy Tenpenny, Jen Lam mer t Rupp and Emily Har ri s finished up their five weeks in mid-October. They re connected and reminisced over dinner in Montgom Sabre Society ery. Celia is a C- 130 Navigator, currently stationed a t Do n o rs Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. Marie is a Program Manager at the Rome Research Site, New York. Katy is a Heli 2 copter Pilot at Malmstrom APB, MT. Jen is an Intel Officer at Fort Meade, MD. Lastly, Emily is a Mainte nance Officer, recently PCSed to Maxwell AFB, AL. Attached is a picture of the ladies enj oying their evening together after c l a sse s! T h a n k s f o r the update ladies!

13 9

C la s s

N ew s ing the expensive engineering education the AF paid f o r a t U SA FA a n d graduate school while he creates PowerPoint presentations in Afghani stan. Here is a picture:

Felisa (Hervey) Dyrud

5 4 3 4 S . M o n rov ia Av e .

Tu cso n , AZ 8 5 7 0 6

felisa.dyrud@gmail.com (719 ) 3 52-599 1 Facebook group:” Feei t he Fire"

(No Sabr e Society Donor sYet) H ell o ’06,

Greetings to you in 2011! I was back in the U.S. in D e c e m b e r f o r m i d tour R&R and got to be present for Peter’s graduation, at long last, from the Combat Rescue Officer pipeline. It was a proud m om en t , vd th BGen (Ret) Steve Ritchie (’64) delivering a congratulatory speech to the gradu ates. Congratulations Peter!!

Ro b Gr o t h e

A huge thanks to Dayle (Morell) Hartung, who has offered t o b e t h e

n ex t sc r i b e f o r t h e cl a ss o f 2 0 0 6 . I t h a s b e e n a n h o n o r t o se r v e i n t h i s

II

way for the past nearly five years and I know Dayle will do a fantastic j ob.

Please send future updates and news to her at daylehartung@gmail . c o m .

Casey (Bayne) Whit son P.O. Bo x 3 0 0 5

El Segundo, CA 9 0 24 5 (3 10 ) 3 4 3-59 69 checkpoints@caseybayne.com

H i Cl ass of 2007,

Peter Dyrud graduates.

I also recently caught up with Nate Carden, Joe Byker, a n d C h r i s K e l -

lenbence at Camp Eggers here in Kabul (below is some evi den ce), b u t I have now transferred to ISAE Headquarters to work with the anti-corrup tion Task Force, focusing on many of the same engagement a n d o u t r e a c h efforts in the Afghan community that I was working on b efore, b u t w it h an emphasis on building a governmental culture and system that upholds integrity and justice. It is clear that without that, gaining the trust and support of the people is impossible and the overall effort against insur gency and toward reconstruction is in jeopardy.

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I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years. I have some very sad news. Our classmate and friend Anthony Riggan and h is w i fe, N i col e, were killed when their Mooney M20E, single-engine fi xed-wi ng air cr aft , crashed at the Colorado Springs Airport. They were h e a d e d t o C o l o r a d o to spend Christmas with Nicole’s family. Some experts have speculated the dense fog that day contributed t o ,5^ the crash, as well as ice that may have built up on t h e wings and tail of the plane. Small planes do not carry b l a c k - b o x e s l i k e c o m m e r c i a l a i r c r a f t so t h e t r u e c a u se

of the crash may never be determined.

CKCh Anthony always seemed like the happiest guy in the Sabre Society world and was a blast to be around. He made you feel Dono rs like he was really excited to talk to you and truly c a r e d about you. We’ve lost such an amazing classmate but 2 we will never forget his larger-than-life personality a n d the way he cared for everyone around him.

Anthony was flying B-l s at Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, SD . H e w a s promoted to Captain posthumously. Nicole was involved i n t h e l o c a l community theater directing the play Little Red and the Riding Hoods.

They are both missed tremendously by their parents, their community, and all whose lives they touched during their short t i m e h e r e .

Please show your support and send condolences to Anthony a n d N i cole’s parents: Mr. & Mrs. Tony Riggan, 36 Bayonne D r., Li tt l e Rock, A R 72223-9 109, an d M r. & M rs. Joh n Pat er son , 455 I n d ian Way, M on u m en t

ri L J .if l

CO 80132-9451. In lieu of flowers, Anthony’s family h a s a sk e d t h a t m e m o -

.-.-s ri i

I

Nate Carden, Joe Byker and Chris Keilenbence

Al so in Kabul is Rob Grothe (CS-04) working for the IJC H Q, at t h e NATO base located at Kabul International Airport . He is part of the “Cur rent Plans” group and is doing his best not to forget w h a t h e l e a r n e d d u r JO I N T H E SA B RE SO C I ET Y !

Y O U R M O N EY H E L P S F U N D

CA D ET W I N G PRO G RA M S T H AT W O U L D OT H ERW I SE G O U N F U N D ED .

CA L L T H E A O G F O R I N F O .

:^l I

m Anthony and Nicole

14 0

rial donations be made to any of the following charities; Anthony & Nicole Riggan Memorial Mission Scholarship: c/ o BSU Alumni A ssoci at i on ; PO Box 1832; Monument CO 80132; Fellowship Bible Church; 140 1 K irk Rd .; Little Rock, AR 72223-6004; Pulaski Academy College Preparatory; 12701 Hinson Rd; Little Rock AR 72212, http:/ /www.pulaskiacademy.org/ p o dium / default.aspx?t=41032_or Nicole Riggan Memorial T h e a t r e Sc h o l a r ship; c/ o Wells Fargo Bank; 481 Highway 105; Monument, C O 8 0 13 2 .

Anthony and Nicole Engagements: Fitzie and Danny are engaged! After six years of dating, Danny Bellissimo and Erin Fitzpatrick were engaged over Christmas. They’ll be getting married in the DC area w h e r e Er i n i s f r o m on July 3, 2011. Danny’s currently a EAIP at Vance A FB, an d Er i n i s b ack at USAFA working in the Athletic Department . Congrats Danny and Fitzie!

Ryan McGuire was reinstated to pilot training this past November. He is now in class 11-09 at Laughlin and will drop/ gradu ate in May. As for what he hopes to drop, Ryan said h e '•-Vy would take “anything with wings on it . M ter 2 and a I 1 ;4 half years of pilot training I will be stoked vfl th w h a t ever 1am fortunate enough to get.” Look for an update ^7 in the fall issue of Checkpoints. On the athletic front: since losing part of his right leg in a 2009 boating a c Sabre Society cident, Ryan bas bounced back into the best shape of Do no rs his life. Ryan traveled back to the Academy last May N o n e Ye t to compete in the 2010 Warrior Games. He ended up taking home gold in the 50m backstroke, bronze in the 100m freestyle, bronze in sitting volleyball and 4"’ i n the 1500m run. Ryan also ran in the 2010 Air Force M arat h on (w i t h A n n Wessel and Mike Swi tzer), finishing in 4 hours, 59 m i n u t e s. <JH i 1

I

Fitzpatr ick and Bellissimo Other Updates: Danny Kimmich was recently selected to play team handball for Team USA. They faced off against Canada a t t h e e n d o f D e cember to try and earn a berth into the Pan Am erican G a m e s w h i c h a r e scheduled to take place in October of 2011. Unfortunately, they lost to Canada but will compete for the fi nal spot this coming April against Uru guay, Puerto Rico and Guatemala. Good luck Danny, we are all rooting for you!

P9 0 ■ Ck i fa t

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Ann Wessel, M ike Swi tzer, Ryan McGuire, and Ryan’s physical therapist,

A l i cia Wh i te, a t the 2010 A i r Force M a ra th on .

Chad Hall finished his fi rst season with the Philadelphia Eagles in Janu ary. Chad saw time in 9 regular and post-season games, completed 11 re ceptions for 115 yards, rushed for 29 yards, and even snagged his fi rst NFL touchdown against Dallas. Chad was signed last March and promoted to the active roster in October. Prior to being signed with the Eagles, Chad was assigned to Hill AFB as an Aircraft Maintenance Offi cer. I spoke with him in January while he was enj oying some time off at home in Georgia.

Chad told me he really loves life and feels incredibly blessed for tbe op portunity to play in the NFL. To get in touch with him, I had to go through his publicist ...which offi cially qualifi es him for r o c k st a r st a t u s.

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Danny Kimmich Thank you for the updates and continue to send them my way!

Trent on Sandberg 4 5 0 Ill in o is Av e ., Un it 2 De l Rio , TX 7 8 8 4 0

(719 ) 64 6-9 0 9 0 t rent on.sa ndberg@gmail.com

Rich t er Cl ass,

I hope everyone is having an awesome spring. I’ve been living life on the road, working for Southwest Asia Airlines (cargo division), a n d h av e h a d t h e pleasure of seeing several ’08ers out there in the w il d w est : Ch r is Oer t er , Andy Derwae, Matty Weinberg, Steve Chandl er , Rick Loescb, Je sse St r i ck ler, Alex Watkins, Brandes Ram sey, Nick Neely, Collette (B an n i st e r ) G r o sselin, Reilly Smith, Josh Schaf fer , Gene Strand, Phil Am r i n e, D on Lew i s, Rodger Gates, Mike Osgood, Devin Camp, Matt Eggert , a n d D ev i n H a r t .

1 didn’t run into everyone on that list, personally, a n d I k n ow t h e r e w er e many more of you out there doin’ work, but my SA is pretty low.

Chad Hal l in his new duds (photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles).

Jethro Sadorr a became engaged to Ashley Timmreck in 2 0 10 . T h e w e d ding date is set for 19 November in Williamsburg, VA, followed by a honey moon in Bora Bora. Jet is assigned to Langley AFB as a Civil Engineering Offi cer. Ashley is currently employed as the Base Water Quality Manager (GS-11) in the same squadron. Ashley, a New Orleans n at ive, h ol d s an undergraduate degree from Texas A&M and an MBA from C o l o r a d o T e c h .

Jet and Ashley were pretty busy last year, traveling t o 14 d ifferen t st at es, kicking tail in intramural sports, as well as running (together) in competi tive 10k, 10 m i le, an d h alf m ar ath on races. Jet w il l be deploying later this year, followed by a remote to Korea (in hopes of a follow -on assignment to Europe). (See photo at the top of the next column.)

More pilot training assignments 1 missed (courtesy of Sh an e Sei b er t ) : Angelica Cor nej o RPA to Cannon, Nick Hai ar C-21 to Ram st ein , Ran d all Hooper C- 17 to Charleston, Jon Kinsey RPA to Creech, T o m L al i b e r t e RPA to Creech, Amy Moore C-17 to McChord, Shane Pr aiswater B - 5 2 14 1

C la s s

N e w s C-130 to Yokota AB, Japan; Brian Dunn, MC-12; and Al ex Gal l m an , C- 17 C h a r l e st o n A F B SC .

Dan Smith finished the CCT pipeline and is headed to M c C h o r d A FB .

Jan ice Con t r er as is n ow at Wh it em an AFB. N icol e Rob i l l ar d is moving to

Luke AFB in March. Brice VanRoekel is a Developmental Engineer out at Vandenberg AFB working on the Minotaur I and IV.

Jethro Sadorra and hisf iance, Ashley Timmreck, in So u t h Ca r o l i n a . to Barksdale, Eli Prince C- 130 to Yokota, Brandes Ram sey C - 17 t o M c Chord, Taylor Roach T-6 (EAIP) to Laughlin, Brian Schaf U -28 t o H u r lbu r t , Shane Seibert A-10, Erika Shortridge KC-135 to Mildenhall, C h r i s V al i n e C-130 to Cheyenne, Mitchell Richard RPA to Creech, Jacob Ar n d t C- 17 to Charleston, Bradley Davis C-5 to Travis, Matthew D e F o o r R PA t o C a n

n on , Pat r ick Kel l ar RPA t o Creech , Ri ch ard M en t i l l o C- 17 t o El m en d or f , Bradley Seifer t B-52 to Barksdale, Alexander Seifert KC- 135 t o Fairch i ld , John Thompson RPA to Creech, Nicholas Nar butovskih U -28 t o H u rlb u rt , Keith O’Fallon RPA to Cannon, Timothy Prestidge C-21 t o A n dr ew s, an d C h a r l e s St o r m RPA t o C r e e c h .

That’s it for this issue. Send me good news!

Madison Gi lbert is the 7''' Aircraf t Maintenance Off icer in Charge at Al Udeid AB, Qatar (somewhere in this group photo).

OTHER DEPLOYM ENTS: Brian Vicker s and Joe Miller just r e t u r n e d from a 6-month deployment to Ali AB, Iraq! Wes Schroeder is fighting the good fight as a CE officer deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Mike Br ittner is the first USAEA grad to complete the ALO pipeline! He’s sched uled to deploy with the 10“’ Mtn Div to Afghanistan a s a B a t t a l i o n A i r l i a i son officer in May 2011. Greg Stafford is the Comm Elight Commander for the 40“’ ESPTS at Ali AB, Iraq.

Fo r re st Un d e rw o o d 9 2 2 0 B Ca r ls o n St .

De l Rio , TX 7 8 8 4 0

forrest underwood@gmall.com

Fa ce b o o k : Fo rre st J. Un d e rw o o d

CON GRATS: M eli ssa (Edw ar d s) Jam ison m ar r i ed h er fian ce of 3 years, Bruce Jamison (’08) on Dec 12“’! She will join him as a Force Support Of ficer in Mildenhall where he is flying KC-135s. Rich Kenny got married to M s. C a r o l i n e I n m a n o n N o v 2 0 “’ ! G o r d o n B o o m i s n o w engaged to Ms. Sydney Bachtell; they plan to get married in Oct 2011. He’s currently a Flight Commander at AF ISR Agency at Lackland AFB, TX.

At lef t isJoe Eastman getting his tie.

OTHER SPOOGE: Sept. 24, 2010 -- A Laughlin AFB T-6 T ex a n I I c r ew ej ected when the engine of their T-6 failed. The aircraft c r a sh e d o n a r a n c h 25 miles (40 km) east of Laughlin near the town of Spofford, Texas. Joe Eastman suffered 2 spinal fractures and the aircraft was destroyed. The accident was the f i r st U SA F T - 6 c r a sh o f 2 0 10 a n d t h e six t h o v e r a l l f o r t h e

fleet . (Documentation: Wikipedia) Sean Malanowski graduated from Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute at Patrick AFB, F L a n d h a s r e t u r n e d t o t h e w e st c o a st w h e r e h e i s st a

A f lying legacy continues. 2LT David Butler (’09) graduated f rom SJUPT

(D C) a t Van ce AFB, En id , OK on Ja n. 22, 2011. H is u ncle Tony Eden (’68),

and cousin, Christopher Eden (’94) are shown j ust af ter they pinned on his n ew p i lot ’s w i n es. H e is goi ng to fol low i n Ch r istop her ’s footsteps a nd f ly C- 17s a t H icka m AFB, H I .

OT H ER A SSI GN M EN T S: M it ch Fossu m , T-38 FAI R EN JJPT; Sc o t t Br en n er , KG- 135 M arch ARB CA ; Jesse Pr at er, KC- 135 M cCon n ell AFB KS; (DG)Tyler Stecker , MC- 12/ KC-135 McConnel AFB KS; Rob Cou r t ad e, C130J Lit t le Rock A FB A R; Josh Di et r i ch , AC- 130H Can n on A FB N M ; Ti m

Gorski , RPA Whiteman AFB MO; Tom Coker , F-15E Seymour-Johnson

A FB N C; (D G)D o n D avi s, F- 16 Lu ke A FB AZ ; Si m on K assem i , K C - 13 5 Kadena AB Japan; Luke Coquerille, RC-135 Offutt AFB N E; TJ Ben t , C17 McChord AEB WA; Ryan Kemp, C- 17 Charleston AFB SC; Wes Fu l l er, 14 2

Sabre Society

Do n o rs tioned at Travis AFB. Dan Castle graduated from CSU with an MA in English Literature and is getting ready 1 to start UPT at ENJJPT. Kyle McIntosh is starting his 2"“ year of Medical School at Michigan State. Ashley Miller is now at Wright Pat after getting her Master’s with AFIT in Pensacola, FL. Abbey Rogers graduated f r o m W a k e F o r e st with a Masters in Psychology.

for your Board of Direct ors Please vote for your choice of candidates for our

upcoming Board elect ions. The elect ion will be conduct ed f rom March 31 to April 30 2011.

Yo u r v o t e c o u n t s !

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i MA r Now that the holidays have come and gone, there is a plethora of en gagements and marriages to report! For starters, Kari Thomas got engaged to Jonathan (Jonny) Benson from CS-29.

Candy Vickroy and Toshiro Toyam a (’09) (Tamiko Toyam a’s o l d e r brother) got engaged over the holidays as well. He is currently stationed at Maxwell AFB as a contracting officer and she is d o w n i n F t W a l t o n Beach at Eglin. He proposed to her on Christmas Eve, and the couple met in Destin almost two years ago, but did not know e a c h o t h e r a t t h e Academy. One of the first nights they met they went ou t t o w at ch t h e su n r i se, so h e t o ok h er b ack t o t h at

same spot at sunset and asked her then. Candy and Toshiro are planning for a 2012 wedding.

Ashleen McCar thy got engaged to Michael T. Gies.

He proposed to her on the 17th of December at her apartment in Rocklin, CA (they are both stationed at Sabre Society Beale AFB, CA). Ashleen and Michael were celebrating Do n o rs an early Christmas dinner when he surprised her with N o n e Ye t an early Christmas present that had a ring box in the pocket. (Note to class: check your Christmas sweaters for additional gifts!)

Maddie Hansen got engaged to Toby Pedretti (’11), as did Millie Mays and Ralph Hal e. Lauren Fr anks married Corey Hicker son (’09) , an d Gin a Koenigsberger married Tyler Olm stead (’09). Nathan Thalhofer also got married over the holidays as well.

While many of us are celebrating j oyous times in our lives, it i s w i th deepest regrets that 1end this class update on a sad note. As many of you h ave h eard , ou r cl assm at e, 2d Lt Coli n Sh u m at e fr om CS-06 passed away on January 10. At this time 1do not have any further information regard ing the circumstances of his death. His funeral was held January 15, and Colin was interred at the USAFA Cemetery. The family h a s a sk e d t h a t i n l i eu of fl ow er s, m em or i al d on at i on s b e m ad e t o th e U SA FA E n d o w m e n t

Air Force Academy Fund; 3116 Academy Dr; USAF Academy , C O 8 0 8 4 0 .

Please make your checks payable to the USAFA Endowment o r T h e A i r Force Academy Fund and include your name and address f o r a c k n o w l edgment purposes. You may also donate online atwww.usafa.org. P l e a se keep Colin’s family in your thoughts and prayers, and together as a class we can help his family get through these diffi cult t i m e s.

For New Years Eve the couple travelled to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World and as they counted down the last seconds of 2010 he got down on one knee and pulled out a ring and said “Kari Anne Thomas will you marry me?” She asked if he was serious because she was just so surprised and overcome with emotions/ excitement before fi nally saying “yes!" Then he sang to her a part of our song that he always sings to her when they hear it (a verse from Love Story by Taylor Swift). Kari summarizes the experience as “basically a perfect , magical proposal!” They are planning on getting married on Dec. 28th but that is still subj ect to change since they are both in pilot training.

(Gone But Not Fotgotten: Marc T. Lewi s, ’98 Conti nued f rom page 97.)

M arc and Susan began their family by welcoming their so n M a r c u s on June 30, 2005. During Marc’s tenure at the Pentagon, t h e L e w i s f a m ily lived in Alexandria, Va. and spent considerable time visiting proud grandparents in Florida and Georgia, as well as aunts, u n cl es, n i eces, and nephews throughout the country.

As Marc fulfi lled his duties, he took steps to begin a civ il i an car eer, earning a Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Following separa tion, Marc earned his M .B.A. from M IT. During his studies, M a r c c o m peted successfully in the “Fast Money M BA Challenge”, a quiz show on CNBC. Upon graduation in 2008, M arc j oined Morgan Stanley a s a n A s sociate in foreign exchange and emerging markets institutional sa l e s .

Marc’s career was continuing to gain m omentum when he was diag nosed with cancer in July 2009.

When he wasn’t spending time with his family, Marc l o v e d t o b u i l d sophisticated quantitative models using complex programming l a n guages. He enj oyed using statistical analysis to forecast r e su l t s i n t h e NFL and was an active trader on the Hollywood Stock Exchange, dem onstrating an extraordinary skill for applying statistics to accurately pre dict the box offi ce success of maj or motion pictures.

Marc is survived by his son M arcus and wife, Susan; m ot h er, Val er i e Arrigoni, and her husband, Frank Arrigoni; brother M i ch ael Lew i s; si s ter Kendra Weikman; grandmother Arlene Kohout; and a large extended family. Marc’s father, Thomas Lewis, is deceased.

Marc’s family wishes to express appreciation for the st a f f a t M e m o rial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and to many others who helped in the fi ght against cancer. Memorial donations may be se n t t o M e m o r i a l Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 27106, New Yor k , N .Y. 10087-

’Ti l n ext t i m e, b lu e skies an d t ailw i n d s!

Fo r m o r e c u r r en t i n f o r m at i o n

ab o u t

graduate deaths, please visit the AOG web site, www.usafa.org.

If you know of a graduate’s death, please notify the A O G a s soon as possible. There have been cases in which the a sso c i a tion was not informed in a timely manner.

7106. Please indicate that your gift should be directed t o P e d i a t r i c Sa r coma Research in memory of Marc Lewis. Donations can a l so b e m a d e online at w ww.mskcc.org. (Rob Norton, Jr., Marc’s brother-in-law) (Editor’s note: TheAOG does not always haveall the inf ormation, such as place of death, concerning the death of a grad uate. We only publish the inf ormation we ha veavailable on each deceased gradu a te.)

At press tim e we learned of the deaths of the following gradu ates;

Col. (Ret) Donald M. Douglas, Class of 1965, who died on Sept.

13, 2010 in Scott sdal e, A riz.

Lt. Col. (Ret) Robert A. Resling, Class of 1967, who d i ed o n N o v.

30, 20 10 in Cali forn ia.

Lt . Col . (Ret ) Pat r i ck J. A sh , Cl ass of 1975, w h o d ied o n Fe b .

16, 2011 in Anchorage, Al aska.

M r. Floyd D. Sawyer, Jr., Class of 1976, who died on Oct . 25, 2006 in Rocky Mount, N.C.

M r. Ar n old K. “Ar n ie” D ouvill e, Class of 1978, w h o d i ed o n Feb .

17, 20 11 in Leaw ood, Kan .

M r. M ari o A . M ath is, Class of 1990, w h o di ed on Jan . 5, 20 11 in Am m an , Jordan .

Capt. Martin A. Riggan, Class of 2007, who died on D ec. 22,

2010 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

2n d Lt . Colin P Sh um ate, Class of 2010, w h o di ed on Jan . 10,

2011 at Wright-Patterson, Oliio.

Our sincere condolences to the fe mily and fr iends of these gradu a t es.

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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta addressed the c a d et s a t this year’s National Character and Leadership Symposium. T h e 25-year-old from Iowa is the first living recipient o f t h e M e d a l o f Honor from the war in Afghanistan. Photo by Dennis Rogers.

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POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Checkpoints, Association of Graduates, Doolittle Hall, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475.

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