Checkpoints - June 2012 by USAFA Association of Graduates

checkpoints JUNE 2012

USAFA Alumni Magazine

FAREWELL TO ARMS GENERAL NORTON SCHWARTZ ‘73 LEAVES HIS LEGACY

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Checkpoints

March 2012

contents COLUMNS

features

4 CEO UPDATE

Falconworks engineers hope

6 CHAIRMAN’S JOURNAL 8 Superintendent 14 LETTERS 16 news 18 staff directory 52 FROM THE DEAN

JUNE 2012

With the help of the Academy, this grad-founded non-profit is building life changing devices.

Four stars for history

After becoming the Air Force’s first female four-star general, Janet Wolfenbarger reflects on the past and looks forward to the future.

why our best officers are leaving on the cover General Norton Schwartz salutes the crowd at the 2012 USAFA graduation ceremony as President Obama looks on.

Grad Tim Kane ‘90 on how the military can change course and begin retaining more of its best and brightest talent.

String theory

Striking a chord with the Cadet Orchestra.

Volume 41, number 1 Checkpoints (ISSN 0274-7391) USPS 898-080 is published quarterly in March, June, September and December by the Association of Graduates, U.S. Air Force Academy. (Phone: 719-472-0300, DSN: 333-2067. FAX: 719-333-4194, E-mail: editor@aogusafa.org.) A portion of your dues pays for your magazine subscription. Additional copies may 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 offices. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Checkpoints, Association of Graduates, Doolittle Hall, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475. The Editorial Board serves the Checkpoints mission by providing a top quality magazine to the Air Force Academy’s broader community. Together, the editor, VP of Communications, Executive VP and the AOG CEO collaborate to ensure that all articles meet the standards of excellence readers have come to expect of Checkpoints. The AOG reserves the right to publish or omit submissions at its discretion. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policy or attitude of the AOG, its officers or the editorial staff. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the AOG of the products or services advertised. Copyright, Association of Graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy, June. 2012.

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100 THE ENDOWMENT 44 New board chair paul madera 48 Lockheed vp Ronald rand on leadership 151 class giving statistics

GRADUATE PROFILE 10 Gen. Norton Schwartz 58 the surreal life of charles justiz 62 academy spirits 68 2012 jabara award 70 conspicuous courage

10 FROM THE TERRAZZO

72 the good husband

84 scholarships

CADET LIFE

90 waldo 91 Class of 2012 in numbers

74 student. athlete. example. 78 The sisterhood of the traveling bdus

92 the cadet fitness center Addition

80 boxing bulwarks 88 Falcons at the white house

HERITAGE

56 guardians of the academy 95 AOG board Election info 96 20 years of doolittle hall 98 the usafa class paintings 100 wooden stick legacy 102 once upon a time

BACK OF THE BOOK 103 GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN 107 CLASS NEWS 152 FINAL THOUGHT

Checkpoints

June 2012

columns

The Cycle Continues

As you read this issue of Checkpoints, the Class of 2012 has just graduated from USAFA. For some, the four years have been lengthy. Others will look back and wonder how the time passed so fast. For all, it has been challenging, filled with ups and downs, and life changing in ways many will not realize for some years to come. I suspect some of the “ups” include a winning football program and postseason bowl games every year the Class of 2012 was here. I bet we all remember how things seemed better (easier) when the football team was winning. Bringing back and keeping the Commander-in-Chief ’s Trophy was another huge accomplishment during this class’s

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By WIlliam “T” Thompson ’73 AOG President and CEO

tenure. The firsties’ trip to the White House last month was greatly anticipated and well deserved. And now they are off to serve our nation during a time of war. They have been well trained, are very motivated and more than up to accomplishing the job. We heartily welcome them to the Long Blue Line and wish them all the best as they go out to protect our way of life. While 2012 exits, your AOG is already working to welcome the Class of 2016. They will most assuredly be an exceptional class. For one, the entrance process is as tough as ever. Additionally, the class will be much smaller than classes have been for some time. Fewer slots mean tougher competition and arguably a very talented class. We’ll have to see how the class stats fall out and ultimately how they perform over the next four years. The Class of 2016 will inprocess on June 28th at Doolittle Hall and we invite you to come out and meet them as they begin their journey to becoming members of the Long Blue Line. Speaking of moving on, our Air Force Chief of Staff, General Norty Schwartz ’73 will retire on August 10th, 2012. He is the last member of our class on active duty and will hang up his wings after 39 years of active service. We both came to our jobs in August of 2008 and Norty promised to be a strong supporter of the Academy, the AOG and the graduate community. It is a promise that he has not only kept but has gone above and beyond. Most notable has been his continued strong support of the “Fix USAFA” program which has directed hundreds of millions of dollars to repair and upgrade our Academy. All one need do is drive around the Academy and

witness the many construction projects completed and on-going to fully appreciate the benefit of his support. He also took a strong interest in getting our graduate community back together and to having us all work to support the institution we love. In an unprecedented move, this very issue was on the agenda at a fall Corona Conference which several of us were invited to attend. The Air Forces’ top four-star generals, both graduates and others, took a keen interest in this issue and were instrumental in helping to move the reconciliation process forward. Last, but certainly not least (and let me add within the confines of all regulations and laws), that Gen. Schwartz has been a strong supporter of the AOG, its membership, the Endowment and the Class of 73. He is a member of the Sabre Society, has attended his class reunions, and has often reached out in other ways to stay connected with his class. He has attended AOG tailgates, fan fests, and has come to the alumni box at Falcon Stadium to meet and interact with our grads and members. He has spoken to AOG Chapters on several occasions over the past four years and has helped to build the tradition of celebrating Founders Day in an active fashion each April. For a sitting Chief of Staff with the plethora of issues facing the Air Force (force shaping, the new tanker, AirSea Battle Concept, long range bomber, Dover, the Hill, etc.), to devote time and energy to the Academy and the graduate community speaks volumes about what it truly means to be a member of the Long Blue Line. We are greatly appreciative of his steadfast and unwavering support and wish him and Suzie all the best as they enter the next phase of their journey.

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Checkpoints

June 2012

columns

Chairman’s

Journal by Terry Storm ’61

s I write this, we are within a month of the graduation of the USAFA Class of 2012, which will be the last USAFA graduation that I will be honored to participate in as your Association of Graduates (AOG) Chairman of the Board of Directors. I am always greatly impressed by the caliber of our graduates–not only the new graduates, but those from the previous 53 classes with whom I have been most fortunate to interact. What an outstanding group of men and women! I do wish that all of our graduates, the entire Air Force and the public could have the same opportunity I have had. The media always focuses on the few negatives, usually ignoring the many positives of our USAFA. The very small numbers of cadets who proselytize, use drugs, or commit sexual improprieties or Honor Code violations are overwhelmingly outnumbered by the cadets who live honorable lives. The few who fail to live up to expectations are dwarfed by the majority who perform exceptional charitable endeavors despite extreme academic, military and athletic schedules far outweighing those of civilian schools. I do not condone any of the shortcomings of that small number of cadets, but I am certain our USAFA’s record is much better than other schools’. I continue to be impressed by and proud of our USAFA!

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As I look forward to my last year on our Board, I am proud of the many meaningful improvements in the operation and management of our AOG. Our superb President and CEO, “T” Thompson ’73, has skillfully implemented the Board’s policymaking role and effectively improved our relationship with the USAFA Endowment and the Academy administration. In working with the Endowment’s President and CEO, Steve Lorenz ’73, “T” and the AOG have made significant progress in bringing back into the fold many graduates who have made very significant contributions to USAFA and provided infrastructure and program improvements that the Air Force cannot. The completed Holaday Athletic Center and soon-to-be-under-construction Center for Character and Leadership Development are two significant examples. Another is the Endowment’s initiation of fundraising for the AOG’s Long Blue Line Endowment, which eventually will ensure the AOG’s long-term viability. I have enjoyed my relationship with the Endowment’s outgoing Chairman, Bart Holaday ’65, and I look forward to building a relationship with his successor, Paul Madera ’78. I extend my personal congratulations and appreciation to both outstanding representatives of the Endowment, the AOG, the Academy and the Air Force. GO FALCONS!

Checkpoints

March 2012

columns

From the Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould ’76

greetings graduates! The Long Blue Line just got a little longer! Graduation 2012 was a resounding success, and if you weren’t able to make it out and enjoy the festivities, you really did miss out on yet another fabulous celebration as we sent almost 1100 new second lieutenants out into our Air Force. President Obama gave an inspiring speech, and I am pleased to see such promise in the Class of 2012. At USAFA, we are grooming our replacements, and this group is ready to get started with their careers as officers of character. The Class of 2012 has done well at USAFA, and I’m eager to see their contributions to the Air Force. We’ve been busy at USAFA, and we have many things to celebrate in addition to the graduation of another class. Colonel Tim Gibson ’88 led Team USAFA through 17 inspections in 11 weeks. That’s right … 17 inspections since January! We’re glad to report that USAFA is in compliance on all fronts thanks to a huge effort by individuals and teams across all USAFA Mission Partners. In late April, General Norty Schwartz ’73, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, stopped by Arnold Hall to speak with all USAFA permanent party. What a great chance for our faculty and staff to hear directly from the Air Force’s top commander! He 8

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spoke for about 20 minutes and then opened up the floor to some very challenging and engaging questions. While some of his concerns align perfectly with my own strategic goals at USAFA, others reflect the changing needs of a changing Air Force. It was a rare opportunity to hear from a leader and a graduate who really does care about our institution, and we heard him loud and clear. Thanks Chief! The Chief closed his remarks with a reminder that our oath of office, the same oath that every member of the Long Blue Line ascribes to, says that we “will well and faithfully discharge the duties” of the profession of arms. He asked us all to recommit ourselves to that oath, to trust each other and to be worthy of others’ trust. All members of the Air Force (AND the USAFA graduate community as well … regardless of the length of your uniformed service) subscribe to the same faith, that of public service. This is what binds us as a graduate community. So I thank General Schwartz for his visit and for his reminder … at USAFA, we are charged with the awesome responsibility to prepare young men and women to live lives of note and lives of service. We are awed by the trust that the nation and the graduate community place on us, the Permanent Party and Faculty of the Air Force Academy. We are proud of the service we provide the nation, and nearly 1100 shiny new lieutenants are proof that we are doing our jobs well, and faithfully!

Checkpoints

March 2012

graduate profile

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By Gen. Norton Schwartz ’73

to the Challenge Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Norton Schwartz Assesses the State of the Total Force and Reflects on the Importance of the Academy as He Moves Toward Retirement

hen former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates spoke at my Chief of Staff welcome ceremony in August 2008, he quipped that he and I had something in common: “Both of us were planning to retire.” Indeed, when he asked me to continue to serve, those earlier retirement plans were put on hold. Today, however, I prepare to hang up the blue uniform for the final time. Just as I assumed my current position during an inflection point for our Air Force, I am leaving it during another challenging period–this time, as the Air Force contends with fewer available dollars and an increasingly complex geopolitical and security environment. Nonetheless, I remain confident that the Air Force will thrive because of my firm belief in America’s Airmen. They are talented. They are dedicated. And they will handle today’s challenges and tomorrow’s contingencies just as well as they tackled each of the priorities that Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and I established for the Air Force nearly four years ago. The first priority that we set was reinvigorating the nuclear enterprise, to which Airmen responded by, among other things, successfully standing up the first new Air Force major command in 17 years–Air Force Global

Strike Command–to oversee our Nation’s intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear-capable bombers. I have watched with pride as Airmen recommitted themselves to the discipline that the nuclear enterprise requires, and that the American people rightly demand, to ensure a safe and effective deterrent for our Nation. And I will continue to watch as our nuclear enterprise Airmen deliver unwavering excellence to a task that will never be done as long as our Nation requires an effective strategic deterrent. The secretary and I also made it a top priority for the Air Force to partner with the Joint and coalition team to win today’s fight. As a result, our Airmen ramped up combat air patrols by remotely-piloted aircraft in Iraq and Afghanistan, and provided all-aspect air, space and cyber power when required, and with utmost precision. In countless ways–close air support, space-borne effects, medical evacuation, combat search and rescue, and intelligence support, just to name a few–our Airmen contributed superbly to the Joint team effort over the last four years. Most assuredly, Airmen are and shall remain “all in.” Developing and caring for our Airmen and their families was our third priority and, once again, our marvelous men and women met the challenge. From undertaking Comprehensive Airman Fitness efforts, to focusing the scope of morale, welfare, and recreation programs, our care providers have demonstrated the strength of their commitment to supporting and cultivating a highly qualified, diverse, inclusive, and resilient Total Force. w

Checkpoints

June 2012

Secretary Donley and I designated modernization as our fourth priority and, in four years, we have gained considerable momentum in this area. Our Airmen oversaw the successful award of the second-largest contract in Department of Defense history–the KC-46A tanker recapitalization–and initiated work on the Long Range Strike family of systems. They have also helped to deftly steer F-35A Lightning II development, resulting in a recertified program with a realistic development and production profile. Accordingly, the secretary and I added recapturing acquisition excellence to our priorities list. Our men and women responded by establishing the Acquisition Improvement Plan, addressing more than 170 processes with 33 specific action items, all of which have been implemented. As we begin the follow-on effort–Acquisition Continuous Process Improvement 2.0–we are confident that the dedicated work of our acquisition professionals will result in the Air Force’s receiving products and services on time, within budget, and in compliance with all pertinent regulatory guidance. It is gratifying to recall the accomplishments of our Airmen during my tour as Chief of Staff. It is also good to reflect on my privilege of being able to serve our country for nearly 40 years. Invariably, I think back to when I first donned the Air Force uniform as a cadet at the Air Force Academy, and I remain proud to be among its alumni. Much can be said about our common experience at the Academy: Saturday morning inspections in the dorms, noon meal

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formation on the Terrazzo, Second BCT in Jacks Valley, and, of course, the paradoxical humility and glory that is Recognition Week. From this common experience was born our common vision of selfless and honorable service to our country. Many dimensions of Academy life have remained the same for today’s cadets: the academic and athletic rigor, spirit missions, and Parents’ Weekend. More importantly, the Honor Code–the ethical and moral foundation that informs every effort and underwrites every accomplishment–continues to guide our Cadets. The unbroken “Long Blue Line” exemplifies what the Academy’s founders had envisioned: men and women of moral stature and genuine character. Along with the rest of our Air Force, the Academy has pushed boundaries and broken barriers–some technological, some physical, some societal, but all for the betterment of our Air Force … and we need to keep it that way. Academy graduates continue to be thoughtful and energetic officers, and innovative and bold leaders, holding the highest regard for integrity, service, and excellence in the performance of professional duties. Some have gone on to attain the highest ranks in the Air Force–and in the case of Janet Wolfenbarger, recently confirmed by the Senate as the first Air Force female four-star general, forever shattering glass ceilings. Others left active duty to continue their noble service to our country in a variety of ways, and in a full range of settings. Hundreds of physicians and attorneys, more than 1,100 company presidents and CEOs, 39 astronauts, a former (and maybe a future) member of Congress, and even a world champion basketball coach have proudly represented our Academy in civilian life. They have continued to benefit our country with their enormous talent, vibrant energy, and quiet generosity. It is these same values and standards that our Total Force embraces today, and which will assure the Air Force’s success as we implement a new defense strategy amid dwindling defense dollars. While we face many challenges, I also see genuine opportunities. In March 2011, the Air Force participated in simultaneous, full-spectrum surge operations, spanning intercontinental distances to provide humanitarian and disaster relief in East Asia, support Presidential mobility and logistics requirements in South America, and lead air-centric combat operations in North Africa. By my reading of the new Defense Strategic Guidance, the capabilities that we demonstrated during that surge period–our very own version of “March Madness”–will play an increasingly important role in the future. This fact, along with the many accomplishments of our Airmen over the last four years, leaves me decidedly upbeat about our Service’s future. As Suzie and I prepare to welcome a new Chief of Staff and to enjoy life after this career of service, we feel privileged to have served with America’s finest men and women … and to have been so fortunate to have been a member and spouse of the USAFA Class of 1973. I will always be confident that our Air Force will remain the greatest in the world, and I will always be proud to consider myself an American Airman and Academy alumnus. Suzie and I will endeavor to continue to support our Academy, the Academy for the entire Air Force, and the place that allowed a young man to find a home in service to the Nation.

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Checkpoints

March 2012

columns

Letters THE 2012 NCLS EMBODIED EXCELLENCE I recently returned from my first overnight lodging at USAFA in 43 years thanks to my brother, Roy Miller ’67, who sprung for the VOQ rooms while we attended the 19th annual National Character and Leadership Symposium (my first). This year’s conference featured a keynote address by Ross Perot. I felt especially inspired by speaker Jerry Yellin, an 88-year-old WWII P-51 fighter pilot. Yellin spoke about his fighter missions during the war, how they impacted him, and how meditation (“TM” as it is known), helped him recover. Featured speaker Aron Ralston, of “127 Hours” movie fame, told a chilling story of his eventual decision to sever his own hand after getting it pinned against a boulder in Utah and how it proved to become a moment of transformation for him. NCLS also provided opportunities to hear a speech

from the sister of Medal of Honor recipient Lance Sijan ’65 and view fascinating videos provided by Ellen Ochoa, astronaut X4, from the International Space Station. Yet, I missed as many good programs as I attended; such was the quality. I also found it enriching to be able to connect with fellow grads during the event. As to next year’s NCLS–I’d highly recommend attending. John “JC” Miller, Class of 1969 “SERVING THE LONG BLUE LINE” DEFINES THE MISSION Congratulations on coming up with a tagline that aptly and succinctly defines what we do as an association and who we do it for: serving all those who make up the Long Blue Line. For many the line starts before inprocessing at Doolittle Hall. For some it begins as children of Air Force personnel, as students at summer sports camps, or in the Prep School. For others, it begins with grads picking them up at the airport for Bed and Breakfast. Whichever is the case, now that we’ve identified our role, borrowing another tagline from Nike, let’s “just do it!” Bob Sallee, Class of 1968 INK FOR ANTI-LGBT RHETORIC IS UNACCEPTABLE I look forward to the day when it is no longer acceptable for the AOG to publish the rants of members who are disgruntled by the inclusion of openly gay and lesbian individuals in our armed forces [“Views on Morality and Character” Letters, March 2012]. I suspect that today, no one in the AOG would consider publishing such a rant against inclusion–as they might have at one time–based on race, gender or religion. But voicing and publishing messages which demean the human dignity of LGBT cadets and grads is apparently still ok. Unfortunately, there will always be racism, sexism, religious bigotry and homophobia in the world. My hope is that in the near future more of us, including the AOG, will give these suffocating aspects of humanity even less air time and even less ink. Darrel Slack, Class of 1985

Letters Submission Guidelines Checkpoints welcomes letters from its readers. Please limit your submission to 250 words. For your letter to be considered, you must include your name and graduating year, if you are an Academy graduate. Letters should be e-mailed to editor@aogusafa.org. Checkpoints reserves the right to edit all submissions.

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The Air Force Academy Fund Looking forward ... Academy graduates look forward to a great future. Commitment and sacrifice prepare our graduates to become leaders of character for our nation. Because of your commitment, many cadets have the opportunity to participate in vital programs that greatly enrich their Academy experience. The Air Force Academy Fund provides support to Academy and graduate programs and services such as: Academy Programs Cadet Clubs and Intramurals Character Development Programs and Seminars Distinguished Speakers Series Engineering Programs Military History Symposium Summer Internships

Graduate Programs and Services Career Services Chapter Programs Checkpoints Magazine and ZoomiEnews Class Legacy Program Class Ring Maintenance Parent Handbook and WebGuy.

You know what it means to give back. By giving back today, the Academyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legacy of developing leaders of character for the nation is reinforced.The goal this year is to raise $2.75 million in support through the Air Force Academy Fund. Please consider a generous gift today.

Give online www.usafaendowment.org

Give by phone 719.472.0300, Ext. 200

Give by mail Make checks payable to: USAFA Endowment

3116 Academy Drive, Suite 200 USAF Academy, CO 80840

Checkpoints Looking forward, giving back

March 2012

columns

News General Mark Welsh III ’76 Tapped as Next Air Force Chief of Staff

Academy graduate Mark Welsh III ’76, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, has been nominated to be the next Air Force chief of staff. Welsh, who has over 3,400 flight hours to his credit, was nominated to be the successor to Gen. Norton Schwartz ’73 by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on May 10. Welsh has flown A-10s and F-16s, commanded a fighter squadron, an operations group, a fighter wing and a training wing. He is also a former USAFA Commandant of Cadets (1999-2001).

President Obama Nominates C.D. Moore II ’80 as New Aflcmc Commander

The President has nominated Air Force Materiel Command Vice Commander Lt. Gen. C.D. Moore II ’80 for appointment as commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. The nomination was announced by Air Force officials Feb. 29, 2012. Pending Senate confirmation, General Moore will lead the new center to be located at Wright-Patterson AFB. AFLCMC will provide life-cycle management of Air Force weapon systems and other capabilities. It is the result of an AFMC-wide restructure that will consolidate the missions now performed by the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson, the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom AFB, Mass., the Air Armament Center at Eglin AFB, Fla., and some functions at other AFMC bases. AFLCMC will also include the new Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate, formerly the Air Force Security Assistance Center, at Wright-Patterson. The center is expected to reach initial operational capability Oct. 1, 2012. (Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs)

Gregory Lengyel to be Next Commandant of Cadets

Brig. Gen. Gregory Lengyel has been selected to be USAFA’s next Commandant of Cadets, taking over the position sometime during the summer of 2012. Lengyel is a graduate of Texas A&M University (1985) and a career special operations pilot who has flown the UH-1H/N, MH-53J/M and CV-22B operationally, and has participated in contingency operations in Haiti, the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is currently the Executive Officer to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, NATO, Mons, Belgium.

Chilton ’76 and Precourt ’77 Inducted Into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame

General (Ret.) Kevin Chilton ’76 (AOG Board Member) and Colonel (Ret.) Charles Precourt ’77 were inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on May 5, 2012, in a ceremony held at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Chilton worked numerous technical assignments for NASA from 1987 to 1998, and is a veteran of three 16

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space flights in which he logged more than 704 hours in space. Precourt served in the space program in multiple capacities for 15 years and logged a total of 932 hours in space. Chilton and Precourt are two of just 82 astronauts to be enshrined.

John Marshall ’66 Receives NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal

Col. (Ret.) John Marshall ’66 was presented with the NASA Exceptional Public Service Medal by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden during a Jan. 27, 2012, ceremony held at NASA headquarters. Marshall was presented the medal for demonstrating “exemplary leadership, dedication and commitment to NASA as a member of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP).” The event also marked the expiration of Marshall’s term to the ASAP after eight years of service. Marshall and his son, Jeff Marshall ’94, are both past recipients of the Air Force’s Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, senior and junior officer categories respectively.

Eric Music ’01 Receives 9th Air Force Field Grade Officer of The Year Award

Major Eric Muse ’01 was awarded the 9th Air Force Field Grade Officer of the Year award during a March 20, 2012, ceremony held at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. The prestigious award recognizes conspicuous leadership capabilities. Music is a member of the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing at Moody Air Force Base in Ga. The F-15 Viper pilot is a veteran of three tours in Iraq.

Gregg Popovich ’70 Named NBA Coach of the Year

On May 1, 2012, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich ’70 was named the 2012 NBA Coach of the Year. After a rocky 12-9 start to the season, Popovich lead the Spurs on a seismic turnaround that saw the team finish with a 50-16 record and the first seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Popovich received 77 first-place votes. Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau was second with 27. This is Popovich’s second NBA Coach of the Year Award. He also won the award in 2003.

Scott Thomas ’86 Elected to College Football Hall of Fame

Former Air Force Safety Scott Thomas ’86 became the fourth Falcon elected into the College Football Hall of Fame on May 15, 2012. Thomas was a consensus All-American in 1985 while helping lead the Falcons to a school best 12-1 record and No. 5 national ranking. He ranks sixth in school history with 10 interceptions and was an elite special teams player during his time at the Academy. Thomas is currently a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force reserves. He lives in Wichita Falls, Texas with his wife, Kelly, and their son and daughter.

Thomas Krise ’83 Named Pacific Lutheran University President

On Feb. 29, 2012, Thomas Krise ’83 was elected to be the 13th president of Pacific Lutheran University, which is located in Tacoma, Washington. Krise served 22 years in the Air Force before retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Since 2008 the former USAFA faculty member has served as the dean of the College of the Pacific, the arts and sciences college of the University of the Pacific.

Four Grads Named Olmsted Scholars

The Olmsted Foundation Board of Directors, chaired by Gen. (Ret.) Butch Viccellio ’62, recently name four USAFA graduates to the Olmsted Scholar Class of 2013. Maj. Fernando Cruz ’02 will be studying at Moscow State University in Moscow, Russia. Captains Mark and Elia Hickie ’03 were

each selected as Scholars and will study at Pontifical Catholic University in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Capt. Michael Sullivan ’03 will be studying at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. In the 54 classes of Olmsted Scholars since program inception in 1959, 124 have been USAFA graduates.

Wiley ’65 Receives Honorary Degrees

Fletcher “Flash” Wiley ’65 has received an honorary Doctorate of Law from the New England School of Law. Cambridge College has also awarded Wiley an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. Wiley is a member of both the USAFA and the USAF Air University Board of Visitors. He is presently Of Counsel to Bingham McCutchen LLP, where he specializes in corporate and commercial law.

graduate profile

ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Staff Directory 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475, (719) 472-0300 THE ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES To e-mail a staff member, use the first and last name. Example: Gary Howe | gary.howe@aogusafa.org AOG Executive office President & CEO William “T” Thompson, ’73, Ext. 101 (t.thompson@aogusafa.org) Executive Vice President Gary Howe, ’69, Ext. 107 Senior Vice President for Business Development Marty Marcolongo, ’88, Ext. 146 Senior Vice President for Finance & Chief Financial Officer Alton Parrish, Ext. 123 EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Hadassa Muñoz, Ext. 106 Finance Accountant Joyce Love, Ext. 110 SENIOR Accounting Clerk Janice Baca, Ext. 111 Communications SR. Vice President for Communications Bob McAllister, Ext. 142 director of web communications Troy Surratt, Ext. 125 SENIOR EDITOR David Bergeman, Ext. 143 Systems Administrator Jason Finkle, Ext. 124 Editor/Photographer Lewis Carlyle, Ext. 140 Programmer/Systems Analyst Gayatri Parepalli, Ext. 118 Senior Designer Sarah Larrabee, Ext. 144 Web Developer Toby Lortz, Ext. 141 Class News & Obituary Editor Tom Kroboth, Ext. 133 Director of Information Systems Jack Mueller, ’70, Ext. 122 ADVERTISING ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Beth Wade, Ext. 134 Alumni Affairs Vice President for Alumni affairs Corrie Grubbs, Ext. 105 Director of Programs Wayne Taylor, Ext. 150 Director of Constituent Relations Stella Grayson, ’99, Ext. 121 Doolittle Hall Events/Special Functions Director of Event Planning Ashlee Peterson, Ext. 147 Special Functions Coordinator Jean Bickford, Ext. 148

Class Projects Officer Al Burrell, Ext. 115 Membership Services Specialist Don McCarthy, Ext. 139 Graduate and Cadet Support Specialist Natalie Ryan, Ext 108

Alumni affairs event Coordinator Emma Ross, Ext. 136 Alumni affairs event Coordinator Leigh Frigm, Ext. 138

Customer Service and Facility Management Data integrity Specialist John Rice, Ext. 132 Customer Service Representative Sherry Jayne, Ext. 154 Data integrity Specialist Kim Wilson, Ext. 127 Customer Service Representative Murlea Vance, Ext. 152 Facilities Superintendent Dave Pfeil, Ext. 155 Customer Service Representative Jan Howard, Ext. 153 Customer Service supervisor Michele Cowan, Ext. 151 Maintenance Specialist Jake Jacobs, Ext. 155 The Association of Graduates BOARD OF DIRECTORS Board Chair Terry Storm, ’61 Rip Blaisdell, ’62 Kevin Chilton, ’76 Vice Chair Brian Binn, ’72 Vic Andrews, ’66 Bebe O’Neil, ’83 Secretary Bob Munson, ’73 Roger Carleton, ’67 Frank Schmuck, ’88 Treasurer Jack Fry, ’67 Bruce Wright, ’73 Steve Beasley, ’93

Kathleen Rock, ’98 Mark Rosenow, ’03

The USAFA Endowment To e-mail a staff member, use the first and last name. Example: Mark Hille | mark.hille@usafaendowment.org President & CEO Gen. (Ret.) Stephen R. Lorenz, ’73 (steve.lorenz@usafaendowment.org) Vice President, Development Mark Hille, ’97, Ext. 202 Executive Assistant Ruth Reichert, Ext. 206 Controller Dennis Scruggs, Ext. 203 Associate Vice President for Development Greg Knedler, Ext. 224 DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING Patricia O’Connor, Ext. 221 associate vp of leadership giving Jimmy Martello, ’00, 719.229.4202 director, gift planning Dale Zschoche, 719.238.7510 Major Gift Officer Jason Huber, 719.330.9660

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LEADERSHIP ANNUAL GIVING OFFICER Jen Lawrence, 719.332.0060 Class Giving Officer Razelle Doherty, Ext. 222 development Coordinator Amanda Brown, Ext. 223 Development associate Gina Simler, Ext. 200 development communication officer Ahn Tillery, Ext. 240 Stewardship Coordinator Allison Biereichel, Ext. 220 Staff Accountant Patricia DeSimone, Ext. 204

Checkpoints

March 2012

feature

EngineeringHope

With the help of the Academy, FalconWorks is facilitating the creation of life changing technologies

isappointment supplanted excitement soon after Duncan Stewart ’93 came back to the Academy, this time to be a member of the faculty. Promptly after returning to the Academy in 2003 to teach in the Management Department, Stewart learned that one of the most formative classes of his Academy studies had been eliminated from the USAFA curriculum. Once upon a time Engineering 410 was a course that all firsties were required to take–regardless of major. The course’s objective was to teach cadets the product development process through a combination of requirements definition, design, build, and testing. Most of the projects were focused on addressing problems originating from the local community. The 410 project Stewart worked on was especially affecting. “There was a bedridden child, he couldn’t

Written by David Bergeman

speak or see but he did have very limited use of one arm,” remembers Stewart. “Our project was to create a device that could help him communicate six needs and six wants to his parents and caregivers.” Stewart’s class designed a sound-based device that was connected to a big red button. If the child hit the button while hearing the sound of gurgling water, that meant he was thirsty. If the button was pushed during the sound of wind chimes that indicated the child wanted a fan turned on. The device worked smashingly and the experience had a profound impact on the young cadet. Back at the Academy, Stewart was told that sometime around 2001 Engineering 410 went the way of the Dodo due to a lack of funding, focus, and scope. Undaunted by these potential pitfalls, Stewart approached senior faculty and enlisted the help of Col. Andrew Armacost and Dr. Kurt Heppard ’82 in hopes of bringing the unique experience of 410 to a new generation of cadets. Upon review, the trio determined that a more efficient, concentrated, capstone course could be achieved through the creation of a non-profit–unconnected to the Academy–that could assist with the logistics of each project. In 2004, with input provided by cadets enrolled in a strategic management course, FalconWorks was born. Nearly a decade later the all-volunteer staffed “innovation hub” has become a fixture of Fairchild Hall. The organization generates project ideas, coordinates with the Academy’s academic departments to establish teams for each project, helps oversee the projects and provides specialized equip-

Photos by Lewis Carlyle Checkpoints

June 2012

C1C Christina Casabaum models the ExoGrip, which is an arm exoskeleton that provides hand strength to individuals with nerve damage.

ment, technical expertise and materials that may not be available at the Academy. FalconWorks’ first project hit close to home for Stewart, who is currently serving as a Community Liaison for the organization. “My daughter has cerebral palsy,” he says. “Around the time FalconWorks was getting started I happened to have a meeting with her school. They explained that she wasn’t participating in handwriting exercises effectively so I had them show me what they were doing. They pulled out a connect-the-dots type exercise and I said, ‘Good lord that’s boring as heck, why don’t we create something more dynamic with sounds, animation and a touch screen.’” Stewart brought the idea back to the Academy and, after two years of development, PointScribe was completed. The software helps teach writing 22

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to a wide range of special needs children. FalconWorks applied for a patent and in 2008 the technology was licensed to a local startup called Ultrathera. FalconWorks has donated nearly $15,000 worth of the software to school districts in the Pikes Peak region. The royalties from PointScribe have been used to fund subsequent projects that include: an interactive hand/wrist therapy system (Manipulus), a therapeutic elliptical walking cycle (Step-n-Gait) and a sensor-enhanced balancing platform (TheraBalance). The project scheduled for completion this year is the ExoGrip. It’s a dual-mode arm exoskeleton that will help patients whose arm/hand strength has been diminished due to nerve damage. It’s a lightweight, wearable device that will provide patients with strength assistance and therapeutic muscle stretching.

Right: System engineering major C1C Michael Sattes is the cadet team lead on the ExoGrip project. Below: A young girl works with the PointScribe software that was created by cadets with the help of FalconWorks. PointScribe is designed to help children with disabilities learn to write.

Many stroke victims and people who have suffered gunshot, shrapnel or other nerve damaging traumas will be able to benefit from its use. “There are devices similar to this that are designed for therapy, but they are very bulky and non-portable,” says cadet team lead C1C Michael Sattes. “ExoGrip is more of a long-term daily use device. It will help users do things like hold up a toothbrush or grab a water bottle.” Sattes is part of an interdisciplinary team of cadets who have chosen ExoGrip as their capstone project. “Most other capstones are like battle bots–challenges where you compete against other schools but you don’t really serve a greater good,” says C1C Christina Casabaum, who is one of the mechanical engineering majors on the project. “This seemed like something where you could make a difference. There are soldiers coming back home who need a device like this.” The team has been working on the project for the entire 2011-12 school year (the third academic year that cadets have been developing ExoGrip). The team consists of system, mechanical and computer

engineering majors and offers cadets a glimpse of how a career beyond the Blue Zoo might work. “Both my parents are engineers,” says C1C Cassabaum. “Often I’d call them and complain about getting hounded during a presentation to FalconWorks and they would laugh and tell me that’s how it works in the real world. Working with FalconWorks has been invaluable because, not only have we learned a lot through having an outside customer, but the customer has been critical when needed and supportive when needed.” “USAFA has a lot of creative minds in the cadets and faculty,” says FalconWorks Chairman, Dr. Roger Neeland ’64. “I like to see their ideas put to public use. In the future, hopefully we will have funding and cadet interest to be working on multiple projects every year at USAFA.” FalconWorks is a shining example of how cadets, grads, Academy leadership and the community can come together to create something special. “I think that FalconWorks really supports the Superintendent’s goal of generating more community engagement,” Stewart concludes. “We want the local community to benefit from this great institution that is so close to them. We’ve always said that the Academy attracts some of the best and brightest minds–this is a way to apply that talent to a real-life situation.”

Visit falconworks.org to learn more about the FalconWorks mission and how you can help. Checkpoints

June 2012

authors corner

Goodbye Milky Way – An Earth in Jeopardy Adventure by Dan Makaon (Dan Macherione ’66)

Tom is a freelance project manager with a reputation for getting results for corporations and governments. But he’s never been up against a challenge like this.  The earthquake that triggered the Asian tsunami did more than kill 283,000 people. It caused a shift in the axial tilt of the Earth. But what could have caused such a powerful earthquake and its unusual tectonic activity? An eclectic group of scientists, calling themselves the Star-Slayer Team, calculates that the cause of the quake emanates from the depths of space, threatening all of mankind with extinction. Tom leads a harrowing expedition to Antarctica and discovers an ancient secret that can help save mankind. He joins the Star-Slayer Team and leads massive and dangerous construction projects in Ecuador and on the Moon. Assisted by Aieda, a powerful and sophisticated computer, the team has only seven years to develop the mechanism that will save the Earth and the Moon. With Einstein-like intelligence, and even adopting a female persona, Aieda believes her new theory governing gravity and space-time will save humanity. But can she be trusted? Available at www.danmakaon.com and www.amazon.com ISBN: 978-0-9833785-9-4

The Right Guard by Alexandra Hamlet

Over one million military weapons and equipment are missing from the U.S. military inventories across the country. Where are all the weapons? CIA operative Eric Brent, and his revolutionary light weapon invention, is used by CIA to flush out a secretive, “phantom” group hostile to a wildly spending, intrusive U.S. Administration that threatens to destroy the American economy and shrink individual freedoms. Hamlet takes you through the twists and turns of the secretive world of intelligence as the undercover assignment goes astray. Eric exposes a far-reaching and well-planned movement and an event that could alter the United States forever. Order your copy from www.alexandrahamlet.com

FAMILIAR FACES - A Vietnam War POW-MIA Mystery by Warren J. Rosaluk ’68 Jake, a troubled and embittered Vietnam veteran, is a photojournalist for a struggling wire service. In 1986, he takes a photograph of a rock star. The next morning, three different callers claim the same man in the photo’s background is a long-missing relative and an MIA from the Vietnam War. Jake and the callers search for the mystery man, meet unexpected resistance from the White House, and uncover a horrific plot. The book is rich with gritty detail: fatal F-4 fighter jet mission, massacre at My Lai, POW fantasies, Challenger space shuttle explosion, secret SR-71 flight. And it features quirky characters like a flaky, hyper-sexed divorcee who, despite numerous affairs/marriages, still yearns for her MIA first husband … an overweight forensic anthropologist with a world-class mind, major-league body odor, and a big-time crush on the divorcee … and a grieving father having unresolved anger toward his missing son, and most everyone else. This novel will test your emotions. You may alternately laugh, cry, seethe, and be rocked by blindside twists. What readers say: “Terrific piece of work … well-written and researched ... quality action scenes ... can’t miss … beautifully done … compelling adventure ... accomplished novel ... fascinating thriller … left a lump in my throat ... I have read bestsellers not as good.” Available at www.rosaluk.com/familiarfaces.htm and www.amazon.com 24

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Checkpoints

March 2012

feature

Four Stars for History

The Air Force’s First Female Four-Star General Janet (Libby) Wolfenbarger ’80 Looks Back, Thinks Forward. By David Bergeman

“What the Academy did was put

me in situations that stretched me–mentally, physically, emotionally and academically. I came out on the other side of those experiences knowing I am far more capable than I ever thought I could be.

”

“Welcome to Wendy’s! May I take your order?”

This simple turn of phrase could have been a familiar refrain for the Air Force’s first female fourstar general. Like a lot of seniors in high school, Janet (Libby) Wolfenbarger ’80 had taken a job with a local fast food joint to help pay for what she thought would be her freshman year of college. But before she could flip her first burger, Wolfenbarger received some life altering news. “My father came home one day and told me that Congress had passed a law opening up all of the service academies to women,” says Wolfenbarger. At that time she knew virtually nothing about the Blue Zoo, but after a little research she liked what she found. “I thought it would be such a challenge to see, one, if I could get in, and two, how well I could do in that environment if I was appointed.” The rest is history. Thirty-six years later, Wolfenbarger pinned on her fourth star in June and began her assignment as Commander of the Air Force Materiel Command, which is headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. She is humbled to have the opportunity to lead a command that she has spent the vast majority of the past 32 years serving. “I had no anticipation throughout my career of the early promotions or the promotion to brigadier general, much less this opportunity to serve at the highest rank in our Air Force,” she says. “Not everyone gets the chance to serve at the head of a command that they grew up in. I’m excited to leverage all of the experience and seasoning I’ve gained by being part of the command and taking care of its mission and people.” Returning to Wright-Patterson will be a homecoming of sorts for this Air Force trailblazer. Wolfenbarger comes from an Air Force family and, like most Air Force families, there was a lot of relocating going on while she was growing up. Ultimately her father, Maj. (Ret.) Eldon Libby, was transferred to WrightPatterson. This allowed Wolfenbarger to spend her

high school years attending nearby Beavercreek High School, where she showed a proclivity for leadership. Along with demonstrating all of the typical high achievement you’d expect of an appointee, she was also one of several students who helped found the school’s women’s soccer team. So, on that fateful day in 1976 when her father delivered the news that the Academy was open to her, the potential challenge was irresistible. Soon after she would find herself among the first 157 women to enter the Academy. Despite her determined outlook, naivety would lead to a few bumps in the road during the first of her pioneering journeys. “I did not have a good understanding of what the Academy experience would entail,” she says. “Before I arrived at the Academy my father told me, ‘They’re going to strip away all of your rights and hand them back one at a time.’ As a senior in Checkpoints

June 2012

Women in the U.S. Military 1775-83

Revolutionary War–Select women serve in military camps as cooks, laundresses and nurses.

1782-83

Deborah Simpson serves in General Washington’s army for over a year while being disguised as a man.

1861-65

Civil War–Women serve as hospital administrators (matrons). Dr. Mary Walker becomes the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor.

1917-18

World War I–Women are allowed to join the military; approximately 33,000 serve in some capacity. Over 400 nurses die in the line of duty.

1941-45

World War II–Eighty-eight women are held as POWs.

1948

Women are granted permanent status in the military through the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act.

1965-75

Vietnam War–Over 7,000 women serve in Southeast Asia. An Air Force flight nurse is killed while transporting Vietnamese orphans aboard a C-5A Galaxy transport that crashes on takeoff.

1976

Women are admitted to the service academies.

1982

The Air Force selects the first woman aviator for Test Pilot School.

1986

Terrie Ann (McLaughlin) Galanti ’86 becomes the first female to graduate at the top of her Air Force Academy class.

1991-92

Persian Gulf War–41,000 women are deployed to the combat zone. Congress authorizes women to fly in combat missions.

2001

Lt. Gen. Susan Helms ’80 completes a worldrecord spacewalk of eight hours 56 minutes.

2004

Colonel Linda McTague becomes the Air Force’s first female commander of a fighter squadron.

2005

Maj. Gen. Susan Desjardins ’80 is installed as USAFA Commandant of Cadets. She is the first female in service academy history to be appointed to this position.

2008

Ann Dunwoody (Army) becomes the first female four-star general in U.S. military history.

2012

Janet Wolfenbarger ’80 becomes the first female four-star general in Air Force history.

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high school, being a fairly ‘righteous minded’ individual, I recall my response was, ‘I’m an American citizen and no one can take my rights from me!’ I think as I went through that first summer, probably in somewhat a state of shock, it became evident to me that my father was far more correct than I was.” The first sign of what was to come arrived after unloading the bus at the Academy’s “Bring Me Men” ramp. “I would stipulate that there are challenges to every cadet entering USAFA–in particular for my class there were some unique challenges.” Wolfenbarger recounted one experience that still stands out decades later. While getting her issue and attempting to get acclimated, Wolfenbarger found herself chit chatting with a fellow female cadet. “We came upon an upperclassman who, as I characterized it, didn’t get the memo that training had yet to begin. He kind of threw us up against the wall, got an inch from our face and proceeded to yell something to the effect of, ‘What the hell are you doing talking in my hallway?’ After what felt like an eternity he let us go and I remember turning to my new found friend and saying, ‘He must be having a bad day.’” Wolfenbarger went on to say, “Some male cadets firmly believed that Congress was wrong to allow women to attend the Academy and they made it their personal calling to prove that point. I think their fear was that standards would somehow be lowered as a result of women becoming part of the Cadet Wing and the resulting experience would be diminished. I, along with my female classmates, spent four years proving that the standards did not have to be lowered, that women could survive and thrive in this very challenging environment.” It takes will, determination and strength to ascend to the heights that Wolfenbarger has reached. Only 32 other Academy graduates have risen to the rank of four-star general. She credits the Academy for providing a base of values that she has relied upon throughout her career. “What the Academy did was put me in situations that stretched me–mentally, physically, emotionally and academically. I came out on the other side of those experiences knowing I am far more capable than I ever thought I could be.” She continues, “I have the opportunity to frequently speak about the leadership principles I’ve used to guide me through my career. As I think about those principles–how it’s all about teamwork, how as a leader you need to take care of both the mission and the people and how those things are related–I’ve realized those lessons were learned at the Academy and I’ve relied on them ever since.” Wolfenbarger is a role model–for being a member of that first female class to enter the Academy, for what she has accomplished since, and for what she stands for. “I grew up in a military family and I’ve always felt a great

General Janet Wolfenbarger ’80 reviews some information during a Senate Armed Services Committee Airland Subcommittee hearing on May 8th. L to R: Vice Admiral David J. Venlet, Wolfenbarger, Vice Admiral W. Mark Skinner.

pride and satisfaction in serving our country,” she says. “I believe that serving in the military allows me to have no other agenda than simply to do what is right.” She credits her mother and father for providing a moral base that has guided her through life. When asked if she had any unique wisdom to proffer current female cadets as they work toward becoming officers, Wolfenbarger makes a cogent point. “Any advice that I would have is applicable for both genders,” she says, “and that is simply to do the very best at every assignment you’re given, starting at the point when you graduate until you decide that you are done with your Air Force career. I can give no better advice than that and it has served me well.”

Wolfenbarger is obviously driven and a conversation with her imparts how tirelessly she works at her job. When asked about life outside of work, she quickly alludes to her husband, Col. (Ret.) Craig Wolfenbarger (who is a former Air Force pilot) and their 14-year-old daughter. “For the last several years non-duty time has become fairly precious; that’s time I enjoy spending with my family.” With a rather large promotion just underway, Wolfenbarger harbors no illusions of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or visiting the Great Barrier Reef any time soon. “Maybe in retirement,” she laughs. For now, it’s family, country, and hopefully a good book. “I don’t get a chance to read,” she pauses, “read for pleasure as much as I’d like to.”

NOW AVAILABLE WITH YOUR CLASS CREST! The new AOG USAA Rewards™ World MasterCard ® is now available with your class crest! Applying is a simple process. Use the link below and, if you are already a member of USAA, simply log on to your USAA account. After answering a few quick questions, you will have your answer. Remember: you MUST be logged in to USAA to apply for this card. If you are not a current USAA member, click the “Get Started” button to begin the process. You’ll have a few more questions to answer but you, too, can soon have your AOG USAA Rewards™ World MasterCard ®.

Get started at www.usaa.com/afaog! Checkpoints

June 2012

features

Why Our Best Officers Are Leaving By Tim Kane ’90 The Atlantic Monthly

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Why are so many of the most talented officers now abandoning military life for the private sector? An exclusive survey of West Point graduates shows that it’s not just money. Increasingly, the military is creating a command structure that rewards conformism and ignores merit. As a result, it’s losing its vaunted ability to cultivate entrepreneurs in uniform.

JOHN NAGL STILL hesitates when he talks about his decision to leave the Army. A former Rhodes Scholar and tank-battalion operations officer in Iraq, Nagl helped General David Petraeus write the Army’s new counterinsurgency field manual, which is credited with bringing Iraq’s insurgency under control. But despite the considerable influence Nagl had in the Army, and despite his reputation as a skilled leader, he retired in 2008 having not yet reached the rank of full colonel. Today, Nagl still has the same short haircut he had 24 years ago when we met as cadets–me an Air Force Academy doolie (or freshman), him a visiting West Pointer–but now he presides over a Washington think tank. The funny thing is, even as a civilian, he can’t stop talking about the Army–“our Army”–as if he never left. He won’t say it outright, but it’s clear to me, and to many of his former colleagues, that the Army fumbled badly in letting him go. His sudden resignation has been haunting me, and it punctuates an exodus that has been publicly ignored for too long. Why does the American military produce the most innovative and entrepreneurial leaders in the country, then waste that talent in a risk-averse bureaucracy? Military leaders know they face a paradox. A widely circulated 2010 report from the Strategic Studies Institute of the Army War College said: “Since the late 1980s … prospects for the Officer Corps’ future have been darkened by … plummeting companygrade officer retention rates. Significantly, this leakage includes a large share of high-performing officers.” Similar alarms have been sounded for decades, starting long before the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan made the exit rate of good officers an acute crisis. When General Peter Schoomaker served as Army chief of staff from 2003 to 2007, he emphasized a “culture of innovation” up and down the ranks to shift the Army away from its Cold War focus on big, conventional battles and toward new threats. In many respects (weapons, tactics, logistics, training), the Army did transform. But the talent crisis persisted for a simple reason: the problem isn’t cultural. The military’s problem is a deeply anti-entrepreneurial personnel structure. From officer evaluations to promotions to job assignments, all branches of the military operate more like a government bureaucracy with a unionized workforce than like a cutting-edge meritocracy. After interviewing veterans who work at some of the most dynamic and innovative companies in the country, I’m convinced that the military has failed to learn the most fundamental lessons of the

knowledge economy. And that to hold on to its best officers, to retain future leaders like John Nagl, it will need to undergo some truly radical reforms– not just in its policies and culture, but in the way it thinks about its officers. All They Can Be? It would be easy to dismiss Nagl’s story, except you hear it almost every time you talk to a vet. In a recent survey I conducted of 250 West Point graduates (sent to the classes of 1989, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2001, and 2004), an astonishing 93 percent believed that half or more of “the best officers leave the military early rather than serving a full career.” By design, I left the definitions of best and early up to the respondents. I conducted the survey from late August to mid-September, reaching graduates through their class scribes (who manage e-mail lists for periodic newsletters). This ensured that the sample included veterans as well as active-duty officers. Among active-duty respondents, 82 percent believed that half or more of the best are leaving. Only 30 percent of the full panel agreed that the military personnel system “does a good job promoting the right officers to General,” and a mere 7 percent agreed that it “does a good job retaining the best leaders.” Is this so terrible? One can argue that every system has flaws and that the military should be judged on its ultimate mission: maintaining national security and winning wars. But that’s exactly the point: 65 percent of the graduates agreed that the exit rate of the best officers leads to a less competent general-officer corps. Seventyeight percent agreed that it harms national security. The shame of this loss of talent is that the U.S. military does such a good job attracting and training great leaders. The men and women who volunteer as military officers learn to remain calm and think quickly under intense pressure. They are comfortable making command decisions, working in teams, and motivating people. Such skills translate powerfully to the private sector, particularly business: male military Checkpoints

June 2012

When I asked veterans for the reasons they left the military, the top response was “frustration with military bureaucracy” officers are almost three times as likely as other American men to become CEOs, according to a 2006 Korn/ Ferry International study. Examples abound of senior executives who attribute their leadership skills to their time in uniform: Ross Perot, Bill Coleman, Fred Smith, and Bob McDonald, the new CEO of Procter & Gamble, to name a few. The business guru Warren Bennis reflected in his recent memoirs, “I never heard anything at MIT or Harvard that topped the best lectures I heard at [Fort] Benning.” Why is the military so bad at retaining these people? It’s convenient to believe that top officers simply have more lucrative opportunities in the private sector, and that their departures are inevitable. But the reason overwhelmingly cited by veterans and active-duty officers alike is that the military personnel system– every aspect of it–is nearly blind to merit. Performance evaluations emphasize a zero-defect mentality, meaning that risk-avoidance trickles down the chain of command. Promotions can be anticipated almost to the day–regardless of an officer’s competence–so that there is essentially no difference in rank among officers the same age, even after 15 years of service. Job assignments are managed by a faceless, centralized bureaucracy that keeps everyone guessing where they might be shipped next. The Pentagon’s response to such complaints has traditionally been to throw money at the problem, in the form of millions of dollars in talent-blind retention bonuses. More often than not, such bonuses go to any officer in the “critical” career fields of the moment, regardless of performance evaluations. This only ensures that the services retain the most risk-averse, and leads to long-term mediocrity. When I asked veterans for the reasons they left the military, the top response was “frustration with military bureaucracy”–cited by 82 percent of respondents (with 50 percent agreeing strongly). In contrast, the conventional explanation for talent bleed–the high frequency of deployments–was cited by only 63 percent of respondents, and was the fifth most-common 32

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reason. According to 9 out of 10 respondents, many of the best officers would stay if the military was more of a meritocracy. Entrepreneurs in Uniform During World War II, German generals often complained that U.S. forces were unpredictable: they didn’t follow their own doctrine. Colonel Jeff Peterson, a member of the faculty at West Point, likes to illustrate this point using a parable about hedgerows. After the Normandy invasion in 1944, American troops found that their movements were constrained by the thick hedgerows that lined the countryside of northern France. The hedges frequently channeled American units into German ambushes, and they were too thick to cut or drive through. In response, “Army soldiers invented a mechanism on the fly that they welded onto the front of a tank to cut through hedgerows,” Peterson told me. American troops are famous for this kind of individual initiative. It’s a point of pride among officers that the American way of war emphasizes independent judgment in the fog and friction of battle, rather than obedience and rules. Lieutenants, even corporals and privates, are trained to be entrepreneurial in combat. This emphasis doesn’t just attract inspirational leaders and efficient managers–it produces revolutionary innovators. From the naval officer Alfred Thayer Mahan, whose insights on sea power transformed warfare at the beginning of the 20th century, to General Billy Mitchell, the godfather of the Air Force, to General Petraeus’ implementation his counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan, the U.S. military has a long and proud tradition of innovative thought. Creativity of this sort is increasingly celebrated by economists who study growth, many of whom now believe that innovation is essentially the only factor that drives long-term increases in per capita income. Since innovation relies entirely on people–what economists call human capital–academics are showing more appreciation than ever for Joseph Schumpeter and his pioneering focus on entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs, Schumpeter noted, take risks, experiment with new technologies and ideas, and bring about the “creative destruction” that enables capitalism to flourish. Likewise, martial progress relies on innovative officers, especially those who question doctrine and strategy. But the Pentagon doesn’t always reward its innovators. Usually, rebels in uniform suffer at the expense of their ideas. General Mitchell was court-martialed for insubordination in 1925; and who can forget the hostile treatment afforded General Eric Shinseki in 2003 after he testified that “something on the order of several hundred thousand soldiers” would probably be required to stabilize post-invasion Iraq? In a 2007 essay in the Armed Forces Journal, Lieu-

tenant Colonel Paul Yingling offered a compelling explanation for this risk-averse tendency. A veteran of three tours in Iraq, Yingling articulated a common frustration among the troops: that a failure of generalship was losing the war. His critique focused not on failures of strategy but on the failures of the generalofficer corps making the strategy, and of the antientrepreneurial career ladder that produced them: “It is unreasonable to expect that an officer who spends 25 years conforming to institutional expectations will emerge as an innovator in his late forties.” Despite the turnaround in Iraq since engineered by General Petraeus and his allies, it is hard to escape the impression that the military has indeed become less hospitable to entrepreneurs at the strategic level in the past few decades. Schumpeter predicted that as capitalist economies evolved, innovation would become routinized in large organizations, obviating the need for individual entrepreneurs. Until the 1980s, this idea was widely accepted in corporate America, and certainly in the defense industry. But Schumpeter’s prediction was upended definitively when the knowledge economy evolved out of the industrial economy, and symbolically when Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak started Apple Computer in a California garage. In America today, capitalism is entrepreneurial: our economy is defined by individuals failing or succeeding on the strength of their ideas. Crucially, the military has not recognized this shift. And the Army, in particular, has not changed from its “inefficient industrial era practices,” as a report by the Strategic Studies Institute put it last year. It still treats each employee as an interchangeable commodity rather than as a unique individual with skills that can be optimized. It’s Not Business, It’s Personnel The most blatantly anti-entrepreneurial aspect of the Army is the strict time-in-service requirement for various ranks. Consider the mandatory delay for becoming a general. Active-duty officers can retire after 20 years of service. But to be considered for promotion to general requires at least 22 years of service, and that applies to even the most talented and inspiring military officer in the nation. John Nagl might have been that officer. His 2002 book, Learning to Eat Soup With a Knife, anticipated the kind of insurgency warfare America was likely to face in the new century, and it proved a prescient warning as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan dragged on. After serving in Iraq, Nagl helped General Petraeus write the Army’s counterinsurgency doctrine in 2005 and 2006. Conventional wisdom holds that the “surge” broke Iraq’s insurgency the following year. But the surge was more than just the 30,000 or so additional soldiers and marines who were deployed. The key was instead a new emphasis on stability and

development, inspired in large part by ideas laid out in Nagl’s book. In 2008, Nagl hit the 20-year mark, and what happened? He retired. Since he was not yet a full colonel, let alone a general, it was clear that he could be more influential as a civilian. He is now the head of the Center for a New American Security, known in Washington as President Obama’s favorite think tank. Had he stayed in the Army, odds are he would have been a career colonel, or a professor at the Army War College. Now his work at CNAS regularly reaches the White House and the National Security Council. While I assumed the loss of Nagl would be seen as an outrage within the military, most officers I spoke to shrugged it off as typical. The more experts I talked with, the more I realized that targeting one inefficient policy, like the time-inservice requirement, wasn’t going to work. I asked the survey respondents to grade different aspects of the military in terms of fostering entrepreneurial leadership, using a standard A-through-F scale. The “recruitment of raw talent” received 12 percent A’s and 43 percent B’s. Formal training programs and military doctrine also got good marks. What emerged as the weakest area was personnel. The evaluation system received 51 percent D’s and F’s. Job assignments got 55 percent failing grades. The promotion system got 61 percent. And lastly, the compensation system received 79 percent D’s and F’s. Simply put, if the Army hopes to stanch the talent bleed, it needs to embrace an entrepreneurial structure, not just culture. That doesn’t mean more officers who invent new weapons, but rather a new web of incentives rewarding creative leadership. The military has reinvented itself in this manner before. West Point’s Jeff Peterson recounted the standard story line of the Army’s soul-searching after Vietnam. After eight years of committing hundreds of thousands of soldiers to a war that was lost on many levels, the Army returned to a strategic comfort zone, with its leadership thinking about conventional wars instead of the messy counterinsurgency it had just muddled through. While this story isn’t wrong on the whole, Peterson argues that it ignores the radical transformations that took place in the 1970s. He pulled James Kitfield’s book

It is unreasonable to expect that an officer who spends 25 years conforming to institutional expectations will emerge as an innovator in his late forties.

Checkpoints

June 2012

Prodigal Soldiers from his bookshelf and encouraged me to read it. Kitfield chronicles a revolution in that era in how the Army treated, organized, and trained its soldiers. No change was bigger than the adoption of an all-volunteer force in 1973. It was a radical idea at the time, so controversial that many in the Army expected it to fail, or even to destroy the military. Instead, the allvolunteer force served as the beginning of a renaissance in the ranks, across all the services, and paved the way for a newly professional military. Instead of staying in for just two years, enlistees now commonly stayed for five years, or 10, or a career. The Army started paying better and, more important, making investments in its human capital. But make no mistake, moving to a volunteer force was not an incremental reform. It was radical. This connection may explain why almost 60 percent of the West Point respondents favored “radical reform” of the personnel system. Radical reform may not sound like much of a blueprint, but the all-volunteer force must be understood in terms of a philosophical shift: the military rejected centrally planned accessions in exchange for a market mechanism. Faced with having to attract and retain volunteers, the military filled its requirements for labor with the right price: better pay, better housing, better treatment, and ultimately a better career opportunity than it had ever offered.

An internal job market might be the key to revolutionizing military personnel.

A Market Alternative Today’s Army requires a similar philosophical shift if it is to generate more entrepreneurial leadership and start retaining its most talented officers. When presented with 10 proposed policy changes, the panel of West Point grads was strongly in favor of five, marginally in favor of three, split on one, and strongly against the last. Dead last was reauthorizing the draft instead of the all-volunteer force, a proposal that drew support from only 14 percent of respondents. So what did they think would help? The Army should start by breaking down its rigid promotion ladder. The most strongly recommended policy, which 90 percent agreed with, is to allow greater specialization. Under the current system, company and platoon commanders are often “promoted” to staff jobs–that is, transferred from commanding troops in battle to working behind a desk

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on a general’s staff–even if they’d prefer to specialize in a lower-ranking position they enjoy. Rather than take an advancement they don’t want, many quit the Army altogether. Expanding early-promotion opportunities for top performers and eliminating year-group promotions also have strong support (87 and 78 percent, respectively). All of this might be hard to do while maintaining centralized management of rank and job assignments, but threequarters of the panel favored ditching that system entirely in favor of an internal job market. Indeed, an internal job market might be the key to revolutionizing military personnel. In today’s military, individuals are given “orders” to report to a new assignment every two to four years. When an Army unit in Korea rotates out its executive officer, the commander of that unit is assigned a new executive officer. Even if the commander wants to hire Captain Smart, and Captain Smart wants to work in Korea, the decision is out of their hands– and another captain, who would have preferred a job in Europe, might be assigned there instead. The Air Force conducts three assignment episodes each year, coordinated entirely by the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, in Texas. Across the globe, officers send in their job requests. Units with open slots send their requirements for officers. The hundreds of officers assigned full-time to the personnel center strive to match open requirements with available officers (each within strictly defined career fields, like infantry, intelligence, or personnel itself), balancing individual requests with the needs of the service, while also trying to develop careers and project future trends, all with constantly changing technological tools. It’s an impossible job, but the alternative is chaos. In fact, a better alternative is chaos. Chaos, to economists, is known as the free market, where the invisible hand matches supply with demand. The Strategic Studies Institute report makes this very point. “Giving officers greater voice in their assignments increases both employment longevity and productivity,” it concludes. “The Army’s failure to do so, however, in large part accounts for declining retention among officers commissioned since 1983.” Here is how a market alternative would work. Each commander would have sole hiring authority over the people in his unit. Officers would be free to apply for any job opening. If a major applied for an opening above his pay grade, the commander at that unit could hire him (and bear the consequences). Coordination could be done through existing online tools such as monster.com or careerbuilder.com (presumably those companies would be interested

in offering rebranded versions for the military). If an officer chose to stay in a job longer than “normal” (“I just want to fly fighter jets, sir”), that would be solely between him and his commander. Each of the four military branches is free to design its own personnel system, with minimal Pentagon interference. Yet each uses a similar centralizedplanning department. It would take only one branch to lead the way by adopting the best practices of corporate America–where firms manage vast workforces by emphasizing flexibility, respect for individual talent, and executive responsibility. During my study, I surveyed ex-military officers at Citi, Dell, Amazon, Procter & Gamble, TMobile, Amgen, Intuit, and countless venture-capital firms. At every company, the veterans were shocked to look back at how “archaic and arbitrary” talent management was in the armed forces. Unlike industrial-era firms, and unlike the military, successful companies in the knowledge economy understand that nearly all value is embedded in their human capital. I traveled to Silicon Valley to learn about the organizational design of firms there, and also to learn about the talent ecosystem. Nowhere is there a military-style 20-year retirement framework that distorts career decisions, and no one offers the security of lifetime employment. Instead, Silicon Valley attracts talent because it knows the importance of flexibility. Companies, unlike military units, are born and die out constantly, and the massive flow of labor across and within companies is highly turbulent. Not only can ambitious visionaries become top executives in half a decade, but employees can do the one thing they love for decades without worrying about getting “promoted” to management positions they don’t want. In the glassy buildings of Menlo Park, “being all you can be”–whether it’s coding C++, designing Web campaigns, or excelling in some other niche– isn’t just a slogan. One Silicon Valley executive I spoke with, whom I’ll call Captain Smith, contrasted his time as a Marine company commander with his current job leading hundreds of employees, from software engineers to sales managers. Like other veterans in corporate America, he credits his military training with sharpening his leadership skills. But the analytical mind he uses to devise business models is just as sharp in assessing the military’s inept talent management. What’s the impact of merit on promotions in the Marines? “Virtually

none,” says Smith. “On average, the best officers got out; the worst officers got out.” There are notable exceptions, he said. “But the larger trend I observed drives any organization toward mediocrity.” When I asked him about Silicon Valley’s lessons for the military, he mentioned his firm’s internal market for matching engineers and projects, where the bottom line is that engineers rule. Team leaders have to advertise their projects and try to attract engineers, and it’s uncommon for an engineer to be told what he or she will do. Happier workers mean higher productivity. “I don’t want to oversimplify,” he says. “But this is about incentives and control.” In contrast, only one in five of the West Point graduates thinks the Army today does a good job matching talents with jobs. And nearly two-thirds agree that using an evaluation system that singled out the best and worst members of a given unit–for advancement or release–would yield a more entrepreneurial leadership. Such a system, popularized by Jack Welch of General Electric, would give commanders better information, and also make personnel ratings a lot more useful than the politically correct write-ups in abundance now. It would also recast the personnel officers as headhunters, focused on giving advice, rather than orders, to job-seekers and to hiring commanders. I asked Smith–a supremely tech-savvy, gung-ho leader–whether he would consider rejoining if the Marines recruited him to serve as a general officer, perhaps to command their cyber-security efforts. I anticipated that his resolute willingness to serve would offer a vivid contrast to the military’s closed-mindedness. But he surprised me. He thought quietly for a minute. Then, shaking his head, he said something much more damning: “I can’t see it,” the Silicon Valley marine said. “Even if they made that offer … I have no confidence that I could pierce the bureaucracy.” ________________________________________ Editor’s Note: Tim Kane is the Chief Economist at the Hudson Institute, a nonpartisan, independent policy research organization dedicated to innovative research and analysis that promotes global security, prosperity, and freedom. He is a former Air Force intelligence officer and a 1990 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. Copyright 2011, The Atlantic Media Co. as published in The Atlantic Monthly. Distributed by Tribune Media Services.

Checkpoints

June 2012

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feature

STRING THEORY Striking a chord with the Cadet Orchestra

“So, what type of music do you like?”

C3C Sarah Clapp during practice.

One of the all-time hallmarks in the history of small talk, the question of music is one of the most common queries to ever pass between new acquaintances. In today’s world there are literally hundreds of musical genres which can fall off the tongue–everything from hip hop, to country, to classic rock and roll are wellworn topics of conversation. Yet there is one category of music which is seldom referenced (especially among America’s youth). When it comes to favorites, the world of classical music is not a choice discussion–that is, until you sit in on a practice session with the Cadet Orchestra Club. Established by a group of cadets who were looking to carry on their love of symphonic music, the Cadet Orchestra Club was created in 2006. The club began as a way for cadets to sharpen their instrumental skills and have an outlet for playing classical music. Today, the organization performs free concerts at the Academy that are open to the local community. Dr. Clifford Utermoehlen is the founding conductor and he can still be found at the head of the podium today, arms poised to lead each weekly practice session. Given the number of musically gifted students who enter the Academy each year, the club has become a big success with cadets who have spent the better part of their lives practicing the art of sound. Many cadets begin training at the age of five and enter the Academy with over a decade of dedicated musical experience. For them, laying down their violins, flutes and cellos upon entering college would be nothing short of a travesty. C1C Josiah Eubank is president of the Orchestra Club; he is one such cadet whose life has involved music for a very long time. “I started out in kindermusic when I was in kindergarten,” he recounts. “I moved into piano in the first grade and then I picked up French horn in fifth grade and I’ve been playing that ever since.”  WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY LEWIS CARLYLE

STRINGTHEORY

As if mastering two of the most complex instruments ever devised wasn’t enough, Eubank also sings. “I have a pretty wide range,” he explains. “I did musicals in high school and I’m a member of the Cadet Choral here at the Academy.” This cross section of musical disciplines makes him the ideal cadet to lead the club. In addition to his place in the orchestra, he also takes on various administrative roles. “I organize our cadet musicians and help determine which music we will play for our concerts each semester.” Eubank, like many cadets, faced a difficult choice when first coming to the Academy: Does one continue to devote the long hours necessary to honing one’s musical skills given the rigorous academic, military and athletic demands on a cadet’s time? For Eubank, the answer was clear. “Music has always been a part of my life,” he recalls. “When I first came to college I thought to myself, ‘I can just stop.’ But I soon realized that, when I’m not playing, there’s this void in my life that isn’t filled. No matter how busy I get, if I have time to play music–or even just listen to music–I have to do it.” C2C Jorden Simons faced a similar dilemma when he first came to the Academy. For him, the orchestra was a welcome alternative to laying down his strings. “I’ve been playing standup base for about eleven years now,” Simons says. “I started off in the fifth grade and just loved it immediately.” Simons also played in high school musicals, and today serves as the lower strings section leader for the Cadet Orchestra. “I’m in charge of making sure the lower strings have it together when it comes to knowing the music we perform.”

For those who may not be technically savvy in the world of musical terminology, Simons explains, “the ‘lower strings’ consist of the cello, base and viola.” These three instruments range in the lower octaves, providing deep, throaty base notes as a tonal foundation for an orchestra’s dynamic range. Like the rest of the cadets in the club, Simons is happy to have an outlet from his tough schedule at the Academy. “I love having the ability to express myself with music,” he exclaims. “It’s been such a strong influence in my life and here at the Academy it’s a great way to release some steam. There are not a whole lot of venues for me to play my standup base, so this is a great outlet for me. Just playing symphonic music with other people is very enjoyable.” C1C Anthony Pompa plays violin. “I started when I was about seven,” Pompa recalls. “My grandmother played violin and I became interested by listening to her.” Known as one of the world’s most difficult instruments to master, the violin is especially challenging because–like the cello–the finger board does not contain frets, which index musical notes on a mathematical scale (frets are the metal bands found on the neck of a guitar). Without this reference, a violinist must literally feel the music–and each piece will sound a little different each time it is played. Pompa continues, “A lot of cadets here at the Academy excel in things besides physical fitness, mathematics and science. The orchestra is a way for cadets to take control of the musical ambitions we had before we came to USAFA. After I graduate, I’ll be going to medical school. What the orchestra has shown me is that even if you’re in a career track that

C1C Anthony Pompa concentrates during a practice session.

C1C Josiah Eubank plays French horn.

doesn’t necessarily support music, there are still places to explore one’s musical interests–it only takes four people to form a quartet.” Eubank echoes his colleague’s sentiments. “The orchestra is important to me because it’s a musical outlet that doesn’t exist anywhere else here at the Academy. We do have Choral, where we sing some classical music, but there’s nowhere other than the Cadet Orchestra where I can play my French horn.” For most musicians, the only thing that equals their love of the craft is their passion for performing. Cadets in the orchestra cite their enthusiasm for concerts as one of their greatest motivations for being a part of the organization. They host free concerts at the Academy several times during each academic year. Additionally, members of the club regularly form up into smaller ensembles to perform in other locations in Colorado Springs. “The organization is a great outreach to the community,” Eubank explains. “Believe it or not, there are people in Colorado Springs who don’t particularly like football, and they need something else. The orchestra is an opportunity for them to enjoy the talents of the Cadet Wing. I have family in Colorado and my aunt brings all of our neighbors to our concerts. We don’t often get the opportunity to share what we do here at the Academy.”

Simons chimes in, “The senior citizens of Colorado Springs are arguably some of our strongest supporters and this music gives us a way to give back to our local community.” Music is one of the most beloved artistic elements of human society. Mathematically based, it is a universal communication which transcends the boundaries of both language and culture. Even for those of us who never had the aptitude to play, we can still enjoy listening all the same. That’s the beauty of music. “I’ve enjoyed music my entire life,” Eubank says through a smile. “While my mom was pregnant with me, she took piano lessons–so that might have something to do with it. You never know!” If ever there was a common thread among all of the clubs at the Academy, it is that cadets are given the opportunity to engage in an activity they are passionate about. Music has been a part of society for thousands of years–yet relatively speaking, the Cadet Orchestra is one of the youngest clubs at USAFA. Given the social and cultural foundations upon which it is built, it is unlikely that this organization will be fading into obscurity any time soon. Just as it did in the days of Mozart and Beethoven, the show must go on.

Click here for additional photos. Checkpoints

June 2012

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Pennica Financial Group, Inc. After a career serving our United States Air Force (USAF), Michael joined the financial services industry in 1993 and opened his first office in Colorado Springs, Colorado in circa 1996. A year later, Carol (wife) joined the firm from USAA and has continued to serve as Senior Vice President. As an independent financial services firm, Pennica Financial Group, Inc. (PFG) is able to teach “Main Street” financial concepts that often times elude today’s families. The firm also works with small business owners and some non-profits to help them gain a better concept of wealth creation, risk management, and exit strategies. PFG has expanded its operation in Colorado by hiring good people that care about others and their financial future. Additionally, PFG has been recognized as a leader in hiring veterans and helping them make a career transition. For over 18 years, we have served the needs of clients that truly want to work with an independent financial advisor, an advisor that has the client’s interests at heart and is structured to provide open solutions – not proprietary products or services. We do not compromise our ability to objectively serve our client’s interest and will work with anyone who has a strong interest to improve their financial situation. The size of their asset pool does not inhibit our ability to serve their needs.

TravelMore, LLC TravelMore, LLC is a full-service travel agency which offers military discounts on most products. Owner, Marianne Black has been in the travel industry since 1985 and is passionate about what she does. What is “full-service”? Save yourself the hassles and time while we do the work–with no extra TravelMore, LLC cost to you. You’ll have the peace of mind knowing everything is taken care of. If you have any unforeseen changes or problems, our customer service is a phone call away to handle everything for you while you enjoy your much-deserved vacation time. Why sacrifice your precious time away when you can have personalized service with a personal relationship to fulfill your dreams of travel. Whether you are looking for a family trip to Disneyworld, planning a honeymoon, a personal growth experience or adventure we can arrange all your travel needs and activities! TravelMore,LLC also specializes in domestic and international Train Trips for a unique experience. Visit our website at www.personalizedexpeditions.com, and call Marianne to plan your next adventure.

Microtel Inn and Suites We are honored to be able to work with such a fine institution as the Air Force Academy. We appreciate so much the effort and hard work that goes into grooming our future leaders and being leaders in our community and for our country. And we love AF football . . . GO FALCONS! 800.964.8396 Special AOG Rates Microtel Inn & Suites of Colorado Springs is conveniently located 2 miles south of the United States Air Force Academy’s South Gate, just off Interstate 25 and Woodmen Road, and within walking distance to several restaurants. Hotel amenities include: Complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, complimentary wireless internet, indoor pool and hot tub, and so much more! We also provide handicap, smoking and pet friendly rooms, upon request and availability. Let Microtel Inn & Suites ease the stress on your wallet and be your home-away-from-home on your next trip to the Academy! To make a reservation, call 800.964.8396 or 719.598.7500 and mention the promotion AFAAOG, Rate Code: LKAF, to receive 22% off your stay!

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Six & Geving Insurance, Inc. Six & Geving Insurance, Inc. is the largest locally owned and operated insurance agency in Colorado Springs. Six & Geving provides Business Insurance, Surety Bonding and Risk Management services to over 3,000 businesses throughout the Colorado Front Range and beyond. As a grad myself, I know there is a ‘higher caliber’ business owner out there. Academy Grads almost universally fit that mold. Regardless of what we decided to do when we grew up, I know when I work with a Grad, that I’m working with someone of high character, seriousness in their risk management and an industry leader. That makes the service we provide much more fun. Business insurance and risk management is 98% of what we do day in and day out. We have the best people, the right markets and the expertise to deliver the most efficient risk management solutions for your business, regardless if you’re a local company, national chain or even international organization, we can help you. We don’t work with everyone. We work with the best. You should too. Who’s your agent. Call me today at 719.590.9990. –Chris Rea ’89

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the endowment

Looking Forward, Giving Back:

From Facebook to Philanthropy Paul S. Madera ’78 elected as new Chairman of the Endowment By Ahn Tillery

s one of the founders of Meritech Capital Partners, a successful venture capital fund specializing in information technology, Paul S. Madera ’78 has devoted much of his career to helping raise and invest billions of dollars in businesses like Facebook. Now, as the newly elected Chairman of the Board of the USAFA Endowment, the fundraising nonprofit for the U.S. Air Force Academy, he is determined to do the same for his alma mater. While more widely recognized for his work in the private sector–Forbes recently named him as one of the top ten tech investors in America–Madera has long nurtured an affinity for the Air Force Academy. As a young “Navy brat,” he was captivated by the F-4 Phantoms flying near his home. “I am a third generation Academy grad. My grandfather went to West Point, and my dad went to Annapolis,” he says. “As a kid, I knew I wanted to fly airplanes, so the Air Force Academy was a natural fit for me.” After graduation, Madera attended pilot training and realized his childhood ambition of flying the F-4 and, later, the F-16. After serving as an F-16 instructor pilot and as a member of the Air Force Legislative Liaison Office at the

Pentagon, Madera decided it was time to explore something new–perhaps trying his hand at business school. “It was a difficult decision,” he says. “I wasn’t sure how to reconcile full-time business school with my desire to serve in the Air Force. None of my family or friends were in business, and I only knew what I read in Businessweek. I took the plunge, and I was accepted into Stanford Business School, a great opportunity that initiated my career in finance. It was a rigorous experience, but it was certainly easier than Doolie Year.” In 1999, Madera formed Meritech Capital Partners with several friends. Focused exclusively on late stage investments in information technology companies, Meritech became the first billion dollar venture fund in the country, investing in over a hundred companies, including Salesforce.com, Netsuite, Veracode, 2Wire, Fusion-io, Neteeza, Zipcar, and Intralase. Madera and his partners navigated the highly cyclical tech sector field by adopting a tightly focused investing approach. “For us, it doesn’t make sense to invest in simple companies that do things that are easily repeatable,” he says. “We are always looking for what is groundbreaking and singular–the next new best idea.” While steadily achieving success in the private sector, Madera maintained close ties to the Academy. “I have always loved putting on my Air Force uniform, and to this day, I still volunteer as an Air Force Liaison Officer,” he says. “I go to local high schools and advise young Checkpoints

June 2012

students who are applying to the Academy. I’ve been doing it for over 20 years, and it’s still as much fun as ever. I also had the good sense to marry an Air Force nurse, so anything we do in support of the Academy has always been a shared passion.” Madera was one of the first board members and Founding Directors of the Endowment, and he has witnessed the ensuing growth of philanthropic support for the Academy; 2011 proved to be the best fundraising year in the Academy’s history, with over $16.5 million raised from more than 6,200 donors. “I have always viewed the Endowment as being similar to the tech companies that I work with,” says Madera. “They go through a start-up phase, driven by the efforts of some wonderfully dedicated and devoted founders who simply won’t take no for an answer, who will do anything to get their idea funded and going. Then, when firmly established, the organizations enter the maturation phase and can really expand their efforts. Thanks to the hard work of the Endowment’s founders–Terry Drabant ’65, Bill Wecker ’63, and our first chairman, Bart Holaday ’65–we are becoming a recognized name in the Academy community. Now we’re in the phase of optimizing what they have built. Bart has set the standard for me in this role.” Madera is keenly aware that the Endowment’s progress depends on continuing and expanding on collaborative relationships. “Everyone is learning together,” he says. “The Academy leadership

is going through the process of identifying what is most valuable for the institution and the cadet experience and figuring out how to most effectively leverage the additional private support now available to them, for Academy priorities that will not be covered by federal funding. The Holaday Athletic Center is a terrific example of a project that is meaningful for cadets, which was only possible through 100 percent private funding. The Endowment will continue to work closely with the Superintendent, staff and the other nonprofits at the Academy to achieve the goals they set forth.” While dedicated to the details, he remains driven by a larger vision. “We have a lot to do,” Madera says. “We are determined to develop a level of support comparable to that of the other national service academies. I think their graduates have a wonderful tradition of contributing back to their alma mater– of creating their own extra margin of excellence in terms of building facilities and running programs–to benefit and enrich the cadets’ experience. While we are seeing early success with our fundraising at the Air Force Academy, our culture of philanthropy is still in its infancy. When you walk into a university, you see the impact of individual gifts–you recognize that alumni directly contributed to your experience and your facilities, and that you are now a part of that culture. “That’s what we want to grow: that tradition, that connection.”

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Checkpoints

March 2012

The Endowment

Q&A

Leading with Character on a Global Scale An Interview with Ron Rand, Senior Vice President of Communications, Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin, an American global security company and one of the world’s largest defense contractors, recently committed a generous $1 million gift toward the new Center for Character and Leadership Development at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Ron Rand, Senior Vice President of Communications at Lockheed Martin and an Academy graduate of the Class of 1971, shares his thoughts on the intersection of character, leadership and business.

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Q: First of all, how do you define character, and what are your thoughts on the integration of character and leadership?

Q: How have your personal experiences and observations shaped your views on character and leadership?

A: To me, character is always doing the right thing, always telling the truth, always treating people with respect, always being accountable for my actions, always doing my very best, and always trying to make the world a better place. It sounds simple, but those “always” require lots of personal courage. I think character, as I define it, is an essential ingredient of leadership, along with vision, commitment and compassion. Every good leader I’ve ever known has been, first and foremost, a person of great character. Good leaders always have integrity, a desire to serve, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. They’re compassionate, and they know that leadership is a gift others give to you. People sense good leadership, and they’ll follow those leaders anywhere, whether it’s in battle or in business. I think if you’re a person of character, then you’re a natural-born leader–whether you hold a leadership position or not.

A: I first learned about character and leadership at home, growing up. My parents were our role models for life. Both demanded that we always tell the truth, that we always do our best, and that we always work hard. They taught us never to expect something for nothing, that anything was possible, and to treat each other–and everyone else–as we wanted to be treated. My mother and father didn’t have the chance to go to college, but they knew the importance of education and set the expectation that my 11 siblings and I would all go to college, on our own. After watching my five older brothers and sisters fulfill that requirement by earning scholarships, getting jobs, and taking student loans, I decided to take the “easy” way and go to a service academy. When I was accepted to the U.S. Air Force Academy, I was thrilled at the prospect of a “free” college education. The cost, at the time I entered,

Ron Rand is Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, for Lockheed Martin Corporation. He leads media relations, management and employee communications, marketing communications, community relations strategies and functions, and philanthropy initiatives. Mr. Rand is a retired United States Air Force Brigadier General with a distinguished 32-year communications career in the Air Force. He held the position of Director of Public Affairs for the USAF in Washington, D.C., served as the USAF’s chief spokesperson, and personally advised the USAF Secretary and Chief of Staff on all communications issues. He also led USAF communications at Air Force bases around the world. A native of Quincy, Mass., Mr. Rand has a master’s degree in mass communication from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree from the United States Air Force Academy, Class of 1971.

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June 2012

was four years of active duty service. Perhaps I didn’t make the decision for the best reason, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The Academy, with its Honor Code and rigor, seemed a natural extension of everything I’d learned so far. After 32 years of active duty and more than eight years as a civilian, every job and every experience has reinforced my belief that character and leadership are inextricably linked, and that success and fulfillment are natural outcomes of character-based leadership.

Q: How is the integration of character and leadership approached at Lockheed Martin? A: At Lockheed Martin, character and leadership are at the core of who we are as a company and as 123,000 individuals. Character and leadership are the foundation we build on in our recruiting, retention, talent development and talent management programs. We start with good people, united by our core values–do what’s right, respect others, perform with excellence–and an unwavering commitment to ethical behavior. Then, we immerse them in Full Spectrum Leadership, Lockheed Martin’s own leadership culture, which defines the attributes of successful leaders in five competencies: shaping the future; building effective relationships; energizing the team; delivering results; and modeling personal excellence, integrity and accountability. It’s on this foundation of core values, ethical behavior, and full spectrum leadership, that Lockheed Martin leaders do their jobs. They’re charged with delivering results every day. We’re asking them to retain and extend our existing business, and to capture new business to grow the company for the future. We’re asking them to return value with every interaction. I think it’s the perfect intersection of character and leadership, and I think it works, considering the 100-year history of innovation and achievement of this company, its growth, and the contributions Lockheed Martin has made to America and the world. I think our motto is the simplest and best expression of how we approach the integration of character and leadership. It’s a saying we’re fond of and proud of at the same time–We never forget who we’re working for–and it speaks to a shared commitment we all have to our customers, our employees, our shareholders, and the communities where we live and work.

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Q: How does Lockheed Martin apply this organizational culture of character-driven leadership to its role as a leading innovator in global security and aerospace? A: As the world’s leading global security company, we develop and produce technology that helps our customers address their most challenging needs. When we, and the customers we support, are at our best, we’re working together to meet our nation’s greatest challenges: victory in war, prosperity in peace, exploring our universe, and effective government services for our citizens. From Fifth Generation, multirole fighters to GPS satellites, from the Littoral Combat Ship to air traffic management, from the National Cyber Range to alternative energy solutions–and too many other products and services to name–we provide our customers with the capabilities to make the world a safer, more secure place for 310 million Americans and billions of people around the globe. We’re able to do all that because we act–from our top executives all the way to our newest hires– on our foundation of core values, ethical behavior, and full spectrum leadership. As a company and as individuals, we accept nothing less. Character and leadership are in our DNA. They define who we are, and how we do what we do. Q: What are the current challenges in the global security arena? How can character-driven leadership address these challenges? A: The biggest challenges we face today, as a company and as a nation, involve the increasingly complex global security environment. We now encounter dangerous situations on a daily basis that would have been unimaginable even 10 years ago. Additionally, the fragile economic environment severely constrains our customers’ ability to deal with all of the global security challenges. The velocity of world events is only accelerating, with repercussions that are both difficult to predict and increasingly consequential. But our customers have faced seemingly impossible challenges for a century, and we’ve always helped them overcome those difficulties by imagining the future each time, and then creating it. We strive to create the best partnerships possible, by being respectful, helpful, honest, and committed to finding ways to solve the problems. That’s where character and leadership have made the difference for us. We’re not sitting on the sidelines while others take the risks–we’re in the arena, doing our very best every day, on every program. We are grounded in our values, committed to our ethical standards, and leading teams to success. We know what’s at stake.

Q: What inspired Lockheed Martin’s support of the Center for Character and Leadership Development? A: Unquestionably, our support of the Center for Character and Leadership Development (CCLD) stems from our belief that character and leadership are the keys to success, in government and in the private sector. The Air Force is one of our customers, so it just makes sense to help the Academy build character and shape our future leaders. At Lockheed Martin, we have a Center for Leadership Excellence where we host leadership training, skills courses and career development conferences to help our employees gain the skills and knowledge to advance in their careers. We believe the CCLD will provide similar opportunities and results at the Academy, instilling character and leadership qualities that will help graduates succeed in their careers and lives. Our support of the CCLD is also another step in our ongoing partnership with the Air Force Academy. And, selfishly, who knows how many Academy grads might one day become Lockheed Martin leaders? Having taken that route, I can testify that they’ll find it a familiar and rewarding culture of values, character, ethics, service and leadership.

USAFAGOLFCLASSIC

Be A “par”t of the Action! Join fellow Air Force Graduates for a friendly game of golf–fun times included. Coming to a city near you: August 24, Dayton September 14, San Antonio September 21, Las Vegas For more information visit www.usafa.org/golf

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June 2012

columns

Aim High … then Aim Higher: Advancing

the World-Class Education at the Air Force Academy By Brig. Gen. Dana H. Born ’83

ince its founding in 1954, the United States Air Force Academy has had a legacy of “pushing the envelope” of excellence. Nearly 60-years after its founding, USAFA continues to expand its realm of excellence, even as the missions and disciplines of the Air Force have matured and expanded. As the Air Force mission-set has continued to evolve, from air, to space, and more recently, into the outer realms of cyberspace, USAFA has kept pace. The USAFA mission and its education and training programs continue to evolve to support the larger Air Force mission. In 2003, it was big news in the Cadet Wing when the cadet “Space Wings” were introduced. For the first time, cadets could earn “wings” in a domain that transcended the traditional realm of air. The awarding of the Space Badge stemmed from the undeniable growth of space into a core competency of the U.S. Air Force. Now, nine years later, the U.S. Air Force provides space capabilities to Joint forces and Combatant Commanders that significantly improve battlefield operations. In the Fall of 2010, the cadet-built satellite, FalconSAT-5 was launched on a Minotaur rocket to join FalconSAT-3 in orbit as the only undergraduate designed, built, and operated satellites in the world. FalconSAT-3 recently celebrated its 5th anniversary in orbit! The cadets are busy working on FalconSAT-6 with an expected launch in the summer of 2014. In 2009, with the increase in the use of unmanned aircraft, the Academy again responded by incorporating an Unmanned Aerial Systems– Remotely Piloted Aircraft (UAS-RPA) Airmanship Program into the curriculum. Now, along with the airfield’s jump, soaring, and powered flight programs, cadets can elect to learn more about unmanned aircraft and their employment. In 2009, we began awarding “wings,” again to match the reality that cadets will soon experience on active duty. The Academy Center for UAS Research is advancing and making a name for itself in the collegiate community, most recently placing 4th out of 32 collegiate teams in 2011 at the Autonomous Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Student Unmanned Air Systems Competition. The Academy’s most recent foray into “modern technology” involves the growing field of cyber warfare. Again, to mirror the reality of the active force,

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this year marked the first year cadets can earn “Cyber Wings” that demonstrate their mastery of the nuances that accompany the cyber domain. It’s no surprise that our cyber cadets have shined in competition, too. In their first year, they placed 9th out of 109 teams in the 2011 National Security Administration (NSA) Cyber Defense Exercise and won it in 2012 against West Point, Annapolis, two AFIT grad student teams, and a team from Canada. They also earned second place in the 2012 National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, beaten only by the University of Washington. To be certain, the Academy is succeeding in preparing future officers to lead in the Air Force of the 21st century and beyond. It’s no surprise that this growth of the curriculum (and subsequent cadet learning) has caught the eye of those that closely monitor the prestige of various institutions of higher education. After earning the maximum 10-year accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission in 2009, USAFA’s reputation for academic rigor has consistently been highlighted as among the “tops” in the nation. In September 2011, US News & World Report reported USAFA as being one of the three Top Public Schools among National Liberal Arts Universities and having the 5th best overall undergraduate engineering program, with its Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical engineering program being recognized as the #2 undergraduate program in the nation for the 10th straight year. The same report identified USAFA’s Management Program as the top management program in the nation among undergraduateonly institutions. Forbes.com recognized USAFA as

#10 (of 650) of America’s Best Colleges 2011, which included the subcategory ranking of #2 Colleges with the Best Professors. The Princeton Review highlighted our faculty as #5 among 376 schools for Most Accessible Professors. This marks the 8th year in a row that we’ve been in the top 2% in this category. One of our Professors, Dr. Tom Yechout, was named a CASE Colorado Professor of the Year–the 8th time for a USAFA faculty member in the last 10 years. The Dean of Faculty and the Collaborative Undergraduate Education Programs at USAFA were recognized by the Air Force Association in September with the 2011 Hoyt S. Vandenberg Award for the most outstanding contribution in the field of aerospace education. Not only are our graduates all considered technically aware, they are also better prepared to operate in the global environment. In 2011, over 550 cadets had the opportunity to travel abroad on semester exchanges, language immersions, foreign academy visits or cultural immersion trips. Organizations desiring research have also taken notice of the vast capabilities of our cadets as evidenced by USAFA being the #1 undergraduate-only institution in research funding, having received a staggering $74 million in research funding from external sources. We have been able to leverage our partnerships to enhance learning while contributing solutions to Air Force and real-world problems. As our cadets and faculty continue to shine, we anticipate such sustained success well into the future. Of course, to sustain this level of excellence requires an investment in USAFA’s learning infrastructure. As such, we are aggressively investigating options to Checkpoints

June 2012

modernize the Aeronautics Laboratory by adding a transonic wind tunnel. This tunnel will greatly enhance cadet involvement in this critical regime between Mach 0.8 and 1.2 and fill a gap in national research capability. We are also looking to transform the McDermott Library into a resource that can sustain cadet learning for years to come. The “Library of the Future” initiative is evaluating the best practices from the top collegiate libraries across the nation in an effort to develop a library focused on serving as a comprehensive cadet learning center. Such improvements would include collaborative study rooms, wireless internet connectivity, and renewed emphasis on student services such as a tutoring center and IT support, all while maintaining the accessibility to volumes of literature, historical information, and resources to support our first-class education. Apart from the tactile, infrastructure improvements ongoing at USAFA, it’s also worth noting that we remain focused on investments in “human capital” too. Your Academy has been remarkably fortunate to be in a position to fund eight Endowed Chairs through the generous donations of the USAFA Endowment and the Academy Research and Development Institute (ARDI). Cadets have been afforded the opportunity to participate in “High Impact Learning Practices” by attending various conferences and competitions (many of which have been described above) through the generous donations of our alumni, industry, and philanthropic organizations. It is these cadet experiences that truly set the “USAFA educational experience” apart from its civilian institution counterparts. USAFA is committed to remaining a good steward of such generous gifts for this extra

Are you ready for some Air Force football? Join the AOG and fellow AF grads and friends at one of our upcoming football tailgates or fan fests. Univ. of Michigan - September 8, 2012 Army - November 3, 2012 San Diego - November 10, 2012

Stay tuned to usafa.org for more information

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margin of excellence and we take great care to ensure cadets receive the maximum benefit from every opportunity available. The achievements of our cadets are even more astounding when one considers the relatively small cadet enrollment. For an institution whose undergraduate enrollment hovers around 4,000 cadets, our cadets and faculty have indeed achieved a disproportionate measure of success. Some have wondered how USAFA competes at such a high level with a relatively low student population. Even our status as a Division I competitor in collegiate athletics has generated questions as to whether USAFA would be better suited to compete at a Division II or III level. However, as has been said by our Athletic Director, “our graduates will not be fighting in a Division II war when they enter active service.” Much will be expected of our cadets upon commissioning as 2nd Lieutenants. Our Nation would not tolerate a “Division II” Air Force, so it’s only logical that the future officer corps be challenged–both athletically and academically–at the highest levels. In facing robust competition on the athletic arena and in the classroom alike, our cadets are learning that they can succeed under the most stressing conditions. In conclusion, the U.S. Air Force’s Academy–indeed, your Academy–is working tirelessly to maintain the reputation of excellence that has been established by our legacy. Our cadets are achieving wonderful success in the classroom, on the sports fields, and in their leadership development. I am proud to be part of this institution and am eager to see the contributions our future graduates will make to the Air Force of the future. Aim High … then Aim Higher! Go Falcons

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March 2012

heritage

ADEMY

G ua

Of t s n a he i d

The USAFA Board of Visitors:

By David Bergeman

t happens twice each year; luminaries from across the country descend on the Academy to assess the total welfare of the institution. The USAFA Board of Visitors (BoV) leaves no stone unturned during their semi-annual fact-finding visits. Morale, curriculum, and fiscal affairs are just a few of the areas placed firmly under a microscope. The history of the BoV dates to its establishment in 1956–the Academy’s first year of operation. The Board’s 15 members are selected through a Byzantine process that involves multiple governing entities. One important requirement is that at least two of the Board’s members must be Academy graduates. All 56

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members serve at least a one-year term (some appointees are designated for a period of three years). Three current members of the BoV are Academy grads. This group includes BoV Vice-Chair Alfredo Sandoval ’82, Thomas McKieman and Fletcher “Flash” Wiley ’65. Wiley was appointed by President Obama and sworn into the Board last February. His first connection to the BoV came during his time as a cadet. “One of my favorite high school teachers sat on the BoV,” says Wiley. “I have never forgotten the desire she inspired in me to follow in her footsteps. USAFA and the many experiences emanating therefrom, have shaped my life in immeasurably

positive ways; being a member of the BoV is one of the ways that I give back to an institution, and a military service, that has done so much for me.” Giving back includes meeting with the Board at least four times each year and helping prepare semi-annual reports containing the Board’s views and recommendations pertaining to the Academy. Each written report is submitted concurrently to the Secretary of Defense, through the Secretary of the Air Force, and also to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. For Congressman Doug Lamborn, being a member of the BoV is supremely significant. Lamborn represents Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, a district that includes Colorado Springs. “The Academy is a huge factor in lives of people in the Colorado Springs community and it is critical to the future of our armed services,” says Lamborn, who is also a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “Anything that involves the future of our military is extremely important to me.” The BoV was last at the Academy February 10-11. Often during these visits the AOG and Endowment leadership address the BoV. During their most recent visit, the BoV heard information sessions on religious training and respect at the Academy, diversity recruiting and an Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation Transition Plan update. “Lately, we’ve been dealing with diversity in hiring and in the student population so we can make sure that as many Americans as possible are seizing the opportunities that are available to them at the Air Force Academy,” explains Lamborn when discussing some of the current issues the Board has examined.

“Being a member of the BoV is one

of the ways that I give back to an institution, and a military service, that has done so much for me.

”

There are four BoV subcommittees and each one meets during assembly times to evaluate their areas of responsibility and to complete an outbrief. These out-briefs are then captured in the minutes–which are in turn included in the semi-annual reports. The last publicly available report was completed in October 2010. Although Flash Wiley is relatively new to the Board, there have been a few things that have stuck out to him since his arrival. “I remain struck by the similarities–perhaps even more so than the differences–between the Academy of today and what it was 50 years ago when I first entered. The biggest change, of course, is the co-ed nature of the institution–a change which I applaud in availing to us, as a military service, a whole new cadre of leaders that would not otherwise exist without gender diversity. And as these new leaders become civilians, America as a whole–be it in the business sector, politics, civics–is taking advantage of their skills.” One constant throughout the history of the Academy has been the BoV’s commitment to maintaining the highest levels of excellence at the institution. If Fletcher Wiley is any indication, these stewards of the Academy will continue exerting the utmost care in making that happen. “My goals as a BoV member are to preserve the rich academic and leadership training tradition USAFA has fostered throughout its existence,” says Wiley. “Nowhere in America, other than our service academies, are there academic institutions dedicated to training leaders by giving them all the academic tools our society can muster. While much of my work on the BoV will focus on the details of making this happen, I will never lose sight of the objective.”

Visit usafa.af.mil/superintendent/bov/ to learn more about the USAFA Board of Visitors.

Appointed by

BOARD MEMBER

YEAR SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

President of the United States

Susan C. Schwab (Chair) Robin Hayes Marcelite Harris Arlen Jameson Thomas L. McKiernan ’71 Fletcher Wiley ’65

2009 2009 2010 2010 2011 2011

Academic & Course of Instruction Infrastructure & Resources Character & Leadership Congressional Nomination & Admissions & Graduation Not yet assigned Not yet assigned

Vice President or the Senate President Pro Tempore

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.)

2007 2011 2011

Congressional Nomination & Admissions & Graduation Character & Leadership Academic & Course of Instruction

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) Alfredo Sandoval ’82

2007 2007 2009 2010

Infrastructure & Resources Congressional Nomination & Admissions & Graduation Academic & Course of Instruction Congressional Nomination & Admissions & Graduation

Chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, House Armed Services Committee

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)

2011

Infrastructure & Resources

Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.)

2008

Character & Leadership

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June 2012

graduate profile

The Surreal Odyssey of Charles Justiz With a trilogy of sci-fi novels underway and a motion picture adaptation of the first book, Specific Impulse, in the making, Charles Justiz â&#x20AC;&#x2122;74 has teleported a long way from his days walking strips on the Terrazzo.

By David Bergeman

he life of Charles Justiz ’74 has been a page-turner from the start. It’s a story nearly as wondrous as the plot of his first novel. As the protagonist of our article, Justiz has been passenger to a magical voyage–one that has brought him to the fringes of space and back (sometimes with a few gently used vomit bags in tow). Justiz’s personal monomyth, or “hero’s journey” as American mythologist Joseph Campbell would call it, starts with a love of flight–a passion that leads to his attendance at a certain service academy in Colorado Springs. His flight through life then navigates him to a job with NASA at a time when astronauts and the like were treated like rock stars. While at NASA he carouses with “real” celebrities (some who provide prescient advice) and finds true love at first sight. Justiz gets a doctorate in thermo physics and plasma dynamics, makes lasting contributions to our country’s pursuit of the last frontier, and follows it up by writing an award-winning science fiction novel. Every story has a beginning, Justiz’s opens in the late 1950s; the first paragraph describes a young boy descending a set of portable metal stairs. He has just exited the fuselage of a shiny new jetliner. The boy is about six or seven years old, of Cuban descent, and he’s just arrived in Miami with the rest of his immediate family. His father, the surgeon, ran a successful practice in both Havana and Miami for years, but with the incendiary Cuban Revolution about to explode, this will be the family’s last arrival from Havana. Thus opens the first chapter of the life of Charles Justiz. Justiz spent the malleable years of his youth growing up in south Florida. Perhaps the most influential moment of that youth occurred when he was 14-years-old. “My dad was taking flying lessons and he split a lesson with me,” Justiz says with childlike enthusiasm. “That was it, I had the bug bad. I quit the Boy Scouts the next day and joined the Civil Air Patrol.”

“What the Academy teaches you is completion. You have to take a project right to the end or it’s no darn good.”

His passion for flight led him to the Academy, where he learned a few things that many years later would behoove him as a writer. “In life you’ll find that they’re people with great ideas out there,” he says. “What the Academy teaches you is completion. You have to take a project right to the end or it’s no darn good.” That’s the philosophy that helps Justiz produce 10,000 words a day when he’s writing. After graduating from the Academy with an Aeronautical Engineering degree, Justiz went to pilot training before beginning his career with assignments as an instructor pilot at Webb Air Force Base, Texas, and as a flight tester at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. In 1980 Justiz joined NASA and began a 30-year stint as a research pilot–a job that rotovatored (sci-fi term … kind of) him to some very remarkable experiences. w

A copy of Justiz’s first novel, Specific Impulse, hitched a ride to the International Space Station, where it still resides. “However, knowing how busy those folks are, I don’t see how they have time to do any reading whatsoever,” Justiz says.

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Justiz grew up reading science fiction during the golden age of the genre. He read masters like Isaac Asimov and, his personal favorite, Robert Heinlein. Due to his new-found status as a member of NASA he was able to meet those two authors along with Carl Sagan, who would go on to write Contact. “I had no idea I would end up writing sci-fi someday. At that time of that chance encounter I was on the shuttle chase team and we were at an event in our blue flight suits standing around like a bunch of potted plants,” Justiz recounts as if describing a key plot point from a Heinlein novel. “This was early in the shuttle days, around 1982. Here was Heinlein, Carl Sagan and Isaac Asimov and I said to Asimov, ‘I read your books and you talk about religion, politics–everything. How do you get away with it?’ He said, ‘If you’ve got to talk about religion or marriage or any of those things, take it off planet.’ I said, ‘Okay sir.’ I took that to heart.” But before Justiz could apply that advice to his sci-fi trilogy, he was the captain of the KC-135 and the DC-9 versions of NASA’s weightless training aircraft, the infamous “Vomit Comet.” This allowed him to meet a few more celebrities along the way. “Probably the most fun was flying the folks from the movie Apollo 13. Ron Howard and Tom Hanks were total gentlemen and very genuine,” he says. When asked about a memorable experience, or a particularly regurgitation prone flight, Justiz laughs and explains that as the captain he would give preflight briefings to the crew and passengers–often suggesting that they take some medication to help ward off sickness from the zero-g ride they were about to endure. “One flight we had a real chest thumper,” Justiz says. “He was a national news guy. Before the flight the mission manager came to me and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got a problem.’ So I took this news guy aside and said, “I hope you enjoy your flight today, but I really recommend that you take some medication; it really helps.’ And he replies, ‘Listen sonny,’ of course I’m ten years older than the guy, ‘I was in Mogadishu.’ Ok … long story short we had to carry him off on a pallet and absolutely none of us felt too bad about that.” As a former pilot on the shuttle carrier, Justiz had some very strong emotions recently while watching the Space Shuttle Discovery make its final voyage to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. “It was bittersweet. The space shuttle is probably the most complicated and technologically marvelous invention of the human mind. It took a lot of audacity and craziness to pull it off,” says Justiz. He goes on to explain that many advancements have been made since the shuttle was first designed and retirement was necessary considering the safety margins involved. After 30 years in the organization, Justiz is often

asked if NASA needs to redefine its mission, especially after all of the most recent changes. “It was an important exercise to get a reasonable spacecraft and learn how to live in space. We gathered a tremendous amount of information and we’re gathering even more now with the space station,” he says. “Now NASA should be enabling and enhancing technologies that will continue to get us there. What’s the next science that we need? Let’s facilitate that. Let’s help the guys who are doing the research in the universities get some results. Plus, of course, the actual missions to the planets are important and need to be reinvigorated.” Justiz’s wife, author Dayna Steele, reinvigorates him everyday. In another serendipitous crossing of paths, Justiz married a dynamo publicist. He says it was love at first sight and the first sight occurred while she was on a blind date with a different astronaut. “She’s the perfect woman but she has no taste in men, and I prove that,” he chuckles. Steele was an influential rock DJ in the Houston area for many years and is the author of Rock to the Top: What I learned about Success from the World’s Greatest Rock Stars. She’s been essential to the success of Justiz’s first novel, Specific Impulse, helping with everything from marketing to getting the movie rights optioned. “She’s the brains of the operation,” Justiz says. “Dayna has ten times more energy than I have. I’m just holding onto the rope.” Upon retiring from NASA, all of these extraordinary experiences culminated in Justiz writing Specific Impulse, which received an impressive Clarion ForeWord Five-Star Review. Justiz is a self-proclaimed voracious reader and the science fiction he was reading recently just wasn’t as satisfying as the sci-fi of his youth. The impetus for the plot of the book came to Justiz while having some drinks with his brothers. During a topically varied bout of verbal sparring the discussion turned to neurology, “splinter skills,” and the mystery that is the human brain. “We started wondering,” Justiz says, “what happens if a ‘normal’ person were to get infected with something that makes them a savant but allows them to retain the skills that helps society to relate to them.” Enter the heroes of Specific Impulse, Jake Sabio (USNA grad) and Carin Gonzalez (USAFA grad), both survivors of a mysterious explosion in the Barringer Meteor Crater of Arizona. The explosion gives the unlikely pair enhanced physical and mental capabilities, but as time passes they begin to fall ill and are quickly ensnared in a race against the clock to find a cure–and answers to far bigger questions. Ardent USAFA supporters may find (or want to find) Carin to be more quick witted than Jake. But Justiz denies the charge. “Navy guys obviously have a much lower IQ,” he laughs before recanting the

Justiz and his wife, Dayna Steele. Dayna was an influential rock DJ in the Houston area and is the author of Rock to the Top: What I learned about Success from the World’s Greatest Rock Stars.

statement. “They’re different people. She has a killer IQ–no doubt about it. Jake is not quite as book smart. He’s a sub commander so he is more of a chess player who thinks 50 moves ahead. Carin’s a former fighter pilot so she’s not into chess as much.” According to Justiz, Carin’s persona is greatly shaped by the character’s time at the Academy, but he quickly realized that his experiences as a male grad probably may have led to some very different perspectives. “Fortunately I had a bunch of female grads– Air Force officers, active-duty officers in the Astronaut Corp– who I could ask questions to make sure I made her as believable as possible.” The movie rights to Specific Impulse have been optioned to Rainmaker Films and the screenplay is currently being worked on by comic book creator turned writer/director, Kevin Van Hook. Justiz doesn’t know what to expect from the movie cinematically or production-wise. “It’s going to be somewhere between Avatar and something that goes straight to DVD–that to me is totally unknown. I think they’re aiming for something in between,” he says. If he had his druthers the movie would have a tenor similar to that of the first Terminator film, but at this point he’s just enjoying the ride. Fans of Carin and Jake will be happy to know that Mass Fraction, the second novel of Justiz’s trilogy, is completed and set to be released in the very near future. For Justiz, just as in the conclusion of his first novel, the incredible odyssey is to be continued. Checkpoints

June 2012

graduate profile

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Academy Spirits A Guide to Graduate Crafted Libations

It’s summertime and the living is

easy! The time has come for road trips, baseball and imbibing a beverage of your choice. Once again some crafty Academy grads can help supply the good times (even if alcohol isn’t your thing). Tear out this map and throw it in your glove box next to the Rand McNally that’s been there the past twenty years. Hop a plane or hit the highway and set the GPS for pleasure! Visit some of the scenic wineries run by those that bleed blue–or hit a high plains brewery and suck down a cold one (in moderation of course ;). Summer fun beckons; it’s time to soak up the sun and some suds!

Checkpoints

March 2012

United States Arizona Elgin Flying Leap Vineyards Owners: Mark Beres ’91, Marc Moeller ’91, Tom Kitchens ’90 Flying Leap Vineyards, Inc. is committed to growing the finest quality winegrapes and producing premium vinifera wines from 100% Arizonagrown fruit. They specialize in Rhone-style blends, taking advantage of Arizona’s unique terroir, which is minerally and chemically similar to southern France. Flying Leap is the joint venture of Mark Beres and Marc Moeller, former Air Force pilots and best friends since college. Flying Leap’s wines are produced by Kent Callaghan, the region’s most-experienced winemaker with 20+ years of grape and wine production experience in Arizona. The Academy Influence: “The AF Academy provided us with an engineering education and wide, expansive curriculum requiring disciplined time management. These are the foundation of our business–an agricultural, production and sales business model where our engineering educations and immersion in a disciplined, demanding academic and leadership laboratory have given us the background necessary to succeed in such an enterprise.” –Mark Aficionados Enjoy: Grenache $27 www.callaghanvineyards.com

California Healdsburg Blanchard Family Wines Owner: James Blanchard ’98 Blanchard Family Wines, owned by James and his brother Mark, is a winery located in the heart of Sonoma County, California. They are dedicated to the creation of top quality, hand-crafted, artisan wines, while using their business to support the greater good. While their award winning line-up enjoys limited distribution across the U.S., they are especially proud of their products dedicated to support charitable causes. They have created unique lines of wines 64

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to benefit military charities including the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, Air Commando Association, and the USAFA AOG through a series of Long Blue Line Wines. The Academy Influence: “My education from the Department of Management, as well as my experiences while active duty, have been instrumental in my ability to start and run a successful business while balancing the demands of military and family life. I knew someday I would create a product to honor and support the USAFA cause that benefited me so much.” –James Aficionados Enjoy: Long Blue Line Cabernet $30 www.blanchardfamilywines.com Sebastopol Emeritus Vineyards Owner: Brice Jones ’61 Emeritus Vineyards was born of a dream to create a noble Pinot Noir–one that especially speaks of elegance and charm. In 1999, Brice Cutrer Jones sold Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, the winery he founded 26 years earlier, to Brown-Forman Corporation. Two months later, Brice and his team closed on

the purchase of a 115-acre parcel of prime apple orchard in the heart of the Russian River Valley. An experienced team of uniquely qualified individuals– the Emeritus Team-combined their talents to work toward the realization of their Pinot Noir dream. The result is two estate grown and bottled Pinot Noirs: Emeritus, Russian River Valley, from the home ranch in the heart of the Russian River Valley; and Emeritus, William Wesley, from the mountain vineyards on the Sonoma Coast near Annapolis. The Academy Influence: “My experience at the Academy was eye-opening. People failed left and right: quit, washed out, and otherwise didn’t make the grade. Failure could and did happen regularly, and to peeps smarter and more competent than I. I hunkered down at the Zoo and kept the old shoulder to the grindstone. When I started my own business,

I realized I knew little, had zero experience in the business (or any business), and was entering an industry that was littered with failed enterprises. I was scared–same as I was at the Academy–so I busted my butt day and night, and hunkered down to do one thing only, but one thing well. Worked at the Zoo; worked in business.” –Brice Aficionados Enjoy: Hallberg Ranch (2010 vintage) $47 www.emeritusvineyards.com

Colorado Longmont Left Hand Brewing Company Owners: Dick Doore ’85, Eric Wallace ’84 The Tasting Room provides a great place to sample a wide variety of Left Hand beers in a local pub atmosphere– either inside in comfortable surroundings or outside on our patios while soaking in the year-round Colorado sunshine. Beer and brewery merchandise is available for purchase and local musicians perform on the weekends and occasionally during the week. Tours are given on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. The brewery is also available for special events.

fruit and Oregon grape wines under our Bodhichitta label (proceeds go to charity). The tasting room is located in downtown Portland. Whether you’re a local or on vacation, we hope you will stop by and “Taste the Spirit of Aloha.” The Academy Influence: “An ability to organize, prioritize and clean/sanitize is indispensable as a winemaker. Thanks for the SAMIs! (Just kidding.)” –Mark Aficionados Enjoy: Liliko’i (passion fruit wine and Pinot gris blend) $26.99 www.islandmanawines.com

Virginia Delaplane Barrel Oak Winery Owner: Charlie Seifert ’68 Voted “Best Day Trip in the Washington DC Area” by Washingtonian magazine readers, Barrel Oak Winery (BOW) is located along I-66 on the former country estate of the 4th Chief Justice, John Marshall. BOW is a dog and kid friendly winery featuring awardwinning wine, great service, and panoramic views of Virginia horse country. After taking in the winery’s view on a snowy January day in 2008, Charlie, like a good USAFA grad, saw great potential in the place and quickly embraced principle owner Brian Roeder’s

The Academy Influence: “Our customer favorite right now is Nitro Milk Stout–smooth and creamy. Available on draft and in six-packs–that’s right–the first American craft brewer to bottle nitro beer without a widget! All of that USAFA engineering and science came in handy after all!” –Eric Aficionados Enjoy: Nitro Milk Stout $9 (six pack) www.lefthandbrewing.com

Oregon Portland Island Mana Wines Owner: Mark Proden ’96 The Hawaiian word Mana describes the spirit, energy and essence of the islands. Island Mana Wines seeks to capture the feeling of Mana–the beautiful beaches, dramatic na pali (cliffs), stunning sunsets and incredible tropical fruit–in every bottle. Taste the Mana they put into their wines through handcrafting small lots of all natural fruits and juices of tropical (guava, mango, pineapple and passion) Checkpoints

March 2012

something difficult and unfamiliar. So, when we decided to start the winery, I felt up to the challenge.” –Les Aficionados Enjoy: Ursa Columbia Valley 2008 $35 www.baerwinery.com

F RANCE vision with contributions of money, passion, and energy. Seifert loves BOW and, with some of his classmates present, he married his wife Polly there the following year–BOW’s first wedding! The Academy Influence: “Running a winery is a teaming operation–working with the partners, the public, the employees, and the volunteers who help with planting, harvesting, and bottling–how you treat them matters. Little details are important– like during an in-ranks inspection–everything has to be right. In this business, that means the quality of the wine, the service, the facility, the wine bottle labels, etc. Doing it right leads to customer loyalty–over 90% of our business comes from returning customers.” –Charlie Aficionados Enjoy: Petit Verdot $35 www.barreloak.com

Washington Woodinville Baer Winery Owner: Les Baer ’64 Established in 2000, Baer Winery is one of Washington’s elite wine producers. The small, family-owned and operated enterprise is dedicated to crafting distinctive Bordeauxstyle blends from select Columbia Valley vineyards. Production has grown to about 3,000 cases per year. Baer’s signature blend, Ursa, earned the distinction of being named the #6 wine in the world for 2011 by Wine Spectator magazine. Be sure to visit the tasting room adjacent to the production facility. It’s open Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Academy Influence: “At the Academy, I learned the challenges and rewards of doing 66

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Le Fleix Domaine De Barbeyrolles Owner: Luc Chandou ’04 Domaine de Barbeyrolles has been in the Chandou family for over 200 years. Currently their offering

is solely red wine, though they have produced a white in the past. Their best seller is the Cuvée Raymond Chandou named for Luc’s grandfather. The current vineyard is located on 35 acres of rolling hills overlooking the Dordogne River, just West of the village of Le Fleix, toward St Emilion. The site is one of the very best in the region. The drainage is excellent. The vineyard, planted mostly of red grape varieties, is older than most. Part of the vines date back to 1957. The Academy Influence: “USAFA brought out the best in me, and that has a positive effect on everything I engage in.” –Luc Aficionados Enjoy: Cuvée Raymond Chandou $18-$26 (depending on vintage) www.domainebarbeyrolles.com

In 2011, the AOG created the Long Blue Line Wines to pay tribute to the Academy and provide our graduates a product they can be proud to share with their family and friends. The wine’s holiday release was a great success and it has been served at the USAFA Founders Day dinner, Air Force Balls, and Parent’s Club events. The AOG and Blanchard Family Wines are already moving ahead with next year’s design of their red and white offerings, and plan a Fall release for the next collector bottles. However, to ensure you have the chance to get the first edition bottles before they are gone, Blanchard Family Wines has agreed to continue providing the 2011 offerings through the summer. If you have not already ordered, don’t delay. Once they are gone, these custom labels will not be used again!

About Blanchard Family Wines Winery owner James Blanchard is a 1998 graduate of the Air Force Academy. After a career flying both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, James returned to USAFA to teach in the Department of Management and serve as Air Officer Commanding of Cadet Squadron 15. After starting his winery it was one of his desires to create a series of military tribute wines to give back, if even in a small way. This is the third military creation by Blanchard Family Wines, following the Red Scarf Blend and the Air Commando Association wines with a portion of sales going to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and the Air Commando Association respectively. 20% of the sales of the Long Blue Line wines will be paid back to the Association of Graduates.

james@blanchardfamilywines.com www.blanchardfamilywines.com/USAFA Checkpoints

March 2012

heritage

By Steven A. Simon ’77

M Major Joseph A. Hext ’02 Named 2012 Jabara Award Recipient

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Major Joseph A. Hext, Air Force Academy Class of 2002, has been selected to receive the 2012 Colonel James Jabara Award for Airmanship. Maj. Hext, a member of the United States Air Forces in Europe command, distinguished himself through heroic actions in an Operation Enduring Freedom sortie supporting United States and Afghan National Army ground forces. “This year’s competition was extremely tough, and you can be proud of your selection. It is a true testament of your exemplary performance and professionalism,” wrote Academy Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, in his congratulatory letter to Maj. Hext announcing the selection. Maj. Hext was one of seven Air Force Academy graduates nominated for the Jabara Award this year by Major Commands, Forward Operating Agencies, and Direct Reporting Units. On August 21, 2010, Maj. Hext was an A-10 flight lead of a close air support mission in Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan. Moments after sending his wingman to refuel, Maj. Hext received a request for emergency close air support, as coalition forces were pinned down by a complex insurgent attack using both small arms and heavy machine guns. He immediately descended to less than 300 feet and executed a low altitude show of force that allowed the coalition forces to establish a defensive position. Taking special care to avoid fratricide, he then made three solo passes against a rapidly advancing enemy, the last a mere 15 meters from friendly forces, driving the hostile forces away. His wingman returned and after a ten-minute lull, another element came under attack. Maj. Hext and his wingman surgically struck with 30mm and rockets, allowing the embattled Afghan National Army forces to fall back to a safe location. Insurgent fighters ambushed a third group of coalition forces, and Maj. Hext executed another 30mm strafing run, destroying the enemy position. Maj. Hext led his flight on six separate attacks on the enemy, personally employing 968 rounds of 30mm and three white phosphorous rockets. The

ground commander later stated, “We could not have made it out of the area without the lethal effects provided by the A-10a.” Despite the ferocity and the close-quarters nature of the fire fights during the three distinct encounters, no coalition forces were lost. Maj. Hext joins an extremely exclusive group, becoming the fifty-first Air Force Academy graduate selected for the Jabara Award. Among the previous winners are such notable alumni as Vietnam War heroes Karl Richter ’64 and Steve Ritchie ’64, pioneering astronaut Karol Bobko ’59, and Hudson River landing pilot Chesley Sullenberger ’73. Established in 1967, the Colonel James Jabara Airmanship Award is presented to a USAFA graduate, living or deceased, whose actions directly associated with an aerospace vehicle set him/her apart from contemporaries. The annual award is jointly presented on behalf of the Academy, the Association of Graduates, and the Jabara family. Col. James Jabara was the first jet ace and the second leading ace in the Korean War. In 1951, he won the Air Force Association’s most prestigious award and in 1957 was recognized as one of the 25 Americans who had contributed the most to aviation. Maj. Hext was presented the 2012 Jabara Award for Airmanship on May 3, 2012, during the Noon

Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould ’76 and AOG President and CEO William “T” Thompson ’73 present Major Joseph Hext with the 2012 Colonel James Jabara Award for Airmanship during a ceremony held before the Cadet Wing. (DeMar Photo Lab, Mike Kaplan)

Meal at Mitchell Hall, and on May 4, 2012, at a dinner and award reception at Doolittle Hall. Maj. Hext’s exceptional airmanship, dynamic leadership, outstanding initiative, and unparalleled achievements reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. The Academy, the AOG, and the Jabara family are proud to name Maj. Joseph A. Hext the recipient of the 2012 James Jabara Airmanship Award.

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JSAJE for Alumni - Joint Service Academy Jobs Electronically is an exclusive 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 those who prefer to remain in a passive mode. JSAJE For the Employers - JSAJE is also an exclusive job Web site designed for companies in corporate America to advertise their career opportunities directly to service academy alumni. Companies may also purchase access to a repository of resumes of graduates in an active transition mode.

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Checkpoints

June 2012

graduate profile

cou

Conspicuous

Captain Barry Crawford Jr. ’03 Awarded the By Capt. Kristen D. Duncan Air Force Cross

Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

n a harrowing 10-hour battle amidst more than 100 insurgents, a special tactics officer kept the enemy at bay with a little help from above. Capt. Barry F. Crawford Jr. ’03 was awarded the Air Force Cross during a Pentagon ceremony April 12 for his heroic actions controlling the air space and calling in airstrikes during the 2010 battle in Afghanistan, which allowed his special operations team to get out of the kill zone and ultimately saved the lives of his American comrades. While assigned to the 23rd Expeditionary Special Tactics Squadron, Crawford was the Joint Terminal Attack Controller for an Army special forces and Afghan commando team. Crawford called in multiple fixed and rotary wing air assets, allowing for the safe return of all U.S. forces, the evacuation of two Afghan commandos killed in action, and the rescue of three other wounded Afghan commandos. “Captain Crawford repeatedly and conspicuously disregarded his own safety to assist his United States

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and Afghan teammates,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz ’73 shortly before presenting the captain the Air Force Cross during the ceremony. “It is not hard to be utterly impressed by his bravery and inspired by his selflessness.” According to his citation, “Crawford braved effective enemy fire and consciously placed himself at grave risk on four occasions while controlling over 33 aircraft and more than 40 airstrikes on a well-trained and well-prepared enemy force. His selfless actions and expert airpower employment neutralized a numerically superior enemy force and enabled friendly elements to exfiltrate the area without massive casualties.” The team of approximately 100 personnel flew into the steep mountains of Laghman Province early May 4, 2010. As soon as they were on the ground, they heard enemy chatter on the radios. Then, within 30 minutes, they found a substantial weapons cache inside the village. The enemy force was apparently dug in to defensive positions and just waiting for the sun to rise before beginning their assault on the Coalition Force.

“As soon as the sun came up, we started taking extremely heavy enemy fire,” Crawford said in an interview. “Our placement in the middle of the village, and the enemy’s superior fighting positions, required us to ‘run the gauntlet’ of enemy fire no matter where we were in the valley.” Enemy fighters were expertly using sniper and medium machine-gun fire to target the friendly force as insurgents were closing in on their location from all sides. As the force closed in, a highvolume of machine-gun and sniper fire initially wounded five commandos. “Recognizing that the wounded Afghan soldiers would die without evacuation to definitive care, Captain Crawford took decisive action and ran out into the open in an effort to guide the [medical evacuation] helicopter to the landing zone,” according to the citation. “Once the pilot had eyes on his position, Crawford remained exposed, despite having one of his radio antennas shot off mere inches from his face. “Acting without hesitation, Crawford then bounded across open terrain, engaging enemy positions with his assault rifle and called in AH-64 strafe attacks to defeat the ambush.” When the weather cleared, the team moved along the steep terrain. To allow his team to freely move in the open and prevent further casualties, Crawford coordinated the delivery of danger-close AH-64 Apache Hellfire missiles, and 500- and 2,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition bombs from F-15E Strike Eagles. “Everyone there was on task and wanted to crush the enemy,” Crawford said. “My teammates went above and beyond, and everyone’s efforts really reenergized the entire assault force’s morale.” As the U.S. and Afghan commandos left the burned-out village, Crawford’s team once again came under attack. Stuck in an open, narrow valley with 300 to 500-foot sheer mountain cliffs around them, the team was forced to hold their position in poor weather conditions. With the enemy merely 150 meters away, Crawford repeatedly called for danger-close 30 mm strafing, and rocket attacks from AH-64 Apaches overhead. To mark the enemy locations, Crawford ran into the open to engage the enemy while continuing to direct Apache airstrikes. “The Apaches were our lifeline,” Crawford said. “They were consistently engaging. It was a battle of survival for us, and they unleashed hell on the enemy.”

The original mission was to collect intelligence from a remote village sympathetic to the Taliban. However, the village had been burned prior to their arrival. Their mission quickly turned into a battle for survival, which was remarkably successful. The SOF team suffered two Afghan Commando casualties, but more than 80 insurgents were killed during the engagement, including three high-ranking enemy commanders. Crawford is currently assigned to the 104th Fighter Squadron in the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Fighter Wing. He will soon attend pilot training to fly the A-10 Thunderbolt II. The Air Force Cross is the service’s highest medal, and second only to the Medal of Honor. The last Air Force Cross was awarded to an Air Force combat controller, Staff Sgt. Robert Gutierrez Jr., on Oct. 27, 2011 at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Previously another Air Force combat controller, Staff Sgt. Zachary J. Rhyner, was presented the medal on March 10, 2009, at Pope Air Force Base, N.C.

rage Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz ’73 congratulates Capt. Barry Crawford ’03 after presenting him with the Air Force Cross and Purple Heart during an April 12 ceremony at the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Andy Morataya)

Checkpoints

June 2012

graduate profile

The Good Husband Jeremy Hilton ’95 Named 2012 Military Spouse of the Year By Amaani Lyle | American Forces Press Service

husband who championed the progression of disability policy and the exceptional family member program received the 2012 Military Spouse of the Year Award. Jeremy Hilton ’95, spouse of Air Force Lt. Col. Renae Hilton, an Air Force Office of Special Investigations agent on Joint Base Andrews, Md., received the award during a luncheon at the Marine Barracks Washington. Upon receipt of the award, Hilton, who has a daughter with special needs, lauded fellow finalists from the other services, and shared what also inspired his efforts to advocate for military families impacted by illness or disability. “Five of the six spouses of the year are significantly impacted by a disability or chronic medical condition,” Hilton said, adding that about 54 million people, or one in six, in the U.S. are also impacted by a disability. Hilton explained that any type of family is subject to facing the challenging circumstances brought on by illness, injury or genetic aberration. “For some, this will happen in a split second, whether from an [improvised explosive device] or from the doctor telling you that something is wrong with your baby,” Hilton said. “For others, it will be the shocking realization of the road you’re about to travel as you deal with your [multiple sclerosis], cancer or Alzheimer’s.” Suzie Schwartz, wife of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz ’73, and Paula Roy, wife of Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy, attended and introduced Hilton. Deanie Dempsey, wife of Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented Hilton the award. Founded by Military Spouse magazine in 2008, the Military Spouse of the Year serves as the flagship award for the nation’s 1.1 million military spouses. The award recognizes leadership and initiative among military spouses, many of whom continued to bring about positive change on behalf of military families, according to Bianca Strzalkowski, 2011 Military Spouse of the Year. “I accepted the Military Spouse of the Year award not for something I did in the past, but for something I would do in the future, so I took it very literally that I was representing 1.1 million people,” Strzalkowski said.

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(Courtesy Photo)

Attention: Sabre, Polaris, and Guidon Society members

July 18-20, 2012 U.S. Air Force Academy R.S.V.P. (Accepts only) no later than July 11 by visiting www.usafa.org, go to Events and click on “Academy Summit 2012”. For questions, contact Gina Simler at (719) 472 0300 ext. 200 or gina.simler@usafaendowment.org Lodging A block of rooms have been reserved at the Rampart Lodge located at the Air Force Academy (next to both the Falcon Club and Doolittle Hall), mention the Academy Summit when placing your reservation. The deadline for booking rooms is July 2, 2012, please call (719) 333-4910 (press “0” or “3” to make a reservation).

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We INvITe yOu to become more involved, have an active presence in our academy and take advantage of the wonderful opportunities this unique establishment provides. Connect with your Academy through the benefits of joining True BLue BuSINeSS 1000. The BuSINeSS 1000 club is designed as a select and elite club of Academy friends and sponsors who are interested in receiving unprecedented access to Academy events and activities, while helping to directly support our cadets. True BLue BuSINeSS 1000 club members receive: 

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Special invitations to Association of Graduate and Academy events An invitation to be our guest at Falcon Stadium A personal behind the scenes guided tour of the Cadet area for you and guests Access to the stunning and highly ranked Eisenhower Golf Course Elite sponsor recognition Free online advertisement and 15% off ads in one of our professional media venues

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cadet life

Athlete. Student.

Example.

Two cadet athletes show true courage acting with grace under pressure

he element of courage is no stranger to service members of our military. Here at the Air Force Academy, the revered characteristic of bravery is instilled into every cadet through a combination of military training and athletic excellence. The institution inspires its young men and women to step up and help others in need, even if it means putting their own lives on the line. This is the story of two cadets who did just that. By showing true commitment to the core value, Service Before Self, these cadets exemplify the kind of courage that can only be found in an officer of the United States military. Into the Fire | March 15, 2010 It is a chilly evening in Washington state when an electrical short catches a curtain on fire in an upstairs bedroom of the Wenatchee Assisted Living Community. The 150 elderly residents are completely unaware of the fire as it quickly spreads to the adjoining couch, steadily consuming the room. Eventually, the heat becomes so extreme that it blows the glass out of the upstairs bedroom window. The fire continues to burn,

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By Lewis Carlyle

yet no alarms sound. Luckily for the tenants of the community, the ensuing flames attract the attention of Academy appointee Mitch Torrel—who just so happened to be driving home after a late night hockey practice with the North American Hockey League’s Wenatchee Wild. Torrel wastes no time in springing into action. He places a quick call to 911 and then veers his Jeep into the burning building’s parking lot. This is where most people would stand by and wait for emergency responders—yet Torrel is an Academy appointee—and appointees are not most people. With little concern for his own safety, he bounds into the building and begins knocking on doors, shouting at the residents to evacuate. The sleeping community is stirred out of bed by the noisy appointee as he continues down each hallway, sounding the alarm as the upper floors are swallowed by flame and smoke. During his efforts, Torrel encounters many residents with limited mobility. Clinging to walkers or hampered by oxygen tanks, several of the seniors require extra help, which the future cadet gladly provides.

Left: C3C Mitch Torrel skates for the Falcon hockey squad. Right: Despite his sickle cell condition that could be potentially lethal, C4C Chris Carter braves the basketball court every day to play with the Falcons. Photos by Mike Kaplan.

Before emergency responders arrive, Torrel personally assists four residents in their evacuation. “Anyone would have done it,” Torrel says of the incident. As it turns out, the young man’s bravery is well aligned with his future career ambitions as a combat rescue officer. Today, Torrel plays forward for the Falcon hockey team. Neither his teammates nor his coach are surprised at the way the cadet took action to help others. “That’s just how he is,” says Falcons sophomore defenseman Adam McKenzi. “He just does what needs to be done on and off the ice, in the classroom or outside it.” Head hockey coach Frank Serratore could not agree more. “We don’t really know what we’d do until we’re in that situation,” he explains. “I’d like to think that I’d do something, you’d do something and so would our players. I commend him [Torrel] for doing the right thing. It’s typical of the quality of people we have at the Academy.” Authorities in Wenatchee would later determine the cause of the blaze which destroyed the apartment building and took the lives of two of its

residents. The electrical fire began in the bedroom belonging to 73-year-old Myrna Hansen. Despite his best efforts, the torrent of heat and smoke blocked Cadet Torrel from reaching Hansen, who had panicked and locked herself in her bathroom. She, along with another resident, died of their wounds. “I just wish I could have gotten in there earlier,” Torrel recalls. “I just wasn’t able to get to her. After I heard she died … that was tough.” Though the ashes of Hansen’s memory will likely haunt the cadet for the remainder of his life, his acts of heroism are responsible for saving the lives of every other survivor to escape the fire. Torrel was commended for his bravery at an exhibition hockey game in Wenatchee when Air Force played Simon Fraser of British Columbia in early October 2011. “The fans at the game are our core group of fans and they were aware of Mitch’s actions,” said Wenatchee Wild president and general manager Bill Stewart. “They all stood and applauded.” The cadet would also go on to receive the Hometown Hero award from the local Red Cross Chapter. w

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June 2012

At the Academy, Torrel continues to skate for the Falcons. After graduation, his time in the Air Force will undoubtedly afford him plenty of new opportunities to test his bravery and commitment to helping others—just as he did on that cold winter night in Washington, when he ran into a burning building to save the lives of strangers in need. Courage on the Court | November 20, 2011 Imagine lacing up your shoes to head out onto the basketball court knowing that this game of hoops could very well end your life. For athletes contending with a genetic disease known as sickle cell trait, this is a stark reality every time they step onto the field of play. Academy hoopster C4C Chris Carter contends with this genetic disorder each time he puts on his Falcon basketball jersey. The 6’3” point guard from Port St. Lucie, Florida, came to the Academy with dreams of hearing the roar of the crowd in Clune Arena as Air Force

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takes on its Mountain West Conference rivals. Yet Carter’s medical condition makes him very different from most other players on the court. Sickle cell trait is a genetic condition in which red blood cells do not have their typical round shape, but are instead curved and elongated into the shape of a sickle. These misshapen red blood cells—which are vital to shuttling oxygen supplied from the lungs to the body’s tissues—have a tendency of causing blood clots during intense physical activity. Athletes who live with this condition quite literally take their lives into their own hands when they compete in varsity sports. Carter learned this the hard way when he passed out during practice while still at the prep school. Seeing a player laying unconscious on the court is quite possibly every team trainer’s worst nightmare. Ernie Sedelmyer oversees the health and well being of the Falcon varsity basketball squad, which Carter is now a part of. “Sickle cell trait is something that can be managed,” Sedelmyer explains. “We expect him to be fine, or we wouldn’t let him play.” Since his fainting scare at the prep school, Carter has defied the odds in joining the Falcons. He has been cleared by doctors to play and now practices with the team under the careful supervision of Academy trainers. “After the doctor cleared me,” Carter recalls, “Mr. Sedelmyer wouldn’t let me go on the court until I felt comfortable. I had to get on the treadmill every day until I was ready. Today I feel fine, I feel great.” Carter made his debut appearance with the Falcons against Army, when he hit three of four shots, scored nine points, corralled seven rebounds and made seven steals. These stats make for some pretty aggressive play, especially when the wrong amount of physical exertion on the wrong day could potentially send Carter into unconsciousness—or worse, into a coma. All young men and women undergo their own personal era of perceived indestructibility. Any teenager who ever jumped off the roof of his parent’s back porch or turned back-flips off the local swimming hole’s rope swing can attest to the immortality of youth. Yet for a young cadet such as Carter, the reality of life holds frightening consequences. All the same, each and every day he musters the courage just to step up and play the game he loves. Carter’s bravery on the court is also complimented nicely by his humility. “I know if I’m not going to score, I can do other things,” he says of his role on the team. “I really plan on having a big impact on this team, whether it’s starting or coming off the bench or whatever it is. I feel like this team is something special.”

Help us serve future cadets ... Remember the Academy in your will or trust.

Ben Troemel â&#x20AC;&#x2122;78 n

Falcon Foundation Scholar

20 years of service, many in Special Ops

Twice retired (Lt. Col and Delta Airlines Capt.) Lives in Cocoa Beach, Florida, where he enjoys traveling, fishing and the beaches

Polaris Society member since 2011

Legacy gift will help USAFA priorities

A charitable bequest is one of the easiest ways to leave a lasting legacy at the Air Force Academy. In addition to helping secure an exceptional future for cadets who will join you in the Long Blue Line, a bequest to the USAFA Endowment may also lessen the tax burden on your family and estate. For information and assistance, contact Dale Zschoche at 719.238.7510 or dale.zschoche@usafaendowment.org

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BDU

The Sisterhood of the Traveling

cadet life

Goes to Washington

The First Lady Honors a Philanthropic Cadet

Courtesy of Air Force Academy Public Affairs

An Air Force Academy cadet who cofounded a program to help daughters of deployed military members visited the White House on April 12th to meet the First Lady. Cadet 3rd Class Moranda Hern was one of 40 individuals invited to the White House for the Joining Forces Anniversary. “Jill and I are so proud of all of these finalists and the work that they have done for our military community,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “Our military families demonstrate such strength, service, and sacrifice every single day, and we’re so grateful for everyone who is stepping up to give back to these families. The challenge winners are leading by example, and showing that all of us can find a way to serve those who serve us.” Judging criteria included community building, innovation, inclusiveness, and how well the program could be transferred and replicated elsewhere in the country. “As a military mom, I know firsthand the impact a small act of kindness can have on a military family,” said Dr. Jill Biden. “So the great work we have seen through the Joining Forces Community Challenge has been inspiring. I hope others can look to these incredible examples for ways to support service members and military families in their own communities.”

Speakers for the event included the First Lady, Dr. Biden, Tom Brokaw, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey. Before Hern joined the Air Force Academy Class of 2014, she was the co-founder of The Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs, a nonprofit foundation for military girls by military girls. She and Kaylei Deakin were inspired to create the program after their fathers deployed to Afghanistan, when she felt a need for sisterly support in her life and saw the same needs in the lives of other military girls. “After our fathers deployed, we felt a definite need for sisterly support in our lives and we see the same needs in the lives of others. Military girls go through so many unique challenges, especially during the tender ages of 13-18,” Hern said. “During deployments, many girls suffer from lack of self esteem and often feel completely alone. Some common reactions to deployment by young girls are failing school, dropping in self confidence, cutting, eating disorders, body identity issues, lack of interest and depression,” she added. “After our fathers returned home from deployment, we then connected together through the California National Guard Child

Cadet Staff Sgt. C3C Moranda Hern speaks as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey; Jill Biden, the vice-president’s wife; First Lady Michelle Obama; and Tom Brokaw, television journalist, listen at the First Anniversary of Joining Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jess D. Harvey)

and Youth Program,” Hern said. “When we came together, we realized we were not alone in our challenges. After that ‘aha!’ moment, we were inspired to articulate our unique challenges and to create a program to empower military girls. After attending our Governor’s Women’s Conference in 2008, we decided to use our personal experience as military girls to create the Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs,” Hern added. The Sisterhood has reached more than 160 girls at its first conference and has reached thousands of girls nationwide through media outlets. Currently, Hern is in her sophomore year at the Academy. She is an NCAA Division I diver and a Global Teen Leader. She plans to fly fighter jets in the Air Force after graduation. This summer, Hern will travel to Madrid as an Ambassador of Inclusion for the Academy’s Diversity Office. The Joining Forces Community Challenge was launched in July 2011 by Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to recognize the innovative ways Americans have stepped up to support and honor our military families.

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A service of your AOG

cadet life

Junior heavyweight Olawale Lawal fights his way to his first national title. 80 usafa.org

Boxing Bulwarks USAFA’s Boxing Team Wins the National Collegiate Boxing Association Title for the 19th Time

our years ago, seven freshman cadets were good enough to box in the finals of the Air Force Academy’s Wing Open. This April, five of those men led Air Force to their 19th National Collegiate Boxing Association title. “We really just came full circle,” said team cocaptain Tyrus Korecki, a Denver senior. “We’re all just best friends. We did something special with a group of special people.” The team’s season was indeed special. They had 11 boxers place in the top three of their weight class at the national championship, earning each one All-American status. Junior Drew Pineda earned a second NCBA title at 112 pounds by defeating a Navy contender. In the 139-pound class, Denver senior Dan Starr claimed a split decision against an opponent from Maryland. At 165 pounds, senior Casey Habluetzel beat a boxer from California to claim his first national title. Junior heavyweight Olawale Lawal earned a unanimous decision over an opponent from Lock Haven to win his first title. Starr said boxing is an individual sport with a team concept. He said when he’s in the ring, his coaches are in his corner and his team is cheer-

By Crystal Ross ing him on. “All that energy is channeled through you,” he said. “All these guys have my back.” Starr’s semifinal and final rounds were both back-and-forth affairs. “It came down to who wanted it more. I felt it slipping away, but I wouldn’t quit,” he said. Lawal, the heavyweight, also said that some of his matches boiled down to a battle of wills. He and his opponents were often quite tired during their matches, but his teammates and all the work they had put in together helped him prevail. Lawal’s championship round was actually not as difficult as his semifinal. “The guy liked to run around the ring a lot,” he explained. “But he had to come up to altitude. I just kept chasing him everywhere. I was nervous, but I was pretty comfortable that I was going to win.” Head coach Ed Weichers said it was a huge advantage for Air Force to host the championship this past April. “The home advantage is so critical. Nobody wants to come here. They don’t want to come to 7,250 [feet],” he said. “They don’t want to have to deal with logistics. They don’t want to have to travel. This is probably the most leastliked place, even though our facility and the way we run it is better than everybody else. It’s geography. It’s not a fun place to come to if you’ve got to box the Falcons.” w Checkpoints

June 2012

Weichers said his team had the opportunity to change their usual routine in preparation for the national championship by getting off campus and away from Academy life for a few days, but they opted not to do anything differently than they’d done the entire season. His co-captains, Korecki and Mike McLain, a senior from San Clemente, Calif., made that clear. “I’d have to say if there was one factor that really became prevalent in our season, in our quest for a national title, it was the leadership of those two guys and the leadership and the dedication of the team. They had one vision, one focus. They led by example,” Weichers said. The team’s decision to keep to their routine showed their coach what they really wanted. “To me that said a lot about what was important to them,” Weichers said. “It wasn’t important to be off campus for a night in a local hotel somewhere. They wanted this title back. It had been an eight-year stint since we’ve had it. So when those guys are willing to do the things that are important to give them an advantage as a team, to me that sent a real loud message that we were ready. I think that kind of leadership and selflessness set the tone for everybody as far as how we approached the tournament, how we approached preparation for it.” The team stayed at USAFA over spring break, a time when most need some separation from school. “Everyone [else] was out having a good time. We were here training twice a day,” Weichers said. “So they sacrificed their spring break, their free time, their valuable time. They did everything that a coach could ask of them in terms of sacrifice and preparation that we could possibly do.” “Coach says he’s never had a spring break in the 36 years he’s been here,” McLain reported. But, he added, the cadets who wanted to become the Dirty Dozen that headed to the regional competition in Reno in March knew what they were getting into. “It’s crucial to take all 12 guys to regionals,” the co-captain said. “It’s a commitment you’re making.” As Korecki said, Air Force boxers are indeed special. They all begin by taking a required boxing class as freshmen. They have 10 hours of lessons on the 82

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fundamentals of boxing. Weichers said the design of the program is to put cadets into situations where they will experience pressure, stress, anxiety and fear but be able to make good decisions under pressure. It all equates to combat. “So when you’re in battle and somebody’s trying to do you harm and shoot at you, you don’t panic and kill yourself and your wingman,” the coach said. “You do the right thing and make a good decision. The goal and objective is not to develop Wing Open or national champions, but to simulate a situation where you create pressure so that a cadet can display real courage.” If cadets who box in class develop an interest in the sport, they can participate in intramural boxing. The next step is Friday night fights. Those weekly bouts can lead to opportunities for cadets to box against students from other colleges. All that work then takes cadets to the Wing Open, where winners earn the right to represent USAFA at regionals and ultimately the national competition. Weichers said of the program, “The uniqueness is, it’s not recruited, it’s not scholarshipped. We find them in class. They come out, they work hard, they make a mark, they get a chance. We don’t play favorites. You decide it in the ring. It’s just the perfect storm. It’s the perfect setup for people to come in and say, ‘I want to be a part of this.’” Sophomore boxer Stephen Bittner is one of the cadets who put in that hard work. He attended the Prep School and planned to wrestle for USAFA– despite the wishes of a mom who “wanted to keep me safe,” he said. In high school he’d competed in fencing, racquetball and tennis. But he walked into the cadet gymnasium and saw the boxing trophy in the lobby and decided that’s what he wanted to do. “The first day I knocked a kid’s teeth loose,” he said. Lawal found the class to be fun and decided to keep at it. “Nobody invited me to come box,” he said. “There was no risk to it. I tried it, and it was fun.” Junior Logan Brandt had also played sports in high school but didn’t think he’d be good enough to compete for USAFA. His dad had also fought as a cadet. Brandt called boxing a sweet science. “It teaches a lot of self-control. You learn how to control yourself and fight.” “People think it’s a brutal sport,” said Starr. “It’s more of a chess match, a constant battle of wits. You need to be in physical shape to endure, but

you also need will power and speed.” Korecki reiterated the design of the boxing program at the Academy is to develop courage under pressure. “When we graduate from this place, we’re not going to the corporate world to sit at a desk,” he said. As with any other intercollegiate sport played at the Air Force Academy, cadets box in addition to everything else they’re expected to do. “A typical day for us is we get about two hours after classes because the demands on a cadet’s life and time are huge,” Weichers said. “They always come down and put the two hours in, but there’s no more time to get because they have academics and military and then squadron activities and responsibilities. So you only have a short period of time.” The coach said none of that changed all the way through the Wing Open. “The only thing that was different is that after regionals when we went to Reno, we went to a hostile environment–away, their home town, their ring, the whole bit. And we’d been there before, and it’s rough. We came out with an incredible amount of wins and two second-place finishers. We came back here for spring break, and these guys were pumped. There was nothing physical that I could throw at them that they couldn’t just knock down and just say, ‘What’s next?’ It was incredible.” “I can’t tell you how many emails and phone calls we received about ‘way to go,’ ‘way to bring the title back home,’” the coach said. “I give all the

credit to guys like McLain and Korecki because of their leadership and the way they did things. It went a long way to taking all those underclassmen with them and showing them how to get it done right. We were a good team, but they made us better because of their leadership.” “Coach asked me after junior year to be captain,” McLain said. “Of course I said yes. But I look at the entire senior class as the leadership of the team. Any one of us could’ve done the job.” He said he saw his job as setting an example that the younger boxers could follow–leading by example, not just by talking about what they needed to do. He also saw himself as a liaison between the coaches and the athletes. “I can’t even begin to describe the leadership experience it’s been for me,” McLain said. “Nothing else has come close to the pressure and the stress of the boxing ring–as much as my mom hates to hear that. I can’t imagine graduating without having a leadership experience like this,” he said. Throughout the season, Weichers’ boxing team certainly proved their motto, which is engraved in stone on the wall of their practice gym: “Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.” “It’s our only slogan in the whole place, which really isn’t about boxing, it’s about life,” Weichers said.

The USAFA boxing team poses with Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould ’76 (back row, fourth from right) after winning the 2012 National Collegiate Boxing Association Title for the 19th time.

Checkpoints

June 2012

FORWARD LEADERSHIPBRIGHT ONWARD FUTURE SCHOLAR

LEGACYGREAT

Postgraduate Scholarships The Academy’s brightest take on the next step of their education

his year, 116 cadets from the Air Force Academy will continue their education in postgraduate programs across the world. The Air Force Education Requirements Board (AFERB) oversees this process through several programs. The National Competitive Scholarship Program (NCSP) places graduates at Draper Labs at MIT/Rice University, East-West Center at the University of Hawai’i, Fulbright, Gates, Hertz, JFK, Marshall, NSF, RAND, Rhodes, University of Maryland and University of Washington. The Health Professions Scholarships (Medical, Dental and Nursing Schools) places cadets in postgraduate medical programs, and the Graduate School Program (GSP) prepares cadets with teaching degrees so that they may one day return to the Academy as instructors. The following cadets represent just a few from the Class of 2012 who will go on to pursue postgraduate education.

The Alberta Bart Holaday Scholarship | John Nickerson

The Alberta Bart Holaday Scholarship funds two years of graduate study at Oxford University and is administered by Exeter College. For my first year, I am lucky enough to be able to pursue a Master of Studies in Theology (Christian Ethics), and in my second year I plan to study ancient Greek philosophy. The West’s intellectual heritage can be traced back to two primary sources, the Judeo-Christian tradition and the philosophical tradition originating in ancient Greece. I am keenly interested in trying to better understand these two pillars in the intellectual foundation of Western culture and their implications for how we understand our society

today. While many of the social sciences are able to speak meaningfully on a number of topics, it seems they struggle to take seriously and rigorously address the fundamental questions of values: what moral and political values/ideas are important, and to what extent can they be challenged? How do we know they are important? These questions belong, in the West, to both theology and philosophy. As the United States seeks to continue in its place as a dominant world leader, it is as vital as it ever was that its leaders, particularly in the military, continue to appreciate the mode of, and understand the lessons to be gleaned from, such study.

Franklin C. Wolfe Fellowship | Aaron Foster

I am honored to be the recipient of the Franklin C. Wolfe Scholarship and will be studying early American History at the University of Southern Mississippi. At this university, I will study at the Center for the Study of War and Society and will have the amazing opportunity to continue my education as a Military History major at the Academy. With the unique challenges our nation will face in the future, it is vital to have officers well versed in history and who understand the immense importance of historical context. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, I will attend Intelligence Technical School in Texas and apply my graduate education throughout my future service. Later, I sincerely hope to return as a member of the History Department faculty and give back to the Academy for everything that it has done to prepare me for my future service.

day return to teach in the English Department and give back in some capacity to the institution and the people who have so blessed my life.

Nutter Scholarship | Bryan Ashton

I am very grateful for the chance to attend graduate school through the Nutter Endowment. I will be using this scholarship to attend the University of Missouri and pursue a Master of Science in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in blast-resistant design. I was exposed to this area of study through a number of classes and programs at the Academy including Chemistry of Weapons, Blast Design, and a summer research program with the Idaho National Laboratories’ Explosives and Armor Group. I am a little nervous about completing this master’s program within the one-year time frame, but I think the Academy has prepared me well for the heavy course load.

Gerhart Scholarship | Emily C. Ubbens

As the Gerhart Scholarship recipient, I will be attending graduate school in France next semester. This scholarship was developed in order to sponsor one USAFA graduate each year to travel overseas to become fluent in the French language, to obtain a master’s degree in a humanities-related discipline, and also to gain a broader understanding of the international community and cultural differences between continents. This education will not only result in more effective working relationships between France and the United States, but also bring knowledge of European traditions and customs back to the U.S. When I return from France, I will be able to share my newfound world perspective with fellow Airmen and future Air Force Academy students, as I will have the opportunity to teach in the Foreign Language Department. I am sincerely grateful for this incredible opportunity and excited for what the future holds.

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Lawson Scholarship | Kaitlyn Bogan

As the 2012 recipient of the Lawson Endowed Scholarship, I will be attending the University of Arizona. While there, I will participate in a rigorous 12-month program with the goal of attaining my M.A. in English Literature. I am honored to be able to continue my studies, and I consider it a privilege to be an ambassador representing the Academy and the Air Force at large. I am grateful for this opportunity to enhance skills and experiences that I can carry with me well into my Air Force career–as a pilot and beyond. I hope to one

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Checkpoints

June 2012

from the terrazzo

Graduate Dependent Scholarships Academic Year 2012 – 2013

The AOG Board of Directors continued their long-standing (since 1987) support for the Graduate Dependent Scholarship Program, approving awards of $500 to twenty children of USAFA graduates. A total of seventyfour completed applications were sent to a volunteer committee to review and rank. The volunteer committee, consisting of Col. (Ret.) Randy Carlson ’66, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Otto Carroll ’76, and Maj. (Ret.) Margaret Toldy ’83, devoted considerable time to scoring each applicant’s package. Scores were then consolidated and the twenty applicants with the highest total points were awarded scholarships. The AOG congratulates all of the GDS applicants, especially the winners, for their records of academic achievement, community involvement, and exemplary service. Those selected to receive a scholarship for Academic Year 2012-2013 are listed below in alphabetical order.

Lisa Allen** –Miss Allen is a junior at Texas Christian University and hopes to pursue a career in a medical field, preferable physical therapy. She graduated #1 in her class of 547 at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, Colo. (Ralph Allen ’72)

Lauren Christian –Miss Christian is a senior at Grace Christian School in Raleigh, N.C. and is currently ranked #1 in her class of 32. She will attend the University of North Carolina in the fall. (Stacey Watts ’89 and Mark Christian ’89)

Rebecca Babski* –Miss Babski is a sophomore at the University of Virginia. She is studying chemistry and has a 3.949 GPA. (Ronald Babski ’85)

Zachary Clemmons –Mr. Clemmons attends the Classical Academy in Colorado Springs and has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout his school years. (Thomas Clemmons ’86)

Katherine Batchelor –Miss Batchelor is a senior at Williston High School in Williston, Fla. She is currently ranked first in her class of 114 students. (Robert Batchelor ’77) Ryan Boone*** –Mr. Boone is a junior at Claremont-McKenna University in Claremont, Calif. His goal is to serve the United States as a Foreign Service Officer. (Daniel Boone ’80) Gabriella Cavouti* –Miss Cavuoti is a freshman at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. She is studying for a degree in nursing with an emphasis in pediatrics. (Frank Cavuoti ’85) 86

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Veronica Cruz –Miss Cruz is a senior at Paraclete High School in Lancaster, Calif. where she has a 4.0 GPA. Her current aspiration is to become a computer scientist or software engineer. (Robert Cruz ’83) Bryan Dale* –Mr. Dale is a sophomore at the University of Virginia where he is majoring in Engineering. (Eric Dale ’84) Sharon Finn –Miss Finn is a junior at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has a GPA of 3.856 and is working toward her degree in nursing. (Thomas Finn ’75)

Bailey Flynn –Miss Flynn is a freshman at Rice University where she is studying in the Engineering Division. (Michael Flynn ’82) Jenna Hessert** –Miss Hessert is a sophomore at Yale University. She is studying geology and geophysics. (Ruth Deniston ’84 and Peter Hessert ’84) Austin Igelman –Mr. Igelman is a senior at St Mary’s School in Medford, Ore. His perfect 4.0 GPA has resulted in an offer of early admission to Yale University. (Jon Igelman ’82) William A. Kirkman* –Mr Kirkman is a freshman at the University of Colorado where he is studying economics. He graduated first in his class of 238 at Palmer Ridge High School in Monument, Colo. (William H. Kirkman ’70) Janelle Mansfield* –Miss Mansfield is a freshman at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while at Chapparal High School in Parker, Colo. (Juli Dahnke ’86 and Robert Mansfield ’86)

Jessica Richelieu* –Miss Richelieu is a freshman at Idaho State University. She currently has a 4.0 GPA in her biology studies. (Rodney Richelieu ’83) Brigitte Rooney* –Miss Rooney is a freshman at the University of Colorado. She has a 4.0 GPA in environmental engineering. (Daniel Rooney ’82) David Smellie –Mr. Smellie is a senior at Utica High School in Utica, Mich. He is second in his class of 436 and hopes to attend either Massachusetts Institute of Technology or the University of Michigan. He wants to pursue the medical research field. (Amy Hermes ’83 and Patrick Smellie ’82) Kenni Sterns –Miss Sterns is a freshman at Coe College of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is majoring in biology and neuroscience. (Alan Sterns ’83) Elizabeth Thompson –Miss Thompson is a senior at Lewis Palmer High School in Monument, Colo. She is ranked 8th in her class of 224. (Robert Thompson III, 89) *Asterisks indicate this person has previously won a Graduate Dependent Scholarship. The number of asterisks corresponds to the number of awards the individual has previously received.

Checkpoints

June 2012

cadet life

Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy presentation

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Seniors and staff of the Air Force football team visited the White House on April 23rd for the Commander-in-Chief ’s Trophy presentation, which was held in the East Room of the White House. Quarterback Tim Jefferson presented President Obama with a game ball from the Falcons’ victory over Navy. After handing the ball to the Commander-in-Chief, Jefferson told him it came with one stipulation–the President was required to strike the Heisman pose. He obliged. This was the second year in a row and a record 18th time that Air Force has claimed the CIC Trophy.

Need a Job?

Service Academy Business Resource Directory is the one-stop directory for Service Academy grads looking to find professional careers with grad-friendly companies.

Have a Job to be done?

Look for people you can count on! Make iSABRD your first choice if highly qualified professional fellow Service Academy grads are what you seek.

usafa.org

Visit the career center at www.usafa.org click on “Career Center.”

service academy

Career ConferenCe

What is SaCC? The SACC is the Service Academy Career Conference supported by the Associations of Graduates from the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Military Academy, and Alumni Associations from the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Previous conferences have been attended by hundreds of companies and thousands of alumni. Go to sacc-jobfair. com for a list of companies attending, the complete schedule and the online registration form. Where will the SaCC be held? The next SACC will be held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt–San Diego, One Market Place, San Diego, Calif. Call (619) 232-1234 for reservations and ask for the SACC rate. SaCC Schedule of events Thursday, august 23 How to Work SACC Job Fair ........5:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Candidate Career Seminar............6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. friday, august 24 Registration ................................. 9:30 a.m. SACC .......................................... 9:30 a.m. Lunch ........................................ 12:15 p.m. SACC .......................................... 1:30 p.m.

All day 12:15 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m.

auguST 23-24, 2012 San diego, Ca.

Saturday, august 22 Interviews only if directly scheduled between company recruiters and candidates; Companies will contact you directly regarding any on-site interviews during the SACC. registration The SACC Candidate registration fee is $40. To register, submit a one-page resume (for recruiter’s book) and pay online at www.sacc-jobfair.com. This limited resume is designed to give the recruiters an indication of your capabilities. It is NOT the resume you should bring to hand out to the recruiters at the conference. Registration deadline for inclusion in the recruiter’s book is august 12, 2012. next Scheduled SaCC San Antonio, TX., November 15-16, 2012

For more information, contact Wayne Taylor at (719) 472-0300, ext. 150 or sacc-jobfair.com.

from the terrazzo

The Secret Life of

Waldo F. Dumbsquat

by Don Hall ’76

“Shower Formation!”

“Skivvies and shower clogs!” “Rack in that chin, Mister!” “Tuck in those elbows!” “Double-time in place! Get those knees up!” “Get down and give me ten!” “Give me Schofield’s quote!” “Sir, The discipline which makes the soldiers of a free country reliable in battle … ” “Why can’t I hear you?” “Sir.” “What’s the answer to a WHY question?” “No excuse, Sir!” “Cargo aircraft, now!” “Sir, cargo aircraft are as follows: C-7A deHavilland Caribou, C-9 McDonnell-Douglas Nightingale, C-46 Curtis Commando, C-47 Douglas Skytrain … ” “Let’s hear the fourth stanza of ‘The Star Spangled Banner.’” “Sir, the fourth stanza of ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ by Francis Scott Key, is as follows: O thus be it ever when free men shall stand Between their lov’d homes and the war’s desolation … ” “Just good ol’ Francis, eh? Is he a personal friend of yours?” “No, Sir!” “Sound off, Mister!” “Yes, Sir!” “Give me Douhet’s quote!” “Sir, Air Marshall Giulio Douhet’s quote is as follows: Victory smiles upon those who anticipate the changes in the character of war, not upon those who wait to adapt themselves after the changes occur.” “What does a cadet major’s shoulder board insignia look like?” “Sir, cadet major rank is horizon, cloud, horizon, thick bar, thin bar, thick bar.” “Shoulders back and down!” The bedlam echoed through Vandenberg Hall like thunder as the basic cadets filled the hallway with Checkpoints and the Air Force Song. The dreaded shower formation, a staple of BCT, tested the stamina, discipline, and mental toughness of each new doolie. Basic Cadet Waldo F. Dumbsquat found it particularly difficult to double-time in place while clad in

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what amounted to beachwear. He did his best to recite Group Staff and famous words uttered by historical figures. Singing, however, was not his forte. “Why do you have your eyes shut, Mister?” Waldo’s element leader shouted in his ear. “Are you trying to remember the words?” “No, Sir! I’m hoping this is a nightmare and I’ll wake up in my dorm room at CSU,” the freshman panted. “A wise guy, eh? Give me the number to your phone booth so I can give you a wakeup call, you dumb smack.” “Sir, may I make a statement?” “What is it?” “Sir, it’s pronounced Dumbsquat.” “Get down and give me ten!” “Yes, Sir!” The First Beast cadre moved down the line of sweating doolies, ensuring other received valuable Air Force training, leaving Waldo momentarily alone. Braced against the wall, the freshman inched his way into an alcove and uttered the Mission of the United States Air Force Academy. “To provide instruction and experience to each cadet so that he graduates with the knowledge and character essential to leadership and the motivation to become a career officer in the United States Air Force.” Instantly, if not sooner, Waldo magically transformed into Colonel Waldo F. Dumbsquat, a man who knew the way to USAFA beach. Boldly he stepped out among the cadets and, in a booming voice, issued his orders. “That’s enough training for this evening, gentlemen. Hit the showers!” Relieved, the basics retrieved towels and soap and squared corners into the latrine. The upperclassmen grumbled among themselves, but supervised an orderly end to the formation. Pleased with achieving a small victory for his classmates, Waldo retreated to a bathroom stall and degenerated into his puny freshman form. He found himself last to get a shower. His body became one large goose bump as an icy cold spray hit his skin. There was no more hot water. Waldo shivered and sighed.

The Class of in Numbers

2012

Click here for photos of the 2012 graduation ceremony.

HISTORIC NUMBERS

RATED OFFICERS

44,992 Graduates to Date 40,430 Male Graduates 4,562 Female Graduates

529 Total rated graduates 490 Pilots 8 Combat Systems Operators 2 Air Battle Managers 29 Unmanned Aerial System Pilots

CLASS OF 2012 NUMBERS 1,074 Graduates 1,051 Commissioned into Air Force 854 Graduating Men 237 Graduating Women (most ever) 56 African-Americans 91 Hispanics 85 Asian-American/Pacific Islanders 5 Native Americans 15 International Students

FUN FACTS 566 Grads who attained general officer rank 57 Second-generation graduates 60 Second-child graduates 4 Third-child graduates 2 Fourth-child graduates 3 Sets of twins graduating

NEVER FALTER NEVER FAIL Source: Academy Spirit

from the terrazzo

Phase one of the New Cadet Fitness Center is Complete By David Bergeman

Muscle Bound 92

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Photos by Lewis Carlyle

World class is an apt adjective for the new 9.5 million dollar Cadet Fitness Center (CFC) addition. On May 16th a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of phase one of the CFC. Groundbreaking for the project took place March 30th, 2011. The resulting addition should vastly improve Academy fitness across the board. Former Academy Superintendent, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John Regni ’73, identified the need for a CFC back in 2008 after assessing the less than ideal conditions that cadets were forced to work out in. “All of the cadet aerobic fitness equipment was shoehorned into vacant racquetball courts and our weight lifting area was undersized for our cadet population,” explains Roger Gustafson, Assistant AD for Facility Support. “We needed more space and to get the cadets out of those dungeon-like areas.” The 46,000 square foot addition is composed of a collegiate fencing area on the south end (which frees up basketball court space in the original gym), a colossal weight and fitness room on the north end and a

Left: The addition includes a 32-foot climbing wall. Above: The new Cadet Fitness center fencing area is state of the art.

mezzanine running between the two areas that houses an array of aerobic equipment. In addition to equipment, the fitness area also has a 32-foot climbing wall. The prominent feature of the CFC is a north-facing wall of glass that provides ambient light and great views of the athletic fields and mountains. The addition also adds symmetry to the building. “Originally, there was just the cadet gym, which was built around 1958,” says Gustafson. “In the late 80s we added the east addition where the indoor tennis courts are located. This 1989 addition has now been mirrored on the west end.” Several Academy grads were involved in the design of the addition. Jeff Heidmous ’77, current water polo head coach and former USAFA Associate Athletic Director, developed the concept design for the Academy. Josh Gaghen ’99 is an associate and project manager at KPFF Consulting Engineers based out of the St. Louis office. He learned about the CFC project on a government e-com-

Click here to see additional photos of the spectacular new Cadet Fitness Center.

merce website and with the help of his boss (the structural engineer on the project) they entered and won the design build competition. “It’s been fantastic to be involved with this project,” says Gaghen, who served as the project manager for the structural design of the addition. “I certainly remember lots of time spent waiting to use the exercise equipment in the old cadet weight room. The new facility will allow cadets to workout quickly and get back to studying or other daily activities. The rock climbing wall and the fencing area will be a source of pride for cadets involved in those activities. We’ve put forth our best effort to create a first class product that meets the rigorous Academy standards.”    Preliminary work has been completed for phase two of the CFC. Phase two will provide a second varsity weight room (the current weight room will become the Air Force’s Center for Combative Excellence), more club sport training space, and a regulation water polo pool with a five-meter tower and scuba training space for physical education classes. The current water polo pool, which is not regulation size, will become a cadet pool and training space for the triathlon, women’s water polo, and kayaking clubs. Construction is slated for the 2019 and beyond MILCON program.

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Make your celebration everything you’ve ever dreamed!   Doolittle Hall sits on 24 acres of scenic landscape at the United States Air Force Academy and provides a multitude of advantages in one unique location. Celebrate your special day with family and friends surrounded with views of the Front Range; the fabulous views of the Rocky Mountains to the west and the rolling hills of the plains to the east will immerse your guests in the grandeur of Colorado. Enjoy panoramic views of the natural surroundings through floor-to-ceiling windows in our spacious 5,500 square foot hall. With an open-air atrium, this expansive space produces warm natural light while maintaining a touch of intimacy. Make a grand entry from either of our etchedglass open staircases. Let your guests dance the night away on the built-in dance floor or enjoy a cocktail at the private bar in the Library Lounge.  This unique setting offers the perfect venue for all types of gatherings with a space large enough to accommodate 200 guests for a sit-down dinner, up to 500 for a standing reception and even an outdoor space for an intimate ceremony. We limit the use of the facility to one event at a time, allowing the Association of Graduates staff to ensure you receive the customized care and attention your event deserves.

No ties to the military are necessary to use this facility. Special rate consideration given to Association of Graduates members.

events.usafa.org 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy CO, 80840 719.472.0300

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AOG Board Election Information Your Association of Graduates will hold an election for five new AOG Board members in February 2013. We are looking for great graduates who want to continue to move the AOG forward. If you are interested please follow the directions below and good luck. PROCESS • Deadline for application or petition is October 1, 2012. • Specific requirements and forms are available on the AOG Web site – www.usafa.org/about/Governance/NominationProcedures.aspx THE ELECTION • Will be conducted from 1 February to 3 March 2013. • Will be conducted using electronic voting. • Will elect five directors to four-year terms. CANDIDATE COMMITMENT • Be dedicated to the vision, mission, ideals and principles for which the AOG stands. • Be capable of attending all meetings of the AOG Board, and any committees to which he/ she is assigned. • Be able to commit the time required to discharge Board and committee duties. • Be able to discharge his/her duties in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances, in a manner consistent with the best interests of the AOG.

AOG

Important notes 1) “Capable of attending” means being able and willing to afford the travel to and from Colorado Springs at least four times a year and able to afford the time away from his/her profession to attend these meetings and for related work. 2) The workload of a Board member is very significant. In addition to quarterly meetings, Board members have discussions and debates via e-mail as well as committee and Board meetings by teleconference. QUESTIONS may be referred to the AOG Executive Assistant, Hadassa Munoz at Hadassa.Munoz@ aogusafa.org or to AOG Executive Vice President Gary Howe at gary.howe@aogusafa.org. You may also call them at (719) 472-0300.

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WORTH 1000 WORDS

Celebrating 20 Years of Doolittle Hall In 1992 Doolittle Hall became the official home of the United States Air Force Academy Association of Graduates. This magnificent building has been a source of pride for graduates and an essential component of the AOG mission for the past 20 years. For future generations of the Long Blue Line, Doolittle Hall is where the inprocessing journey begins. The venue has hosted thousands of events. It has seen celebrities, Presidents and thousands of members of the ever-important graduate community walk its hallways. As we look back on its first two decades of valued service, we are reminded of the many years of progress it has helped us achieve. Today, we look forward to the next 20 years of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Serving The Long Blue Line.â&#x20AC;?

Heritage

The USAFA Class Paintings

An Artful History By David Bergeman

he cycle of life in southern France’s sleepy village of Vallon-Pont-d’Arc follows a similar pattern each year. Each winter brings a temporary state of hibernation before spring and summer thaw the river of life, redirecting a vivacious flow of human activity to the area. During tourist season the population of this small commune of 2,400 residents swells to ten times that size. The streets bustle with the energy of the masses who use Vallon-Pont-d’Arc as a departure point to the scenic gorge of the Ardèche River. Vallon-Pont-d’Arc is also home to a famous cave. Chauvet Cave is not renowned for unique geology;

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its pièce de résistance is the interior decoration. Chauvet is a stone mural covered in prehistoric drawings of rhinos, lions and bears. This 31,000-year-old art is some of the most antiquated ever discovered. These amazing drawings paint a historical picture of the thoughts and experiences of our Paleolithic ancestors. Similarly, the Class of 1974 decided that they too wanted to document their collective experiences through art. With many fine artists to choose from, the class commissioned a 24-year-old local artist named Rick Broome to create the first USAFA Class Painting. In May 1974 Broome’s painting “Dawn Patrol Solo” was dedicated. The

“It takes Broome about 1000 hours to complete a USAFA Class Painting, during which time he’ll work for up to 15 hours a day.

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painting prominently features a T-41 because that was the Academy’s introduction to flight training aircraft at the time. Nearly every class since has selected an artist to officially represent their hopes, dreams and experiences on canvas. Only Broome, Steve Ferguson, Stan Stokes and Academy grad John Cmar ’86 have had the privilege of taking on this fulfilling task. Broome has created over 20 official Class Paintings, including the Class of 2012’s rendition, “Attention to Detail.” It takes Broome about 1000 hours to complete a USAFA Class Painting, during which time he’ll work for up to 15 hours a day. The long days don’t bother the passionate artist; his work with the Academy is a labor of love. “Each class has it’s own unique spirit,” says Broome, while describing his motivations for each painting. “Many classes want me to capture a piece of history they experienced while at the Academy. For the Class of 1985 I painted an F-16 doing aileron rolls over their Parents Weekend parade. That was a singular moment that really stood out to them.” In several of Broome’s Class Paintings the model number of the aircraft he paints adds up to the graduating class number. Broome explained that the Class of 2012 painting features two F-22s and an A-10, with the model numbers equaling 54; the 2012 graduating class is the Academy’s 54th. Broome is very humbled to be able to document Academy history through his work. “When you look at the art that has been created for the Academy, it’s like watching a movie that spans 40 years of change. Strictly from an art perspective, that has great value and that value will continue to increase as time goes by.” In June 1999 a piece of that history, “Dawn Patrol Solo,” was found in the Cadet Area severely damaged. Broome was contacted and the painting was returned to his art studio where it remained until he received a chance call from Travis K. “Ken”

Pethe ’74. Pethe wanted to purchase a replica of the painting. None existed at the time, but upon learning that the original had been damaged, Pethe generously offered to pay the cost of restoration. Broome restored “Dawn Solo Patrol” to its original splendor and this past December a rededication ceremony was held at Doolittle Hall where the painting is now on display. Broome’s entire family helps with his painting business and the Academy has meant a lot to their family throughout the years. “Love is the word,” he says. “Our family loves the Academy, the kids, and the graduate community. There is no word that defines how are family feels any better than that.”

Visit shop.usafa.org to learn how you can purchase a USAFA Class Painting.

Previous page: The 2012 Class Painting “Attention to Detail.” Right, top: L to R: Rick Broome with Lt. Gen. A.P. Clark, Robert Carlin and Col. (Ret.) Ed Whalen, who is pictured as a cadet. Bottom: “Dawn Patrol Solo,” the first USAFA Class Painting, was commissioned to Rick Broome by the Class of 1974. Checkpoints

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Wooden

St ck Legacy

Old School Academy Lacrosse Players Return to Honor the Past

uring Founders Day weekend USAFA lacrosse coach Eric Seremet invited all lacrosse alumni to come back for the Senior Day game at Falcon Stadium. It was a chance for alumni to meet the current team and impart a little of the Academyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lacrosse heritage to the current players. With this in mind the Class of 1970 varsity lacrosse players planned a special tribute honoring the coaches who had been an integral part of their lives during their time at USAFA. Coach Jim Keating, Lt. Col. (USAF Ret.), and the late Coach Tony Cillo, Lt. Col. (USAF 100 usafa.org

By John Verado â&#x20AC;&#x2122;70 Ret.), coached the freshmen team in 1967 and the varsity from 1968 to 1974. Coach Keating was an All-American lacrosse player at Maryland and a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Coach Cillo was a two-sport varsity letter winner at Rutgers and founding member of the Academy physical education program. During their tenure the Academy lacrosse program achieved national recognition. These coaches assisted in the development of lacrosse in the western states. Above all they served as role models to their players and assisted them in becoming Air Force officers and men of commitment and perseverance.

Coach Keating and the family of Coach Cillo were honored Founders Day weekend with a plaque presentation at halftime of the Senior Day game and a Saturday night dinner “toast and roast” of the two fine officers. It was an opportunity to thank Coach Keating, reflect on the memory of Coach Cillo, and honor the time, effort, and leadership they provided the Class of ’70. Many former varsity lacrosse players from the 1968 to 1974 time frame came from around the country and joined in this world class tribute. An illustration of the legacy built amongst Academy lacrosse players was displayed when the varsity lacrosse team of 1967 came to “thank” the Class of ’70 freshman team for being good “practice fodder” during their first year of varsity competition. The ’67 team was the first to develop from a club team to an intercollegiate team. As the transitional linchpin from club to varsity status, they were able to recognize the accomplishments of Coach Keating and Coach Cillo and enjoy the recollections of Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Kelley, former Academy Superintendent and the first lacrosse coach at the Academy. Kelley was a three-time All-American lacrosse player at Rutgers. The 1984 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee grew the Academy lacrosse team from a club team to a varsity program. He and Coach Keating played against each other in the 1956 North-South All Star Game. During the weekend, they swapped a long list of “truths” with regard to each other’s skills. In sum, the weekend was a lacrosse fest and reunion that ran the spectrum of emotions. The tales exchanged were sharp on victories and blurry

on defeats, but always overpowered by the aspects of team and earning the respect of fellow players. Each class had its own set of special memories; there were recollections of the Rocky Mountain League Championships, the 24 Academy lacrosse players that were designated All-Star status and all the role players that were essential to the unity and success of every team. Appropriately there was a special moment for the group when those players no longer with them were remembered. They will always be part of our team. The Academy lacrosse alumni who had the pleasure of knowing Coach Keating and Coach Cillo want them and their families to know the love and respect that they are owed. They are true lacrosse pioneers who developed players, but more importantly, forged men. We will always be grateful for the contributions they made to our lives.

Below, top: R-L Coach Tony Cillo and Coach Jim Keating are Academy lacrosse pioneers who were honored during a Founders Day weekend lacrosse alumni reunion. Bottom: Former USAFA Lacrosse Coach Jim Keating (center with plaque) poses with a contingent of former players from the years 1968 to 1974 as former Academy Superintendent and USAFA Lacrosse coach Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Kelley (far right) looks on.

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Once Upon a Time …

The Class of ’76 With Spirit Marv Van Every ’76 June Week, 1976– Firsties in the 16th squadron are up for one last spirit prank. We had knocked out several in the past and we wanted to pull off one more memorable stunt before our time at the Academy expired. During the summer of 1974 malfunctioning fertilizer had left long brown streaks on the parade grounds. Thinking back on that episode triggered a eureka moment of inspiration for our last endeavor.

The first phase of the mission required the interrogation of a life science instructor. We made subtle inquiries into the fertilizers that would be the most effective at burning grass. Upon his recommendation we purchased a 50% nitrogen blend fertilizer and laid plans for a night operation. On the chosen night of the mission the week before our graduation, ten of us donned black watch caps, dark clothes and blackened faces. Under the cover of darkness we climbed up to the parade field from a lower lot carrying the fertilizer and pre-cut lengths of twine. We cleverly laid the twine out to form a “76” and poured the fertilizer within the lines. That night there was barely enough light in the sky to see what we were doing, but just enough that we were concerned about being spotted and ending up marching on the tour pad instead of on the parade field for graduation. Multiple times we hit the deck as headlights from passing vehicles flashed over us. With great stealth we finished the project as quickly as possible and headed back to our cars. The results of our covert effort were not immediately visible, but by the time we marched in the commencement parade a substantial 76 was burned into the grass in front of the viewing stand. We had left our mark upon graduating–and it remained for a significant part of the summer.

Gone But Not Forgotten Robert G. Rager, ’60 Robert G. Rager, Class of 1960, died of a massive heart attack on March 7, 2012. He was born on March 4, 1939. In July of 1956, Bob came to the Academy from Arcadia, California. Over the next four years, we all came to know him as a friend in whom we could trust no matter what the circumstances. After graduation, Bob accompanied some of us to pilot training at Bartow Air Base, Florida; then Williams Air Base, Arizona. He finished high enough in Class 62B to garner one of a very few fighter assignments. Following a successful check-out in the F100, he was assigned to the 614th TFS at England AFB, Louisiana. He served as a squadron pilot until very early 1965 when he attended Squadron Officers’ School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Following 14 weeks at school, he returned to F-100s at Weathersfield RAF Station in Great Britain. Near the end of 1965, Bob resigned from the Air Force Bob Rager to pursue a career in civil aviation. In 1966 he joined Pan American World Airways as a DC-9 Flight Engineer, and over the next twenty years with Pan Am he eventually became a First Officer. Like many other Pan Am pilots, Bob joined United Airlines when UAL purchased Pan Am’s Asia-Pacific routes in 1986. With United, Bob was first a 727 Captain based in Denver, but later returned to international flight as an International Relief Pilot, flying the 747-400 out of Los Angeles until retirement. He also completed law school during his professional career, earning his J.D. from Hofstra University in 1976 while flying for both Pan Am and the Air National Guard. Throughout his civilian airline career, Bob remained dedicated to the military, serving with both the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard. His assignments with the reserve forces included tours as an Air Operations Officer at England AFB and the New York Air National Guard’s 152nd TACC Sq. at Roslyn ANGB, New York. Bob eventually retired from the military with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on June 15, 1988. When he joined United Airlines in 1986, Bob set up residence in Denver where he remained until this year when he succumbed to a sudden and massive heart attack on March 7 . He is survived by his son Rob Rager of Denver, Colorado, and daughters Jennifer Weinberg of Atlanta, Georgia, and Elizabeth Franklin of Charlotte, North Carolina. Bob will be remembered by every member of the Class of 1960. He was a brother to each of us who shared those first formative years learning the values of service and dedication to our nation. (Andi Biancur, classmate and friend)

Michael C. Francisco, ’67 Michael C. “Cisco” Francisco, Class of 1967, passed away peacefully in Florida at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 2011…

For more current information about graduate deaths, please visit the AOG web site. www.usafa.org. If you know of a graduate’s death, please notify the AOG as soon as possible. There have been cases in which the association was not informed in a timely manner.

Veterans’ Day… a perfect day for Cisco to Fly West. He was a Warrior, a Patriot and a Hero. He had suffered through extensive complications from a severe stroke suffered January 8, 2011. Born into an Army family and moving with his family to places like Japan, Iran and Nicaragua, he somehow managed to land at the Zoo. He was a cadet of many talents, frequenting the Dean’s and Commandant’s lists, playing with his musical group, the Third Edition, playing varsity lacrosse, and at graduation earning the Samuel Pierpont Langley Award as the Outstanding Cadet in Aeronautical Engineering. After graduation, a trip to Moody AFB got him his pilot wings, the topgrad Commander’s Trophy, and an assignment to the F-4, a rare feat for a second lieutenant. A tour at Eglin AFB sharpened his skills, and he was soon to arrive at DaNang AB, South Vietnam, in 1971, where he eventually became a “Stormy” Fast FAC with the 366 TFW. In 1972 he transferred to Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, to fly with the 555 TFS “Triple Nickel”. He did it all, earning an AF Cross, a Purple Heart, seven DFCs and numerous Air Medals, flying 294 and “½” combat missions, being shot down and April 28, 1972. Mike “Cisco” Francisco rescued He returned to Luke AFB in late 1972 as an F-4 IP, and was subsequently selected in the first group of F-15 pilots, rejoining the 555th TFTS in 1976 as an Eagle IP and Flight Commander. A trip to the F-15 FWS at Nellis AFB earned him a return to Eglin AFB in the 4484 FWS. In 1982, Lt. Col. “Cisco” joined the 32 TFS in the Netherlands, followed in 1985 by Air War College and a Puzzle Palace tour. Colonel “Cisco” then returned to Soesterberg AB in the Netherlands in 1988 as the Commander of the 32 TFGp and Installation Commander. A final flying assignment came as Vice Commander of the 66 ECW in EC-130s at Sembach AB, Germany. That opened up subsequent staff sorties into the dark voids of the intel world at AF Intel Command, AF Electronic Warfare Center, AF Space Warfare Center, and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). With newly gained insight into other potential ways of dissuading bad people, he retired in 1995, and channeled his civilian energies into finding ways to use the full spectrum of intelligence sensors and sources to improve real-time precision strike. He was inducted into the National Association of Legion of Valor and the Outstanding Young Men in America in 1981. In 2007, Cisco was presented with a final honor from the Academy’s Falcon Heritage Forum, honored as one of sixteen USAFA graduates who received the Air Force Cross. A permanent plaque and picture are now placed outside his CS-24 dorm room. After Mike retired, he and his lovely wife of 31 years, Pat, resided in Niceville, Fla., where he started his consulting firm, as owner of Francisco & Assoc, Consultants – Space & Modern Warfare. His last trip was to the 50th anniversary of the NRO at the National Air and Space Museum, Chantilly, Va., where he shared his last hurrah with coworkers and friends from John Hopkins Physics Lab. Cisco… You fought a great fight, serving with honor and dignity. You were a true competitor in everything you ever did, living life to the fullest, in full afterburner. You will be missed. For you, Brother, “here’s a nickel on the grass, save a fighter pilot’s ***.” (Mike O’Grady ’67)

Kenneth R. Marshall, ’67 Ken Marshall, born on July 8, 1945 in Brooklyn, New York, passed away from complications of a stroke on Jan. 7, 2011 in New York City. He is survived by his sister Suzan Dunkiel, nephew Brian Dunkiel and niece 103

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Cheryl Berkowitz. To his niece and nephew, he was like a second father. The famous quote from Shakespeare’s Henry V, “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers” applied to Ken more than most, as he was a true friend to many and as close as a brother, both in arms and in peace, to others. At USAFA, Ken was known for his keen intellect, debating skills as a Dean’s List student, and for leading 20th Squadron in physical fitness tests. Ken was also an accomplished thespian. Following graduation as a Distinguished Graduate, Ken was assigned to the Office of Special Investigations. He served in his hometown, New York City, as Special Agent, Detachment Commander and Branch Chief prior to resigning from active duty in 1971 and entering the OSI Reserves. In the Reserves, Ken rose to become commander of District 7, Patrick AFB, Florida, with responsibility for detachments that covered the Southeast CONUS, Central and South America. Among his numerous decorations, Ken was awarded the Legion of Merit. Upon leaving active duty, Ken gradKen Marshall uated from Fordham Law School in 1974 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1975. In his practice of law, Ken contributed to the community in many ways, such as representing indigent criminal defendants on a “Pro Bono Publico” basis. Ken was a principal author of “The Complete Legal Guide to Surviving in the U.S.A.,” a full-length law manual sold widely in the U.S. and Japan. Ken was highly respected for his integrity by judges, and by his peers he was the “go to guy.” Ken had been a youth group advisor, children’s summer camp counselor, and metropolitan religious organization leader. He charitably provided dozens of law lectures to senior citizens groups. Ken’s decades of service in the Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, as indigent criminal legal defense counsel, and as community leader are evidence of his placing duty before self. The words of the poet Robert Burns “Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?” remind us not to forget those who made a difference. Ken made a difference, and left the world better for his being here. He will often be remembered by those of us who knew him well, and will be sorely missed by many. (Edward Cunningham, ’67, with contributions from Ken Marshall’s family and USAFA ’67 classmates)

Gary E. Gumbert, ’70 After 64 years of life well lived, Gary E. Gumbert, USAFA class of ’70, slipped away peacefully on February 19, 2012. Gary was born July 25, 1947 into the Army Air Corp at Maxwell AAF (getting his very first military ID), Alabama and grew up at Connally AFB, in Waco, Texas. He would often brag about attending Connally schools in the same building for 11 years. As a young boy, he often went down to the flight line to see his Dad, a flight mechanic, after school. He not only got to watch the planes land and take off up close but he got to walk home with his Dad and talk about airplanes because he always wanted to fly. He went to pilot training after graduation from the AF Academy and got his dream, a fighter pilot slot. Gary was very fortunate in his flying career to fly a lot and in a number of different types of aircraft: F-111s (his baby), F-4, T-38, F-15 and F-16. For a two-year period, Gary Gumbert he was the only triple rated current fighter pilot in the Air Force. While flying was an important part of his life, he would always choose his next assignment based on keeping his family together. His two boys were the joy of his life. Abruptly, his flying came to an end after 19 years when he suffered a stroke in a centrifuge training accident that medically grounded him. 104

Upon retiring from the Air Force, Gary became the CFO for the nation’s largest privately owned crop insurance company. He later became the CIO for Texas Health and Human Services Commission, another dream job. For seven years, he was responsible for the technology to support a $40 billion operation, 55,000 employees and over 3 million Medicaid and food stamp clients. He retired in 2010 shortly after receiving the InnoTech CIO of the Year award. He lived his life by the USAFA creed…“Integrity first; Service before Self; and Excellence in everything you do.” When he talked of his days at the Academy, it was always with a huge smile and a gleam in his eye and laughter remembering that special group of guys in Squadron 7. Gary leaves behind his wife, Jacqueline; his mother, Lois; two brothers, George, Director of ER at St. David’s, and James, USA Olympic Coach; two sons, Cary and Sam; Ron, Julie, and Cathy who he called “his children” by marriage; eight grandchildren and the men of the USAFA class of ’70, 7th Squadron. His wife, Jacqueline, thanks all his class members at the Academy who reached out to express their condolences and memories of Gary. (The Gumbert family)

John W. Watkins, ’71 Capt. John William Watkins passed away peacefully on June 24, 2008 at Odyssey House Hospice in San Antonio, Texas. John succumbed to injuries suffered in an automobile accident on May 26, 2008. John left this world with his children and sister-in-law by his side. John was born to Glenn and Imogene Watkins on Oct. 19, 1948. John’s father was stationed at Hamilton Air Force Base in San Rafael, California. John grew up in Oklahoma and his family traveled to various bases around the states. John spent his high school years at Eielson AFB where his father was stationed. He was recommended to the Air Force Academy by Senator Ted Stevens in 1966. He attended Prep School and then graduated from the Academy in 1971. John was a proud member of the Academy wrestling team. He went on to receive his M.S. in Systems Management from the University of Southern California in 1982. John was also a proud member of the Air Force Pistol Team and won numerous awards and medals for his excellent marksmanship. During his career, John was staJohn Watkins tioned at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, Texas where he met his wife, Yolanda. They married and soon after were stationed at Travis AFB, California. He worked at the aircraft maintenance unit while stationed at Travis. He was also a part of the softball team on base where he played pitcher. John formed many friendships while stationed at Travis AFB and traveled to various bases throughout his military career. The family then moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota until his retirement. John was a loving father and grandfather. After retiring from the USAF, he would spend the remainder of his life in San Antonio, Texas. Apart from his service to his country, John loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, sports and bridge. He created many life-lasting relationships while he was a member of the Alamo Bridge League. John liked to hunt big game with his father and brothers (Jerry and Tom) in Alaska, always attending the opening of moose season along the Denali Highway in Alaska. Some of his fondest memories were the times he shared with his parents while traveling in their motor home, and spending summer days on the Kenai River fishing for salmon. John lived his life with a quiet grace and his family was always his number one priority. He and Yolanda divorced yet remained close for their three children. John never missed out when it came to his children. He was always there for them, whether it was a car ride to school, helping out at basketball practice, moving the chains during a football game or being at a graduation. In addition to being a wonderful person and father, John was a great cook. One of John’s favorite activities aside from being surrounded by family and the outdoors was cooking. He enjoyed grilling with his fam-

ily and made a trademark habanera pepper salsa that could flush the face of any brave soul. John also possessed a deep fondness and love for his pets. He was an avid dog person. John’s wit, charm, tranquility and laugh are all greatly missed by his family. But what is most missed is his love. John’s love knew no boundaries and like the mountains he used to stare upon; it was grand and endless. John is survived by his mother, Imogene Watkins; children Monica (Williams), Jonathan and Matthew; grandchildren Hanna, Esau and Elijah; brothers Jerry, and Tom, along with numerous nieces and nephews. (On Behalf of the Watkins family)

Keith C. Steinbaugh, ’76 Keith Charles (K.C.) Steinbaugh, Spirit of ’76, died on Feb. 22, 2012, in Allen, Texas. Just months earlier, he began to deteriorate from good health to exhibiting worrisome symptoms. He was eventually diagnosed with the very rare (as in one-in-a-million rare) and fatal neurological disease known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD). K.C. was an accomplished high school athlete and scholar from Pasadena, California. He ran track during his first two years at the Academy. He was in CS-23 as a doolie, then CS-39 Campus Radicals during his upperclass years. He was the only guy I roomed with more than once at the Academy, so I’ve always considered him “my roommate.” He was passionate about cars, stereos, and just about everything related to electronics. He talked endlessly during our second class year about the turbocharged Cosworth Vega, but then he bought an old, powder blue, renovationworthy Mercedes 280SL. He had a pair of Bose 701 directing reflecting speakers which, of course, were (usually) completely wasted in a cadet dorm room. K.C. kept a stack of automotive and electronics magazines in the room. He K.C. Steinbaugh was usually researching something. As an electrical engineering major, he wanted to understand how things worked. He was a good athlete. I remember many late afternoon treks from the gym back to the far reaches of 39th squadron after playing tennis with him. I think he was the first person I knew who converted from a wood racket to the Wilson T-2000 aluminum model. After graduation he attended Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather AFB, California. He was assigned to C-130s with the 62nd Tactical Airlift Squadron at Little Rock AFB in 1977. He and his crew won the award for “Best C-130 Airdrop Crew in MAC” at the prestigious air mobility exercise known as Volant Rodeo in 1981. K.C. completed his Air Force service in 1982. He and his wife, Liz, a kindergarten teacher from nearby Benton, Arkansas, moved to Plano, Texas. They had three sons — Jordan, Jason, and Jeff. K.C. worked as a quality/reliability engineer and program manager at several companies in the Dallas area including Texas Instruments, Amtech, and Raytheon. Jordan, his oldest son, spoke simply and eloquently during the memorial service. I was movingly reassured that the traits Jordan referred to in remembering his father were unmistakably the same traits I recalled about my roommate — quiet but selectively passionate with a laser-like and fully absorbing focus, studious, thorough, competent, committed, and genuinely kind. Fortunately for me, however, his interest in reptiles did not manifest itself until sometime after graduation. It’s fitting that, given his commitment to research and his engineering sense for wanting to understand how things work, he donated his body to medicine so that more could be learned about the rare disease that claimed his life so prematurely. K.C. Steinbaugh is survived by his wife, Liz; sons Jordan, Jason, and Jeff; and siblings Sherrie, Christine, Patti, and Ken. (Steve Stockdale, roommate, Class of ’76)

Veronica J. Hutfles, ’96 Air Force Lt. Col. Veronica J. “Vern” Hutfles, Class of 1996, age 37, of Bellevue, Nebraska, died Saturday, April 7, 2012 at her home, following a courageous seven-year battle with melanoma. On April 14th, she was

buried at St Bede’s Cemetery in Kelly, Kansas, and honored with a B-52H flyover from 93rd Bomb Squadron Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. Veronica was born in Morris, Illinois on Oct. 22, 1974, the daughter of John H. and Theresa Grotovsky Hutfles. She grew up in Seneca, Illinois and attended Seneca Grade School and High School, graduating in 1992. After high school she entered the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, playing on the women’s varsity basketball team. In 1996 Veronica received her Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Engineering Sciences from the Air Force Academy and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Vern was selected for pilot training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma, earning her wings in December 1997. She received F-16 fighter plane training at Luke AFB in Arizona, attaining solo rating and initial qualification before transitioning to her permanent aircraft, the B-52, with training at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. She was then stationed at Minot AFB, North Dakota. In 2006, she completed a Master’s Degree in Business Administration specializing in Aviation Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. In that same year she became a Special Actions Officer for the Air Combat Command at Joint Base LangleyEustis in Virginia. Veronica served as a combat B-52 bomber pilot on operational missions over Afghanistan with over 250 combat hours, before moving on to serve as Air Liaison Officer supporting the U.S. Army’s National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. She served on the Air Combat Command Commander’s Advisory Group before completing a fellowship at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in California. Her final assignment was on Strategic Command’s Headquarters Veronica Hutfles Staff at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. Veronica was promoted to her final rank of Lieutenant Colonel on June 1, 2011, and served with honor on active duty, unhampered by her illness to the very end. Veronica’s exemplary service, personally and professionally, was chosen for depiction in Sascha Pflaeging’s book, “When Janey Comes Marching Home: Portraits of Women Combat Veterans.” The book quotes Veronica’s story about a B-52 bombing run originating from the island of Diego Garcia in the Pacific, targeting a mountain pass in Afghanistan, with the mission of preventing hostile insurgents from crossing over the pass and doing battle with friendly forces. Over her career she was decorated with the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (1 Oak Leaf Cluster) and Air Force Training Ribbon. Throughout her time in the Air Force, Vern continued her love of sports, participating in numerous intramural leagues for softball, hockey, and her favorite, basketball, as well as coaching several youth and Special Olympics basketball teams. She was a loving aunt for seven nieces and nephews, and godmother for two goddaughters, Veronica Rose Hutfles and Izabel Cabral. (Her Loving Family)

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Timothy M. Hughes, ’04 Timothy Michael Hughes, age 30, of Burbank, Calif., passed away on Feb. 21, 2012. Tim is the wonderful and beloved son of Patrick and Mary Hughes, born on July 16, 1981. Tim shared his life with his loving sister Sharon (Mike) Samulski, loving brother Patrick (Terry) Hughes, and loving sister Elizabeth Hughes. He was the very proud uncle of Joey, Tommy and Lilly Samulski, and Hope and Jack Hughes. He is also survived by many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends. Tim graduated from Kimball High School in Royal Oak, Mich. in the year 2000. He received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy and graduated from the Academy in 2004. He served as a Lieutenant in the Air Force until receiving an honorable discharge in 2007. Since that time he has resided and worked in Burbank, Calif. His smile, kindness and strength will be missed by his family and his many friends who are scattered throughout the world. Tim Hughes Tim’s Memorial visitation was at William Sullivan and Son’s Funeral Home in Royal Oak, Mich. where hundreds of friends and family came to share stories, laughs and tears. Tim’s brother Pat spoke of his positive family impact, selfless and caring approach to life, athletic successes, both in high school and at the Academy, his recent trip to Paris, as well as his many other accomplishments in his all-too-brief 30 years. Many of Tim’s friends from high school and the Air Force Academy were in attendance, as well. Two of his closest Academy friends – Al Parkalob and Jon Searles – gave a beautiful memorial presentation about their days of friendship and camaraderie, while high school friend Mark Teggart took to the podium to remember his good friend on behalf of those who grew up with Tim in Royal Oak. A beautiful Funeral Mass was said by long-time family friend, Fr. Edward Prus on March 3rd at The National Shrine of the Little Flower, also in Tim’s hometown of Royal Oak. Interment was at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield, Mich. Tim now looks over us from heaven, with his big smile and caring ways, now and forever in God’s hands. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Wounded Warrior Project. Please share your memories at www.sullivanfuneraldirectors.com. (His Loving Family)

Justin J. Wilkens, ’09 First Lieutenant Justin James Wilkens, aged 26, passed away on Feb. 18, 2012, when his U-28 aircraft went down in Djibouti, Africa, where he was serving his third deployment with the US Air Force 34th Special Operations Squadron. Justin was born, the second of four children, to Jim and Sharon Wilkens in Bend, Oregon, on Feb. 7, 1986. His passion for flying was evident from an early age. He obtained his glider license at age 14 and his pilot license at age 16. Justin never passed up an opportunity to fly whether soaring or powered. He spent his summers teaching gliding and building Sparrowhawk gliders. He was very involved with the Civil Air Patrol and was the highest-ranking cadet in Oregon. He entered the Air Force Academy in 2005 and graduated, receiving his commission, in 2009. He completed his Combat Systems Officer Training in Randolph, Texas, in 2010, graduating with “Excellence” in the top third of his class. He received his U-28A Combat Systems Officer Training at Hurlburt Field, Florida, finishing in 2011 with the Spirit 03 Superior Performer Award, the receipt of which qualified him to compete for Distinguished Graduate of 2011 – U-28 Combat Systems Officer, which he was awarded on Jan. 12, 2012. Justin joined the Air Force because he loved his country, he loved to fly, and he wanted to live with courage to fight for the good and defend those needing protection. He had soberly considered the possibility of giving his life for these principles and felt it was a price he was willing to pay if necessary. His conviction was evident in the excellence with 106

which he did his work. Justin was deeply connected with the people with whom he flew and believed fervently in their mission. Justin was an “outside the box” thinker and personality and never fit the “typical” paths of life, but in this work he felt himself “whole.” He was doing what he did best and using what God had given him to serve his country. To his family, Justin will be remembered for his infectious laugh, his eyes brimming with fun, his warm heart and his hard, tight bear hugs. He was excited to be alive and he lived with joy in the present moment. He had a never-ceasing curiosity and endless creativity. He made any situation fun and leaves behind him many memories of rendering his family and friends helpless with laughter at his stories. He loved the outdoors – fly fishing, backpacking, running Justin Wilkens and snowboarding. He loved warm weather and laid-back days in the sun, flip-flops, hammocks, Key West, and grilling on the barbeque. He was affectionate and loving to his family and friends, sacrificially generous and loyal. Justin valued honor and integrity and strength of character. He wanted to be a man that was true, upright and courageous. He wanted to live fully, with joy and laughter, but also with a sense of calling and seriousness of purpose. Justin died for his country and he died as the man he aspired to be. Justin is survived by his parents, Jim and Sharon Wilkens; his older sister Brittany and her husband, Nathan Betts; his younger sister Cameron, and younger brother Jason, as well as his grandparents Bob and Donna Wilkens and Walt and Jane Miller, and his unborn niece or nephew, expected in June. Justin is predeceased by his close friend Josh Keeley and his much loved black Labrador “Buddy”, both in 2006. Justin deeply loved God, his family, his friends and his country. Our lives were richly blessed by his joy, love, and laughter. (Justin’s Loving Family) (Editor’s note: The AOG does not always have all the information concerning the death of a graduate. We only publish the information we have available on each deceased graduate.) At press time we learned of the deaths of the following graduates: Mr. Charles J. Ferrari, Class of 1959, who died on April 9, 2012 in Englewood, Colo. Maj. (Ret) John E. Lee, Class of 1959, who died on March 26, 2012 in Nolensville, Tenn. Mr. Ronald W. Duval, Class of 1962, who died on Dec. 23, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nev. Mr. William H. Simpson, Class of 1963, who died on May 10, 2012 in York, Pa. Mr. John M. Quigley, Class of 1964, who died on May 12, 2012 in Berkeley, Calif. Lt. Col. (Ret) Joe E. Trujillo, Class of 1964, who died on May 4, 2012 in Loveland, Colo. Lt. Col. (Ret) Roy M. White, Class of 1969, who died on April 5, 2012 in Reston, Va. Capt. (Ret) John W. Watkins, Class of 1971, who died on June 24, 2008 in San Antonio, Texas. Lt. Col. (Ret) Douglas R. Dick, Class of 1973, who died on May 7, 2012 in Mission Viejo, Calif. Mr. Charles D. Jones, Class of 1979, who died on April 21, 2012 in Bartonville, Texas. Mr. Jeffrey S. Larsh, Class of 1979, who died on May 18, 2012 in Indianapolis, Ind. Lt. Col. (Ret) Michael S. Joyal, Class of 1987, who died on April 22, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colo. C3C Peter T. Quick, Class of 2014, who died on April 5, 2012 in Grand Junction, Colo. Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of these graduates.

Class News Pete Todd 1250 Big Valley Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80919-1015 H: (719) 531-5874 E-mail: petetodd59@comcast.net

Ed Montgomery and I were there to honor Bob. It should be noted that Ed and Lucia are the most loyal ’59er basketball fans and have been so throughout some very tumultuous times for the program.”

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Members

The newspapers have been full of reports about the mild winter across most of the country, but I have to tell you there have been some deeply chilling storms within the Class of 1959: we’ve lost four classmates in four months, a trend I hope we can halt NOW. My old roomie, RL Penn, is fond of reminding me that, during his Scribe stint (when we were all in our 30s and 40s), there was not a single ’59er death. My “record” (when we are all in our 50s, 60s and 70s), suffers by comparison. Mea maxima culpa. The only positive thing I can say about this grim situation is that the funerals serve as a means to bring classmates together. For example, nearly a score of ’59ers came from near and far to help lay Jimmie Jay to rest.

In the front row from left are Max Miller, Larry Fortner, Brad Hosmer, Bob Oaks, Ron Lanman, Pete Todd, Don Brooks, Dick Gaebler, Joe DeSantis, and Curt Cook. Back Row: Joe Morgan, Ed Montgomery, Gene Vosika, Bob Browning, Wiley Burch, Art Elser, Fred Wynn, and Dick Trail. All of us mourned the loss of the man and his golden voice, but President-for-Life Joe DeSantis preserved a piece of the past for us. Searching his footlocker after he learned of Jimmie’s death, Joe found several tapes that had been recorded in the late 1950s. Astonishingly, the quality of the tapes was good enough that Joe was able to get them transferred to a CD. One song was “Scarlet Ribbons,” that Jimmie sang, accompanying himself on the guitar while Joe, his roommate, captured the sound on his recorder. In Sabre Society 1958! Two other numbers were recordings of the Cadet Donors Choir featuring solos by Jimmie. We marveled at the purity of Jimmie’s tenor magic, reaching us across the decades at the post-funeral reception, and we awarded Joe the “Pack Rat of the Century” Award for storing and finding the tapes. Regrettably, no recording of Jimmie’s ever-memorable Air Force Song exists, so the assembled ’59ers delivered a slightly off-key rendition in his honor. The recognition of a somewhat more formal sort was reported by Max . “On 11 Feb, at half time of a USAFA basketball game, Bob Beckel was honored for being our first All-American in the sport and his subsequent accomplishments. Cliff Parsons from 1969 was also honored. I think there is a plan to hang their jerseys in the arena. “Bob was his usual friendly and humble self and a delight to be around. The ceremony was a real honor to Bob representing the Class of 1959, and the Academy’s creation. In attendance were Bob Blake, George Klutinoty and Ted Zeller who were there for the annual basketball reunion, and

George Klutinoty, Ted Zeller and Bob Blake in the foreground while Bob Beckel is introduced behind. Bob Lowe writes of a gathering of classmates and family in Houston. “The photo is a group of ’59ers sharing some Tex-Mex in Houston on the occasion of Joe DeSantis’s periodic visit to M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for check-ups. I believe you already know the good news that came out of that visit: Joe’s tumors continue to shrink and he is doing very well. “Joe comes to Houston for these check-ups about every three to six months and a group of us get together for dinner when he comes. Usually Dave Groark comes down from Dallas and joins us along with his daughter, Michelle, who is a physician here in Houston. Unfortunately, Dave was in Florida and Michelle was called away on a medical matter. However, Casey Kay came down from Dallas and Jim Brown came over from San Antonio. His son Tom lives here in Houston and joined us also.”

Clockwise beginning in lower left: Casey Kay, Joe DeSantis, Tom Brown, Hannah and Jim Brown, Jo DeSantis, Jo Ann Lowe, and Bob Lowe. The smiles testify to Joe’s continued good health. In local news, a couple of other recent gatherings merit mention. On 11 April, the Rampart Chapter of the AOG issued an invitation to any and all local members of Class of 1959 to be their guests at the bi-monthly chapter luncheon to speak about the early Lowry days. The chapter had carelessly failed to account for the propensity of ’59ers to flock to any free meal, but still graciously welcomed all six of us who showed up: Don Brooks, Wiley Burch, Dick Gaebler, Max Miller, Ed Montgomery and me. We were genuinely pleased and somewhat surprised at the level of curiosity and interest in “the early days” and the discussion was lively. Later that week, on Friday, the 13th, Founders Day was celebrated at the USAFA Falcon Club (formerly the Officers’ Club). Seven ’59ers attended, including Wiley Burch, Mike Carns, Max Miller, Ed Montgomery, Dave Phillips, Brock Strom and Pete . Max served as the ceremonial oldest grad present and shared cake cutting duties with the youngest cadet. Jim and Hannah Brown recently returned from a long trip through many of the scenic highlights of central and Eastern Europe. Jim produced a fascinating travelogue to which it would be impossible to do justice in a single column. Accordingly, herewith begin serialized excerpts of their version of “Amazing Race.” “Our departure from San Antonio was relatively uneventful. When we walked down the ramp to board the flight to Chicago, they stopped us at the door because our carry-on luggage was too big to fit in the overheads in the small regional Canadian jet. So they tagged them and stowed them underneath. But all went well, as they were waiting for us at the bottom of

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Class News the stairs in Chicago (no terminal boarding ramp). Then began the ‘Flight from Hell.’ “We were parked out in the ‘boonies’ and had to walk about five hundred yards to a maintenance door with our carry-ons and up a rather long set of stairs. (At least I did; Hannah was exhausted by then.) At the top, confusion reigned. We had been told our flight to Frankfurt would leave from one terminal/gate combination. In the terminal, they directed us to a different combination. However when we checked the Departure Board, we were scheduled to depart from yet another different combination. After finally confirming the correct departure gate, it turned out to be about a mile hike to the terminal and then another half mile all the way to the last gate. Shortly after we caught our breath, they towed a B-777 up to the gate. It was still two hours until boarding was to begin for a 1445 take off and we thought our troubles were over. No such luck!” (To be continued.) Thought for the Quarter: Don’t worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you. (Winston Churchill)

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A.J. (Rosie) Cler, Jr. Members 5423 Myrtle Wood Sarasota, FL 34235-4624 Phone: (941) 371-4843 E-mail: RCtherose@aol.com Class Web Site: www.usafa.net/1960

“2011 was fairly uneventful, with two exceptions,” wrote Sid Newcomb. “First, Marvann’s 70th birthday party, a catered affair at daughter Holly’s home, complete with operatic aria and Happy Birthday sung in Italian by a soprano from Austin’s Lyric Opera.” Then, it was their 50th (surprise) wedding anniversary party. Sid and Marvann have 11 grand children in Central Texas, five in California with their son and wife, Linda. Last year, Sid went to Guatemala with a team from their church, was saddened by the poverty and living conditions; as well, they witnessed the same here, helping with clean-up efforts on several of 1,600 homes destroyed by Texas wildfires.

“We flew into Istanbul, then Izmir, bus to Kusadasi. We toured the Virgin Mary’s House (pilgrimage), Ephesus, Pergamon (Bergama), Rug CoOp, Troy, and Gallipoli, passing by the Dardanelles and Sea of Marmara,” wrote Bill Carnegie. “In the photo, that’s Anne and me at the back of Topkapi Museum overlooking the Bosporus, where we boated after seeing the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.” Karen and I welcomed Jim and Mary Waddle to Sarasota with lunch at the tony Treviso Restaurant at Ringling Gardens, then escorted them thru the Ringling ComplexSabre Society -Museum of Art, the grounds, Ca’ d’Zan mansion of John Donors and Mable Ringling. Duck and Mary visited Southwest Florida March 21-27 to see grandson Fred (their son Larry’s son; wife, Lori), who plays on the newly-formed intercollegiate lacrosse team for Lenoir-Rhyne University at Hickory, NC, that competes against Tampa and St. Leo Universities. The Waddles stayed with in-laws Fred and De Olsen in nearby Lakewood Ranch, FL. Fred’s a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Army, retired Colonel and helicopter pilot in Vietnam who was awarded the Silver Star. We also lunched with Ed and Nancy Haerter at Turtle’s Restaurant on South Siesta Key waterside on Little Sarasota Bay back in January—Ed and Nancy live near the Wisconsin-Illinois border, and have spent one to two weeks in Sarasota each year.

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George JC Fries, nice guy and Colonel (Retired) USAF, was presented the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) leadership award at a Virginia Peninsula chapter luncheon. This award recognized Fries’ four years as ROTC/JROTC Chair, and programs and initiatives which George undertook to enhance MOAA support of ROTC battalions at three universities and eleven High School units. “The Colorado Springs ‘Lunch Bunch’ conducted our Founder’s Day luncheon 21 March (closest date to 1 April we could manage),” wrote Andi Biancur. “Wayne Kendall did his usual job of ‘MC-ing.’ We began by reading a list of deceased classmates, following that with a toast to those who left within the last 12 months—Bob Rager, Bill Goodyear, Derry Adamson (starting an annual tradition every Founder’s Day). Our open topic was a reminiscence of the first few days at the Academy’s permanent site in 1958, and that was followed by Pete Roe’s presentation of the early history of Space Command. His talk was interesting, enlightening, and raised questions about what it was like as a Space Operations Officer in the early years. In all, there were ten hardy souls that ventured into the bright sunshine of Colorado Springs for this meeting. (In the top photo in the back row are Tony Bilello, Pete Roe, Dick Schehr, Wayne Kendall, Fred Porter, and Bill Hodson. Front: Bruce Mosier, Jock Schwank, Andi Biancur, and Jim Glaza). Next get-together will be 18 April when Dick Schehr will explain how to set up a non-profit.” Regarding that next meeting April 18th, Denis Walsh wrote: “Our meeting in Colorado Springs opened with Wayne Kendall reading a letter naming Andi Biancur Class Distinguished Graduate. Tony Bilello gave the war story, a dissertation on air. Glaza rendered another RF-4 story, wherein he kicked the throttles (on purpose) on a combat mission with the Wing Commander. Bujalski did not give his pitch on ionizing the air; however, Yates rendered another voluntary war story about testing for ozone emissions on jet engines.”

MiniSki XXII started on President’s Weekend, Saturday 18 Feb through Friday 24 Feb, 2012. Although the Utah snow was on the light side, the group experienced new snow on six of the seven days, which produced conditions making skiing fun for the entire week. “We visited six different local areas, and were able to minimize the impact usually felt in Utah on President’s Weekend. Deer Valley, Park City Resort, and The Canyons on the east-facing slopes provided a fine complement to the usual good conditions experienced at Brighton, Alta, and Solitude,” wrote Andi Biancur. “Unlike past years, I believe that everyone escaped with little or no wear for their effort. Since the Chief Instructor, Greg Boyington, was not in attendance, a few had to forego the opportunity to improve their skills under his always magnificent tutelage. “The crowd consisted of: Greg Boyington’s son-in-law Jeff Lippa, grandson Reef; Andi and Carole Biancur; Howie Bronson; Jerry de la Cruz and daughter Ann Marie and granddaughter Anna Sophia; Jim Glaza; Al Johnson; Ralph Lalime and son Jay w/neighbor LCDR Mike Jarosz (USN); Earl and Pat VanInwegen and daughter Kristen and friend Julie; Gene and Jane Vosika (‘59) and daughter Cheryl; son-in-law Brian, and grandson Cody. The Marginally Magnificent Performance Award for 2012 went to Gene and Jane Vosika (first joint award in the 22-year history of MiniSki). We have set MiniSki XXIII for 16-23 February 2013. (In the bottom photo are Vosika, Glaza, Bronson, Johnson, LCDR Mike Jarosz (USN), Van Inwegen, Jay and Ralph Lalime) “Our Founder’s Day Luncheon April 1st was great,” wrote Tony Burshnick, “and made even greater because the wives were there. Thirteen guys and twelve lovely ladies, including Chris Warack’s wife, Pat, who enjoyed the super lunch and great camaraderie. Jerry de la Cruz used his special camera to record our toast to those classmates who have gone before us, as we sang the third verse of the Air Force Song ( ‘Here’s a toast to the host…’). To Ralph Lalime--I hope you appreciated the magnificent voices!”

From left in the front row: Maryn Goodson, Liz Haller, Pat Warack, Tony Burshnick, and Karen Burshnick. Second row seated: Liliane Badger, Becke Fries, Lutzi Fischer, Cathe Hockenberry, Betty de la Cruz, and Gale Johnson. Third row kneeling: Marty Hiatt (Querry) and Mary Ellen Burke. Fourth row standing: Al Johnson, Norm Haller, Leon Goodson, Bill Hockenberry, Ken Alnwick, George Fries, Bob Badger, Jerry de la Cruz, Bill Carnegie, Bob Fischer, Tom Burke, and Les Querry. “The Association of Graduates has learned of the death of Lt Col (Ret) Robert G. Rager, CS-01 Class of 1960, who passed away 7 Mar 2012 in Denver, CO. A funeral service will be held [was] 16 Mar 2012 at 1100 hrs at the USAFA Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to his family in care of his son, Robert C. Rager: Mr. Robert C. Rager; 10000 Alameda Ave, Apt 620; Denver, CO 80247-1385.” “It was a beautiful day for the funeral,” said DL Walsh, of the ceremony for Bob Rager on March 16th. Attending were Jim Waddle, Andi Biancur, Jock Schwank, Jenny and Jim Glaza, George Pupich, and D.L. Walsh. “Bob had a classic career -- F-100s in England and then UAL in Denver,” wrote Gordy Flygare. (R: There are now 51 deceased classmates, with 176 living classmates).

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Earl N. “Nelson” O’Rear Members 50582 Stonington Drive Granger, IN 46530-8243 H: (574) 273-2597 E-mail: enoandtjo@gmail.com Class Web Site: www.usafa1961.org

Gene Hopp’s wife, Annette Langille, passed away on February 27th. Tom Eller, Haven and Roberta Hill, Jerry Mason, PB O’Connor, and Jim Wilhelm attended Annette’s Memorial Mass and luncheon on March 22nd. Annette had asked to be inurned later at USAFA, as a result of the tremendous bond she noticed among our classmates at a couple of reunions. Gene said that he thanks our class from the bottom of his heart for their generous moral support, as well as the kind scholarship gift to his high school. On April 13th, the AOG honored BGen Ruben A. “Randy” Cubero and Dick McConn (’66) as Distinguished Graduates of the United States Air Force Academy during its Founders’ Day Dinner. Mark Anderson, Dick “Doc” and Marty Arnold, Tom and Anne Eller, the three Hinkles, Brice Jones, Jack and Diane McDonough, John Moore, Charlie and Lynda Neel, Mike and Ruth Quinlan, and Wayne Whalen, as well as Jan Cubero, plus many Cubero relatives, and Carleen Storm attended. It was an outstanding evening, a fitting tribute to the two honorees. After Terry Storm draped Randy with the huge medallion, all attendees were regaled with a serious

Randy on video, followed by stories of the many “groups” to which Randy belongs: some savory, some unmentionable. The next day Doc and Marty attended the Cadet Parade, always a stirring spectacle, where Randy and Dick McConn were the reviewing officers. Our warmest congratulations to Randy and Jan. And thanks to Mark Anderson for nominating Randy for this well-deserved recognition. In response to a lot of queries about Mia, Bob and Jan Brickey provide this update. MiaBella is doing extremely well. The week of April 9th her heart biopsy showed no rejection and no infection. What a blessing! Since she is now off steroids, her face no longer looks puffy. Mia attends school fulltime (though she must continue to wear a surgical mask), and is doing very well: all As and one B, and loving her debate class. She is taking bass guitar lessons and Soo Bahk Do (martial art, in which she earlier earned her black belt); she is enjoying life, friends and family, and they are all so grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support. Pat and Marilyn Buckley departed our 50th Reunion for Shoreham-by-Sea, UK, awaiting Marilyn’s 3rd grandSabre Society child, born November 18th. Many other visits followed: Donors their Spanish home; Florida home for the holidays; Tampa for lunch with Ken Macaulay; US Virgin Islands for a week sail-cruise; a USMA Class of ’61 reunion in Orlando, FL, with Burke Mucho and Doug Cairns’ cousin; Brice Jones’ ski chalet in Telluride, CO, joined by Sally Bushing, Charley and Lynda Neel, Neal and Gwen Westbrook, and Sam Barazzone; and a taster tour of the Southwest US. They overnighted in Albuquerque’s Old Town on March 30th and met Hanson Scott and Bob Boedeker for dinner and several hours of enjoyable discussion. Their tour ended in Denver/Aurora, CO, overnighting with Jim and Peggy Hinkle and daughter Christina. Returning to Satellite Beach, they slept late on April 4th and prepared to entertain guests. In mid-April, Judy and Jim Cassidy enjoyed a very pleasant lunch with the Hardages, while Sam and Vivian were in Philadelphia for two days. Jim said that both looked good, and it was great to see them. Not too much BS, just a lot of catching up. Jerry Gill said that Dot has recovered from her surgery and is undergoing chemotherapy once weekly. The support from ’61ers has been astounding! Everything is going well in Eastern Oregon for Bob and Judy Heriza. Anthonylakes.com has reinstituted its 70-and-over ski-for-free policy. Check it out. Perhaps a place for a mini-reunion in the future? Jerry Mason said that when he, Tom, Paul, and Jim drove from Tucson to the Phoenix area for Annette’s memorial service, both Tom and Jim brought their portable units along because Jerry’s old van doesn’t have GPS. With four rated navigators and two GPS units aboard, every turn called for a committee meeting. Still, they made it. In February, Jerry and Jo hosted their annual Super Bowl party. George Buchner and guest Sue, Tom and Anne Eller, Ron and Jeri Fullerton, Jerry and Sue Lefton, Dave and Kathy (Mize) Beck, Paul and Marilyn O’Connor, and Jim and Nancy Wilhelm attended. Hector Negroni submitted his after-action report for the March 13th DC-area luncheon at the fashionable Springfield Country Club in Springfield, VA. Charley Dixon, Bill Foster, Lowell Jones, Joan and John Kohout, Diane and Jack McDonough, Bill Stackhouse, and Twy Williams also attended. Bill and Twy are forming a planning committee for an outing in their “neck of the woods”. Our four Alabama classmates, Doug Cairns, Steve Ho, Reb Jones, and Jimmy Poole continue to enjoy their bi-monthly golf outing at various locations from Montgomery to Birmingham. When you are passing through, call ahead and join in playing at one of the beautiful Robert Trent Jones courses. Jimmy was on a mission trip to Cuba with his church in late April – lots of automobiles that we all covet and wonderful people. One day soon they will be back in the orbit of the US. Charlie Stebbins returned to the University of Charleston to merge its undergraduate and graduate business programs and to start some new ones. Although that stint will end this summer, he will stay on as a member of the University’s Board of Trustees. A few days before Sarah’s appendix ruptured in September, she had put lots of fake tattoos all over her arms and chest as her costume for a “Biker-Babe” Bunko party. They were tough to remove, but she worked through the pain and removed them, narrowly avoiding having to explain her appearance to a disapproving hospital staff when she had surgery to remove her appendix.

JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY! YOUR MONEY HELPS FUND CADET WING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED. CALL (719) 472-0300 X200. Randy and Jan Cubero

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Class News All of John “Smoky” Stover’s children joined him for the 50th Reunion, which was a time of joy and a time of sorrow. They were all together for Sunday, November 6th, the first anniversary of their Susie’s death. That was good, but also a time of sorrow. They were together, and that made everything as good as it could have possibly been. In March, Smoky traveled to one of the Bahamas’ outer islands to fly fish for bonefish. He thinks they are really sneaky devils, the ghosts of the flats. Although it rained on him big time and he had to fight some strong winds, he did catch a few. Tom and Judy Wilson admit to a possible mistake this year by traveling to Florida over the month of March since the weather in Minnesota was almost as nice as it was in Bonita Springs and Sarasota! Their local Chapter of the AOG hosted its first Founders Day Dinner, which went very well, while Tom and Judy were gone. They are looking forward to attending their 63-B Pilot Training Class reunion in Destin, FL, in late September. Nelson and Teri O’Rear enjoyed dinner with Tom and Liz Hill near the end of April for their local gathering of classmates. Tom is still helping coach his local high school’s baseball team, which is having a very successful season: #1 in their Indiana division, and 9-1 on April 20th. For those not aware, in January Gayle Zompa let us know that she had lost her miniature 1961 class ring during our 50th Class Reunion in November, probably near Ed’s grave. The AOG had tried to help, but to no avail with their available resources. Other classmates offered suggestions, and Charlie Neel, volunteered to lead the quest in Colorado, coordinating with the AOG, Academy Staff, and a Colorado Springs group that uses metal detectors to help find lost objects. Members of the Pikes Peak Adventurers League rallied with four men and three metal detectors, organized by Bob DeWitt. Richard Walker of Woodland Park once again proved his skills by finding the ring, undamaged. Emma Ross, our perfect 50th Reunion Coordinator, then sent the ring via expedited mail to Gayle that same afternoon. Gayle’s response was: “My heartfelt thanks for all your efforts to find my missing mini-treasure. You will never know how much this ring means to me – and to my daughter who had claimed it as her inheritance. I am overwhelmed, as I thought it would never return. I have truly been blessed to have been a part of the military family for so many years, and to have it continue today is even more incredible. Many thanks to all of you.” Our grateful thanks go to the Pikes Peak Adventurers League for their willing support of our community, and to the commanders and base support staffs (Col Tom Gibson, 10th Air Base Wing Commander, Col Mickey Addison, 10th Mission Support Group Commander and Janet Edwards, USAFA Mortuary Affairs Officer) for supporting this effort from the beginning. The USAFA Class of 1961 is very appreciative.

Seated from left are Cheeseman, Landers, Hallager, and D’Entremont. Standing: Herter, Smith, Wood, Staib, Roe, Williams, and Singleton. “Also, here’s info on last October’s reunion of Moody, Class 64A. We met in San Antonio, stayed on the Riverwalk, and had a great time for three days. Reb Daniel and George Harrison had to leave before the final dinner, but those RTBs who toughed out the whole event are pictured in the photo.”

From left are Conlan, Hendryx, Keighery, Landers, Reeves, and Wilson. I also got an email from Bob Baxter. “Jack, I am forwarding the second half of my previously disjointed input and adding a picture in case you are short.

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John W. “Jack” Jamba Members 4 Judy Court Satellite Beach, FL 32937 H: (321) 777-5520 O: (321) 861-6279 Cell: (321) 432-1370 E-Mail: jwjamba@aol.com

HI Redtags! Got a letter from Paul Landers: “A note to let you know that Jo Anne and I are still vertical. 2011 was not kind to us. Jo Anne had surgery on her hands and legs. I had a rotator cuff repair, a pacemaker implant, and spent a week in hospital with severe reaction to the antibiotics afterward. The tornado system that devastated Tuscaloosa did major damage to our property on Lake Martin (AL) but the log cabin remained standing. We were lucky; three of our four closest neighbors were totaled. “Eleven RTBs and almost as many wives gathered in Plano for a North Texas mini-reunion, hosted graciously by Bob and Christie Staib. Hallagers drove up from San Antonio. flew in from Florida. It was a great time, with lunch, stories, golf, visiting an aviation museum, then dinner and more stories.”

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“The picture is of me launching my hang glider with an aerial tow. I have not yet been able to get my new hips up to speed enough for a foot launch off the mountain so aerial tow is a godsend. The glider nestles into a trike as seen in the pic. You hold on to the rope along the front axle with your fingers and off you go. The glider pops off before the tow is airborne so you level off at about 10 ft and wait for the tow (usually a Dragonfly) to tow you up with a 200-300ft cord to 2500-5000 ft. Flying trail is a bit tricky

at first, especially in thermals, as you have to stay between the tow’s wingtips or get released prematurely. . Look forward to seeing you at the 50th.” Thanks, Bob. Keep ’em gliding. I condensed three emails from Gail Peck, to wit: “Last Friday at the Nellis Club I officiated at the promotion ceremony for Capt (to major) Keith “Habu” Young. Habu is an F-22 pilot and the ADO for the 27th FS at Langley. He is an AFA grad, a Las Vegas boy and the spouse of my neighbors, John and Lynn Vinson’s daughter Emily, who is also an AFA grad. I was honored that he asked me to officiate and it was fun to put on a flight suit again after a lot of years -- in spite of an out of reg moustache. Of course in the fighter community they honor the tradition of Robin Olds with Moustache March. Mine was the envy of many “want to be’s” in the bar later in the evening. “Mike Butchko is still doing well as the head contractor at the Nevada Test Site. No more nuke bomb tests but if he told us what he was REALLY doing now we would probably all end up dead! Hesh Altman is still working at Creech AFB teaching drone stuff to the young ones. . Hesh has truly become an expert in the UAV world. “Rudy and Betty Bow come up to Vegas from PhoeSabre Society nix to join us sometimes for brunch and it is always Donors great to spend time with this gracious couple. Today we learned a lot about testing and trouble shooting jet engines while they are in the developmental stage. Rudy flew them and if he had any doubts about the flight test profile he insisted that the engineers come with him on the flight. That brought about a lot of careful thought on the part of the engineers. The Butchkos are off on a nice trip to visit daughter Katy and her family in Okinawa. Pecks are off on a cruise through the first lock of the Panama Canal l (Atlantic side) this month also. “At Hurlburt in early March I visited their Commando Airpark by the main gate. I took pictures of the airplanes and monuments. I could not find Sam Baker’s name but I did find and take pictures of the names of Bob Carn, Chuck Franco and HP Martin. It was a sobering moment of reflection for me as I thought about these great men and classmates. “I finally got my book on the MiG program finished and it will be published by Osprey with a Random House-assisted US launch on 24 July. The book will be available for presale on Amazon. A search of authors by last name will bring it up. Title is America’s SECRET MiG Squadron. All else is A-OK. We made our reservations for the 50th and hope to get there on Wednesday in time for Rick’s services. gail peck,1225k” Gail has met his Checkpoints quota for three years. And from Dannie Donovan: “VFW magazine had an article titled Vietnam 1972: A GI’s Combat Chronology. A name on page 28 caught my eye. ‘(Nov.) 7: Air Force Cross—Maj. John Carroll, a ‘Raven’ forward air controller from the 20th TASS, 56th SOW, is shot down over the Plain of Jars in Laos. Refusing to surrender, he single-handedly resists two enemy companies with small-arms fire until mortally wounded.’ John was in 7th Squadron our 4th class year. I know we have a lot of heroes in our class and I am proud to have known them and to have been part of their background.” Thanks, Dan From Charlie Price: “Jack, Paul Landers and I had the opportunity to practice for the 50th reunion recently at our wives’ Class of 1962 Valdosta High School 50th reunion. Paul and I went through Moody for UPT. He in Class 64A, and I in 64B. Then we stayed on as instructors and as a couple of those “Moody Boys” Valdosta mothers warned their daughters about. Mary Jo and I really enjoyed practicing for the RTB 50th with Paul and Jo Anne. Looking forward to seeing everyone in October. Beat Navy!” Shep was doing a people search on line and got a note that Ron Duvall had passed away in Las Vegas a few years ago. The AOG had not known about it. They do now. Does anyone have any info on Ron’s recent activities? I’d like to publish something on him. Please reply. That’s it. By now, Shep (Don Shepperd) will have finished his Reunion tome and Ed Martinelli will have finished his Reunion book. The Reunion contacts listings are done thanks to Butch Viccellio and his SWAT teams. George Larson’s team has been working accommodations and detailed dayto-day schedules. Thanks from all the Redtags to these hard-charging classmates for their outstanding progress. See you at the 50th. GO REDTAGS!

dean of the Southeast Convocation, Jerry retired from the Episcopal priesthood. But, that is not all the news. According to his Facebook post (confirmed) he is getting married. Now that is great news. Bella Rennick and Jerry are engaged to be married on August 25, 2012 in Westerlo, New York. They plan to make their new home in the Albany, NY area.

Norman I. (Skip) Lee 63119 E. Cat Claw Lane Tucson, AZ 85739-2058 Home: (520) 825-7980 Cell: (520) 241-3498 54wrs63@gmail.com Class Web Site: www.usafa63.org

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Class News: 1963: Jerry Adinolfi announced he “finally retired again.” After 14 years as rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Coffeyville, Kansas and regional

Bella and Jerry Bob Hayes updated status for this year’s mini-reunion scheduled for Oct 6th during the Navy game. TV coverage makes the proposed noon kick-off time a question and along with it the normal mini-reunion events. The plan as it is includes a pre-game tailgate. Post-game activities include the cup-turning ceremony, catered dinner in Arnold Hall along with some Gift Committee updates. As we get more information on the start time Bob will provide updates via e-mail. If you are thinking of attending the mini-reunion this year you should get yourself on Bob’s e-mail list. Send a request to bcahayes@comcast.net or call him at 719-481-9693. Football tickets are normally obtained online through the USAFA Athletic Department (www.goairforcefalcons.com). Individual seats are released around the 1st of August.

Diff and Mick shake hands with Gen Steve Lorenz, ’73, CEO of the USAFA Endowment. Mick writes: The photo shows the formal signing of the Class of 1963— Academy Endowment to establish the 1963 Fund in support of the Center for Character and Leadership Development, the Center for Oral History, and the 1963 USAFA Class Histories. The signing took place in conjunction with the Gift Committee meeting at USAFA on April 18 and 19. Our class gift is moving ahead rapidly; by this time you should have a folder explaining in detail the Gift. Gil Merkle and Lou Matjasko are circulating video kits with the goal of recording a short history of every member of our Class. Please Sabre Society support this effort. Our goal is 100% participation. Donors Bill Ball reports the 50th Reunion Committee met in April and “. . . is now fully off the runway and airborne. And, we even know our destination. The Thursday evening memorial for our 18 fallen classmates and two POWs in Southeast Asia is well underway. See the names of all in the March Checkpoints. Any stories, info, pictures of yourself or classmates during the war in Southeast Asia along with your thoughts/inputs for that evening should be sent to Jimmie Butler (jimmieb@q.com). We need more; so keep it coming. “On Friday at the Chapel Ceremony we plan to turn, for the first time,

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Class News John F. Kennedy’s cup. Of course, also being turned will be the cups of our classmates who have died since our 45th reunion. That evening we will have our dinner at the Marriott hotel per our normal schedule. What will be different is a program to round out our 50th celebrations. Denny King and Drue DeBerry will be putting together a review of the world events that we, as a class, lived during our 54 years as cadets and graduates. A very large part of the program will be funny stories from you about our cadet years and of those years since graduation. Just make sure your stories will hold the audience spellbound and rolling in the aisles. So start thinking; put your thoughts down and send them to Denny (denny63@ sbcglobal.net) and Drue (drue.deberry@comcast.net). If you can’t put it on paper give them a call. We plan to select the best inputs and use them that evening. Who knows, you may even be the one telling your story that night. We envision an evening of memories and a lot of fun.” The Squadron Reps need your help with the contact list for our class. To date they have been unable to “raise comm” with 15 classmates. The fifteen names are, Robert B. Simpson CS-02, Richard Max Brown and James Allen McKean CS-09, Robert J. Melone CS-14, Richard F. Graham and Joe Hans R. Wilson CS-15, Anthony D. Dunn, Richard H. Hubbard and Lynn R. Weber CS-18, Dwight A. Haworth CS-19, Allen E. Wolf CS-20, James I. Woods CS-21, and, Robert J. Desanto, John Halligan and Warren Manchess from CS-24. If you are on this list or know of the whereabouts of any of these folks please contact the relevant Squadron Rep—their names and e-mail addresses are listed on the 63 Web Page at http://www. usafa63.org/sqreps.pdf. You can also give me a call or shoot me an e-mail. Many thanks in advance for your help on this issue. I can’t say enough as to how important it is that we are able to contact each and every classmate as we move toward the 50th. We want everyone there. On a related matter, Pres Davis sent me a note asking for help resolving a particularly vexing problem in the contact database for our class. Two of our deceased classmates are not being claimed by the Cadet Squadron listed at graduation in the AOG database. Other data sources have not helped. They are (with the graduating squadron in parens): Russell Turner (7), and Bert Reinstein (14). If you have the information please pass that back to Pres at chdphd@earthlink.net or me at 54wrs63@gmail.com . In the next few Checkpoints we plan to feature those 18 fallen classmates from SEA. Below are three of the 18. Many thanks to Jimmie Butler for the picture.

its with our comrades. So, when we got back I e-mailed everyone in 16th Sqdn about our idea. It was well received and we figured the easiest way to get everyone together was on a cruise. We just had to figure out which one. A vote was taken and an Alaskan Cruise was the clear winner. We are booked on Princess Cruises sailing out of Vancouver, BC in late August. We end up in Whittier, AK and board the Vista Dome Train to Denali and ultimately to Fairbanks, AK. So far we have 7 guys (and wives) signed up. Everyone I’ve talked Sabre Society to is excited. I’ll send you pictures when we get back.” Donors Way to go, Don! Report about the trip before AND after. That way, I don’t have to invent stories! I can do it, too. In June, Sandy and I are taking our granddaughter Ava to Paris for her 16th birthday. Her mother is staying home with her sister, so our other daughter Kristin is going along. First we’ll be staying in Bergen, Norway, for a week to visit cousins on the family farm near Voss. Then we’ll be in Paris for a week. Are we a travelling group, or what? California Happenings: Dave Neal wrote that he had a nice visit with John Borling (1st Sqdn ‘63). “He was in the area to promote a 50-year class gift project that ‘63 is working on. It was really great to see him after 49 years. He gave me a copy of a book of poems that he composed in his head while at the Hanoi Hilton. It is difficult to hold back some tears while reading from this book. He roomed with Tom McNish while there.”

Dave Neal and John Borling (’63) at a Very Mini 1st Sq Reunion.

Major Frank Ralston was killed on 14 May 1966 (officially MIA until 9 Jan 78) as an F-4C pilot on an armed reconnaissance mission. He was a member of the 433 TFS, 8 TFW, Ubon, Thailand. Major Thomas Clark was killed in Laos on 8 Feb 69 as an F-100D pilot when his plane crashed (officially MIA until 28 Sept73). He was a member of the 416 TFS, 37 TFW, Phu Cat AB, Vietnam. First Lieutenant Harold Knudsen was killed on 14 Sept 66 as an F-4C pilot when the plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Phan Rang AB, Vietnam en route to a strike mission in South Vietnam. He was a member of the 389 TFS, 366 TFW at the time I know this is a bunch of information on the upcoming 50th Reunion but at the moment a lot of things are coming together and we thought it best to get you up to speed. Take care out there and get those videos done. When your classmate producer calls, be ready! Bob Hovde 206 Walker Ave. Huntsville, AL 35801 (H) (256) 532-3923 (M) (256) 348-9794 bob@hovde.us

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Follow-on From Last Article: After reporting on his trip (last article), Don Graham remembered the following: “When Tony Covais and I were on our Holy Land trip, we talked about planning for a mini (Squadron only) reunion in 2012. We felt that 5 years is too long to go between vis-

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Dave continued, “Sue bought a new house in Novato which has forced me to leave Mill Valley. We have considerably more space (4 bdrm on 2 acres) and classmates are always welcome for a visit. We are 18 & 24 miles, respectively, from the towns of Sonoma & Napa, which provides a great base for visiting both wine producing counties.” Founders’ Day 2012: Rod Wells sent along a picture of the ’64 attendees at the Founders Day Dinner. He said that “it was a great bash, getting bigger and better every year...hard to believe that another ’64 guy wasn’t selected...must have been an oversight.... Not pictured were Jay Kelley and Fred Gregory...as usual, I couldn’t herd all the cats.”

Max James, Al McArtor, Rod Wells and Thad Wolfe doing their Emperor Penguin imitations. Old Trolls: The Old Trolls continue to meet once a month or so for lunch at various restaurants between Colorado Springs and Denver. (Yeah, I know. That usually means Castle Rock!) In March, they met at La Dolce Vita in Castle Pines, wherever that is. Doug Jenkins reported that, “We spoke of many things, sharing war stories dating back to 1960! Howie Cohen shared his experience speaking to the CS-03 cadets about what he was doing on 9/11. Al Larson shared some his latest plans for publishing

the USAFA Class History Website, including linking it with the USAFA AOG Website and providing copies to the USAFA Cadet Library. Jack Wojnaroski has become a regular Old Troll participant. He is relocating from California to Colorado Springs.” The Bike Guy: Roger Neeland reported on his annual 150-mile bike ride to raise money for MS, “There is a bit more than two months to go until the Colorado MS 150 ride from Denver to Ft. Collins and back. Many thanks to my loyal friends and supporters who have put me half way to my goal. I hope the rest of you will consider supporting me on the ride at some level. I know some of you support other MS events, but I would like to keep you up to date. “Last weekend was a typical Colorado Springtime for training. Saturday I rode over 50 miles in training. Sunday it was snowing horizontally so I ‘rode’ my indoor trainer. Today there is hardly a trace of snow left and it reached about 60 degrees. I have a bit over 1000 miles under my belt so far this year, so I feel pretty comfortable I won’t let down my sponsors. “On a personal note – my son (Michael) just got engaged to a beautiful young lady. As soon as he finds a job after graduating from CU they will set the date. Twenty years ago my oldest daughter (Melissa) was married. Ten years ago my younger daughter (Kathleen) was married. This year my son will also probably be married. We spread out the weddings every ten years!” Arizona Happenings: Max James sent an email with a picture under the Subject, “Good friends at lunch in Scottsdale.” The title says it all.

As you can imagine, our four granddaughters pretty much own me! An added benefit to our moving to San Antonio has been the rewarding and fun opportunity to reconnect with Skip and Susan Cox as well as grads from many other classes. “When a husband brings his wife flowers for no reason, there’s a reason.” -Molly McGee (Anyone remember “Fibber McGee and Molly” on the radio?)

Team Schlosberg. Front row: granddaughters Kate and Ellie Rich, Dick and Kathy, and granddaughters Melissa and Emily Schlosberg. Back row: son-in-law Chip Rich, daughter Debbie Rich, daughter-in-law Kelly Schlosberg and son Rich Schlosberg.

Terry/Nancy Isaacson, Pete/Cathy LoPresti and Max James in Scottsdale. Side Notes of Things I Noticed: Somewhere on an AOG site or email, I suddenly recognized a fellow San Diegan – Fredo Olmsted. Fredo was quoted about ways to give money to the AOG via stock gifts -- “I highly recommend this method of giving,” says Fred. “Contributing a gift of appreciated stock makes financial sense – it enables me to retain 100 percent of the stock’s market value as a charitable deduction, and often I can rebalance my portfolio while helping the Academy.” Can it be that becoming a lawyer added a bit of eloquence to Fredo’s pilot vocabulary? Keep it moving. If you stop, you might not get started again! Bruce Wood 7610 Sonatta Court Lincoln, NE 68516 Home and Cell: (402) 470-7152 brucewood1965@gmail.com http://usafa1965.org (official) https://usafa-1965.org (auxiliary)

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Hello Silvertags! Lorenzo Crowell asked me to recognize the international guru status of our classmate, Eric Hanushek. He learned of Eric’s achievement in a very enlightening article “Your Child Left Behind” in the December 2010 Atlantic Magazine. The article convincingly showed the relatively low standing of U.S. schools compared to the rest of the world. (“The young always have the same problem--how to rebel and conform at the same time. They have now solved this problem by defying their parents and copying one another.” -Quentin Crisp) The author drew the data from the research of Eric and two colleagues and interviewed Eric. Eric was identified as professor of economics at Stanford and distinguished graduate of USAFA, class of 1965. Eric is the Paul and Jean Hanna Senior Fellow in Education in the Hoover Institute at Stanford. He was also cited for this effort in the Feb. 25, 2012, issue of The Economist. Dick Schlosberg sent: “Both of our kids ended up living in San Antonio, Texas, so a few years ago Kathy and I decided to leave California (where I retired and had most of my professional career) and move there is well.

From Skip Cox: “Neil Stone is still practicing law in San Antonio with the same firm he started with in 1985. Besides the perfection of his law trade, Neil rides his road bike daily and plays a round of golf every week. Neil’s wife, Reva, has never failed a hospitality check and is one of the most accomplished chefs (my opinion) in the San Antonio area. “Another ‘65 grad is Ed Farrell. Ed lives in Arlington TX and continues to manage the MD-80 training program for American Airlines. He will continue to do so as American works itself through the recently announced Chapter 11 restructuring process. Ed has been in that position for several years, and admitted he is starting to think about retirement -- someday. Ed’s wife, Kim, just retired after decades as a successful banking executive. “Dick Schlosberg is a notable presence in the San Sabre Society Antonio community. He and his wife, Kathy, were both Donors members of San Antonio’s first Masters Leadership Program class, and both are actively involved in making San Antonio a better place to work and live. Their children and grandchildren all live in the local area, and on Sunday mornings they congregate in the Schlosberg pew at church. Besides family and friends, Dick is one of the founders of the Bank of San Antonio and its growing investment arm. “I retired from full-time work two years ago, after having spent my last 15 years as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch -- a very satisfying experience. When folks ask me “what do you do in retirement?” I reply, “Exactly what I want.” My wife, Susan, and I completed the local Masters Leadership Program with San Antonio’s seventh class, and we are now involved with local non-profit organizations that match our passions. In addition, we are traveling while we can enjoy it. Most important to us, all

From left are Skip, daughter Nikki (selected as one of the “40 under 40” in San Antonio, TX) and wife, Susan.

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Class News five grandchildren live near us, and they enjoy overnights with Opa and Oma.” “Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get.” -Ray Kroc From Tom Browder: “1. F-35 tour: Four ‘65 Gray Tags and spouses attended an Eglin AFB, FL, F-35 Lightning II aircraft and facility tour arranged by FWB AOG honcho Jon Bernart (USAFA ‘90) and hosted by the 33rd Fighter Wing Commander, Col. Andy “Drifter” Toth (USAFA ‘89), on 20 Jan 2012. 2. Alternative class web site at https://usafa-1965.org: I would greatly appreciate you advertising the site. It hasn’t been very active the last six months as I was busy developing my 50th high school class reunion site: <https://highlandsprings.org>. However, I intend to ramp up greatly as we look forward to our 50th reunion and leverage all I learned from developing my other site. Also planned is importing the content of the current “official” site into mine which will eventually become the new official site. The site does have a newly added news feed capability for those who use such a thing. On deck are a contact database and some class and squadron mailing lists (including a read-only one intended for use by you and the other class officers to help spread the word).” “The most likely way for the world to be destroyed, most experts agree, is by accident. That’s where we come in; we’re computer professionals. We cause accidents. -Nathaniel Borenstein

From left are Howard Hill, Tom and Diane Plank, Bob and Sheila Foerster, and Tom and Missy Browder. Your humble scribe has found writing this newsletter once a quarter, playing golf, and doing various domiciliary tasks is not filling the void retirement left. Since I have been turned down for ALL the paying jobs I’ve applied for, I pursued volunteer work. I was fortunate to be selected by the Lincoln, NE Veterans’ Affairs (VA) organization to do voluntary work in their Engineering department. I start soon but don’t know yet what I will be doing (the Chief Engineer has been on vacation for a month, but returns late April) but think it will be working with spreadsheets and data bases for the VA. Hopefully, I can make myself invaluable and move into a paying position! “The reason the golf pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can’t see him laughing.” -Phyllis Diller For this issue, I received more input from classmates than the Checkpoints staff can accommodate. I’m saving some for use in my next missive. Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for keeping me (and, thus, all classmates) informed about how your lives are progressing. “The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not”. -Thomas Jefferson Bruce ’65 - Best Alive Ryan Denny 1635 Mary Todd Lane O’Fallon, IL 62269 H: (618) 624-4255 W: (314) 232-5117 E-mail: ryanden@aol.com

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Greetings, Redtags! As I’m writing this article during the pleasant (globally warmed) month of April, I noticed two other semi-important piles of paper on my desk (the kitchen table) that somehow seemed related. The first one was my income tax pile, with all of the W-2s (because I still work), some 1099 thingies, and the rest of the income, outcome, and overcome tax stuff. The other, much shorter, pile was my Social Security estimate that I just got (because I still work). This estimate lists how much money we made each year since we started working -- sometime in the middle of the last century. In 1967, the first full year that we all got our Air Force pay, we made about $3700. I compared this to some numbers in my tax pile and saw that just my Social Security tax for last year was $4280—a little

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more than my 1967 total pay. This started me thinking about how much has changed since then—when gas was $0.18 a gallon and a draft beer was $0.25, when computers were big and the national debt was small, when we were 23 years old and 40 was too far away to be imagined (it still is—just from the other direction). If you focus on all of those changes, you can get disoriented pretty quickly; so I tried to figure out what things have remained consistent guideposts/touchstones/reality checks for me—no matter how much the stock market, or the price of beer, or my career(s) have gone up or down. The first two were pretty obvious choices for me, and probably for most of you—religion and family. After those, the one that keeps floating to the top is our good old Blue Zoo. The experiences, foundations, and friendships formed at the Academy have been a constant and guiding force for most of my life. As I talk to some of you all and hear stories about Sabre Society the rest of you, I think that most of you would agree. Donors Nick Kehoe (LtGen) was just announced as the new

National Commander of the Daedalians, the fraternal order of military pilots. After a pretty busy 34-year career in the Air Force, Nick has dedicated a lot of time since retirement to public service. He was the deputy inspector general of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and has served as the President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation for the last several years. He was also the chairman of the Board of Governors for the Civil Air Patrol and a trustee for the Fund for Peace. Recently, Nick was the guest speaker at a meeting of the Washington DC Daedalian Flight, which was attended by several our classmates. Thanks to our Redtag “Inside the Beltway Correspondent”, Gary Palmer, we got the news on this gathering and the group picture below.

Captured with a cell phone camera, from left are Suzanne McDougall, Jim Roberts, Fritz McDougall, Gary Palmer, Walt Schrecker, Mary Schrecker, Dan Heitz, Nick Kehoe, an Mike Connors at a Washington DC Daedalian meeting. Paul Bradley called me at work one day last month to say “hi”. I thought he was calling from his house in Reston, VA because the call was better than most cell phones I’ve heard in the last few years. However, there was a slight 1-2 second delay, so I asked where he was. He said “I’m calling from Afghanistan”. That got my attention—I thought we were all too old to be playing in that part of the world. Paul said that he is currently working for the State Dept as a contractor. He had worked for State for 25 years as a Foreign Service Officer, and then continued as a contractor/consultant—that means you are retired, but you’re pretty much doing the same job, without all of the hassles of a “career”. He spent the last 10 years of his “retirement” alternating between his home in Reston, VA and Columbia (that’s the country of Columbia—you know, where the Secret Service goes to party) working to reduce the flow of drugs to the US. Then Paul decided that he missed the desert and sand from some of his other overseas assignments (Chad, Ethiopia, Cameroon, etc), so he volunteered to spend some time in Afghanistan, working for the State Dept. Paul enjoys working near the pointy end of the spear—which is what a lot of us used to do, what some of our kids are doing now, and what most Americans only read about in the newspapers. Not exactly your average retirement -- sitting around on the back porch, throwing rocks at squirrels. Jerry Allen (MGen) gave the graduation address to a class of newlyminted pilots at Laughlin AFB. As a reward for keeping his speech short, Jerry got to take a flight in the latest version of the T-38—the “C” model, complete with a HUD and digital avionics. After many years as the Commandant of Cadets at Virginia Tech, Jerry retired in San Antonio area, where he is currently serving as a Trustee for the Daedalian Foundation and doing whatever else Joan can think up to keep him out of the house. Jerry’s son, Craig (’94), is an instructor pilot and squadron operations officer at Laughlin AFB. Thanks to Craig for let-

ting me use this picture in our Class of 66 Checkpoints article, instead of keeping it for his article. He’s the scribe for the Class of ’94, but he must not have to beg as much as I do for pictures! (whine, whine…)

Presentation of 45th anniversary varsity lacrosse plaque to Coach Bob Kelly, by, from left, Russ Murray, Chuck Beattie, and Fred Rathke. Some ancient relics of aviation history (Jerry Allen and the T-38) and Jerry’s son Craig (’94) at Laughlin AFB. Stay in touch and let us all know what you are doing. Whether you are retired or not, we want to hear what keeps you going. Until next time… Happy Landings!

Larry Wilson 13100 Pinehurst Ave. NE Albuquerque, NM 87111 H: (505) 291-8949 E-mail: Lwilsn628@aol.com

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From Beau Crosby: “Had a party last October and a bunch of the CS13 gang came to Waco…to help Kathy and I celebrate our 25th. How she puts up with me I’ll never know. I guess it is because I let her fill the Belly Storage bay of the Fifth Wheel full of Three Buck Chuck that we picked up at the Trader Joes there on the north end of Santa Fe....and hauled back to Waco from Red River last summer. Just think of the money we saved at 10 MPG of $4 a gallon for diesel…It was really a surprise to have so many dear friends come so far; but absolutely wonderful to get to spend time with them. Some of the guys wanted to hold a “real man’s” rifle (so I dug out of the gun safe an M1), as a reminder of the wayward boy’s monastery in the Mountains where they issued an M-1 instead of a Rosary...” Attending the October Anniversary Party were Fred & Linda Milanovich, Ron & Jerry Morishige, Thom & Helen Evans, Mark & Patt Stugart, Clint & Marilyn Price, Roger & Geannie Wells. Beau “…drove an Ambulance for the Red River Fire Department again last summer. Documented two of my fire training drills in 70-degree weather -- bunker gear feels good, rather than starting over a hundred or so before buttoning up. Too bad weight loss from sweat doesn’t last…”

Ah, summertime in New Mexico – long hot dry days, cool evenings. Mucho opportunity for golf, tennis, hiking, etc. Of course, to do those things, one must set the remote aside, get off the o- so- comfortable couch, and move. Hmmm… that would be good advice for any season. From Brian Deluca in Seattle – here are Tom Calvanelli and Brian at the Metropolitan Grille in Seattle, on Friday the 13th April. Tom was in town to train as a 787 instructor; Brian is a long-time Boeing employee currently working on the 767/KC-46A Tanker. I wonder if Tom performed any of the recruiting activity that Brian was engaged in a few months back.

IRI (sort of…) with the boys of CS-13.

Tom Calvanelli and Brian Deluca, enjoying happy hour in Seattle. From Chuck Beattie: Members of the ’67 lacrosse team, including Russ Murray, Fred Rathke and Chuck, assembled in Colorado Springs on April 14 to relive some of their past glory and honor Coach Bob Kelly with the presentation of 45th anniversary varsity lacrosse plaque. Coach Kelley was a two-time All-American from Rutgers and is in the Lacrosse Hall of Fame in Baltimore. Also honored at the event were Coach Jim Keating, a two-time All-American laxer from Maryland; and the family of deceased Coach Tony Cillo. All were instrumental in getting lacrosse to varsity status in 1967 at the Academy. Former lacrosse player Mike Francisco, memorialized elsewhere in this Checkpoints by Mike O’Grady, was present in spirit.

In an interesting set of circumstances, initiated by some misaddressed emails, I had occasion to communicate with Woody Cox – probably for the first time since ’67. Here is what he has been up to: “…Not much to reflect on in the last 40 years. Spent 12 years active, moved to Birmingham, AL to fly with the ANG (RF-4Cs). I had never been to the south and figured I’d be there for a couple of years, get and airline job and move on. Well, the airlines dried up, I got hired full time by the ANG in active duty status, and here I am 33 years later. In 1989, I was picked up by FedEx but continued to fly with the Guard even though I was eligible for retirement... seemed like a cheap cost to fly a phantom any time you wanted. Lots of grads at FedEx and some good renewals of friendships. I was at FedEx a very short time when we deployed the RFs non-stop to the UAE for Desert Shield. 15.5 hours enroute strapped to that wonderful Martin Baker seat pan. After our return from the UAE, I eventually was handed the reins to the squadron and retired in 1993 after a neck injury.” Thanks Woody – see you in OctoSabre Society ber. Donors Some of you may recall the unfortunate circumstances under which Stormy & Bruce McDonald ended their Peace Corps adventure a while back. In the makinglemonade-out- of-lemons category -- Bruce put pen to paper to memorialize the story. From Bruce: “I’m happy to announce the publication of A Breeze in Bulgaria, telling the story of Stormy’s and my experiences in that far-off place. I think of it as a love story. It’s available as an eBook (for Kindle, iPad, Nook, Sony e-Reader, iPod, iPhone, android, laptop, regular computer... and as a real paper book…If you got our emails

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Class News while we were serving in Bulgaria, it may seem like you know the story. I can say without a hint of modesty, though, you don’t know it until you read it here. This book has been a labor of love, and I hope you will agree that it’s a story worth reading.” Bob Muldrow received a surprise communication, from an anonymous Fighting’ Fourth guy who did not last until graduation. His message: “I have sent the below letter and… check to the AOG with the expectation that it will be applied to the Class of ’67 (Carillon) Project… Thanks for your offering of time and effort to maintain the string of consciousness and memory of those that have gone before us…” The letter to the AOG contains this info: “…Enclosed you will please find my…check… for the ‘Class of ’67 Project’ in honor of the 1967 Fightin’ 4th’ Squadron. Though the USAFA Dean judged that I should not graduate from the Academy, I have high regard for my classmates at USAFA and especially within the Fightin’ 4th Squadron… “I have particular vivid memories about my very close associates: Max Rosen – 1962-1963 at the USAFA Preparatory School (4th Flt), James Steadman…Scott Albright…Hal Henderson… and Jim Gilmore – 1962-1963 USAFA Preparatory School classmate. “It is disappointing, yet very moving for me, to recognize the extreme (albeit maybe random) sacrifice my friends made for their commitment to our country’s intentions/motives. I am grateful for the association I had with those folks. I am also quite grateful to my surviving associates at USAFA that had a significant part in my eventual progression in life. Please accept this gift in honor and memory of the USAFA class of 1967 as part of the 1967 Carillon Project with special memories of the Fightin’ Fourth Squadron.” Whoever you are – thank you. FOR YOUR PLANNING: Here is the class of 1967’s reunion page on the AOG website: http://www.usafa.org/Reunion/1867. MARK YOUR CALNEDARS and MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS. And with that – I am out of words. Take care of yourselves and your families. God bless the troops and God bless the United States of America. Tim Davidson 9712 Hidden Valley Road Vienna, VA 22181-6094 Phone: (703) 255-5313 Mobile: (703) 772-6052 E-mail: timdav1968@verison.net Class Website: www.usafa68.org

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HELLO ’68! Oy Yea! Oy Yea! Second Call for ’68’s 45th Reunion in 2013! Our Colorado-based crew is working to make this a spectacular event. If you wish to assist or have suggestions, please contact Al Blumberg at ablum68@hotmail.com. 2012 EAST COAST REUNION: Hot off the press . . . Ed and Karen Eberhart will be hosting ’68’s East Coast reunion at their home in Arlington, VA on 9 June. Start time is 6:30PM. All classmates are invited and RSVPs for those planning to attend are requested ASAP.

case with Jim Thompson, who left the environs of Washington, D.C. to enjoy a less stressful life on a small farm in Crossville, TN. Jim is an eightyear prostate cancer survivor and is thankful for the prayers offered by so many of you during his ordeal. His wife, Brinda, and he recently traveled to Thailand to attend a board meeting and to visit his old B-52 base at Utapao. While touring the base, the Thai Commander gave him a car and a driver, closed the runway, and allowed Tony Marshall and him to drive its full length. As Jim stated, “The trip down the runway created some interesting emotions!” (Scribe Note: How many of you are now flashing back to our Third Class year and the Management class where we all watched 12 O’clock High?) Beyond farming, and fishing in a pond that is a stone’s throw from his front porch, Jim is still practicing law. He recently completed a Masters of Law in Estate Planning and Elder Law and plies his practice by making house calls, where he actually goes to the clients. If you would like to catch up with Jim, or maybe get some good advice for your “elder years,” you can contact him at jetblak1@gmail.com.

Charlie Holland and Classmates at 2011 the AFA Air & Space Conference. From left are Bill Begert, Charlie Coolidge, Bobby Floyd, Charlie Holland, and Scribe. Not Pictured: Lindsey Bierer. HOLLAND HONORED: For most of us, February is fondly embraced for Valentine’s and President’s Days. In 2012, for Charlie Holland and his family, I believe it is more likely to be remembered as “Honors Month in Washington, D.C.” On February 7th, during the National Defense Industrial Association’s (NDIA’s) Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC) Division’s Annual Awards Banquet, Charlie received the R. Lynn Rylander Award (the SO/LIC Division’s most prestigious award) for his outstanding contributions to the Special Operations Community throughout his distinguished military career and in retirement by remaining faithful to core values that support the goals and objectives of our nation’s SOF through his time, mentorship, and support of special operations organizations such as the SOF Warrior Foundation and NDIA’s SO/LIC and Stability Operations Divisions. On February 24th, Charlie became only the 12th recipient of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award from the Association of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (the Association’s most prestigious award) for his outstanding accomplishments and service in the integration of technological and industrial resources for a strong U.S. national security and industrial base. Charlie, your classmates are very proud of you! Thank you for continuing to provide such stellar serSabre Society vice for our country. Please accept our heartiest conDonors gratulations for a job extremely well done! MORE HOLIDAY CORRESPONDENCE: The bounty of news from last holiday season continues with greetings from Bill and Jody Begert. While Jody plied her nursing skills on the two family dogs, Cleo and Kassie, our classmate, Bill, replaced his knees from the “Original Manufacturer” with newer and stronger bionic ones. Jody writes, “Bill is also ¾” taller because they straightened his knees and put in some plastic cartilage. His golf game hasn’t improved, so he’s searching for a neurosurgeon that might be able to help. He tried to retire from Pratt & Whitney in 2011, but he flunked. We’ll see what happens in 2012.” Charlie Coolidge chimed in with season’s greetings and updates on he and his family. Charlie is still working for EADS North America and now has a longer commute after their corporate offices moved from Arlington to Herndon, VA. Other activities on his plate include his appointment to the USAFA Athletic Corporation Board of Directors and continuing work on the Board of Managers for the National Museum of the Air Force and the AF Academy Falcon Foundation. Wife, Bonnie, remains the stalwart in coordinating and supporting family activities and son Charlie IV serves as her fulltime helper. Son Brad is an AWACS Instructor Pilot and Chief of Stan-

Reese 70-01 UPT Reunion on USS Midway. From left are the Scribe, Tom Dreier, John ‘Sully’ Sullivan, Dana Drenkowski, J Ferron, George Hoffman, Bill Gauntt, Brian O’Hara, Charlie Holland, Rhip Worrell, Mike Morrison, and Jim Lozito. Not pictured: Marty Cole. REESE AVIATORS OCCUPY SAN DIEGO: Not wishing to wait until their 45th reunion in 2014, Reese’s 70-01 UPT class took San Diego by storm in October 2011 with visits to the Navy SEALS Basic Underwater Demolition School in Coronado, the USS Midway, the San Diego Zoo, and a cruise around San Diego Harbor. A memorial service for deceased classmates was held on the Midway. It was a rewarding and memorable reunion for one and all. GENTLEMAN FARMER AND ATTORNEY AT LAW CHECKS IN: After sending out my first e-mail address change in 19 years, several classmates came up on the net who I had not heard from in quite a while. Such is the

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dardization Evaluation of his flying squadron at Tinker AFB and daughter Colleen works with Green Olive Media in Atlanta. Charlie’s father turned 90 in 2011 and they had a wonderful family celebration in Chattanooga.

Machu Picchu: Siga trayendo mas vistas grandes. Rainier in the distance. I chatted with Mike before Christmas last year, and he still looked fit, and was getting fitter, readying for another serious trip, route TBD. ’68’s Aloha Contingent. From left are Tom Devereaux, Mark Torreano, Jim Estes, Vic Bonfiglio, John ‘Sully’ Sullivan, and Walt Yamamoto. In addition to sending the photo shown above, Mark Torreano writes: “I am enjoying retirement in the Aloha State. I am working on a variety of political campaigns to help elect leaders who can put our government at all levels back on the path to fiscal responsibility and limited government. Mimi is an active Assistance League volunteer, working in their thrift shop to fund programs for children and the poor. Son Mark Jr, LCDR USN, Class of ‘94, is serving with the NATO Headquarters in Kabul, while daughter Marcy is in Las Vegas where her husband Jack, Maj USAF, Class of ‘94, is flying UAVs.” THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: After last column, I heard from Abe Abramson who said he appreciated our Class’ prayers. He is on dialysis and continuing to fight the good fight. As I was completing this column, I received a note from Bob Marks telling me about the recent death of Don Duncan’s wife, Barbara. To Don, my fellow 3rd Squadron classmate, please accept the entire Class’ most sincere condolences for your loss. 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 Class Website to see photos included in this column in full size by clicking on Scribe’s Page. Ciao for now. Tim

Lindsey Parris 616 King’s Cloister Circle Alexandria, VA 22302 Home: (703) 836-3604 102177.1033@compuserve.com

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Summer in the Rockies. More ’69ers taking time to enjoy the fruits of lives well lived. Class of ’12 graduated…and what a Class they are—those of you who checked out the profile statistics sent along by Tom Keck know of what I speak. Though USAFA isn’t the “same” place we spent four years, these new grads are testament that our Academy is as excellent now, and maybe better, than it was then. It’s mindboggling to think how desktop computing and cell phones could have leveraged our time for more learning, additional free time, or more seamless weekend liaisons. On to news. Sabre Society The four years at the base of the Rockies, with the Donors daily reminder about “men and mountains,” seems to be ingrained in us all. On top of the last edition’s recounting of John Brummitt’s bagging Kilimanjaro, we now have additional proof of the lure of majestic peaks. Steve and Rochelle Edelman, Marco Polo-ing again, this time visit Machu Picchu on Peru’s Inca Trail, which looks ethereal in the background, with terracing and grand views, and just shy of the 8,000-foot mark—not too different from USAFA’s 7250’. Steve says they went for the beauty, but others report he wanted to avoid running into Mike Tyson at the MGM in Las Vegas. (See photo at the top of the next column.) Vince Santillo, amidst trips to Germany this spring and later this summer to the London Olympics, sent along a picture of himself and Mike Chipman on one of their long-distance treks, perched along the Pacific Coast Trail in Southern Washington’s Goat Rocks Wilderness with Mt

The Pacific Coast Trail yields its delights to Mike and Vinny. Down in the flatlands, Hooking ’em Horns, Gary Lindner is making a huge difference in the nonprofit world, where he has spent the last eight years engineering micro-lending arrangements for business owners, largely minority-owned, who face challenges in obtaining loans from traditional sources. Gary is President and CEO of People Fund, a merger of People with the similarly-tasked PLAN Fund of Dallas, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that assists in microenterprise financing as well as business assistance and education. Gary also serves on the Board of Directors of the Austinbased Capital City African-American Chamber of Commerce (CCACC), and the Dallas-based Texas Mezzanine Fund (TMF). In addition, he currently serves as the National Board Chair of the Washington, D.C.-based Association of Enterprise Opportunity, which represents over 400 micro lending development organizations throughout the U.S, focusing on public policy initiatives and member training and support. Talk about “giving back”—hats off to Gary. Jimmy Abbott is also helping the disadvantaged, serving a five-month stint as a project manager at a Haitian central highlands site (Hinche) at which the DoD has contracted with a Galveston company to construct public services buildings (clinics, EMS and fire stations, schools, and community centers) to alleviate the enormous suffering caused by the earthquake. He is encountering some of the inevitable red tape associated with well-intentioned international disaster assistance programs, which makes for frustrations in matching local needs and preferences with in-

Jimmy Abbott takes a break with his team, Hinche, Haiti.

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Class News ternational dictates. Though the primitive conditions constitute quite a change from Coconut Grove, where he and Michele recently purchased a trimaran in furtherance of their retirement plans, he is enjoying himself. Also enjoying himself is Jeff Posner, who is executing his retirement plan in real time, as he and Anne continue Joyful’s maiden voyage down the Tombigbee River toward Mobile, AL, before circumnavigating Florida’s peninsula. At last update, in February, they were 120 miles from Mobile, marveling at the number and enormity of tug boats and barges that carry the coal, steel, fuel, and commercial goods to and from the nation’s heartland. The centrality of navigable rivers to a nation’s economic well-being cannot be overestimated. Continued wishes for fair weather to Jeff and Anne. Aviators, please know the Master Instructors LLC have announced that Chris Hope’s Master Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) status has been renewed for the third time, since 2008; he is one of only 91 aviators worldwide to earn the credential three times. To put this into perspective, of some 96,000 CFIs in the USA, fewer than 700 have earned the Master designation. Chris specializes in primary and instrument training at Lee’s Summit (LXT) and Johnson County Executive (OJC) airports, and volunteers as an Angel Flight pilot in the Kansas City area. Certainly, Chris is the man you’d like in the right seat of your aircraft! Class congratulations, Chris. In February, John Miller attended the 19th Annual National Character and Leadership Symposium at the Academy and speaks quite enthusiastically about it. He noted the speakers were outstanding, an 88-year-old WWII P-51 jock (Jerry Yellin), who spoke three times and “wowed” the cadets. While at the Academy, John did some advanced recce on the disc golf course, in hopes the 45th Reunion offers the opportunity to revisit the course and the outing he championed during the 40th. To keep intact the 80+ issue record of having a golfing adventure (or incident) to report, please know that Roy Coppinger’s annual Man-Versus-Weather outing to Bandon Dunes went off without a hitch, and some of the usual suspects, attired mostly in blue, and in rain gear, emerged with smiles on their faces—Steve Cherry, Brian Nelson, Craig Collins, John Buckner, Roy, and Mike Beezley. Note: without Les Dyer or Mike Thiessen in attendance, Nels doesn’t have to stand on tip-toes! Note also this is the first ’69er golfing shot ever at Bandon that does not feature an adult beverage in the hands of at least two celebrants.

Dick Rauschkolb 130 Luxur y Lane Colorado Springs, CO 80921 H: (719) 761-5764 Cell: (719) 310-6928 Email: AOG70@comcast.net Richard Rauschkolb@usafa.edu

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Greetings classmates! Hope all of you are enjoying summer and good health. Yesterday, 23 April, the Falcons picked up the CIC Trophy at the White House. They even got President Obama to do the Heisman poise. Unfortunately, by the time you read this there may be some negative news about some of our football players. Not sure how this will affect next year’s team. We should be in every game except Michigan. Given the mediocre schedule, I will say 7-5 in a rebuilding year, we will retain the CIC Trophy, and go Sabre Society to a bowl. Donors Mega kudos to John Verardo, Jim Bechtel, Rick Taylor, and Chuck Kellerman for organizing a lacrosse reunion honoring Coaches Jim Keating and the late Tony Cillo. What started as just a Class of ’70 function turned into a gathering of lacrosse players from ’67 to ’74. Coach Keating can certainly be considered the Father of Air Force Academy Lacrosse. I know he must have been moved by this recognition.

Seventy Lacrosse Men Honor Former Coach. From left are Bob Holt, Jim Bechtel, Randy Rumpf, Coach Keating, Brian Bell, Jim Reel, Chuck Kellerman, Rick Taylor, Wild Bill Stealey, and John Verardo . Wild Bill wanted to play some golf while he was here, but the typical April Colorado winds kept us off the course. Nevertheless, Mike Torreano, Greg Gilles, Wild Bill Stealey, and I enjoyed a great lunch at the Flying Horse Golf Course where Mike is a member. Wild Bill won the Sportsmanship Award for looking at his Blackberry throughout lunch! Little known but interesting fact, Janice Gilles has climbed most of the 14ers in Colorado!

Bandon in February. Absent Mssrs. Jameson and Bushmills. Back here in DC, Skip Daley has been playing some of DC’s finest courses to prep for the USAFA Founders Day event, which Bill Dalecky and Ken Medlin were also planning on attending. Sadly, in April, the Class lost ’69er Roy White to a stroke. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery on 6 Jul 2012 at 1100 hrs with full Military Honors. Please take a moment to remember Roy, and all those with whom you spent four formative years of your life. Sincere Class condolences to Jane at this time of great sadness. Roy, your Classmates salute you. Godspeed. In closing, a brief word on the Class Gift. Most of you should have received the letter and package announcing the redirection of the Class Gift project for the purpose of sponsoring the Cadet Wing Honor Board Room in the new Center for Character and Leadership Development. If not, please call or e-mail me. This project, soaring in scope, solemn in purpose, and connected intimately with the Long Blue Line past, present and future and most importantly with the attributes most central to character and leadership, has been received enthusiastically by most of those with whom we have had contact. Many of you have e-mailed questions and thoughts, and if you have additional queries please contact me, David Wagner, Terry Brady, Les Dyer, Steve Edelman, or Mike Goode. We are nicely on the way to raising the additional $500K necessary to fund the gift, but still have some lifting to do. If means and inclination permit, please donate lavishly! ’Til next time, hand salute, Lindsey

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The Pros from Dover. From left are Wild Bill, The Phantom, Mountain Man Gilles, and Mike Torreano. I hooked up with Mike Kelley at the basketball reunion. The Academy paid tribute to Bob Beckel and the late Cliff Parsons who are our only basketball All Americans. I remember watching Cliff play. Good man and sorely missed. Gregg Popovich was selected as the NBA Coach of the Year! He has coached the Spurs to the #1 seed in the West. Let’s hope they are still playing when you read this. If you follow the Spurs, you have seen Popo masterfully coach this year—resting his stars for the playoffs and making some key trades during the season.

Bram Smith is predicting a continuing wild ride on Wall Street. He enjoyed the Giants winning the Super Bowl—as did I. He sent an article from Vanity Fair that mentions the great job Chuck Reed is doing as Mayor of San Jose. Gary Baxter is a grandfather again. This is number eleven! Heard that Tooey Emery, Jim Breckwald, Mike Lyons, and Gary Finley did some serious skiing this winter. Rick Lesch is recovering from back surgery and is working hard to get back on the links. Ward Beightol is playing some serious golf in Florida. Oker O’Connor was a proud dad a few months ago when he pinned pilot wings on his son Brian.

Proud Dad Classmates continue to support many programs for those less fortunate. Jack Norman donated to an organization called Construction for Change which is building a school in Cambodia. He said that as a result of his donation, Dick Christy and Bud Hargrove will be recognized on a donor wall at the school. BJ Bjorklund hiked for 20 hours on Memorial Day as a tribute to our classmates who died in combat -- Christy, Hardy, Blassie, Haselton, Gravrock, Townsend, Turose, Hargrove, and Rovito. Check out BJ’s Facebook page to learn more about the charity. Your Class Gift Committee (Gary Dahlen, Mike Torreano, Tooey Emery, and your scribe) has been working hard to develop a plan to start on the interior of the SEA Memorial Pavilion. We visited with George Sparks who is the Director of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. First, if you get to Denver make sure you visit this great museum! Second, George and his staff were super hosts and gave us lots of information to consider as we move forward. As of this writing, we are planning to start developing the interior with a kiosk by showing the significance of the locations on the interior bronze map and graduate accomplishments/memories associated with those locations. We will be working with the AOG to solicit information, pictures, and memories from all grads who served in SEA. So start looking for those pictures and writing down some of the memories of your time in SEA. We still need $150K to do all we want to do for the interior. Your continued donations are critical to making the Pavilion a major learning experience for our cadets and the general public as well as a visual and moving memory for all who served during that conflict. I will close this article on a very sad note. During the space of eight memorable days in March, many members of the Class of 1970 shed a lot of tears for their classmates. It was a real heart-wrenching experience. First, we honored Denny and Cliffa Hall’s son Ryan who was killed on a special ops mission in Djibouti. Ryan was a captain and a Citadel graduate. He was buried at the Academy in a very moving ceremony. Many of his squadron mates from Hurlburt attended. It was obvious by the turnout that Ryan was a highly respected pilot and good friend. A few days later, we mourned the loss of Tony and Val Marietta’s daughter Sarah. Sarah was only 22 when she took her life. Marilyn and I knew her since she was a baby. She was a wonderful young woman and the love of Tony’s and Val’s life. I would encourage all of you to go to Sarah Marietta’s Facebook page to learn more about the terrible life one endures if they are bipolar. Val and Tony are using Sarah’s page to make people aware of this terrible affliction. Bob McKinney deserves a mega-kudo for assisting the Marietta’s during this difficult time. Many classmates came from around the country to support Tony and Val. Less than a week later we had a memorial service for our classmate Gary Gumbert who lost his battle with cancer. Larry Carr gave a superb eulogy and many men from CS-7 traveled across the country to pay their final respects to a good friend and classmate. Below is a list of people I recall seeing at the various services. I deeply apologize if I left anyone out—the memory is fading. As you can see, the Class of Seventy remains a special class by showing it cares for its classmates and their families during their time of need. Mark Lacaillade, Scott Barker, Rick Lesch, Mike Lyons, Larry Carr,

Glen Leimbach, Jack Trimble, Jack Mueller, Curt Emery, Gerry Shaw, C3C Angus Macdonald, Ray Oakshott, DK Shelton, Rich Downing, Mark Ewig, Kristen Soltis, Kadee Hassen, Cookie Villareal, BJ Bjorklund, Ross Johnson, Bob McKinney, Shawn Raintree, Henry Mitchell, Gary Finley, Jack Mueller, Roger Hill, Larry Bush, Vic Bradford, Gary Dahlen, Tooey Emery, Dave Gaw, Mick Davey, Jim Breckwald, and Mike Torreano. Our thoughts and prayers are with our classmates and their families.

Paul D. Knott 5565 Lantana Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80915 H: (719) 570-9162 E-mail: pk71knott@gmail.com

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One of the more humbling aspects of being Class Scribe is all the help that you guys give me when I ask. For instance, a couple of columns ago I mentioned that Gary Payton had retired from the Department of Defense, and wondered if he’d retired for good, or had he merely moved on. Jim Kotora ran into him in the USAFA commissary recently. “You ran a segment in the class news a year ago about him retiring from the SECAF staff. Well it seems he was offered a position on the USAFA academic staff as an endowed chair (don’t know which one). He accepted and moved from Northern Virginia last July. He lives in Flying Horse. He works with cadets on the Falcon Sat program and other astro topics.” With this inspiration, I checked on the AOG website to get some bare bones info, then I Googled him. Turns out that Gary’s position in Fairchild Hall is as a visiting professor in the Erdle Chair in Engineering Sciences. He and his child bride, Sue, live out east of the Cadet Area. This social networking fad just might turn out to be Sabre Society a good thing after all. Linked-In told me that Schuyler Donors Foerster is also a visiting professor at the Academy, the Brent Scowcroft Professor of National Security Studies. Later, Schuyler let me know that he’s been here since 2009. Linked-In also mentioned that David Frostman is an adjunct professor at the University of Denver. From Facebook I learned that Keith Barrett recently had a kidney removed. He’ll be “back on the job” by the time you read this. (Hope you’re doing better!) Dick Reynolds’ daughter has recorded a short video as the face and voice for a pit bull rescue organization. Thanks to all of you who are out there on these sites; it’s getting to be a habit to check for you. If you went to Vance as part of UPT classes 72-09 or 73-01, you probably know that there will be a get-together in August at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Not to be snippy or anything, a quick look at the “new kids” website would indicate that you guys have a ways to go to get the participation 72-09 has in where their classmates are today, but…Hey! Who is organizing this dance? (Looks as though our friendly contest is a tie so far.) As we get closer to the fall elections, just a reminder; if you don’t care enough to vote, you don’t get to critique the electorate; the winners, or the losers. I’ve heard enough from lots of you to know that you and I don’t necessarily see the world in the same ways, and we all respect that. The bottom line is that we need to find out what issues are important to us in local, regional, state and national politics, ask the candidates the hard questions, and vote our convictions. Since we have space available, I just couldn’t resist including one last photo from Reunion—in my possession, at least. If you happen to find a memory that you’d like to share, send it to me and I’ll do my best to include it.

GBA

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Bob Bell 13 Pacific Ave. Sinking Spring, PA 19608 (610) 678-3182/Fax: 678-4513 E-mail: rabell767@aol.com

Members

Hello Class, and welcome to the last but one Checkpoints before your 40th Class Reunion. We will have more on that later as we start with a couple of older photo-stories that I was not able to fit into prior issues. Back in November, Scott Sturman passed on a photo showing him with a group of CS 40 members as they gathered at the Tin Horn Ranch in Northeast California for what has become an annual event.

The Tin Horn Crowd forms up once again. From left are Scott Sturman, Dan Ripple, Dan O’Donnell, Jim Livingston, Mark Kuno, Doug Goodman and Dan Rousseau with other friends and loved ones. Next to arrive in January was a message from Chris Rubacha with a photo showing him meeting some “local personalities” during his Cabo San Lucas vacation where he joined the celebration of their 20 Nov Revolution Day event. They were apparently not impressed with his Occupy Cabo movement, as reflected in the expressions on their faces. For his next venture, Chris is off on a trip with his fiancée to Taiwan to get a little of that nation’s local color during its real Chinese New Year celebration. Chris is officially re-retired from his real estate teaching adventures after having been the winner of a sizable California state lottery.

were in CS 37. Scott plans to spend his summers in Wisconsin and winters in Florida. He also plans to attend the 40th class reunion. In November, Gary Grappo ended his assignment to Jerusalem as Quartet Envoy and Deputy to Quartet Representative, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. To paraphrase Gary’s own words, working for Mr. Blair, or “Tony” as he prefers to be called, was a singular honor and extraordinary experience. He is a remarkable man and truly the world’s greatest optimist. Neither the uncertainties of the Arab Spring, nor dimming prospects of Middle East peace, nor charged rhetoric on Iran, could diminish his always ebullient personality and effusive positivism. It was a great learning experience and perfect way to top off a great career serving our country as a diplomat. Sabre Society Gary and Becky returned to Washington for a brief Donors but moving ceremony commemorating his retirement from the Foreign Service after 26.5 years. After wonderful experiences, many friends and exciting tours in Nicaragua, Portugal, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Oman (again!), Iraq and Jerusalem as well as multiple tours at State in Washington, Gary and Becky decided it was time to move on to something new and different. To their great surprise and after nearly 40 years, they are back in Colorado! On 1 Jan, he became President and CEO of The Keystone Center (www.keystone.org), a 37-year-old science and public policy nonprofit organization based in Keystone, CO, where they also run the Keystone Science School, an institution well known to Coloradoans. They are settling in well and enjoying rather dramatically different lifestyles than the ones they experienced serving overseas for the State Department. Gary discovered he hadn’t completely lost his acclimatization to life in the Rockies, albeit at 2000 feet higher than we were at the Academy. Hoping to be taking in a lot more Falcon games now, he sends his best to all. Thanks for the report of your well-deserved retirement, Gary. So we have now officially been notified that the 40th Class Reunion will take place during the New Mexico-Falcon football weekend, 18 – 21 October. More information and the ability to reserve rooms at the Marriott can be found on the USAFA website. Your class reunion committee is hard at work making things happen for the event, with hopes that everyone will make it there and have a fantastic time. Part of the 40th is the consideration of a Class Gift which is also in progress as we approach that time. Class President Scott Sturman has formed the committee for finalizing that selection. They are Bill Looney, Timo Sullivan and Ron Quinton who would certainly welcome help from anyone else in this effort. Recall that over the years we have seen how this has become a major commitment from prior classes and that whatever we choose will have a lasting effect on the Academy and the legacy of our Class, so serious thought is necessary from all of us as this process is completed. In the meantime, keep your calendar open in October and hopefully we will see all of you then. If you are in touch with any of the other “classmates who did not graduate,” please make sure they know they are also welcome. See you next time. FPA.

Joe Kahoe 4140 Saddle Rock Road Colorado Springs, CO 80918 Cell: (719) 210-5568 joekahoe@gmail.com http://73.texascomputerhelp.com

Chris Rubacha and “friends” on both sides. David Tumino has once again completed the BP MS150 Race, this being his 11th time competing in the marathon bicycle ride between Houston and Austin in support of efforts to raise contributions to the cause of eliminating multiple sclerosis. As reported in previous years, David participated again as a member of the team headed by country singer Clay Walker, BAMS (Band Against M.S.). His personal goal this year was to achieve a total of $20,000 which is close to be accomplished. The race ran during the weekend of 21-22 April and David held the 55th position out of the total crowd of over 300 who rode. This being truly a worthwhile event, thank you for what you continue to do, David. Scott Marks posted notice of his retirement from American Airlines on 1 Sep 11, finishing his airline career as a 737 check airman based in Miami. Since Russ Dennis left earlier that summer, Scott’s departure means that the only other ’72er in the Miami crew base is Dave Whitney, who was mentioned in the last edition of your class news as I had run into him on a London layover. A little unusual was the fact that all three of these guys

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Class of ’73, all has been abbreviated, but your complete inputs are on our web site http://usafa73.org. vr/Joe Kahoe, CS-07 General Norty Schwartz will be transitioning his Chief of Staff position on 10 Aug at Andrews AFB, with a Class of ’73 dinner on 9 Aug. Contact T Thompson at TAIRLAW@aol.com to sign up. Charlie Clatterbaugh: Working for GDIT on the Air Staff. In Dec, traveled for a series of visits and briefings to EUCOM, AFRICOM, and Component/Sub-Unified Commands (photo/story on web). “I’ve started discussions with Dave Ellis in CS-32 to start talking up our 40th reunion, and would like to do a CS-32 Commemorative Book.” Todd V. LaVigne, DAC; AMCOM Egypt Liaison Officer/US Embassy, Cairo Far East/Egypt Programs; todd.lavigne@us.army.mil: I’m about to head out for a 2-year tour in Cairo, working for AMCOM as one of 3 LNOs (great story on web). CS-03 update: Dr. Skip Vogler runs a clinic in Florida; Steve & Terri Anderson live in Yorktown, VA. On Dan Connelly: From Bob Munson: Dan had aggressive surgical intervention for a cancer of his palate in April at the Mayo clinic in Minnesota. You can follow his progress and leave a note by logging onto Caring Bridge at www.caringbridge.org/visit/danielpconnelly. Buddy Gammon

adds: We were Academy roommates for the final 2 years. I went to fly jets and Dan to Medical School, and spent more than 20 years as an AF Doctor. Dan retired to private practice in Kansas City. Dconnelly@kc.rr.com . Bob Munson reporting on Doug Dick: Doug has been bravely fighting a very nasty cancer for the last six years or so, and continues to be impressive. Please go to our web site for more on Doug, who was in hospice as of April 2012.

CS-19 update from John and Chong Sun Kuconis: I still live just North of Boston and work in a Director’s Office at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. I have been with MIT almost 13 years. Leo Aguinaldo is retired and has moved from California and lives in Layton UT. Erik Anderson is retired and does occasional consulting work and lives in East Tennessee, five miles from the Appalachian Trail. Chaplain Bud Blase and Beth live in San Antonio. Their son is at ENJPT at Sheppard AFB. Chris Black is a retired Delta pilot, now a sim instructor and lives in Newnan, GA. AJ Briding lives in Monument, CO and is a consultant. Dave Brown lives in Colorado Springs and is still a practicing surgeon. Dave Brier lives and teaches school in Japan. Smoke Clark is a retired Delta Pilot, who lives in Peachtree City, GA, has several businesses, and coaches middle school basketball. John Duncan lives in Maryland and works at State in DC. Sam Grier lives in the Springs, works for MITRE and has written several books. His latest book, 22 Lubianka Street, was just Sabre Society released. Drew Fetters is retired from an electric utility Donors and does consulting from Carbondale, CO. Dave Fulk lives in California. Bob Glitz lives in Des Plaines, IL and works for AAR Aircraft Services. One of his daughters graduated from Providence College this May and commissioned in the Army with follow-on to helicopter training at Ft Rucker. His other daughter will graduate from CS-19 and be stationed with Security Forces at Moody. Gary Hall lives in California and is President of GHH Engineering, Inc., an environmental company using technologies for soil and groundwater remediation. Bush Hanson lives in Sumter, SC and is an F-16 sim instructor at Shaw AFB. His son is at Clemson in AFROTC and will graduate in 2013. Don Kanipe is retired in Beavercreek, OH and is a member of the Dayton ballroom dance community. Ron Johnson lives in Tucson and flies for Southwest. Denny Maple lives in Phoenix and is a Check Airman for Southwest. Jim Mateos flies 777s for American out of DFW with primarily European routes and lives in Dallas, TX. Steve McCauley lives in Dallas. His son is a Flight Surgeon in the USAF. Fred McNeil lives in Memphis and teaches Calculus in High School in Mississippi. Craig Patchin has moved from Salt Lake City to Portland, OR and is the director of the Shriner’s Hospital in Portland. Don Ramm lives in his hometown of Chula Vista, CA, owns a T-34 aircraft, works with the Little League and runs his own computer business. Dale Randolph lives and works in Anchorage. John Rogacki lives in the Eglin area and is associate director of the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. Tony Rogers lives in California and does Disaster Recovery consulting in the Greater L.A. and Orange County area. Steve Trent moved from Cheyenne and is now Director of Medical Education for Danville Regional Medical Center, VA. He has two beautiful little grand children (boys). Don Wetekam is retired living and working in Oklahoma and is the president of AAR Aircraft Services. Ted Kammire: CS-18 Class of 1973 Mini-Reunion teddyyaa@aol.com. CS-18 (73) held a mini-reunion at the Garth Mansion in Hannibal, MO. Our gracious hosts were John and Julie Rolsen, who have run the B&B for the past 13 years. Friday began with a fly-over by Jay Beard; Saturday included 18 holes of golf plus a tour of historical Hannibal, MO birthplace of Mark Twain. After a sumptuous meal Saturday evening, we were entertained by Scott Parker and his renditions of period 1973 folk songs. Kirk Lilly’s tale of a bottle of 51-year-old Chivas Regal Scotch was the hit of the reunion and will be revealed at our 40th. Here’s their group photo.

Al Phillips, son Justin, bride Kristin, and Brenda Phillips. Roy Hart and his wife, Ricci, came to the wedding. Roy was Al’s Best Man years ago. See web for a great photo of Al Phillips and with son Justin at UPT graduation. Justin is a SkyWest pilot on military leave. He received every award in UPT, Top Stick in T-6 and T-38, Distinguished Grad, Daedalian Award and Commanders Trophy. Justin is a member of the Tucson ANG Unit, 162nd FW, flying F-16s. Bill Heely (CS 38): Bill is an OPFOR planner for combatant command joint computer assisted exercises. “My son Dan was promoted to O-4 on 1 March (Virginia Tech ‘01). He arrived in the AOR (near Doha) on March 29th.” (Great family update on web.) Charlie Childress’ desk is about 7 feet from mine. He’s running the OPFOR Air group at JCW.

(Left Seat) Bill Patterson (CS-07) and Mike Dendinger (CS-28) flew together as US Airways pilots. Bill was checking out on the Airbus A320 and Mike was the check airman. We had a blast. Tim Cooper (CS-40) and his wife, Wasana Masapunt Cooper, recently returned from a long trip to Thailand. “We visited Chiang Mai, the site of our original honeymoon and also Ubon Thani (the site of Udorn RTAFB) where we originally met in 1974. It was very enjoyable returning to many of the places we had visited while dating.” (Lots of pics on the web.)

Tim and Wasana Cooper at her parents’ grave in Ubon, Thailand.

The CS-18 gang: Sitting are Beaulah Kammire, Julie Rolsen, and Kathryn Geesaman. Kneeling: Becky Ballard, Sandy Jones, Susan Lilly, Janet McGrath, and Janet Parker. Standing CS-18: Dennis Geesaman, Scott Parker, Kirk Lilly, Mike McGrath, Brian Jones, Ted Kammire, John Beard, John Rolsen, and Mark Ballard.

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News Joe Brezovic 1209 Bayou Oaks Drive Friendswood, TX 77546 H: (281) 482-6860 E-mail: jbrezovic@comcast.net

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vanced training included scuba diving in the Florida Keys, on his way into Field Artillery, his first career choice. As for their own work, Bill and Penni are in the 4th year of family law business out of their home affecting positively, as much as prayerfully possible, the clients that visit them for family life that is breaking apart.

Hello Classmates, this news update from various means of exchanges. First and foremost is an honor presented to classmate Donald Hoffman. Air Force Materiel Command’s enlisted force nominated Donald to receive the highest honor they can bestow: the Order of the Sword. The AFMC command CMSGT says “Only a limited few are selected and General Hoffman has certainly proven himself to be the kind of leader that the order recognizes.” Don’s induction ceremony took place at the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB on March 30. Don has led AFMC since November 2008, and will retire this summer. Congratulations to Donald for that and 38 years of Air Force service!

Jim and Helen Shamess family

Don Hoffman Roy and Ann Lower have finished their four rooms upstairs on their island hideaway this past winter. Finally done with paying contractors. They have also completed a 40-foot-long granite retaining wall, putting down 700 brick pavers on the walkway and laying another 250 granite cobbles on the front porch. (Sounds like building a terrazzo!) Another recent highlight for Roy is his family held his 60th birthday celebration at the Boeing Museum of Flight. Dale and Ginny Burchby still sailing along in San Diego area. The invite is still there for sailing with them! Dale is still with Northrop Grumman with Ginny doing adult supervision of the family around there and elsewhere! Travels to: Their son in Boston, one daughter in NYC Chelsea area, one daughter in Brooklyn, and family reunions/ gatherings in Florida and Indiana this summer. For relaxing Dale, with his brother in law, did a two-man, three-harbor, four day sailing trip. Dale’s dad is 87. Rich and Peggy Bowman are still the traveling-most couple I have on record. This past fall they flew to HaSabre Society Donors waii for a volcano-fix, and other Pacific-island beauties. Rich didn’t mention golfing there…but he did do some holes in Michigan while Peggy visited the local yarn shops; riding horses too. They did other travels on a canoe through he calm waters of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. They portaged in Voyageurs National Park; hiked in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and; cruised in Alaska’s Inside Passage and through Tongass National Forest (our largest national forest, and Earth’s largest remaining temperate rainforest per Bowman Wikipedia). Other grand tours this past year included a 10-day raft trip down the Colorado River thru the Grand Canyon; then back through Colorado Springs to meet with classmates for the USAFA Exemplar Program Rich leads out for the Class of 1974/2014. One picture, in front of Mitche’s, was in the last issue. Oldest relative, Peggy’s Mom at 90. Joe and Joy Kelley are visiting the amusement parks such as a Disney World with younger family members. They are proud grandparents of granddaughter #2. Denny and Lin Hughes worked off a bucket list, skydiving from 13,500 feet…and still lived to visit with four grandchildren. Bill and Penni Van Horn had one son graduate from West Point in 2010 who went into Combat Engineering. Another son, Lee, is now a Firstie in West Point. Graduating this summer as well! Congratulations! His ad-

Jim and Helen Shamess are celebrating with grandchild number 6. The picture shows the family and all I recognize are the two oldest ones…can you? Jim mentioned a few items he does for good health: hang from feet, receive massage with an electric massager, sit in a healthy back chair, sleep with a healthy-body pillow under his head, another between his legs, take ibuprofen, and I am not sure whether prune juice was included or a possible laxative for his regimen. All this to balance his mental workout at the Pentagon. Their son Jon recently deployed to Afghanistan as a special ops tactical officer. During one mission their vehicle was struck by an IED, but the four men came out OK, and Jim adds, thank God. Oldest relative, Helen’s Mom at 89. JJ & Cynthia Romano are well. Their son Joey is at Laughlin for pilot training. JJ is still doing Cyber work in San Antonio and glider repair work at Ft Worth. Landing with gear up -- when it would not come down and you have to -- is hard on a glider. JJ is OK. Oldest relative, JJ’s Mom at 92. My old roommate, Nick Puzak, had a surprise for me this spring. He and JoAnne are proud parents of daughter, Stephanie, who is celebrates this 2012 as a USAFA graduate, 2nd Lt, with BS in Behavioral Sciences and a minor in French! Congratulations. Going through a textbook for JROTC, I found a short bio for a classmate of astronaut fame who is teaching Air Force JROTC! William A. Pailes retired as a colonel and now teaches the AFJROTC Program at Temple High School in Temple, TX. He is the Senior Aerospace Science Instructor. He has been teaching high school students since 2002 in another Texas town, and has only recently started in Temple. Bill flew as a payload specialist on Atlantis, its maiden voyage. It launched from Kennedy Space Center. 98 orbits, 1.6 million miles, and 97 hours later he landed at Edwards AFB. He worked with the Space Shuttle Department of Defense missions for a number of years and the Manned Spaceflight missions to 1990. We do not have a recent picture of Bill, and until an update comes in…here is a hero picture.

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Astronaut to Instructor William Pailes

After much searching around, I did find another classmate: Kris Buddinger from CS-12. Kris and Gail are in Arizona. Kris is overseer of 11 regions for food safety. They have 2 boys, 3 girls, and the 14 grandchildren are evenly divided between boys and girls. I feel relieved that we have located the members of my home squadron, at least by email, within the last two years. [Fred Bryant, where are you, again?] As each of you have learned though, contacts are short lived and soon lost again. May each you find a classmate you wonder about -- and reconnect for the next reunion or Exemplar meeting. May you live long and prosper.

Jeff Chappell 14729 Birken St. Herriman, UT 84096 (801) 878-HOWDY jtmjbda@sbcglobal.net

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Randy Barrett checking in: I had my FAA First Class Medical reinstated this year and have gotten some work flying at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale for subcontractor Aerosim and flying MD80s for Falcon Air in Miami. After my forced landing accident in Jul ’05 nobody thought I would ever be healthy enough to fly again! I’ve also been hired as an Adjunct Professor for a classroom course this summer. Way to go, Randy -- you proved that they can’t keep a good man down!

Randy Barrett Dave White: The Steve Canyon TV show from the late ’50s was one of the things that drew me to aviation at a young age. It’s being released on DVD, by a guy in California who got the rights from Milton Caniff’s estate. The website is: stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com/. There is a statue of Steve Canyon in Idaho Springs, CO -- wish I had known when we were cadets. Chris Glaeser: Karen and I spent a weekend with Rock Bottomley and Maggie at their home in Chicago -- a great chance to catch up, and a good reminder that friendships never grow old! We really enjoyed telling stories and lies about some of the Stalag 17 escapades -- some of the stories might have even been partially true! Here’s a challenge: Everyone find a chance to meet up with one or more of our classmates this year, and post a photo or two (travel over 100 miles, eliminating the easy Colorado connections). Somebody Sabre Society is certainly likely to find Dick and Michele Webber’s RV Donors in their driveway, so that might be an easy one, and we are still in Montreal, but retirement is beckoning due to the increasing crop of grandkids back in Minnesota. In February, Stan Siefke (Sluggo), Stan Collins (Chumley) and wives (Wanda and Mary, respectively) visited the Rocking L Ranch in Solvang, CA hosted by Rick (Duck) and Leigh Layman. It was branding season and Rick, the Cowboy Colonel, had some branding work to do at a neighbor’s. Great friends, great food and drink, hilarity at old stories...a great weekend! (See photo at the top of the next column.) Steve Lerum: Excuse me while I brag about my son, C2C Thomas Lerum, who just participated in the world-record-setting collegiate Wings of Blue formation jump in Arizona this week! youtube.com/watch?v=acib5mqcdU DC Dark Ages Party tradition continues: John and Bernadette Charlton (mostly the latter, according to John) put together another successful DAP

The Rough Riders -- here’s a summary. We ended up with 41 folks: Dan McCorry, Bob Miglin, Scott Arnott, Scott Smith, Jerry Manthei , Jim Carlson, Phil Saenger, Dusty Rhoades, Terry Young, John Charlton, John Sullivan, Dave Anhalt, Chris Soto, Bob Akers, Al Piotter, Joe May, Greg Schmitt, Colt Mefford, Bob Awtrey, Randy Chapman, Bill Lyerly, Mark Beesley and Muddy Waters. Andy Dichter took a nasty spill while jogging late last week and had surgery on his leg, and Al Bready’s wife, Billie, also had some medical issues late in the week. We missed Andy and Cheryl and Al and Billie, and we wish them a speedy recovery. Joe May suggested that we select 75 days into the new year as the “normal” date of our DAP. According to my calculations, that would be 16 March 2013. Ebola Bill Lyerly adds: Don Byers and Greg Collier could not join us in person, but they raised their drinks from Barcelona, Spain to toast the class. High plains drifter Dave McDaniel reports in from Lubbock: I taught Western Civilization I and II at Texas Tech -- nothing like having to be prepared to cover from 20,000 BC to the present all at one time! I didn’t make much progress on my doctoral dissertation, but I am trying to get that finished up by the end of the year. Our oldest son, Ryan, just came out on the USAF major’s list and is PCSing from Kirtland to Los Angeles AFB in the summer, and our youngest son, Robert, survived the great DFW-area tornado of April 2012 hunkered down with his middle school band until an hour after normal quitting time. Meet George Jetson: Phil Meteer is testing a flying car, the Terrafugia Transition, in Woburn, MA -- we are so jealous! Google for more details. Hey Phil, any chance we can get a class discount? Mark ‘Scotty’ Scott hog hunting in Central Florida with Rob ‘Stu’ Stewart for his 60th birthday. We need a beer to tell about Scotty’s over the shoulder blast!

Wild Hogs Jim Corrigan, Larry Fariss, Dave Pratt, and Wayne Willis met in March to fulfill another of Larry’s bucket list items. Larry and Dave played five days of golf with 36 holes each day. Wayne joined them for two days and Jim Corrigan and Roy Rice played at least four days with them. Afterward, Larry and Dave joined Rod Hennek in Augusta for the first two days of the Master”s. Since September, the Willises have three new grandsons, for a total of five grandsons and no granddaughters. (Vito Goyden should tell Wayne what he’s missing: He has five granddaughters and a new grandson born on Washington’s Birthday.)

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Class News Swimming with sharks? Nah, just dolphins -- even Bill Murray has his limits: Experienced a minor miracle called the “toe push.” You swim out about 100 yards, lie on your stomach with your arms out front and your legs extended behind you with your knees locked. The dolphins swim behind you, place their noses on the flat portion of your foot, and accelerate until you come up out of the water like you’re skiing -- and they propel you for 90 yards back to the dock, dropping off just as you reach the end. It’s the most amazing sensation -- the strength, coordination, and power of these animals is just amazing! I’ve always wanted to swim with the dolphins ever since I watched “Flipper” as a kid. Look for some great pictures of Duane Jones’ retirement ceremony, with 16 classmates attending, on the website. Jim Marshall represented the class at the Alamo Chapter’s Founder’s Day dinner -- thanks for your work, Jim. In closing, an update on the class website from Bill Estelle: I’ve just linked a Twitter account [@75bestalive] to the web site. I’ve found about two dozen classmates use Twitter (so far). I realize I’m preaching to the slide rule set but it’s another way to link members of the class. Some examples can be seen in both locations. I assume if someone Tweets, they don’t mind it being out there. I’ve begun archiving the Checkpoints columns, starting with 1975. They prove to be an interesting historical log. It will probably take a couple of years to get them all online. I just posted 1977. Thanks to everyone who submitted adventures, updates, and photos. Due to space limits, look for more photos and a couple videos on the website and ZoomieNation. See you around the campus! Dan Beatty 12196 Stanley Canyon Road Colorado Springs, CO 80921 H: (719) 488-1962 C: (719) 338-0276 E-Mail: whrlybrd76@aol.com http://www.AFAcademy.com/76

memorial contribution to a deceased squadron-mate. Donors contributing a combined amount of $10,000 or more will be recognized on the donor wall in the CCLD. Please consider Sabre Society membership or other regular giving processes to help us sustain our great Academy!” Thanks Joe! I echo Joe’s comments on Sabre Society. We have only 40 ’76ers who are Sabre Society members. An annual membership is less than $84 per month. General Class Stuff: Steve Stockdale made a nice video tribute to fellow CS-39 Radicals. You can access it at http://stevestockdale.com/portfolio/2012/spirit-of-76/. Denny Damiens asked for clarification on our entry date (03 Jul 72 is the official answer from USAFA Registrar) to adjust his civilian service dates. Pete Mapes sent a memorable photo.

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Drew Boyd, Pete Mapes, Mike Byron circa ’76 (1976 that is). Fellow ’76ers, By the time you receive this, the Class of 2012 will be part of the Long Blue Line! Commo check: If you have not received an email from me in the past 3-6 months, I do not have a current email address for you. Please send home and work email addresses to me at whrlybrd76@aol.com. Sad News: Keith ‘K.C.’ Steinbaugh died 22 Feb in Plano, TX, from a rare disease. Former roomie Steve Stockdale, fellow ‘76ers Joe Smith and Mike McGinnis attended the memorial service. Steve also authored the obituary in the GBNF section of this issue of Checkpoints. Thanks to Steve for his tribute. Please keep K.C.’s family Liz, Jordan, Jason, and Jeff in your thoughts and prayers. Moving up/moving on: Howie Thompson retired, and Greg Vitalis will retire, from the USAF Reserve. No info on future plans. Mark Welsh and Willie Shelton identified in a recent AF Times article as two of six likely top candidates for next USAF Chief of Staff when Gen Sabre Society Schwartz retires this summer. Congrats to Howie and Donors Greg! Good luck to Mark and Willie! Class Gift update: Joe Wysocki sent me an update from the committee. “To date our class has over $654,000 in verbal pledges, with over $626,000 in pledge forms received. These numbers are with a participation rate of just over 20%. While we’ve exceeded our dollar goal, we’re still far below what we thought we could achieve in participation. Our Academy has continuing needs. In particular, many future CCLD programs will require outside funding for success. So, we encourage all ’76ers who haven’t participated in this drive to still consider making a gift, and help us spread the word to other classmates about the importance of giving back to our school. Some classmates have expressed an interest in pooling money to make a

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Pete reports 36th Sq reunioned in Las Vegas mid-March, honcho’d by John Hope (may visit this area June-ish), with Lee & Angie Cuevas, Jimmy & Becky Deaux, John & Lori Dedic, Jim Fagan & daughter Jillian, Jim Fisher, John & Nino Hope with son Alex & girlfriend Jordan, Roger & Marla Kontak, Greg & Cathy Lewis, Pete & Nona Mapes, Nat & Tracy Millican, Steve & Linda Odiorne, Paul & Mary Prange, Steve & Kathy Pruss with son Greg & girlfriend, Lauren Trottier, Mike & Diane Woodman, and Tom & Martha Wyman attending. AWOL’s were Ron Baran, Mike Byron, Dave Connors, Steve Frye, Steve Hall, Steve Jorgensen, Vince Ortiz, Wayne Perron, Tony Pryzbyslawski, Ky Webb, Tom Young, and Honorary Pink Panther Pat Murray (left after 7 semesters at USAFA). (I failed to get photos from the on-line site; apologies guys). They hope to do it again. Kim Weber, still a United Airbus captain, says the merger with Continental is progressing and he is looking forward to seeing other classmates from that side. Greg Boomgaard may be in this area for 2012 graduation. Ed Morley & family visited south Italy, also Corleone village in Sicily of “Godfather” fame. He just hit the big 59 and is still tearing up the European airways in his State Dept job. Ben Dilla moved from Training Manager at Fannie Mae to Organization Development Manager at American Airlines in December. His team provides leadership development, talent management, and OD support to Domestic Airport Services and Cargo. Bill Dunn named “Top Doctor” by US News & World Report, awarded “Citation Honor Pin” (only 1 of 2 Citation 501 owners in US with this award) for over 1000 Citation hours, and daughter Lisa received full merit-based grant to Harvard for a master’s degree. Congrats Dunn’s! (See photo at the top of the next column.) Cliff Smith flies for FEDEX and dined with Pat Hanley recently. Pat lives in Columbia, SC and commutes to Memphis. Cliff also saw Phil Julien and Monty Lee. Cliff’s daughter Melissa is a 2Lt nurse at Langley. Scott Gough reports Jay Hepner was elected head of United Airlines pilots

John “Lou” Michels, Jr. 4107 Harvey Ave. Western Springs, IL 60558 (312) 463-3412 jmichels@lbbslaw.com loumichels55@gmail.com

Bill Dunn and his Citation (but no rotor blades Bill!). union chapter of ALPA. Jay, send me a note when you get a chance. Randy Muncy found Bob Bush. Bob, in S Carolina, is recovering from aortic aneurism surgery. Speedy recovery Bob! Ray & Carmen Santee in Santa Cruz passed a no-notice hospitality check from Hal & Penne Holt from Minneapolis. Ray says late snows may keep them skiing into May. Darn the luck! Rick Barfield retired in ’96, lives in Tampa, works on projects for F-22 & F35, survived a bout with cancer 09-11 and is doing well now. Dave Mitchell retired from Delta in 2009, also won a bout with cancer, should be headed home late May/Early Jun. Says he is proof that THE SPIRIT LIVES! Mike Ponzani says Andy Probert will be his workmate at Flight Safety (Columbus, OH). Mike doing the Peletonia bike ride again this year, raising funds for James Cancer Center at OSU. Anyone that wants to ride with him, just holler. Les Garrison finished 2 years in Afghanistan, now CONUS training soldiers/Marines pre-deployment. Charlie Vono says Nita is scaling back her turtle rescue efforts, so fewer turtles at the Vono abode. Tim Cantwell sent a photo of ’76ers putting a football plaque in Falcon Stadium last fall.

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Reunion Notes: I wanted to lead off with a quick update on the class reunion, which is set for October 24 - 28 at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Dan Jarka (Pamela) is the reunion committee chair, and assisted by Mike Reynolds (Barbara), John Buckley (Linda), Randy Vieira (Jane), Chuck Delich (Lisa), and Paul Pirog (Mary). By the time you read this, efforts will already be well under way, but if you want to volunteer for anything, please contact any of these gentlemen. An easy way to do so is via the class Facebook page, where Dan has been regularly updating reunion plans. C/3C Mike Gerardi: Although the details may be Sabre Society hazy, I’m sure many of you remember that we lost one Donors of our own during our third class year in a T-33 accident on September 11, 1974. Mike Gerardi had just transitioned from CS-10 to CS-12 and was killed in the accident, along with Captain Marvin Meyer, a USAFA Life Sciences Instructor. In consonance with our 35th reunion year, Jim Moschgat (Becky) has laid out and will execute a memorial service at the crash site on June 16, 2012. Jim already sent out a detailed ops plan of the service, along with a map to the crash site and a scheduled series of gettogethers with people associated with the accident. I published the plan as well on Facebook and will talk about the memorial in the next class column, but I wanted to acknowledge Jim’s single-handed efforts here at remembering one of our classmates who did not make it to graduation. Thanks to both Jim and Becky for their work. With any luck we’ll also hear about the memorial directly at the reunion. Beards, Part 1: Every now and then I get a message from John Katona, who appears and then disappears out of my mailbag like some mountain will o’the wisp. This time, John left me a visual record of his “just passing through” in the form of a photo:

’76ers with football plaque at Falcon Stadium. Tim also led a business delegation to Ningbo, China for a regional trade agreement. Says “seems I took a turn east instead of west when looking for airport biz”. Craig Manson now General Counsel of Westlands Water District, the largest agricultural water district in the United States. May have a special project of interest in the future. Terry Williams, Pat O’Brien, Stan Correia, Terry New, Terry Newton, Phil Julien, Steve Wilson, Luckey Dunn, John Andrew, Jed Alexander, Tom Trainor, and T.S. Kelso all checked in with an email update or nothing to report. Thanks classmates! Well classmates, again time to stick a fork in it. Send me your notes, inputs, address updates, suggestion, junk mail, etc and I will do 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

JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY! YOUR MONEY HELPS FUND CADET WING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED. CALL (719) 472-0300 X200.

In Bruges: The beer, the beard, the man – John Katona. John took this shot this year in Belgium as he backpacked across Europe. Weren’t we supposed to do that right after graduation? Anyway John, thanks for the update and I hope you had a safe return trip home to Colorado. So I can recognize you at the reunion, please don’t shave until November. Beards Part 2: One of the pleasures that social media brings me is reading the musings of Grady Booch (Jan). Grady’s twitter feed appears on Facebook regularly and we touch base occasionally on any one of a myriad of topics that are simultaneously running through his head. At some point I am going to devote a significant part of a column to Grady’s career, but for now, I will simply add to the list of pictures that I’ve posted featuring Grady and well known people. (Actually, I should make that “Grady with other well known people”; Mr. Booch has a significant following in the IT world as I discovered when I saw one of his books, translated into Russian, sitting on the shelf at Zhukovsky Airfield during one of my Russia trips.) This time, it’s Grady and Jan polishing Apples with some guy named Steve Wozniak:

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Class News flying for Southwest, and Diane notes that they have actually met at a fire because she volunteers as a Disaster Response Social Worker. My hat is off to both of you and congratulations, ET, on making a difference. Bill Lord (Cindy) will be hanging it up by the time you read this. Three stars and 35 years is a pretty good run and he and Cindy will be moving to New Hampshire, where they have just completed their dream log house – congratulations Bill on a remarkable career and my very best wishes on the next step. Bill also notes that he bumped into TC Jones (Liz) while they were both wandering around in the Pentagon. I believe that leaves three of our folks on active duty – Ray Johns (Diana), at AMC; Curt Chichowski (Laura) who is doing something at the CIA, and Jim Glass (Susan), who is a chaplain at Fairchild. Anyone else out there – let me know. Signoff: That’s it from slowly warming banks of Lake Michigan. I hope you all have a terrific thaw and are heading into a summer of fun. Be seeing you. Grady and Jan Booch flanking Steve Wozniak. That’s a great picture, and I should also note that I never see Grady in photos anymore without the Hawaiian shirt, apropos of his near permanent residence in the Central Pacific. Thanks for the update, and I hope we see you guys in October in somewhat cooler circumstances. Beards Part 3: This next part is noteworthy because it relates to something I want the class to do more of – networking. Dave Gragan (Mary) connected up with Dutch Remkes (Susie) in D.C. recently. As you might recall, Dave has worked for years in high-end government procurement positions and now manages procurement for the newly stood up Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in D.C. Dutch is doing a variety of consulting jobs post-retirement, and Dave hauled him around D.C. to introduce him to a several federal and District officials. Dutch recently returned from Africa, where he operated successfully, notwithstanding exposure to God-knowswhat diseases. Perhaps that explains the beard that Mr. Remkes is barely sporting in the shot below, with Dave, Mary and their kids.

Dutch, Dave, Mary, and Julia, David and Sarah Gragan Great picture, folks, although of the three follicle entries, I have to give the beard title to Mr. Katona. Dave proposes a reunion competition of getting as many members of each squadron back for the reunion as possible. He is working on Tiger Ten (huzzah!), and I’ll at least take up promoting the challenge here. Go for it folks – those of you with squadron contacts, start making them and getting people signed up. Assorted Mailbag News: I got a note from Gene Fernand (Karen), detailing that he and Wally Zane (Renee) ended up flying the same Airbus 320 into Chicago last month. Frenchie indicated that they intended to call during their layover but it kind of got busy because there was a slight blizzard going on. There is more to this story that I will try to fill in next time around, because it involves the picture that Frenchie sent, but for now just know that the two of them were playing rock, paper, scissors in the cockpit to see who got the landing. At least that is Frenchie’s story. With the retirement of the Space Shuttle orbiters, Tom Jones (Liz) has been making a myriad of public appearances and speaking engagements on the future of manned spaceflight. Tom, eloquent as always, has also been hawking his book about Thunderbolts in World War II. Link into Tom’s web page or again, check Facebook for updates on his appearances – he’ll be giving Grady Booch a run for his money shortly. Diane Tullia wrote me a nice blurb about ET – he was selected as one of 21 “Volunteers of LUV” by Southwest, for which he pushes metal out of Texas. This is a big deal -- ET works as a volunteer fireman when he is not

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Bob Kay 40411 Tesoro Lane Palmdale, CA 93551 Home:(661) 274-2201 Work: (661) 824-6426 Email: Robert.kay78@gmail.com

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Greetings ’78ers… Wow…seems like I just sent out the Winter article and here it is Springtime in the lovely California high desert already! The temp today was actually 93 (late April) so I guess winter is finally over—such as it was. Actually a goodly amount of stuff to report this quarter…my heartfelt thanks as always to you guys who took the time to write and bring the class up to date. First out the chute is Steve Fikar who is still living in Shalimar, FL (just outside Eglin). He and his bride, Janet, were married a few years back and built their dream home (sent a very nice picture of them back in ’06). He retired from the software business in 2005 and (in his words) “am now pretty much a bum, doing a lot of exercising, volunteering, and things around the house.” In the “It’s a REAL small world department” Steve further wrote that: “A little over a year ago Janet and I went on a cruise around Italy and we spent a few days in Rome prior to the cruise. One day when visiting the Vatican, we were at the absolute top of St Peters Basilica at a little viewing area above the huge dome. There were only a few dozen people there. I just happened to notice a USAFA class ring on the guy standing next to me. I looked at the guy, not recognizing him at first, and I told him I had one of those too. To make a silly story short, he was Steve Whitman, one of the ’77 group commanders when we were 2nd classmen, and he was visiting the Vatican with his church group. (Steve is always featured in the Proctor & Gamble ads in Checkpoints.) We had a great time visiting and catching up that afternoon. In the attached picture look at the gold ball directly above Steve’s head. We ran into each other just below that gold ball, on the little viewing area at the top of the dome. Boy it’s a small world. By the way, the cruise we went on was sponsored by the AOG. There were probably 20 grads on the trip, mostly older guys. It was fun talking to them. AOG-sponsored trips are pretty neat. I’d recommend them.” Even though it was sponsored by the AOG, the chances of seeing someone you actually knew decades ago seems fairly remote to me! Thanks Steve for sharing.

Steve and Steve

Former roomie Dave Wetlesen sent a couple of great shots. Dave went back on active duty in Sept of 2009 and has been toughing it out at Ramstein. The first picture is him and Dave “Limo” Scott at Hereklion air patch in Greece during a gas stop as they were traveling back from Africa. Limo is the USAFE A3/10 (Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration) and will be hanging up his spurs and retire in the near future. Dave works in Limo’s group as the ISR Operations Division Deputy Chief (A3I).

Limo and Dave The second shot is a great close up of Dave, his son Capt Michael E. Wetlesen (USAFA ’07) in the background and Dave’s grandson Michael E. Wetlesen, Jr who was born on March 26th just after Dave returned from the aforementioned TDY. Michael is a Security Forces Officer at Sembach. Great timing Dave and some very cool pictures.

Dave, Mike and Mike Jr. Received a nice message from Ken Charpie. After seeing the shot of Ron Furstenau in last quarter’s article it reminded him of the time back in 1984 when Ken was trying to get sent to school for his Chem master’s so he could also teach at the Zoo. Unfortunately, during his Chem department interview with the now Athletic Director, Dr. Mueh, he was told that a flash message had just been received stating that B-52 Navs were critical manned and no longer available for special duty assignments like USAFA. However, he was told 3 months later that he would be going to AFIT to get a Master’s degree in Strategic and Tactical Science…go figure! Even though he wanted to teach at the Academy it all worked out. According to Ken, he is in the process of: “transitioning to my 3rd career now. After Sabre Society retiring, I took a contractor support position here at Donors Wright-Pat, and have been doing that since July 2011. Being in one place doing pretty much the same thing for 11 years now has gotten stale for me. So, I have cut that back to part-time work now, and am also working at Wright State University part-time, teaching in the Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Department. So, all these years after not getting to go teach Chemistry, I’m now teaching PE. My current class load this quarter is one section each of Scuba Diving and Advanced Scuba Diving. At the end of this year I intend to phase out the support contractor work and just teach part-time, and have a bit of leisure time.” That all sounds good, especially the leisure time. Ken also reports that he and Kathy are empty nesters with both kids being out of the Army and Navy, but are on opposite coasts starting their families. His daughter Kerry and family are currently looking to move from upstate New York (north of Albany) to New Hampshire. Son Ken-

neth and family is settled down in Eugene, Oregon. Great news Ken and thanks, sure you’ll enjoy all that scuba diving. Couple of big items about ’78 doing more leadership and command. JJ Jackson will pin on his third star and become the Chief of the Air Force Reserve/Commander, Air Force Reserve Command! He’s been the deputy to the Chief of Air Force Reserve while on military leave from Southwest Airlines. Not sure at this point when it will take place but am hoping to get a picture of his pin-on for a future article. Also, Paul Madera has been named as the new Chairman of the USAFA Endowment (he was one of the Endowment’s first Founding Directors). According to the Endowment announcement, Paul “is currently Managing Director at Meritech Capital Partners which is a $2.6 billion venture capital fund he co-founded in 1999. He invests in private technology companies in the SaaS, storage, e-commerce, financial, and medical device sectors. He has led Meritech’s investments in several of the most successful tech companies of the era, including Facebook. He was named as number 30 on the Forbes “Midas List” of venture capital investors in 2011.” Congratulations to you both. Speaking of G.O.’s a few other guys besides Limo are hanging it up after many years of faithful service. Tom Owens has been the Aeronautical Systems Center commander at Wright-Pat, Don Alston was commanding 20th AF at F.E. Warren and Mark Zamzow was the 3rd AF Vice at Mildenhall. Many thanks gents for all you have done for this great nation and Air Force. Unfortunately, I’ve run out of room again. Thanks again for all the great news this quarter. May you all have a great Spring…see you in the Summer. God Bless. ‘78 is Great!

Mike Watson 6438 W. John Cabot Road Glendale, AZ 85308-1071 (602) 993-0840 michaelwatson@cox.net

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MEN OF ’79! This quarter’s Class News is packed tighter than a liberal’s HR file. If you stop reading now, you’ll hurt my feelings and remain unaware that I’ve been in and out of Iran three times. YOU WANT THIS; YOU NEED THIS; LET’S DO THIS! GENERAL OFFICER UPDATES: BGen Tru Eyre adds another star w/the Colorado ANG. Maj Gen Andy Busch gets his third star to become vice commander of Air Force Material Command. That’ll make a GREAT photo whenever USAF’s tallest three-star stands next to it shortest four-star as he’ll serve under the Air Force’s first female full general, Class of ‘80’s Janet (Libby) Wolfenbarger. Lt Gen CR Davis takes another three-star position as military deputy in AF Secretariat’s acquisition office. Lt Gen Burt Field also keeps his third star and becomes Deputy Chief of Staff for Ops, Plans, and Requirements. No pressure, but that spot is almost a guaranteed fourth star! Another current three-star, Lt Gen Frank Gorenc, moves to Assistant Vice Chief of Staff. That’s reportedly the toughest position in our US Air Force; thanks for stepping up Gork. Finally, Lt Gen Steve Mueller becomes Inspector General of the Air Force. Those of us with children serving in today’s US Air Force sleep better at night knowing our GREAT nation is well led by these and other classmates. PHOTO OPS: Played a round of golf w/Jan-Marc Jouas. Afterward, we attended an Arizona AOG gathering to watch Air Force beat Army. Also

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Class News watching the game (and doing LOT’S of Falcon points-scored-pushups) was astronaut Bill Gregory shown wearing the number of his shuttle flight (67) w/Juice. Bill is Vice President for Business Development at Qwaltec, Inc. Scott Hay sent a group picture of Men and their smokin’ hot ladies watching the 2012 Atlantic Hockey Association Championship (the Falcons won the tournament). From left are Scott & Cindy Hay, Cheryl & Dave Gilday, Brian & Cindy Kelly, and hosts Mike & Junie Leutze. Like a good SMACK, Mike called minutes for the morning meal formation!

Last year’s all-military-academies Classes of ’79 golf tourney held at Generals Ridge Golf Course in Manassas, VA yielded this motley crew: From left are Randy Helms, Mike Roller, Dave Thomasson, Bob Edmonds, Guy Walsh, Ken Kraak, Mike Ashley, Trevor Albro, Brian Koechel, and John Dallas. Greg Nemeth-seated.

DRIVE-BY REPORTERS: Firstie roommate Steve (“Gramps”) Barnes is a gramps. In addition to being a fantastic skier, fly fisherman, half-marathon runner, and great roomie (unless you put shaving cream in his dress shoes before the noon meal formation), he’s flying domestic trips w/Delta in the B767 international category. Multiple-time roomie Gary Rower still flees for Delta (the Airbus A330) but relocated after 17 years in Georgia to beautiful Breckenridge, CO. Summertime visitors included Gary Erkes, Gary Harris, and Justin Rueb. No one visits in wintertime when snowfall reaches 30 feet! Can anyone say “The Shining”? Gary doesn’t let his “hobby” as a Delta Airlines Captain interfere with his daytime job of airshow stunt pilot. Check him out at www.roweairshows.com! He too is a grandfather (twice-Hayden & Dillon). He cut Sabre Society his ski season short by tearing a ligament in his right Donors ankle and fracturing one of bones. Following surgery, he spent a lot of time looking out the window. Always great to hear from Doolie squadron mate Ken Wavering. Wave reports a full year of three teenagers’ sports activities, college tours, drivers licenses (increased auto insurance!), and a trip to Hawaii. Saw an old picture of fellow Honor Guard stud Jim Jiminez in “AF Magazine” reflecting on his days as an F-111 Aardvark pilot back in 1985. He is now US consul at the US Embassy, Harare, Zimbabwe. Harry Collins is a First Command Financial Advisor and doing great work serving clients in Papillion, NE. UHT (Rotorhead) classmate Brock Eshleman (who would later get his wings “fixed”) thawed out in Arizona with his wife, Marianne, and visited casa-de-Bonnie for a BBQ. He still does the airline pilot thang when he’s not visiting the ER after numerous bike mishaps. Doolie roomie and first assignment helo bud Mark Stearns (who also got his “fling-wings” fixed) spent time in Arizona too. I tried my best to take Sterno down on a local par 60 course but failed. I lent him my old

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clubs and a bag full of water balls but couldn’t overcome his smooth swing. Afterwards, Miss Bonnie joined us at a Japanese restaurant where we tried to remember stuff that happened a looooong time ago. He’ll open his own Chick-fil-A in the Chicago area soon. Walt Wright and I caught up in our annual golf outing at Luke AFB. He attributes his weakness off the tee to “atrophy”, whatever that is. Around the greens, he’d remind me of my three allowed verbal comments: 1. Nice putt, Sir; 2. I’ll buy the first round; 3. I’ll take the fat one. Bonnie joined us later at his home and Ingrid showed us what lunch is supposed to look like. Randy Helms continues serving on The Class Advisory Senate. They solicit inputs from graduates and meet directly w/the Superintendent and the AOG President. Reach out and touch him at mhelms1979@comcast. net. Scott Adams checked in: “I quit flying when I left the AF; no need for it if not in a Hawg. I ski patrol at Ski Cooper near Leadville, CO and teach science to middle schoolers at Colorado Springs Christian School’s campus in Woodland Park, CO. Live way west of the Springs in drive through country.” He was named Colorado Teacher of the Year by the Challenger Center for Space Science Education. Thanks for the update, Scotty! Iron-Man Steve Rakel , our fittest ’79er, has completed two Triathlons (‘08/’11)! Rake is the AFJROTC Senior Aerospace Instructor in Pearsall, TX and a big supporter of “Wounded Veterans”. Great Work! DINING OUT: Three classmates own eateries: Mark Lukasik-“The Bagel Factory, Inc” in Ft Myers, FL; Pete Withers-“61 Local” in Brooklyn, NY; and Bob Edmonds-“San Vito Ristorante Italiano” in Centreville, VA. NO GREATER LOSS: I failed to have addressed the death of Colin Shumate (USAFA Class of ’10), the son of Jim Shumate, in my last article. He was mentioned in the “Gone But Not Forgotten” section of “Checkpoints” magazine; however, I didn’t make the connection. Shu and I go all the way back to Doolie Fr ench class and later served together on the PACAF staff. As a tribute to Colin, Jim redrew his estate plans and made a provision in his will to benefit the Air Force Academy. Jim said it well: “We earned a degree from USAFA; we can afford to give a little back for that degree.” ONE OF US: Chuck Jones passed away after a valiant battle w/cancer. A Doolie w/me in 24 Phantoms, he was both smart and funny. As a Firstie, he performed w/the cadet saber drill team. Jonesy and I served on Okinawa together when he was still flying F-4 recon. Fly Safe! NEXT UP: John Pardo at pardo_john@hotmail.com or 1843 Miller Dr, Dupont, WA 98327; (253) 507-4889 (h).

Don Myers 401 Chambray Hill Peachtree City, GA 30269-4247 (770) 631-1429 E-mail: DMyers80@hotmail.com ZoomieNation.usafa.org FB group: “USAFA Class of 1980”

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When one of us is hurting . . . . We learned from Art Smith, just after my last deadline, that JC and Nancy Dodson’s son, Jared, was killed in a ramp accident at the Dulles Airport while driving a baggage cart. The family sent me a nice card, thanking our class for the flowers we (the class) sent. Lots of moving around and moving up. Also past my deadline last time, it was announced that Janet (Libby) Wolfenbarger was nominated for her fourth star. There was a nice, onepage article in Checkpoints, but on behalf of the class, I wanted to add our own, Good on ya! to Janet. She’s returning to Wright-Pat AFB to command the AF Material Command. I’m certain she’s glad to be leaving DC for her home state. About the same time as Janet’s good Sabre Society news, CD Moore was nominated for his third star and is Donors moving from Vice Commander, AF Material Command to Commander, AF Life Cycle Management Center, WPAFB. That’s a lot of ’80 stars for one base! Terri Meyer chose an interesting post-AF intel job: She’s a Foreign Service Officer (got in on her first try; some folks try for ten-plus years!) In her own words: “Whoo hoo—Flag Day, where my A100 Foreign Service Officer Orientation Class found out where our first posting will be—and I got the flag of Belize! So, I’ll be going to the capital city of Belmopan as a consular officer in Oct, after Spanish language and consular training. No, I don’t know how to dive; yes I’m going to learn, and of course I will welcome visitors!” TJ Johnson is “on my way down a different path.” He just finished his Boeing contract, the basing project for the Global Hawk program at Langley AFB. That ended 36 straight years with the AF, both in the blue suit and civvies. He was offered several follow-on jobs, but is taking some time off.

Part of this will be spent in Carmel, CA, with his aging father. “One bequeath I received, from my ACC boss, is the book, Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance (Buford).” Sounds like something that could apply to many of us trying to figure out this next phase of our lives. George (Rox Ann) Ryan says all is well. Their youngest is in the Navy SEABEES in Mississippi; daughter is customer relations manager for a Toyota dealer in Maryland; and oldest son manages a sandwich store in Annapolis. George has gone from running the Airspace Security Program for the Secret Service to their Liaison Division, where he overseas agents who interact with other agencies. “For some reason, my boss and the higher-ups figure a retired O-6 with 30 years active and Reserve might speak the military lingo and know some folks.” Still in DC and plans to give it a handful more years. He was in Hawaii during the last presidential vacation and “had to fly with the Coast Guard on board an H-65 Dolphin. If you look closely, you’ll see the patches on the flight suit are my USAF ones, to include my Strategic Air Command patch on the right breast. Once a SAC-Trained Killer, always a SAC-Trained Killer!”

George in Hawaii From Rob Tremaine: “In January, Denise and I celebrated the birth of our first grandson. My oldest daughter married a fine, terrific man (albeit a USNA grad) and while he was in another room for a few minutes, my daughter quickly dressed our grandson in more suitable attire for a special photo shoot. If all goes well (and we hope starting early really matters), he’ll be more comfortable wearing blue shirts with the letters ‘AF’! When we’re visiting our three daughters and their families in either DC or Monterey, we call San Diego home, where I work for the Defense Acquisition University.” I asked Rob for more job details: “DAU looks for practitioners who ‘lived’ the acquisition world, since DAU is a Corporate University that depends on practical experience. Having spent most of my career in the acquisition community, I was a good fit. After I retired from the USAF in 2005, I applied to DAU and won a position as a professor in COS as their site director. A year later, I was selected for an Associate Dean position in San Diego, one of DAU’s five regional sites. ”

ing and soaring at our Academy his first semester. “Before the Army-Air Force game, the freshman in his squadron shaved his head, [took] all his furniture and clothing, except for his Red Sox pajama bottoms (gotta leave the important stuff), and left him with a small tent filled with sand. He’s back at West Point this semester and shouldn’t have to worry about losing his hair again—at least until he gets closer to 50.” Youngest, Sean, is at Princeton on . . . an Army ROTC scholarship. “(Traitor #2—where did we go wrong?) He plans on majoring in International Relations with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies. He took a year of Arabic in high school and loved it. As a matter of fact, even though his handwriting in English is near to illegible, his handwriting in Arabic is practically perfect—go figure.” “Steve is still a (slimy) contractor with General Dynamics—but I love him anyway. For the past year, he has been basically living in Scottsdale, AZ during the week and commuting back to Massachusetts on the weekends. I almost wanted to start referring to him as my boyfriend. When it snowed over eight feet this past winter, [always] when he was out of town, I started calling him other things, too. This fall, he finally got to stop traveling and has been home. His commute here is really tough: up the stairs, go right down the hallway, third door on the left.” Memory Lane. I finally got to shoot the M-1—the rifle we lived with for three years (in case you forgot!) My father purchased a new M-1D (sniper version), still packed in Cosmoline from the 1940s, through the Civilian Marksmanship Program. After admiring it for a couple of years, he decided he was a shooter, not a collector—so, he occasionally puts a few rounds through it. Without the scope, I was easily able to shoot the head portion of a metal target at 200 yards. Your turn to fire some words back at me. Rich Trentman 11102 Asbee St. Falcon, CO 80831-8170 Home: (719) 494-8438 Work: (719) 234-0754 Cell: (719) 640-9586 rtrentman@usafa-grads.com Class Website: www.usafa81.com

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RIt is a beautiful Spring day in Colorado as I write this article. I had lunch with my family after going to the Cadet Chapel for Mass this morning. It provided me a good moment to reflect upon all the things we went through at USAFA and how fast our lives have flashed by since. I have an appointment to go in to the Athletic Department this week to select indoor seats in the Pressbox for the 2012 season. Remember the 1978 Georgia Tech – Air Force game in snow? When did I become an indoor wimp? After sitting for many, many years outside in the wind and cold, I made the bold choice to upgrade this year. My son, Patrick (2014), has finals in a couple weeks and will be a 2 degree. I don’t want it to end! Well, son #3 is working on his Eagle Scout application, so that will make 3 Eagle Scout sons and he is interested in the Academy, so there is hope for another. I may have to seek counSabre Society seling from our many classmates that have already put Donors sons and daughters through our great school. Yes, it is a great school! Civilian universities are no match for the experiences we had at USAFA. Our Academy was and still is a great opportunity! Class News: The most faithful and reliable of our class officers, Randy Worrall, class VP, sent me an email in this last cycle. Actually, Randy and I keep in close touch, both personally and on class business items. Randy moved to Utah last year (I think) and has become a range safety officer

Rob and USAFA 2029 Got a two-year catch-up letter from Dina Webb—the better half of Steve Webb. “The Webb School for Wayward Boys is no more.” They graduated the last of their three boys from their home school. Oldest, “Brandon transferred to the Univ of Arizona in Jan of 2010 and changed his major from Architecture to Computer Science. While working full-time as an intern at an architectural firm in Boston, he discovered two things: He had an intuitive knack for computers and successful architects have no life.” Middle son, Ryan, is a junior at West Point and had a great time golf-

The Agees at 2011 Graduation.

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Class News for the local county shooting range in his spare time. I’m still working on him to get re-engaged in Boy Scouts. I have been very active in scouting for decades, so I’m always looking to get an Eagle Scout re-engaged! Jim Agee sent me some great photos -- thanks! (The rest of you are bad for not sending me any pictures this cycle) He and Michele (Pompili ’80) are very proud that their daughter, Chelsea (2011), graduated from USAFA! Next up, is their son, Mitch, in 2013. “Beef” aka Maj Gen Richard Haddad is now the Deputy Chief of AF Reserve at the Pentagon. Tom Schulter is now in Seattle and working as a Boeing safety pilot on the 777/787. Tom’s son finished Navy corpsman training as an honor grad in San Diego. Curt McIntyre sent me an update and he is living in his hometown in Montana and commutes to Seattle as a Delta A330 captain. Curt recently attended Brian Dominguez’s pin-on to Brig Gen at the Pentagon. Other attendees of note were Jay Santee, Tom Harwood, Pam McGinty, and Fred Weishoff. Jay is working Space policy issues; Tom flies for American and works for the CSAF; Pam works in SAF/ IA; and Fred works in SAF/AQ. Ken Smith says he works near Pam at the Pentagon. Alex Baggett kindly called me on my birthday. It was great to hear from my roommate and also very considerate of him to remember! Alex is doing well flying for FedEx. Oh, Jim Agee was kind enough to throw me a couple more Reunion 2011 photos of Mach One.

Mike Sinisi’s e-mail list (mike.sinisi@ecs-federal.com) for updates. We do know that our hotel will be the Embassy suites, and that you can make your reservations now by clicking through a link in the Class Reunion area of the AOG’s website. We also know that the football game will be against New Mexico, so Senate candidate Heather Wilson will have to decide whether she’s going to upset her potential constituents or her classmates by choosing which side to cheer for. It’ll give her a good chance to demonstrate her political skills! Self-proclaimed “average cadet” Tom Sylvester should be a shoo-in as publicity chairman on the reunion committee after putting together a great (if snarky) video promoting the event. View at your own risk by going to http://youtu.be/kBIUW1dE1sg. Don’t say I didn’t warn you! Speaking of the reunion, Jim “WAM” Harkins wrote to say that he’d try to work out an F-4 flyby for the reunion weekend. He works at Holloman AFB, NM flying QF-4 drones, a job he’s had since he retired as a Lt Col in 2007. Jim had a great career, flying for 22 of 25 years. He flew A-10s, Jaguars (with the RAF), gliders at the Zoo, and F-16s. He says flying and remote controlling the QF-4 is fun, but sitting in the jet as a Safety Pilot when someone else is remote flying SUCKS! Jim also mentioned that Kevin Dunshee works down the street on Holloman AFB in the Test Group. Sabre Society Phil Bossert wrote to say that he too would be atDonors tending the reunion, so when you see him pat him on the back and congratulate him for dodging a figurative bullet. While on his 3rd deployment to Afghanistan in late January, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and medevaced to Walter Reed for treatment. Miraculously, a team of neurosurgeons was able to remove the cancerous tumor without any ill effect. They “got it all”, and are confident that the cancer did not originate somewhere else. Phil endured a round of radiation and chemo as a precaution, but has an excellent prognosis. He’s feeling fine and is even back to running. His doctors told him that had they not removed the tumor, he’d have died of a stroke by the end of March. He received more good news the day after surgery – his daughter received an appointment to the USAFA Class of 2016! Here’s a picture of Phil with his family in Ranger Stadium in Dallas seven weeks post-op. The baseball player is his son Andrew, a sophomore at the University of Dallas, a recruited baseball player on academic scholarships. Andrew is also a member of Air Force ROTC through the University of North Texas. Future cadet Stephanie is in the picture along with Phil’s wife.

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30-year Reunion tailgate My pleas for emails and photos failed miserably this past quarter, so I’ll once again throw out a request for updates and pictures. It really only takes a few moments to throw ole’ Rich an email or give me a call. Don’t make me have to resort to putting Trentman photos in Checkpoints! I have so many fond memories of all of you and I do think of you often. I am fortunate to see our beautiful Academy and Pikes Peak every day. As always, Go Air Force! ’81 Second to None!

Jim Ratti 2860 Arbor Pointe Drive Middletown, OH 45042 (937) 760-2333 rattijm@mindspring.com

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Greetings Redtags! Well, the big topic currently on everyone’s mind is our 30th reunion! We received our date in late March, and planning is currently underway for the 17-21 October event. Many details are up in the air as of this writing, but watch our class FaceBook page, the AOG website (www.usafa.org) and

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Miracle Man Phil Bossert and his family at Ranger Stadium. Mike Hepler sent an update to say that he’s a Check Airman Engineer on the 727 for FedEx in Memphis. Mike moved to Memphis about two years ago after spending ten years in Minneapolis. He’d been flying for Northwest, and joined FedEx in 2006. Mike left active duty in 1999 and flew with the Minnesota Guard (A-10s) until his retirement in June 2005. Also with FedEx are Dan Rooney (727 Check Airman Engineer like Mike), and Kevin Holmes (727 Check Airman Captain). We got some info on what Dunn Idle has been up to. I suppose you could say he’s been anything but (idle, that is…). He retired early as a Major in 1998 and did a few years as an independent consultant (a.k.a. rocket scientist) and then joined the Schafer Corporation as a research scientist working on spacecraft mission design. He’s been there about ten years now, living in Colorado Springs. He’s got four season tickets up under the press box on the 50 yard line in Falcon Stadium. His brother (USAFA ‘86) retired a couple years ago as an O-6, and he has the four seats behind Dunn’s. Dunn met his wife, Lynda, when he was at UT Austin working on his PhD. They have a daughter Abby, a senior at Air Academy High. She will attend the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs next year. They also have a son, Dunning Idle 6th, who is in 7th grade. He’s mainly into

computer games, but also likes building model rockets with Dunn. Dunn says that Chris Washer and Dustin Johnston also work for Schafer. Mark Baker joined the retired ranks after 30 years of active duty. He had a ceremony in April at the place where it all began, Falcon Stadium. This time it was in the press booth though, and I don’t think he threw his hat! Here’s a picture of the official party at the retirement. From left are Gen William Fraser, III (USTRANSCOM/CC and officiating officer), Mrs. Bev Fraser, Mark’s wife, Diane, Col (Ret) Mark Baker, son Weston and daughter Sydney.

Mark Baker’s press box retirement. In the “short burst” department, I’ve gleaned the following tidbits. MGEN Tod Wolters is still deployed to Kabul, and managed to get his picture in the April 2012 issue of Air Force magazine. MGEN Barb Faulkenberry is leaving her job as Director of Logistics, Headquarters U.S. Africa Command, Stuttgart, Germany, to be the Vice Commander of Eighteenth Air Force at Scott AFB. BGEN Craig Olson has been nominated for a second star and is the Program Executive Officer for business and enterprise systems at Maxwell Air Force Base-Gunter Annex. Marc Arrendale is the Senior IMA to the Commander of the AF Network Integration Center at Air Force Space Command. And finally, Steve Katapski and David Igelman got together at the AFA vs. New Mexico basketball game in Albuquerque awhile back. They were first BCT roommates in E Squadron all the way back in 1978! Steve does consulting work in Albuquerque and David is a Dermatologist in Medford Oregon. David sent a picture of the two of them at the game, but the resolution was too low for publishing here.

A Red Bike for a Redtag. I’ve been busy the past year or so restoring a 1973 Honda CB350F motorcycle. In keeping with the theme of reunions and nostalgia, this project carried me back to my high school days when I worked as a mechanic in a Honda shop. With a little bit of the Bee Gees on the XM radio, I was right there! I even managed to dust off and use a lot of the tools I bought back in those days. I finished the project over Easter weekend, but like many restoration projects, I’m sure I’ll continue to tinker with it. So that’s about it for this quarter. Keep me posted on what’s going with you! Until next time, be safe. Ratman

JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY! YOUR MONEY HELPS FUND CADET WING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED. CALL (719) 472-0300 X200.

Jon Duresky 207 Knob Hill Drive Warner Robins, GA 31088 Home: 478-953-3141 Cell: 478-396-7787 DureskyJB@aol.com

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Greetings, Classmates! BEEP BEEP BEEP! Groggily, you emerge from your nightly REM vacation, your alarm clock showing 0-too-early. Today, however, you are happy to wake up, because you were having one of those dreams… you are late for your M-3 class, the nap monster sucked you in after breakfast formation…but you can’t go to class yet; you have to feed the kids, even though they are grown with kids of their own…and why am I at Robins AFB and not in CS-13…and I have an ORI to plan…and I have to call minutes at lunch… and I have no clue what to say after “Fast, Neat, Average…” and why is Brenda in your room, Cadet? But Sir, we have been married 29 years… no excuse, get your rifle and head to the tour pad in your underwear… and how many days until the first class graduates? Sound familiar? Dreamland! Sabre Society Welcome to 29 years and counting since forming many Donors fond memories, and we are not getting any slimmer, the hair is leaving, and the remaining hair is a lovely shade of “platinum blonde!” I prevailed upon the AOG, and Jack Mueller, Class of’70, the IT director, sent me a plethora of very interesting stats about our class. Jack said that the accuracy of these stats is only as good as the reporting of the graduate. Here is some interesting poop: 955 graduated on 1 June 1983/938 living (17 deceased, raise a glass in their memory); 431 AOG members, or 45%. Significant Decorations and Ratings: 2 Silver Stars,, 11 Bronze Stars, 20 DFCs, 19 Doctors (12 with Flt Surgeon rating), 5 Lawyers, 4 proud holders of the coveted Air Battle Manager rating, 511 Pilots, 4 of which were Thunderbirds (by the Extrapolation Theory of Duresky, that means that the ABM rating equates to serving on the TBird Team! Hmmm…), 85 Navigators. The Class of boasts 21 Generals! (Okay, only 20, Brian Losey is a Navy RAdm! And he could still max the PFT.) The newest, who owes us a promotion party, is Kathy Johnson. Other notables: MGen Darryl Roberson was one of the 4 TBird pilots, but failed in his quest to become an ABM. He did recently get his 5000-hour patch, all in fighters, so I guess his career is not a total failure. BG Dana Born shapes the brains of cadets as the Dean at USAFA. I don’t have column space to include all of you strivers (seriously, hearty congrats to all, and I don’t even have to suck up, having reached the pinnacle of life as an AirTran FO), but 2 of you are in a heated race to get the Fourth Star! John Hesterman and Dave Goldfein, come on down! Dave is AFCENT/CC and Darryl’s Boss, but Dave was not a TBird, so that might cancel things out. Big John works at the Pentagon, probably asking Kathy to bring him a double espresso. In a few years, I’m itching to write -- the first 1983 grad to be the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is… anybody setting up a betting pool? I’m in for a dollar! Let’s move on now, from boring statistics, to the beloved human factors class and my trademark “Awards” section: Proud Papa Award: Shared by John Davis (IT guru for a company I can’t spell) and Wally Bleyl (F-16s AZ Guard, who scoffs at only 5000 fighter hours). Both have daughters in class of 2014 who are outstanding swimmers, with excellent chances of competing for the USA at the Olympics in London this July! I Could Still Strap on the Pads Award: Goes to… “Tiny” Dave Schreck. John Davis observed him prowling the bleachers at Parents Weekend. Dave has a 3 degree daughter. Dave tried to leap the barrier when the coach screamed, “Offense, get out there and score some points!” Or so my anonymous source reports. Still the Party Girl Award: No surprises, Cheryl (Newhouse) Phillips, for hosting a “no-host social hour” in the DC area last October. Semi-annual event. She is a Program Analyst at the Pentagon. I’m Still a Real Athlete Award: Mark Pohlmeier, who captains a sculling crew that races on weekends on rivers in the DC area. Very cool. Mark heads up a Strategic Basing Division at the Pentagon, when not making the rest of us feel inadequate for riding an exercise bike 20 minutes, 3 times a week while checking email on an iPhone. I’m Buying the First Round Award: Wade Wheeler. Caveat: You have to visit him at Ramstein to collect. He and wife, Cherri (she will be USAFE Command Chaplain), are relocating from the San Antonio area in June and welcome all visitors. Wade is one of our Class Scribes and bumps into

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Class News lots of ‘Mates in San Antonio, including Jim Horton recently, who is the civilian DepHQAETC/IG. Be kind, Jim, and keep up the good columns Wade! Still the Family Silverback Award: Bob Stambaugh. Went for a weekend hiking jaunt on the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail with his 20-year-old son. That part of the AT is just a wee bit steep, to put it mildly. They did 22 miles the first day. Son can hardly move the next. Bob calls wife for extraction. Bob reigns supreme in the family for another year. Bob works F-15 foreign sales, still active duty at Robins AFB, and I still owe him lunch, but I am not avoiding you, Bob! I’ll pay up; just don’t make me keep up with you on the AT! And finally, the Romantic Fool Award: John Zazworsky, by a landside! Quote from his wife, Monica, which she asked me to not put in Checkpoints, so of course I had to: “He (John) has just mentioned that he is blissfully happy with his wife of almost 27 years…” Really, John? You set the bar waaayyy too high for us mere mortals. Guess all of you manly men need to make a trip to the store for flowers, candles, and the other essentials of romance! Ending with some admin notes. The 30-Year Reunion is approaching soon, but planning is starting NOW! If you want to help/get involved/have great ideas to make the (End of the World) Party Happen, call the AOG. Laurie (Schroeder) Healy is one early volunteer/POC. She lives in Monument. Reach her through the AOG.

me, that cannot comprehend the last statement, that means that there have been 28 years of graduates since we left USAFA in 1984. That is over 28,000 grads. Questions Round 1: So what are your summer plans? What kind of intel can you provide the rest of us as to your whereabouts, career plans, retirements, or family additions? Are there any parties where my attendance is needed? I should watch what I ask for. I will be off to New York where I get the opportunity to attend the wedding ceremony of Herman “Big Gun” Baker and his fiancé. Congratulations to the happy couple! Questions Round 2: With all the electronic media Sabre Society available, what info should we have on the website: Donors www.usafa84.com ? Pictures? Currently I post this article on the web for those who may not have access to the Checkpoints magazine. Time to make some new memories and have some fun. I hope that any of you who come into the Springs on a visit give me a call. There are some great specials and discounts that have been offered. Our friends at the Marriott offer lower rates for hotel stays; there are also some great discounts on restaurants too. As far as upcoming trips, we are planning trips to Michigan and New York for football games this fall. We are also planning golf events around the San Diego State and UNLV games this fall. We are also looking at a USAFA cruise or getaway to Cabo San Lucas later this year. I wil pass on the info as we get it. Please let me know if you have any interest in these events or something fun you would like to do. Last but not least, take a minute and write me now! Get involved. You’ll really enjoy it. Mike Jensen

Frank “Q.” Williams 13209 Topsfield Court Herndon, VA 20171 (703) 657-3227 USAFA1985@aol.com

A confused Billy Walker wearing Northwestern gear watches his varsity cheerleader daughter Karla at an NU vs. Nebraska football game. Stu Pope writes next. Send him, me or Ray Blust info. Until next year, my Friends. Health, Happiness, Wisdom, and Patience to you all. Jon Duresky Mike Jensen 12035 Milam Road Colorado Springs, CO 80908 1-(800)-GO-AFA-GO michaeljensen@remax.net www.usafa84.com www.twitter.com/usafa84

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I am so appreciative of having the opportunity to live in Colorado Springs, where many of our grads and classmates live, and most come back to visit. This past week, Joe Calderon was in town working with the Liaison Officers. The word is he may be retiring soon, but we know Joe will still be an integral part of helping mold the USAFA mission. For those of us that live in the Springs, we were graced by Matt Johnson, who came in to spend some time mentoring cadets, me and masterfully “hiked” up Eagles Peak. While Matt was in town, we were able to have lunch with Pete Edgar, who is working at the Registrar’s office at USAFA. Sometimes I get really lucky and see something that is just a testament of the camaraderie that is so prevalent in our class. I was in complete awe of the outpouring of support for the retirement and party of Brian Watt. To see the support of his family, colleagues, and friends was awesome! Brian and Ronda had a wonderful day and opened up their house for the celebration. Trying to make our way through the massive amount of cars that lined the street, we walked in and immediately saw the friendly faces of Jim and Kendra Gensheimer, Paul Marvin and his wife, Dee, amongst the droves of friends, flying mates, and family. Needless to say, a great time was had by all. Congrats to Brian, Ronda, and their family on a job well done. Now Brian can concentrate on making American Airlines a profit. By the time you read this, the class of 2012 will be the Air Force Academy’s newest 2nd Lieutenants. Congrats to them. For those of you, like

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Hello everyone! Happy spring! I just heard on the news that snow fell in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, but we have just gotten some much needed rain in the Metro Washington, DC area. We had a mostly warm (relatively speaking) and dry winter. There is always a silver lining…April showers bring May flowers! Keeping my word from the last time, I’m starting off with an update from Jim Fletcher that I didn’t have space for last time. Jim sent a picture of himself and Jon French from Jon’s 49th birthday at his house in Devore Heights, CA. Jim said he had a great (with a capital G) time and he enjoyed spending time with Jon’s wonderful family. Jim said Jon’s wife, Tracy French, threw a great party.

Jim Fletcher, at left, and Jon French at Jon’s 49th birthday party. Steven Grupenhagen retired from active duty and is now a government civilian in SAF/AQ working the acquisition side of the Global Positioning System (GPS) program. I enjoy working with Steve on GPS. Congratulations to Lisa Mazur! I saw a message that Lisa was promoted to Senior Executive Service. Brig Gen Cary Chun retired from active duty in his position at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Headquarters in Northern Virginia. Cary was in charge of the Mission Operations Directorate as well as some other important positions. He did a great job. We wish Cary all the best in his retirement from active duty and best wishes for a bright new career or a long fishing trip, whatever his heart desires.

Brig Gen Cary Chun at his retirement ceremony. George Weathersby is in South Sudan for an extended tour of attaché work. Tensions are high between Sudan and South Sudan, and fighting is going on just short of an all-out war. Keep him your prayers. Kevin and Wendy (Link) Routhier sent their annual Easter letter. It was five pages long with embedded pictures. I can’t share any pictures because they are not in AOG format. It is a beautiful letter. Once again the Routhier family has been very busy this past year. Last May their son Caleb graduated from the University of Richmond (he majored in Political Science and minored in Leadership Studies and Arabic). Their son Luke also graduated and it was from the Remnant Academy -- their homeschool. The Routhier family spent Memorial Day weekend at Wendy’s parents’ river Sabre Society house to celebrate the end of another school year. Both Donors Caleb and Luke began part-time jobs gardening for families in the area. Kevin said July was consumed with drama camp, as their group performed “Beauty and the Beast.” Jordan was Babette, the feather duster, Noah was a wolf and one of Gaston’s cronies, and David was the footstool in the castle (this was David’s first show). Wendy was the Production Manager, Caleb the Stage Manager, Josiah a stagehand, and Luke a lighting operator. Kevin said the show was very enjoyable, and of course, our actors really love being on the stage. Kevin went on to say that November brought the Routhier family another drama production, “Treasure Island.” He said their group does a big musical during the summer, but a smaller, non-musical play during the school year. Jordan was Billy Bones (we were short on older males), Noah was Blind Pete, and David was Jim Hawkins. Kevin said it was wonderful to have all of their boys home for Thanksgiving. Kevin said December was all too short – but all of their children were home and they had some great familyth time together. The Routhiers celebrated New Year’s Day and Kevin’s 50 birthday! Well, that’s it for now. Take care. Q

Lawrence Cooper 2806 Erics Court Crofton, MD 21114 410-451-6505 Cooper@astroguy.net

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Hi Everyone, I guess you are all suffering through retirement and starting your new careers as contractors as I have only heard directly from John Taylor. He writes, “Our son Brent was selected to attend the USAFA Prep School this

summer. Our daughter Laura graduates in May from Notre Dame and was accepted to grad school there, which starts almost right after graduation...she turned down Yale and Boston College (didn’t we all?). And I’m retiring in August.” Like I said: suffering from retirement (or imminent retirement). To make this update a bit longer, I have been able to gather slight details on some of our other classmates: By the time you read this, Col Scott Campbell will have retired – the ceremony was at Scott AFB (no relation). Also Col Al Williams is on his final assignment to EUCOM and is enjoying his time in Germany. He’ll be retiring in a few months, but is unsure of what he’s going to do next or even when he’ll come back stateside. Col Lee Depalo is still working with Special Forces and is stationed at MacDill in Tampa FL. He’s looking for opportunities in preparation for immiSabre Society Donors nent (there’s that word again) retirement. Lastly, there is Col Dave Weigand who retired a little while ago from STRATCOM and is working there as a contractor. Here’s an interesting update on Todd Wood. He’s been getting a lot of press both in print and on TV for his new novel titled Currency. He has found a way to combine his special ops experience with his international banking background to write an economic thriller whose main characters include Captain Kidd, Alexander Hamilton, and whoever is the US President in 2015. Check it out on Amazon.com. Lastly a small update from your assistant scribe. As I write this I have left my position as Deputy, DIA Representative to CYBERCOM and am on day three of my new position as the mission manager for space and cyberspace warning on the Joint Staff J2. While that sounds cool, I still have a long ways to figuring out what it all means. So if you are in the Pentagon, please look me up.

John & Carolyn Sammartino 3107 Woods Cove Lane Woodbridge, VA 22192 H: (703) 492-5492 W: (703) 808-6234 jsammar@verizon.net

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’87 FALL IN! Hope all is well as we head into the home stretch for our 25th reunion in a couple of months. Mark your calendars, cash in those Hilton Honors points and frequent flier miles that I know you all have been picking up for the last 25 years or so and make plans to raid Colorado Springs once again in late October 2012! See below for pertinent information: Class of 1987 - 25th Reunion Date: October 24 - 27, 2012; Air Force vs. Nevada on October 27, 2012 Host Hotel: Embassy Suites Colorado Springs, 7290 Commerce Center Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 AOG POC: Leigh Frigm, 719-472-0300, ext 138 Class Representative: Patti Stuart Michalcik Tentative Reunion Event Schedule: (Firm enough to put out as tentative) Wednesday, October 24 1600-2000 Reunion Check-In Hotel 1700-1900 Welcome Reception Hotel Thursday, October 25 0630-0930 Breakfast on own Hotel 1000-1130 Prep School Tour Meet at the Dining Hall (Bldg 5218) 1145-1300 Lunch with Cadet Wing – Must wear name badge Mitchell Hall 1400-1900 Reunion Check-In Hotel 1700-1900 Reception Hotel

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Class News Friday, October 26 0630-0930 Breakfast on own Hotel 0800-1630 Late Reunion Check-In Doolittle Hall – Assembly Area 0830-1300 Golf Tournament (0900 Shotgun) Eisenhower Golf Club Blue Course 1000-1600 Open House – Must Wear Name Badge Cadet Area 1100-1300 Buffet Lunch Doolittle Hall 1330-1500 USAFA Senior Staff Briefings Fairchild Hall – F-1 1515-1545 Class Meeting Harmon Hall – H -1 1715-1745 Memorial Ceremony Cadet Chapel 1900-0200 Class Social and Dinner (Casual) Hotel Saturday, October 27 TBD Reunion Tailgate (2 ½ hours prior to kick-off ) Falcon Stadium TBD Air Force vs. Nevada Falcon Stadium Sunday, October 28 TBD Farewell Breakfast – On your own Hotel REUNION PACKETS: Handed out during Reunion check-in at the place and times noted above and will not be mailed. All attendees must register on the advanced registration form and pay the fees in advance for the events desired. If you miss the reunion check-in on the Friday of your reunion week, your packet will be left with the Class Reunion Chair at the Friday evening event. FOOTBALL: Air Force vs. Nevada -- kick-off is at TBD. Class will sit in the East Stands, Section M19 and M20. Security entering the stadium will take time so please plan accordingly. We will have current security information available in your registration packet. ***If you know the names/addresses of any of our fallen classmates’ family, please contact Patti Stuart Michalcik, 1601 Dorr Dr, Enid, OK 73703. She will send them an invitation to the memorial ceremony Make your Hotel Reservatsions Online: Reservations by attendees must be received on or before Sept. 24, 2012. If you prefer to contact the Embassy Suites directly please call 719-599-9100. Please make sure to mention that you are part of the USAFA Class of 1987 block to receive the honored rate. (FYI the AAA rate is less if you are a member!). Class Ring: If you would like to have your ring repaired or replaced, please contact the Herff Jones Ring Manufacturer at 1-800-451-3304 or email collegeringwarranty@herffjones.com. Sabre Society Donors Your reunion committee is working on the reunion. Please check back for updates or look them up on Facebook at “USAFA Class of 1987”. Use hashtag #usafa1987 for online reunion chat on Twitter! Special thanks to Patti Stuart Michalcik for taking the lead on this — Thanks to Tim Beavers, head of the photo/entertainment committee, Glenn Strebe who volunteered to find out more about our Class Gift/Fund Raising expectations, and Fr Brian Christenson who volunteered to head our Memorial Ceremony committee. Would anyone volunteer to assist? Anyone else that would like to help out with something to make this the greatest reunion ever let her or Carolyn or I know!! The scheduling of reunions is becoming harder and harder as the number of graduating classes from our illustrious institution continues to grow! They may move to having class reunions only every ten years in the future, which probably makes sense. Let’s have a great turnout and a great weekend for our great class! I think we were lucky to get the Embassy Suites once again, where we were for our 10th reunion—free full breakfast (if you wake up in time!) and Manager’s Reception every night (i.e. free drinks!) works for me! So back to the mailbag; it was a pretty light quarter, with focusing on getting our reunion squared away I slacked off in my cold-calling, but Juan Echeverry did send in an e-mail input: “Thank you for being the scribes for ’87!! I haven’t given an input in years, but I definitely have some big news to share! After retiring 5 years ago, I’ve been living in Los Angeles supporting the Space and Missile Cen-

ter in the Space Superiority Directorate. I joined SCITOR Corporation as a consultant. I get to be involved in some really cool stuff when it comes to our Nation’s space power. It’s hard to believe how fast 5 years has gone. I will be celebrating 25 years of marriage to Nadine, who many of my CS-07 squadron-mates remember. We have five children (4 boys and a girl) and the big news is that two of them, Anthony (21) and Jacob (19) got accepted to USAFA Class of 2015. I’ve enclosed a picture from parent’s weekend in September. In the picture, you see me and the four brothers. They are one week away from Recognition. They are thriving and surviving! The circle of life is a wondrous thing! Thank you and take care.” I told Juan to look out for our son Matt, who is a 2nd Lieutenant also stationed at SMC in the Test Section of the GPS SPO! Also as we get ready for the reunion, the AOG is missing information on the classmates listed below. Please update your biographical information or contact John Rice at the AOG or us with your contact information: Kirk A. Schneider, Victor H. Arizpe, James B. Waltermire, David C. Butler, Stephen M. Dasilva, John F. Kosman, Gregory B. Fairbanks, David B. Farris, John D. Flint, Joseph F. Ford, Brian S. Hashimoto, Erik M. Johnsen, Alexander Weeks Jr., Bryan Andrew K. Fujimoto, Kenneth J. McManamy, Dennis K. Moore, Stuart S. Moore, Mark A. Ruse, Steve A. Sandoval, Antoinette T. Kemper, Steven L. Temple, Gregory S. Whiting, Randy Zuehlke. That’s about all for now; look forward to seeing everyone in October!

Craig McCurdy 46992 Smithwood Court Potomac Falls, VA 20165 Cell: (202) 570-3058 ccicdjmccurdy@yahoo.com

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John McCurdy set up this USAFA Class of 1988 Facebook page. Thanks John. Here is the link: http://www.faceboom.com/groups/USAFAClassOf1988/ Chris Kubick sent this next message and wanted to let you all know we have 4 X ’88 grads within a half mile of each other at Langley, all four of us doing Intel. Scot Gere is the Chief of the Global Integrated ISR Core Function Team here at ACC/A8. Christina (Romagosa) Stone is the Vice Commander of the 480th ISR Wing. Rich Moorehead and I are in ACC/A2 - Rich is the Chief Sabre Society Donors of the ISR Plans and Requirements Division and I am Chief of the ISR Operations Division. It’s fascinating to see how our roads diverged after graduation and then intersected again over twenty years later. I’m looking forward to the reunion next year...I made the 10th, but was deployed for the 20th. I’ve been looking for some other ’88 grads in the vicinity. If anyone else is out there, give us a shout. Kubes

From left are Chris Kubick, Scot Gere, Christina (Romagosa) Stone, and Rich Moorehead. Mary Lee Tung sent a photo of spring in Alaska! “That’s Jay (‘87) and our middle schooler, Joe, on the berm with snowshoes. EJ, our high schooler,

Visit the AOG Web Site. Gone But Not Forgotten, Merchandise and more! www.usafa.org Juan Echeverry and his four sons.

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and I are in the driveway. I guess we’ll have lakefront property this summer. Hope you’re having a great spring, too. MaryLee”

Franco, Maureen, Christy, Jody, Donna and Jennifer enjoy some food and fellowship!

Jay (‘87), Joe, EJ, and Mary Lee (’88). I hope that all of you have a great summer. Join the 1988 Facebook group and catch up on some class news. I never thought I would join but now I am an administrator. Craig McCurdy Paul W. Tibbets, IV 1200 Blazing Star Court SE Albuquerque, NM 87116 (505) 717-2012 E-mail: p2a2tibbets@gmail.com or p2a2me.com Class web site: http://www. usafaclasses.org/1989/

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Greetings fellow ’89ers! I just returned from a trip to our alma mater and I must say it was great to be back. USAFA and the 10 ABW were undergoing their first Consolidated Unit Inspection (read compliance inspection), so I joined our AFIA-led team for a few days. Yes, I know, we are here to help… Anyway, it was great to visit the Cadet Wing and interface with some cadets. We had the privilege to eat lunch in Mitches on the staff tower, and we had our “star” moment when they introduced us during noon meal. What a blast! My good friend and head of the Behavioral Sciences and Leadership department, ’82 grad Gary Packard, also invited me to visit one of his classes and share some war stories from my recent experiences flying the Sabre Society B-1 in SWA. During the trip I took the opportunity to Donors walk the Heritage Trail, which I missed during our 20th reunion due to my overseas assignment. Kudos once again to the entire ’89 team for a wonderful memorial to Kevin Shea and all our fallen classmates. Quick reminder: our class president, Don Simpson, has started planning for our 25th reunion, and we are looking for anyone and everyone interested in helping out with coordination. If that is you please contact Don directly at don.simpson89@gmail.com. We plan to use our Facebook site “USAFA Class of 1989” (http://www.facebook.com/group. php?gid=43101356987) as our primary vehicle to disseminate information, as well as our class web site (listed above) and contact information residing at the AOG. So, consider joining our FB group, and if you haven’t updated your data recently with the AOG, drop them a note (http://www. usafa.org/). Thanks! Our only update this month comes from Christy Kayser-Cook, who I ran into during my trip to USAFA! She is now back at USAFA teaching Physics and getting checked out in the new Cirrus SR20 – T-53A – aircraft at the Academy Airfield. Christy and some fellow ’89ers had a get-together at Franco and Maureen (McCaffery) Borgia’s home recently when Jody (Guthals) Merritt was in town from California for Reserve duty at Shriever. Joining them were Donna (Ginn) Alvarado and Jennifer Owens. Good times! Franco, Maureen and Donna are all retired from the AF and living in Monument, CO. Franco and Mo have two sons, one is a freshman at Denver University and the other is a high school junior. Donna and her hus-

band, Denio, have three daughters, a high school sophomore, 8th and 5th grade. Jennifer works for The Aerospace Corporation in Colorado Springs down by the Colorado Springs airport. Her husband, Dave Syndergaard, is a contractor teaching at the National Security Space Institute, but they’re both semi-retiring this fall and moving to St George, UT. Jody is living and working for Scitor Corporation in Sunnyvale, CA with her husband, Paul, and two daughters Elise (8) and Kate (10). Both girls are getting ready for a musical production of Treasure Island. Thanks Christy! Also wanted to throw out props to our recent ’89 BG promotees. Joining Guns Gersten are Albert Elton, Scott Kindsvater and Charlie Moore. Proud of you! That’s a wrap for this quarter. Keep those cards and letters coming. Take care and God bless!

42% Mike Shepherd Members 3801 Derby Circle Quartz Hill, CA 93536 (661) 266-2133 michael.j.shepherd@hotmail.com Class Web Site: www.usafa90.com Greetings to the most glorious class! Summer is on the way, and with that reminiscing about June week and our summer “electives”—at what other university could you go fly jets between semesters! Just thinking about those great summers makes it a little easier to reflect on our class pledge we made at the summer reunion. Bryan “Ozz” Ossolinski took a break from his duties at USNORTHCOM headquarters to lead up our class’ effort: “For the Class of 1990 class gift project we will be raising $100,000 or more to support the construction, maintenance and programmatic materials for the new Center for Character and Leadership Development facility. More information on this project can be found at http://ccld.usafa.org. The direct link to giving options may be accessed at https://giving.usafa. org/give/90CCLD. If you have any additional questions please email the Class of 1990 Class Gift Committee at usafa1990ccld@gmail.com. Again, 100% of all your contributions are tax-deductible and will go directly to our project.” When not soliciting inputs for Ozz, I’ve been actively soliciting inputs for Checkpoints—here is a quick rundown on the latest happenings for our tribe. Erik Anderson is our class’ rocket scientist and a fellow resident here in the Antelope Valley, where he just checked in from “Plane Crazy” at the Mojave Air and Space Port, California after a day of introducing his

Eric Anderson, our rocket scientist, slips the surly bonds in the long EZ he built himself.

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Class News son to some revolutionary designs which included the Scaled Composites’ Boomerang and Catbird. Erik the rocket scientist gave us this insight into his day job: “Yes, XCOR is terrific. Great place, great people, doing great things. We’re a leader in rocket engines, including our joint work with United Launch Alliance, and on the shop floor, we’re actually putting a spacecraft together. Great stuff!” We’re all envious! We might have another budding rocket scientist following in our footsteps at USAFA. Terry Bradley received word in late March that his son Joshua was appointed to the Class of 2016. Josh will report to USAFA on June 8th 2012, and will begin Basic Cadet Training as one of approximately 1100 inductees. Josh hopes to major in some kind of engineering at USAFA. Coincident to Josh’s arrival at USAFA, Terry and Connie plan to move back to Colorado Springs and resume enjoyment of the outstanding Colorado lifestyle and serve as their son’s cadet sponsor family. Good luck, kid -- beat the Dean!

commuting heaven, and we’ll be sad to leave when the day comes... Last summer’s adventure was a self-guided bike trip in the Dolomites of northern Italy. We selected a route that included most of the big climbs and scenic passes, but forgot to de-conflict against the Giro race schedule. As a result, we found ourselves constantly crisscrossing the race route, with the racers either a day ahead or behind us. Kind of daunting, but fun!” Also upbeat, but facing other kinds of challenges, is Scott “Lefty” Summerlin who IM’d me after a day on the golf course with his son. “Debbie, Rebecca, Garrett and I are doing well in Boise. Debbie is doing well in her battle with lung cancer. Rebecca is finishing 9th grade and Garrett 7th. Both 4.0 students. Garrett is the star Center on his league tackle football team.” For those who didn’t know, Debbie is a non-smoker who was diagnosed 2 years ago with the disease, but the family remains positive as they battle the tumor together. If you’re familiar with Lefty’s infectious grin and enthusiSabre Society asm you know he was paired with Debbie for a reason! Donors In other news, Tim Kane and Steve Kiser launched an internet startup called StoryPoint (www.stypt.com). “We are in early beta testing stage now, but will be launched by the time the next Checkpoints is published. We’ve raised a small amount from friends and family (mostly fellow Academy grads). The purpose is to build an app/website that helps forge stronger, deeper friendships than what you normally get on Facebook. Long term, we are hoping the core technology, which is patent-pending, will serve as the backbone for micro-payments of digital content. Already, we have a collection of great stories about BCT in 1986 up on the site from a handful of classmates, and would really appreciate if everyone in Mighty 90 could scribble down a memory of that awesome summer! Any feedback, please write to me (tijoka@gmail.com) or Steve (stevedkiser@gmail.com) personally.” If you get the chance, check it out—it looks to be the next big thing! Well, it’s time to close. I’ve been splitting time between this article and the Stanley Cup playoffs—Chris O’Neil and I have determined we are bitter cross-state rivals from Pennsylvania so we’ve been giving each other a little grief in the Flyers/Penguins series. As always, please drop me a line about hockey or anything else you’d like to see in the next article! Mighty 90—Flash.

Josh Bradley with proud father, Terry. My old cadet squadron commander knows a thing or two about beating the dean, and continues to this day to excel in the real Air Force. Phil “PDub/Wallflower” Wielhouwer sent me a short note in advance of his latest move. “I know I missed the last updates, but I wanted to let you know what we’re up to next... Sometime in the summer of ’12 we’ll PCS from being the 7AF/A3A5 (Dir of Ops and Plans) at Osan to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson where I’ll take command of the 355th Ops Group. We’ll honestly miss Korea/Osan (great people and mission), but it’ll be great to be back in the Hawg community and cockpit again!” Phil let us in on some other news. “I just talked to Huck (Mike Hollman); looks like he may come to Seoul (USFK) for a deployment/TDY this summer. I’ll hopefully be able to overlap... even if for a short visit. Ed Martignetti is the 607 AOC/CV here at Osan; going to be the 509 OG/CC at Whiteman. Our 2 families just spent a week in Thailand on vacation... glad we got out of there before the latest earthquakes!” Great things really do happen to great people! Speaking of great people, another red tag is leading the pack as a newly anointed squadron commander! Laura Radley let me in on her new position: “Hi. I took command of the 53d Aerial Port Squadron at Pope Field. It’s a traditional Reserve position so I stay on MPA at AMC and go to Pope for UTA weekends. Also, did you see that Dave Almand is going to be wing commander at Scott and Darren James is going to be wing commander at Vance (I think)? Way to go! I saw Kurt Root got an active duty retirement in January. I hear a lot at AMC. I’ll keep in touch when stuff comes up.” While she wouldn’t admit it, it’s no small job for Laura as approximately onethird of her troops are deployed at any one time in support of contingency operations. Congratulations on your new command Laura and thanks for keeping up with our classmates! Hard to keep up with Holly Rawson Weik as she bikes her way around town and through Europe: “Hi Mike! We are now in Minneapolis while hubby Dave finishes Physical Therapy grad school. Minneapolis is a bike-

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Carson Tavenner 6828 Raccoon Court Waldorf, MD 20603 (202) 231-2484 DSN: (312) 428-2484 Home: (301) 374-2752 Carson_wendy@comcast.net

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Happy spring, Bold Gold! Due to unfortunate circumstances in my life at the moment, this column will be less creative than usual; please accept my apologies. I know you appreciate hearing the news even if it’s just “news”. But there is a great letter to close this out. Jim McDonald retired on New Year’s Eve Day, Mike Veneri retired (no exact date recorded, but I think it was March), Bill Price retired 16 May, Mike Smith retired 30 April. From what I saw on Facebook, I think Karen is far more thrilled about Mike’s retirement than he is! Jon Watson will retire 1 January 2013. Many more out there, I’m sure. Congratulations to all! LinkedIn reports: Dave Akin is now Business Development Manager, Tactical Terminals at DRS Defense Solutions, LLC. Michael Bibeau is now Senior Systems Integration Engineer at Northrop Grumman Information Systems Susan (Rank) Foy reports, “[we’re] swamped between Scott’s exec job (for a 3-star) and my Wing Director of Staff job…I am now officially passed over for O-6 as planned and am back in the squadron and getting to fly

more and work “normal” hours again when not flying (and life is SO awesome). Scott will pin on O-6 in May, so we are waiting to hear what the AF wants to do with him...which may force me to retire. (We’re not sure just how much longer we’ll be in DC, but will keep you posted if/when we hear anything.” Tim Greminger ran into Brian Newberry on a mission thru Manas. By the time this column prints, Brian will be a few weeks away from the end of his time as the Ops Group Commander at Manas. Then he heads to Fairchild this summer to take command of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing. [Editor’s note: How time flies! I was a boom operator in the 92nd Air Refueling Squadron from 1957 to 1964 before they decided to commission me. Tom K]

who, before this accident, were but strangers to he and his baseball team. “And finally, and most important of all my appreciation, goes out to our Class of ‘91. Wow... what can I say? Have you EVER heard all of our class be silent all at one time like that? Even as basics there was always someone causing a raucous in A-Hall, or in Mitchell Hall... nothing EVER shut us all up at one time like we did that night, not even Cadet Assault Course McSally herself. Not until we heard of young Kellen McDonald. I am PROUD to say that it took the tragic story of a young boy and his mother to finally silence the Bold Gold Class of 1991 for the first time in 24 years. Bravo, Bold Gold. Bravo to all of you. Thank you for your amazing support in helping raise this money. A toast to all of you...” Couldn’t have said it better myself. Thanks, Art. Love to all, Carson. James S. Mehta PSC 3, Box 1515 APO AE 09021 DSN: 314-489-6077 james.mehta@us.af.mil jamesmehta@earthlink.net

Brian Newberry, at left, and Tim Greminger look into the sun and say “Bold Gold”! In his retirement, Mike Veneri has moved from Colorado Springs to Bethesda to start a new job doing ISR data management. He and I share mutual feelings about how to approach life right now, as I’m sure is also true for many of you. “I decided to retire rather than take promotion and have been taking solace/inspiration in [observations that] this period of transition is full of opportunity and challenge. I am finding myself doubting my decision to retire and am a little detached right now but working on connecting into a different environment.” Mike Eylander just returned home and, like many, received many welcoming remarks on Facebook (I love that community!). He replied, “Thanks so much friends! I appreciate you greatly! Home is in Missouri until early July, then moving to Denver.” Closing out on a high note, here is a report from Art Romero on the end result of everyone’s most generous support of Kellen and his mother, Leslie, at our 20th reunion. “After patiently waiting for the AOG to get the reunion season behind them, we all finally got down to the business of tallying up all the monies raised to help support Kellen and his mother’s recovery. In the end, and as a result of our class reunion’s giving efforts, we were able to raise a total of $6,000. This amount was approved by Chris Howard, and a check written from the Class of ‘91 account to present to the McDonalds. On January 24 of this year, we were all able to finally coordinate schedules enough to meet at Old C’s where Mike Kazlausky and his baseball team all shared an evening with Kellen and his mother. In addition to our check, and a coin Sabre Society given to Kellen from Robb Ericson, Kaz and his team Donors also presented Kellen an AMAZING assortment of flags, coins, and other very special memorabilia that came from around the world to show their support for Kellen and his recovery. “Personally, I want to thank Kelly Marchbank from the USAFA ticket office who had the original idea and the resources to gather most of everything that was donated for the silent auction. This would not have happened without her. Secondly, I want to thank Emma Ross and the AOG for allowing the Bold Gold Class of ‘91 to once again lead the way with something never done before at a class reunion - imagine that - and allow our class to step up once again and honor the lessons of “Service Before Self” that we learned from inspiring people like Mr. George Mendez and many other leaders at USAFA. Our hope is that other classes will follow our example and make giving back a part of their reunions in the future. Third, I would like to thank Mike Kazlausky for, well, for just being Kaz. When our committee decided to raise money during our reunion for a needy cause, all we had to do was follow Kaz’ example of love and dedication to this family when we decided where the money would go. I am proud to say that we have a guy like him in our class with all the passion and empathy he exudes every day for his players, for his cadets, and for a family like the McDonalds

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Greetings Class of 1992! By the time you read this, I hope you have made your travel and hotel reservations for the reunion in September. If you haven’t, put down the column and head straight to the AOG website and make your reservations. It is guaranteed to be a great time so make sure you’re there—you won’t regret it. Now that you’ve done that, sit back and read about (and remember) those you will see in a few months. The other good news is that I got a lot of photos from all of you this quarter, so you don’t have to see another Mehta family vacation picture. Sean Londrigan is also keeping me updated on the reunion and there are a number of classmates working Sabre Society Donors hard to make this a great reunion—Kevin Westburg, Matt Rytting, Rich Kolberg, Jay Tewksbury, Anne Clark, Rob Fairbanks, Jenn (VanTiem) Wrynn, Scotty and Joelyn (Taylor) Nowlin, Doug Lindsay, and Tom Joslyn. You can contact any of them or the AOG if you need further information. The date is 27-29 September and that’s firm. Go on the AOG website and you can find the link to reserve your room and get up to date info under the reunions webpage. As for Sean, he’s currently the DO at DFEM at the Zoo and enjoying living in Black Forest with his wife and 5 kids. Checking in on OSI. Fellow ’92er and OSI agent Troy Sullivan completed his OSI squadron command at Andrews and heading to the Joint Staff (J-39) at the Pentagon. In between he headed to Norfolk for 3 months to complete JPME II in residence and should be done by the time you read this. Another Old Tarantula crawls out of the dark! I recently heard from John Miltner who has joined the ranks of the retired. He is down at Dyess and enjoying life in Abilene and looking to start his second career there. He and his wife, Wiyada, have a 2 ½ year old girl, Elizabeth, and a boy on the way. Jedi Knights! Steve Barrows responded to my last column where I mentioned those who got picked up BTZ for O-6. I forgot to mention Nate “A-12” Allerheiligen. Congrats Nate! And, I just heard from Steve’s Doolie roommate Tim Anderson, in CS39 with me. Tim was in Afghanistan for the year and crossed paths with a few other ’92 grads, so they took a moment to snap a photo.

Andy McCoy, John “JC” Conmy, and Tim. All three were Mi-17 helicopter instructor pilot advisors to the Afghan Air Force. John “JC” Conmy was a squadron commander for the helicopter advisor squadron. Andy McCoy was a detachment commander and Tim was JC’s DO. They had some good laughs...as you can imagine and

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Class News having some familiar faces helped the time pass quickly. Tim is stationed in Cheyenne, WY at FE Warren AFB where he was flying the UH-1N and left his family for the year. Tim married his sweetheart, Kelleigh, in 1992 and now has 4 wonderful children -- Jonathan, Hunter Grace, Benjamin, and Joshua (3 boys, 1 girl -- oldest is 16, youngest is 10). When Tim got selected to be an advisor, he got a quick course in the Russian Mi-17 and started a year in Afghanistan as an instructor. The rest of the mailbag. Amanda Kato checked in for the first time with a Checkpoints update. She’s an acquisition program manager who left Eglin last summer after 3 years of running the Small Diameter Bomb I program. Her husband, Lynn Anderson, retired from the AF last fall and is working as a defense contractor/consultant and their daughters, Lauren (11) and Heather (8) keep them busy! Amanda is finishing up a year at US Army War College. There are a number of USAFA grads in her class. Following school, Amanda and her family are headed to Wright-Pat. She sent a great photo:

Nicole is very organized and always includes me on her Christmas card list. Last quarter I forgot to include her and others’ Christmas cards, so think of this as Christmas in July. The photo was from her Christmas update. I also got a card from the Boerrigter Bunch. Dean and his wife, Cara, and their 5 kids are wrapping up Dean’s career at Langley AFB. Dean is joining the retired list and the kids are keeping them busy. Not sure what’s next for Dean, but maybe he’ll send an update when he gets settled in. Finally, I got a holiday card from Mike and Angela Rokaw. Mike is finishing up Naval War College and Angela and the kids stayed in LA for the year. I am greatly looking forward to seeing all of you at the reunion. I know it will be a great time. Until we meet in September, stay True Blue ’92! Aufweidersehen, James. Michael D. Sundsted 1805 Macadams Place Alexandria, VA 22308 202-757-0080 Michael.sundsted@afncr.af.mil Class Website: www.zoomienation .org–”Class of 1993”

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(Nine Sabre Society Donors) (Editor’s note: We did not receive an input from Mike for this issue. Please send him your notes and photos for the next column.)

In the back row from left are Michael “SLOJO” Slojkowski (88 -- faculty); Charley “Doc” Schlegel (91); Jay “Walrus” Lennon (90); Dave “Slick” Morrissey (90); Joe Santos (93); Dave “Bosco” Murphy (90); Mike Florio (92); and Christopher Cronce (93). Front Row: Mike “Thud” Thode (95); James “JT” Abernethy (92); Rob Segraves (92); Murf Clark (87 -- AF Senior Rep and faculty); and Amanda “Hornet” Kato (92). Clarence Lukes is the TRANSCOM LNO to NORTHCOM and is living in the Springs. He sent me a photo of the first rugby match held on the terrazzo -- pretty cool. Not sure if it will be a regular thing or just a onetime event. He also included a photo of him and his son in front of the class wall near the 1992 plaque that I don’t have room for in today’s column. He mentioned that he runs into Fred Taylor, Dave “Smitty” Smith, Dick Fulton and Linda (Lee) Oliver all the time in the Springs. My final note is from Nicole (Foster) Greenwood who frequently updates me. She got a call from Chuck Howard who was inbound to Lackland to see his brother graduate from BMT. Since Nicole’s husband, Jeff, is the 323rd Training Squadron commander, it made for a pretty cool mini-reunion. Chuck and his wife, Anabel, brought their 4 kids to see the graduation and Chuck’s brother John will be returning to New Jersey to be in the same AGR unit with Chuck. Chuck mentioned that he lives close to John Cosgrove. Also, during their Texas trip, Chuck and family were stopping by to see Michael Jackson and his wife, Anne, and their 3 sons in Benton, TX where Michael is working closely with the Army.

Jeff and Nicole (Foster) Greenwood at a military ball.

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Craig Allen 85 Quail Creek Drive Del Rio, TX 78840 H: 830-313-7089 C: 660-864-5374 kegsdoolittle@yahoo.com

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It’s Always Sunny in Del Rio. Happy summer 2012. As I write this in mid-April, it’s in the low 90’s on a Sunday afternoon here and my kids are having a raging pool party out back. This will be our first, full summer here and it is already clear that the pool will be the key to survival. With its arid desert climate and fair amount of palm trees, I’ve found living in Del Rio is a lot like being stationed in Phoenix, minus the F-16s, awesome golf courses, pro sports teams, college sports teams, Scottsdale sights and Tempe Hooters. Despite those minor differences, we’re pumped for some resort-style living this summer in the Southwest. I received some good input this quarter from ‘94 grads that will be having interesting summers in exotic climates as well. Jason “Wooly” Wollard checked in from sunny Afghanistan, where he is a detachment commander on a year-long deployment supporting the development of the Afghan Air Force. Jason is at a U.S. Army Forward Operating Base commanding an eight-man team. His team consists of security forces, aircraft maintenance and aircrew personnel who teach their Afghan counterparts as they develop a Mi-17 helicopter squadron. Jason said that Jeff Parks is also there working with him (both pictured below). This is undoubtedly very challenging, but rewarding work. Jason and Jeff are making the mission happen...the exact opposite of GLG-20 “decoys” Austin Millbarge and Emmett Fitz-Hume’s exploits in Afghanistan. Jason

Mi-17 Hero Shot! From left are Jason Wollard, Jeff Parks and John Conmy (92).

said that he has also seen Dave Ham and Jeff Thurlby in-country during his time there so far. A solid update from Jason and it’s good to hear so many ‘94 grads are leading the effort over there. I also heard from another Afghan deployer, AF surgeon Rob Calderon. He recently got back from a deployment in the AOR -- welcome home Rob. A ‘94 married couple sent an update from Yokota AB, Japan--Eric Stubbs and Patricia Guerra. Eric and Patricia are stationed there together and have two kids, Anari (9) and Zorin (7). Patricia recently served a Sabre Society year-long remote assignment to Qatar, returning in NoDonors vember of last year. Shortly following her return, Anari and Zorin were recognized in a “Home Front Heroes” ceremony (pictured below). They each received medals and certificates which “recognized their sacrifices and contributions during the absence of their mother during her deployment”. Added to this, the kids were recognized for “overcoming the Great Earthquake ordeal of 2011, which included their evacuation to Texas where they were away from their father for five months. Anari and Zorin proved to be exceptional Family Members committed to helping their parents serve their country.” Sounds like a tough 2011 for the StubbsGuerra family. The recognition is well-deserved. Glad to hear you’re all back together now!

The Laughlin AFB ‘94 crew continues to get more robust. I discovered that Jim DeReus is also here, which brings us to a total of seven now. Jim is a T-6 instructor pilot and has been here for about 18 months. He and his wife have a son who just turned 14. Jim was lucky enough to be selected as the wing’s Unit Compliance Inspection prep chief. This is an arduous task and the inspection is in the fall, however, shortly after being selected for this position, Jim was tagged for a deployment. So, he’ll have to pass on the prep chief duties and miss the inspection...a rare case where a deployment is the more appealing situation. Other Laughlin updates include Gregory “Spike” Keeton being selected for Colonel below the zone. Congrats Spike! Also, John “Vapor” Foncannon takes command of the 85th Flying Training Squadron (T-6s) early this summer. Thanks for all the input this quarter. I got a lot of solid updates from first-time contributors, as well as some regulars. Again, if you’ve never sent me anything, please zap me an update (and Hudge please continue with the Hong Kong installment). If your summer vacation plans include loading up the Family Truckster and getting anywhere near Del Rio, please give me a ring. We’d love to have you. We say that all the time, but strangely no one has visited us here yet (other than our folks). That will change soon, however, as Colleen and I are glad to be hosting Brent Brockinton and his wife, Meredith, who will be in town for Vapor’s change of command ceremony. Looking forward to it. Have a great summer--Kegger. R. Travis Koch 100 Trieste Blvd. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 W:(850) 283-4231 DSN 523Home: 850.249.8820 Cell: (850) 499-8242 richard.koch@tyndall.af.mil traviskoch@yahoo.com

The Stubbs-Guerra family Tina (Westfall) Blackman dropped me a line from Northern Virginia. She lives there in Gainesville with her husband, Jeff, who is active duty AF. They have been married for 13 years and have two children, Caitlin and Nathan, ages nine and seven. Tina is a full-time mom and stays busy volunteering at their church and school. Tina also coaches the kids’ various sports teams, including basketball, baseball and softball. It was great to hear my fellow Viking 9er was doing so well. Thanks for the update Tina. The Todd Hudgins Hong Kong update is becoming a regular installment. Hudge is living there with his family and flying for FedEx all over Southeast Asia. I love hearing from him, as he somehow sees ‘94 grads in Hong Kong all the time. Plus when we talk, there’s always a reference to ‘flying cargo planes full of rubber dog doo out of Hong Kong’. That never gets old. This quarter, I got the St Patty’s Day celebration update. Hudge got his Irish on with Larry Mitchell and Jesse Hernandez. Larry and his family were visiting from Andersen AFB, Guam, where he is the 734th Air Mobility Squadron Commander. Jesse found a nice post-AF retirement job -- flying G-5s for MetroJet and living in Hong Kong. It’s interesting that the ‘94 contingent in Hong Kong is so strong. I may have to look into this SE Asia rubber dog doo hauling business a couple years from now.

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March Madness: So last year I went to the Final Four and the Masters. This March, I took more of a participant’s role. I joined Mike “Lotta Sap” Pugh, Jake “White Hot Plugs” Maloy, Pete “Pin It” Sheridan, and Jason “Polaris” Hohenstein to celebrate Steve “Watch This” Gorowski’s 40th Birthday Party in West Yellowstone, MT for three solid days of snowmobile heaven. The trip was sponsored by It’s All Ego (www.itsallego.com) and was one of the most righteous weekends I can remember. I had never really been snowmobiling, and it’s a riot. Highly recommended for you Southern men that have never done it, Greeno, Colby, Youngman? Here’s a shot of Team Soft Hat:

Polaris, Pudge, me, Frog, Goro and Jock Tommy “He Did What to my Bike?” Walker couldn’t make the trip because he had to close a deal. Catch Goro’s next 40th bash if you can. The only two hiccups were Goro stalling his sled in a river after a 150-yard open-water-ski and Frogtown pulling a “ghost ride” where his sled played chicken with a tree. The tree won. Besides that, we all lived; a minor miracle. A few of the guys could not make it due to a righteous trip to Cabo. Need to get an update on that one from somebody…but what happens in Sabre Society Cabo might have stayed in Cabo. Ty Little had a prior Donors engagement and could not make it as he and Melissa welcomed Theodore James Little to the family. Congrats After Montana, I went to Colorado. Didn’t get to meet Teddy but did catch up with Dan Bunts (’94). Buntos is doing great, flying with the Denver ANG guys and coaching Wardo’s kids in lacrosse. Also got to crash at Pete “Froggy” Sheridan’s place. Congrats are due to Frog as he and sweet Dawn are engaged. Way to go Brother. After Colorado, I spent the last week of March in Key West, FL. Shared a delicious dinner with Jeff Searcy and his beautiful family. He and Jennifer

From left are Larry, Todd and Jesse. How do you say ‘green beer’ in Chinese?

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Class News have an amazing place right on the water and three fantastic kids, John (7), James (5), and Mary Ellen (3):

get a significant inner-chuckle out of the deal, most of the other parents feel it is slightly inappropriate…which makes it funnier. Hope to get an update from Jon Tinsley in the Fall. Till then, keep the Faith, T.Koch. Melissa S. Cunningham 9712 Hidden Valley Road Vienna, VA 22181 (C) 719-332-4912 (W) 703-693-2132 Melissa.cunningham@ js.pentagon.mil fmcunningham@me.com

The Searcy Clan I ended the month by sailing back to Panama City with Daniel “Magic” Lee (’98) and Michael “Sajak” Trujillo (’01). Magic’s Adagio hauled us across the Gulf of Mexico in just over three days with mild seas and great fishing. We ended up landing a 43-pound Wahoo and ate like kings for the last two days of the voyage. Ruling on the Field: I place this section in for the younger grads [like Scott Bradley (’01)] that hear the words, “Murray” and “Neal” and wonder what the old gold-taggers are laughing about. Remember, when something is inadvertently verbally repeated in a group within earshot, it is considered a “Murray”. If something said (not asked) is purposefullyblatantly inaccurate and then corrected by someone else, the correction is a “Neal”. If something said is blatantly inaccurate and then corrected by someone, and the person who mistakenly said the comment tries to “Neal” you, that is called a “Veneri”. Find a USAFA hockey player from the mid-90s for a multitude of examples. Random Updates: Rode the Houston-to-Austin MS 150 in April and Jake Maloy came out to the finish line. He and Heather had a baby boy, Fisher, a few months ago and everyone is doing great. Nick Guttman is commanding the 561st JTS at Nellis. Jason Costello took command of the 325th TRSS here at Tyndall. Dane Crawford is at Pope AFB as the DO of the 682 ASOS. A ’72 USNA grad e-mailed me about a book he wrote called Out of Uniform so if you need help moving on, check it out. Ran into Jay Moore down here at Tyndall. Jay was here upgrading as an F-22 simulator instructor. He is a “Mr.” now and might be the first guy in our class that officially separated in September, after 24 years of service. Anyway, Jacob (13), Brandon (10) and Patti (9) are all proud of Dad for a great career. Congrats, Jay, here is a happy snappy of the fini-flight:

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Happy PCS Season Everyone! Its summertime, so I know many of you getting ready to embark on the AF next great adventure for your family. Time to start getting rid of the things that don’t need to make that move so you don’t end up on an episode of Hoarders. It always amazes me when we open the boxes at the destination end that some of those things seem to evade the big moving purge PCS after PCS. If only I could have been that stealthy during SERE training. Thankfully, this year our family is staying put but we still do a little spring cleaning. I received an awesome update from Gigi Simko (Angeles) at RAF Lakenheath! She took command of the 48 MDSS last July, and she commented just as many people have said before, “It’s the hardest job you’ll ever love.” After 4 years on Air Staff/in the DC area, Stephen (1995) and Gigi and their sons are savoring the wide and open spaces of the English countryside. Their goal is to visit a country a month, and so far they’ve made it to Wales, Italy, Norway and Austria, with France and Belgium scheduled for later this month.

Mini TAB reunion in RAF Lakenheath. After running into several of our classmates, Gigi discovered there were 10 TABers within a 7-mile radius. A few of them got together the last day of January for a quick pic. Marcus Prince has been in the UK for 6 years -- he’s assigned with the bulk of the group at RAF Lakenheath in Wing Plans. Marcus and his wife, Stephanie, have three daughters. They are currently in the final stages of PCSing back to the States to NAS Pensacola while Marcus will spend a year at Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia, as an instructor. Tony Babcock is the lone ranger at RAF Mildenhall as the 352 SOMXS/CC. He and his wife, Dana, had a baby girl last year. They will PCS this summer. You’ll see in the photo that Adam Sabre Society Donors Starr had just come out of surgery -- he’s an orthopedic surgeon assigned to the 48 MDG. Alex Haddad recently finished up an exchange tour with the British Air Staff in High Wycombe and is happy to be touring Europe and flying the F-15C with the 493 FS. John Orchard is the 492 FS/DO and heads out to an undisclosed location in the next couple of weeks. He and his wife, Alex, have three little girls. While the group was waiting for Adam to complete the surgery, they spent time reminiscing about life at USAFA. Gigi said it was nice to hear that she wasn’t the only one who felt a sense of dread driving back through the gate after a pass. Missing from the photo were Michael Casey (flying), Robert Eller (teaching in Cambridge), Brett Taylor (flying) and Paul Heitmeyer (flying). Slick (Mike) arrived at Lakenheath in March 2011, deployed shortly thereafter - where he was the 493 EFS/DO -- and then took command of the 493 FS in November. Rob is an otolaryngologist, i.e., ENT physician, also at the 48 MDG. Brett and Paul are with the 494 FS as well.

Fini-Flight in the Mighty Eagle. Parting Shots: Many of you might have heard but Jason Cockrum’s sweet Dad, Clyde, passed away in May. Clyde was not only a great father and husband but he was an outstanding example to many of the fellas. We are thinking of you and your family in this trying time and know that Clyde is smiling down from above. And finally, the Jon Hamby section of the update. Bone is doing great. He almost watched his buddy Bob Moore get thumped by Lebron James at a Wizards’ game (you can Google that story for more details). He is slightly brokenhearted about his Liverpool FC losing to Chelsea in the FA Cup. He is not surprised that Mathes Mennell is a Man U fan. And he is pleased that my son’s little league team is the Red Sox. I told him we have a Chicken Shack and Beer Distributor as the team sponsors and while we

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Melvin E. Maxwell, Jr. 14109 Kelly Drive Bellevue, NE 68123 618-402-4611 mel_maxwell97@hotmail.com melvin.maxwell@offutt.af.mil

Rob and his daughter Anna Katherine enjoy hot cocoa at Carnival. Rob Eller didn’t make the photo op because he and his wife, Kristen, and daughter Anna Katherine were in Venice for Carnival. They enjoyed all of the festivities despite the 23 degrees F temperature.

Radoslaw Rusek and Cesar Oscar Acebes Puertes in Afghanistan. I bumped into Radoslaw Rusek in the gift shop at the Pentagon after giving a quick family tour. He is more than busy working in SAF/IA’s Foreign Disclosure, Tech Transfer & Weapons Division. He told me that he had recently returned from supporting ISAF in Afghanistan as an Electronic Warfare Element (RC-W EWE) Chief working in support of the RC-W Commander’s (an Italian) missions. You’ll never guess who he ran into during his deployment...Cesar Oscar Acebes Puertes! Cesar was the airborne mobility/transport/logistics Chief in J4 for RC West. Their time overlapped four months so they had a great opportunity to catch up. They had hoped to tag up with Piotr Blazeusz during that time but it never worked out. While waiting for the annual dental appointment, i.e. the appointment that usually generates 3 more appointments, I ran into Robin Orth. He was getting ready to head off to Kuwait for 6 months. When he returns later this summer, he found out that he’ll be leaving the Space Acquisition for a PAS assignment...either DTRA or IA seem to be the front runner options. On a somber note, just as I was getting ready to send in this article I received word that Veronica “Vern” Hutfles passed away on 7 April at her home following a courageous seven-year battle with melanoma. I’ve read some wonderful email chains from her squadron mates and basketball teammates. Most of these stories offer memories of Vern’s witty, slightly sarcastic sense of humor and her uncanny ability to fall asleep anywhere. Additionally, many of you may not know this, but her story was depicted in Sascha Pflaeging’s book, When Janey Comes Marching Home: Portraits of Women Combat Veterans. The book quotes Vern’s story about a B-52 bombing run originating from Diego Garcia in the Pacific, targeting a mountain pass in Afghanistan with the mission of preventing hostile insurgents from crossing over the pass to engage friendly forces. Vern was an amazing Pilot, Officer, Daughter, Aunt and Friend! We will miss you Vern. Here’s a Toast... Thank you everyone for writing in and sending photos! I appreciate the support more than you know. Please keep the news and photos coming. All the best for a great summer! Mel

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Greetings 97! Hope this update finds you well. I’ve found myself in the garden spot of Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, TX in the last of a series of training TDYs before heading to the 721st Aerial Port Squadron at Ramstein AB, Germany this summer. Along the way, I’ve got to run into a few classmates. In March, I went to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and got to hang out with Thad Middleton and Phil Dorsch. Thad had just completed his tour as the military aide-de-camp to the Secretary of the Air Force and was going through requalification training on the KC-10 at McGuire. After requalification, Thad and his family are headed to Travis AFB, CA where Thad will be the Director of Operations for a KC-10 squadron.

The Middleton Family and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. From left are Katie, Oliver, SECAF Donley, Grant, and Thad Middleton. Phil Dorsch commands an Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at McGuire and is headed to Scott AFB next for an assignment on the AMC staff. Phil is looking forward to living the bachelor life in downtown St Louis. The boys and I talked old times and numerous classmates but after multiple beers at Chickie and Pete’s, the only thing I can remember is Thad mentioning something about Chris Sullivan stealing his ring dance date and Phil’s dating adventures as a single commander in New Jersey. I ran into Jiffy Seto at the AMC Commander’s Course at Scott AFB. Jiffy, his wife, Katherine, their 3-year-old Sabre Society daughter Meredith, and new baby Natalie lived in the Donors Temporary Lodging Facility next door at Scott. Jiffy is a doctor at the White House but he and the family will be relocating this summer to Dover AFB, DE where Jiffy will command a Medical Operations Squadron. Classmate and former Falcon quarterback Tom Brown was in the course as well. Tom commands the Comptroller Squadron at Mountain Home, ID but will be headed to take over a squadron at MacDill AFB, FL this summer. I also ran into Clay Robinson while on a TDY at Langley. Clay is currently the Langley AFB Wing Inspector General for a stint before he re-

Clay Robinson at USAFA Rugby vs. Utah on the Terrazzo.

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Class News turns to his acquisition roots. Clay’s wife, Anna, was letting Clay go to the Academy the following weekend for a boys weekend which included watching the Air Force Rugby team play Utah on the Terrazzo. Clay sent the photo. Quick shout out to my old roommate Brad Holtmeier and his wife, Jordan, who gave birth to their first child, Ella Joanna, back in February. Brad made his first sacrifice as a father and turned in his BMW M3 for a 2012 BMW 550i. Good work Holt—way to sacrifice for your baby. Unfortunately, that’s about all I have for this round—holler at your boy with some news. News has definitely been sparse lately —active classmate Facebook page trolling will begin next update. Until next time…Mel

Pat Fox 1260 Bragg St. Sonoma, CA 95476 (707) 837-6356 pfox@hannonarmstrong.com

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I have to start off with an apology for not having a class write-up last quarter – I gave myself a 60/60/2 for the infraction. With the demerits, tours, and restriction behind me, I’ve committed to not let this gross slipup occur again. After five years of living in San Francisco, we recently moved to Sonoma, and yes, living in wine country is as hard as you might imagine. Ironically, my updated mailing address wasn’t processed by the AOG and I didn’t receive the last issue of Checkpoints, but the Endowment managed to track me down and request a donation which proves you can’t escape the watchful eye of G Lo (’73). In a real small world situation, the apartment my family and I were living in San Francisco was previously Sabre Society inhabited by Juan Castro, Wally Adams, and Abe Ebia – Donors we had it bleached clean before moving in. After years of flying C-5s, Juan passed on living in the Cuban hotbed of Miami to be an FAA certification and inspection pilot in Oklahoma City. Outside of flying, most of Juan’s time is divided between the Oklahoma Cuban-American Society, which he founded and is the sole member, and raising his beautiful daughter. Wally is flying for UPS and living in Louisville; every year he has a huge Kentucky Derby party and would love to have some more classmates attend. Between his place and Brian Quinn just around the block they have plenty of room – let me know if you’re interested and I’ll put you in touch with them. Abe has followed his passion to Central America – where he’s opened an eco-friendly surf escape in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua – The Dreamcatcher House. The on-line reviews are impressive and if you cut out this picture of Abe and present it while making your reservation he’s agreed to give you 20% off each night or the fifth night free.

would probably have twice his current point total if he could convince fellow AFA and Manchester Youth Hockey standout, Dr. Steve Maturo (’97) to move back to the Granite State and lace ‘em up with him once again. Dr. Maturo is not only MD from the hockey team; Dr. Erik Oberg has a successful proctology practice in Virginia. Phil Vallie gave me the update on the guys from Minnesota – John Haberlach is a general manager for Marvin Windows in Warroad, MN; Tate Hagland runs a car dealership and is the president of the school board in International Falls, MN; and Phil is back in Duluth where his two boys dominate the Duluth youth hockey leagues. It doesn’t come of much of a surprise that all three have moved back to northern Minnesota, the unique appeal of being able to ice fish in 20-degree temperatures is hard to resist. Trey Hall, who was not a hockey player but he was Tate’s roommate in CS-09, just celebrated five years with Southwest – Trey lives with his wife and two kids in Tampa. Chicago native Tony DaCosta has left the cold Midwest winters behind him and is now living in Orange County, CA. I recently met up with DaCosta to watch his beloved Chicago Blackhawks and have a few drinks. We found ourselves surrounded by hecklers and as you can see from the picture below, Tony had no problem standing his ground. The final hockey update – it was great to hear that Brian Mulligan (’97) is teaching MAS at the Academy, way to go Mully, I always knew you had it in you.

Abe Ebia growing out the hair and living the life in Nicaragua. It was great seeing the USAFA hockey team do so well again this past winter, advancing to the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in the last six years. Keeping with the hockey theme, here’s a quick update on the hockey players from our class. After a distinguished AF career as both a maintenance and acquisitions officer, Mike Desroche has been pursuing a dream of being an NHL referee. He’s been working his way up and currently finds himself as a senior referee in the Granite State Hockey League; the league’s leading scorer is none other than Greg Dumont (’97). Dumont

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Tony DaCosta letting people know who’s boss.

SJ, Steve, Sienna, and Candice Pipes. For all the griping we did about the Springs when we were cadets, there’s a growing number of us moving back to the “80841”. Steve and Candice (McBrayer) Pipes will be back there by the time this issue is out. Candice sent me this picture of the Pipes family – some of the cutest kids I’ve seen. Both Candice and Steve are still on active duty – Candice received her PhD from The Ohio State University in Literature and will be teaching in the English Department and Steve is likely to be working in the Athletic Department in some capacity. Earlier this year Steve was named the AF Support FGO Staff Officer of the Year – nice work Pipes. Enjoy your new assignments, but Steve, watch out for fellow Cincinnati native Jeff Mohr – he’s been known to entrap former defensive backs to be his sidekick on his ridiculous adventures. Just a couple of months ago, he convinced Brian Mulloy (’97) to ditch the wife (Julie (Thode) Mulloy ’97) and kids for a couple of weeks to run with the bulls in Spain. Your best bet is to keep a low profile and hope he doesn’t learn that you’re back in town. Before I leave the subject of getting entrapped by JMo, I’d like to send my congratulations out to Sean Finnan, who has had to put up with more JMo shenanigans than all of us combined, on the birth of his son Nash this past February. Sean, Adrien, and their three kids are back flying C-130s at Little Rock after a year of schooling at Leavenworth. Ron Jenkins has moved from Omaha and is in Grand Forks, ND flying the Global Hawk. Finally, Candice passed along that Steve recently saw Frank and Erin (Mun-

son) Staine-Pyne in the DC area; Erin is now an O-5 and Frank is civilian contractor. On a more serious note, as another Memorial Day has passed we’re once again reminded of the great sacrifice of those, both past and present. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families and loved ones of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, especially our classmates.

James W. Busch 8618 Rockbridge Circle Montgomery, AL 36116 Cell: (830) 734-2411 Buschf16@yahoo.com

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Members Jason Simmons Simmons@USAFA2000.com

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Hello! This is Mary (Long) Sletten. James is diligently preparing for the Gathering of Eagles at Maxwell AFB (15 airpower legends tell their stories during the weeklong event in June), and so I am writing on James’ behalf. I am living the good life in Montgomery, homeschooling kiddos while my husband, Mark Sletten (’00), works tirelessly in ACSC. ACSC has been a fun USAFA mini reunion. If USAFA is The Zoo, ACSC would be akin to the Safari Ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. USAFA grads enjoy the quiet life and roam as they please. Some are visible while others hibernate before going back into the “real AF”. Besides Burnin’ Busch, notable sightings Sabre Society include Aaron Cooper, Steve Engberg, Nick Evans, Donors Scott and Trish (Mahon) Fuller, Kristi Hanson, Jeremy Lushnat, Tim McCann, Cassandra (Benavides) Oakes, Jason Trew, Scott Weyermuller, and a few others. Steve Engberg and family will be heading back to F-16s in Aviano. Jeremy Lushnat will be moving to Langley AFB, VA. Since we will be sticking around for another year, I’ll get the chance to see Brett Rurka, Ryan Voneida and Jeff Westphal, who will be attending ACSC. Nick Evans and Larry Sullivan will also be here attending SAASS next year. Theresa (Siegel) Thompson will be in Montgomery as well for husband Nate’s (’00) assignment to ACSC. Here is a quick rundown of additional Shiner updates: Jemal Singleton was hired at Oklahoma State in February 2011 to coach running backs by Coach Gundy (it was a difficult decision to leave USAFA). In Jemal’s first season at OSU, the team became the Big 12 Champions and played in the Fiesta Bowl, OSU’s first ever BCS bowl, where OSU beat Stanford. The picture is Jemal, his nephew, and his team at the Fiesta Bowl after practice.

Classmates, We have some good updates this round considering some are first-time submitters… there are a lot more of you out there though, so please send your updates; your class would surely enjoy hearing what you’ve been up to since graduation. Personally, I’m kicking it at New Kabul Compound in USFOR-A J65, C4I Plans Division. I was surprised when I arrived to find a classmate at a desk near mine – Randy Witt, also in J65. We’re doing time (haa haa), as 365ers out here and making the time go by with trips in the SWA theater. I might get moved to North Kabul International Airport soon though as we Sabre Society work some of the “Surge Reduction” plans. If you’re in Donors theater, send me an email (NIPR, SIPR, or CX-I) and if I’m in at your FOB sometime, we’ll hit up a DFAC (or MRE) together. Mike Edmonston has been in Monterey, CA, for the past 17 months learning Korean as part of training to become a Regional Affairs Strategist. Mike’s family had culture shock after moving from Cannon AFB. Although the difficulty of learning Korean in his limited time there, he had a rush of class spirit one day and built a Class of 2000 costume for his 3-year-old son Nathan. While in Monterey, Mike ran into fellow grads Nathan Kartchner and Julio Rodriguez (also learning Korean), Brian Unks (learning French), Dan Scherdt (learning German), and Carl Frohman (learning Thai).

Mike Edmonston and his son, Nathan – a super Two Grand Supporter!

Jemal Singleton with some players and friends from some other football program. Patrick and Tiffany (Stinnett) Comiskey have settled in Denton, TX. Patrick works for FEMA while Tiffany stays at home with their boys. Jeff Montgomery is flying F-16s in Phoenix. Jeff and his wife, Janna, have adopted two beautiful children and have done amazing things in the last several months for many orphans looking for forever homes. Tim Kline separated from the AF to become a lawyer and is now running for State Representative in Kentucky. Mike and Jaime (Ciesielski) McGuire are loving life with their three boys as Mac serves as associate pastor at New Hope Leeward Church in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. Tracy (Strickland) Gates is flying helicopters for the Army. She recently had a baby boy and moved to Germany. It’s 2pm and hubby is home. Until next time, Gold will Shine! Mary (Long) Sletten, 8519 Pipit Court, Montgomery AL 36117, Msletten99@hotmail.com, 940-228-4989.

Xavier Bruce is the only active-duty 2000 USAFA grad remaining in the Medical Service Corps. He currently works for the Defense Logistics Agency in Philadelphia, but recently received an assignment the Air Force Research Laboratory Human Performance Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. Xavier recently returned from a deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan where he completed a Doctorate of Business Administration in Supply Chain Management. He founded the company UP²LIFT, that specializes in life coaching, academic coaching, sports vision therapy, and personal fitness training. Xavier published a book entitled Influence Strategies in Health Care GPOs . He is also a Credentialed Fellow in the American Academy of Medical Administrators, Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and online instructor with Colorado Technical University. Chris Israel, his wife, and their six children requested to be released from the Air Force with the RIF, and their request was granted. He’d been an Air Mobility LNO with the Marines at Camp Lejeune, NC since September 2010, and he spent 90 days in Afghanistan. During training for the deployment Chris injured his neck and ruptured a disc, but had surgery to correct the problem last November. He’s excited to be turning in the keys of a KC-135 with hopes to pick-up the keys of a John Deere in the near future. Aaron Bert is with Certified Financial Group these days living in Orlando, FL. Since we haven’t heard from Aaron, I asked for a “catch-up” since graduation. He married his wife, Kelly, soon after graduation, in July 2000, and served in the Medical Service Corp at Davis-Monthan, then Mac-

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Class News Dill. They moved back home to Orlando after separating in 2005. Aaron and Kelly have three children ages 8, 5, and 3. Aaron received a Certified Financial Planner certification last year and is currently the VP of Certified Financial Group, an independent financial services firm in Central Florida that provides retirement planning, retirement plan servicing, and investment management to people all over the US. Recently, Pat Schuldt was in Orland for a Disney vacation with his family, so they snagged a picture together.

Pat Schuldt and Aaron Bert Rob Volesky finished up a two years working as a test liaison between the AF Flight Test Center and the SPOs at Wright-Pat. He and his family are moving to Fort Leavenworth, KS, where Rob will be attending Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC), along with Tom Hutton. Meanwhile, Amy Rivera will be graduating from CGCS on 8 June 2012 with Nora Nelson and a few other assorted Two Granders. Amy will assume command on 22 June of the 78th Security Forces Squadron at Warner Robins AFB, GA. Patrick Parsons recently wed the former Charisse Gatdula at a beautiful ceremony in Santa Monica, CA. Stephen Nava and Eric Patton were in attendance to help ring in the New Year! Patrick is finishing the first year if his second residency at Wilford Hall, Stephen is now working at Hurlburt Field, and Eric is finishing up his year at ACSC in Alabama. Justin Hohn and his wife, Karen, took VSP for separation in 2008 and Justin has been working as a diesel engineer for Cummins in Indiana since then. Erika (Siegenthaler) Neitzke separated from the AF in 2006 after a few years in the Acquisitions world so that she could be with her husband, Sean Neitzke (‘99). They’ve been at Nellis for the past 3 years, but are leaving for ACSC this summer. In 2009 they welcomed a daughter, Sierra, into their lives. Erika says that she keeps busy with Sierra, but also is starting a new career teaching BODYPUMP at a gym and designing knitting patterns.

fighter pilots on the Kiran Mk I. He’s survived engine flameouts, snakes, weddings, and many other adventures. Luke is based in Hyderabad, India, so long him up if you can make it over there in the next 9 months!

Maj Luke Urish with a mighty Kiran. Rob Ellis and family are doing great in Tanzania. They just passed their one-year mark! Rob and Amy recently completed a Swahili language evaluation, achieving a Progressing-High level. They are excited and encouraged at this news, but also challenged to continue learning the language and culture of Tanzania. Brandon Acheson is finishing up his first year of seminary at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. He hopes to be done in 2014 and pursue the AF chaplaincy when he’s done. Please send updates at anytime to Simmons@USAFA2000.com or hit me up on other social media. Thanks to all those that contributed this time. Jason “Cueball” Simmons

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Faith (Hitchcock) Dunn 6423 NW 94th Court Johnson, IA 50131 Faithd03@hotmail.com

Members

Hi again! Sorry I missed the last article but I haven’t been hearing from many of you – send updates please! Here is what I have received as well as what I’ve caught on Facebook: DJ and Lauren (Wagner) Palagi welcomed their first baby, a little girl named Caroline, in December. Andy and MaryEdith Malin also welcomed their third child, a little girl named Lucy, in February. Colleen (French) Crabtree and her husband, Scott Crabtree, had their fourth baby, a little boy, in April. Jesse and Sarah Goolsby are expecting their third in July. Jeff Feuring and his wife, Eun Young, had a big surprise; they are expecting twins this Sabre Society summer! Brian and Allison Nealon are expecting their Donors second in September and Lisa (Vice) Davitch and her husband are expecting their first baby in October. I think that is all the baby news I have (or at least heard of!). Stacy Boggs recently emailed and on top of buying her first house, she is getting ready for what sounds like an amazing Mission Trip to Kenya where she will be serving at a library in Mombasa. Her trip is from June 24th – July 4th. I can’t wait to hear about it all and see pictures from this awesome opportunity. That is all I have for updates; please send updates as you all start to have your babies! Mike and I have been very busy at work (I guess that is a good problem to have these days) and we are getting ready to take a much-needed break by going on a family vacation to Disney World. We are pretty excited for the trip and the kids are equally excited; although I am not sure how much of a “break” it will be from the grind. I am sure we will all be tired when we get home! Take care and keep the updates coming! Faith

Erika (Siegenthaler) Neitzke, Sean, and Sierra Jamie Rand is practicing trauma surgery at St. Louis University Hospital and is still active duty assigned to CSTARS St. Louis (a trauma refresher course for medics, RNs, PAs, MDs, DOs, etc). Jamie did a tour in Afghanistan the last half of 2010 and is now back in Afghanistan on a second tour; maybe I’ll run into her out here. Luke Urish is currently an “Air Force of One” on an instructor pilot exchange with the Indian Air Force (IAF). He completed the 6-month IAF version of PIT on the Kiran Mk II aircraft and is now instructing IAF student

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Visit the AOG Web Site. Gone But Not Forgotten, Merchandise and more! www.usafa.org

Eric Ballew World Cell: +1.850.543.9936 ericballew86@yahoo.com eric.ballew@us.af.mil Class Facebook: USAFA Class of 2002 Class Website: www.usafa02.org

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Members

Hi Class of 2002! I’m on my C-5 fini-flight right now and writing you from Ramstein waiting to launch on one last mission downrange before the movers show up to pack up my stuff in two weeks. I volunteered to fly MQ-9s next, so I’ll be heading to Creech this October after I get done with my initial training at Holloman. Starting this October if you find yourself in the Las Vegas area, don’t hesitate to give me a call or page me when the Jonas Brothers are in town. Class Reunion News: I can’t believe it’s been 10 years! Aaron Rubi is the chair for the reunion and the dates Sabre Society have been officially announced for 26-30 September. Donors Air Force Football will be playing Colorado State that weekend and your official invitation should be arriving in the next few weeks. Facebook: If you aren’t on the USAFA Class of 2002 Facebook page, then get on it. We’ve got 465 people already linked in and with the reunion coming up it’s an easy way to keep people posted on current news. No Limit Sightings: George Dibble and his wife, Jenn, welcomed their third daughter, Victoria, a few weeks ago. When George isn’t up in the middle of the night changing diapers, he’s working at the Pentagon and living in the DC area. Carlos Jayme is doing an AMC/A3 staff tour at Scott AFB. Andy Beckett is stationed at McGuire and he’s looking forward to July when he’ll be moving to Hawaii to continue flying C-17s. Bo Balzer and Russell Reese were flying A-10s and are new to the Del Rio T-38 squadron. Tony Straw and Abram Woody were flying B-1s before (Dyess and Ellsworth, respectively) and have been out at Laughlin for a couple years with Vinnie Reese. Tim Chapman just moved from Vipers at Shaw to T-6 PIT at Sheppard AFB. Keegan Maple is continuing his trend of amazing assignments as he’s currently stationed in Brisbane doing an exchange program with the Australian Air Force flying their Airbus tanker. Keep sending me your updates and any pics that you want to share and I’ll see you at the reunion. Tigers love pepper; they hate cinnamon.

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Susan Lynn (Doyle) Maly (703) 909-3830 USAFA2003@gmail.com susanlynn1981@yahoo.com Class Facebook Page: Usafa Zerothree

Hey Bongers, hope this update finds you all doing well! Congratulations to all Major selects! Here’s the latest news: Congratulations and thanks go to Barry Crawford, SQ-15. Here is an excerpt from Airforcemagazine.com: “Barry Crawford Jr., an Air Force special operator, was caught in the crossfire during an intense 10-hourplus firefight on May 4, 2010, in eastern Afghanistan. Without regard for his own life, he remained exposed to heavy fire and guided helicopters in to evacuate his wounded colleagues. For Crawford’s actions that day, he received the Air Force Cross in April. He is currently awaiting a pilot training slot and hopes to fly A-10s for Sabre Society the Air National Guard.” Mike Donaldson, Capt USMC Donors and a fellow CS-04 Fighter, passes along his greetings and thanks. After seeing Luc Gruenther in the last Checkpoints he asked me to pass on this message: “Reading his words and seeing those pictures hit home for me. In 2011, I deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan as a Company Commander with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. It was a particularly nasty seven months. However, it really made me appreciate all those who supported us from above. On more than one occasion, the Air Force helped get my Marines out of a tight spot, or helped end the lives of some really evil men. I’d really like to express my thanks to Luc, to all our classmates who flew over Helmand, and to all the Air Force men and women who made those sorties possible. This brings a new meaning to the bonds we established long ago in Colorado Springs.” Additionally, Jesse Stubbs is flying KC-135s at

Kadena until May and Jesse was selected for Phoenix Reach crossflow to fly C-17s at McChord AFB in September. Switching gears Bongers, if you’ve lost your class ring please contact Don McCarthy at the AOG: Don.McCarthy@aogusafa.org. The AOG is often contacted by those people who have found the ring and make every effort to have it returned without disclosing any personal information to outsiders. Please report any class rings that are missing to the AOG with the following information: Where was the ring last seen? What was the ring size? What type and color of stone did you have? What was inscribed on the inside? (NOTE: By the time it gets on EBAY, the inscription is rubbed out.) Were there any identifying marks/scratches? Finally, here is a note from our Class President, Giles Whiting: “Classmates, we’re quickly approaching what for our four years on the hill seemed an eternity away; our 10 year reunion, which will be held in the fall of 2013. We’re starting the planning early and are setting up two committees that I’d like you to consider being a part of -- the Reunion Committee and the Class Gift Committee. Reunion Committee: Led by Justin Warnaar, this committee will be responsible for working with the AOG to structure the weekend, communications to the class, and plan any special events. They will be shadowing the class of 2002 over the next few months as that class prepares for their reunion. Class Gift Committee: Led by Randy Gibbs, this committee will work with the USAFA Endowment and AOG to lead the fundraising effort and determine what will be our class’ gift. Three more things: (1) If you would like to help with either of these committees please get in touch with Randy at mrgibbs@gmail.com; (2) Join the Class of 2003 Facebook group by searching USAFA Class of ’03; (3) we’re looking for POCs for each squadron. If you’d like to serve this role please email Giles at richard.whiting@post.harvard.edu. Thanks to everyone in the class for all of the help. I’m very much looking forward to seeing everyone for this special event.” Thanks for all of the updates! Take care, Susan

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Breezy Long PSC 78, Box 4252 APO AP 96326 Home: (214) 261-2065 windyshort82@gmail.com

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This quarter, we have a mixture of highlights and somber reflections to share. By now, everyone should have received an official notification from the AOG, but I will take a moment to share the news again here. On 21 February 2012, friend and classmate Timothy Hughes passed away in his home in Burbank, CA. His parents and siblings conveyed that they greatly appreciated the friendship all Tim’s friends shared with him. His smile and his kindness will not be forgotten.

Here’s a toast. . . Timothy Hughes (16 Jul 1981 – 21 Feb 2012). In February, Chris Ibsen and Ben Payne participated in the Destin 50 Beach Ultra Marathon (www.destin50.com), helping to raise over $35,000 for the Spec Ops Warrior Foundation. The entire race was put on by Maj Zane Holscher (’01). (See photo at the top of the next column.) Ben ran the 5K (on sand) and won with a lightning-fast time of16:39 -- he blew the field away by over 4 minutes! Ibby ran the 50K (also all on sand) and placed 7th with an impressive time of 6:01.27. Ibby is a U-28

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Class News Also, Ashleigh Thomas got married in downtown Chicago in February -- turned out to be great weather and she was a beautiful bride! Jackie (Plumb) Perr, Lisa Cannon (’06) and Emily were bridesmaids and brought their men along for the fun. Ashleigh is now living and working in Chicago. Jackie and Chris Perr are in Auburn, AL while Chris is finishing his Doctorate. And Lisa is flying C-17’s out of McChord, but about to PCS. Emily included a photo of the wedding party. From left are Ryan Webster (Lisa’s boyfriend), Chris Perr, Jackie (Plumb) Perr, Ashleigh (Thomas) Kishkunas, Lisa Cannon, Emily (Gross) Riley, Louis Kishkunas (Ashleigh’s husband), and Tavis Riley (Emily’s husband).

Chris Ibsen and Ben Payne at the Destin 50 Beach Ultra Marathon. Pilot in the 319th SOS, and Ben is a U-28 Pilot in the 34th SOS. This was all accomplished after they’d received word that they’d both lost squadron mates the night before in the U-28 crash in Djibouti. Among those killed were 1st Lt Justin Wilkens (’09) and Ryan Hall, a graduate of the Citadel and Air Academy High School.

In other news, Casey Wallace got his MBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from Loyola Marymount University in 2009 and separated from the USAF in 2010. Since then, he has been roughing it in Hermosa Beach, CA and has been growing a sweet mop and beard ever since, and surfing every chance he gets – tough life. He got married to his wife, Brooke, in September 2011 in Durango, CO, and they have a dog named Finley. Brooke and Casey met in 2008 while playing beach volleyball and have been together ever since. She’s a Lawyer specializing in PatSabre Society ents and Intellectual Property and Casey is currently Donors a Government Contractor, but looking to transition to a new opportunity in the near future. (For anyone wondering what the deal is with the goat, Casey wanted me to pass on the following: “don’t hurt yourselves over-thinking. It started off as a joke. Jokes are hilarious. Hilarity makes people laugh. Laughing leads people to have a great time. Having a great time makes weddings memorable. And having a memorable, meaningful wedding is what it’s all about! We try not to take ourselves too seriously.”) Finally, in addition to the news announcement in our last issue, Brett Hadley has included a photo of his beautiful wife Leslie and their new baby girl Ashley that was taken on Easter.

Here’s a toast. . . Memorial Shirt for Fallen U-28 Crew. At the end of March, a little birdie told me that our friend and classmate Dani Schnitker had made the cover of Hurlburt’s base newspaper! The article featured two photos of her working as a physical therapist. According to the article, Dani “mainly works on combat-related injuries, providing physical therapy to help with recovery, lower injury rates, and ensure Airmen are deployment ready.” I still remember the doubtful looks and scoffing laughs Dani received from upperclassmen back in the day when she admitted she Sabre Society wanted to work in the medical field after graduation. Donors She has made several distinguished achievements since we graduated, and I’m happy to hear that news is spreading of her hard work and dedication to help others, all the while with her reassuringly laid-back manner and a smile on her face. I know she doesn’t really like the spotlight, but it’s too late…way to go, Dani!

John Tamasitis 801 King St., Apt. K Columbia, SC 29205 Tamasiti@email.sc.edu Cell: 610-850-3352

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Class of ’05ers, We have a couple of really good updates to bring you for this edition. The first update comes from Emily ( ) Riley. Emily ended up moving back to her hometown of Norwalk, OH and got married in Sept 2010 to Tavis Riley. She has known him her whole life, but never thought they would end up getting married...until she got back home to Ohio. His family owns an Underground Tunneling and Boring business and they’re in their 3rd generation of ownership. Emily is working at a local hospital, managing the Materials & Distribution Department, and working on her MBA.

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Hope this note finds everyone well and safe…keep working hard! John

Dayle (Morell) Hartung 12918 50th Ave. Court NW Gig Harbor, WA 98332 daylehartung@gmail.com Facebook group:”Feel the Fire”

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wife, Madison, will be returning to Colorado soon with TWO bundles of joy -- win sons! I love the picture of them below.

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Bring Me Men? As the – gulp- ten-year anniversary of our in-processing for BCT approaches, I hope this update finds everyone well. Josh Ames got married on 10 March 12 to Raina Creasy-Ames. It sounded like a beautiful ceremony; we wish those newlyweds well! Also recently married is Craig Lieb, who married his sweetheart Morgan. The beautiful couple is pictured below.

We didn’t get a lot of updates this quarter, but that does not detract from the few updates there were. I know there are a lot of mini reunions happening in Montgomery these days at the “new” SOS (comments redacted) but hopefully we can share pictures or stories from our many TDYs and new adventures. Hope to hear from you all soon! From the sounds of it, Colleen Galloway is having many adventures while deployed in a tent for a 365 near Shindand, Afghanistan. In other different, but no less adventurous work-related news, Melanie Frost is now working as a Forecast Analyst at JP Morgan and living in Dover, DE. Congratulate Joe Samek for his recent graduation from Test Pilot School on December 10th and assignment to Edwards AFB for the next few years. Jen (Neville) Sabre Society Fuka just PCSed to Nellis with her husband, Jake (class Donors of 2005), on a join spouse assignment. Josh Lavender also recently PCSed to Beale and is looking forward to settling down there soon! Finally, Megan (McClary) Moran is graduating from Medical School on May 11th, 2012. She will be a Family Practice Doctor in Tucson, AZ, and stationed at Davis Monthan AFB with her husband, Ben, who’s flying C-130s. Check out her super official looking new uniform.

Casey (Bayne) Whitson P.O. Box 3005 El Segundo, CA 90245 (310) 343-5969 checkpoints@caseybayne.com

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Members

Hi Class of 2007, Summer is almost here and so is the end of our five year commitment. It seems like it has flown by. Good luck to everyone who is getting out; we wish you the best! Eric Sepp dropped a line to let me know he was getting out. He wrote, “Thank you for allowing me the privilege to serve and learn with all of you. I will be leaving the Air Force on terminal leave 4 May 2012 and will officially separate the 1 July 2012. I will be transiSabre Society tioning to a career in the oil and gas industry. Please Donors keep in touch and I hope that our paths cross again.” Good luck Eric; we know you will do well in your new career! Drew Tullson and his wife, Kendra (2008), sent in the following update: “We are currently in Florida, where Drew is stationed

It wouldn’t be a complete update these days without some baby news. Matt Mumm and wife, Lani, have a new addition to the family, a beautiful daughter Piper Rose Mumm!, Coming full circle, Brian Slocumand his

Visit the AOG Web Site. Gone But Not Forgotten, Merchandise and more! www.usafa.org

Drew and Samuel Tullson

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Class News at Eglin as a flight test engineer. Our son Samuel Benedict was born on 4 July 2011 (which means birthdays should be easy!). Recently Drew found out that he was picked up for Test Pilot School, so we will be PCSing to Edwards in June. Below is a picture of Drew with Samuel, who is about six months old in the picture.” Enjoy your summer Grissom Class and send me your updates, we all look forward to hearing where your career and life take you.

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Christin Brodie christin.brodie@ramstein.af.mil

Members

Hello Richter class! I hope this article finds you happy and healthy! I took over the class scribe position from Trenton Sandberg, who was doing a phenomenal job and has left some pretty big shoes. He’s done a great job of sharing the most recent class news and frankly, I’m going to need your help in order to keep up with Trent’s hard work. However, before soliciting information on your lives, I think it’s only fair to share a bit about mine. After spending a couple years at F. E. Warren where I counted parts to nuclear weapons, the AFPC Gods smiled upon me and sent me to Germany to do Logistics at the 603d Sabre Society Air Operations Center. The Gods being as stubborn and Donors wily as they are, sent me to a place filled with 3 decades of Academy grads who think we “had it so easy” and have no kidding started stories with “back when the Academy was hard…” So now, I’m just trying to learn my new and very different job without getting cornered into conversations about the Assault Course and Spirit Cheese; and still manage to see Europe while I have a chance to do so on Ryan Air prices. On the personal side of things, I’m still playing soccer and am actually on a German team. No, I don’t speak German…yet, but luckily, soccer is an international language. Now enough about me, here are some of the responses that I’ve received from the rest of our class.

Jim Ollis and his bride-to-be, Liz, on a cruise this past summer. The two are to be married in June. dict Tullson who was born July 4, 2011. The three have been at Hurlburt Field for the last two and half years, but traded white sandy beaches for California desert and are now at Edwards AFB, where Drew is attending Test Pilot School as an engineer. Kendra has separated from the Air Force to stay at home with Samuel and train their German shorthaired pointer. Drew and Kendra also enjoy woodworking and made their own kayaks last year. This year’s project is a toddler bed for Samuel.

Kendra and Drew Tullson with their son Samuel on a recent trip to the East Coast to visit family.

Kelly Lammert and I celebrating a successful exercise at the 603d Air Operations Center. Good news from Jim Ollis. He is currently stationed at Hanscom, where he lived with fellow 2008 classmate Bobbi Giannini and his wife, Jess, for a year then moved in with three other 2008 grads: Brian Campbell, Evan Dadosky, and Luke Fisher. However, Jim will soon be heading to Hoboken, NJ to be an ROTC instructor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark). He will also be getting married this summer to Miss Elizabeth Duran of Saco, ME. The ceremony will be at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, ME on June 23rd. (See photo at the top of the next column.) Speaking of weddings, there are a few more coming up this summer. Also on June 23rd, Micah Redfield and Julia Glendenning will be married; then Micah will head back to Offutt AFB where he is currently flying the RC-135. John and Jaki Payne will be celebrating their marriage on August 17th in Whitefish, MT where they are both missileers at Malmstrom AFB. Chris Halbleib and Katie Harmon, are getting married in September of this year. Chris is flying predators at Creech AFB in Las Vegas and Katie is at Seymore Johnson AFB where she works in munitions maintenance with the F-15Es. Kendra and Drew Tullson are now the proud parents of Samuel Bene-

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Cody and Jamie (Illig, ’09) Guy were married on 1 Oct 2010 and are now stationed at Andersen AB, Guam. According to the couple, the people are friendly, the beaches are amazing and life on the island suits them very well. The two have been soaking up the sun by hiking, snorkeling and relaxing on the beach after a hard day’s work. Jamie is currently working in Force Support and Cody is working in Communications. Now, I know we have some big decisions ahead of us. What to do with the extra $340 a month? Which garden spot should become the next follow-on request? Or whether or not that job offer from (insert random successful company here) is worth giving up all this? Please share your answers with me! Tell me your upcoming plans, your answers to these time-consuming questions, or send me pictures from your promotion party or a “mini-reunion”. Anything you’re willing to share. Until our paths cross again, Brodie.

JOIN THE SABRE SOCIETY! YOUR MONEY HELPS FUND CADET WING PROGRAMS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO UNFUNDED. CALL (719) 472-0300 X200.

Forrest Underwood 9220B Carlson St. Del Rio, TX 78840 forrestunderwood@gmail.com Facebook: Forrest J. Underwood

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Classmates! Keep sending updates on where you are, what you’re doing, and I’ll continue to post! If you happen to be a family member, friend, etc. and you would like to submit info for the next Checkpoints update for the Class of 2009 (HUB!), please feel free to send it my way: forrestunderwood@gmail.com. It’s our time, Forrest. ENGAGEMENTS: Sean Perry, Chris Nettles, Nate Smith, and Nick Kennedy. MARRIAGES: Tori (Galli) married Tom Nicholson, Ashley (Miller) married Josh Shirner, Mark Scott. Emily (Montgomery) Sabat took some time off from getting her master’s in Chemistry from FSU to get hitched! Lots of ’09ers show up to party with her:

The Wedding Party In the bottom row from left are Joe Czabaranek (‘07), Brad Wills (‘08), Alex Prevendar (‘08), and Charlie Neal. Middle row: Eileen (Trimpe) Czabaranek (‘07), Anson Park (‘08), Sarah Alford, Lauren Kerdavid (‘10), Laura Walsh, Emily, Shelley (Rodgers) Ecklebe, and Joe Sabat (‘08). Top row: Tony Stegeman (‘08), Cathy Karl, Chris Hubbard (‘02), Dan Ecklebe, Josh Heffernen, Joel Martin (‘08), and Adam Voci (‘08). EXPECTING: BEEEN and Renee Walker are gonna have a kid! Sabre Society ASSIGNMENTS: After earning DG out of A-10 FTU, Donors MIKE McVay has finally made it to Moody; Taylor Tally None Yet – Shaw; Nick Grieco, Andy Davis, Jeff Randolph, Joe Curran, and Zach Shapiro – Korea; Brady Augustin – South Carolina ANG; Jake Lowrie – Hill; Mike Mayra – Shaw; Matt Cork – Hanscom; Nick Bente got picked up for grad school and will be headed back to teach at the Zoo! DEPLOYMENTS: After a whopping 20 hours in the C-21, Leighton Baby traded Ramstein for Afghanistan. Jason Lo is also in the Stan right now. Matt Sparta (deployed flying NSAs) is in the desert with a bunch of the HUB crew and designed this patch in their honor. He’s got lots of extras so contact him on Facebook to order yours for your next trip to the AOR or just to show your ’09 pride! (See photo at the top of the next column.) OTHER SPOOGE: After recovering from his T-6 ejection, Joe Eastman is

Visit the AOG Web Site. Gone But Not Forgotten, Merchandise and more! www.usafa.org

T-6 complete! Justin Storm is DNIF again after another shoulder surgery; he might finish pilot training before he makes Major. Derek Andeweg amazingly kept his international driver’s license after breaking every single Japanese traffic law in less than 09 minutes. Danny Velo hates to party in Germany. Mike Knapp had his T-1 dollar ride.

Mike Knapp

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Members Todd Gamiles 2010checkpoints@gmail.com (503) 367-0717

Well by this time (hopefully) all of us have traded in those shiny gold bars for some shiny silver bars. Not a lot a difference, but that pay increase sure is nice. Kicking things off, Cait Suttie was able to take this cool picture while helping with a reenlistment that took place in the Vertical Assembly Building on Kennedy Space Center, where the shuttles were being decommissioned. This particular shuttle (Atlantis) has special meaning for Cait as it was the only shuttle she saw launch. Being a Public Affairs Officer for the Sabre Society 45th Space Wing means that the she works regularly Donors on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and the Kennedy None Yet Space Center, so I’m sure we can all look forward to many more cool updates from her! (See photo at the top of the next column.) Congratulations are in order for both Tyner (Apt) and Myles Morales. The couple married on March 25. Also, Bill Percoski got engaged to Gabriella Franklin. Cody Yenter got engaged to Lauren Delaney. The two met at Andrea Barry’s (Wise) wedding. There are also many airframe drops to report this time around: Bill Percoski got C-130J’s to Little Rock, Nate Moeller got RC-135s to Offutt,

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Class News other side.” I know here at Laughlin and at the other bases, the first round of 2011 UPT students are tracking to T-38s, T-1s, and UH-1s, so good luck to everyone! Before we know it, it will be our Drop Night and we will be getting our new assignments! I have a few notes from some people in our class. Matt Tasin, Andrew Jarvis and Joel Corapi all graduated from the TACP Schoolhouse in January. They finished up their training at the Army Joint Fires Observer Course in April! Way to go guys!

Cait Suttie and the Atlantis space shuttle at the Kennedy Space Center. Michael Langley will be flying U-28s out of Hurlburt, Corey Curtis got a C-5 assignment to Travis, Doug Zschoche picked up KC-10s to McGuire, Tom Posey is heading to Scott to drive KC-135s, Evan Roth will be heading to Florida to fly the AC-130, Tyler Jensen secured a slot as a T-6 IP, Sarah Skogsberg will command the MC-12, and Michele Ernest will be a Viper driver at Luke. Brandon Burfeind, Stephen Renner and Andrew Van Timmeren are also going to Luke to fly the Viper for 8 rides in preparation for F-22 school in July. Nick Flaute graduated pilot training 17 Feb at Vance AFB, and is currently at Pilot Instructor Training in San Antonio before instructing in the T-1 at Vance. I apologize for the delinquency, but his son Tanner was born on Dec 8 of 2011. Andrea Barry just graduated from helicopter pilot training. She was the first 2010er to graduate so that was kind of neat. She’ll be heading to Andrews AFB in DC to fly UH-1Ns with the 1st Helicopter Squadron. The picture is of her and her husband Matt Barry (‘09) on a Huey.

Jamie Johnson (Daugherty) is preparing to deploy in May with the Army. I wasn’t able to get a lot of details beyond that, but wish her the best of luck! As always, keep those updates coming! ‘Til next time, blue skies and tailwinds!

Elizabeth Borroni 8149 A Johnson St. Del Rio, TX 78840 (979) 571-1180 elizabeth.borroni@gmail.com

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Members

(No Sabre Society Donors Yet) Class of 2011, I am so surprised that a year has passed already! It’s crazy to think that just last May we were all jumping in the fountains after that grueling Astro final and getting ready for all of the graduation activities. This year has been great for a lot of people; we’ve been able to start our jobs, we’ve moved to new and exciting places both here in the United States and in other countries, and if I do say so myself, we have thoroughly enjoyed “the

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Andrew, Joel, and Matt Kaylyn Arvidson got engaged to David Leibrand (’10) and is planning on a wedding next year.

Dave and Kaylyn I haven’t heard from a lot of y’all, but I know everyone is doing great things and there are a lot of exciting things happening! Please keep in touch and don’t ever hesitate to shoot me an e-mail or call. I hope all is well and let’s get pumped up for another season of AF Football in the fall! Elizabeth

Congratulations USAFA Class of: The Association of Graduates congratulates the Hap Arnold Class on their recent graduation. Beginning with the next magazine, the Class of 2012 will have a Class News column in this book. Any volunteer class scribes and/or the class president please contact class news editor, Tom Kroboth, at Tom. Kroboth@aogusafa.org.

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FINAL THOUGHT IN MEMORY OF. . . Last year the Class of 1970 made a monetary donation to a non-profit organization called Construction for Change in memory of two classmates. Construction for Change works to eradicate poverty by constructing needed infrastructure in impoverished countries throughout the world. The class honored the memories of Richard Christy II â&#x20AC;&#x2122;70 and William Hargrove â&#x20AC;&#x2122;70 by providing funds that helped complete the construction of school building in Cambodia. Now, from year to year as children go through the school, they will all have the opportunity to consider the strange American names on the wall, knowing that somehow Christy and Hargrove have a connection to what will hopefully be a future much brighter than that of the generations that came before them.

Take command of your future. Join the USAA Team. Joining the USAA team means more than just starting a new job. We are dedicated to helping those in the military community meet their financial goals with insurance, banking, investments, and an unmatched level of service that always puts our membership’s needs first. Your military service is testimony to your values and work ethic, and you know our members better than anyone – you’re already part of the family we serve.

See what we have to offer today. usaa.com/careers | facebook.com/usaacareers Insurance Banking Investments Retirement Advice USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its affiliates. USAA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. © 2012 USAA. 136719-0212

POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Checkpoints, Association of Graduates, Doolittle Hall, 3116 Academy Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-4475.

www.RusinakRealEstate.com Vince Rusinak, ’68 Vince@Rusinak.com

Nancy Rusinak Brother, R. Berthiaume, ’73

Nancy@Rusinak.com

Rusinak Real Estate, Inc. 7150 North Academy Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80920 719.590.6110 Toll Free: 1.800.789.6650