Gripping Hands

Franks Receives Lifetime of Service Award

1959

In April, during the closing ceremony of the 12th Annual Salute to SWFL Veterans, GEN (R) Frederick M. Franks ’59 received the 2023 Major General Joseph Warren, M.D., Award, which is named after the physician who was killed in combat when British troops stormed the redoubt atop Breed’s Hill in the early days of the American Revolution. For years, Franks has been an ardent supporter of Home Base Florida, which provides tools for veterans and service members to take control of their mental and physical well-being, and he has played an instrumental role in expanding Home Base’s health and fitness programs, as well as its behavioral health clinics across Florida.

Two Grads Named 2024 Olmsted Scholars

Two active-duty graduates of West Point were recently selected by The George and Carol Olmsted Foundation as members of the Olmsted Scholar Class of 2024. Over the next three years, these exceptionally promising officers will complete language training and pursue graduate studies at foreign universities around the world on full scholarships. The newly selected Scholars are CPT Bryce E. Greene ’13, who will study in Bucharest, Romania, and CPT Adam K. Irons ’14, who will study in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These two officers join 146 other USMA graduates who have been selected as Olmsted Scholars since 1960, many of whom later attained important positions of senior leadership in the Army. To date, USMA ranks second among all undergraduate institutions in the United States in the number of Olmsted Scholars selected. The Olmsted Scholar Program was established by MG (R) George H. Olmsted, who was the First Captain of the Class of 1922 and a major benefactor to West Point. The Olmsted Foundation is a member of the Dwight D. Eisenhower society for lifetime giving to the Academy.

Semonite Honored for National Security Leadership

LTG (R) Todd Semonite ’79, former Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, received the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) 2023 Golden Eagle Award for National Security on May 4. The award cites the role Semonite played in ensuring that Americans had reliable access to healthcare facilities during the COVID pandemic in 2020 (a topic detailed in West Point magazine’s 2020 Summer issue). Semonite was also announced as one of 26 members newly invested into SAME’s Fellows Academy, which formally acknowledges distinguished individuals for their dedication to SAME and the architecture/engineering/construction profession.

General Officer Announcements

The Chief of Staff of the Army announces the following officer assignments:

MG Robert L. Barrie ’90 to Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology), Washington, DC

MG Joseph A. Ryan ’91 to Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, United States Army, Washington, DC

MG Trevor J. Bredenkamp ’92 to Commanding General, Military District of Washington/Commander, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region, Washington, DC

MG David S. Doyle ’93 to Commanding General, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, Fort Carson, CO

MG Brett G. Sylvia ’94 to Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, Fort Campbell, KY

BG (USAR) Stephanie Q. Howard ’94 to Executive Director (Individual Mobilization Augmentee), Operational Contract Support, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Washington, DC

BG William A. Ryan III ’94 to Commanding General, First Army Division West, Fort Hood, TX

BG (USAR) Stephen P. Case ’95 to Deputy Commanding General (Troop Program Unit), 88th Readiness Division, Fort Snelling, MN

BG Steven P. Carpenter ’96 to Commanding General, 7th Army Training Command, United States Army Europe-Africa, Germany

BG Brandon R. Tegtmeier ’96 to Chief of Staff, United States Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, FL