West Point Magazine Winter 2025

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Army West Point Football: A Good Year

The Army West Point Football Team was a perfect 8-0 in its inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference, and it won the conference championship and the Independence Bowl.

22 West Point 2050: How the U.S. Military Academy is Preparing for Future Conflict

Through a comprehensive reorganization—affecting instruction in the STEM disciplines, the humanities, and the social sciences—the U.S. Military Academy is transforming in ways that will ensure the Army’s competitive advantage in any future conflict.

30 Embracing the Future: West Point’s Integration of AI in Education and Warfare

Before they use artificial technology on tomorrow’s battlefield, the Academy is preparing cadets for this revolution; educating them to navigate the ubiquity of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, to understand AI’s functions and capabilities, and to recognize AI’s limitations, potential pitfalls, and ethical considerations.

36 Endurance Builds Champions and Leaders: West Point Triathlon Team

The special type of grit needed for the West Point Triathlon Team has not only produced outstanding athletes, it has produced outstanding leaders for the Army.

Photo: SFC Alan Brutus

VOLUME 15, ISSUE 1 • WINTER 2025

The mission of West Point magazine is to tell the West Point story and strengthen the grip of the Long Gray Line.

Publisher

West Point Association of Graduates

Colonel (Retired) Mark D. Bieger ’91

President & CEO

A position generously supported by the Honorable & Mrs. Robert A. McDonald ’75

Editor in Chief

Samantha Soper | editor@wpaog.org

Managing Editor

Keith J. Hamel

Editorial Advisory Group

Desrae Gibby ’ 91 Terence Sinkfield ’ 99 Patrick Ortland ’ 82

Creative Director/Design

Marguerite Smith

Content: WPAOG Staff

Desrae Gibby ’91

Keith Hamel

Erika Norton

Guest Writers

Maria Blom ’18

LTG Steven W. Gilland ’90

Kevin Grazier, Ph.D.

BG Shane R. Reeves ’96

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Address Updates

West Point Association of Graduates

ATTN: Data Services Team

698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996-1607

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Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policy, or attitude of the U.S. Army, United States Military Academy, West Point Association of Graduates, its officers, or the editorial staff. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not necessarily constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Army, United States Military Academy, West Point Association of Graduates, its officers, or the editorial staff for the products or services advertised.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Fellow Graduates:

As you receive this issue of our award-winning West Point magazine, I hope 2025 is off to a great start for each and every one of you. By every measure, 2024 was an exceptional year, both for the Academy and our Association. The Academy, under the leadership of LTG Steve Gilland ’90 and his great Team, excelled militarily, academically, physically and athletically. The cadet experience continues to strengthen, and evidence of the exceptional caliber of the Corps was on full display during the graduation of the Class of ’24, “Like None Before.” That excellence continues in the classes that follow, those currently on their 47-month journey as well as the Class of ’29, forming right now in homes across the nation. Your Association is very proud to serve West Point and contribute to the cadet experience through the Margin of Excellence and our active engagement. We are also very proud to serve the more than 56,200 members of the Long Gray Line. Our Vision remains to be the most highly connected alumni body in the world, and that connection—with each other and with our alma mater—makes everything else possible.

We are about to kick off the Founders Day season here at Herbert Hall and around the world, with 129 West Point Societies making final preparations for the gatherings that will allow us to celebrate our shared history, experiences, and service. I would like to personally thank the hundreds of Society and Class leaders who are working hard to make these gatherings happen, allowing us all to share in the excitement and camaraderie of Founders Day. We are looking forward to engaging in these special moments that matter and looking for better ways to strengthen the Long Gray Line.

Here at your West Point Association of Graduates, we are committed to excellence in everything we do. Our employees come from all across the nation—many are graduates themselves (some of whom have spent a career in the military), some are military spouses, and some had no connection with West Point or the Army before arriving at Herbert Hall—but all are committed to excellence and working hard to make this place and our performance better every single day. Yet, we couldn’t do it without your input, participation and partnership, and

this past year was an exceptional one for your Association. Here is a short summary of the impact that was delivered over the last 12 months in support and service of the Long Gray Line:

• 15 class reunions with over 6.2K grads and families gathered at West Point

• 106 Founders Day events with over 10K grads and guests gathered around the world

• 345 graduates use Career Services to transition to new careers

• 88 rings donated in the Ring Melt ceremony

• 700-plus veterans supported with service expertise

• 151 memorial services supported here at West Point Cemetery

• 240K West Point magazines mailed (one quarterly to every graduate and to parents of current cadets)

• 700 plus emails, 2K-plus social media posts and 2.2M web engagements

The cover of this issue is an iconic image of a prominent section of Washington Hall. “Duty, Honor, Country … Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be and what you will be … .” We hope that image brings back strong memories for you, of this time of the year here at West Point and of our shared experience as members of the Corps of Cadets. This past year was an exceptional one for the Academy and 2025 promises to follow in close order behind. I can assure you that the Corps remains strong, disciplined and focused on the path ahead—the same one that you and I walked many years ago. We hope this issue provides a meaningful lens for us all to reflect and to remember and to take shared pride in the years to come. As always, please send your thoughts, recommendations, and suggestions on how we can do better, for all of us and for our Academy.

Grip Hands! Go Army! Beat Navy!

Mark D. Bieger ’91 Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired) President & CEO

West Point Association of Graduates

A position generously supported by the Honorable & Mrs. Robert A. McDonald ’75

Our Mission: To serve West Point and the Long Gray Line.

Our Vision: For the Long Gray Line to be the most highly connected alumni body in the world.

WEST POINT ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATE S

ATTENTION!

Troop the Line

The Pillars Core of the Corps

Adjutant's Call

Army West Point Football

Story on page 19

Long Gray Line Teammates:

As we kick off a new year, thank you all for your continued support to the Academy, the Corps of Cadets and the Long Gray Line. It was an honor welcoming so many of you back at your alma mater for class reunions and various Academy and alumni events.

As you read this, the Corps has returned from holiday break, energized and tackling the new semester with an inspiring and unwavering focus on excellence.

Throughout the fall semester, cadets explored the interplay between human dynamics and advanced technology across all domains of warfare through the theme “The Human and the Machine: Leadership on the Emerging Battlefield” in the classroom as well as through various events and lectures.

Cadets also continued to hone their military skills through Fall Sandhurst events, preparing cadet company teams for the annual Sandhurst Military Skills Competition in the spring. This year, instead of Fall Sandhurst being a single weekend event, teams were assessed across a series of events throughout the semester,including the Marne obstacle course, a combatives tournament, warrior task and drills, and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge qualification. Please read the updates from the Commandant and Dean in this issue for more highlights from the military, physical, and academic programs.

In early December, firsties celebrated their branch assignments at Branch Night, joined by the Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Lloyd Austin ’75. During his visit, he addressed the Corps, reminding them that “in turbulent times, America always looks to the men and women of West Point.” He added that, while times, weapons, and tactics change, West Point’s values are steadfast. “Duty, Honor, Country: those values will always steer you home.”

More than 80 percent of the Class of 2025 will enter a Multi Domain Operations branch (which includes traditional Combat Arms branches, plus Cyber, Military Intelligence, and Signal Corps), with more than threequarters of the class receiving their top branch choice and 95 percent of the class receiving one of their top three choices. Cadets’ ultimate branch assignments are

informed, determined, and earned by various elements, such as their branching file, order of preference, branch interviews, and place in a traditional order of merit list.

We appreciate your continued support of our cadetathletes, who had an outstanding fall season on the fields of friendly strife, highlighted by Army Football winning the American Athletic Conference Championship.

We are pleased to announce that four cadets—Sarah Cao of Plymouth, MN; Shepherd Dzina of Tuxedo Park, NY; Ava Spinar of Lincoln, NE; and Gabriella Sorrentino of Monroe, NJ—were selected as Rhodes Scholars for 2025. In addition to their remarkable academic achievements, these cadets have distinguished themselves as exceptional leaders and through their commitment to serve the nation as Army officers. This is the second time since 1959 that USMA has had this many Rhodes Scholars. We are also pleased to announce that the future Cyber and Engineering Academic Center will be named in honor of Major General George Washington Goethals (USMA Class of 1880), the Army engineer who supervised the construction and opening of the Panama Canal. The future Goethals Hall, scheduled for completion in late 2025, will serve as home for several engineering and computer science programs. It is part of a broader, multi-year effort to modernize infrastructure and expand capabilities to prepare our graduates to lead, fight, and win on the 21st century battlefield.

As we look ahead to 2025, your Military Academy remains focused on developing the warfighters and leaders of character our nation expects to lead its sons and daughters in the crucible of combat. We remain committed to being the Army’s gold standard for leader development, ensuring our graduates are prepared to lead our Army’s formations to fight and win our nation’s wars.

We appreciate all you do—and will continue to do—to develop our nation’s next generation of leaders of character. Best wishes to you and your families for a happy and healthy 2025. We look forward to engaging with you this spring during Founders Day events across the country and at USMA for class reunions.

Go Army!

Steven W. Gilland ’90 Lieutenant General, U.S. Army 61st Superintendent, U.S. Military Academy

“ To build, educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army Values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and Nation.” —USMA’s Mission

Dean’s Update

From BG Shane R. Reeves '96, 15th Dean of the Academic Board

The fall semester was packed with learning experiences for the entire Corps as the Academic Program explored this year’s theme, “The Human and the Machine: Leadership on the Emerging Battlefield.”

Speaker Series

To broaden conversations and break down silos, the Academy hosted numerous speakers for fireside chats and lectures. Mr. Elon Musk kicked off the theme, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and future warfare. A podcast by Colonel Chris Mayer ’93 emphasized balancing technical and human skills in the AI age. Chief Justice John Roberts discussed leadership through law, celebrating 150 years of law being taught at West Point.

On the machine side, Lieutenant Colonel Will Koch ’04 discussed the role of space in modern warfare and maintaining technological advantages. Colonel David Beskow ’01 shared insights on bridging humans and machines with data science, particularly in cyber and intelligence.

Retired Generals Tony Thomas ’80 and Scott Miller ’83 provided a two-part podcast on “leadership on the emerging battlefield,” focusing on challenges and opportunities for leaders

and the importance of identifying the best place for humans in the AI/machine learning “loop.”

Applied Learning Experiences

Departments seized opportunities for applied learning through various events. West Point hosted the annual Distributed and Collaborative Intelligent Systems Experiments, bringing together 115 experts and cadets to explore multi-robot technologies for GPS-denied environments.

Additionally, West Point co-hosted the Future of Critical Minerals and National Security Seminar, during which cadets discussed the minerals and defense nexus with leaders.

The Department of Social Sciences welcomed over 200 students from 100 universities for the 75th Annual Class of 1971 Student Conference on U.S. Affairs, focusing on “Securing the Blessings of Liberty: American Foreign Policy in an Increasing Multipolar World.”

These experiences underscore our commitment to preparing cadets for leadership on the emerging battlefield.

More to Come

Later in the issue, find highlights from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science on educating cadets at the intersection of humans, machines, and leadership through AI. 

Commandant ’s Corner

From BG R.J. Garcia ’96, 81st Commandant of Cadets

The Corps is halfway through the academic year, and, with this issue of the magazine, I want to bring you some highlights from the fall semester. Although cadets focus on beating the Dean, their military, physical, and character development does not cease. Throughout this semester, cadets excelled on the fields of friendly strife, continued to hone their military skills and immersed themselves in leadership roles.

Our competitive clubs secured wins against Air Force in men’s team handball, boxing, women’s club hockey, judo, and functional fitness. Our competetive clubs also take on Navy in several sports, which we did last fall and will do again this spring. We look forward to beating everyone!

The fall brigade company athletic championships culminated with the Fourth Regiment dominating the field. Defending their title, the H-4 “Hogs” won the brigade championship in soccer for the second year in a row. The A-4 “Apaches” and the F-4 “Frogs” also represented their regiment well, taking home wins for functional fitness and grappling, respectively. The A-2 “Spartans” won basketball, and the B-3 “Bandits” were the flag football champions. The importance of company athletics is highlighted on page 10 of this issue with an article that explores graduates’ notable connections to their company athletic programs.

West Point’s Black and Gold Sandhurst squads, working as one team, had a notable performance at Exercise Cambrian Patrol, the British Army’s premier patrolling event, held in Wales and hosted by Headquarters 160th (Welsh) Brigade. The exercise is mission focused and scenario based, with each squad’s patrol performance assessed throughout the events. The exercise included eight phases, each phase lasting 48 hours over a total 10day period, and had our cadets competing against professional soldiers from operational army units around the world. Our combined West Point Black and Gold Sandhurst team earned a Silver Rating, which is awarded to teams scoring between 75-80 percent of all available points in accordance with British Military Doctrine. To find out more about what our Sandhurst teams have been up to this fall, see the story on the next page.

With the start of the spring semester, we welcome home our cadets that participated in the various abroad and exchange programs offered by West Point. Included in this are 21 cadets who spent a semester at our sister service academies. These experiences foster partnership and lay the foundations for joint interoperability during their careers.

My team and I look forward to watching the Corps continue to shine during the spring semester and sharing these experiences with you. From class weekends to the International Sandhurst Competition to the inspirational events preceding graduation, the spring semester is filled with tremendous opportunities and experiences ahead. Please come visit and see for yourself how instrumental these events and competitions are for our cadets. 

Photo:

The combined West Point Black and Gold Sandhurst Team earned a Silver Rating for Exercise Cambrian Patrol, the British Army’s premier patrolling event, which was held in the Fall of 2024.

Narrowing the Field for Sandhurst

Most graduates are familiar with the Sandhurst Competition, held at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Established in 1967, the Sandhurst Competition began as a military skills contest between two teams: the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the United States Military Academy. Now, the competition has grown into a challenging and prestigious event that showcases the rigor and excellence of military training among approximately 17 international teams, 16 Reserve Officers’ Training Corps teams, three service academy teams, two premier West Point teams, and 10 West Point cadet company teams.

So, what does it take for a cadet company team to secure a spot in this main competition? Answer: They must earn one of the top spots throughout a fall Sandhurst competition and hold on to it during early spring cutdown events.

The fall and early spring Sandhurst seasons are orchestrated and overseen by the Brigade Tactical Department within the United States Corps of Cadets. In years past, the fall season required the 36 company teams to train and compete in a singular fall competition to determine which teams would go on to compete in the conventional spring competition. Those teams would then

train during the spring semester in preparation for the international competition. Starting in 2024-25, the fall and spring Sandhurst seasons look different and have injected more rigor into the training program. Rather than a singular weekend competition in the fall, the cadet company teams navigate an entire season of competitive, evaluated events.

Designed to methodically assess the grit, commitment, proficiency, and fitness of cadet company teams over an extended time, the fall Sandhurst season includes team evaluations on call for fire, a 5-mile run, warrior tasks and drills, tactical combat casualty care, combatives, and multiple timed ruck march events.

At the conclusion of the fall season (just before the holidays), the field of cadet company teams are narrowed, with only 18 advancing into the spring season to continue training. Like the fall season, the early spring Sandhurst season tests the remaining company teams. Eventually, the cadet company team field will narrow yet again to the final roster of the 10 cadet company teams that will compete in the traditional Sandhurst Competition.

For the cadet company teams, earning a top-10 spot to compete in the grand, international Sandhurst Competition is more than just a contest: It is a rite of passage that validates the team’s training, teamwork, and readiness not only for the competition but for future military service. 

A cadet from Company G-4’s Sandhurst team climbs a rope on the Marne Obstacle Course during a fall Sandhurst event.

A Sandhurst company team member negotiates the low crawl of the Marne Obstacle Course at Camp Buckner.

Company Athletics Produces Future Leaders

Today, Doctor Howard A. “Skip” Burris III ’81, President and Chief Medical Officer of the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville, Tennessee and recently the President and Chairman of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in the fight against cancer. Burris was also a member of Company C-1’s 1979 company athletics flickerball championship team, playing alongside future Army general and 2022 West Point

Distinguished Graduate John F. Campbell ’79, former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.

Cadets Burris and Campbell knew of General Douglas MacArthur’s now famous driving quote, “Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that upon other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory.” At West Point, they were taught that MacArthur’s words meant that participating in sport competition produced grit, self-control, courage, mental agility, and physical development—attributes MacArthur knew were the bedrock needed for all soldiers. Competitive sports in the Department of Physical Education (DPE) are part of the culture of the cadet experience, and its mission is to develop warrior athletes of character and build teams of significance.

Brigadier General James L. Anderson ’56 (Retired), Master of the Sword from 1974 to 1997, once penned, “In evaluating the West Point curriculum, physical education must be fully recognized as contributing to the intellectual, social, emotional, and moral development of the cadet as well as to his physical development.”

Choices and actions, performed by each Army professional, are

highly moral in nature due to their direct impact on the wellbeing of other people. Character is essential to the Army’s effectiveness as a profession because of military leaders’ responsibility to remain moral in the landscape of what they are permitted to carry out. Few classrooms at West Point can provide a constantly unpredictable environment that require future military leaders to adhere to standards of fair play (or “rules of engagement”) through their continual and purposeful good moral choices as well as the sports field, court, or arena does.

DPE’s Competitive Sports Office oversees company athletics, a “Character in Sport” intramural program that is a cadet-led and instructor-supervised during MacArthur Time (4:25pm until 6:50pm, Monday through Thursday). This out-of-classroom learning lab for character development engages just over 2,000 cadets each term. In the fall, cadets compete against one another by company in five sports: basketball, flag football, soccer, functional fitness, and submission grappling. Spring sports include flickerball, orienteering, ultimate, team handball, functional fitness, and combat grappling. Both terms end with the top companies in the regiment competing for the brigade championship in each sport. Among the eventual champions may well be a future vice chief of staff of the United States Army and commander at the highest levels, like Cadet John Campbell, or a nationally and internationally recognized oncologist, like Cadet Skip Burris. They were company athletics champions at West Point who went on to be servant-leaders, gaining hard fought victories on other fields, on other days. 

—Dr. Dan Furlong, DPE

GEN (R) John Campbell ’79 holding up his Brigade Diamond with classmate and C-1 company athletic flickerball cadet coach Charles T. “Chip” Sniffin.

Cadets compete in the 2022 Brigade Championship for Company Athletics Team Handball.

West Point’s Newest Team Has Legacy Connections

In January 2013, then-Cadet Jenna Vercollone ’14 took to the ice as the first women hockey player to compete at the United States Military Academy. It would not be until 2024, 11 years later, that now-Captain Vercollone would finally see a women’s club hockey team created, of which she is the assistant officer in charge.

There had been a push for a women’s ice hockey team for many years, but there were significant roadblocks to overcome. However, in the spring of 2024, the dream for a team came to fruition when women’s hockey officially became a club under the Directorate of Cadet Activities. In April 2024, the team took on Navy for the first-ever Army-Navy women’s hockey game. Currently, the team rosters about 20 players and has two practices a week. On November 1, 2024, Army took the ice against a combined Air Force-Coast Guard team at Tate Rink and soundly defeated them, 7-4.

The team is unique in that it has two players, Cadets Lucy Fellman ’28 and Lina Hansen ’28, whose fathers played together on the Division I, corps squad hockey team at the Academy, Craig Fellman ’95 and Lieutenant Colonel Leif Hansen ’97 (Retired). “I know that Lucy and Lina will do great things on the ice here at Tate Rink just like their dads did,” said Army West Point Hockey Coach Brian Riley, who has been a steadfast supporter of the women’s team, “I was excited to watch both of them and their teammates play this season, and these are exciting times at West Point with the start of the Army Women’s Club Hockey Team.”

CDT Lucy Fellman ’28, daughter of Craig Fellman ’95, breaks away from an Air Force defender.

The Women’s Club Hockey Team looks forward to developing a strong legacy at the Academy and to many more seasons on the ice. 

The Army Women's Club Hockey Team (right) poses on the ice with the squads from Air Force and Coast Guard after beating them, 7-4, on November 1, 2024.

ATTENTION! Core of the Corps

The Four Pillars

Meet USMA’s First Astronaut Scholar

West Point has its first Astronaut Scholar. Cadet Zoe Winston ’25, a Mathematical Sciences major and the brigade academics officer, is one of 71 undergraduate students representing 48 universities from across the nation to earn the prestigious Astronaut Scholarship.

The Astronaut Scholarship was first awarded in 1986 by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF), which was created two years earlier by the six surviving Mercury 7 astronauts. Its mission—which has since been embraced by astronauts from the Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs—is to ensure that the United States remains a global leader in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) research for decades to come. ASF forms a lifelong relationship with each Astronaut Scholar, providing him or her with mentorship, professional and personal development, and funding to conduct research that positively changes and influences society through innovation.

“Being West Point’s first Astronaut Scholar is truly an honor that I credit to the incredible mentors I’ve had throughout my time at the Academy,” says Winston. She spent last year researching hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, the leading

cause of maternal mortality, causing approximately 30,000 deaths a year on average, and as an Astronaut Scholar she will continue researching maternal health through the lens of biostatistics. “Specifically, I am currently developing a dynamic model for energy intake recommendations for pregnant women with obesity,” she says. ASF connected her with Colonel Shane Kimbrough ’89 (Retired), a veteran of three spaceflights, to serve as her mentor during her scholarship. “He has been incredibly supportive and has provided sound advice in the research realm as well as for my military career and personal life,” Winston says.

Going forward, Winston plans on pursuing a Ph.D. in biostatistics, for which she will continue working on maternal health problems. “This is incredibly important for the Army, where women make up around a fifth of the activeduty force and where 43.5 percent of active-duty Army service members have children,” she says. “By increasing our understanding of maternal mortality rates, we are better able to support and sustain our fighting force.” This is consistent with what ASF expects from its Astronaut Scholars: continued innovation and excellence in STEM research. 

—Keith J. Hamel

Plebe Prepsters and Grapplers Max ACFT

Three members of the Class of 2028—Cadets David Barrett, Brady Colbert, and Reid Schroeder—achieved a 600, the maximum score, on the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) administered near the conclusion of Cadet Basic Training (CBT). The ACFT is a six-event physical fitness test administered in the following order: three-repetition maximum deadlift, standing power throw, hand-release push-up, sprintdrag-carry, plank, and 2-mile run—and all events must be completed in under 50 minutes.

Interestingly, all three cadets attended the U.S. Military Preparatory School (USMAPS) last year. “My experience at USMAPS played a big role in my success,” said Colbert. “I took the ACFT twice there, scoring a 598 and a 599.”

“It also greatly enhanced my ability to perform well on the ACFT,” said Schroeder. “At USMAPS, I took the ACFT four times, and I was fortunate to enough to max it on three out of four occasions.”

Going through USMAPS together also fostered some friendly competition that motivated these three plebes. “I knew that both

Brady and Reid would max, and I couldn’t let them have that above me,” said Barrett.

“I too had strong motivation from Cadets Schroeder and Barrett, my teammates who were equally driven to max the text,” said Colbert. “They inspired me to push my limits.” The event for which Colbert had to push the most was the 2-mile run. “The run had always been my toughest challenge in the ACFT,” he said; “however, with strong encouragement from my TACs, cadet leadership, and teammates I was able to push myself through the run and secure the first perfect score of CBT.”

Besides being prepsters, Cadets Barrett, Colbert, and Schoeder are all on the Army West Point Wrestling Team, which might have also given them an edge. “In training to be a better wrestler, I touch on all bases that make you fit for the ACFT,” said Barrett. As grapplers, these three plebes will continue to encourage each other for the next four years. “These brothers motivate me to train and push myself harder than anyone before,” said Barrett, “which is why I plan on having a perfect ACFT score throughout my career as a cadet.” 

—Keith J. Hamel

The Four Pillars

Core of the Corps

New Rhodes Named

On November 16, 2024, four First Class cadets were among the 32 U.S. Rhodes Scholarship awardees selected to study at the University of Oxford in the fall of 2025. This is the second time since 1959 that West Point has had four Rhodes Scholars selected in one year (the last being 2022), which is a significant achievement for the West Point Graduate Scholarship Program, the Academy’s official sponsor for cadets competing for prestigious scholarships such as the Rhodes, Marshall, and Fulbright. This class of Rhodes Scholars will be pursuing studies across the breadth of the social sciences, humanities, and biological and physical sciences. In addition to their remarkable academic achievements, these four cadets are also all distinguished by exceptional leadership and their determination to serve the nation through military service.

Sarah Cao ’25 is an International Affairs and Chinese double major at West Point, with a minor in Terrorism Studies. She is a Stamps Scholar, Winant Scholar, and Stokes Writing Fellow. Cao has interned at the Center for Naval Analyses and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. She has presented her research at a total of six conference panels. She is a battalion commander and leader on the International Affairs Forum and Chinese Language and Cultural Association. As a Rhodes Scholar, she plans to read for a Master of Science in Global Governance and Diplomacy and a Master of Science in Contemporary Chinese Studies.

Shepherd Dzina ’25 is an Economics major and the brigade executive officer at West Point, responsible for logistics and

operations. He leads the Finance Club and conducts research with the Army’s Office of Economics and Manpower Analysis. Dzina interned at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, evaluating foreign investments. As a Rhodes Scholar, he plans to read for a Master of Science in Economics for Development and a Master of Science in Global Governance and Diplomacy.

Gabriella “Gabby” Sorrentino ’25 is an American History and Philosophy double major at West Point. She is writing a dual thesis, has conducted archival research, and was a contributing editor on an upcoming memoir. She currently serves as the brigade honor captain, boxes competitively for West Point’s Women’s Boxing Team, and previously served as regimental command sergeant major for Cadet Basic Training. As a Rhodes Scholar, she plans to read for a Master of Science in Migration Studies and a Master of Public Policy.

Ava Spinar ’25 is a Life Science major at West Point. Over the summer, she served as commander of Cadet Basic Training and now is the commander of the First Regiment, responsible for the academic, physical, military, and character development of 1,100 cadets. Spinar hopes to use her background in public health to become an Army physician and lead the military medical system. As a Rhodes Scholar, she plans to read for a Master of Science in Global Health Science and Epidemiology and a Master of Science in Genomic Medicine.

“We are proud of these four outstanding leaders and the team who supported them along the way. Sarah, Shepherd, Gabby and Ava have bright futures ahead of them as they study a wide range of disciplines at Oxford and serve our nation as Army officers,” said Dean of the Academic Board Brigadier General Shane Reeves ’96. “Their achievements reflect West Point’s values of Duty, Honor, Country and inspire us all to pursue excellence.”

(L to R) CDTs Reid Schroeder, David Barrett, and Brady Colbert from the Class of 2028 scored a perfect 600 on the ACFT.

The four West Point cadets selected as Rhodes Scholars in November 2024 (L to R: Sarah Cao ’25, Shepherd Dzina ’25, Ava Spinar ’25, and Gabby Sorrentino ’25).

ATTENTION!

Adjutant ’ s Call

Egner Hall Renovated

Thanks to Margin of Excellence funding from donors Marcia H. Randall (surviving spouse of Robert Randall ’56); Alan Salisbury ’58 and his wife, Florence; Peter Krause ’67; and Bob Carpenter ’67, the U.S. Army’s oldest active-duty musical ensemble, the West Point Band, and one of the U.S. Military Academy’s oldest cadet groups, the Cadet Glee Club, have new, modern space in Egner Hall, which was originally built in 1932 but now has been renovated to match the world-class musicians who occupy the building.

“We now have a space that is worthy, both in technical capabilities as well as in beauty, for the soldier-musicians who serve here,” said Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Toven, Commander and Conductor of the West Point Band, during the October 24, 2024 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated Egner Hall.

The Egner Hall Renovation Project provided an audio-visual installation that will connect with the West Point Band audio tech studio, allowing for interaction with guest artists and presenters, commissioned composers, and viewing performances of other groups. The project also upgraded the Glee Club’s rehearsal space with a new digital acoustic system that will improve practice conditions to expedite learning, improve team skills, and reinforce individual technique. New recording capabilities in the Glee Club room will also increase public outreach through more frequent recordings and will enable the club to capture organic, acoustic performance.

“The upgrades brought to the Glee Club by this renovation represent a complete game-changer,” said Constance Chase,

Director of the Cadet Glee Club. “The generous support of the donors to fund the renovation means the club no longer works under makeshift conditions but in a world-class, permanent home.”

Working in partnership with the Academy and the Directorate of Cadet Activities, the West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) worked on the Egner Hall Renovation Project for three years, installing (in addition to the upgrades named above) centralized HVAC in order to provide consistent temperature and relative humidity for the care of instruments, equipment, and archive materials. “The renovation is a perfect manifestation of WPAOG’s vision,” said Colonel Mark Bieger ’91 (Retired), WPAOG President and CEO. “Every graduate in the Long Gray Line can relate to the special moments when we’ve experienced a performance by the Cadet Glee Club or West Point Band.”

Established in 1817, the West Point Band is the oldest continuously operating unit at West Point, tracing its lineage to the field musicians assigned by George Washington when he established the post in 1778, and for two-plus centuries it has been building partnerships with parties throughout the region and across the nation in an effort to tell the West Point story. Similarly, the Cadet Glee Club, which has been in existence for 121 years, travels throughout the country introducing communities and schools to cadets. Facility improvements through the Egner Hall Renovation Project will also benefit other performing cadet support clubs, such as the Spirit Band, String Ensemble, and Rock Band. 

Photo: Justin Conti/WPAOG

Traditional Songs Reimagined

The West Point Band released three newly reimagined recordings of traditional West Point favorites.

The songs, which have connected old grads to current cadets for generations, take listeners through the full experience of an Army Football game, from the first whistle to the final moments on the field.

First, the bold and cinematic reworking of “On Brave Old Army Team,” arranged by Sergeant First Class Noah Taylor, breathes new life into a song that’s been rallying Army fans for over a century. In 1910, First Lieutenant Philip Egner—one of the West Point Band’s most influential figures and its bestknown Teacher of Music—improvised the tune while walking back to his quarters after collaborating on a new cheer. He quickly scribbled the melody on his shirt cuff, and that impromptu moment became the fight song known to all Army fans today.

Next, Staff Sergeant Andrew Garcia’s take on “Slum and Gravy (100th Night Version)” provides a fun, nostalgic take on this time-honored Army song, thanks to its upbeat ragtime style. “Slum and Gravy,” inspired by the operetta The Vagabond King, was written in 1925 by three West Point cadets after a night out in New York City. They adapted the operetta’s tune “The Song of the Vagabonds” to create a new Army fight song, which later debuted on Broadway after Army’s victory over Navy that year.

These days, “Slum and Gravy” is performed when the opposing team scores a touchdown (so it wasn’t heard much during the 2024 season).

Lastly, the West Point Band reimagined the “West Point Alma Mater,” traditionally the Academy’s most important song (along with “The Corps”), with the “West Point Alma Mater (Benny Havens Band Version).” Though not solely a football song, it holds a special place in Army games, as cadets, alumni, and fans proudly sing it at the close of every game—preferably second. Originally composed by Cadet Paul Reinecke, Class of 1911, when he was a firstie, this cherished classic has been beautifully renovated by Sergeant First Class Geoff Vidal in a soulful rendition.

These news recordings mark the first time the West Point Band has recorded in Krause Hall, the band’s newly updated rehearsal space within the redesigned Egner Hall (see page 16), truly capturing the spirit of West Point.

The recordings are available on streaming platforms and accompanying music videos are available on the West Point Band’s YouTube channel. 

SFC Erin Beaver, West Point Band

Use the QR code to access the West Point Band webpage, which includes links to videos and recordings.

The Cup Comes Back

For the second time in as many years, the West Point community had an opportunity to behold the Stanley Cup, the National Hockey League’s championship trophy.

On October 25, 2024, Vincent “Vinnie” Viola ’77, owner of the 2023-24 NHL Champion Florida Panthers, brought the Cup and his team to West Point to tour the Academy and meet with cadets. Part of that team included four more West Point graduates: Dr. Liam Collins ’92, Executive Director of the Viola Foundation; Matt Caldwell ’02, President and CEO of the Florida Panthers; Bryce Hollweg ’08, Chief Operating Officer; and Keith Fine ’08, Vice President-Programming and Development.

The day began in the Thayer Room of Taylor Hall, where Lieutenant General Steve Gilland ’90, the 61st Superintendent, told the members of the Panther organization that they picked a great day to visit. “There’s a chill in the air, clouds in the sky, and great fall foliage—which I imagine you don’t get to see much of in South Florida,” he joked. After the Superintendent’s welcome, members of the cadet leadership team presented the Panthers with a cadet sabre. This was followed by the Florida players giving the cadets a framed and signed Panthers jersey and giving the Superintendent a signed hockey stick.

From there the Panthers moved to the steps of Washington Hall to watch the Corps’ lunch formation and then inside for lunch itself. During lunch Aleksander Barkov, team captain, and

Matthew Tkachuk, alternate captain, raised the Cup from the poop deck. Barkov was planning to make a speech, but when he heard the loud cheer from the cadets, he knew he only needed to shout four words: “Go Army! Beat Navy!”

After lunch, the players headed to the West Point Simulation Center for a demonstration of the engagement skills trainer, while the team’s three executives held a leadership panel with Colonel Sean Morrow ’01, Director of the West Point Combating Terrorism Center (an institution that Viola helped establish). Morrow asked the executives questions related to young lieutenants leading those in a unit with more experience than them and learning about and accepting risk, and Caldwell, Hollweg and Fine answered with lessons they learned from leading the Panthers.

The team then took photos with the Cup in front of Washington Statue and at Trophy Point before heading to a packed Crest Hall in Eisenhower Hall, where Viola invited the West Point community to take pictures with the Stanley Cup and meet his players. The day ended at Tate Rink, where Viola, Caldwell, Hollweg and Fine participated in a ceremonial puck drop before the Army West Point Hockey Team took on Bentley University.

Caldwell said the players loved every minute of their trip to West Point, “I kept thanking them [for giving up their off day to visit],” he said, “and their response was, ‘We should be thanking you—this place is magical.’” 

West Point magazine thanks Bill Price, NHL.com Editor-in-Chief, for his contributions to this article.

Use the QR code to read his full report of the Florida Panthers visit to the United States Military Academy.

Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers team captain, hoists the Stanley Cup while standing on the poop deck during lunch in the Mess Hall.

The West Point grads from the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers—(L to R) Vinnie Viola ’77, Bryce Hollweg ’08, Keith Fine ’08, and Matt Caldwell ’02—pose with the cadets of the Army West Point Hockey Team and Head Coach Brian Riley in the Mess Hall.

Army West Point Football: A Good Year

Leading up to the 2024 Army-Navy Game, Army West Point Head Coach Jeff Monken was reported as saying, “We’ve had a good year; you make it a great year by winning this game coming up on Saturday.” Things didn’t work out in the 125th meeting between the Black Knights and the Midshipmen; however, by any other measure, 2024 was a grand, exceptional, admirable, outstanding (or whatever other synonym is available between “good” and “great”) year for Army West Point Football.

The season began with the team as the new kids on the block in the American Athletic Conference, playing their inaugural AAC season in 2024, and it ended with them as kings of the mountain, sweeping the conference with an 8-0 record and defeating Tulane, 35-14, in the AAC championship game played in Michie Stadium. The team started the season with an overall 9-0 record before losing to the 2024 College Football Playoff’s seventh seed, Notre Dame, earning a national ranking that it held the last two months of the season. Along the way, quarterback Bryson Daily ’25, who finished sixth in

2024 Heisman Trophy balloting, not only broke the AAC record for the most rushing touchdowns in a season but also set a FBS record for the most rushing touchdowns from a quarterback in a season (32), and he set an Army West Point record for rushing more than 100 yards in 10 straight games. The Army West Point offensive line also won the 2024 Joe Moore Award for Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit in College Football for helping the team’s ground game lead the Football Bowl Subdivision (the highest level of college football in the nation) with 314.2 rushing yards per game, which was 47.1 yards more than any other FBS team. Finally, the Army West Point defensive unit ranked No. 1 in both scoring defense and red zone defense as well as No. 6 in total defense during the 2024 season. The season also ended on a high note, with Army West Point defeating the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the Independence Bowl. The victory gave the Black Knights 12 wins in 2024, which breaks their previous season win record of 11 (2018).

continued on page 20

Army West Point quarterback Bryson Daily ’25 finished in sixth place for the 2024 Heisman Trophy.

ATTENTION!

Adjutant ’ s Call

While the loss to Navy might have diminished, as defined by Monken, a great season to a good season, the uniforms that the Army Black Knights wore on December 14, paying tribute to the 101st Airborne Division and the Screaming Eagles’ storied legacy during World War II’s Battle of the Bulge, reflect their determination to not be defined by one defeat. Following the

example of the Screaming Eagles at Bastogne and the eternal prophecy of the 101st, the Black Knights have a perpetual “rendezvous with destiny,” and it begins again in the fall, culminating with the 126th meeting against the Midshipmen on December 13, 2025—and the Long Gray Line will be there cheering them on at every game! 

SCUSA Has Its “Diamond Jubilee” Conference

In early October, West Point welcomed more than 200 undergraduate students from approximately 100 universities and 20 countries to the 75th Annual Class of 1971 Student Conference on U.S. Affairs (SCUSA). First held in 1949, SCUSA is a four-day conference in which students and cadets work with scholars and practitioners to develop proposals that address important topics in U.S. foreign policy. This year’s conference theme was “Securing the Blessings of Liberty: American Foreign Policy in an Increasing Multipolar World.”

Under the leadership of Cadet Summer Mirigliano ’25, SCUSA Commander, attendees discussed several complex issues of multipolarity, from “managing conflict and cooperation in the Arctic” to the “prospects for governing space in a multipolar world,” and tackled such questions as, “In what ways should the United States address the growth of significant constraints on its global and regional power?” and “How, if at all, should the U.S. revise its commitment to democratization around the world?”

SCUSA delegates had the opportunity to hear from several figures, such as Brigadier General Shane Reeves ’96, 15th Dean of the Academic Board, and to work with several notable West Point graduates, including Ambassador Douglas Lute ’75, Lieutenant General Nadja West ’82 (Retired), and the Honorable Douglas R. Bush ’93. Interacting with these distinguished leaders and international relations experts fulfilled the long-established goal of SCUSA, which is the development of lasting civil-military relationships among future leaders in the military, government, and private sector. 

Photo: Justin Conti/WPAOG

The Army West Point Black Knights wore uniforms honoring the 101st Airborne Division (“Screaming Eagles”) during the 2024 Army-Navy Game.

West Point 2050:

How the U.S. Military Academy is Preparing for Future Conflict

By LTG Steven W. Gilland ’90 and BG Shane R. Reeves ’96, Guest Writers

For many Americans, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point evokes a sense of history, patriotism, and professionalism like few other institutions. The image of the West Point cadet on parade, stoic and precise in gray-and-white uniform, is symbolic of martial excellence and a commitment to the values of “Duty, Honor, Country.”

Photo: Erika Norton/WPAOG; Jorge Garcia/USMA PAO

To some, however, West Point’s stewardship of tradition might seem antiquated and out of step in contemporary society. From afar, West Point might seem overly rigid and inflexible. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

The U.S. Military Academy remains a dynamic and adaptable institution, and its current reorganization effort is indicative of a commitment to modernization in service to the nation.

In a global environment defined by looming great power competition and rapidly evolving technologies, the U.S. Military Academy is transforming in ways that will ensure the Army’s competitive advantage in any future conflict. The reorganization will be comprehensive, affecting instruction in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); the humanities; and the social sciences. It will also emphasize subjects of strategic importance to warfighting, such as the use of autonomous and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled systems, the impact of “big data” on military operations, and the promotion of energy resilience in resource-constrained environments. In short, preparing cadets to lead in the future necessitates action now. It requires foresight, innovative thinking, and considerable effort to reorient our structures and curriculum to the emerging

realities of our time. As always, West Point stands ready to meet the needs of the Army and the nation.

A History of Transformation

Evolution, reorganization, and transformation have always been critical to the success of West Point. Douglas MacArthur, Class of 1903, who served as West Point’s 31st Superintendent, was one of the Academy’s greatest agents of change. After returning from the battlefields of France in the Great War, MacArthur was charged with modernizing West Point. He leapt at the opportunity to reinvigorate an institution that he believed failed to keep up with the times. “How long are we going to go on preparing for the War of 1812?” he once asked. With an eye toward future warfare, MacArthur left no corner of the Academy untouched during his tenure.

MacArthur started by reforming West Point’s infamous Fourth Class System, which often subjected plebes to harsh treatment by upperclassmen, ostensibly to “weed out” the weak and unworthy, according to Colonel Lance Betros ’77 (Retired) in his book Carved in Granite. Instead, MacArthur emphasized positive leadership with the goal of developing strong, self-confident, and

independent future officers. MacArthur also rejected the Academy’s paternalistic approach to officer development and instead gave cadets significantly more freedoms in the hope of fostering responsible decision-making. While this approach came with obvious risks, MacArthur believed these reforms were necessary to develop confident, socially adept, and responsible officers.

Complementing this radical new leader development model was an equally radical evolution in cadet education. MacArthur undertook an aggressive revamping of the academic program and was, Betros notes, “[determined] to adapt the curriculum to the realities of an industrialized, interconnected world.” The result was a commitment to a broad education that balanced technical and humanity courses, dramatically improved classroom instruction, and engaged a more diverse faculty. Perhaps most importantly, MacArthur’s efforts promoted a culture of introspection that encouraged continual refinement and curricular adjustment of the academic program. Equally important to MacArthur was the need to overhaul the physical fitness program at West Point. MacArthur’s combat experience impressed on him the physical demands of warfare, and he believed that athletic competition helped develop the stamina, strength, and leadership abilities critical for success on the battlefield. Accordingly, he set out to make every cadet an athlete. MacArthur expanded intercollegiate athletics, mandated intramural sports, and implemented a significantly more rigorous

physical education curriculum. He famously declared, “Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that, upon other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory.” The culture of fitness he established elevated the physical expectations of West Point cadets and graduates.

Above all else, MacArthur modernized military training at the Academy. He recognized that the Academy’s summer encampment and its Napoleonic era drills failed to prepare cadets for the realities of modern combat. Consequently, he made the controversial decision to end the longstanding tradition. Instead, MacArthur required most upper-level cadets to spend the summer at an active military post where they could interact with noncommissioned officers, conduct hands-on training with new equipment, and practice modern tactics. According to Betros, although this initiative was later rescinded in favor of a return to summer encampment, MacArthur’s emphasis on practical, relevant, and experiential military training eventually became the norm at the Academy.

MacArthur knew that post-World War I peace was fragile. He believed the United States would likely be drawn into another conflict in Europe, and he was convinced that conflict would be radically different than anything that had come before. His effort to transform the Academy, therefore, was driven by a conviction that change was necessary to prepare the Corps of Cadets to lead the American military in the coming conflagration.

Photo: Elizabeth V. Woodruff/USMA PAO

West Point cadets rappel from UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters during Air Assault School.

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West Point 2050

Today, the Army and the Academy are again at an inflection point. Geopolitical competition and technological advancements threaten to undermine the rules-based international order established in the aftermath of World War II. To confront the security challenges of our time, the Academy is once again leaning into transformation. In particular, the study of AI and its implications for national security are a significant focus of this transformation effort. The AI revolution has forced change in society to a degree rarely seen in human history, and future developments in AI only promise more change, disruption—and opportunity. To address the capabilities of AI and other emerging technologies, West Point is modernizing the physical infrastructure of the Academy as well as how it organizes, educates, and develops its cadets. These changes are posturing West Point to meet the increasingly complex environment of modern warfare.

The Cyber and Engineering Academic Center is the centerpiece of West Point’s physical modernization. Scheduled for completion next year, the new 136,000-square-foot academic building will feature cutting-edge classrooms and laboratories devoted to education and scholarship in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. A robotics bay and cyberspace range will expose cadets to technical aspects of the future battlefield while enhancing opportunities for innovative research.

Other critical renovation projects—including the modernization of academic buildings, cadet barracks, and athletic facilities— will reinforce many of West Point’s strengths. One example is the planned renovation of Thayer Hall, which was once a large indoor riding hall and venue for instruction in horsemanship. Converted to classroom space in 1958, the renovated Thayer Hall will become the focus of West Point’s humanities

disciplines. Updates such as this will facilitate small class sizes that promote collaboration between faculty and cadets while energizing an academic program built on a powerful core curriculum and interdisciplinary research. These changes will have a generational impact.

Physical upgrades, however, are not sufficient to fully modernize the Academy for this century’s challenges. This past year, the Academy’s leadership examined the academic program to determine how it should be structured to intellectually prepare graduates to lead across the full spectrum of conflict. This comprehensive review sought to understand and challenge the academic program’s current assumptions, identify gaps and areas for improvement, and where possible, accelerate preeminence and unleash synergies.

The yearlong review resulted in West Point’s first academic program reorganization since 1989. The reorganization will implement changes both major and minor across the Academy’s academic disciplines and departments. One highlight includes the creation of a Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering that will familiarize graduates with space and the developing capabilities of unmanned aircraft and other drone technology. Upon its establishment, the new department will become a national leader in undergraduate engineering education. An Aerospace major within the department will focus on six aeronautical engineering competencies and two astronautical ones, taught by the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering. Led by a unique blend of civilian and military faculty experts and supported by flight laboratories conducted by the U.S. Military Academy’s 2nd Aviation Detachment, the department will offer an unparalleled environment for the education of cadets.

The reorganization will also elevate the teaching of space-related topics in the curriculum. Recognizing the importance of space as

Photo: Christopher Hennen/USMA

The West Point Werx Innovation Hub will serve as the connective tissue across the Academy’s growing portfolio of Army, DoD, industry, and higher education partners.

a domain of warfighting, 2020 U.S. Space Force doctrine states that a new space “community of practice” will integrate the efforts of disciplinary experts, not just in astrophysics and aerospace engineering but also in mathematics, data science, law, ethics, and social science, to examine all aspects of emerging space technology from inception to employment on the battlefield.

Operational and strategic sustainability will also gain greater prominence in the curriculum. A new sustainability community of practice and a realigned Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering will explore ways to improve the energy resilience and sustainability of U.S. forces during military operations. Creating energy resilience will ensure the United States is capable of projecting power when necessary, even under the harshest conditions. As such, it is vital to the Army’s ability to train and equip forces at home and to employ forces overseas. The sustainability community of practice will also examine ways to improve survivability during multidomain operations, such as by masking heat and other detectable signatures on the battlefield. Ultimately, promoting energy resilience and sustainability will

make the Army more lethal and ensure our ability to deter and defeat any adversary.

In the emerging era of generative AI and other transformative technologies, the importance of human insight and discernment cannot be understated. In addition to understanding the technologies transforming the way we fight, cadets must learn to be thoughtful, agile, decisive leaders in uncertain times.

Understanding the human experience is central to good leadership, and education in the humanities lies at the very heart of what West Point must do to ensure our future leaders understand the human, social, and geopolitical environment they are about to enter. Courses in a newly combined Department of English and World Languages will educate cadets on accurate and socioculturally effective oral and written communication; cross-cultural competence; critical thinking; language-focused cultural, historical, and literary analysis; and rhetorical, sociolinguistic, and discourse-based language analysis, while also establishing crucial foundations for lifelong learning. Human judgment remains critical to how the Army operates, and West Point is preparing cadets to be mentally agile, critically thinking,

Cadets discuss the integration of technology into their history research project.

innovative officers capable of excelling under the most difficult combat conditions.

Additionally, a combination of our law and philosophy programs in a Department of Law and Philosophy will better prepare cadets to confront the legal and ethical complexities of decisionmaking on the modern battlefield. Among other things, courses in the department will force cadets to grapple with timely issues shaping modern warfare, such as the use of drones, autonomous weapons, and AI. As future leaders, cadets must be able to navigate uncertainty and exercise superior judgment to make both legal and ethical decisions across the broad spectrum of conflict. The Department of Law and Philosophy will challenge cadets to evaluate problems in creative and dynamic ways while ensuring they remain true to the law and the ethical obligations of military service.

Meanwhile, West Point’s current transformation has not disrupted the important work of the U.S. Military Academy. Our faculty, staff, and cadets continue to engage in research and scholarship related to national security and military affairs. This active engagement ensures that the Army remains at the vanguard of developments affecting our national defense. In the September 2023 article “Strengthen the Profession: A Call to Army Leaders to Revitalize Our Professional Discourse,” published by West Point’s Modern War Institute, Army senior leaders, including the chief of staff of the Army, emphasized the importance of professional discourse to solving the military’s most pressing problems. In that article, the authors encouraged leaders at all levels to “strengthen our profession from top to bottom by building expertise through written discourse.” The West Point Press, which was launched in 2023, was established to support

exactly the type of engagement and dissemination of ideas the authors mentioned in their article. In addition to publishing peerreviewed books, white papers, reports, and conference proceedings, the West Point Press also publishes several leading journals, including the Cyber Defense Review, which features articles dedicated to over-the-horizon problems of significance to the Army and the nation.

Lastly, the newly created West Point Werx Innovation Hub will help unleash the interdisciplinary potential of the academic program. Ideally situated within the Army’s innovation ecosystem, the Innovation Hub will bring together experts from throughout the Academy and serve as connective tissue across our growing portfolio of Army, Department of Defense, industry, and higher education partners. The Innovation Hub will help field requirements and requests from these partners while bringing together departments and centers to work creatively on cutting-edge projects. The Innovation Hub will also help break down siloes and form teams that can tackle problems from multiple disciplinary perspectives. By facilitating cross-disciplinary work in areas such as space, sustainability, cyber and data, human-machine integration, and the law and ethics of warfare, the Innovation Hub will focus the intellectual capital of West Point to help solve the Army’s and nation’s most complex challenges.

Innovation at West Point starts with cadet development. The Army needs officers who can lead cross-functional teams to solve complex problems, and the Innovation Hub will provide an environment that deliberately fosters collaboration, integration, and synchronization of ideas so that cadets can develop relevant skills through hands-on experience.

Photo: Christopher Hennen/USMA

While presenting his Arctic remote mapping project on April 21, 2024 in the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, a cadet demonstrates how multiple technologies can converge.

Concluding Thoughts

In 1919, Douglas MacArthur was charged with preparing cadets for leadership in the post-World War I environment. He recognized that success required making necessary, albeit difficult, changes. But he also understood that he did not have the luxury of maintaining the status quo.

The Army and the Academy face a similar situation today. Modernizing for an uncertain future will involve hard choices about prioritization and risk, and reorganization of the academic program represents a critical step in West Point’s preparation for future conflict. The creation of a Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, the introduction of an Aerospace major, and a renewed focus on operational and strategic sustainability are part of the Academy’s broader effort to modernize and adapt. At the same time, other disciplinary perspectives will continue to be used to evaluate the nation’s toughest national security challenges. Working in collaboration, through communities of practice and with the support of the West Point Press and the West Point Werx Innovation Hub, the entire West Point enterprise remains committed to preparing cadets for leadership in an unsettled and unpredictable world.

Retired General Mark A. Milley and Eric Schmidt observed in Foreign Affairs that “the character of war is changing both rapidly and fundamentally,” and they urged American officials to change and adapt “faster than the country’s adversaries.” The U.S. Military Academy understands what is at stake, and West Point is adapting, engaging, innovating, and transforming to ensure our

graduates are ready to fight and win our nation’s wars, whenever and wherever they are called upon to do so. 

LTG Steve Gilland ’90 currently serves as the 61st Superintendent of the United States Military Academy. A career Infantry officer, he has served in a variety of tactical assignments in Air Assault, Armor, Mechanized Infantry, Ranger and Special Operations units. He most recently commanded the 2nd ROK-U.S. Combined Division in Korea and has participated in numerous operational deployments to the Middle East, Africa, and Afghanistan throughout his career. Gilland holds a master’s degree in military operational art and science from the Air Force Command and Staff College.

BG Shane Reeves ’96 currently serves as the 15th Dean of the Academic Board at West Point. He commissioned into the Army in 1996 as an Armor officer. After law school in 2003, he transitioned into the Judge Advocate General’s Corps with assignments including senior trial counsel, international and operational law professor, and deputy staff judge advocate of Joint Special Operations Command. He has written more than 30 articles and book chapters on the Law of Armed Conflict and national security issues and cofounded the Lieber Institute of Law and Land Warfare at West Point. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Reeves holds a J.D. from the College of William and Mary and an LLM in military law from the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School.

(This article was adapted from an original publication appearing in the 2024 September Online Exclusive Military Review and is republished with permission.)

A Second Class cadet leads his company during the 2023 Graduation Parade.

Embracing the Future:

West Point’s Integration of AI in Education and Warfare

By Kevin R. Grazier, Ph.D. , Guest Writer

Artificial intelligence is better than none.” This old joke reflects a bygone era in the development of artificial intelligence (AI). Baked into the gag is the implication that the technology was flawed and of limited value. Today, however, AI commands significantly greater respect, as evidenced by the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded to John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton for their groundbreaking advancements in artificial neural networks.

People now routinely rely on personal assistants like Alexa and Siri to select their next Netflix binge based on AI-driven viewing analyses and to manage their homes with smart devices. Another place where the use of AI has really taken off is on the battlefields of Ukraine and the Middle East. There, the use of AI is increasing and evolving daily, driven by necessity. Soon, AI will be woven into every aspect of military operations, shaping the environment in which future Army officers will be expected to thrive. Consequently, West Point has adopted a proactive approach to

AI, educating and training cadets to navigate the ubiquity of AI tools, understand their function and capabilities, and recognize this technology’s limitations, potential pitfalls, and ethical considerations.

Throughout history, militaries have paired human capabilities with various tools and technologies to accomplish their missions, and the introduction of AI on the battlefield simply represents the latest evolution of this trend. The future of warfare is evolving, with victories depending less on machines with the toughest armor, highest firing rates, or largest explosives and more on those that can think the fastest, guided by skilled humans who know how to effectively leverage their capabilities. This reality is reflected in West Point’s intellectual theme for the 2024-25 academic year: “The Human and the Machine: Leadership on the Emerging Battlefield.” Designed to probe the evolving relationship between human agency coupled with the capabilities of advanced technology in modern warfare, this theme makes it

clear that if cadets are expected to fight and win America’s future wars, they must be prepared to do so in an environment where they partner with “thinking” machines.

To stay competitive with our adversaries, our Army needs graduates equipped with the specialized skills required to develop and utilize AI systems and applications effectively. The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) and many other organizations at West Point are poised to be the tip of the spear in AI instruction. Colonel James Raftery, EECS Department Head, says, “Within the EECS department, we have the academic majors (Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Cyber Science) that really are the fundamental underpinnings of who can build the black boxes of AI systems.”

Colonel Christa Chewar ’95 adds that teaching AI in EECS has a lengthy history, “Even in the ’90s, when I was a cadet, and when I first joined the faculty in 2004, [the department] already had a long history of research and teaching courses focused on AI.” Raftery adds, “Never put an American soldier in a fair fight—if this gives us an advantage, then we want cadets to become familiar with, expert users of, and developers of AI tools.”

In addition to AI-specific courses, EECS majors will find AI interwoven throughout their major’s courses, which address, in ways relevant to the course being taught, proper methods of using AI-based applications, best practices, and the strengths and weaknesses of AI. EECS cadets also enjoy the benefit of receiving instruction from a number of faculty members who are accomplished researchers of both general AI and Army-specific applications of AI. Therefore, in addition to academic exposure to

the discipline, cadets and faculty have the opportunity to be involved in cutting-edge research in the field. Cadet involvement in AI-focused research projects may take the form of independent study courses or senior capstone projects.

EECS operates several research centers that support this effort, each with a number of active AI projects and initiatives. The Robotics Research Center (RRC) is dedicated to driving innovation in military applications of robotics and autonomous systems. It also emphasizes training future leaders in robotics technology, its applications in both combat and support roles, and the challenges of modern warfare employing robotic systems. The RRC has active projects in AI on topics like developing camouflage to counter adversarial computer vision-based systems, navigation in GPS-denied environments, developing target recognition algorithms, and landmine detection.

The Cyber Research Center (CRC) at West Point is focused on advancing research and education in the field of cybersecurity and cyber operations. The CRC conducts research on different dimensions of cyber warfare, providing future Army leaders with the knowledge and skills to defeat cyber threats. AI-based research projects include the development of smart power grids, developing machine learning algorithms for malware analysis and image classification, and developing AI tools to refine how we view dieting, nutrition, and performance.

Another EECS research organization is the Army Cyber Institute (ACI), the Army’s think tank dedicated to addressing challenges in cyber warfare and cybersecurity. Its mission is to develop

“Winter is the time for study, you know, and the colder it is, the more studious we are.”

—Henry David Thoreau

Photo: Erika Nirton/WPAOG

policies, technologies, and strategies to improve and enhance the Army’s capabilities within the cyber domain. As with the other EECS research centers, ACI has a number of active AI-related research projects. Example projects include improving the speed at which cybersecurity professionals can meet threats, analyzing media broadcasts for bias and potential disinformation, and developing machine learning algorithms for quantum computers.

Alongside AI-related majors and research opportunities, the core curriculum is one of the greatest strengths of a West Point education. West Point will continue to develop the best methods for facilitating a cadet’s experience with AI across the entire curriculum. For all graduates, AI systems will be as integral to their careers as they are for those who design and program them. “AI is a type of tool or a family of tools that are going to be available to cadets, to lieutenants, and to officers, to help them be more productive in their job,” Raftery says. “It can help them do things faster and with less errors, and it can help them think of things that they would not have thought of without the prompt.”

Raftery views AI as a critical productivity tool, and those who don’t know how to use productivity tools will have far less impact than those who are proficient with them. Dr. Edward Sobiesk, Professor of Computer and Cyber Science, says, “We have an imperative to give [cadets] the best chance of succeeding at their mission in the environment that they’re going to face in the next five to 15 years, one in which AI is ubiquitous throughout competition and conflict.”

When it comes to non-EECS majors, the CY105 and CY305 courses introduce these cadets to using AI technologies. CY105 is

a computer fundamentals class required for all cadets, typically taken during their plebe year. Lessons within the course allow cadets to explore the strengths and weaknesses of AI while also covering the social, ethical, and military ramifications of the technology. Second Class cadets not majoring in engineering or a computer science take CY305, a cyber foundations class where students learn the fundamentals of implementing AI and machine learning systems.

One example of how these and other STEM courses are being modernized to educate a new generation of AI-savvy cadets occurred in the spring of 2024 when EECS updated CY105. The class traditionally included a final summative project that allowed cadets to showcase their programming skills. CY105 instructors believed that all cadets, not just those majoring in computer science, should develop the ability to collaborate with AI tools and systems to achieve shared objectives effectively, so they reimagined the final project. In this new, modernized version of the class, the summative project does not necessarily require programming, but it does require cadets to team with generative AI tools to create something original, something different, something they are excited about—recommendations ranged from software to hardware to novel websites to artwork. The goal is for cadets to complete the project by effectively applying the problem-solving skills they have learned throughout the semester in the context of generative AI. “They were required to create something that the AI alone could not create by itself and that they alone could not create by themselves—to really seek synergy with AI,” says Sobiesk. “The AI summative project gave them a chance to truly unleash their creativity.”

CY105 students being introduced to robots that feature a variety of autonomous controls.

The instructors also thought that the AI summative project could be updated regularly to reflect the rapid evolution of AI and its impact on cadets, their education, and their careers. Dr. Suzanne Matthews, Professor of Computer Science and the CY105 course director, feels that, in the future, the summative project can be revised to ask students to reflect on relevant ethical issues of AI.

Matthews raises an important point: A West Point education would not be a West Point education were it not steeped in ethics and character development. The widespread deployment of artificial intelligence, potentially autonomous weapons systems, drones, and other advanced technologies on the modern battlefield will confront future officers with numerous uncharted ethical and legal challenges, where sound judgment will be essential. EECS courses teach responsible and ethical ways in which AI tools can be employed to improve learning and assist with completing assignments.

Cadets also confront ethical challenges head-on. The Robotics Research Center supports lessons as part of a lab in PY201, a philosophy core course taken by all cadets that explores ethical aspects of lethal autonomous weapon systems that use AI to make targeting decisions. West Point is taking advantage of every avenue to prepare cadets to be effective decision-makers in environments where new technologies rule the day, all while adhering to their ethical and legal obligations.

A related ethical aspect of creating AI systems is that human developers need to take responsibility for the beliefs and principles the AI systems they produce have. Matthews offers, “One thing that I am proud of at West Point is that we do spend quite a bit of time on character development and ethics and, because of that, I’d

like to think that our cadets, if they are ever involved in creating AI systems, will reflect on their own values and not make some of the mistakes that we’ve been seeing some of the profit-oriented organizations make.”

With all of this considered, the joke “Artificial intelligence is better than none” has evolved: It is now “Artificial intelligence is better than one,” since humans partnering synergistically with AI can represent a formidable team. Colonel Tom Babbitt ’99, Director of the Cyber Research Center, notes, “I’m of the opinion that…a person working with AI is probably going to be much more productive than an individual working by him- or herself, and probably even more productive than an AI working by itself, simply because there are some creative things that humans do that I’m not sure you can mimic completely in an artificial intelligence or machine learning algorithm.” Teaching cadets how to partner with AI and how to leverage what both do well, all within an ethical and legal framework, will be a pedagogical challenge going forward. Yet, AI systems are not only here to stay but will be increasingly present in the offices and on the battlefields of the future, so the Academy will continue to take the steps necessary to prepare leaders of our nation to meet these challenges. “We’ve been [teaching AI] for a long time,” says Chewar. “It’s great that we have now these new opportunities to do more, and it’s a very exciting time for change.” 

Kevin R. Grazier, Ph.D. is currently in the midst of his second appointment in the EECS Department at West Point. Grazier earned his Ph.D. in geophysics and space physics from UCLA, his research area involving large-scale computational models of the dynamics and evolution of the early Solar System. He has also written or edited several popular science books and articles.

Examples of CY105 AI-based summative projects. Left: CDT Colin McDevitt ’27 had generative AI compose posters of famous baseball players (here: Lou Gehrig) projected onto images of the cities where they played. Upper right: CDT Grant Lee ’25 used AI to compose, and play, half of a cello duet (Lee played the other half). Lower right: CDT Benjamin Morrow ’27 used AI to program a rat-hunting robot.

Endurance Builds Champions and Leaders: West Point Triathlon Team

By Erika Norton, WPAOG staff

All graduates know that it takes endurance to make it through the rigorous 47-month experience at West Point. Similarly, as any athlete knows, successfully competing in a triathlon takes incredible endurance.

Photo:

Does this mean that cadets on the West Point Triathlon Team have double the endurance of a typical cadet? To train and compete in triathlons as a cadet at West Point certainly takes a special type of grit, especially since most cadets who join the West Point Triathlon Team have never completed a triathlon before.

Developing into a competitive triathlete often takes years of training, but cadets don’t have that luxury. According to Head Coach Amy Maxwell, who was named the USA Triathlon Coach of the Year in 2022, the cadets who try out for the West Point Triathlon Team usually either ran on their high school crosscountry team or swam on their high school swim team—and most can ride a bike—but it is rare that they have endured a triathlon, a multisport race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running over various distances.

“Their rate of development is accelerated,” Maxwell said. “There is a steep learning curve, and it’s a ton of fun to see cadets get to the competitive level and to see them do things that they didn’t know were possible and didn’t even know existed before coming onto the team.” Interestingly, while many cadets join the team having never completed a triathlon before, most graduate with a lifelong passion for the sport and continue competing in triathlons as Army officers. First Lieutenant Waverly Schnetzler ’22, for example, an Apache pilot in Texas, competed in the Ironman World Championship in Nice, France this past September.

Building Triathlon Champions

According to Dr. Ken Allen ’93, the officer in charge for the Triathlon Team, there are only 20 spots on the club team. Spots are capped at this low number due to the sport’s highly competitive and time-consuming nature. In-season training and competitions are co-ed, so at tryouts the team tries to find a balance of men and women for those slots.

Regarding practice, cadets are in the pool every morning from 5:30am to 6:30am and then they bike or run in the afternoon. There isn’t enough time to get in a 50- to 70-mile bike ride during the week, so cadets have to be willing to sacrifice their weekends to get in that degree of training. Members of the team are authorized to bike ride off post, and some will ride over the Bear Mountain Bridge to U.S. Route 9W or other bike trails in the area. While swimming in the pool is good practice, cadets will also ride their bikes to Camp Buckner and then put on their wetsuits in order to train in Lake Popolopen, which helps prepare them for open-water swimming, as the cool, fresh water there better resembles competition conditions.

“It takes a lot of time and a lot of commitment to be a triathlete,” Allen said, “but we have a very good success rate.”

The West Point Triathlon Team is part of the Northeast Collegiate Triathlon Conference (NECTC), which is part of USA Triathlon, and competes against schools from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and all the way up to Maine. While the team does not compete against Navy, both the Merchant Marine Academy and the Coast Guard Academy are part of the NECTC and compete against West Point regularly. Over the last decade, West Point’s Triathlon Team has dominated the NECTC. In 2017, for example, the West Point

Above: Members of the West Point Triathlon Team cycling Mount Lemmon near Tucson, AZ during one of the team’s annual spring break training trips in March 2019.

Triathlon Team led the team awards with a perfect score of 500 points for all three categories: Male Team, Female Team and Combined Team. They not only won all three Olympic distance races but also both sprint distance races as well. The West Point Triathlon Team has won several NECTC championships and qualified for nationals the past 10 years.

The Triathlon Team acknowledges that it would not be able to maintain this level of success without the support of generous donors. The sport is extremely expensive and many of the team’s best athletes would have never been able to participate had they been responsible for purchasing their own equipment. Dave Alberga ’84 donated all the team bikes, race wheels, and bike travel cases, and he purchased wetsuits on two occasions. The team also enjoys support from various West Point Societies when it travels to their local areas. Allen cited the tremendous support the team receives each year from Preston Miller ’68 when it travels to Arizona for spring break training and from Michael “Mac” Crumlin ’83 whenever the team is in California. A large group of alumni—Pat Kane ’73, Bob Wilson ’73, Lisa Steptoe ’87, and others—also support the team by participating in the West Point Triathlon at Camp Buckner, which had its 34th annual running back in August.

Beyond team success, several cadet triathletes have qualified for world triathlon championship competitions. Cadets Nelle Ray ’25 and Kate Bacon ’26, for example, completed the Ironman World Championship in September. Competing on one of the hardest courses in the world, Ray and Bacon completed a 2.4mile open-water swim in the Mediterranean Sea, a 112-mile bike race up an 8,000-plus-foot climb, and a 26.2-mile marathon

run. Ray placed 12th in her age group (women’s 18-24) and eighth in the military division. Bacon was 22nd in the age group and 14th in the military division. Team Captain Cadet Emma McGovern ’25 has also competed in an Ironman competition. Before joining the team as a plebe, she had only participated in a few triathlons (and just for fun, without a competitive focus).

“Through my time on the team these four years, I’ve learned how to effectively manage my time, push through mental barriers, and tackle challenging tasks that take me out of my comfort zone,” McGovern said. “I’ve competed in a range of distances, from sprint draft-legal events to an Ironman, which has given me experience in pacing, strategy, and resilience.”

Building Army Skills, Values and Leaders

Both McGovern and Coach Maxwell feel that the skills cadets develop and the lessons they learn from the Triathlon Team directly impact their future military career. Cadets on the team develop a certain mentality from competing in this endurance sport that allows them to balance academics, physical training, and personal life.

The cadets know that they cannot participate and travel with the team unless they are proficient in all three pillars of the Academy (academic, military, and physical), and their ability to handle the extra load is part of the consideration given to selection during tryouts. The team has had several members selected for key leadership positions within the Corps of Cadets, up to and including the Brigade Staff. The team’s academic success is particularly notable going back to when Allen took over in 2011 as the officer in charge. Adam Leemans ’13 was a mechanical

CDT Kate Bacon ’26 finishing the 112-mile bike portion of the September 2024 Ironman World Championship in Nice, France.

engineer, first in his class, and earned a graduate scholarship to Cambridge University. More recently, Nolan Pearce ’22 was a physics major who earned a technical scholarship to Lincoln Laboratory and attended Northeastern University. Among the current cadets on the Triathlon Team, Bacon has over a 4.0 GPA and is pursuing medical school. The discipline required for success in the sport translates to the critical time-management skills that allow the cadets to be strong members of their classes and companies and ultimately will enable them to handle the pressures of being Army officers in the future. Being a member of the team also creates a well-rounded individual who is secure being out of his or her comfort zone and who has learned how to think under pressure.

“Through my time on the team these four years, I've learned how to effectively manage my time, push through mental barriers, and tackle challenging tasks that take me out of my comfort zone.”

—Triathlon Team Captain CDT Emma McGovern ’25

“I think developing an attention to detail is something that's really important as cadets graduate and become leaders in the Army,” Maxwell said. “We drive home an understanding of the impact that one loose bike bolt could have on the outcome of a competition, and I think committing to this mentality translates well into whatever career they have after being at West Point.”

“I often say to cadets that we either all succeed or we all fail, because, even though it’s an individual sport we are scored as a team,” Maxwell continued. “So, everything from their training to their physical health, mental health, behaviors, outlook, and care of the equipment translates into how well we all do, not just how well the individual does.”

While it is a team sport, the West Point Triathlon Team has graduated some amazing individuals, especially some historic West Point women. According to Allen, when Catherine Sedy ’16 joined the team, she could barely swim, but she was a great runner. She ended up competing in the Ironman 70.3 World Championships three years in a row. After graduation, she branched Infantry as one of the very first women allowed to branch combat arms directly out of West Point. Furthermore, some of the first women to graduate from Ranger School were on the West Point Triathlon Team.

“The experiences the women on the team share in training and competition teach us the value of perseverance, teamwork, and dedication, all of which are crucial in military service,” McGovern said. Yet, while the skills and lessons they learn through the team are important, the friendships they formed

The men’s start at Collegiate Nationals in Lake Lanier, Georgia, which was held in April 2023.

while on the team also continue long after they leave West Point.

“They’re all dancing at each other's weddings long after graduation,” she said. “It's a really special team.”

With its long history of individual and team championships and awards and its impressive representation in the Long Gray Line, the West Point Triathlon Team is indeed a special team.

“The goal of the Competitive Club Program is to develop leaders of character through sport,” said Allen, “and the teamwork, discipline, attention-to-detail, resiliency, and endurance learned as a member of the Triathlon Team will serve cadets for a lifetime, and our Army is better with leaders who have these skills.” 

“The goal of the Competitive Club Program is to develop leaders of character through sport, and the teamwork, discipline, attention-todetail, resiliency, and endurance learned as a member of the Triathlon Team will serve cadets for a lifetime, and our Army is better with leaders who have these skills.”

— Dr. Ken Allen ’93, Triathlon Team OIC

The current West Point Triathlon Team posing in September 2024 prior to racing in the Northeast Collegiate Triathlon Conference Championship in Harriman, New York.

CDT Nelle Ray '25 running the marathon leg of the September 2024 Ironman World Championship in Nice, France.

FORWARD MARCH

Serving the Nation

Story on page 46

Did You See the Sign?

From October 24 to November 1, 2024, just prior to Army West Point’s game against Air Force, the West Point Association of Graduates purchased billboard space on New York State Route 17 in Chester to promote “America’s Team.” The 14-foot-high, 48-foot-wide digital billboard displayed Head Coach Jeff Monken and Army West Point Football quarterback Bryson Daily ’25 and encouraged passersby to rally behind the Black Knights and the acknowledge the grit, dedication, and courage the team displays for the nation every time it takes the field. WPAOG designed and displayed a second billboard for “America’s Team” in the same spot from December 2-16.

“Sworn to Serve” Podcast

Now available for download on the WPAOG Broadcast Network, GEN (R) Stanley McChrystal ’76, the Affirmation Ceremony speaker for the Class of 2026 and former commander of U.S. and International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan, sat down with COL Mike Kloepper ’97, USCC Brigade Tactical Officer, to discuss a variety of topics relevant to cadets and grads. At the start of the podcast, the two discuss themes of commitment and leadership, exploring the significance of West Point’s Affirmation Ceremony and the varied perspectives cadets have regarding their future military service. McChrystal then offers personal anecdotes from his time in the 82nd Airborne Division, highlighting the critical role of early experiences and seasoned NCOs in shaping young officers. The episode concludes with insights on strategic leadership, focusing on the distinctions between empathy and sympathy, and the importance of effective communication.

Scan the QR code to listen to the podcast:

Announcement of WPAOG 2025 Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of the membership of the West Point Association of Graduates shall take place on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 5:00pm Eastern Time at the Herbert Alumni Center, West Point, New York. At the Annual Meeting, the 2025 election of members of the Board of Directors and at-large members of the Advisory Council shall take place.

Scan the QR code for information on the nomination process for Director and Advisory-at-Large positions:

SAGES Forges Connections and Entrepreneurship

Last October, the West Point Entrepreneurs Shared Interest Group and the original Service Academies Global Summit Committee collaborated to launch the first Service Academies Global Entrepreneur Summit (SAGES). Held over three days in Falls Church, VA, SAGES brought together more than 225 graduates from the five federal service academies to discuss leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship. With breakout sessions on growing a business, raising capital, owning a franchise, and more, SAGES provided resources for service academy graduates at all stages of entrepreneurship, from those still in the ideation stage through alumni who have successfully run a business.

WPAOG Hosts USAFA Cadets

After several years of being held at a neutral site, the Army-Air Force Game returned to West Point last fall. A few days before the game, WPAOG’s Alumni Services team received an email from their counterparts at the USAFA AOG requesting assistance to support 250 USAFA cadets attending the game. Thus, on November 2, 2024, WPAOG, known for hosting a free open house for all Army fans before every game, swiftly adjusted its plan to accommodate the extra guests, with a result that

exceeded all expectations. The open house featured a lively atmosphere with food, music, games, giveaways, and plenty of camaraderie. While WPAOG has always had a few USAFA grads join its open houses, more than 500 Air Force fans, officers, and cadets joined Army fans at the Herbert Alumni Center and celebrated the two service academies’ shared history and patriotism, showing once again why the Army-Air Force rivalry is one of the most exciting events in college football.

50-Year Affiliation at Branch Night

Forty members from the Class of 1975 attended Branch Night for the Class of 2025 as part of WPAOG’s 50-Year Affiliation Program. “Coming back to West Point and seeing the cadets makes us think back 50 years and how much USMA has impacted our lives,” said Dr. Randy Rapp ’75. “We of 1975 did not have anything of the sort with 1925, and, in a society that seems less and less concerned with history, maintaining such an affiliation should remain important to cadets and USMA administration.” The keynote speaker for Branch Night was U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ’75. In his address to the 1,028 anxious firsties sitting in the Eisenhower Hall auditorium waiting to tear open their envelopes and learn in which branch they’ll be serving, Austin said, “Tonight each of you will wear new insignia—it might not be the branch you hoped for, but we need great officers in every branch” (Note: 95 percent of firsties received one of their top three branch preferences). Thus far, the Class of 1975 has supported their 50-Year Affiliate Class through six official events and many more unofficial ones. “We mentor them as they prepare to put meaning to their oath,” said MAJ (R) Ted Dannemiller, “and we gather unto each of them a bit of our spirit from 1975, when the Cold War brought similar uncertainties to our experiences as they now face in a more

complicated world.” Indeed, “Together We Thrive” (2025) with “Strength and Drive” (1975) is a strong bond that showcases the power of the 50-Year Affiliation Program.

Read more about Branch Night 2024:

Fall Reunions; Reunion Gifts

Six USMA classes celebrated milestone reunions at Army West Point Football games this past fall, and each presented a class gift to their alma mater through the WPAOG Development Department.

1974 – GEN (R) Walter “Skip” Sharp, MG (R) Robert Mixon, and COL (R) John Martin, presented a 50th reunion gift of $4,458,519.74 on behalf of the Class of 1974 to support the Modern War Institute and Spiritual Resilience and Religious Education Center.

1979 – Class President Gene McIntyre and Vice President Dave Freshwater proudly represented the Class of 1979 at its 45th Reunion and presented the Academy with a check for $544,306 to support the Class of ’79 Rock Climbing Wall in Arvin Gymnasium.

1984 – The Class of 1984—represented by Class President Rick Godfrey, Class Fundraising Chair Chris Frawley, Class Fundraising Vice Chair Dave Alberga, and Robb Turner— presented a gift of $3.3 million to the Cyber and Engineering Academic Center (CEAC) and the Modern War Institute in commemoration of its 40th reunion.

1989 – The Class of 1989 marked its 35th reunion with a gift of $1,575,000 to support of the Army Cyber Institute and the Center for the Study of Civil-Military Operations, with Class President Warren Hearnes, Fundraising Chairmen John DeBlasio and Neil Creighton, and Participation Leader Robert Cooley representing the class.

2004 – Celebrating their 20th reunion, Class President Travis Dent and Fundraising Chairman Mike Lynch from the Class of 2004 presented a gift of $502,004 to support the West Point Simulation Center.

2014 – Coming home after 10 years, the Class of 2014, represented by Class President Zack Taylor and Vice President Ted Kostich, presented its 10th Reunion gift, $250,000 in support of the Class of 2014 Collaboration Room at the CEAC.

(While not a class campaign, the Class of 1994 also gave $10,000 each to the Army West Point Sprint Football and Men’s Soccer teams during its 30th reunion this fall.)

Serving the Nation

Seeing the Big Picture

Newly promoted Colonel Russell Lemler ’01, who arrived at West Point last fall to serve a third tour in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership (BS&L), has a thorough grasp on the mission of the Academy. This understanding comes after a 23-year career as a Field Artillery officer, most recently serving as the commander of 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Drum, New York.

Lemler commissioned into the Field Artillery in 2001 and began his career as a battery fire direction officer and company fire support officer in the 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He served as a battery executive officer and battalion assistant operations officer for 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment in Afghanistan. Following the Captain’s Career Course, he commanded Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 19th Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He then earned a Ph.D. in management from Columbia Business School and served as an assistant professor in BS&L. After attending the Command and General Staff College, he deployed as the U.S. Central Command Forward-Jordan chief of fires and executive officer to the commanding general, U.S. Armed Forces Jordan. Lemler redeployed to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, Texas as the brigade fire support officer and lead planner for U.S. Africa Command multinational exercises in Gabon and the Netherlands, after which he served as the executive officer of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment. He then led the Army’s ROTC program for northern New Jersey at Seton Hall University and completed a second stint with BS&L, this time as the Military Leadership Program Director.

He took command of 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment and deployed with the 10th Mountain Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team to Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, where he also commanded Al Asad Airbase, Iraq.

Lemler says, “I look forward to bringing the lessons I learned serving in the Field Artillery to the classroom, as well as showing cadets that what they are learning now will be relevant to them as future Army officers.”

Some of these lessons include family life in the Army. Lemler married Carlys Romano ’01, his classmate, and notes that the

“I look forward to bringing the lessons I learned serving in the Field Artillery to the classroom, as well as showing cadets that what they are learning now will be relevant to them as future Army officers.”

—COL Russell Lemler ’01

Photo: 1LT

Daphney Black

Then-LTC Russell Lemler ’01, in Al Asad, Iraq, celebrates with the command teams from Norway, Spain, and Poland after the March 18, 2024 change of command ceremony for Task Force Viking (Norway), a task force that was under consistent attack from Iranian-aligned militias in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

Serving the Nation

two of them only had a handful of months together after four years of marriage. “Carlys deployed to the Iraq-Kuwait border as a Patriot missile platoon leader a week after we were married, and I deployed to Afghanistan in 2004 a few months after our daughter, Ellie, was born,” Lemler says. Despite the difficulty of their early years, Lemler says that Army life has been a great experience for his family: “Building a family in the Army was more rewarding than we expected as we raised our kids in strong communities and made lifelong friends.” Lemler says Ellie is now “thriving” as a West Point cadet, Class of 2026, and their son, Grant, entered Harvard University last fall as an Army ROTC cadet.

Lemler also learned lessons from his various deployments, which total 33 months of combat and seven training missions that have taken him to Australia, Europe, Asia, and Africa. “Each one was a powerful life experience,” he says. Whether it was an attempted bribe when he was a battery executive officer in Ghazni, Afghanistan (“It was an exact scenario we had discussed in thenCaptain Pete Kilner’s philosophy class”), or experiencing a lack of infrastructure and direction from African officers in Gabon when teaching them brigade-level operations (“It reminded me of that first day of duties when a room of sweaty plebes stare at a mountain of laundry bundles”), Lemler himself has learned how important the West Point lessons his instructors tried to impart to him can be to a successful Army career.

So, what does Lemler hope his cadets and the junior faculty he’s now mentoring in BS&L learn from him? “I encourage cadets and young officers to focus on becoming the most capable leaders possible and to be open to anything, recognizing that life

will deviate from their expectations,” he says. “Lieutenants and captains tend to put their heads down and focus exclusively on their immediate jobs, which is admirable, but it’s important to be aware of what’s out there and pursue it.” Lemler also says that commanders do not have enough time in the day to dictate to all their lieutenants the things they need to do. “We need junior officers with creativity and drive to make the organization better,” he says. This is where West Point’s integration across its pillars is most effective. “All the pillars are vital to getting our cadets to where they need to be,” he says. “Time has proven the process is effective, and USMA leaders are regularly updating the curriculum and training path for the better.” 

—Keith J. Hamel

The Lemler family supports CDT Ellie Lemler ’26, a Rabble Rouser, at the 2022 Army-Navy Game pep rally before Army’s thrilling 20-17 victory in double overtime.

As the commander of Al Asad Airbase in Iraq’s Anbar Province, then-LTC Lemler (seventh from left) led a team of over 3,100 people, including soldiers and airmen from the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, France, Norway, Poland, Germany, and Spain.

Family, God, and Country

Armor officer Edwin “Les” Minges ’05, who was recently promoted to colonel, lives his life according to three values: family, God, and country.

His desire to serve came from his family. In addition to seven male family members who served in the military—his maternal grandfather enlisted in the Army in the early 1930s; his paternal grandfather served in the Navy during World War II—his sister enlisted and convinced Minges that the Army was an excellent decision. “So, I enlisted in December 1997 and joined the Class of 2005 in the summer of 2001,” he says. And the legacy is continuing with Minges’s niece, who served as a Blackhawk crew chief in the 1st Cavalry Division and is now a cadet candidate at the USMA Preparatory School.

Minges’s parents were Episcopalian missionaries in Sierra Leone, and those beliefs became the backbone of Minges’s identity. When his mom came down with an unknown tropical disease, the Episcopal Church’s humanist faith teaching helped him value her inner strength while accepting the weakness of others. “Despite the challenges of life with a significant disability, her steadfast will, positive outlook, and unflinching beliefs have given me the will to appreciate everyone, find peace with every situation, and know that there is always a path forward,” Minges says.

And then there is country. “The U.S. is worth its weight in our blood, sweat, and tears,” he says, “and I am proud to devote my life to this nation, its people and their betterment.After graduation, Minges branched Armor (“the only branch I wanted

to be part of”) and soon found himself serving as a platoon leader in Iraq for his country, one of his four deployments to combat areas. His command assignments include Armor

Then-LTC Minges (bottom left) with members of B CO, 2-8 CAV after a successful gap crossing at Fort Cavazos, Texas on February 12, 2023.

Then-LTC Edwin Minges ’05 and his wife, Dr. Corrie Minges, at the 2-8 CAV Battalion Ball in Killeen, Texas, which was held on December 3, 2022 (coincidentally, their first “real” date was the 2-8 CAV Ball in 2006).

Serving the Nation

company commander, headquarters company commander, and combined arms battalion commander, all in the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment. “My most rewarding experience was as the battalion commander of 2-8 CAV,” Minges says. “Besides working to create a high-quality gunnery and maneuver training plan, we also created effective training programs to challenge our individuals, and seeing the change in confidence and competence across the organization over time was delightful.” Minges is also most proud of the Valorous Unit Citation earned by his Troopers during his unit’s 2006-08 deployment. “I am eternally indebted to the selfless acts, valor, and fearless commitment to the mission of all the Troopers I led and followed.”

Today, Minges is finishing up an assignment as the U.S. Army War College Fellow in Israel at the Lauder School of Government at Reichmann University, and he is thankful for all the leaders who helped him along the way. He particularly cites Lieutenant Colonel Scott Efflandt and Colonel Paul Funk, his senior officers when Minges served with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment. He’s also been inspired by four members of the Long Gray Line: Major General David Gardner ’94, Brigadier General Jon Byrom ’95, Colonel Everett Spain ’92, and Lieutenant Colonel George Joseph Kopser Jr. ’93 (Retired). “Each provided me, either when I was as a cadet or after graduation, with a unique version of personal development,” Minges says.

“After my first deployment, Corrie and I considered separating from the Army; however, helping others outstripped any notion of considering another life,” he says. “We have found that the Army is not someone’s team; it’s our team and we love it.” 

—Keith J. Hamel

(R) Recognition

WPAOG Military Retiree Recognition Program

WPAOG’s Military Retiree Recognition Program honors our military retirees for their service and sacrifice. If you retired on October 1, 2018 or later, you and three guests are eligible for a free Grad Insider Tour, as well as a free night at The Thayer Hotel, subject to restrictions. We will also publish your name in West Point magazine, with your permission. If you wish to participate, please contact retiree@wpaog.org to learn more.

LTC Blake K. Puckett 1991

COL Allen D. Leth 1997

COL Michael E. McInerney 1999

LTC Jonathan S. Zimmer 1999

LTC Elijah S. Kern-Ruesink 2005

Then-LTC Minges (right) and CSM Daniel Burke at their painted rock, National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California on June 27, 2023.

Living Life, Giving Life

This spring, Colonel David Ashley ’97

(Retired) is planning to climb Makalu, the fifth-highest mountain on Earth, with an elevation of 27,838 feet.

Makalu is just 12 miles southeast of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain. Ashley climbed all of Everest’s 29,035 feet in May 2022, as part of his quest to climb the Seven Summits (the highest peak on each of the seven continents), which he accomplished in just 11 months. Impressive, right? Oh, wait— forgot to mention—he accomplished this feat after donating one of his kidneys and a portion of his liver, the latter to an anonymous recipient and the former to Chris Connelly, his “With Pride We Defend” classmate.

Ashley was put on his path to an adventurous lifestyle when he was introduced to orienteering during Cadet Summer Training at West Point and performed well at using a map to find the fastest path to each checkpoint. He cross-commissioned into the Air Force upon graduation and was sent to the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs for his first assignment. “Classes were in the evenings, so I was introduced to mountain biking and trail running by other lieutenants in the master’s program,” he says. “Soon after, I joined some bike and running races for fun and was asked by a racing team to join.” Before long, Ashley was made team captain, his team became sponsored, and the team went on to be crowned the U.S. Adventure Racing National Points Champion four years in a row.

By Keith J. Hamel, WPAOG Staff

Around this time, Ashley learned from a private Facebook group for the Class of 1997 that Connelly needed a kidney and none of his family members were a match. “I’ve been a blood donor most of my life, starting with West Point, as it was a great way to get a few hours away from upperclassmen as a plebe,” he says. Feeling that he had pretty much achieved all his career goals and with his daughters now in high school, Ashley thought it was time to start giving back to others. He got tested and learned he was a great candidate. “The more details I heard about Chris living with

A late April 2023 sunrise near Camp Muir, Mount Rainier in the state of Washington, where COL (R) David Ashley ’97 was in his final training for his “Fastest to Climb the Highest Points in All 50 U.S. States” Guinness World Record attempt, which he began a month later.

Ashley (left) with his photographer and videographer displaying his National Kidney Registry "50 State Summits" flag on the summit of Wyoming’s Gannett Peak, the last climb of his Guinness World Record, which he completed on June 30, 2023.

dialysis and his potential years of waiting for a kidney if no living donor stepped forward, it became an easy choice.”

About a year after surgery, Ashley was back to his adventurous ways. According to the Donor Games, an organization that is part of the National Kidney Registry to showcase the accomplishments of living kidney donors, “[Ashley] rode the 2,500-mile Great Divide mountain bike trail from Montana to New Mexico, won the 2019 Master’s Division National Championship 30-hour adventure race, and completed several ultramarathons.” He also began mountaineering after a civilian supervisor, who was trying to complete several lists for high points in the Sierra Nevada and Rocky mountains, invited him to try mountain climbing. Ashley then met the founder and CEO of Purple Heart Summits, a non-profit that paired wounded veterans with retired senior officers for arduous climbs. “I climbed Kilimanjaro in 2020 with a combat-wounded Marine, and I climbed Mount Denali with a combat-wounded Army soldier in 2021,” Ashley says. The soldier was finishing up the Seven Summits challenge, and Ashley thought that if he himself could climb the Seven Summits, it would show other athletes that becoming a living kidney donor is no obstacle to living an adventurous lifestyle. “So far, my only limitation is a restriction on NSAIDs, and I carry extra water to avoid dehydration,” he says. Proofing the point further, Ashley is now in the Guinness World Records for achieving the “Fastest to Climb the Highest Points in All 50 U.S. States,” a feat he accomplished in 41 days, 21 hours, and one minute. He started this challenge on May 19, 2023 with a climb of Mount Denali in Alaska and concluded it on June 30, 2023 when he reached the summit of Gannett Peak in Wyoming.

Ashley says the adventures he partakes in are not about looking for some thrill but rather the challenge of testing his physical and mental skills in an uncontrollable outdoor environment, and he says this attitude stems from lessons learned at West Point. “West Point taught me the skills of small team leadership: managing limited resources, personnel, scheduling, and focusing on mission success,” he says. “Endurance sports require

all of these skills, and my West Point experience is a significant reason why I’ve been successful and, frankly, stayed alive through some epic experiences so far.” There may also be a West Point influence on his decision to donate his kidney. “Certainly a classmate coming to the aid of another 20 years past graduation is a fantastic example of the bonds of friendship and trust we make during our four years at the Academy,” he says. Not only that, there’s “Duty, Honor, Country” and a commitment to a lifetime of service to the nation that each graduate swears to upon graduation that played a role in Ashley’s “live life, give life” mentality. “There are over 100,000 people in our country waiting on the National Transplant List,” he says. “To protect and defend, even when the enemy is within and impacting someone’s health, West Point graduates don’t stand by and watch; we march to the sound of the guns.” 

A graphic representation of the Seven Summits (the highest peak on each of the seven continents), and, in 2021-22, Ashley climbed all seven in just 11 months.

Ashley performing the crux move while on a class 4 exposed climb section of Ama Dablam in Nepal’s Khumbu Valley in October 2022.

1975 McDonald Inducted into Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame

On November 7, 2024, the Honorable Robert A. McDonald ’75, a 2017 Distinguished Graduate recipient and current Chairman of the West Point Association of Graduates, was inducted into Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. The former Chairman, President, and CEO of Procter & Gamble and the 8th U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs was one of 20 members honored for their postmilitary accomplishments and achievements at the 33rd annual induction ceremony. Beyond his corporate and governmental roles, McDonald currently chairs the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, which supports military caregivers and serves on the boards of several organizations focused on veterans and military families, including the George W. Bush Institute and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. His community contributions include leading efforts to renovate cultural facilities in Cincinnati and co-founding Cintrifuse to boost local innovation.

GEN Poppas To Address Firsties at 100th Night Banquet

GEN Andrew Poppas ’88, the Commanding General of U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), will serve as the keynote speaker for the Class of 2025’s 100th Night Banquet in February. In addition to overseeing the U.S. Army’s largest organization (more than 710,000 soldiers and 13,000 civilians), comprising the Army’s state-side corps and divisions in which most USMA graduates will serve their first tours, Poppas is a veteran of the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions who has spent a combined four years deployed in combat. He will speak to firsties and their guests about fostering a warrior’s culture within their formations and about maintaining strong bonds with classmates throughout their careers.

WPAOG Annual Meeting Election Results

On November 19, 2024, at the WPAOG Annual Meeting, the following members were elected to positions on the Board of Directors and the Advisory Council:

(To serve a three-year term, from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027, as a Director)

Marene Allison ’80

Mark W. House ’80

Kathleen S. Hildreth ’83

Scott M. Sauer ’86

Erica Jeffries Purdo ’98

(To serve a three-year term, from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027, as an Advisor-at-Large)

Frederick C. Lough ’70

William E. Rapp ’84

Elizabeth G. Kubala ’93

Amanda Coussoule ’97

Hise Gibson ’97

Christopher F. Oliver ’02

Parents Fund

Throughout the year, you may be asked to contribute to the following funds, each of which supports the Academy and WPAOG in important ways. Please accept our deepest gratitude for your support.

Superintendent’s and West Point

unrestricted funds for cadets and the Academy

Long Gray Line Fund

unrestricted funds for WPAOG alumni programs

Army A Club

unrestricted funds for intercollegiate athletics

Class Gift Funds

restricted by classes in reunion campaigns

Other Restricted Funds restricted for specific programs

Gripping

“Grip hands—though it be from the shadows—while we swear as you did of yore, or living or dying, to honor the Corps, and the Corps, and the Corps.” —Bishop Shipman,1902

2013 Making a Difference: 2024 Nininger Award

On October 10, the West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) presented the 2024 Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms to MAJ Floren Herrera ’13 of the Philippine Army.

As LTG Steve Gilland ’90, the 61st Superintendent of West Point, noted in his introductory remarks to the Corps of Cadets assembled in the Mess Hall for the presentation ceremony, Herrera “is the first Nininger Award recipient from an allied nation’s armed forces, and he served in the same Scout regiment as Lieutenant Nininger.”

From June 12 to October 16, 2017, while serving as the executive officer of 2nd Scout Ranger Company, 1st Scout Ranger Battalion, Philippine Army, then-1LT Herrera displayed remarkable bravery and leadership during the Battle of Marawi against 1,000 foreign militants and local terrorists affiliated with the Islamic State. Herrera daringly maneuvered his platoon around a 50-meter open area and tactically seized a building, paving the way for a successful ambush against unsuspecting enemy forces. His actions resulted in a significant number of enemy casualties and saved the lives of troops who were in the enemy’s kill zone. Furthermore, during the clearing of several

buildings occupied by enemy snipers, Herrera displayed exceptional bravery and tactical expertise by maneuvering his platoon through unexpected avenues of approach and catching the enemy by surprise, neutralizing two key terrorist leaders when he spearheaded the assault in the buildings adjacent to their occupied structure.

“Major Herrera is a most worthy representative of all West Point graduates who have bravely led soldiers in battle,” said COL (R) Mark Bieger ’91, WPAOG President and CEO, before presenting Herrera with the 2024 Nininger Award.

During his acceptance speech, Herrera told the Corps of Cadets, “When I left West Point, my leadership goal was to make a difference.” Regarding what he called his “philosophy of making a difference,” Herrera provided cadets with two key points: leading from the front and empowering your team. “Leading by example requires becoming a selfless leader, a leader of character,” he said. “Strive to establish a culture that ensures that even if a less capable leader follows

Gripping Hands

after your stint, a strong foundation remains, allowing the unit to thrive.” When it came to his second key point, Herrera said, “Begin empowering your units by ensuring everyone’s values align with the Army values, that everyone takes ownership, that subordinate leaders are engaged and capable, and that everyone is held accountable to the highest standards.” In summarizing his points, Herrera told cadets,

“Everything I shared today, I started learning right here at West Point.”

Listen to the WPAOG Podcast with MAJ Herrera using the adjacent QR code, where readers can also learn more about the Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms.

General Officer Announcements

The following officers were confirmed by the U.S. Senate:

LTG Ronald P. Clark ’88 for appointment to the grade of general and assignment as Commander, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea, Republic of Korea

LTG Christopher T. Donahue ’92 for appointment to the rank of general and assignment as Commanding General, United States Army Europe-Africa/Commander, Allied Land Command, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Germany

MG Richard E. Angle ’91 for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general and assignment as Commander, Allied Special Operations Forces Command, North Atlantic Treaty Organization/Special Operations Command Europe, United States Special Operations Command, Belgium

MG Gavin A. Lawrence ’95 for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general and assignment as the Deputy Commanding General/Chief of Staff, United States Army Materiel Command, Redstone Arsenal, AL

COL Jason K. Jefferis ’96 for promotion to the rank of brigadier general

COL Eric M. Johnson ’96 for promotion to the rank of brigadier general

COL George H. Walter Jr. ’96 for promotion to the rank of brigadier general

COL Freddy L. Adams II ’98 for promotion to the rank of brigadier general

COL Travis L. McIntosh ’98 for promotion to the rank of brigadier general

COL Kevin D. Bradley ’99 for promotion to the rank of brigadier general

COL Donald K. Brooks ’99 for promotion to the rank of brigadier general

COL Matthew S. Ross ’01 for promotion to the rank of brigadier general

The Office of the Secretary of Defense has announced that the president has nominated:

MG Brett G. Sylvia ’94 for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general and assignment as director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy, J-5, Joint Staff and senior member, U.S. Delegation to the United Nations Military Staff, Pentagon, Washington, DC

Benny Havens “ Our ”

“We'll sing our reminiscences of Benny Havens, Oh!”

Old Grads, New Trails: Connecting on the AT

“They cannot be talking about me, can they?” is all I could think when I saw a post on the West Point Women’s Facebook group inquiring about a graduate hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT). It was April 8, 2024, and I was at mile 208 on the famous foot path that runs 2,197 miles from Georgia to Maine. The AT even crosses Bear Mountain Bridge seven miles from our Rockbound Highland Home, which is why I got to celebrate the Fourth of July at Trophy Point with the Class of 2028, 10 years after my own R-day. That inquiry in an Old Grad network set up an enormous support system for me over the course of my five-anda-half-month thru-hike. I connected with dozens of alumni and met with nine women graduates in five different states.

The first question most family members or friends asked was, “Why? Why do you want to spend half a year sleeping outside, drinking filtered creek water, eating Ramen noodles, and walking 15-20 miles every day?” Of course, none of the West Point women I met with on the trail, nor any of my amazing Army friends who came to hike with me, asked me this. They intrinsically understood the value of taking on such an enormous feat. They could move past the daily hardships of trail life that, all things considered, are much easier than any field exercise or deployment. They could appreciate the physical challenge, the time for reflection, and sense of community the trail offered. So, instead, they asked, “How can we help?” They admired my grit,

By

humility, and perseverance, and they wanted to support me in reaching my goal. “Cooperate to graduate” was alive and well on the AT. While that phrase is not in a thru-hiker’s lexicon, the sentiment is the same. We are in this together to the end, whether that end is 47 months or 2,197 miles away.

On August 12, 2024, Maria Blom ’18 is at the border of New Hampshire and Maine ready to enter her 14th and final state on her 2,197-hike of the Appalachian Trail.

Blom stands atop McAfee Knob in Virginia, the most photographed point on the AT (with stunning sunset views) and part of the “Virginia Triple Crown.”

Maria Blom ’18, Guest Writer

Benny Havens “ Our ”

In this same spirit, there is a tradition in the thru-hiking community called “Trail Magic.” Trail magic is a term used by hikers to describe unexpected acts of kindness and generosity. When a hiker spends a week in the backcountry, something as simple as a cold soft drink or a piece of fresh fruit is an absolute luxury. The Long Gray Line blew this tradition out of the water, especially my former Army Crew teammates and coaches. I received so much support through social media and email responses to my semi-weekly trail newsletter. Friends and strangers alike who could not visit sent care packages, letters, and texts. A mentor of mine even coordinated an elaborate dinner party with a mutual friend at West Point. Physically, so many amazing people opened their homes to me and my trail friends, celebrated us, and provided countless necessary calories.

As anyone who spent time in the Army knows, morale seems to be correlated with food. For a thru-hiker, food is fuel, and it is impossible to satiate a body that burns 3,000-5,000 calories per day. So, when friends and West Point alums asked what they could bring when they met with me on the trail, I said ludicrous things like McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, and Subway to try to quell my “hiker hunger.” The trail magic here is not just that they brought my requests but that most of them drove as much as two and a half hours, one way, to meet me. Saying “thank you” is an utterly inadequate response to this level of kindness. Still, they came and hugged me even though I had not showered for a week. I realized it did not matter what I asked them to bring or whether I asked for anything at all. They were there for me. A community in action.

At its core, the AT is about community. Throughout the first few hundred miles, hikers who get along well form groups of anywhere from two to 12 people called “trail families,” or “tramilies.” I love my AT tramily, but I also consider the Long Gray Line my family. The collective experiences of overcoming so many different challenges bond us in similar ways. Both the Army and the trail present the situations that forge such strong relationships and connectedness. These are the people who go through life transitions with you, people who challenge and support you. They are the kind of people who show up for you when you say you want to walk from Georgia to Maine.

I have always loved West Point, and getting to see it from the light of the Appalachian Trail was inspiring. West Point graduates epitomize a strong commitment to supporting one another—to lend a helping hand and to lift each other on our way to success. I was the beneficiary of this kindness in so many ways on my hike. It is proof that the values we embody at the Academy extend beyond its granite walls. It truly goes to show it is the people who can turn an arduous journey into an adventure. 

Maria Blom graduated from West Point in 2018 with a degree in mechanical engineering. She served six years in the Army as an engineer officer with the 15th Engineer Battalion and as an instructor at the U.S. Army Engineer School. After her military service, she spent time hiking the Appalachian Trail before joining Corning Optical Communications, where she currently works as a rotational engineer.

If you have a first-person account that is ‘singing sentimentally’ about the connections between members of the Long Gray Line, send it to editor@wpaog.org.

A story of danger, resilience, and breaking convention

goes deep into the jungle as well as Yu’s experience leading an unauthorized search and rescue mission that made international headlines. In this captivating, actionpacked, and thoughtprovoking memoir, Yu, a former Green Beret and presently the CEO of a lauded cybersecurity insurance and emergency response company, excavates the details of this infamous mission, his journey leading up to that moment, and his life since.

Blom celebrates atop the AT’s northern terminus sign on Mount Katahdin in Maine, which she reached on August 29, 2024: “My favorite day of the entire hike,” she says.

Gene Yu’s The Second Shot: A Green Beret’s Last Mission

Deaths reported from June 16, 2023 – September 15, 2023

Q: Why was your class’s 100th Night Show the “best ever” produced at West Point?

A:“I am certain you will hear plenty of responses from those who saw the 100th Night Show put on by the Class of 1976. Many, if not most, 100th Night Shows are like sketch comedy—long, funny skits. There’s nothing wrong with that, but the ’76 show was different. Written and scored by the very talented Randy Rogel, the show was a musical entitled “As You Were.” It had a cohesive storyline and contained big group song-and-dance numbers like you would see on Broadway. Starring Randy with Danny Nolan as his sidekick, there was a time-travel theme back to the days of Sylvanus Thayer. It wasn’t quite the show you saw in the Cagney movie [i.e., The West Point Story, a 1950 musical comedy film starring James Cagney, Virginia Mayo and Doris Day, and directed by Roy Del Ruth], but it was impressive. The USMA Band scored the show’s songs, and it even produced an LP record of the songs. After Randy’s Army assignments ended, he took his talents to Hollywood, where he has made a fine living as a song writer, lyricist, playwriter, and actor.”

Says COL (R) Mark Nelson ’76, who is “living the dream in scenic New Hampshire.” He writes that he is also looking forward to seeing the cast of his class’s 100th Night Show at its 50th reunion in May 2026.

[Editor’s Note: Read about the career of Randy Rogel ’76, Emmy Award-winning song and script writer in the 2016 Winter issue of West Point magazine by using the QR code.]

A:“The reason the Class of 1991’s 100th Night Show was the ‘best ever’ is that we ticked off the Math Department and DPE because we left them out. Our show revolved around LTG Palmer’s obsession with making the Plain symmetrical and establishing the ‘Four’ Class System instead of the ‘Fourth’ Class System. We also highlighted the fact that the Class of 1994 got Recognized after (before?) Spring Break. To be sure, I saw the Class of 1990’s show, and it was good, but it was a fairly standard ‘woe is me, this department, that professor, etc.’ We broke out of that mold. I also loved how there was a disclaimer announced at the beginning of our show that nothing ‘bad’ should be inferred; but, nonetheless, the OIC was CPT Wirth, just in case someone had to be ‘blamed.’ (BTW, we also made a bootleg video…don’t tell anyone at Ike Hall. I have watched it a few times over the years.)”

Says Andrew Steitz ’91 (pictured above with his wife and their family, including their daughter-in-law), who branched Engineers and, after EOBC, went to Fort Knox, Kentucky for the Battalion Maintenance Officer Course before heading to Korea for his first duty assignment, the 44th Engineer Battalion (“Broken Hearts”). While at Knox, he went to Louisville, met this girl, and asked her to dance. Then, 15 days later he asked her to marry him. “It has been the longest 32 years of her life!” he jokes. They moved to Apopka, Florida in 2021 and just

completed their third adoption in June 2024, a 2-year-old “local” child (their previous adoptions were from China). They also have five children that Steitz says he and his wife “produced” themselves.

A:“I have to say it was the Class of 1988’s 100th Night Show, The Graytest Gift, that was the best: not only because it was a parody of the 1946 film classic It’s a Wonderful Life but also because it starred Tom Hallett, who continued his acting career after his Army service, performing in tours for Oklahoma! (First National) and Fiddler on the Roof (Troika) and acting in local productions of Baby, Titanic, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Two From Galilee.

Says Kerry Trahan ’88, who married his date to the Class of 1988’s 100th Night Show, which he also directed. They live in Northern Virginia and have three grown sons living in the Washington, DC area.

Class “Quotes” topic for the 2025 Spring issue:

Who officiated your bar pinning and what did this individual mean to you?

Send your answers in an email to editor@wpaog.org. When submitting an answer, please include an informative and interesting update regarding your life that the Long Gray Line would enjoy reading. This can either be professional (e.g., new job, promotion, retirement) or personal (e.g., new child/grandchild, marriage, hobby, etc.). You are welcome to attach pictures to your email to support your answer or your life-update.

Deaths reported from June 16, 2023 – September 15, 2023

We regret that, because of limited space, we cannot publish all letters received. Letters may be edited and shortened for space. Submit comments or questions to editor@wpaog.org, or chat with us on one of our WPAOG social media channels.

FROM: COL (R) W. Sid Vogel ’75

I have become involved in the education of several young men considering West Point for the next step in their education. I had the latest issue of West Point magazine sitting on my desk and decided it would be a good time to scan the articles and photos prior to meeting with some of these young people and their families. I ended up reading the entire edition, cover to cover. I found it inspiring, encouraging, helpful and very useful. I decided to give it to one of the young people I interviewed because it showed the depth and width of the opportunities that West Point can provide as an education and as a career and a lifestyle.

RESPONSE:

Thank you for your letter. We are thrilled to hear that the magazine is assisting you in your efforts to communicate the value of the Academy and the benefits of military service to those at such important crossroads in their lives. The mission of West Point magazine is to tell the West Point story and strengthen the grip of the Long Gray Line. It’s motivating to know that our efforts to develop articles that demonstrate how the Academy uses world-class instruction and robust training to develop men and women to become leaders of character for the Army and the nation could be influencing those that will “Grip Hands” in the future.

FROM: CPT (R) William G. Haneke ’66

The article on the refurbishment of the Major General John Sedgwick Monument from the Fall 2024 issue of West Point magazine brought back some memories from my days as a cadet during the period of 1961 to June 1966. At that time, the tradition was that cadets who were in danger of failing any academic courses were to appear at the Sedgwick Monument in Full Dress Gray uniform at midnight the night before their big exam to spin the general’s spurs for good luck, which was supposed to ensure success while taking the upcoming exam. This always presented the challenge of avoiding the OC, who would write you up if he caught you out of your room and out of the barracks. I can’t vouch for anyone else’s success rate, but I had to take six of these exams and spun Sedgwick’s spurs six times without getting caught. I only failed one of my exams (by 1/10th) and was turned back to join the Class of 1966, graduating successfully with that class. I also recall a time when there were 15 cadets who also showed up with me to spin the spurs.

RESPONSE:

Thank you for your letter. While it’s likely that they all showed up for success of different exams, 15 cadets (16 counting you) could be a class section on their own! If they were, imagine how hard that course would have had to have been to make all the cadets enrolled in it come at midnight in Full Dress Gray to spin Sedgwick’s spurs! Of course, some grad reading this might be saying, “I was in such a course!” We’re glad that the tradition worked for you, and we are happy to have you as one of our readers.

“NO

EXCUSE, SIR OR MA’AM”

In the General Officer Announcements section of the 2024 Fall issue’s “Gripping Hands” department, Brigadier General Kenneth C. Cole’s academic year should have been listed as the Class of 1994. We have fixed the listing in the digital edition of the magazine to reflect this.

Photo:

Your Passport to the World!

International and domestic travel options available

Individual or group accommodations

 Small group size

Trips are chosen based on graduates’ interests

Share memories with old friends and new!

It was so good to feel the brotherhood and friendship among West Point grads. This was particularly relevant and precious at the D-Day celebration. The whole trip was unforgettable.

Visit WestPointAOG.org/travel to learn about upcoming trips. Contact us at 845.446.1605 or travel@wpaog.org

Planning a career transition? Start here.

 The only military career fair exclusively for Federal Service Academy Graduates.

 Meet one-on-one with corporate recruiters looking for the unique skills and experience of Academy graduates.

 Get peer advice on managing the challenges of career transitions.

 Learn how to get your foot in the door for your desired civilian career.

 Explore graduate school options.

Atlanta, GA Mar 12-13, 2025 Washington, DC May 8-9, 2025 San Diego Aug 21-22, 2025

Chicago, IL Nov 19-20, 2025

To register for any SACC as an attendee or employer, go to sacc-jobfair.com

about

Deaths reported from September 16, – December 15, 2024

Mr. Ruel F. Burns Jr. 1946

Mr. Leland G. Anderson 1947

Mr. Robert A. Beckelman 1947

LTC Julius F. Ickler USA, Retired 1947

COL James P. Mattern USA, Retired 1947

Mr. Robert L. Ozier 1947

LTC Harold S. Tavzel USA, Retired 1947

Mr. Charles N. French Jr. 1948

Col Malcolm J. Agnew USAF, Retired 1949

LTC William C. Hiestand USA, Retired 1949

COL John H. Madison Jr. USA, Retired 1949

Lt Col Charles D. Friedlander USAFR, Retired 1950

Mr. Thomas C. Sharp Jr. 1950

MG Grayson D. Tate Jr. USA, Retired 1950

Capt Fred G. Reichard USAF, Retired 1951

LTC Robert D.W. Vincent USA, Retired 1951

Mr. Bernard M. Ashkenaze 1952

LTC Kermit W. Bell USA, Retired 1952

COL James E. Campbell Jr. USA, Retired 1952

LTC Arthur L.R. Erickson USA, Retired 1952

Lt Col Willard L. McCullough USAFR, Retired 1952

COL John J. Sullivan USA, Retired 1952

Mr. James H. Wallwork 1952

Col Henry M. West USAF, Retired 1952

BG Allen F. Grum USA, Retired 1953

Mr. Maarten Vet 1953

LTC Fred S. Lindsey USA, Retired 1954

COL George N. Stenehjem USA, Retired 1954

LTC Robert R. Stewart USA, Retired 1954

Lt Col Richard D. McCarthy USAF, Retired 1955

Maj Gen Richard V. Secord USAF, Retired 1955

Thomas E. Sims 1955

LTG Howard F. Stone USA, Retired 1955

Lt Col Thomas E. Kirchgessner USAF, Retired 1956

LTC Warfield M. Lewis Jr. USA, Retired 1956

Dr. William H. Linder 1956

Dr. Paul M. Lion III 1956

Mr. Donald J. Shannon 1956

Dr. Lewis S. Sorley III 1956

Mr. Donald S. Jenis 1957

COL David E. Schorr USA, Retired 1957

LTC Peter F. Bahnsen III USA, Retired 1958

1LT William P. Brower USA, Retired 1958

COL Charles F. Densford Jr. USA, Retired 1958

COL Robert T. Donovan USA, Retired 1958

COL Don Martin Jr. USA, Retired 1958

COL Kenneth H. Montgomery USA, Retired 1958

Mr. Herbert C. Puscheck 1958

Col Darwin D. Boyd USAF, Retired 1959

MAJ Alfred E. Nordgren Jr. USA, Retired 1959

LTC Dennis I. Walter USA, Retired 1959

Mr. Robert P. Anderson 1960

Mr. Stillman D. Covell 1960

LTC Merlin D. Darling USA, Retired 1960

Dr. Nathaniel S. Fox 1960

Mr. John C. Reid 1960

COL Gunnar C. Carlson Jr. USA, Retired 1961

Mr. Gerard H. Clements 1961

Mr. Garry M. Cook 1961

COL Robert M. Herrick USA, Retired 1961

LTC George D. Lenhart USA, Retired 1961

Mr. Thomas W. Paskewitz 1961

Mr. Beverley E. Powell Jr. 1961

Dr. Warren B. Shull 1961

Mr. Donald A. Walsh Sr. 1961

COL John J. Kelly USA, Retired 1962

Mr. Vincent E. Murphy 1962

LTC Lawrence J. Remener USA, Retired 1962

Dr. George Schein II 1962

LTC James J. Spencer USA, Retired 1962

COL John C. Winkler USA, Retired 1962

Mr. Austin C. Brightman Jr. 1963

Mr. George W. Davenport Jr. 1963

Mr. James S. Cobbs 1964

LTC Richard P. Dexter USA, Retired 1964

Brig Gen Peter L. Drahn USAFR, Retired 1964

Mr. Edward S. Topor 1964

Mr. Clifford E. Williams 1964

Mr. David S. deMoulpied 1965

LTC Thomas P. Powers USA, Retired 1965

MAJ Ralph T. Shaw USA, Retired 1965

COL William M. Arrants USA, Retired 1966

Mr. Reginald L. Audibert 1966

Mr. Edward P. Cattron 1966

Be Thou at Peace

LTC Ralph H. Cruikshank Jr. USA, Retired 1966

COL John P. Kuspa USA, Retired 1967

Honorable Thomas E. White Jr. 1967

LTC David S. Jones USA, Retired 1968

Mr. Harold E. Yager 1968

Mr. David F. Belden 1969

Mr. Carl A. Commons 1969

Mr. William R. Taylor 1969

Mr. Richard W. Coleman 1970

COL Michael S. Meuleners USA, Retired

Dr. Joseph R. Stadelnikas Jr.

LTC Eugene A. Studer USA, Retired

Mr. Ira K. Townsend

Dr. Ben M. Smith

Mr. Christopher B. Timmers

Mr. Robert W. Allbright

LTC James H. Benner Jr. USA, Retired

COL Martin W. Moakler Jr. USA, Retired

LTC Patrick J. O'Connor USA, Retired

MAJ Philip H. Scriber Jr. USA, Retired

LTC Eric A. Sundt USA, Retired

Mr. Charles A. Horn III

Mr. Gregory G. Daly

Mr. Hugh P. Munson

COL Edmund W. Woolfolk Jr. USA, Retired 1981

LTC Richard R. Odom USA, Retired 1982

Mr. Mark W. Healy

LTC David K. Viggers IANG, Retired 1984

Mr. William E. Glenn 1985

Mr. Mark A. Iverson

COL Gordon A. Scott USAR, Retired 1986

CPT Raymond M. Jefferson III USA, Retired 1988

Mr. Timothy H. Burnham 1991

Mr. Jimmy B. Cooper Jr. 1993

Honorable Jack M. Collins III 1999

Mrs. Jennifer J. Hartney 2002

Mr. Samuel J. Jackson III 2002

Mr. Justin D. Larson 2007

Mr. Joshua A.M. Young 2008

Silver Celebration of Gold Tradition Past in Review

By Desrae Gibby ’91, WPAOG staff

The 25th West Point Association of Graduates’ Class Ring Memorial Program, colloquialy known as the “Ring Melt,” was held in Eisenhower Hall on January 10, 2025. Over the years, the Ring Melt has forged connections that Debbie Edelen ’92, WPAOG’s Director of Class Services, described as a “visible and everlasting bond, illuminating the strength and commitment to Duty, Honor, Country of a Corps of an earlier day to inspire the next generation of leaders of character.” To date 967 rings, from classes spanning 1896-2006, have been donated.

In the May/June 1999 issue of ASSEMBLY, Lieutenant Colonel Ron Turner ’58 (Retired) suggested that graduates could bequeath their class rings so that the gold could be incorporated into future class rings. Furthermore, he suggested retaining some gold after each melt, known as the “Legacy Gold,” and adding it to future melts, so that class rings from each year going forward would contain a trace amount of gold from every ring donated. Tony Ferraiuolo HON ’61, then WPAOG’s Director of Class Support, took Turner’s idea and brought the program to life. The first Ring Melt was held at the Gannon & Scott, Inc., foundry near Providence, Rhode Island, on November 20, 2000. Ferraiulo and Turner—along with Cadet Joseph DaSilva ’02, Class President; Cadet Jackie Lawson ’02, Chair of the Ring and Crest Committee; and Major Fred L. Rice ’88, Class Advisor—were on hand to watch as 31 rings were melted so that

the resulting gold (about 20 ounces in raw gold) could be used in the class rings for the Bicentennial Class of 2002.

As the number of rings donated grew, WPAOG refined the ceremony. Over the next 18 years, the ceremony was held at Pease & Curren in Warwick, Rhode Island. “I am very pleased that the program has transformed from its humble beginning to where it is now,” Keith Edwards ’85, then-Vice President for Sales at Pease & Curren, once shared. Edwards and Ferraiuolo added to the ceremony by writing and sharing biographies of the ring owners. They used the Register of Graduates to preserve the memories of the ghostly assemblage and living donors, passing their legacies down to cadets. “We got fancy—placing the bios in frames and adding images of their rank, branch awards and unit patches—and we had one of the cadets read the bios.”

When the number of rings donated exceeded their ability to write that many biographies, they asked family members and classmates to submit one. In 2010, WPAOG posted the ring donor biographies online for the first time. By 2011, the year in which the ring of Colonel Percy Kessler (Retired), Class of 1896, was donated (the oldest ring donated to the Ring Melt thus far), 40 people attended the Ring Melt. In 2018, 69 rings were donated, the highest number to that point, and a record number of 26 families and 15 cadets, as well as then-Brigadier General Steven Gilland ’90 (who was then serving as Commandant), attended and stretched Pease & Curren’s capacity to host. In 2019, the year of WPAOG’s 150th anniversary, Cathy Kilner ’90, WPAOG Director of Class Services, brought the Ring Melt home to West Point, hosting the ceremony in Eisenhower Hall's

2013 Class President Timothy Berry received the gold bar containing gold from 42 rings (the largest number at that point) ranging from the Class of 1915 to the Class of 1969 and symbolizing how West Point values are passed “from generation to generation.”

The 12th Annual West Point Memorial Class Ring Melt for the Class of 2013 was held at Pease & Curren, Inc., in Warwick, Rhode Island on March 5, 2012.

Crest Hall and melting the rings in Bartlett Hall. By hosting the ceremony at West Point, the impact and reverence of this program can be felt by many. WPAOG expanded the program during the COVID pandemic, opening it up to online guests. In 2021 over 400 people attended the Ring Melt virtually. Finally, in 2024, for the first time, the rings were melted on-site in Crest Hall.

Since 1835 class rings have symbolized the unique relationship USMA graduates have with each other and the values of Duty, Honor, Country. The tradition of the Ring Melt, gripping hands with the 50-Year Affiliation Program, has refined that relationship. Senator Jack Reed ’71 of Rhode Island, who has attended multiple Ring Melts, said this cherished tradition “brings classes together” and “symbolizes the great history of West Point.” Four Class of 1952 graduates bequeathed rings to the Class of 2002 in recognition of the 50-Year Affiliation Program. Jose Sanchez ’65, who donated a notch from his ring, told his 50-Year Affiliation class, the Class of 2015, “For the rest of my days, I’ll be honored to know that my gold is with your gold.” Eighteen Class of 1972 graduates, including 15 living donors from that class, donated rings to the Class of 2022. First Lieutenent Valentina Vincent ’22 will remember the service and sacrifice her grandfather, Harvey Jokinen ’72, whenever she looks at her ring.

Another melding of classes occurred in 2023 when the Class of 1966 generously endowed the Class Ring Memorial Program in honor of their fallen classmates. Major Arthur G. Bonifas ’66 killed in 1976 at the Demilitarized Zone in South Korea and Captain David R. Crocker Jr. ’66 killed in Vietnam have rings donated to the Ring Melt. In 2024, Crocker’s surviving spouse, Ruth, said she was happy to bring her husband’s ring “home.” West Point is home to graduates, and the Long Gray Line is like family: The Class Ring Memorial Program increases that bond.

The thousands of stories in the Legacy Gold include those of 100 generals (including 10 four-star generals), Commandants, heroes killed in action, judges, WPAOG Distinguished Graduates, legacy families, a Basketball Hall of Famer, philanthropists, class leaders, West Point Society leaders, four women, one astronaut, a Medal of Honor recipient (First Lieutenant Frank Reasoner ’62) and a number of Distinguished Service Cross recipients (including Lieutenant General “Jumping” Jim Gavin ’29 [Retired]). “Our father would have loved this program,” said Barbara Gavin Fauntleroy and Chloe Gavin, Gavin’s daughters. “His ring symbolized his love of West Point and the values it stands for.” Additionally, almost all Army branches are represented, as well as all services of the military. The Class of 1946 has donated the most rings (51), and the newest ring in the Legacy Gold had belonged to Captain Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel ’06, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2013.

WPAOG, the Corps of Cadets and the Long Gray Line are deeply grateful to generous family members like Helen KeiserPedersen, the Gavins, and Ruth Crocker who have donated one of their loved ones most prized possessions to the subsequent generation. Looking at a class ring, with its USMA crest and class crest, conjures recollections of the shared cadet experience and friendships forged during trials. Now this connection is more meaningful. When a graduate from this generation looks at his or her “bold mold of rolled gold,” that graduate will see it sparkling and shining and can reflect on the exemplary lives of nearly 1,000 members of the Long Gray Line.

Click the QR code to view the 25th Annual Ring Melt Commemorative Video.

Photo: Rebecca Rose/WPAOG

The Class of 2025 Ring Melt at Eisenhower Hall on January 19, 2024, boasted the highest number of ring donors in the program’s history (89), with a record number of family members and guests attending.