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News Updates:
4/21/2008: Obituary: Michael E. McCaffrey '78
21Apr08 - Capt. Michael E. McCaffrey, USN, 52, of Highland View Dr., Sutton, died Monday evening, April 14th in his home surrounded by his loving family.
Michael leaves his loving wife of 23 years, Patricia (Fox) McCaffrey; his adoring children: Ryan F. McCaffrey and Meghan F. McCaffrey, both of Sutton; his parents, James E. McCaffrey and Mary C. (Corbett) McCaffrey of California; two brothers: James E. McCaffrey of Philadelphia, PA and Christopher J. McCaffrey and his wife, Maria of Stockton, California; his mother-in-law, Janet Fox Wiley and her husband, Robert of Laconia, N.H.; brother-in-law, Stephen S. Fox and his partner, William Callahan of Boston; brother-in-law, Thomas Nelson of Pinole, CA; sister-in-law, Sandra Fitzgerald and her husband, Edward of Laconia, N.H.; he is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and loving friends . He was predeceased by his only sister, Kimberly Nelson.
He was born in Seattle, Washington and has lived with his family in many different region of this country due to his proud service in the United States Navy, including service in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and throughout the Mediterranean in support of Operations Noble Eagle/ Enduring Freedom/ Iraqi Freedom.
Capt. McCaffrey is a 1978 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He holds a Master of Science Degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His military decorations include five Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy Commendations, a Navy Achievement Medal and various unit, campaign and service awards.
Mr. McCaffrey has been employed in various capacities of Manufacturing and Engineering Management in the metals and minerals industries. His last employment was as Project Manager with Morgan Construction Company, where in 1999 he was the recipient of the President's Award for Quality. He previously served as Vice-President of Manufacturing; and General Manager of a minerals company.
Michael was a devoted member of St. Mary's Parish in Shrewsbury where he was very active on the Parish Council for many years.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Michael's funeral Mass, celebrating his life on Friday, April 18th at 11:00 A.M. with military honors in Saint Mary's Church, 640 Main Street, Shrewsbury.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the McCaffrey Educational Fund, c/o Shrewsbury Federal Credit Union, 615 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 or to the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge (visit www.rundfmc.org and click to sponsor runner Ryan McCaffrey).
For directions and for Michael's personal online guestbook, please visit brittonfuneralhomes.com
4/15/2008: Preacher's Hard-Line Harmony; With Tough Love, Harley Man Leads Marginalized On Road To Faith, Financial Responsibility (J. Thomas Hamilton '78)
Biker dude --- not preacher --- comes to mind when you meet Tom Hamilton.
He is indeed a tattoo-laden, leather-jacket-wearing Harley man.
But motorcycles aren't the burly pastor's No. 1 passion.
Jesus is.
And he's in his element during Tuesday night Bible study at Sozo New Covenant Fellowship church in Tucker. The brightly lit storefront space serves as a sanctuary for nearly 50 worshippers, and rows of over-sized loveseats and chairs are their pews.
Standing on a platform, dressed in his usual liturgical attire --- jeans and a T-shirt --- the preacher dissects the Old and New testaments with church members.
He points out that the book of Luke is written in an orderly way and the book of Mark is not. He picks members' minds on the role of women during the time of Jesus. And the 51-year-old reminds them that he too is a student of Scripture.
"I don't know about you," he says. "It's not that I'm a slow learner. I'm just a fast beginner."
Hamilton and friend Charlie Crippen co-pastor the unconventional church. Crippen leads Sunday morning services while Hamilton plays the piano and guitar with the band and teaches children's Sunday school.
The church, however, is Hamilton's baby.
"I'm living my dream right now," says Hamilton, a former Marine and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Sozo was birthed from a weekly Bible study that Hamilton and his wife, Brenda, started at their home in 2001.
"It started out with a few people Tom and I hung out with recognizing there was something in him we could learn from," says Brenda, 61, of her husband of 27 years. She works as church assistant and treasurer. "It got bigger and we moved into our neighbor's great room.
It got to the point where everyone really felt like we had the underpinnings of a church."
Hamilton left his job as network engineer and obtained a degree from Beulah Heights Bible College. He's now working on a master's degree in divinity at Mercer University.
The church doors officially opened in 2004.
Members volunteer with SafeHouse Outreach and other programs that help the homeless and hungry. Anyone in need is welcome at Sozo, but along with help they get some tough love and questions from pastor Hamilton.
"My first reaction when someone says they need help with rent is 'bring me your budget,' " he says.
New members must take Crown Financial Ministries' 10-week biblically based course, for which individuals pay $45 and couples pay $55, led by a church member.
"We get initial resistance and then by week five, everybody is looking forward to it," Hamilton says. "You learn to open up in a small group and develop relationships. Secondly, it really gets you to understand what the Bible says about money, honesty and integrity."
The small church has not always met its own budget of nearly $3,000 per month in rent.
High school and Naval Academy buddies and other friends have helped pay the bills, Hamilton acknowledges.
On a few occasions, car dealership owner Tim Stewart has paid the rent.
"I met Pastor Tom at the dealership in Tucker, " Stewart says. "I instantly loved him because he rode a Harley. He really puts forth his heart and wears it on his sleeve. Very few people will actually lay down corporate America and do what he's doing."
Joanie Burleigh met Hamilton at Pleasantdale Church of God, where he taught Sunday school to kindergart-ners and Bible study to inmates at Gwinnett Detention Center through its program with SafeHouse Outreach.
"At first he was kinda scary with his tough approach," says the Doraville resident, 53. "I thought, 'Who does he think he is?' And then I saw that he's just a teddy bear."
Traditional Sunday service never resonated with Hamilton as a child, he says. Despite nurturing parents and success in high school sports, "traditional" is not a label that easily fits Hamilton.
The Nashville native's family moved to Texas, Delaware and Ohio. He started drinking at age 15 and dropped out of high school, but still received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. He recalls weekend "drink-a-thons" during his senior year.
When he was 28, Hamilton says Brenda told him that alcohol was destroying his life, and he stopped drinking that day.
"I have not had a drink since Feb. 16, 1984."
Recovery from alcoholism has served his ministry and attracted some members who have battled addictions.
Worshipper Lon Cotton says he's been sober 19 years from drug and alcohol abuse. "A lot of people in recovery can get specific help from specific problems here," Cotton says.
"I think that we extend a lot more compassion and understanding," Hamilton adds. "We realize that when you feel marginalized [inside], the last thing you want to be made to feel is more on the outside."
4/11/2008: The following information was released by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Dale E. Klein Thursday announced two key management changes designed to better position the agency to prepare for the challenges expected in the coming decade.
Chairman Klein, with the approval of the Commission, selected Bill Borchardt, a 25-year veteran of the agency and currently director of the Office of New Reactors (NRO), to succeed Luis Reyes as the agency' Executive Director for Operations (EDO). Klein also announced that Reyes had agreed to extend his 30-year career at the NRC by again serving as Regional Administrator in the agency' Atlanta-based Region II office. The region is home to the agency' newly created reactor construction inspection program that will be a central element in coming years to ensure that any new reactor licensed by the NRC is built to the highest safety standards. The new assignments are effective May 2.
The breadth and depth of talent at the NRC is exceptional. Any one of a number of individuals within the agency has the talent and temperament for this highly demanding job, Klein said in announcing the EDO selection. It was a tough decision to choose the right person to fill Luisa shoes. Bill Borchardt has made a tremendous contribution to this agency by standing up the new reactor licensing process so the agency was fully prepared for the first wave of new reactor license applications in almost three decades. His organizational expertise, broad knowledge of NRC programs and experience at the agency will serve him well in this critical position.
The Executive Director for Operations is the chief operating officer of the Commission, and is authorized and directed to discharge the operational and administrative functions necessary for the day-to-day operations of the agency. This includes supervising and coordinating policy development, agency operational activities, and implementation of Commission policy directives.
Klein said that Reyes "cut his teeth" at the NRC during the completion of plants during the first wave of com-mercial reactor construction in this country. "He has spent four years as the EDO, leaving his family in Georgia during the assignment, to help guide the growth of the agency in preparation for the new wave of reactor license applications.
He has enormous talent and expertise that we do not want to lose to retirement. The bulk of the initial applications for new reactors will be in the South, and Luisa leadership at Region II will en-sure that we have a seasoned veteran at the helm of a vital task as we go forward.
Borchardt, 52, created the new reactor licensing organization from scratch starting in August 2006. In just 20 months he built an office of 425 people and organized it to process applications in a timely fashion. During Reyesa four years as EDO, the agency grew from about 3,000 to nearly 3,650 employees with another 200 due on board by the end of the fiscal year. The growth is largely to accommodate the growth of the office Borchardt set up and other elements of the NRC affected by the influx of new applications. As of Thursday the agency had received applications from nine entities seeking approval for 15 new reactors.
Borchardt, who earned a bachelor' degree in chemistry from the U.S. Naval Academy and was qualified to operate naval submarine reactors, began his career as an officer in the nuclear Navy. After serving as the senior site inspector at both pressurized and boiling water reactor commercial nuclear power generating plants, Borchardt began a series of increasingly responsible positions at the agency' headquarters.
His positions have included service as the Director of the Operating Reactor Inspection Program within the NRC's Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), Director of the Office of Enforcement, Deputy Director of NRR, and Deputy Director of the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response. He has been selected for the 2007 Meritorious Presidential Rank Awards to be presented at a late spring ceremony.
Reyes, 57, began his career with the NRC in 1978, serving first as a reactor inspector in Illinois. He held increasingly more responsible positions until in 1992 he was selected as the Deputy Regional Administrator in the Atlanta-based Region II office. Four years later he became the Regional Administrator. He assumed the EDO position in 2004.
A licensed professional engineer with bachelor' and master' degrees from the University of Puerto Rico, Reyes has earned a number of prestigious awards for government service, most recently the Presidential Distinguished Executive Rank Award in 2006, an honor attained by only one percent of the Senior Executive Service Corps annually.
3/30/2008: Submarine Group 2 Holds Change Of Command (Bruce E. Grooms '80)
25Mar08 - Commander, Submarine Group 2 held a change of command ceremony March 21 at Naval Submarine Base New London.
Rear Adm. Cecil Haney turned over command of Submarine Group 2 to Rear Adm. Bruce Grooms.
Haney set the course for Submarine Group 2 through supervision of five Atlantic fast-attack submarine squadrons, two Submarine Support Centers, as well as the training and certification of new construction and overhaul ships and crews in three East Coast shipyards during his tour as the operational commander.
"As the operational commander for all fast-attack submarines on the East Coast, Haney's insightful vision, unyielding drive and enthusiasm led to a profound impact on all the important issues facing today's Submarine Force," said Vice Adm. John Donnelly, Commander, Submarine Force.
Haney thanked more than 200 distinguished guests and submarine family members, singling out three members of the "Centennial 7." They share the honor with Haney and Grooms as the first black submariners to command a submarine during the first 100 years of the Submarine Force's existence.
Haney gave credit to the submariners who maintain the daily operations in the Submarine Force.
"I have clearly had the best and brightest of today's Navy," said Haney. "All my successes are due to their hard work and dedicated efforts."
Haney's next tour of duty will be as Submarine Warfare Division director in Washington, D.C.
Grooms was hopeful that the foundation laid by Haney would continue, allowing the Submarine Group 2 staff to further the objectives of the Submarine Force.
"There is a big smile on my face," said Grooms, "not only coming back to Groton, the 'Submarine capital of the world,' but also being back in command."
Grooms previously served as Submarine Warfare Division director, USS Ashville (SSN 758) commanding officer and Submarine Squadron 6 commander.
Grooms graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. He earned a Master's Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, graduating with distinction. He also attended Stanford University as a National Security Affairs Fellow.
3/27/2008: Art Athens new Director of Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership
Colonel Athens Appointed As Stockdale Center Director (Art Athens '78)
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Admiral Jeffrey L. Fowler has appointed Marine Corps Reserve Colonel Arthur Athens the Director of the Vice Admiral Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership. Athens has served as the Lakefield Family Foundation Distinguished Military Professor at the Academy since 2003 and has been Interim Director of the Center on since July 2, 2007.
"Colonel Art Athens is a widely respected and highly valued member of the U.S. Naval Academy senior leadership team," said Fowler. "He brings to this important position significant professional experience and expertise, as well as a reputation for unwavering integrity. I am confident with Art at the helm, the Stockdale Center will have a profound impact not only on the Naval Academy and our midshipmen, but on the Naval Service and our nation as well - providing both emerging and seasoned leaders with the concepts and tools needed to confront the ethical challenges they face."
The Center for the Study of Professional Military Ethics at the Naval Academy was established in 1998. Supported in significant measure by private gifts to the Naval Academy Foundation by alumni, friends of the Academy, and corporations and foundations, and building on the Academys proven track record of ethical leadership development, the Naval Academy chartered the Center to reach out not only to the Naval Academy community, but also to the wider audience of the Navy, Marine Corps and the nation at large.
Beginning in 2006, the strategic mission of the original Ethics Center was revised and expanded, and the Center itself was given a new name - The Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership. Admiral Stockdale, a 1947 Academy graduate, a prisoner of war for more than seven years, a recipient of the Medal of Honor, and a lifelong student of leadership, philosophy and ethics, embodied the selfless and courageous leadership the Academy seeks from midshipmen, officers and national leaders.
"I first met Admiral Stockdale in 1987 while serving as a White House Fellow and quickly gained a deep appreciation for his intellect, integrity, and courage," said Athens.
"Now, twenty one years later, I am humbled and honored to lead a Center that bears Admiral Stockdales name. I look forward to working with the Stockdale Center team to contribute to the moral development of our nations leaders."
Born and reared in Huntington, N.Y., Athens attended the U.S. Naval Academy where he served as Brigade Commander, lettered on the varsity lacrosse team, and received both the Alumni Association Award and the Coaches Calvert Award. He graduated with distinction in 1978 and was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps. During his active duty career, he held significant command and staff positions in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wings.
Athens also served as the Anti-air Warfare Instructor and Academic Dean at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1 and taught Computer Science at the Naval Academy where he received the Clements Award as outstanding military educator. While assigned to the Naval Academy, he became a White House Fellow and served at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Athens earned a masters degree in Information Systems from the Naval Postgraduate School, where he stood first in his graduating class, as well as a masters in Military Arts and Sciences from the U.S. Armys School of Advanced Military Studies.
Colonel Athens left active duty in 1994, transferring to the Marine Corps Reserves, to serve as the Executive Director of Officers Christian Fellowship, a worldwide organization assisting military officers integrate their personal faith and professional responsibilities. After leading OCF for five years, Athens assumed responsibilities as Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, one of the Nations five federal service academies. He remained in that position until his selection as the Naval Academys first Lakefield Family Foundation Distinguished Military Professor in 2003.
As a Marine reservist, Athens has been a Space Operations Officer for the U.S. Space Command, the Commanding Officer of Marine Air Control Squadron 24, a Strategic Analyst at Headquarters Marine Corps, and the Special Assistant to the President of Marine Corps University.
3/6/2008: 30th Reunion Update
Classmates,
Below is an update on the planning of our 30th Reunion provided by our committee co-chair, Brett Ayotte. Brett has really pulled our team together this year, and I want to thank him from all of us for his hard work and attention to detail.
Please read his note carefully. There are a few important things you should take care of now such as getting hotel reservations and ordering game tickets. Be sure to check our class website (www.usna1978.org) every once in a while for reunion event updates.
All the best, Glen
--------------------------------------------
Ahoy, Class of '78!
With the Dark Ages coming to a close and Spring just around the corner, it is a good time to provide an update on our 30th Reunion which will be held in Annapolis on 24-26 October 2008. The planning committee has been meeting regularly and has put together a schedule of events that offers a number of great opportunities to connect with friends and Classmates. The "base of operations" for the Reunion Weekend will be the Annapolis Loews Hotel on West Street, well within easy walking distance of downtown Annapolis and the Yard.
Some of the highlights of the weekend are:
The Friday parade will honor the Class of 1978 - finally we'll be on the right side of a P-rade!
On Friday evening, there will be an extended reception at the Superintendent's House - can you say "Green Alert"?
On Saturday morning, a Memorial Service will be held at the USNA Chapel.
A very "classy" tailgate party will be held at Navy & Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (you must have a game ticket to get into the tailgater - see below.)
A great Navy Football game against SMU!
Additionally, there will be ample opportunities to just mingle and reminisce about the "good old days." A complete schedule of events will be posted on our Class webpage in the near future and in a future Shipmate magazine advertisement.
A Couple of Key Things:
Although the Reunion may seem like it's down the road a ways, there are a couple of time-sensitive items that you need to take care of soon:
1. Hotel: We encourage you to make your reservations at the Loews Hotel as soon as possible. We have arranged for a block of rooms for that weekend. As of early February, we had already surpassed the number of rooms for Thursday evening, and were rapidly closing in on the number of rooms for Friday/Saturday night - we blocked 190 rooms and had around 165 reservations, already.
To make a reservation, call the Loews Hotel at 410-263-7777 and tell them you are a member of the Class of 1978. Room rates are $295/night and there is a two night minimum for Friday and Saturday.
2. Football Tickets: Our tailgate party is going to be in the new banquet facility inside the Stadium. As a result, you will need a game ticket to get into the stadium and get access to the banquet facility. We can assure you it will be worthwhile! We have arranged for a block of tickets on the Navy side of the field, so that the Class can sit together at the game. Tickets are $32 each. Please note: Game tickets will NOT be a part of the reunion registration package, they must be purchased separately. To ensure that you can sit with the Class, you must order your tickets before 1 May 2008. If you already have tickets (e.g., season tickets, tickets from a friend, etc.) you can ignore this. The procedure is:
a) Go to the following link:https://www.groupticketwindow.com/groupticket/college/navy/group
Once on the page fill in the following:
. Sign-In ID: Class78
. Password: Deke
. Then hit the login button and fill out the appropriate forms.
b) Everyone in '78 group will be seated together in Section 1 of the stadium.
c) If you have kids 2-12, you can order tickets for $12 by calling 1-800 US4-NAVY. Tell them you are part of the '78 Class reunion!! HOWEVER, these tickets are on the grass hill in the end zone. These Billy the Kids seats are cheaper, but are really designed to allow a few 10 or 11 year old kids to watch the game on their own, not to have some 6 year-old wandering around by themselves. We suggest that you pay the full fare ($32 per ticket and sit together as a family, but you can order the $12 tickets separately, if desired.)
d) The website shows the max order is 12. If you need to order more than 12, you can call 1-800-US4-NAVY and tell them they are ordering tickets for the class of '78 reunion.
e) The failsafe position, if you have a problem online, is to call 1-800-US4-NAVY and tell them they are ordering tickets for the SMU game "in the class of '78 reunion section" which is Section 1.
f) Tickets must be ordered by MAY 1, 2008. After that our section of 800 tickets will be released for general sale. Tickets will not be included in the Reunion registration.
3. Registration: We will be offering on-line registration and payment through the USNA Alumni Association. We plan to have the link to the registration site for the 30th Reunion active around 1 May 2008. In the meantime, if you have not established an account on the Alumni webpage, just follow the steps below:
a) Go to the USNA Alumni Association webpage: www.usna.com
b) Go to "Online Community" - which is in a blue box in the right hand column.
c) If you already have an account, login and update your profile (this will help us ensure we get future reunion information to you in a timely manner).
d) If do not have an account, click on "New User" and create your account. Note: it will take about 24 hours for the account to become active.
Note: You do not have to be a member of the Alumni Association to establish an account on the website. All that is required is that you were enrolled at USNA, even if it was for just one day.
Watch for more information in Shipmate, on our Class website, and from your Company Reps. We hope to see you in October!
Brett Ayotte
Co-Chair
USNA Class of 1978
30th Reunion Committee
2/29/2008: Harry Harris an admiral?
It's not every day that a Pensacola kid grows up to be an admiral (Harry Harris '78)
His classmates from Booker T. Washington High School aren't surprised that he already has two stars and has been nominated for a third and he's only 51.
Harris is director of operations for U.S. Southern Command, which is focused on Cen-tral and South America, the Caribbean and, of course, Cuba, where Fidel Castro recently stepped down as president. Harris knows Cuba; his previous assignment was as com-mander of the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay.
Even before he graduated from Washington in 1974, classmates Carol Kahn Parker and Tom Dannheisser figured he would succeed.
"I would have expected nothing less," Parker said. "Because of his intellect, you knew he would go far."
But it wasn't just intellect. Harris, the son of an American enlisted man and a Japanese woman, navigated the social side of Washington, which was in its first few years of integration.
"Everybody liked him," Parker said. "He was always a studious person, but very, very nice."
Dannheisser remembers his classmate as "a very impressive character, more mature than your average teenager."
Harris also was "humble," a trait that ran through my telephone conversation with him the other day.
He wasn't one of those guys who said "my" this and "I" that. Instead, he kept giving credit to teachers, family, colleagues.
"They have all carried me on their shoulders," he said.
Harris, who was born in Japan, moved to Pensacola with his parents in 1968 and attended Clubbs Middle School on 12th Avenue before going to Washington High School. His father died, but Harris still comes to Pensacola to visit his mother. (For security rea-sons, he asked that her name not be disclosed.)
He raved about Washington High School's faculty.
"The teachers were first-rate ... extremely dedicated," he said, praising teachers who stayed after class to work with students. "They made us feel we were the most important people in the world."
Being Japanese-American, he realized he was considered "different" from other kids, and the experience helped him learn how to deal successfully with people from all walks of life.
"It served me well," he says.
Harris went to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1978 and embarking on a career in aviation.
"I was always interested in flying," he said, recalling trips to Pensacola Naval Air Station and seeing the Blue Angels.
He's done his share of flying, logging 4,400 flight hours, including more than 400 com-bat hours, in U.S. and foreign aircraft.
His career has involved him in military operations that included Libya, Desert Shield/Desert Storm and other actions that helped him show his skills.
"I've been fortunate in that respect," he said. "I've had a lot of great mentors."
Harris never set out to be a rear admiral. He just wanted to fly.
"I wanted to command a squadron," he says. "I felt anything beyond that was gravy."
It's all gravy now.
1/31/2008: Chief of Naval Research dubbed Don-Level Test and Evaluation Exec
Chief of Naval Research Adm. William Landay said his newly added role as the Department of Navy's top test and evaluation executive will aid in meshing together such efforts at the Marine Corps and Navy levels.
"This is not about Marine Corps T&E has got problems or Navy T&E [has problems], in fact those things work very well," Landay told Inside the Navy Jan. 15 at the Surface Navy Association's annual symposium in Arlington, VA. "One of my jobs is not to mess those things up. It's really to look around and say are there other things from a policy integration [perspective], where the Department of Navy could go forward, that I should champion and figure out how to get through."
Landay's newly created job reflects a realignment of functions of the deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, test and evaluation (DASN RDT&E) position, according to a Jan. 7 memo from acting Navy acquisition czar John Thackrah. Michael McGrath, who previously held that position, left the job last fall.
According to Thackrah's memo, changes since the DASN RDT&E position was created five years ago -- including new programs and a new director of technology transition at the Office of Naval Research -- have rendered the post no longer necessary.
"The initial mission of DASN(RDT&E) to develop [technology transition and test and evaluation] process improvements has largely been accomplished," Thackrah writes. "I am, therefore, realigning the functions of DASN(RDT&E)."
The memo designates Landay as the service's test and evaluation executive, adding to his already existing roles as chief of naval research and director of test and evaluation and technology requirements in the Chief of Naval Operations office (OPNAV N091).
Landay said the decision to make him the new testing executive makes sense, considering he already had been the test and evaluation requirements officer for the Navy and has a dual role at the secretariat.
Landay said his new post will involve doing "higher integration."
"It's really policy at the Department of Navy level, where I was already doing policy at the Navy level and we were already doing policy at the Marine Corps level," he said. "So it's really more I think a meshing together and being able to look at issues across the whole Department of Navy."
Landay said the new job calls for doing the type of test and evaluation work McGrath did before leaving.
"At the secretariat level when Mike McGrath was the DASN for RDT&E, Mike kind of recognized as we were trying to do more operational testing, developmental testing, a lot of things with T&E, at the secretariat where a lot of that came together we really didn't have a focus there," Landay said. "We didn't want to lose this function, we wanted to leave it in the secretariat."
As the new DON-level test and evaluation executive, Landay will report to the vice chief of naval operations and assistant commandant of the Marine Corps for matters regarding test and evaluation policy, requirements and operational test resources, Thackrah's memo says. For matters pertaining to "ASN(RDA) equities," the DON T&E Executive will report to Thackrah, the memo states.
"The DON T&E Executive will work with the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (PDASN), and all Program Executive Officers (PEOs) and Systems Commands (SYSCOMs) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of T&E enablers across the Naval Acquisition Enterprise," Thackrah said.
Thackrah in a statement said under Landay's leadership "we will continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of test and evaluation enablers across the naval acquisition enterprise."
"We are moving in the right direction, and this realignment will 'sharpen the saw' as we continue to deliver process improvements and savings in test and evaluation," Thackrah said in the statement provided to ITN on Jan. 16. -- Emelie Rutherford
1/31/2008: Right ZIP Code, Wrong City: Popular MPS Science Teacher Loses Job (Daniel V. Bearss ?78)
Jan. 24--Dan Bearss is enthusiastic about teaching science at Custer High School in Milwaukee.
He really likes his kids, and -- ask a bunch of them -- they think highly of him.
Science teachers are in short supply nationwide and good ones are highly valued, especially at challenging schools such as Custer.
But Bearss' last day at the school will be Friday.
Why? Because it turns out he lives in Brown Deer.
He lived there when he started teaching at Custer six years ago. He readily admitted he lived there when he was called into the Milwaukee Public Schools central office in November.
And he intends to go on living there -- it's a house that he and his wife enjoy and, in his view, "the ability to choose where you want to live . . . is a basic right in America."
Given the choice between moving into the city to comply with the residency rule for MPS employees that has been in effect since the late 1970s or leaving, Bearss decided to leave. He intends to find another teaching job, but it won't be in MPS.
"The fact that he lives in Brown Deer doesn't have anything to do with his ability to teach students," said Brandon Starks, who graduated from Custer last year and had Bearss as a teacher for two years. "He's just a Class A teacher, just over the top."
Outside the school on Wednesday, about 15 students met with a reporter and photographer to praise Bearss.
"He was a great teacher," said Sylvester Stewart, a junior. "He was one of the reasons I stayed at Custer. He was a great inspiration to me."
"He wanted to teach," said Brandon Thomas.
"He showed up to work every day very joyful," said Grady Clark.
Clark's view of the residency rule: "It's dumb." Thomas said, "It's taking the good out of our community."
More than 160 students at the school signed a petition in recent days to keep Bearss.
Bearss said he never lied about his address. He said he didn't pay much attention to whether the house was in Brown Deer or Milwaukee when he bought it before he was hired by MPS. His ZIP code area, 53223, covers sections of Milwaukee as well as Brown Deer, and he uses a mailing address that says Milwaukee. When he realized the importance of the difference in terms of his employment, he said, he adopted sort of a don't ask, don't tell policy. And no one asked until he got a letter before Thanksgiving saying he was being investigated for a residency violation.
Bearss, 51, said he is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and served 10 years of active military duty. He then joined a military reserve unit and worked five years for the Defense Intelligence Agency. He was recalled for active duty in Bosnia in 1993. He left the service after that and got a job with a business. He was transferred to Milwaukee, but the company later scaled back, closing its Milwaukee office and laying him off. He decided then to become a teacher.
He was given an emergency permit to teach science at Custer after training that consisted of observing classes for two days. He later got a full teaching license.
"I gave a lot. Anyone would tell you I gave 150% at this school," he said. "For the first time since I left the service . . . I truly enjoy what I do for a living."
MPS officials have no criticism of Bearss as a teacher. "Dan is a great teacher and is well loved by students who do well in his science classes," said MPS spokeswoman Roseann St. Aubin.
But there's the rule. "When teachers join us, they sign a contract that has residency as a condition of employment," St. Aubin said.
The residency rule has been controversial for years. Some say it is unfair and MPS needs good teachers too much to restrict the pool of possible teachers. Others say it doesn't actually have much effect on who teaches overall and it's good for the city to have employees live within the city line. Efforts in the state Legislature to repeal the residency rule recently have not succeeded.
Although the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association opposes the rule, it has not been a front-burner issue in recent contract negotiations, and the rule, overall, appears to be popular with people in the city and politicians who represent them.
St. Aubin said MPS and teachers union negotiators agreed last fall to convene a committee to study the residency rule. That work hasn't begun yet, she said.
As for Bearss, she said, "It's tough to lose him."
1/26/2008: Legacy Gift
Classmates,
Recently I received an update from our Naval Academy Foundation and Alumni Association that highlighted '78's efforts to raise funds for our Leagacy Gift and I want to share that article with you. It is not too long, so please take a moment to read it. I think you will be quite pleased with ours efforts.
To all of you, thanks for your generous support, but to Sean Coffey, a special thanks for taking the lead on this project.
Wishing you the best always,
Glen
Class of 1978 Legacy Gift Project
Three years ago the members of the Class of '78 engaged in a challenge to raise at least $780,000 in support of the United States Naval Academy and the Brigade of Midshipmen. Also known as the Class of 1978 Legacy Gift Project, this class initiative was broken down into four projects. The funds raised were to be allocated towards the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium renovation, Leadership Excellence initiatives, Admissions Excellence programs, and the Naval Academy Annual Fund.
It's been nearly three decades since the Class of '78 tossed their caps into the air in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Today the stadium is much different. After a comprehensive renovation with some of the funding provided by donors from the Class of '78, the stadium is now modernized. Not only is it an all-purpose outdoor stadium promoting Navy spirit and sport, but also, it is rich with naval history and tradition. Classes which raised $250,000 or more toward the stadium renovation were recognized by naming one of the 20 Memorial Battle Arches ringing the stadium for the class. That's just what the Class of '78 did, indicated by the Class of '78 Memorial Arch commemorating the World War I Battle of Belleau Wood. The class believed it was important to honor the Marines who served in this battle, especially since the Class of '78 was the first graduating class to fill the Marine Corps requirement since the Vietnam War.
Funding for the publication of Leadership Embodied: The Secrets to Success of the Most Effective Navy and Marine Corps Leaders came from the private gifts contributed for Leadership Excellence by donors in '78. As part of the leadership training curriculum, primarily with the plebes, the book is a compilation of stories by Navy and Marine Corps officers who experienced wartime challenges or guided their subordinates in preparation for combat.
"All of these historical selections dramatically shaped today's institutions, practices, and customs within the Naval Services," said Sean Coffey, vice president of Class of '78. He continued, "The stories about the individuals chosen, and their inherent leadership attributes, should be required reading for any student of leadership. Each has a particular lesson for midshipmen on their journey to become a Navy or Marine Corps officer." To date, the Class of '78 has made this book available to the Classes of '05, '06 and '07.
Admissions is another important initiative supported by the Class of '78. With classmate Dean Bruce Latta at the helm, the goal of this department is to attract the best young men and women in the nation to serve their country. With that in mind, the class raised funds to produce four short videos for use by the Admissions staff and volunteers, such as Blue & Gold Officers. These videos are titled: Admissions Process; Diverse Opportunities at the Naval Academy; Opportunities for Varsity Athletes, and Opportunities for Former Enlisted.
Additionally, many donors in the Class of '78 have contributed generously to
the Naval Academy Annual Fund. Donations for this initiative are critical for support of the Naval Academy and its mission.
"The Annual Fund gives the Superintendent maximum flexibility to meet financial challenges which otherwise would have to wait, leaving midshipmen with fewer resources to accomplish their goals," said Coffey.
Failing to rally class support was not an issue for members of the class. Since their fundraising project began in 2004, the class has successfully raised more than $865,000 towards the class project initiatives. Even more impressive, for all private gift initiatives in support of the Naval Academy, the Foundation and the Alumni Association, donors in the class have raised approximately $2.3 million during their Legacy Gift period. One of the factors that motivated the class to exceed their fundraising goal is the fact that during part of their campaign, six of their classmates held significant positions at the Academy including: the former Commandant of Midshipmen, Rear Admiral Joe Leidig, and the current Superintendent, Vice Admiral Jeffrey L. Fowler.
Next fall the class will have much to celebrate at their 30th class reunion, including the success of their outstanding philanthropic support of the Naval Academy.
1/9/2008: Energy Future Holdings names CEO
Hire from Chicago electric firm is familiar with deregulation
12:00 AM CST on Wednesday, January 9, 2008
By ELIZABETH SOUDER / The Dallas Morning News
esouder@dallasnews.com
Energy Future Holdings, the former TXU Corp., has hired a new chief executive from a rival power company that's facing similar pressures in the deregulated electricity market.
Energy Future named John Young chief executive. Mr. Young, 51, had been executive vice president of finance and markets for Exelon Corp.
"He's a very accomplished executive in the utility space. He's got extensive experience over a long period of time. It doesn't surprise me that he's been selected," said Paul Patterson, an analyst with Glenrock Associates in New York.
Exelon is a Chicago utility that owns power plants and power lines, including some natural gas plants in North Texas. The company has the largest nuclear fleet in the country and operates in competitive markets rather than regulated areas.
In Texas, Energy Future owns power plants and power lines, as well as a retail electricity unit. Energy Future also operates mostly in competitive markets. Only the power line business remains fully regulated.
Both Energy Future and Exelon are considering building nuclear plants in Texas. The companies are grappling with the cost and risk of the giant projects, as well as the potential for Texans to protest the plants.
At Exelon, Mr. Young faced questions from investors about spinning off the company's nuclear plants ? similar to speculation that Energy Future may eventually sell off its business units.
Exelon said in a profile of Mr. Young that he improved production and cost performance since he joined the company in 2003 as chief operating officer. And since becoming chief financial officer in 2005, Mr. Young has "streamlined and integrated" financial processes, the company said.
Mr. Young will face a different political world in Republican Texas after working in Democratic Illinois. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Mr. Young donated last year to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, now a Democratic presidential candidate.
Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert welcomed the new executive.
"Mr. Young's position as CEO will be critical as elected officials look to him for continuing the changes and commitments that have occurred in the last nine months at TXU and now Energy Future Holdings," Mr. Leppert said in a statement.
Chris Heinbaugh, a spokesman for the mayor, said Mr. Leppert received a phone call from Energy Future chairman Don Evans on Tuesday afternoon, encouraging him to issue the statement.
Mr. Young replaces John Wilder, who left TXU after it was sold to private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and TPG last year. Mr. Young will start work for Energy Future on Jan. 29.
12/15/2007: USNA 30th Class Reunion
Classmates,
Seems like yesterday I was headed to P-Cola for flight school. Yet, in
a few short months it will have been 30th years since we tossed our hats
in celebration of 4 years by the Severn. So here is your first warning
order to prepare you for what will be a great gathering of classmates,
shipmates and long time friends at our 30th Reunion.
Our reunion is set for 23-25 October 2008 with reunion headquarters at
the Loews Annapolis Hotel. We have blocked rooms for Thursday (100
rooms), Friday (190 rooms), and Saturday (190 rooms). You can make your
reservations NOW by calling this numbner: 800-526-2593. Please be sure
and tell them you are part of the Class of '78. For your planning,
there is a 2 night minimum stay. The Loews is an easy walk to
restaurants and pubs on West Street and downtown Annapolis.
Here is a brief reunion schedule of events:
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Registration at the Loews 1200 - Midnight
Friday, 24 October 2008
Golf (Course TBD) 0800
Registration at the Loews 1200 - ?
Class Meeting 1430-1500
Class Parade 1600
Class Reception (Supe's House) 1730-2130
Company Time 2130 - ?
Saturday, 25 October 2008
Class Prayer Breakfast 0800
Class Memorial Service 0900-1000
Class Tailgate 1000-1700
Company Time ?
The times above are general and may change as our planning committee
works out the details.
We have accepted Jeff Fowler's generous offer to hold our Friday night
event at his house, the Superintendent's house!! So, we will substitute
the usual dinner/dance with a garden reception for the Class of '78 at
the Supe's. Thanks, Jeff!
The game on Saturday is against SMU and is scheduled to kick-off at
1300. Our tailgate will be held in the stadium banquet room underneath
the new pressbox. This is the largest banquet room in the Annapolis
area and is large, convenient and equipped with flat panel screen TV's
and restrooms. We all will need to purchase game tickets to get into
the banquet facility but your committee will work out the details and
you will be able to purchase tickets once we have our online
registration set up. If you already have game tickets (such as you
season ticket holders) then you will not be required to purchase
additional tickets.
We will again set up online registration through our Class web site and
we will let you know when you can start to register. We probably will
not have all the pricing worked out until May, but we will keep you
posted. We will soon begin to update our web site with reunion details.
That's probably enough for now. Please make you reservations at the
Loews. We are working on a backup hotel and will give you more details
on that soon.
Help us spread the word. Contact your shipmates, wingmen, fellow
dolphins and grunts and check on whether or not they got this email. If
not, please forward. I am using the database of Alumni members and
therefore, I know I am missing some classmates. We will activate the
company rep structure, too, but that is not 100 percent either. We need
all the help you can give us to reach every classmate.
Thanks and Happy Holidays to all.
Glen
12/4/2007: Michael J. Conklin Joins Board of Directors
Michael J. Conklin Joins Board of Directors
30 Nov 2007 - Sustainable Power Corp. announced that Michael J. Conklin was elected to Sustainable Power Corp.'s Board of Directors. "We look forward to Mr. Conklin's contributions and expertise as a member of Sustainable Power," said Keith Mazer, President.
"Sustainable Power is focused on the revelation of biofuels and replacing the country's dependency on foreign fuels; we think Mr. Conklin's experience in management will be very valuable in helping to guide Sustainable Power in the years ahead." "
With an ever increasing population and a growing demand for foreign fuel I am honored to be given the opportunity to help change this demand and provide for each other in a way that will have a positive impact on the environment and help power us into the future," stated Mr. Conklin.
Michael Conklin has had past experience in leadership of joint ventures in both the public and private sector for large projects. He has over 18 years in executive management as well as knowledge in community relations and contract negotiations. Mr. Conklin graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science and earned a Master in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. He served in the Marine Corps for 21 years retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
About Sustainable Power Corp. Sustainable Power Corp. is an international green energy service provider focused on environmentally safe power generation. The company has the exclusive rights to develop and manage a portfolio of green power plants utilizing the USSEC biofuel discovery, a renewable fuel source able to be produced from one-fifth of the soybean acreage traditionally associated with biodiesel.
For more information please visit www.sustainablepower.com. Safe Harbor Statement Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, product, and distributor performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently; and other factors available from the Company.
12/4/2007: PSEG's Power Player-Company Recruits Former Naval Commander To Oversee Its Plants
PSEG's Power Player-Company Recruits Former Naval Commander To Oversee Its Plants (William Levis ?78)
22 Nov 2007 - Bill Levis always believed in the promise and future of nuclear power, even at a low point during the 1990s when he was working at a plant in North Carolina on most people's list as the most likely to be shut down.
Carolina Power & Light found the plant on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's watch list of the country's worst-run nuclear power plants in 1992. But three years later, during Levis' tenure, the plant had the highest possible rating in all four safety and performance categories.
Levis, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate with 25 years of experience in the nuclear power industry, engineered another turnaround while overseeing the operation of three Public Service Enterprise Group plants in South Jersey during the past two years. The chronically troubled plants reached their highest performance levels in their history within a year of Levis taking charge, all the while raking in huge profits for the company's unregulated power-supply unit, PSEG Power.
"I got into this business because I believed nuclear power was the solution to our dependence on foreign oil," said Levis, who is a retired commander in the Navy Reserve.
"When you look at the choices, nuclear is the best of the choices."
His track record of improving operations at underperforming nuclear units led PSEG to hire Levis away from Exelon, promoting him to run PSEG Nuclear at the beginning of this year, then quickly elevating him again in June to run both the nuclear division and PSEG Power.
The recruitment made sense to analysts.
"With their nuclear plants being such an important asset, it didn't surprise me," said Paul Patterson, an analyst at Glenrock Associates. Nuclear power accounts for more than percent of electricity generated by PSEG Power.
In his brief tenure with the Newark-based company, Levis has helped dispel questions facing PSEG in the wake of its failed merger with Exelon last year. Could PSEG run the nuclear plants effectively, safely and profitably without the hands-on expertise of the Chicago company, the nation's largest nuclear operator?
"It's one of the key challenges facing the company," said Paul Fremont, an analyst who follows both companies for Jefferies & Co. "There's no question he's had a dramatic effect in a short period of time. They've found someone who has put the nuclear units on the right path."
NEW CHALLENGES
But Levis' job is far from done. By the end of this year, PSEG will assume independent control of three nuclear units in Salem County - Hope Creek, Salem I and Salem II - and try to maintain the plants' recent stellar performance levels. By the end of next year, he will have to tell PSEG's board of directors whether building a nuclear unit in South Jersey makes sense.
Levis also will be under pressure to make PSEG's fleet of 16 fossil-fuel plants operate more efficiently, which would help improve reliability of the regional power grid, where electricity demand threatens to outpace supplies.
Levis is eager to tackle the challenges.
"I want to take what we have learned from nuclear and apply it to our fossil plants," said the 51-year-old engineer, who thinks the deregulation of the energy sector in the late 1990s forced power companies to run all their plants more efficiently.
"It was the threat of competition that made us do better," he said during an interview in his office at PSEG headquarters in downtown Newark. "The markets make you operate the plant better."
While critics say deregulation has led to higher prices for consumers, Levis argues the recent run-up in fuel prices, particularly for natural gas, is more to blame for high energy bills.
BIG PLANS
PSEG also faces tough challenges in reducing emissions from its fleet of power plants if state and federal agencies enact regulations to curb carbon dioxide from generating stations. The company is spending $700 million at its Hudson coal plant to upgrade pollution controls there.
At the same time, PSEG Power wants to build gas-fired plants in the region because power suppliers are being paid more to provide so-called excess capacity needed to assure reliability of the regional power grid. But even with those plans, Levis said there will be a need for additional power plants, including nuclear units.
Levis supports efforts to promote energy conservation and renewable energy, but said that alone will not be enough to offset the need for new power plants.
"I'm sure there are opportunities there, but I'm not certain it's as big as some people suggest," he said.
He also thinks the industry has addressed the safety concerns the public used to harbor about nuclear technology.
"You cannot afford not to be safe," he said.
12/4/2007: President and CEO Wins Prestigious Minority-Owned Business Achievement Award
President and CEO Wins Prestigious Minority-Owned Business Achievement Award (Maurice B. Tose '78)
20 Nov 2007 - TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS), a global leader in mission-critical wireless communications, today announced that the Greater Baltimore Committee, the region's most prominent organization of business and civic leaders, has awarded TCS Chairman, President and CEO Maurice B. Tose with its Bridging the Gap Award for extraordinary achievement by a minority-owned or woman-owned business.
The award recognizes his outstanding accomplishments in strengthening minority business opportunities in the Baltimore region. Award winners were selected from nominations submitted by businesses, civic organizations, employees, customers, elected officials and government agencies.
TCS focuses on developing and delivering mission-critical solutions within three core areas: the Federal government, public safety and commercial wireless carriers. In the past year, TCS was selected as a prime contractor of the World-Wide Satellite Systems (WWSS) contract, one of the largest government contracts ever awarded the company.
TCS supplied location information for more than 40 million wireless E9-1-1 calls and provided software platforms that delivered over 40 billion text messages, approximately 25% of the 158 billion U.S. text messages as reported by the CTIA.
Under Tose's leadership, the company began as a Federal systems integrator, joined the Federal government's 8(a) Small Business Program, graduated to a public company and recently celebrated its milestone 20th anniversary.
"It is an honor to receive this award from the Greater Baltimore Committee," said Maurice B. Tose. "I attribute our success to the talent and hard work of our more than 500 engineers and business professionals. They represent a diverse family of all races, ages and genders who make the success of TCS possible."
Mr. Tose founded TCS in 1987 and has been the company's only CEO and Chairman of the Board. He currently is a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves and serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation. Tose was recently recognized as a Maryland Innovator of the Year. He holds a B.S. degree in Operations Analysis from the U.S. Naval Academy.
The Greater Baltimore Committee works to improve the business climate of the Greater Baltimore region by organizing its corporate and civic leadership to develop solutions to the problems that affect the region's competitiveness and viability. The GBC is comprised of leading businesses, non-profits, educational and civic institutions from Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties.
About TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS) produces wireless data communications technology solutions that require proven high levels of reliability. TCS provides wireless and VoIP E9-1-1 network-based services, secure deployable communication systems and engineered satellite-based services, and commercial location applications, like traffic and navigation, using the precise location of a wireless device. Customers include leading wireless and VoIP carriers around the world, and agencies of the U.S. Departments of Defense, State, and Homeland Security. For more information, visit http://www.telecomsys.com.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and are based upon TCS' current expectations and assumptions that if incorrect would cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Risks include without limitation those risk factors detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the reports on Forms 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances, or otherwise.
12/4/2007: Land Of The Free Foundation Offers Support To Armed Forces Personnel, Families
Land Of The Free Foundation Offers Support To Armed Forces Personnel, Families (John H. Semcken III ?78)
6 Nov 2007 -- Three key players with Majestic Realty Co. have launched a foundation to help armed services personnel and their families.
Land of the Free Foundation, established by developers Edward P. Roski Jr., John H. Semcken and Kent Valley, will kick off Monday with a Veterans Day golf classic at Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms Resort in Industry.
Organizers expect to raise more than $1 million at the event, with proceeds supporting four veterans' organizations.
"We're already over $900,000, and that's net," said Semcken, vice president of Majestic Realty. "We've got 23 sponsors so far."
Founding sponsors include AEG, Alan Casden Properties, Amgen, AT&T, Bob Hope Cancer Foundation, Comerica Bank, Oltmans Construction and
The newly created foundation will offer support to the following organizations:
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Inc. - provides assistance to families of service personnel killed in combat
AnySoldier.com - distributes care packages to soldiers overseas, including those who receive little or no mail from home
Oakland Military Institute-College Preparatory Academy - California's only public military middle and high school, which provides a structured and rigorous academic environment to train cadets
The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund - provides financial assistance to Marines and sailors injured in combat and in training, or to other service members injured while in support of Marine units, and to their families
Semcken related a story about The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund that helps to put a face on the organiza-tion's efforts.
"One of the stories I love the most dealt with a soldier from Louisiana who was a chef," Semcken explained. "He got shot through the stomach and became a paraplegic form the waist down as a result."
At that point, the man figured his career as a chef was over. But the organization stepped in and made a dif-ference - a difference that gave him back his livelihood.
"They bought him a wheelchair that would not only go back and forth, but up and down so he could pick up pots and pans and still be a chef," Semcken said.
President Bush expressed his support of AnySoldier.com in an August 2005 letter to the organization.
"Thank you for supporting these brave individuals who are willing to sacrifice for a cause greater than self," the president wrote. "Your organization's troop postings help our citizens show their steadfast support for our armed forces, and I am grateful."
Semcken, Roski and Valley are all military veterans.
Roski, Majestic's chairman and CEO, served as an officer in the United States Marines from 1962 to 1966 where he was decorated for bravery with two purple hearts.
Semcken, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, graduated from the prestigious Navy Fighter Weapons School, commonly referred to as "TOPGUN."
Valley, executive vice president for Majestic Realty, served in the United States Marine Corp, reaching the rank of Captain.
Festivities for Monday's Land of the Free Veterans Day Golf Classic will begin at 9:45 a.m. with a ceremonial tribute and memorial flyover with a "missing man" formation featuring a B-25 Mitchell, a P-40 Warhawk and two P-51 Mustang aircraft.
The tournament will begin at 10 a.m., followed by an awards dinner at 5 p.m. and a 7:30 p.m. keynote address by Maj. Gen. Michael R. Lehnert of the U.S. Marine Corps Installations West.
More than 250 golfers are expected to participate, including veterans, active-duty military and local business leaders.
9/22/2007: USNA grad offers real-estate advice
Tony Cato, a 1978 USNA graduate, offers real estate advice on the ABC News website. Click here to read the article.
8/30/2007: Alligator
I always knew walking around my neighborhood at night I?d see something interesting. I caught a 4 ? foot alligator tonight and put it ? mile away into a local lake?amazing. Cheers, Scott
Scott Provow
8/30/2007: More articles on Jeff's changes
The Washington Post has an interesting article about Fowler's changes. Click here to read it.
8/30/2007: Letter from Supe
Dear Alumni,
I am honored and humbled to be serving as the 60th Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. Since my change of command I have been using the CNO?s approach for taking on a new position of responsibility: listen, learn, and lead. I have spent the summer listening and learning, and now it is time for me to start leading. My Senior Leadership Team and I want to make sure our course is set to prepare the midshipmen to become the best junior officers in the Fleet; officers with competence, character, and compassion. As a lifetime member of the Alumni Association I value the feedback of those who have come before the current Brigade in service to our country. For this reason, my Senior Leadership Team and I would like to share our vision with you.
o A Nation at War. There is no doubt that September 11, 2001, changed the face of America forever. Our enemy is ruthless, and the Global War on Terror is going to last throughout the entire commissioned career of the midshipmen attending USNA today. We must ensure that every midshipman has heard the call to duty and is prepared to defend a nation at war.
o Developing Midshipmen. Every member of our Naval Academy team must be focused on developing midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically for the privilege of serving as leaders of Sailors and Marines who volunteered to serve their country. Develop is an active verb requiring intrusive leadership from staff, faculty, and coaches. We must direct and facilitate the development of our midshipmen to accomplish the mission with a sense of urgency. We must ensure our Ensigns and Second Lieutenants are ready to lead starting on the first day of commissioned service.
o Face of the Navy. The Naval Academy is a showplace. Every year millions of Americans view the Brigade in Annapolis or on television and walk away believing they have just seen the best of the United States Navy. We must remember that our midshipmen represent Sailors and Marines who have made the ultimate sacrifice as well as those who are forward deployed in harm?s way. Our behavior as an institution must reflect a commitment to excellence in everything we do.
I appreciate your support in helping carry out the mission of the Naval Academy. I look forward to seeing you around the country and around the Yard.
Very Respectfully,
J. L. FOWLER
Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy
Superintendent
8/24/2007: New chief wants more ship time, fewer distractions
By EARL KELLY, Staff Writer
Published August 19, 2007
Annapolis Capital Gazette
The Naval Academy will become more like a military installation and less like a college, the school's new superintendent indicated Friday.
In his first meeting with the media since becoming superintendent on June 8, Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler spoke of "a nation at war," and emphasized that the changes he is implementing are not a "we-need-to-fix" the academy but are instead "we-must-improve, or-we-will-fall-behind."
"We want fewer distractions and fewer excused absences from important developmental events like class and study hour," said Adm. Fowler, a former submarine commander and a 1978 graduate of the Naval Academy.
"This is not just a college scholarship program," Adm. Fowler said. "The taxpayers have paid money to develop officers here, and it's my job to ensure we minimize those distractions."
Henceforth, according to the superintendent, upperclassmen will have more required study hours and less free time away from the campus, or 'the yard,' as it's known in the military.
According to the commandant's office, which handles day-to-day operations at the academy, mandatory study period is being reinstated at nights, from Sunday through Thursday, for all midshipmen. Freshmen and sophomores will have mandatory study hour Friday nights as well.
Previously, midshipmen had mandatory study period from 8 p.m. to midnight, Sunday through Friday, but many sophomores and nearly all juniors and seniors were exempt.
A number of academy students have said they skip meals to study or do other chores, and upperclassmen often were in downtown Annapolis having dinner during the week. But that is about to change.
While previous regulations set aside only Wednesday evening for mandatory dinner for the entire student body, the new regs require that from Sunday evening to noon Friday, all mids eat all meals in the academy mess hall.
Another change is that seniors must wear the Navy's khaki uniform, to distinguish them from other midshipmen, who wear a dark blue utility uniform. Seniors will be expected to mentor and lead younger students.
And, so they can focus more on the basic requirements of becoming officers, midshipmen's extra curricular activities will be more limited - both in the kind of activities and the amount of activities.
Adm. Fowler spoke of "the privilege of serving as leaders of sailors and Marines who volunteered to serve their country during wartime." It is a theme he also expressed June 27, during Induction Day, when the Class of 2011 began their time at the academy.
Midshipmen need more real-world experience, Adm. Fowler said, and academy officials plan to revise summer training programs to get more mids onto ships or into Marine Corps units.
Adm. Fowler said he briefed the 4,400-member Brigade of Midshipmen on the changes on Thursday, their first day back from summer training.
To drive home his point, Adm. Fowler told the mids that the crew of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower recently spent more than 230 days at sea, with only 15 days in port.
That kind of environment is where seniors will be finding themselves in only nine months, Adm. Fowler said, and they need to start getting accustomed to it.
Navy Capt. Margaret Klein, the academy's commandant, could not attend the briefing Thursday, but issued a statement explaining the changes being made at the academy.
"We are a nation at war; we do not have the luxury of letting our midshipmen learn about life in the Fleet and Marine Corps once they get there," she wrote.
Adm. Fowler, the father of three teenagers, said he wants to "minimize distractions which are normal for people of that age."
"I know how easy it is to get distracted, and sometimes, given the choice between some tough mission-related activity and something that may be a little more relaxing but not related to the mission, my teenagers at home, and a lot of our midshipmen, may choose the easier path. We just don't have time to do that - our nation is at war, and our sailors and Marines are depending on them to be ready."
Adm. Fowler said he is implementing the new polices after consulting the academy's "senior leadership team" that includes Capt. Klein and the dean of admissions, the academic dean and the athletic director.
The changes, while purportedly to prepare the midshipmen for service, also may help keep some out of trouble.
Earlier this year, a group of midshipmen on a spring-break cruise became intoxicated and rowdy, and it came out during two recent court-martials for sexual misconduct that the alleged victims engaged in underage or binge drinking at area bars shortly before the incidents.
As a result of publicity generated by these events, Adm. Fowler's predecessor, Vice Adm. Rodney P. Rempt, faced criticism for allegedly punishing men more severely than women in cases of misconduct.
Adm. Fowler said he wasn't concerned about criticism, and would take it "case by case."
"I take the whole thing into account, and I really don't care about their background or gender or whatever," he said.
Adm. Fowler, formerly the Navy's chief recruiter, said he plans to work to recruit more minorities.
Adm. Fowler called the Naval Academy "the face of the Navy," and said its student body must become more diverse, to match the rank and file members of the military.
Adm. Fowler emphasized that any changes he is making at the academy are to prepare for the future, not to criticize the past administrations.
"There is no crisis at the academy," he said.
8/20/2007: Academy tide turns
Check out this article from the Baltimore Sun about the changes VADM Fowler has been making around the Yard.
7/29/2007: RDML JayDeLoach retires
DC-Area (and other) USNA '78 Classmates:
See the below message from our '78 Classmate and friend RDML Jay
DeLoach, USN, who is hanging up his stars and retiring from the Navy on
Saturday, 25 August at 1400 at the U.S. Naval Academy (Bo Coppedge Room,
Alumni Hall).
Jay asks that folks please RSVP to Jodi (DeLoach) at e-mail: <
jolyde@aol.com@> or phone: 703-401-9211 NLT 15 August so that he can get
an accurate count for the reception and to ensure your name is placed on
the list for Gate Security.
Take care, and Godspeed '78.
Please join us for a
Retirement Ceremony in honor of
Rear Admiral Jay A. DeLoach,
United States Navy
on Saturday, 25 August at two o?clock
United States Naval Academy, Bo Coppedge Room, Alumni Hall
Annapolis, Maryland
R.S.V.P. by 15 August to Jodi DeLoach at Military: Summer Whites
jolyde@aol.com or (703) 401-9211 Civilian: Business Casual
Directions to the U. S. Naval Academy-Bo Coppedge Room, Alumni Hall
Follow Route 50 East from Washington, D.C. towards Annapolis. Take Exit 24, Rowe Blvd, and bear right (south) at the bottom of the exit ramp. Follow Rowe Blvd to a left at the second stop light at Taylor Avenue. Follow Taylor Avenue about two blocks until it ?T? intersects with Annapolis Street. Bear right onto Annapolis Street. Go straight through one light, then turn right at the second light into Gate 8. Proceed through the gate and cross the College Creek Bridge (you are now on Decatur Road). One block from College Creek Bridge, Alumni Hall will be on your left. There are three parking lots in close proximity to Alumni Hall as well as street parking on Decatur Road. Enter Alumni Hall and follow signs to Bo Coppedge Room which is on the second floor.
Please R.S.V.P. by 15 August to get an accurate count for the reception and to ensure your name is placed on the list for Gate Security.
7/23/2007: USS Porter (DDG 78) Leadership Awards
Classmates:
Thanks for the responses we received from my last note on the Class of 78
Leadership Awards on USS Porter (DDG 78). The ceremony will be on USS Porter
(DDG 78) on Friday, July 27 at 1030 - Pier 4 NAVSTA Norfolk. Based on the
responses from my last email the following folks have indicated they will
attend: Terry O'Brien, Joe Martin, Ed Reid, Bob Schwaneke, Tim Stark, Glenn
Flanagan (maybe) and Craig Diffie (maybe).
Terry O'Brien asks that everyone meet him at the Base Theater (in the Navy
Exchange Parking Lot) at 1000 - to consolidate cars and ensure base access for
everyone. If there are any more folks interested in attending, please let me
know with a cc to Terry (Terry.Obrien@ngc.com).
Jeff Griffin will be attending and Phil Winters has been very gracious in
providing some gifts for the award winners. I should also thank Terry O'Brien
for once again sitting on the oral board and helping with all the coordination
for this event - thanks, Terry.
Finally, Porter will be deploying within a month - please keep the ship and her
crew in your thoughts and prayers. They are doing us proud!!!
B-E-A-T A-R-M-Y !!!!!!!
Glen
7/17/2007: Naval Academy Alumni Assoc. Board of Trustees Update
Five Percent
There's an old adage that leaders spend 95% of their time on 5% of the
group. That percentage seems to hold for Naval Academy graduates and
members of the Board of Trustees as well.
You may have seen some scuttlebutt about a threatened lawsuit, a
potentially embarrassing website, and subsequent Board of Trustees
conference call. I would like to brief you on happenings and put a few
things in perspective.
Election 2006
In 2006 there was an election for the Chairman of Board of Trustees, as
well as several other Trustee positions. That election was tainted by
the actions of a member of the Board who served on the Nominating
Committee. In fact, the process itself was compromised in the following
ways.
1) The Nominating Committee member in question called the Chairman of
the BOT at home to discuss the Nominating Committee and its direction.
Since the Chairman is prohibited from participation in the nominating
process other than standing up the committee, this ex parte
communication initiated by a member tainted the process.
2) This member then selectively-and inaccurately-relayed the Chairman's
comments to the Board.
3) This member had a hand in drafting the nomination for a potential
nominee to the Chairman and concealed his involvement from the
Nominating Committee.
A number of other issues came to play, including the violation of
confidence of deliberations in the Nominating Committee. Because the
nominating process had become so hopelessly compromised, and at the
recommendation of the Nominating Committee chair, the Chairman of the
Board dissolved the committee and appointed a new committee. The new
Nominating Committee went to work and developed the slate of candidates
that the Nominating Committee approved unanimously, the Board of
Trustees approved overwhelmingly, and the general membership voted on.
Turmoil
As you may recall, an ugly internet/email row ensued over the 2006
election, and those issues continued to be twisted and stoked. Before
our May 2007 Board of Trustees meeting, the previously mentioned member
of the board indicated that some Alumni were preparing a lawsuit against
the Board of Trustees for allegedly violating our by-laws and Maryland
law. After our meeting, we received an email heads-up from this member
that he had heard something was coming. A few days later each member of
the Board received a certified letter demanding that the Chairman, Vice
Chairman, and Past Chairman be removed from the Board of Trustees and
that a special election be held. They demanded that the Board respond by
June 15th or they would go live with a website designed to embarrass the
Association and threatened legal action. The two alums who sent the
letters were classmates and company-mates of the member of the Board who
seemed to be at the center of the 2006 election controversy and who
expressed advanced knowledge of their impending actions.
Actions
The Board Secretary replied to the two alumni in a letter May 31, 2008,
and said that the Board was taking a serious look at the issues raised
and was having a thorough legal analysis done. He indicated that the
Board would meet by conference call on June 28th and would reply with
the Board's concurrence.
An exhaustive legal review of the allegations conducted by three
attorneys, all Naval Academy graduates with extensive experience in
corporate governance issues and Maryland law concluded that:
"For the reasons stated herein, in our opinion, the position taken in
the Allegation Letter that the trustees breached their duty of care to
the Association is without merit, in that such an allegation is based
upon an incomplete and misleading statement of the facts and displays a
fundamental misunderstanding of Maryland law.." A link to the full
analysis is below.
The Board received the legal analysis on June 22 so each member of the
board of trustees had more than a week to read, digest, and discuss with
one another in advance of our June 28th conference call. We discussed
the issues and legal analysis in a telephone conference call with the
officers of the association for nearly an hour and a half. The attorneys
and the Association Staff had done exhaustive research into the
Governance Working Group's report and recommendations, past Board of
Trustees meetings, votes on governance issues by the Board, and more. In
short, the Board acted properly and with due care to the Association.
Our Board voted 24-2 to accept the legal report and analysis and support
the response issues by the Chairman to the authors of the allegation
letter. The Chairman then sent a formal response to the two alumni in
question thanking them for raising the issues and providing them the
exhaustive research and response.
Civility
Throughout this ordeal, from the tainted nominating process to animosity
and horrible, slanderous emails it instigated, to the release of
governance committee working papers, to the threat to embarrass the
institution and file a frivolous lawsuit, I have been saddened by the
incivility of a few, the 5%. There is always room for disagreement and
vigorous debate. We are a better organization for it. But the scorched
earth approach is beneath the dignity of Naval Academy alumni,
especially the self-proclaimed "old-schoolers" who should have learned
about John Paul Jones's adage about "punctilious courtesy and the nicest
sense of personal honor."
Bright Side
There has been a bright side to this issue. The process that was used to
respond to the allegation letter had the Alumni Association conduct a
thorough and exhaustive review of its records. In short, records of
meetings, deliberations, votes, etc., were readily available. The
process was transparent and demonstrated the care and good stewardship
of our Association by the Board of Trustees (present and past) as well
as the professional staff. I think that we can be justifiably pleased
with the way our Association is being run.
The Association has posted the Chairman's response with links to the
original allegation letter, the full legal opinion, and the reply on the
Alumni Association website at:
http://www.usna.com/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=2764&srcid=425
I hope you will take the time to read the full report and attached
documents. I believe it will put some of the murky accusations in
graphic relief and make the whole issue clear.
Another old adage is that if a falsehood is repeated often enough,
people will begin to think it is the truth. A falsehood that seems to be
perpetuated is that Alumni have no voice in the governance of the Alumni
Association and that the Board of Trustees is an "old boys club" of
admirals and Annapolitans. I would like you to take a look at the list
of trustees
http://www.usna.com/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=462&srcid=425. The
names and ranks of the trustees are there. In addition, the regional and
chapter trustees will give you an idea of the geographic breadth of the
Board. The Class Trustees are varied in rank and geography as well.
You have a voice in the governance of your association through the
trustees you have elected or appointed. Work with them. Tell them what
you think. If you like what is happening, let them know. If you do not,
let them know that too. But don't just yell that you don't like
something . propose a solution or an idea. "Not that!" is not a
solution. Use your talent, ideas, and voices to help us make our Alumni
Association even better than you hope it to be.
Sincerely,
Mike Collins '84
Mid-Atlantic Trustee
7/17/2007: Group Retirement Information
Classmates:
Several of our Classmates have expressed interest in a Class of 1978 group retirement on June 6, 2008, thirty years following our Graduation Day. The concept was discussed amongst several of us at Superintendent VAdm Jeff Fowler's Change of Command at USNA and has been gaining steam ever since. Please excuse this mass mailing; the Alumni Association does not keep accurate records identifying Classmates currently serving in active and reserve service components. The idea is to hold a group retirement for currently serving active and reserve members, Navy and Marine Corps, in The Yard followed by one heck of a party. Please be sure to pass this along to those serving classmates you see missing from this list.
Invitations to, and participation by, Vice Admiral Fowler, Rear Admiral Baker, and other Class of 1978 Flag / General Officers are in the works. We anticipate the retirement event will begin around 1500 June 6th 2008, and the party will begin around 1630.
If you are on active duty or actively serving in the reserves, planning to retire around this date, and you would be interested in participating in this Group retirement, please let us know ASAP so we can start the detailed planning. Marty Thamm has already made initial liaison with the staff at USNA. There are several available options for the location of the ceremony (Memorial Hall, Alumni Hall, and Mahan Hall) and for the reception (Alumni Hall or the Officers & Faculty Club). We can reserve the right venues once we determine the exact level of interest.
Stephen "Jock" Maloney is our Classmate Coordinator for this event, so please contact him directly as to your interest in participating. To ensure that we have contacted all of the eligible Classmates, please also let him know if you are not interested in participating. Please respond to Jock by 7/31/2007. His contact information is:
Stephen A. Maloney
(609) 707-7258(cell)
samaloney@comcast.net
Thanks.
All the best,
Glen Woods
President, USNA Class of 1978
6/30/2007: USS Porter (DDG 78) Leadership Awards
Classmates - as you know our Class sponsors USS Porter (DDG 78). We are actively involved with the ship with the focus of our efforts being the Arch Griffin Memorial Leadership Awards. These awards are presented to enlisted and officers with crew members being nominated by their shipmates and then going through a board with Porter leadership to determine the Award winners. This program was set up by Arch Griffin and Terry O'Brien to acknowledge leadership at all levels (E-1 to 0-3) on the ship. It has been a vibrant and active program for many years and has established the Class of 1978 as a member of the Porter family.
This year's ceremony will be held on Friday, July 27, onboard USS Porter (DDG 78) at the Norfolk Naval Station - tentatively at 1000. Exact details of pier location will be sent as soon as we get them. I would like to invite as much class participation as we can for this year's ceremony. We have invited Erin Griffin and Ltjg Jeff Griffin to this year's ceremony; unfortunately Erin cannot join us, but early indications are that LTjg Griffin will be able to make it. This is a great opportunity to gather as a Class, but the focus will naturally be all on the Porter and her outstanding Sailors and hopefully having LTjg Griffin participate with us. Our class has been reaching out to the fleet and making a difference - I ask that you consider joining us to see the results of our efforts. Please let me know if you can join us and we will in turn inform the Porter.
Fair Winds to all... Glen
6/21/2007: Bobby Garcia passes away
22APR07 - Bobby Layne Garcia, 52, passed away on April 5, 2007, in Jacksonville, Fla. He was born Oct. 29, 1954, in Huntsville, Texas to Bobby "Chico" Garcia and Elizabeth Hernandez Garcia. Bobby Layne was an Eagle Scout, a gifted artist and loved playing baseball and rugby. Bobby Layne graduated from Huntsville High School in 1973, participated in the marching band, playing the tuba and was a Hornet baseball player.
After graduation he attended Texas A&M his freshman year and was a member of the A&M band. In 1974 he received his Congressional Appointment to the United States Naval Academy and attended the Naval Academy. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1978.
Bobby Layne married Kate Higgins in 1983 and together they have four children, Alexander Garcia (22), Nicholas Garcia (20), Olivia Layne Garcia (18) and Jamie Garcia (11). Bobby Layne worked twenty years for the United States Postal Service. He was a strong Christian man, loved serving God and attended the Jacksonville Church of Christ. Bobby Layne was preceded in death by his father, Bobby Alexander "Chico" Garcia. He is survived by his wife and children; his mother, Elizabeth H. Garcia; his grandmother, Librada Hernandez; four siblings, John Garcia, Rebecca A. Zuniga, Genevieve "Ginny" Mayes, Larry A. Garcia; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Services were held in Jacksonville, Fla. on April 7, 2007, at the Jacksonville Church of Christ.
6/13/2007: Lithograph turning heads at NAPS
Frank Mattingly, Kevin Lynch and Capt. Charlie Hautau USN coordinated the photo of the 1904 Tome School lithograph that is hanging in the administration building at The Naval Academy Prep School. The Tome School was the site of the Naval Academy Prep School for many years, and the NAPS Class of 1974 was the last class at the school before it was moved to Newport, RI. After restoring the litho as much as possible, a photo was taken and the reprint was sold to interested former NAPSters and generated over $1,500.00 to the Naval Academy Foundation. These funds have been earmarked for athletic requirements at the Prep School. Additional copies of the litho are still available. Contact samaloney@comcast.net for a copy.
6/7/2007: '78 graduate taking helm in Annapolis
{Originally published in the Baltimore Sun; June 2, 2007}
As the skies cleared, Cmdr. Jeffrey L. Fowler saw what looked like a giant freighter headed straight toward his fast-attack submarine, which had surfaced in a blizzard in the roiling Japanese Sea.
He quickly declared a "back emergency," and the USS Charlotte made an abrupt right turn, just missing the ship.
Disaster narrowly averted, Fowler and his crew completed their emergency trip to the Persian Gulf in 1998 -- and were hailed for being the only sub team to get there on time.
Quick reflexes, and not a small amount of luck, will be needed now more than ever by Fowler, a rear admiral who adds a third star to his uniform Friday when he becomes the new Naval Academy superintendent.
The naval college in Annapolis has found itself in a squall of its own in recent years, mired in numerous sexual assault cases that paint a dark portrait of the institution.
Also, the attempts of Fowler's predecessor, Vice Adm. Rodney P. Rempt, to reform the school and make it more hospitable to women have led to a mutiny among some alumni, who have frequently expressed their hope that Fowler would come in and "right the ship."
But the career submariner, who granted his first interview to The Sun last month as he prepared to report to the academy, said he doesn't plan significant changes right away. In fact, Fowler declined to discuss any potential new direction, saying he needed time in the job to get his bearing.
"I don't want to project too much into the future," he said, adding only that he strongly believes the academy should challenge midshipmen. "It's not good enough to do it right 99 percent of the time. That would mean every 100 flights or dives, we lose an aircraft or submarine. We have to be above the normal human error that's considered allowable."
At 50, the admiral is 11 years younger than his predecessor and comes to Annapolis with no administrative experience in higher education, although the international stops in his career complement new efforts at the academy to prepare midshipmen for a broader, more complex world. He graduated in 1978, two years after women were admitted to the naval college, making him the first superintendent to attend the school with female students.
Standing at attention in the dining hall and having to shout menus, movie times or obscure facts about the Navy at any upperclassman's request had unexpected applications on submarines, where there wasn't always time to write down bearings or contacts in the right sequence.
"There was always something that challenged everybody," he said. "Sometimes, the people there who are the strongest and most athletic get in a swimming pool and sink to the bottom like a rock. That part of the academy is very important."
Fowler went on to complete three submarine tours and two master's degrees -- one from Harvard University -- before taking command of the USS Charlotte in 1994, the defining period of his career.
"He was the kind of submarine captain you would see in the movies," said Cmdr. Howard W. Goldman, a Baltimore native who served as a junior officer on the Charlotte. "No matter what would happen, he had the same look on his face. I never saw him sweat, really. He was very pensive, a sort of typical plainsman, you know, few words and deep action."
Cmdr. Todd Cramer, a 1987 academy graduate who served as the engineer during Fowler's command, said Fowler was almost obsessive about details, often pointing to a plaque in his quarters that outlined Murphy's Law, asking, "What would Mr. Murphy say?"
"I would present repair plans or safety plans," Cramer said, "and he would ask, 'Well, what if this or that happens, or what if this breaks down?' And I would say, 'Captain, you're such a pessimist.' He'd say: 'No, I'm a realist.'"
Sometimes, his subordinates would find out about repairs they had to make or chores that were left undone from a dry-erase board that he posted. The slight embarrassment and gamesmanship kept them sharp, several said.
Fowler also had a passion for vanilla ice cream, even waking up his engineering officer to fix the ice cream machine. In an operational report to his fleet commander, he once wrote: "Please send commercial-grade vanilla ice cream." He hated the military variety.
"I would look at him and say, 'Are you sure you want to send this?'" Goldman recalled of the ice cream request. "And he was like, 'It's got to be commercial grade. We've got to have commercial-grade vanilla.'"
A 'really bad' dayHe commanded the Charlotte for a marathon 40 months, traveling 100,000 miles submerged, with more than 100 dives and surfaces all over the Atlantic and Indian oceans and the Persian Gulf. Of 1,000 days, only 10 were "really bad," he said, and among those, the worst came off the coast of Yokosuka, Japan.
Winds were at about 50 knots, and fog was so thick, his sailors had to navigate almost exclusively with radar. Everywhere they turned, it seemed, they had a giant cargo ship to avoid.
Fowler had decided to direct the ship from the bridge, standing in the submarine's tower with his head and torso outside.
"He knew that if a split-second decision had to be made, a career-ending decision, he wanted to be the guy who made it," said Goldman, who was in the control room that day. "He wanted to put himself in the eye of the storm."
Fowler acknowledged that the academy is a very different place from a submarine, but said he feels confident he will make his way in Annapolis.
"As a junior person looking up at my immediate boss, in most cases, I did not think I could do that job. With the academy, I'm barely thinking I can do it now. But the Navy, and the people in the Navy, entrusted me," he said. "I plan to go in and listen to what went on, understand the mission and do what's necessary to carry it out. It's served me well during all my tours."
Fowler said raising his children -- two daughters, ages 19 and 17, and a 13-year-old son -- combined with his recent three-year tour leading the Navy's recruiting command in Millington, Tenn., taught him about leading "the next greatest generation."
He learned a lot about how young people use technology and how to enlist the support of eager volunteers, and came away impressed with the thousands who decided "to volunteer to serve their country during a war."
But the job wasn't without its tough decisions, including one indicative of what he might face at the Naval Academy.
After local prosecutors in Tennessee decided to drop charges against an assailant who had allegedly sexually assaulted a female sailor, because they couldn't afford to bring her and other witnesses in to testify, Fowler decided the Navy would do so.
The man -- Fowler would not say whether he was a sailor -- was convicted and sent to prison.
"All of the people who knew the facts in the Navy thought she had a valid case," said Fowler. "I decided that the right thing to do was to spend the money to bring these people in, regardless of how the trial turned out, because this case needed to be heard. Now, it certainly didn't eliminate the fact that this assault happened, but somebody was held accountable."
Four-striperWhen he talks about his reasons for joining the Navy, Fowler sounds very much like a former recruiting commander.
"A big part of what intrigued me and got me interested in the Navy was the chance to ... see the rest of the world," he said. "Now, 30 or 40 countries later, and probably as many states in America, I've achieved all the goals I ever could have had when I was 17 going on 18."
Fowler said he developed a strong work ethic in Bismarck, S.D., a relatively small town that's also home to two other Navy admirals, including William A. Owens, a former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Before starting plebe summer in 1974, Fowler and a friend ran 18 miles twice a week to build endurance.
Once at the academy, Fowler did well academically and as a leader, becoming a four-striper, one of the highest ranks in the midshipman chain of command.
Standing at attention in the dining hall and having to shout menus, movie times or obscure facts about the Navy at any upperclassman's request had unexpected applications on submarines, where there wasn't always time to write down bearings or contacts in the right sequence.
"There was always something that challenged everybody," he said. "Sometimes, the people there who are the strongest and most athletic get in a swimming pool and sink to the bottom like a rock. That part of the academy is very important."
Fowler went on to complete three submarine tours and two master's degrees -- one from Harvard University -- before taking command of the USS Charlotte in 1994, the defining period of his career.
"He was the kind of submarine captain you would see in the movies," said Cmdr. Howard W. Goldman, a Baltimore native who served as a junior officer on the Charlotte. "No matter what would happen, he had the same look on his face. I never saw him sweat, really. He was very pensive, a sort of typical plainsman, you know, few words and deep action."
Cmdr. Todd Cramer, a 1987 academy graduate who served as the engineer during Fowler's command, said Fowler was almost obsessive about details, often pointing to a plaque in his quarters that outlined Murphy's Law, asking, "What would Mr. Murphy say?"
"I would present repair plans or safety plans," Cramer said, "and he would ask, 'Well, what if this or that happens, or what if this breaks down?' And I would say, 'Captain, you're such a pessimist.' He'd say: 'No, I'm a realist.'"
Sometimes, his subordinates would find out about repairs they had to make or chores that were left undone from a dry-erase board that he posted. The slight embarrassment and gamesmanship kept them sharp, several said.
Fowler also had a passion for vanilla ice cream, even waking up his engineering officer to fix the ice cream machine. In an operational report to his fleet commander, he once wrote: "Please send commercial-grade vanilla ice cream." He hated the military variety.
"I would look at him and say, 'Are you sure you want to send this?'" Goldman recalled of the ice cream request. "And he was like, 'It's got to be commercial grade. We've got to have commercial-grade vanilla.'"
A 'really bad' dayHe commanded the Charlotte for a marathon 40 months, traveling 100,000 miles submerged, with more than 100 dives and surfaces all over the Atlantic and Indian oceans and the Persian Gulf. Of 1,000 days, only 10 were "really bad," he said, and among those, the worst came off the coast of Yokosuka, Japan.
Winds were at about 50 knots, and fog was so thick, his sailors had to navigate almost exclusively with radar. Everywhere they turned, it seemed, they had a giant cargo ship to avoid.
Fowler had decided to direct the ship from the bridge, standing in the submarine's tower with his head and torso outside.
"He knew that if a split-second decision had to be made, a career-ending decision, he wanted to be the guy who made it," said Goldman, who was in the control room that day. "He wanted to put himself in the eye of the storm."
Fowler acknowledged that the academy is a very different place from a submarine, but said he feels confident he will make his way in Annapolis.
"As a junior person looking up at my immediate boss, in most cases, I did not think I could do that job. With the academy, I'm barely thinking I can do it now. But the Navy, and the people in the Navy, entrusted me," he said. "I plan to go in and listen to what went on, understand the mission and do what's necessary to carry it out. It's served me well during all my tours."
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