Frank Kendall changed how the Pentagon does business. Nothing makes Frank Kendall cry like the Joint Strike Fighter. Sitting in his office in the Pentagon’s E Ring, recalling his record-long tenure as the U.S. Defense Department’s acquisition czar, he still has the F-35 on his mind—his hair-pulling experience with one of the most complex, troubled and expensive weapons systems ever. As the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics (AT&L), Kendall has often been on point with the JSF. His office has been where it all meets—the public anger over costs, the frustration over Lockheed Martin’s performance and the military’s demand for a technological marvel guaranteeing U.S. air dominance for decades to come.

“When I took office, it was my biggest headache,” Kendall tells Aviation Week. “Despite the fact that we were a few years into production, we did not have a stable design. We had a lot of issues. I very seriously contemplated stopping production entirely and taking about a two-year gap in production.” Ultimately, Kendall opted to flatten production at 30 aircraft a year for two years while design problems were hammered out. He installed a new program manager on the government side, Air Force Lieutenant General Christopher Bogdan, a strong leader with an outspoken style. And Lockheed made management changes that Kendall now says were a breakthrough.

Today, the program seems to be over its worst days. Initial aircraft have been delivered to most JSF international partners. Feedback so far from operators has been positive. “The highlight of the Army-Navy game for me was not Army winning,” says Kendall, an Army veteran. He teared up, but not about football. “It was the four F-35s that flew over my head. It has been a very long, hard journey [but] well worth it.” Read More

Eaton Vance Distributors (EVD), a subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp., announced the appointment of David M. Gordon, CFA, CPWA as Director, Eaton Vance Advisor Institute, effective immediately. In his new role, Mr. Gordon is responsible for supporting advisors who serve ultra-high-net-worth clients in addressing clients' wealth planning and investment requirements. He will work closely with the EVD external sales and global relationship management teams and report to David Richman, National Director of the Eaton Vance Advisor Institute.

Mr. Gordon joined Eaton Vance in 2007. Since 2014, he has been a strategy specialist in EVD's Wealth Strategies Group, responsible for consulting with internal and external partners to craft security-level and portfolio-level solutions to challenges faced by wealthy investors. Prior to joining Eaton Vance, Mr. Gordon was responsible for sales and service of high-net-worth offerings for a Houston -based investment manager. He has previous experience as a business strategist, portfolio manager and equity analyst, and as a registered representative. Prior to entering the investment management industry in 1994, Mr. Gordon served five years as an infantry officer in the United States Army. He holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. He has also studied finance at the doctoral level at France's EDHEC Business School.

"Dave's experience gives him a unique perspective to support the development of further programming to help advisors with the increased complexity they face in attracting ultra-high-net-worth clients and nurturing existing client relationships," said Mr. Richman. "By enhancing and expanding the Advisor Institute, we are positioned to provide advisors the resources and insights needed to drive more meaningful client engagements." Read More

Glatfelter today announced the promotion of Timothy R. Hess to Senior Vice President and Business Unit President, Specialty Papers. In this role, Mr. Hess will have overall P&L responsibility and will guide the strategic direction for the business unit. He will report directly to Dante C. Parrini, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. John P. Jacunski, who has led Specialty Papers since April 2016, in addition to his role as Chief Financial Officer, will continue serving in his primary role as the CFO of Glatfelter.

In making this announcement, Mr. Parrini said, “A 22-year veteran of Glatfelter, Tim Hess brings deep market knowledge and strong customer relationships to his role as Business Unit President for Specialty Papers. Tim has been a driving force behind Specialty Papers’ successful track record of outperforming the broader uncoated freesheet market for the past 12 years, while also helping to shape the strategy for the business. Tim’s promotion will enable John Jacunski, as our CFO, to focus all of his efforts on the execution of a number of high-priority initiatives across our businesses and the financial aspects of the Company overall.”

Since joining Glatfelter in 1994, Mr. Hess has held a variety of assignments in technical, operations, sales and marketing, and general management. Most recently, Mr. Hess was Vice President, Sales and Marketing for the Specialty Papers Business Unit. Mr. Hess earned an M.S. from the Institute of Paper Science & Technology, and he serves on the board of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. Read More

Chaveso Cook ’04, Doug Livermore ’04, and Jim Perkins ’06 were recently selected as members of the (TNSP) Truman National Security Project. They were invited by the Truman community as part of the 2017 class of the Defense Council, of which they only pick approximately 50 nationwide per year. Defense Council members, in particular, look to extend their public service beyond the battlefield and combine principled leadership with practical understanding of next generation conflicts and their consequences.

The Truman National Security Project is a nationwide community, forged in the aftermath of 9/11, fighting for America’s promise on the battlefield, along the campaign trail, and in the halls of government. Truman unites more than 1,500 veterans, frontline civilians, policy experts, and political professionals with a shared worldview: "America is strongest when we utilize all of our tools – defense, diplomacy, development, and democracy – to engage the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. Through policy innovation and political advocacy at the local and national level, we bring talented leaders together to fight for that worldview."

Doug Livermore is a Special Forces officer with Special Operations Detachment - OTAN/NATO in the Maryland ARNG. He also works in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Intelligence) Sensitive Special Operations Division as an operational advisor. He has multiple publications in professional journals and also contributed an entry to The Strong Gray Line: War-Time Reflections from the West Point Class of 2004. Jim Perkins is an active duty Engineer officer who works for the US Army Corps of Engineers in the DC area and is the Executive Director of the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum (DEF). Chaveso Cook is an active duty Psychological Operations officer at Fort Bragg, NC, and is both a former Tactical Officer and Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership instructor at West Point. Perkins and Cook also co-founded the non-profit MilitaryMentors.org.

National 4-H Council has announced the re-election of a new Trustee to its Board of Trustees, which comes as the Board strives to engage alumni, increase investment in 4-H and reach millions more young people with a 4-H experience. Ken Hicks brings extensive business expertise to his role with 4-H, having been a leader in the retail industry for over 30 years until his retirement as Foot Locker, Inc.’s Executive Chairman in May 2015. Prior to this role, Mr. Hicks served as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Foot Locker, Inc. for five years.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Hicks’ passion for merchandising and marketing was evident during his time at Payless ShoeSource, where his role as President saw him overseeing all elements of merchandising, marketing, product distribution, direct product development and sourcing for 4,900 stores in seven countries. He then spent seven years at J.C. Penney Company, Inc., which he joined in 2002 as Chief Operating Officer for all of J.C. Penney’s stores and became President in 2005 overseeing all merchandising and marketing. During this time, in 2006, Mr. Hicks was first elected to serve on Council’s Board of Trustees.

“I’m excited to re-join 4-H and support the continued expansion of 4-H in all communities throughout America," said newly elected Trustee Ken Hicks. "4-H helps instill a sense of responsibility, courage and leadership in young people. In order to succeed and prosper as a nation, we need to have young people who have the skills and desire to grow and develop. 4-H can help serve that need. "Mr. Hicks currently serves on the board of Avery Dennison Corporation and the advisory board of The NPD Group, and is a former member of the board of the Retail Industry Leaders Association and Board of Trustees of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Joe Oppold ’96 recently released the book That's a Great Haircut. Introduction: On June 29, 1992, I reported to the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York with a mullet. The longest part of it was already cut off and stashed somewhere back home in Waterloo, Iowa. I knew they were going to shave my head. They did it fast. Zip, zip, zip. It only took about forty-five seconds. There was no small talk with the barber, hell no. I’d had haircuts before, but that was my first great one. Those forty-five seconds marked the start of my push to meet the incredible academic, military, and physical rigors required of a cadet. In the four years I spent at West Point, I learned to live the hallowed words of Duty, Honor, and Country. I became a leader.

Four years later, I sat at Michie Stadium facing the Lusk Reservoir with our class valedictorian to my left and Steve Marshall, my roommate and the male athlete of the year, on my right. There I was—on top of the world, graduating in the top 5 percent of my class from the US Military Academy, and on my way to medical school. My family and friends from high school were there too. I was going to party because this was the best.

Two weeks later, on the night of June 18, I was at home in Waterloo, on leave, with the worst migraine you could ever imagine. It had gone on for days, leaving me bedridden from the intense pain. Finally, it got so bad that I woke Mom around three in the morning. She rushed me to the emergency room where I was diagnosed as having a cerebral aneurysm. I was loaded into an ambulance and taken to Mayo Clinic, St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. On June 24, before undergoing surgery at St. Mary’s, the staff of my surgeon, Dr. Piepgras, shaved my head before the sixteen-hour surgery ahead. That was my second great haircut. It signaled the beginning of the greatest challenge of my life. Read the full book introduction.

LTC(P) Mike Benson an Academy Professor, was promoted to Colonel on Wednesday, 4 January, following the holiday break. BG Jebb promoted LTC(P) Benson, in Arnold Auditorium while family, friends, and colleagues from across West Point watched.

The Association of Energy Engineers named Randy Buckner with Avion Solutions Inc. as “Energy Innovator of the Year.” Buckner accepted the award at the 39th World Energy Engineering Congress at the Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. in December. With its International Awards Program, the Association of Energy Engineers acknowledges the important achievements that individuals, organizations, agencies and corporations are completing in the energy field. “This award is conferred to individuals and organizations that have achieved national and international prominence in promoting the practices and principles of energy engineering and energy management,” AEE Executive Director Albert Thumann said. In just three years, Buckner has transitioned from a newcomer in the energy field to a professional energy engineer in the Huntsville community. He works as Director of Research and Development at Avion.

“Buckner is instrumental in virtually every aspect of the evolving energy market. His passion has changed the landscape for Avion Solutions Inc. and the City of Huntsville and surrounding community,” Thumann said. His personal outreach includes hosting plant tours to school-age groups and volunteering on school advisory boards where he can contribute directly to high school students aspiring to be energy engineers. Even his home is a renewable energy research project. Buckner lives on a farm where he has converted it into a renewable energy center supplying extra power to the grid. He supported a wind tunnel setup in a barn for the 2015 Switchblade Competitions, sponsored by Alabama Center for Clean and Sustainable Energy. Sponsors were U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Center, Alabama sustainable energy and Avion. Buckner continues to energize his community by leading the Better Buildings Challenge at many Huntsville facilities, including the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and Huntsville City Schools campuses. His skills and experience has saved Avion Solutions more than 50 percent of their annual energy bill. Read More

Captain Steven Warner was presented with a Purple Heart Medal on January 16 in Charleston. Warner, now retired, never received the medal while on active duty due to exigent circumstances surrounding the combat situation in Afghanistan. Warner is the son of Secretary of State-elect Mac Warner and wife Debbie, of Morgantown. Warner suffered a traumatic brain injury when a vehicle he was riding in was hit by an IED in April 2010. Warner was previously awarded the Bronze Star at the end of his tour for meritorious service in combat. Read More

LTC Ken Allen, P&NE Academy Professor and Triathlon Team OIC, was named an Ironman Gold All-World Athlete and a USA Triathlon All-American again this year. The Gold AWA represents the top 1% in the world. LTC Allen was ranked 134th out of 15,452 in the world and 52nd out of 3923 in the United States for men 45-49 years old.

In a huge show of support the Class of ’88 had over 50 members converge on Fort Campbell to watch MG Andrew Poppas ’88 take command of the 101st.

The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) welcomed new leadership Thursday as Major General Andrew P. Poppas became the new Commanding General of the 101st and Fort Campbell. Around 10,000 Screaming Eagle soldiers were present at the Division Change of Command Ceremony that took place at the Division Parade Field on Post. General Poppas talked about taking over leadership of the 101st. “It’s truly a humbling experience to stand here today and assume command of this storied division. This is a division whose reputation of combat prowess was born in the most extreme condition of WWII and its legacy of heroism continues on today with the warriors that are standing before you,” he said.

Major General Gary J. Volesky has commanded the 101st since June of 2014 and will soon be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and take command of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. Poppas is no stranger to Fort Campbell; he has served as the commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team “Bastogne” and the Deputy Commanding General for Operations of the 101st. The ceremony included a firing of cannons by a salute battery and a review of the troops by Lieutenant General Stephen J. Townsend, Commanding General of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, General Volesky and General Poppas.

The passing of the colors is one of the major highlights of the Change of Command Ceremony. The colors represent the lineage and honors of the unit as well as the loyalty and unity of the soldiers. It symbolizes the transfer of responsibility and authority from the old commander to the new commander. Read More

Bob McDonald ’75 and Sloan Gibson ’75 Receive Awards and Recognition at DVA Farewell. “As the time comes for the Secretary and me to pass the baton, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you. It has truly been an honor to serve alongside all of you. Because of your efforts, trust in VA is higher than ever before and more Veterans are receiving the care and benefits they have earned than at any time in our history. I am incredibly proud of the irrefutable progress we have made together. Though it was Bob and I who had the privilege of serving as the Department’s leaders for the past few years, it was your unwavering commitment to Veterans that fueled the MyVA transformation. All those years ago at West Point, I never would have imagined that I would have the opportunity to serve with one of my dearest friends at such a pivotal moment. Bob’s passion, integrity, and dedication have made a lasting impact on this Department. The culture he has created will benefit Veterans for generations to come. It has been the privilege of my life to serve alongside this amazing leader and dear friend. I think I speak for us all when I say, Thank you, Bob, for a job well done.” said Sloan Gibson.

The Tewaaraton Foundation was pleased to announce the 2017 Tewaaraton Legends and Spirit honorees. The 11th Spirit of Tewaaraton recipient is Mario St. George Boiardi, and the 2017 Tewaaraton Legends are former Virginia star Cherie Greer Brown and former Army star Pete Cramblet. The Tewaaraton Legends Award annually honors recipients who played college lacrosse prior to 2001, the first year in which the Tewaaraton Award was presented. Recipients are chosen on the basis that their collegiate performance would have earned them a Tewaaraton Trophy, had the award existed when they played. The previous five Legends Award winners are Syracuse's Jim Brown (2011), Cornell's Eamon McEneaney (2012), Johns Hopkins' Joe Cowan (2013), Navy's Jimmy Lewis (2014), Syracuse's Brad Kotz (2015), Maryland's Frank Urso (2016) and Penn State's Candace Finn Rocha (2016). Read More

Effective January 30, 2017 West Point cannot accept driver's licenses from the below states as identification because they are noncompliant with the REAL ID Act. This is not an issue for conducting background checks which include additional data points, but it will be a problem if visitors come when the Visitor Control Center is not open.Visitors from these states who arrive after hours during the week or on the weekends will need to show the guard additional documentation such as a vehicle registration, bill with their name and address on it, or some other corroborating documentation along with their driver's license.

• Kentucky
• Maine
• Minnesota*
• Missouri
• Montana
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Washington*
  *Enhanced driver's licenses from Minnesota and Washington can be accepted.

Find more information about visiting West Point here.

East Coast Warehouse & Distribution, a leading temperature-controlled logistics provider located on the Port of New York/New Jersey and in Philadelphia, has named Adrienne Harrison Senior Director, Customs Examination Services (CES). Adrienne is a talented logistician with more than 13 years of experience in transportation and supply chain operations management, project management and contracting with third party vendors. She is skilled at providing continuous improvement by optimizing operational processes to seamlessly and efficiently deliver products and services to meet customers' needs on time and within established budgets.

"Adrienne is a skilled professional with the experience and knowledge necessary to help our CES division thrive," said Jamie Overley, CEO of East Coast Warehouse. "As we begin 2017 with the full-scale operation of our new Philadelphia CES, it is vital that we have leaders like Adrienne on board, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the team." Adrienne has her Master of Arts in Early American History and her Doctor of Philosophy in Early American History from Rutgers University. She is the author of A Powerful Mind: The Self Education of George Washington (University of Nebraska Press, 2015) and has served as a keynote speaker on the subjects of leadership, leader development and women in leadership roles to organizations such as the Claims and Mitigation Management Alliance, Travelers Insurance, the CLM Women's Leadership Forum and the Denton's Women's Leadership Forum. Read More

Retired GEN Gordon Sullivan, chairman of the board of the Army Historical Foundation and former president of the Association of the U.S. Army, recently gave the keynote address at the Army Scholarship Foundation’s annual Help Our Heroes benefit luncheon in Dallas. The Army Scholarship Foundation was founded in 2001 by members of the USMA Class of 1992 to provide scholarships to deserving sons and daughters of U.S. Army soldiers and Army veterans, and to spouses of enlisted active duty soldiers. Members of the Class of 1992, as well as Classes of 1970 and 1969 remain active in the leadership of the Foundation.

Sullivan spoke to a group of over 200 local civic, government, military and business leaders to include: Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas; former Congressman Alan West; Ambassador Robert Jordan, a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Hon. Alan Clark, former VA director of the National Cemetery Administration; Lt. Gen. Stan Green, USA, Ret.; and a number of active duty and retired officers and senior enlisted soldiers.

Sullivan, the 32nd Army chief of staff, spoke passionately about the many challenges faced by our Army, our soldiers, and their families. The Army has been at war since 2001, and the burden of this long-term fight has weighed heavily on our Army families. Also, the size of our Army is being reduced, yet the long term deployments and combat missions continue unabated, placing an inordinate burden on both our soldiers and our Army families, Sullivan said.

He noted, “As we face these challenges in supporting soldiers, programs to assist our Army family members are particularly important to the force, as is assisting Army families and helping them deal with the stresses and difficulties of being Army family members in time of war and downsizing.” In providing educational assistance to Army family members, the Army Scholarship Foundation serves as a major help to our Army family members seeking to achieve their educational dreams, Sullivan said. He concluded his remarks by thanking the individual and corporate supporters of the Army Scholarship Foundation and noting that their support both helps the morale of our soldiers and families and contributes to the future of our nation.

On the fiftieth anniversary of the battles, Eggleston’s new book has been published and is available for immediate delivery from book sellers. The author is indebted to members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade who included their recollections. Two of these soldiers received the Distinguished Service Cross for their valor. The book summary: Thousands of books and articles have been written about the war in Vietnam. This book tells the story of a series of key battles in Vietnam and how they were influenced by events before them and how they affected the war effort. These decisive battles were called the "Border Battles" in Vietnam and the principal battle occurred at Dak To. These present a story of great valor. This history differs from others that deal with the Vietnam war since tells in detail these decisive battles not documented before in the words of those who served there. The book relies upon records as well as memoirs of Vietnam veterans of Dak To many of which have not been previously published. Other important sources include the memoirs, letters and books written by the key leaders during this period such as Haig, Kissinger, Nixon, Westmoreland, and General Vo Nguyen Giap, the North Vietnamese commander.

Mark Landes was recently promoted to brigadier general. It was the result of many people coming together throughout his life, helping him achieve his goals. “You don’t get anything by yourself,” Landes said. “It’s being in the right place at the right time, but the emphasis is on being with the right people.” He has served 26 years in the military and with this promotion, he has become one of only 400-500 general officers in the U.S., 300 of which are active. “There are great people serving in the military right now,” Landes said, “so it was very humbling.”

As a one-star general officer, Landes now serves as assistant division commander of the 1st Armored Division, located in Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.  His current responsibilities include making sure the soldiers and equipment in his division are always prepared for a potential deployment. “We have people deployed all over,” Landes said. “My job is to make sure that we’re ready at any time.” Landes said all of his accomplishments have been a team effort. From former coaches to friends to military peers, he cites the support of others for helping him get where he is today. “It all started with the great people in Kingsport,” Landes said. “I had great examples growing up, and throughout the military that has continued.” Read More

The Senate confirmed Mike Pompeo to be the new CIA chief. Mr. Pompeo, a congressman from Kansas, was approved on a 66-32 vote. Republican leaders said Mr. Pompeo, a former Army officer who graduated first in his class from West Point, is the right man to chart a path forward for an embattled intelligence community. “I’m not sure that you can find a glove that fits any better — for the agency, for the Congress of the United States, for the administration, but more importantly for the American people,” said Sen. Richard Burr, chairman of the intelligence committee. Each of Mr. Trump’s nominees so far has been subjected to a roll-call vote, and none has been approved unanimously — the first time in the post-Watergate era that a president has faced that kind of opposition. Read More

It is with reverence, reflection and gratitude that Major General (retired) David Morris ’75 steps down as Chairman of the Board of the Green Beret Foundation (GBF), after more than two years of service to the organization.

The Green Beret Foundation is a nationally-focused non-profit dedicated to supporting Green Berets and their families. Connecting Green Berets with the resources they need to succeed in the mission ahead. This is not just a military mission but something that includes Green Berets who are injured, or decide to leave service. For example, if a Green Beret needs to retire due to medical injury, they help with that transition. Under his leadership, the Green Beret Foundation received a “platinum” rating from Guide Star which is a big deal.

“While Morris welcomed the challenge of the work, he is acutely aware of the unique challenges and traumas experienced by Green Berets. He often reflects on his time at West Point as key to his maturation as a military leader. “I have been intensely inspired by meeting with Green Berets that have been injured -- and seeing their positive outlook on life. They move on in a positive way. They are so dedicated and very passionate about what they do,” Morris explained.

During Morris’ leadership, the foundation began arranging aptly named “A-Team” dinners assembling and thanking donors a small group of 12-donors for their generous contributions to Green Berets and their families. Jennifer Pacquette, current Executive Director of the Green Beret Foundation expressed gratitude and appreciation for Morris’ service. “Maj. Gen. Morris did an excellent job as Chairman of the Board. He improved the lives of many Green Berets and their families and we were honored to have him. Most of all, we are glad he will remain involved with the foundation, [Chairman Emeritus]” Jennifer said.