The Rimington Trophy Committee proudly announced Lieutenant General (R) Robert L. Caslen, Jr. '75 as the 13th recipient of the Gerald R. Ford Legends Award for his distinguished service and leadership in the U.S. armed forces.

After being created in 2005 by the Rimington Trophy and the office of President Gerald R. Ford, the Ford Legends Award has been presented annually to a former collegiate or professional center who, like the award's namesake, distinguished himself above and beyond the football field.

"I am honored to receive this award, particularly under the namesake of President Gerald R. Ford," Caslen said." Knowing the character of President Ford and what he stood for makes it even more special. I have always admired how he filled in as our President when our Nation needed him the most. And it was an honor to have had him as my West Point class' graduation speaker in 1975. I also want to thank the Boomer Esiason Foundation for the work that they do with this award, and I look forward to working with them as well." Read More

Hiring for Heroes presented The Presidential Award to the Honorable R. Jim Nicholson for a lifetime of commitment and service to veterans and military families. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, Nicholson's reputation of caring for those in need spans decades public and private service dedicated to our country as well as our service members and their families.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is in recognition of Nicholson's sustained support of our nation's veterans and military families. As U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, and significantly, as secretary of Veterans Affairs, both in the George W. Bush administration, Nicholson has always been keenly aware of the hardships and sacrifices made by America's service members and their families and is committed to helping them.

The Hiring Our Heroes program, which he co-founded, facilitates the hiring of veterans and military spouses by private industry. The program has helped more than 30,000 veterans and military spouses find jobs.

"The best thing the private sector can do for veterans is to hire them," said Nicholson. "There is nothing more fulfilling than being able to take care of yourself and your family. And, it's a great opportunity for employers: young veterans are all volunteers who are self-disciplined, mission-focused, have an excellent esprit de corps, and offer many valuable tangible and intangible skills."

"I'm proud to be a part of this effort," he noted.

A. Rhodes Wilson of ARW Wealth Management has earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) professional designation from The American College of Financial Services, Bryn Mawr, PA. Candidates for the CLU designation must complete a minimum of eight courses and 16 hours of supervised examinations. They must also fulfill stringent experience and ethics requirements.

The Chartered Life Underwriter is the highest standard of knowledge and trust and the world's most respected designation of insurance expertise. The College's founder, University of Pennsylvania Wharton School professor Solomon S. Huebner, Ph.D., created the CLU program to meet the career education needs of men and women in life insurance and related financial services. This prestigious course of study provides professionals with in-depth knowledge on the insurance needs of individuals, families and business owners. Once the program is completed, a CLU can provide expert advice on a broad range of financial topics.

At the WPAOG Annual Meeting today, November 20, 2018, the following members were elected to positions on the Board of Directors and the Advisory Council.

To serve their terms from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021:

Directors
Charles C. Correll Jr. ’89  (2,802 votes)
Katherine Ward Kohler ’96  (2,824 votes)
John H. Northrop ’72  (2,847 votes)
Scott M. Sauer ’86  (2,793 votes)
Guy C. Swan III ’76  (2,899 votes)

Advisors-at-Large
Sahm D. Cho ’11  (2,537 votes)
Douglass S. Heckman ’81  (2,554 votes)
John R. Martin ’74  (2,618 votes)
Craig D. Morrow ’91 (2,560 votes)
David E. Palamar ’82  (2,523 votes)
Kathryn K. Pegues ’02  (2,560 votes)

During the opening ceremonies of the Washington Redskin's game on October 21, 2018 CEO Bob Eisiminger '88 and SVP Justin Kuzemka of Knight Point Systems, a premier provider of IT services and innovative cloud solution (a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned business), presented a $50K check to the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, accepted on behalf by MaryEllen Picciuto. The money donated by Knight Point Systems will provide 50 computers for children of fallen soldiers through the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund.

The following classes have added updates this week and last to their Class Notes pages. 1959 | 1961 | 1972 | 1975 | 1982 | 1988 | 1992. Class Notes

WPAOG sends warm wishes for a very happy Thanksgiving! During this season of gratitude, we wish to express our sincere thanks for all that you do for West Point.

LTC(R) Bryan Price, Ph.D., has been appointed Executive Director of Seton Hall University's new Buccino Leadership Institute, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary undergraduate leadership program. Price is the recipient the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, three Meritorious Service Medals and two Air Medals.

"Leadership is 100 percent a necessary skill set," said Price. "Our world is so complex but also so integrated that we need leaders in all types of disciplines. This is one of the unique aspects that this program brings to bear. It's those light bulb moments when we might be talking about an aspect of leadership in diplomacy and where that nursing student will say, 'Wait a second. I can apply that concept in my own realm.' That's where the magic is already happening."

He added, "The concept of leadership can sometimes be intimidating to people, particularly to younger people. If they don't necessarily have some special skill or superpower in academics or on an athletic field, they feel that they can't be a leader. That's one of the things we're trying to dispel with our program. Are leaders born or are they made? Just as with other traits, some people are born with leadership capability, but I also know that a capability can be taught and developed in all of us."

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame announced on that Steve Cannon will be honored as the organization's Outstanding American for 2019. The Hall of Fame's Outstanding American award is presented to those individuals who have used the disciplines of wrestling to launch notable careers in other walks of life, such as science and technology, business and industry, government and the military, and the arts and humanities.

"Steve Cannon epitomizes what the honor of Outstanding American symbolizes to our Hall of Fame, sport and nation," said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "He has distinguished his life by example and is the type of role model we can hope future generations will seek to emulate."

Cannon was captain of both the football and wrestling teams at Ramapo High School in Wyckoff, New Jersey, earning All-State honors in football and All-County honors in wrestling. He lettered two years in wrestling at the West Point and scored a perfect score on every Army Physical Fitness Test for four years. Leading into his firstie year, he was selected to lead Cadet Basic Training and later earned the position of Cadet Regimental Commander for 4th Regiment, placing 1,000 cadets under Cannon's leadership. Read More

Brian G. Shellum received a positive review by Tom Ricks in the New York Times of his book African American Officers in Liberia: A Pestiferous Rotation, 1910-1942.

"I’ve been a student of the American military for nearly three decades, but until I picked up African American Officers in Liberia: A Pestiferous Rotation, 1910-1942, I didn’t know that for several decades in the early 20th century, the United States Army had a training, advising and leading mission in Liberia. What’s more, most of the officers who carried out the mission were black Americans. Brian G. Shellum, a retired Army tank and intelligence officer, does a workmanlike job of relating this neglected tale."

"The American effort in Liberia had a dual purpose: to fend off encroaching colonial powers, but also to help the 15,000 former American slaves who colonized Liberia to subjugate the approximately 730,000 indigenous people who resented the newcomers. One of the most effective American advisers was Col. Charles Young, who was born a slave in Kentucky in 1864, fought for the Army in the Philippines, was briefly acting superintendent of Sequoia National Park, was active in the N.A.A.C.P. and wound up serving repeated tours in Africa."

"The book is instructive in the multiple hazards and difficulties of foreign training missions. Liberian government officials wanted to have a military force, but feared having one that was too effective. In a terrible irony, at one point they shunted aside the American advisers and used their own troops to round up indigenous people, who then were shipped to forced labor camps elsewhere in West Africa."

African American Officers in Liberia tells the story of seventeen African American officers who trained, reorganized, and commanded the Liberian Frontier Force from 1910 to 1942. In this West African country founded by freed black American slaves, African American officers performed their duties as instruments of imperialism for a country that was, at best, ambivalent about having them serve under arms at home and abroad.

Lieutenant General Todd Semonite, P.E., M.ASCE, and Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), will be honored by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) as one of five Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) Award winners for 2019. LTG Semonite is honored in the Construction category. The award recognizes LTG Semonite's extraordinary contributions to the civil engineering industry and throughout his career in USACE, where he has spent 14 years of his 39-year military and engineering career, and will be presented on March 14, 2019 during ASCE's annual OPAL Gala in Arlington, VA.

LTG Semonite is recognized for being the epitome of an outstanding leader with high integrity and energy and passion for the mission. During his time in USACE, he has been recognized for his outstanding leadership in response to four hurricanes affecting Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Louisiana and Mississippi, in addition to wildfires and mudslides in Northern and Southern California. The lieutenant general readily took the task of leading USACE members to repair and restore the Puerto Rican electrical grid, which is typically a Department of Energy mission.

"Lieutenant General Semonite exemplifies the values of integrity, engaged leadership, and persistence, which is exactly what we are looking for in the OPAL Award for Construction," said Robin A. Kemper, P.E., LEED AP, F.SEI, F.ASCE, President, American Society of Civil Engineers. "His leadership and ability to respond quickly to natural disasters with plans in place demonstrates his knowledge and hard work in the civil engineering field."

LTG Semonite has received an abundance of prestigious awards including two awards for the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Award, five awards for the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, seven awards for Meritorious Service Medal, three awards for Army Commendation Medal and others.

The following classes have added updates this week to their Class Notes pages. 1949 | 1956 | 1965 | 1966 | 1974 | 1976 | 1979 | 1986 | 1988 | 1993 | 1998 | 2009 | 2011 | 2012. Class Notes

Joe Marino has been named the new Executive Director at Veterans Florida, a non-profit corporation dedicated to helping veterans transition into civilian life. As executive director, Marino will oversee the administration, programs and the corporations strategic plan of the organization.

Veterans Florida aims to reinforce Florida's standing as the most veteran-friendly state in the nation by helping veterans develop and implement the skills needed by Florida employers. The non-profit organization provides veteran-friendly education and programs designed to maximize veteran employment opportunities. For veterans wishing to start their own business, the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program provides them the necessary knowledge to successfully launch and operate a company.

"Marino brings a wealth of talent and knowledge to this organization," said Jim Sampey, Chair of the Board of Directors for Veterans Florida. "This position requires the leadership and organizational skills that Joe possesses. As a graduate of West Point and former Army officer with experience in both the private sector and state government, he is a huge asset to Veterans Florida."

"I am very honored to be appointed to this position,” said Joe Marino, Executive Director of Veterans Florida, “I fully believe in the mission behind Veterans Florida and leading this organization is a huge privilege." Read More

The Soyuz MS-11 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space Station at 6:31 a.m. EST Monday, December 3 (5:31 p.m. in Baikonur) and have safely reached orbit. At the time of launch, the station was flying about 250 miles over central Kazakhstan southwest of the capital of Astana, 405 miles ahead of the Soyuz as it leaves the launch pad. NASA astronaut Anne McClain, David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency, and Oleg Konenenko of the Russian space agency Roscosmos have begun their six-hour trip to the orbital laboratory where they will live and work for the next six-and-a-half months. The arrival will briefly restore the station’s crew complement to six as they join Serena Auñón-Chancellor of NASA, Expedition 57 Commander Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency) and Sergey Prokopyev of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, who are scheduled to remain aboard the station until December 20. Read More

New York Army National Guard Col. John Andonie was promoted to brigadier general during a ceremony at the state Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters in Latham. Major Gen. Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, promoted Andonie during the ceremony. Andonie became the New York National Guard director of Joint Staff, responsible for coordinating joint Army and Air National Guard operations.

"People are the most important resource of the Army and the New York National Guard," Andonie said after he was promoted. "But those good, hard-working people need to work together as a team to accomplish important missions for the state and nation."

As a member of the 42nd Infantry Division he served as chief of plans, deputy operations and operations officer. In 2004-2005 he deployed to Tikrit, Iraq, as the deputy operations officer of the 42nd Infantry Division. After returning from Iraq he served as the commander of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry — New York City's famous "Fighting 69th" — and as the deputy joint operations and operations officer for the New York National Guard.

He has earned a Bronze Star, a Meritorious Service Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, and a Parachutists Badge. He also earned an Order of St. George, which is presented to outstanding armor officer, and the Order of St. Maurice, which is awarded to infantry officers who have distinguished themselves. Read More

The following classes have added updates last week to their Class Notes pages. 1959 | 1968 | 1971 | 1974 | 1989 | 1993 | 2002. Class Notes

Randy Birchfield has been named the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of e-TeleQuote Insurance, Inc. Birchfield brings 20 years of executive experience in the insurance industry to the company focused on helping people with their Medicare needs.

Before joining e-TeleQuote as COO, Birchfield served as President, CEO, and COO of Protective Insurance. His long history in the insurance industry also includes senior leadership roles at Allstate Insurance Company, Farmers Insurance Company, American International Group, Progressive Insurance Company and others. He has also exercised his leadership skills to perform crisis management consulting with Deloitte & Touche and to serve as CEO for two troubled manufacturing businesses.

"I'm excited to move into the distribution side of the insurance business. The Medicare market is uniquely attractive to me. With the changing demographics, more and more people need help with Medicare and I am eager to take on that challenge. Moving back to my hometown is a nice bonus as well." Said Birchfield. Read More

Jonathan Astashinsky has published his first book, The Nine Bishops, the first book of a trilogy. On the verge of 18, Mika is preparing, with the help of her kindly uncle Sam, to run away from the circus where she toils as a member of the despised, magic-less class known as the Filth. Then a terrible accident unleashes powerful magic Mika had no idea she possessed. It's a discovery that will separate her from everything she has known, sending her on an arduous journey through the Kingdom of Seemos, through mystical dreams, through incredible tests of her wits, courage, and powers, and on the path to realizing her true destiny. This book is available on Amazon.

Colonel Scott Cottrell has published, Kwajalein Chaos: All Enemies Foreign and Domestic. A Latin American drug cartel, an Islamic terrorist group, and China and Russia form a secret cabal bent on shocking the US while they take what they want across the globe. With the President focused on securing a trade agreement with China, with or without Senate approval, his actions put Reagan Test Site at risk and ignite the tinderbox of the South China Sea. Colonel Seth Grayson and the senior officers at the Pentagon must weigh their oath of office to support and defend the constitution against orders from their commander in chief which run contrary to the constitution. Their faith is tested as they move to defend Kwajalein and secure international trade routes in the South China Sea against the wishes of the POTUS. This book is available on Amazon.

George Fink has been named Managing Director at BRG in its New York office. He has over twenty years of expert construction consulting experience and forty years of industry experience. This experience spans project management, scheduling, inspection, and coordination on transportation, residential and housing, education, hotel and hospitality, federal, courts and corrections, wastewater, healthcare, and energy projects.

He has specialized in the proper application of scheduling and project controls on major construction projects and programs, as well as preparation and presentation of claims for schedule delays and associated costs. He is an expert in schedule delay analysis and has worked with owners and contractors to dispute construction claims and prepare requests for additional time and compensation.

Mr. Fink has coordinated, designed, and implemented management information systems on numerous billion-dollar programs, including one that was awarded the New York City Mayor's Technology Award in 2002. He has trained in-house and contractor personnel in proper scheduling techniques.