Laura Law-Millet ’94 is the co-founder and director of the GI Film Festival, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to sharing the military experience through film. She is a former Military Intelligence officer with more than 18 years of service and majored in Systems Engineering at the Academy.

Last Night, Laura and the Department of English and Philosophy hosted the GI Film Festival with the screening of four short films and followed with a panel of speakers, including a director and producer. On Thursday, March 27, at 7 p.m., in Arnold Auditorium, the GI Film Festival is presenting a special advanced screening of “Walking with the Enemy,” starring Ben Kingsley and Jonas Armstrong. A Q&A will follow with the film’s director and producer and Dr. David Frey, director of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies from the USMA Department of History. 

These events fall under the department’s Creative Arts Project, which kicked off Tuesday night inside the Haig Room with the “Graffiti of War” art exhibit, available for viewing during normal business hours until March 27. All events are free and open to the public.

(Photo Courtesy of USMA) Laura Law-Millet, Class of 1994, with Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen (left) and Col. Scott Krawczyk (right), professor and head of the Department of English and Philosophy.

Clint Moore ’11 was selected in the 31st round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft after graduating from USMA. During his 60 days of leave after graduation, Moore appeared in 21 games at short-season Class A Eugene, hitting .222, before resuming his military obligation. Now Clint is back with the Padres for the 2014 season, and last night was brought up from the minors to play in his first Major League Baseball game against the Chicago Cubs.

Read the full story from MLB.com here.

Photo: Clint with former Army baseball volunteer coach John Mellon and John's girlfriend Jamie Lawless.

Walt Brinker ’66 has published a unique, short book, "Roadside Survival: Low-Tech Solutions to Automobile Breakdowns.” He is not a mechanic, and most vehicle breakdowns do not require a mechanic. His solutions, with some 56 illustrations, are simple, low tech, easily understood, and permit a disabled vehicle to be driven off an interstate highway or parking lot. Anecdotes from actual assists, several humorous, introduce, illustrate and reinforce concepts and techniques.

There are two kinds of drivers: 1) those who have experienced a disabled vehicle, and 2) those who will. Generally, good luck comes to those who help themselves; this book is for those in that group. Some folks learn only by experiencing inconvenience, embarrassment, and potentially serious risks.  Others make the proactive choice to learn how to prevent problems and the methods to counteract them should they occur. This book provides the opportunity to avoid the negatives associated with becoming stranded.

The book also inspires readers to help others. Along the way, helpers help themselves. Walt says, "I can make any good day better by performing a roadside assist. For me, the rush begins when I first see a disabled vehicle, and the feeling lasts for hours after I am done."

Eleven years after she was kicked out of the military under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, veteran aviator Lissa Young has returned to West Point. Armed with a 2013 Harvard doctorate, at the age of 52, Young is finishing her first semester as an assistant professor teaching general psychology.  Continued

On March 28, 2014 GEN Keith B. Alexander retired from active duty and relinquished command of the U.S. Cyber Command and Director, NSA/Chief, Central Security Service. Alexander holds the distinction of being the longest-serving director of the NSA as well as the first Commander of USCYBERCOM. Classmate GEN Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presided over the ceremony.

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Shortly after defense engineer Brian Lee retired from the Army in 2003 his mother Ruth had open heart surgery to repair a heart valve.  During her recovery, Brian and Ruth discussed the possibility of requesting that her adoption file be unsealed so she might gain some knowledge of her birth parents along with medical history.  In March 2006 the search began and through legal proceedings they were able to obtain her adoption file from 1929.  In late June all 272 pages of the file were provided to Ruth.  After a short internet search, Brian was able to obtain enough contact information and a call to his grandmother was made.  Finally, 77 years and one day later, his mother (now 85) was able to talk to her birthmother Minka Disbrow (102) and they were reunited after what might be the longest known mother-daughter separation. Brian collaborated extensively on the writing of this story with cousin Cathy LaGrow, author of  the upcoming memoir  scheduled for national hardcover release from Tyndale House in May entitled The Waiting. Members of the family will appear on NBC’s Today Show and other media outlets.

After being asked by a recruiter at a job fair what he was going to do to help military Veterans, Mario Barret ’07 started thinking.

He found the answer in a new business model he hopes more Veteran entrepreneurs will adopt. Barrett and his fiancé founded a sock subscription company, Sockwork: Socks With A Purpose. They send subscribers new pairs of socks every month and donate a percentage of profits to several Veteran charities they’ve partnered with. They hope to pioneer a new business model where Veteran entrepreneurs start for-profit companies with a percentage of profits earmarked to donate to a rotating base of Veteran charities. By teaming up, they create a community effect and can provide valuable donations over the long-term. Barrett expects monetary donations to drop for Veteran causes as our nation moves further from its recent wars. When the model catches on, he envisions new streams of donations coming in from Vets who start their own companies.

Last fall, Bob Dean ’53 needed a new kidney. Eight relatives and friends lined up to give him one of their kidneys, but none were a match. In desperation, Bob thought outside of the box and decided to do some advertising. He bought a marker and two wooden boards and wrote twelve simple words on the front and back:

“I need a kidney donor for a transplant. Can you help me?”

On Saturday, October 12, 2013, Bob took to the streets and donned his board on the corner of one of Oklahoma City’s busiest intersections. As drivers passed by, many rolled down their window to speak with Bob, and within 45 minutes, a TV producer from the local ABC affiliate appeared with a camera crew. The producers asked Bob to return to the same intersection the next day, which was Bob’s 84th birthday. Bob was filmed once again conversing with motorists, as he asked the people for help.

That Saturday evening after his first day on the street, and continuing on Sunday and Monday evenings, Bob received calls from over 200 volunteer donors from Florida to Alaska. One of those volunteers was a perfect match, and happened to be a retired US Army Ranger & Green Beret. Today, Bob and the donor are in the process of preparing for the transplant, which Bob expects to occur within the next 4 to 5 weeks.

Bob Dean is a sculptor, painter, composer and pianist, and playwright, but this demonstration of self-help and determination appears to top all. In his gentle and gentlemanly manner, Bob uniquely sought the gift of life, relying on the generous goodness of the American people.

See the video of Bob here.

Webster Bank, a leading regional bank serving businesses and consumers from metro New York City to Boston, Mass., today announced Dawn C. Morris ’90 as its new executive vice president and chief marketing officer. Morris reports directly to Jim Smith, chairman and chief executive officer, and is based in Webster’s corporate headquarters in Waterbury.

“Dawn’s strong background and expertise in community banking and marketing will prove valuable as Webster grows and deepens its relationship with consumers and businesses across our markets,” Smith said. “She will guide our differentiation as a values-guided, community-focused bank that delivers exceptionalcustomer service.”

Most recently, Morris was with Citizens Bank where she served in a variety of roles, including head of Customer Segment Management, Product and Segment Marketing, and Business Banking Product Management. Earlier in her career, Morris worked in a number of business line and marketing roles at RBC Bank in North Carolina.

At Webster, Morris will be responsible for Brand Marketing, Product Management, Database/ProductAnalytics, Marketing Services, Corporate and Government Communications, and Corporate Giving.

Morris is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served as a captain in the Army’s 530th Supply and Service Battalion at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. She has supported her community by serving asa board member and volunteer for several non-profits involving child development and the arts including as aboard member for Marketing EDGE, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate, develop, grow,and employ college students in the field of marketing.

The Board of Directors of TLC Engineering for Architecture, Inc. announces Taw North ’95 has become a shareholder in the firm, recognizing his commitment and contributions to the firm's success to date and in the future.

Taw North, RCDD, LEED AP, Senior Project Manager, joined TLC in 2006 and has had increasing responsibilities in designing and managing projects in the firm's North Florida Regional Office. North is currently working on numerous projects for Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, along with managing the Fulton County Libraries Technology Upgrade. He is involved in the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), the U.S. Green Building Council, North Florida Chapter (USGBC) and the Florida Healthcare Engineers Association (FHEA). North is a 1995 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, has served in the U.S. Army and excels in leadership capabilities. He, his wife Lisa and sons Parker and Dylan live in Jacksonville. 

Chuck Friedlander got to experience the American space program of the 1960s in a way that few could.  As Chief of the Astronaut Support Office at Kennedy Space Center during the Gemini and early Apollo programs, he worked behind-the-scenes with the astronauts that flew the vehicles and who eventually walked on the Moon.  His story, along with some personal, behind-the-scenes remembrances of the space program, were recently featured in the Volume 21#1 issue of “Quest: The History of Spaceflight.”

West Point Thoroughbreds – the company operated by Terry Finley ’86 – will have two horses running in the Kentucky Derby this year. Ring Weekend, owned by Vinnie Viola ’77 along with Commanding Curve will compete for the coveted cup on May 2nd and 3rd. 

So grab a mint julep, don your finest hat, and cheer on the horses in this year’s Run for the Roses. Watch videos of the horses and read the full article about the West Point Thoroughbreds here.

Look who’s turning 20… it’s the Service Academy Career Conference (SACC), which was first held from April 28-30, 1994, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, in Arlington, VA—a West Coast SACC was held later that year in San Diego, CA. Reports show that approximately 2,000 service academy graduates attended these conferences, and they were recruited by a total of 75 companies. Two decades later, SACC has expanded to four locations, and now 75 or so recruiters attend each conference. The next SACC will be in Washington, DC, on May 29 and 30, and it will mark the conference’s anniversary. If you are a grad planning to transition from military service to a civilian career, then you won’t want to miss the party in our Nation’s capital. Shell Oil, General Electric, Procter & Gamble, and other great companies will be there, and so should you.

Josh Ewing ’09, who attended the March 2014 SACC held in Savannah, GA, walked away very impressed with the conference. “I could not believe how helpful it was to attend,” he says. “I have messaged my fellow classmates to inform them of the SACC and stressed to them how necessary it is to attend.”

Other grads shared similar sentiments. “SACC is a great opportunity for wide exposure without going through an employment agency,” said one. “I have attended two career conferences in the past, and the SACC is by far the most promising,” said another.

In a survey of West Point graduates who attended the Savannah SACC, 100 percent of them answered “yes” to the question: “Would you recommend SACC to a fellow Academy graduate?”

So if you are, or soon will be, in the job market, be sure to attend the next SACC coming in May.  You don’t have to bring anything to mark the anniversary of SACC except your resume, and you might be the one coming way with a gift—you next career!

SACC is organized and hosted by the West Point Association of Graduates along with the alumni associations of the other service academies. Click here for more information about SACC, including registration details.

To a West Point graduate, only one motto really matters: “Duty, Honor, Country.” USAA has partnered with the West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) to offer a credit card that reflects that motto. You know USAA; it’s the financial company that serves those who serve, and it has been doing so for nearly 100 years. And you know WPAOG; it’s the alumni association that’s been supporting graduates of the Long Gray Line for nearly 150 years.

Apply for the USAA credit card (available either as an American Express or MasterCard) and receive a low variable rate, reward points, and no redemption fees. Best of all, each time you purchase goods and services with your USAA credit card you will be helping WPAOG support cadet programs and alumni services. That’s because a portion of the proceeds generated by the use of the USAA credit card is returned to WPAOG. Imagine: “Duty, Honor, Country” with a simple swipe of your card.

Check out all of WPAOG’s affinity programs to see all the perks available to you as a West Point graduate.

Capt. Alejandro Villanueva ’10 has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. The U.S. Army Airborne Ranger has served three tours in Afghanistan and has earned several awards including a Bronze Star Medal for Valor, Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Expert Infantryman’s Badge. From the battlegrounds in Afghanistan to the gridiron in the City of Brotherly Love, Alejandro Villanueva has an incredible story to tell... Read more.

Krysta K. Cass ’10, a native of New Britain, Connecticut and a graduate of the United States Military Academy, earned the rank of Army captain May 1 during a promotion ceremony hosted by Col. Tom Tickner, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District.

Cass joined the Savannah District in January as a support officer to the Regulatory Division, which manages an extensive stream and wetland permitting program within the state of Georgia.

Before joining the Corps of Engineers, she served various roles with the 984th Engineer Company as a platoon leader, executive officer, and most recently the 92nd Engineer Battalion logistics officer. Cass deployed twice to Afghanistan with the 92nd Engineer Battalion in 2011 and 2013. She graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology.

Cass is scheduled to attend the Engineer Captain's Career Course this October at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. She is also currently pursuing a master's degree in physiology/physician assistant studies.

Scott Leishman ’77 has joined CrossPoint Consulting Inc., an executive recruiting firm specializing in the placement of permanent and contractor positions in IT, business to business sales and management.

Leishman has been an executive recruiter for 8 years. After serving 5 years in the Army, Leishman held sales and marketing positions at Pfizer for 10 years. When he graduated Fordham Law School, he moved to legal publisher Matthew Bender. He also worked at venture capital firm Spencer Task. His national executive recruiting practice focuses on sales, management and technical positions with which he has had years of experience. He is always happy to provide guidance to transitioning military.

The Logan County Board of Education has announced the selection of Dr. Kevin F. Hub ’89 as their next superintendent of schools.

Dr. Hub is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and Environmental Geography, Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond with a Masters of Arts in Education degree in Geography Education, and Spalding University in Louisville with a Doctorate in Education in Leadership Education. He is currently serving as Assistant Superintendent and Chief Operating Officer for Madison County Schools in Richmond, Kentucky and is in his 20th year in education after serving in the military for 40 months of active duty including a six month tour in Desert Storm.

Dr. Hub began teaching geography and mathematics at Madison Central High School in August of 1994, became their assistant principal in January of 2000, and has been assistant superintendent since 2004. Current Madison County superintendent Elmer Thomas describes Hub as “an exceptional leader who will hit the ground running in an already exceptional district.

In response to his selection as the new superintendent of the school district Dr. Hub said, “I am honored to be selected by the Logan County Board of Education. They have created a student-centered culture of excellence, built on a strong foundation of parent and community support. Their teachers, leaders and support staff are some of the finest in Kentucky.”

Dr. Hub begin his tenure as superintendent on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, following the retirement of Marshall H. Kemp, who has served the district as superintendent for the past fifteen years.

U.S. Army Ranger First Lieutenant Dimitri del Castillo was killed in action on June 25, 2011 in Kunar Province, Afghanistan while serving with the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

Dimitri was on the radio calling in support while his platoon was attacked by an enemy force small arms fire. Despite being shot and gravely wounded, he refused to give up the microphone and continued to call for support as he passed away. Dimitri, who had just turned 24, married his 2009 classmate, Captain Katie Pulliam del Castillo, prior to his deployment to Afghanistan. He is the nephew of Colonel Toney Filostrat, Class of 1993.  

Dimitri is buried at the West Point Cemetery next to his friend and classmate, First Lieutenant Daren Hidalgo. Established by his family, the First Lieutenant Dimitri del Castillo Scholarship is a memorial to Dimitri’s selfless service and ultimate sacrifice to our Nation.

Supported by private and public donations, the scholarship provides educational assistance to family members of fallen U.S. Army Rangers. In just two years, the scholarship has exceeded $200,000 in donations and awarded nine scholarships totaling $45,000. The U.S. Army Ranger Association manages the scholarship fund on behalf of the del Castillo family, and 100% of donations go toward the scholarships provided. 

For the second year in a row, the weather was perfect as alumni returned home to partake in the traditional ceremonies that kick off Graduation Week. First, there was the annual alumni luncheon, during which the West Point Association of Graduates recognized five more members of the Long Gray Line as “Distinguished Graduates”: LTG (R) Robert Pursley ’49, COL (R) William DeGraf ’50, Mr. Fred Malek ’59, Mr. Paul “Buddy” Bucha ’65, and LTG (R) Franklin “Buster” Hagenbeck ’71 (read their bios here). Edward C. Meyer ’51, former Chairman of WPAOG, devised the Award in the early-1990s to recognize those graduates whose character, service, and stature draws wholesome comparisons to the qualities for which West Point strives—Duty, Honor, Country. Reflecting on his Award, Hagenbeck, a former Superintendent (2006-10), said, “I’ve sat on the selection committee for this award even before I became Superintendent, so I know how selective the group is, and of all the well-qualified graduates, it is very humbling to be recognized as one of the ‘Distinguished.’” DeGraf also felt it was a great honor to be selected. “This means a great deal to me personally,” said this Distinguished Graduate who was twice medically rejected for admission to the Academy before making it on his third attempt after receiving a battlefield commission in World War II. “Ever since I was a young, I just always wanted to be a West Pointer.” Malek credited West Point with building his character as a leader in the fields of business, politics, and philanthropy. “The line in the Cadet Prayer says it all—‘having the courage to choose the harder right versus the easier wrong’—it is a lesson West Point taught me that has made me who I am today,” he said.

After the luncheon, the Distinguished Graduates joined other graduates, including those from the Classes of 1939, 1944, 1949, and 1964, who returned to their alma mater for their reunions, in a procession to Thayer Statue to place a wreath at its base. BG (R) Henry Newcomer ’39, 97-years young, led the Long Gray Line to the monument of the Father of the Military Academy. Afterwards, all the graduates watched as the Corps of Cadets marched in their full-dress gray uniforms for the Alumni Review parade. Hagenbeck, who has seen numerous such ceremonies as Superintendent, summed up the day by saying, “I never get tired of being at West Point; everything is just awe inspiring.” 

View photos of the DGA event here.