Alumni

Leave a Lasting Legacy

Help Build Tomorrow’s Leaders

Now more than ever, our country needs young men of women of character. At this moment, young cadets are being forged into the next generation of leaders—just like you were, many years ago. In fact, it is your legacy that drives them, the example of those who have graduated and gone onto become great men and women of character.

The support of alumni like you is what makes it possible for tomorrow’s leaders to graduate from Valley Forge today.

We at Valley Forge are more committed than ever to forging futures of success. But we can’t do it without you.

Read the May-June 2021 edition of The Forge.

 

The Valley Forge Alumni Association

For years, our alumni have maintained their legacy through the Valley Forge Alumni Association. They connect with other alumni, who know and share the same values they learned as cadets, and they work together to give back to the next generations.

Join the Alumni Association today and stay connected with former cadets like yourself, and ensure the Valley Forge legacy endures.

Share Your Story

We would love to hear your story, about how Valley Forge has shaped your life and career. Contact us to share your story.

Notable Alumni

Laurentino Cortizo ’72C, President of Panama
General Gustave F. Perna USA ’81C

General Gustave F. Perna, USA ’81C has taken command of the Army Materiel Command at Redstone Arsenal on Thursday September 9, 2016 and promoted to the rank of General. His previous duties were as the U.S. Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, where he oversaw policies and procedures used by 270,000 Army logisticians throughout the world. Prior to joining the Army staff, he served for two years as Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/4, U.S. Army Materiel Command, one of the Army’s largest commands with 70,000 employees impacting all 50 states and 155 countries.

General Perna’s other command assignments include: Commander, Joint Munitions Command and Joint Munitions and Lethality Lifecycle Management Command, responsible for the lifecycle management of $40 billion of conventional ammunition; Commander, Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Defense Logistics Agency, responsible for the procurement of more than $14.5 billion worth of food, clothing, textiles, medicines, medical supplies, construction and equipment items for America’s Warfighters and other customers worldwide; Commander, 4th Sustainment Brigade, where he deployed the brigade to combat operations during OIF 05 – 07; Commander, 64th Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado, where he deployed the battalion to combat operations during OIF 05-07; Deputy Commanding Officer, 64th Corps Support Group, 13th Corps Support Command, Fort Hood, Texas; and Commander, B Company, 143rd Ordnance Battalion, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

Larry Fitzgerald ’02
Lieutenant General H. R. McMaster USA ’80

Lieutenant General Herbert Raymond McMaster USA, ’80 (born July 24, 1962 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American soldier, and a career officer in the U.S. Army. His current assignment is Director, Army Capabilities Integration Center and Deputy Commanding General, Futures, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. His previous assignment was commander of the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Ft. Benning, Georgia. McMaster previously served as Director of Combined Joint Interagency Task Force-Shafafiyat (CJIATF-Shafafiyat) (Transparency) at ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) Headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan. He is known for his roles in the Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and his reputation for questioning U.S. policy and military leaders regarding the Vietnam War.

J. D. Salinger ’36
Lieutenant General Milton Grafly Baker, Pennsylvania Guard (Ret.)
Founder of Valley Forge Military Academy and College

LTG Milton Grafly Baker, Pennsylvania Reserve National Guard, (Ret.), founded Valley Forge Military Academy & College in 1928 and was active as the Superintendent and Superintendent Emeritus President until his death in 1976. During this time, LTG Baker produced quality young officers for the Armed Services of the United States from VFMAC and graduated some of the most successful people from business, literature, the arts, politics and the military in the world.

LTG Baker served as an aide to General of the Armies John J. “Black Jack” Pershing during World War I and then as a member of the Selective Service Board during World War II under the appointment of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the regional coordinator of Civil Defense activities and later on the Defense Department’s Reserve Policy Board under Secretary of Defense Charles Wilson

LTG Baker established friendships and patronage for Valley Forge from Generals George C. Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Matthew B. Ridgway, and many more. To this day LTG Baker is considered a legend at the Academy and College and will remain so as long as there are alumni and cadets to remember his accomplishments. Following the Devon fire in 1929 he founded the Order of Anthony Wayne.

Aaron Beasley ’92
Professional Athlete (NFL)
Lieutenant General James A. Brabham Jr., USMC ’57

At the time of his retirement, Lieutenant General James A. Brabham Jr., USMC ’57 was serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics His decorations and medals include: the Distinguished Service Medal; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal; Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” and gold stars in lieu of a second and third award; Navy Achievement Medal; Presidential Unit Citation; Navy Unit Commendation; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Vietnam Service Medal; Southwest Asia Service Medal; Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with gold star; Vietnamese Honor Medal, 1st Class; Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Color); Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions Color, 1st Class); the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.

C. Kristian B. Bruun ’97
Actor
Alan R. Buckwalter, III ’66
Banking Industry Executive
James C. Cappers ’86
Working on the 94th Floor of the North Tower on 9/11.
Rafael Hernández Colón ’54
Former Governor of Puerto Rico
Chris Doleman ’81
Professional Athlete / NFL Hall of Fame
Judge Jan E. DuBois ’48
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Daniel Fabrega ’93
Ambassador to Great Britain from Panama
William R. Floyd, Jr. ’63
Business Leader and Former Chairman of the VFMAC Board of Trustees

William R. Floyd, Jr. is a former Chairman of the Board of Valley Forge Military Academy & College, and also is a 1963 graduate of the Academy. He served in the Fifth Infantry Division (U.S. Army), before beginning his career. He quickly rose to senior management positions, ultimately becoming the Chief Operating Officer of both Taco Bell and KFC. Mr. Floyd has served as President/CEO of Choice Hotels International, Chairman and CEO of Beverly Enterprises, Inc., and Chairman/CEO of Physiotherapy Associates. In addition to his recent service on the VFMA&C Board of Trustees, he serves on numerous corporate and non-profit boards.

Paul E. Galanti ’57
Former Prisoner of War, Motivational Speaker
Lieutenant General Wallace C. Gregson, Jr., USMC (Ret.) ’64

LTG Wallace C. Gregson, Jr., USMC (Ret.) ’64 was Japan’s top Marine and was to become commander of all Marines in the Pacific during the Presidency of George H.W. Bush.

President Bush had nominated Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Wallace C. Gregson Jr. ’64 for assignment as commander, U.S. Marine Forces Pacific; commanding general, Fleet Marine Force Pacific; and commander, Marine Corps Bases Pacific, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. It is the largest field command in the Marine Corps, covering an area of 105 million square miles, from pole to pole and from the U.S. West Coast to the Arabian Sea. The peacetime combat forces and supporting installations include more than 80,000 Marines and sailors.

LTG Gregson, a 1968 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, currently is serving as commander of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. He also wears the hats of commander, Marine Forces Japan and commander, Marine Corps Bases Japan, and is the Okinawa area coordinator, the top-ranked U.S. general on the island.

Karl Hankton ’90
Professional Athlete (NFL)
Richard Hocker
Chief Executive Officer, Penn Capital

Mr. Hocker founded Penn Capital in 1987 and serves as Chief Investment Officer & Chief Executive Officer, guiding overall portfolio strategy. He also leads the firm’s Executive Committee which drives overall strategy and management of the firm. Mr. Hocker’s investing and institutional non-investment grade corporate lending experience spans over forty years. While serving as a Partner for Delaware Investment Advisors (DIA) from 1977 to 1987, Mr. Hocker was responsible for building the investment side of DIA’s fixed income operation. During this period, Mr. Hocker developed and managed one of the nation’s first high yield mutual funds, the Delchester High Yield Bond Fund. Mr. Hocker also served as the first high yield bond manager for a number of institutional clients including General Motors, State of Vermont Teachers Retirement Association, and Colorado Fire and Police. Mr. Hocker began his career at Provident National Bank (now PNC) completing the Commercial Loan/Credit ‎Training program and working with Senior Lenders as a Credit Analyst supporting Middle Market lending. He later transferred to the Investment Division ultimately becoming head of that division. Mr. Hocker also founded and served as CEO of Covenant Bank, a NJ-based regional bank which grew to 16 branches and $500mm in deposits before being acquired by Wachovia Corporation in 1997.

Mr. Hocker and his wife, Marcia Hocker, are the founders of the Ethel Mae Hocker Foundation. The Ethel Mae Hocker Foundation provides educational opportunities to less fortunate, deserving Greater Philadelphia-area elementary and high school students. Mr. Hocker received both his BS in Accounting and MBA in Finance from the Kogod School of Business at American University.

Lieutenant General Michael Linnington USA (Ret.) ’76
CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project®

LTG Michael S. Linnington USA (Ret.) ’76 led the U.S. government’s efforts to research, investigate, recover and identify our nation’s missing/unaccounted for personnel from our nation’s past conflicts. Prior to his retirement from U.S. Army as a Lieutenant General, Mr. Linnington served as the Military Deputy to the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) and as the Commanding General of the Military District of Washington/Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region. He also held General Officer positions of responsibility as Deputy Commanding General at Fort Benning, Ga.; Commandant of Cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.; and Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Policy for the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command (IJC) in Kabul, Afghanistan.

LTG Linnington’s combat tours include command of the Third Brigade Combat Team, 101 st Airborne Division in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is an Airborne, Air Assault, Pathfinder and Ranger qualified officer, and earned the Expert Infantryman’s Badge and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. LTG. Linnington graduated Valley Forge Military Academy in 1976 and then attended the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, N. Y. He earned a master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master’s degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College.

The Wounded Warrior Project ® (WWP) Board of Directors today announced the appointment of Michael S. Linnington to the position of Chief Executive Officer, effective July 18, 2016.

Michael Lombardi ’77
Super Bowl winning NFL Executive for the New England Patriots
Lieutenant General Milton H. Medenbach, USA, PAANG ’41H

LTG Milton H. Medenbach, USA, PAANG ’41H was Commandant of Cadets, Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent and President Emeritus of Valley Forge Military Academy and College. LTG Medenbach was a fixture at Valley Forge for many years and established many of the Customs and Traditions used at the Forge today. He was also a Member of the Order of Anthony Wayne.

Wes Moore ’96 ’98C
Rhodes Scholar & White House Fellowship
Bob Mensch ’65C
Pennsylvania State Senator
Sydney Offit ’46
Author
Julian Peterson ’98C
Professional Athlete (NFL)
Durrell V. Pearsall, Jr. ’86
New York Fire Fighter died saving lives in the 9/11 World Trade Center
Mike Ricketts
CEO of QPSI

Mike (Kenneth) Ricketts founded QPSI in 1992 and has grown the company to its current global position, both organically and through strategic acquisitions. As a result, QPSI is currently the largest privately owned contract packaging company in the USA. Mike’s keen eye for innovative businesses has driven his involvement in a variety of projects that span beyond the QPSI enterprise. That includes the successful startup of PEP, a project management company skilled at executing marketing promotions from award to launch. Similarly, he has channeled his passion for leadership beyond his companies, by mentoring young athletes and aspiring business people toward achieving their personal and professional goals. Mike is the majority owner of QPSI and serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer for QPSI’s Board of Directors.

Admiral Gary Roughead USN (Ret.) ’69

Admiral Gary Roughead USN (Ret.) ’69 29 th Chief of Naval Operations, Commander United States Pacific Fleet, Commanding Admiral U.S. He was Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group Two and the USS George Washington (CVN-73) Carrier Battle Group, deploying to the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea. His latest assignment afloat was as Commander, U.S. Second Fleet and Commander, NATO Striking Fleet Atlantic and Commander, Naval Forces North Fleet East in Norfolk, Virginia; he was nominated to head the Fleet Forces Command on March 19, 2007. Admiral Roughead also served as Commandant of Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.

Admiral Roughead was the Regimental Adjutant and Cadet Captain and member of the Honor Council. He received the highest award being inducted into the Order of Anthony Wayne.

Warren B. Rudman ’48
Former U.S. Senator
General H. Norman Schwarzkopf USA (Ret.) ’52

General H. Norman Schwarzkopf USA (Ret.) ’52 TAPS was a United States Army general. While serving as Commander-in-Chief, United States Central Command, he led all coalition forces in the Persian Gulf War.

Assuming command of United States Central Command in 1988, Schwarzkopf was called on to respond to the Invasion of Kuwait in 1990 by the forces of Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Initially tasked with defending Saudi Arabia from Iraqi aggression, Schwarzkopf’s command eventually grew to an international force of over 750,000 troops. After diplomatic relations broke down, he planned and led Operation Desert Storm—an extended air campaign followed by a highly successful 100-hour ground offensive—which defeated the Iraqi Army and liberated Kuwait in early 1991. Schwarzkopf was presented with military honors.

Jimmy Sturr ’60
18x Grammy-Award Winning Musician
George Schildge
Chairman at CRP Industries, Inc.
Brigadier General Alfred Sanelli USA (Ret.) ’39 TAPS

Brigadier General Alfred Sanelli USA, PAANG (Ret.) ’39 TAPS has served as Professor of Military Science, Dean of the Academy, Assistant to the President and Chaplain at Valley Forge Military Academy and College. General Sanelli is one of the most beloved people here at the Forge and will always be remembered as one of the kindest, caring and most wonderful fixtures here. BG Sanelli has been the mentor of many of the senior officers listed in this paper and he is considered legendary here at the school. He is a Member of the Order of Anthony Wayne.

Gary Stills ’95
Professional Athlete (NFL)
His Royal Majesty King Simeon II of Bulgaria ’60C
Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria
William R. Tiefel ’52
Marriott / Ritz Carlton Top Executive (Retired)
Eric Fisher Wood, Jr. ’37
World War II Hero
Lieutenant General John J. Yeosock, USA (Ret.) ’55

LTG John Yeosock, USA (Ret.) ’55 (March 18, 1937 – February 15, 2012) was a United States Army general who commanded the 3rd U.S. Army during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.

He commanded the 1st Cavalry Division from June 1986 to May 1988. Promoted to Lieutenant General, in 1989 he was given command of the 3rd U.S. Army. When Iraq invaded Kuwait, the 3rd Army was sent to Saudi Arabia in the buildup of coalition forces protecting the Kingdom during Operation Desert Shield. During the ground phase of the Gulf War, the 3rd Army formed the nucleus of the forces performing the “left hook” against the Iraqi Army. LTG Yeosock retired from the army in August 1992.

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