John English is the Chief Executive Officer of Heartland Consulting which he founded in 2009. Mr. English manages and oversees all operations regarding government and commercial clients across several different fields. Prior to founding Heartland, Mr. English worked for the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs from 2005-2009. He was involved in the implementation of the new Chapter 33 G.I. Bill and instrumental in the development of senior management review and processes to implement an integrated operating model for all Departmental functions and programs. He assisted the three Secretaries he served, with organizational and transformational management, as well as strategic communications as it pertained to the Department’s major initiatives.

Mr. English has also served in government at the state level. His service to Oklahoma began when he joined the administration of Governor Frank Keating in 1998, where he worked alongside the governor in promoting a pro-growth economic agenda for the state. In 1991, Mr. English joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1996. He graduated from the Valley Forge Military Academy and College and currently serves as the Chairman on their Board of Trustees. He earned an undergraduate degree from The University of Oklahoma and an MBA from The George Washington University. In 2014, Mr. English continued his support and devotion to veterans through the creation of the John L. English scholarship at The George Washington University School of Business. This scholarship was created specifically for former U.S. Marines to attend the GWU school of business in either graduate or undergraduate studies.

Currently, Mr. English serves as the Chairman of the VFMAC Board of Trustees.

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.

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.

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.

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.

RADM Peter K. Cullins USN (Ret.) ’47 TAPS was an American U.S. Navy admiral who commanded the USS Waddell and the USS Little Rock, [4] a 1000-man guided missile cruiser and the flagship for Commander of the Sixth Fleet.

Cullins was born on November 19, 1928 in Annapolis, Maryland. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1951. On January 1, 1977, he became the first commander of the Naval Data Automation Command and in March 1980, he became Commander South Atlantic Force. He retired as a Rear Admiral the following year.

Major General George P. Curtin USA (Ret.) ’37, TAPS We have received some very meaningful gifts from the estate of Major General George P. Curtin, USA (Ret.) ’37 TAPs in the form of The Cadet Regulations (Guidon) 1937, The War Department Basic Field Manuel, The Methods of the Mounted Service, The Department of the Army Field Manuel entitled Hand-To- Hand Combat, The Pennsylvania Cavalryman by David Gregg, The Soldier’s Handbook of the Rifle Model of 1917, and The History of the 110th Field Artillery by John P. Cooper, Jr. All of these very interesting articles were given to the Valley Forge Military Academy & College Museum.

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.

Major General Yves J. Fontaine, USA (Ret.) ’73C served as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Sustainment Command (ASC), a position he has held since September 2, 2009. As Commanding General of ASC, Major General Fontaine leads a global organization responsible for providing front-line logistics support to combat units. The Command manages Army pre-positioned stocks located in strategic sites around the world; maintains weapons and equipment at bases in forward areas; Major General Fontaine has also served as the G4 for the 82nd Airborne Division and the G4 and Chief of Staff for the U.S. Special Operations Command, both at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After assuming command of the 1st Corps Support Command, Major General Fontaine deployed from Fort Bragg to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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.

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.

Frank Spano created The Counterterrorism Institute to educate and empower professionals, scholars, school-aged children, and the general public to better understand, prepare for, and counter the threat of domestic and transnational terrorism. Among other previous positions, Mr. Spano served as an Associate Professor of Homeland Security Studies in American Public University System’s School of Security and Global Studies, and as the Director of National Security Policy for The Investigative Project on Terrorism; a private counterterrorism organization dedicated to investigating, identifying, and exposing sources of ideological and material support for terrorism within the United States.

A graduate of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Mr. Spano served as a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations’ Antiterrorism Specialty Team; where he became a subject matter expert in counterintelligence, force protection, protective service operations, and trans-national terrorism. A member of the Valley Forge Military College Class of 2001, Mr. Spano served as Director of Alumni Relations, and currently serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors as its Admissions Committee Chairman.

Brigadier General Ernest F. John USAF (Ret.) ’38 TAPS was deputy chief of staff, intelligence, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. He was responsible for managing the air intelligence collection and application throughout the Pacific theater and advising the commander in chief, PACAF, on all matters pertaining to intelligence.

General John was born in Douglas, Ariz., in 1921. He attended Valley Forge Military Academy, Wayne, Pa., and graduated from Brown University, Providence, R.I., in May 1942, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps aviation cadet program and, after attending flying schools in Ballinger, San Angelo and Lubbock, Texas, received his commission and pilot wings in May 1943.

His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order, 1st Class, Vietnam Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Brigadier General John J. Jenkinson, Jr. USA, NYANG, ’54 TAPS attended Scotia schools and graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pa. Jack participated in the ROTC program during high school and college. He was a graduate of Siena College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and later did work toward his master’s degree at Russell Sage.

In 1958, Jack was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army serving in Ft. Sill, Okla., and later at Ft. Dix, N.J., where he trained recruits. He served in the Reserves for 27 years as a Lieutenant Colonel and retired from the New York State Guard as a Brigadier General.

Brigadier General Manning T. Jannell, USMC ’42C graduated from high school in 1940 and attended Valley Forge Military Academy, Junior College. He joined the Navy Reserve in 1942 and the following year, upon graduation, enlisted in the Marine Corps. He retired as a U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier General.

BG Jannell (MCSN: 0-21790), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States.

BG Jannell (MCSN: 0-21790), United States Marine Corps, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in Korea.

Brigadier General Walter Jajko, USAF ’53 TAPS served his country in a distinguished 29-year career in the United States Air Force, as well as for over two decades as a civilian official at the highest levels of government. At The Institute of World Politics, he taught a course entitled, “Military Strategy: An Overview of the Theorists of Warfare,” which serves as a critical component of the school’s programs in national security affairs.

During General Jajko’s Air Force career, he served in fighter, reconnaissance, bomber, airlift, special operations, and intelligence units in Southeast Asia, North Africa, and elsewhere. His staff appointments included service as a strategic planner in the Concepts, Strategy, Doctrine Branch of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, HQ USAF; as a strategy analyst in the Directorate of Soviet Affairs and a Warsaw Pact analyst in the Estimates Directorate, Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, HQ USAF; as a long range planner for the Secretary of the Air Force; and as Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Programs and Resources, HQ USAF.

Following his retirement from active duty, General Jajko served as Director of the Special Advisory Staff in the Office of the Secretary of Defense; as Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Oversight (where he was in charge of oversight of all the intelligence services within the Department of Defense); as Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Support (where he served as the most senior intelligence policy official in the DoD); and as Manager of a Presidential program. While occupying these positions, he was in charge of DoD covert action and DoD support of CIA covert action, wrote DoD’s first public diplomacy doctrine, and rewrote DoD’s psychological operations doctrine.  He was one of the very rare officials to have worked at the nexus of military strategy, diplomacy, public diplomacy, strategic communications, counterpropaganda, and psychological Warfare.

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.

MG Walter T. Lord, USA ’84C is the Military Executive, Reserve Forces Policy Board, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC. The Reserve Forces Policy Board serves as an independent adviser to the Secretary of Defense, providing advice and recommendations to the Secretary on strategies, policies, and practices designed to improve and enhance the capabilities, efficiency and effectiveness of the Reserve components. He was recommended by the chair and designated by the Secretary of Defense, serving as both the military adviser to the chair and as military executive officer for the Reserve Forces Policy Board. He also supervises the operations and staff of the Board.

He was most recently a Special Assistant to the Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau. His primary responsibility was to orchestrate the National Guard Bureau effort in contributing to the Secretary of Defense’s 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review. In leading the National Guard Bureau QDR team, he represented the NGB Chief and Vice Chief and conveyed the National Guard’s position at meetings and working sessions with key leaders in the Department of Defense, Joint Staff, Military Services, and the Army and Air National Guard.

MG Lord also serves as a member of the Valley Forge Military Academy and College Board of Trustees.

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.

MG Harry E. Miller, Jr. USA ’78C currently serves as the Commanding General, 42d Infantry Division, New York Army National Guard. Previously he served as the Senior Commander of Fort Drum New York. His first General Officer assignment was as the Director of Joint Doctrine, Training, and Force Development (J7) for the National Guard Bureau’s Joint staff in Arlington, VA. General Miller has served two combat tours in the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. From March of 2006 to March of 2007, he served as the senior adviser to Iraqi Security Forces on the Iraq/Iran border where he commanded 11-teams of embedded advisers. From October 2007 to July 2008, he served with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) as part of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula (CJSOTF-AP) where he served as the senior special operations adviser to the Corps Commander of Multi-National Corps-Iraq (MNC-I).

Brigadier General Tomas B. Puyans VFMAC (Ret.) ’48C has served in many positions here at Valley Forge Military Academy and College. He has served as the Mess Officer for the Corps and has been a TAC Officer for many companies including the Middle School. BG Puyans has been Assistant Director of Admissions and was instrumental in recruiting in Central America, South America and throughout the Caribbean. He is one of the most beloved figures here at the Forge and since his retirement he has been active with the Alumni Association. He was the moving force behind the establishment of The Forge Way Committee of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. His committee originated the George Washington Award, The Star Dinners and the TAC Officers Appreciation Dinner. A legend at the Forge, BG Puyans is always near and dear to our hearts. He is a Member of the Order of Anthony Wayne.

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.

Brigadier General Robert Charlwood Richardson III, USAF (Ret.) ’35 TAPS (5 January 1918 – 2 January 2011) was an American military officer, first of the United States Army Air Corps, then of the United States Air Force, eventually attaining the rank of Brigadier General. A leader in the early days of the U.S. Air Force, he was a renowned expert in tactical nuclear warfare, NATO, and military long range planning.

BG Richardson was born in Rockford, Illinois. In 1932, he attended the Gunnery School in Washington, Connecticut, and in 1933, entered Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1935. He received a congressional appointment from Pennsylvania to the United States Military Academy and graduated in June 1939.

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.

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.

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.

RADM Steven G. Smith’s USN (Ret.) ’64 background includes Navy command experience including ships and operational groups. He has particular expertise in riverine, coastal, and expeditionary warfare, including port and harbor security. Admiral Smith has broad executive experience in defense and homeland security issues, international political / military affairs, operations management, asset protection, and the development of problem solutions for customers particularly in integrating technology into teams of multiple organizations. He also is knowledgeable and experienced in strategic military plans development, requirements determination, decision analysis, enterprise risk management and resource allocation, as well as the development of start-up small businesses.

Admiral Smith is currently the Director of Disaster Planning and Risk Management at the U.S. Small Business Administration. He works with the White House National Security Staff, FEMA, the Department of Commerce, and other domestic agencies in planning the most effective long term recovery from natural and man-made disasters. He has been a contributor to the development of the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) and a facilitator and coordinator in helping to bring multiple government agencies and the private sector together in economic recovery efforts.

Additionally, he is the coordinator for the SBA/DoD Advanced Defense Technology Regional Innovation Clusters program helping small businesses succeed in bringing innovative technology into DOD.

Major General John Sobke USA (Ret.) graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy in 1957 and from Cornell University in 1962 where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.  He was a Distinguished Military Graduate of the United States Army Reserve Officer Training Corps and received a Regular Army commission as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. Initial Army assignments were in France, West Germany, and the USSR followed by two tours of duty in the Republic of Vietnam.  After his second tour in Vietnam, General Sobke was assigned to duty with the Corps of Engineers in Jidda, Saudi Arabia, followed by an assignment as a Tactical Officer and Regimental Adjutant, United States Corps of Cadets at West Point.  He served on the Army Staff in the Pentagon in the Operations Directorate of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans.  Subsequently, he commanded the 34th Engineer Battalion at Fort Riley, Kansas, and the 130th Engineer Brigade in West Germany.

He was promoted to brigadier general while serving as command engineer for Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Georgia.  Service as a general officer included command of Engineer Divisions in San Francisco and Atlanta followed by duty as the Assistant Chief of Engineers in the Pentagon.

His final military assignment was Deputy Chief of Engineers in Washington, D.C.  General Sobke holds master’s degrees from Princeton University in engineering and Auburn University in political science.  He graduated from the Air Command and Staff College and the National War College.  His military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star, all with oak leaf clusters as well as the Valorous Unit Award.  He was Ranger and Airborne qualified.  He was a co-founder and the first Chairman of the Education Committee of the Society of American Military Engineers as well as initiating the Society mentoring program.  He served as the chairman of the Board of Visitors of Valley Forge Military Academy and College. John has been elected to Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honorary society as an Eminent Engineer and Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honorary society.

In retirement in Savannah, Georgia, he has served as president of the Skidaway Island Rotary club and as Senior Warden at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.  He and Marilyn reside at The Landings in Savannah, a community of 8500 residents, where John was elected to The Landings Association Board of Directors and served a term as President of the board.  He served on the Board of Savannah Winds concert band, the Savannah Music Festival, The Landings Military Family Relief Fund, and the Command and General Staff College Foundation at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  He was Chairman of the Armstrong State University Foundation in Savannah. Marilyn Sobke served a term as President of the National Military Family Association.

Brigadier General Donald K. Woodman, USAFR ’57 United States Air Force, was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Mobility Assistant to Air Combat Command Director of Intelligence from 1992 to 1997.

BG Donald King Woodman, USAFR ’57, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Mobility Assistant to Strategic Air Command, Deputy Chief of staff/Intelligence, from 1989 to 1992.

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.

Brigadier General John G. Zierdt, Jr. USA (Ret.) ’61 commissioned an Infantry officer, he served in various assignments including duty in Vietnam. He then became an Ordnance Officer, attending the Ordnance Officers Advanced Course from 1969 to 1970 and earning a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from Arizona State University in 1972. He next served as Chief, Systems Analysis Office, Army Laser Project at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama where he helped develop the first tactical model of an air-defense laser and procured additional Department of Defense funds for further Army laser research.

BG Zierdt took command of the 18th Airborne Corps’ 46th Support Group at Fort Bragg in 1988. He deployed his 1,900 Soldiers to St. Croix, Virgin Islands, following Hurricane Hugo to provide disaster relief. He then took command of the 18th Airborne Corps' 1st Corps Support Command (COSCOM) in 1989. BG Zierdt then faced the even greater challenge of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. He deployed the 1st COSCOM to Saudi Arabia and watched it grow from 6,000 to 24,000 Soldiers in support of an 18th Airborne Corps that had grown to 120,000 Soldiers. During the ground campaign, the 1st COSCOM supported the Corps as it swept over 600 miles of desert in four days, flanking Iraqi forces in Kuwait. BG Zierdt retired in 1995 after 29 years of distinguished service to the Army and the Ordnance Corps.