WPAOG Podcast

In this episode, we delve into the transformative work of West Point’s Center for Enhanced Performance (CEP), focusing on their key programs that support cadet success in performance psychology, academic excellence, and athletic coordination. We explore how the CEP’s student success course integrates vital academic and mental skills to help cadets excel both at the Academy and in their future careers. Additionally, we highlight unique CEP initiatives, including advanced mental training tools and recovery resources, showcasing their comprehensive approach to enhancing cadet performance and well-being. Tune in for an insightful discussion on how the CEP fosters excellence at West Point.

In this episode, retired General Stan McChrystal, a West Point graduate from the Class of 1976, and guest speaker for the Class of 2026 Affirmation Ceremony, shares his transformative journey from a struggling cadet to a successful Army officer with COL Mike Kloepper, the Brigade Tactical Officer of USCC at West Point. He reflects on the challenges and pivotal moments at West Point, emphasizing the profound impact of mentorship, particularly through Major Dave Borato. The conversation delves into the importance of leadership, integrity, and accountability, with personal anecdotes from his military career, offering valuable insights on how early experiences and strong organizational culture shape effective leaders.

In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Lee Anderson, Class of 1961, from his childhood in Minneapolis to his influential career and philanthropic efforts. Anderson shares stories of his upbringing, his formative years at West Point, and how the Academy's values shaped his life of leadership and service. We delve into his transition from military service to transforming a family business into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise and his ongoing dedication to service through philanthropy, inspired by his father's legacy.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Tom Lough and Craig Gilbert, two Olympians, and West Point graduates, who share their journeys of athletic and military excellence. They discuss the unique bonds among West Point Olympians, initiatives to support current cadets, and their ongoing contributions to the academy and nation. Highlighting the challenges of balancing military commitments with Olympic dreams, they share personal anecdotes and celebrate the spirit of lesser-known sports, looking forward to future Olympic victories.

This episode features Sammy Sullivan, '20, and member of the USA Women's Olympic Rugby 7’s team, about her inspiring journey to rugby and beyond. Sammy shares her unexpected path to West Point, her introduction to rugby during basic training, and how the supportive environment of the rugby team, encouraged by her father, helped her excel in the sport. She discusses her rapid rise in rugby, earning the 2019 Prusmack Award, and her experiences with the USA Women's Eagles and the World Class Athlete Program. Sammy also offers insights into balancing intense athletic training with military duties, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and inspiring young girls to chase their dreams with resilience and support.

Join us as we explore the remarkable career of Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, from his formative years in Goldsboro, North Carolina, and his decision to attend West Point, to his distinguished military and diplomatic service. Eikenberry shares insights from his time as the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan and his extensive involvement with China, highlighting the lessons learned about leadership and international relations. The episode also touches on his academic pursuits and contributions to national security, culminating in his admiration for the young leaders at the U.S. Military Academy and his hopes for the future.

In this episode of the WPAOG podcast, COL (R) Mark Bieger ’91, President & CEO of the West Point Association of Graduates, and Alumni Services Manager Izzy Wolf discuss the upcoming 2024 Founders Day celebrations. Mark, a decorated Army veteran, shares insights on AOG’s mission to connect and serve West Point alumni globally. Izzy highlights her role in supporting various alumni society groups and special interest groups. The episode emphasizes the importance of alumni connections and the variety of events planned for Founders Day, celebrating both new cadets and long-time graduates.

In this episode, we explore the inspiring life of Alma Cooper, Miss Michigan 2024 and a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army. Alma discusses her transformative experiences at West Point, her unique academic pursuits as a mathematical science major, and her insights on Army standards. She also shares how she balanced her roles in pageantry and the military, her achievements like the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship, and her experience at Stanford. Alma's story highlights resilience, dedication, and the importance of mentorship and family support in achieving multifaceted success.

In this episode, we are joined by Ian Winer, class of 1996 and managing director at Disruptive, who shares his compelling narrative of adversity, change, and recovery. Ian recounts his entry into West Point, facilitated by his ice hockey talents and a profound connection with the Academy's values. He reflects on the rigorous yet rewarding cadet life, enriched by significant mentorships and team camaraderie. Injury shifted Ian's trajectory from military service to finance, where he navigated the challenges of Wall Street. Ian also opens up about his struggles with substance abuse and his journey toward recovery, emphasizing the crucial role of community and support systems in overcoming obstacles and finding a renewed sense of purpose. This episode is a deep dive into the power of resilience and the importance of seeking help in times of crisis. If you or someone you know needs support, help is available, dial or text 988

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Led Klosky, Professor of Civil Engineering at West Point and the Dean’s Executive Agent for Design and Construction, who has been instrumental in advancing the academy's STEM education. Dr. Klosky discusses his role in developing the Cyber and Engineering Academic Center (CEAC), a modern facility that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. We explore how these initiatives prepare cadets for the complexities of modern warfare and the significance of infrastructure investments in enhancing military education. Join us to learn about the transformative impacts of these educational advancements at West Point.

In this episode, Kathleen Hildreth, a distinguished 2024 West Point Graduate Award recipient, discusses her journey from a cadet to the founder of M1 Support Services. Forbes recognized her as one of America's wealthiest self-made women in 2019 and every year since, attributing her success to leadership in the entrepreneurial realm. The episode highlights Hildreth's leadership style, philanthropy, and insights into government contracting, emphasizing the crucial factors of culture, employee management, safety, and strategic risk mitigation in building a successful business.

On this episode, join Sam Kazmer, class of 2011, and Devin T Adams class of 2013 as they reflect on their West Point legacies and how these experiences carved out their leadership roles. Sam and Devin share how West Point developed their entrepreneurial spirits and the strong leadership they use today in their small businesses.

This episode features Michelle Tumolo, Noto Family Head Women's Lacrosse Coach at West Point. Tumolo shares her transformative journey from player to coach, highlighting the evolution of lacrosse at West Point and the unique challenges her players navigate as Division I scholar-athletes at West Point. in Division 1. Gain a deeper understanding of Tumolo's coaching philosophy, her emphasis on team building culture and relationships, and her excitement about coaching the Women's U 20 team in Hong Kong in 2024, along with the inclusion of lacrosse in the 2028 Olympics.

This episode features an interview with 1LT Evan Walker ‘21 and 1LT Tyrese Bender ‘21, recipients of the Rhodes Scholarship, a graduate scholarship program. 1LT Walker and 1LT Bender talk about their experience at West Point, what it took to receive the Rhodes Scholarship and attend the University of Oxford, and how they look to continue the legacy of the Long Gray Line in the future.

This episode features an interview with Janet Petro, Director at NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center, and West Point class of 1981. Janet talks about her journey from West Point cadet to her current role as Director of the Kennedy Space Center, her fascinating conversation with Elon Musk and partnering with SpaceX, and what to expect from NASA in the near future.

This episode features an interview with Sue Irons Beachler, West Point class of 1989, and Veterans Service Officer. Sue talks about the path to becoming a Veterans Service Officer, her involvement within the WPAOG, and the importance of claiming the VA benefits West Point graduates are entitled to.

This episode features an interview with LTC McKinley Wood, West Point class of 2001, and recipient of the 2023 Alexander R. Nininger Award for Valor at Arms. LTC Wood talks about how to lead in asymmetric warfare through moral, ethical, and fair leadership, and how West Point taught him the most important lesson of all, the value of teamwork.

This episode features an interview with GEN (R) Austin Scott Miller ‘83. GEN (R) Miller talks about his experiences as a Task Force Ranger, as the Commander of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, as the final commander of NATO’s Resolute Support Mission and United States Forces in Afghanistan, and his continuous involvement in West Point after transitioning out of the military.

This episode features an interview with COL (R) Mark Bieger ’91, the new President & CEO of the West Point Association of Graduates. Mark talks about his West Point experience and the highlights of his Army career, his mission and goals for the WPAOG and the Margin of Excellence programs they have to offer, and the importance of recognizing and utilizing the benefits of the Long Gray Line.

This episode features a conversation between LTG Steve Gilland ‘90 & BG Shane Reeves ‘96. LTG Gilland currently serves as the 61st Superintendent of the United States Military Academy. BG Reeves currently serves as the 15th Dean of the Academic Board at West Point. In this episode, LTG Steve Gilland and BG Shane Reeves talk about encouraging conversation and fostering innovation at the academy, the exciting expectations for West Point’s brand new Innovation Hub, and announce this year's intellectual theme: innovation, technology, and the future of national defense.

This episode features an interview with Degas Wright, CEO at Decatur Capital Management, and West Point class of 1985. Degas talks about his experience transitioning out of the military, founding DCM, and his philosophy behind becoming a successful leader of character.

This episode features an interview with Jeff Monken, Head Coach of Army West Point Football. Coach Monken has served nine seasons at the helm of Army West Point football, the 37th individual head coach in program history. His career coaching record stands at 102-65 as a head coach, with a 64-49 mark at Army. In this episode, Coach Monken talks about where the team stands pre-season, the importance of optimizing player safety, the impact of conference realignment for Army football, and leaving a legacy at West Point.

This episode features part two of an interview with LTG(R) Robert F. Foley, recipient of the Medal of Honor, West Point class of 1963. LTG(R) Foley talks about his remarkable journey in the army, invaluable lessons from his career, and dynamic strategies to empower soldiers during combat.

This episode features part one of an interview with LTG(R) Robert F. Foley, recipient of the Medal of Honor, West Point class of 1963. LTG(R) Foley talks about his remarkable journey in the army, invaluable lessons from his career, and dynamic strategies to empower soldiers during combat.

This episode features an interview with Kyle Maggard ‘12, CEO and Founder at Over Easy Foods, a healthy snack food company with the mission to help Americans live healthier and happier lives. In this episode, Kyle talks about his dream of always serving the country, the trials and tribulations of creating his own startup, and the importance of eating a truly healthy breakfast.

This episode features an interview with COL Nick Gist, Head of the Department of Physical Education at West Point, class of 1994, and Dr. Jesse Germain, Director of Kinesiology at West Point, class of 1987. In this episode, COL Gist and Dr. Germain talk about changes in the culture of physical education over time, the importance of the Physical Program Assessment Plan, and how cadets can manage dealing with mental toughness in servitude.

This episode features an interview with Sean Mullin award-winning filmmaker and West Point grad, class of 1997. In this episode, Sean talks about his time serving in the national guard, how he made the transition from Army officer to Hollywood director, and the release of his first independent feature-length documentary on Yogi Berra, “It Ain’t Over”.

This episode features an interview with Carl Owens ‘78, and Kafi Joseph ‘03. In this episode, Carl and Kafi talk about the changes in diversity overtime at the academy, the importance of cultivating community through clubs and programs, and the strong legacies they left behind at West Point.

This episode features an interview with Dave Alberga, West Point class of 1984, and Board Director of GovX and Citadel Defense. In this episode, Dave talks about his experience and training as an Infantry Officer, how he values his West Point education, and what it takes to build a billion dollar organization.

This episode features an interview with LTC (R) Steve Moore, West Point Class of 1975, and COL (R) David Moore, West Point Class of 1984, where they honor the remembrance of their parents, LTG Hal Moore, West Point Class of 1945, and Julia Compton Moore, and announce the rededication of Fort Benning to Fort Moore.

This episode features an interview with CDT Justus Gabriel, a Life Science Major at West Point, Class of 2024. He’s a recipient of the Stamps and Goldwater Scholarships, and plans to pursue a career as an Army physician scientist. In this episode, CDT Gabriel talks about the cadet experience to include writing a first author paper, applying for scholarships, and his involvement with the medical program at West Point.

This episode features an interview with MG Paul Stanton ‘95, Commanding General of the United States Army Cyber Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon. MG Stanton talks about the different pathways into a career in Army Cyber, the ever changing nature of modern warfare, and why he believes cyberspace operations is the ultimate team sport.

This episode features an interview with COL (R) Berry Morton M.D., West Point class of 1966, and LTC (R) Alan Nason, also class of ‘66. In this episode, COL (R) Morton and LTC (R) Nason talk about their highlights from attending West Point, their experiences serving in the Vietnam War, and how the West Point Class Ring Memorial Program contributes to the continued legacy of the Long Gray Line.

This episode features an interview with MAJ Nargis Kabiri, Army Marketing Officer and West Point class of 2010 grad. MAJ Kabiri talks about the trials and tribulations of growing up as an Afghan American in the United States, turning to sports as an outlet during her time at West Point, and how her journey as a commissioned Field Artillery Officer transpired into a path towards entrepreneurship.

In this episode, LTC Tom Dull, Executive Officer at the Character Integration Advisory Group at West Point, and MAJ(P) Ben Elliott, MAJ Marc Meybaum, and CPT Brian Martinez provide a deep understanding of the oath of commissioned officers, relive stories of their own commissioning ceremonies, and discuss the importance of teaching the value of trust and honor to first class cadets at West Point.

This episode features an interview with Dr. Chris Gibson, President of Siena College. Dr. Gibson is a scholar of leadership and politics, a decorated combat veteran, and a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives. In this episode, Dr. Gibson talks about the current state of civil-military relations, the controversial use of social media as a means for free speech, and the future for military nonpartisan norms.

This episode features an interview with Steven Lee ‘01, COO and Co-Founder at Crowdz. Steven has over 18 years of hands-on leadership, operations, project management, logistics, finance, and personnel training in the military, aerospace, and high-tech industries, as well as a career as a former Captain and combat veteran in the United States Army. In this episode, Steven talks about his background, serving a higher purpose, and why he’s always rooted for the underdogs in business.

This episode features an interview with John Nawoichyk and Michael Mazzocco, graduates from the United States Military Academy at West Point Class of 1993. In this episode, John and Michael talk about the importance of maintaining historical accuracy in film, recreating the West Point experience on the big screen, and working alongside Director Scott Cooper on the set of The Pale Blue Eye.

This episode features an interview with Coach Matt Sherman, Head Rugby Coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point. In this episode, Coach Sherman talks about defending the national championship title, and leading cadets to be successful so they can leave behind distinguished legacies from their time at West Point.

This episode features an interview with Terry Hill ‘92 and Alex McKindra ‘93, Managing Directors at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. In this episode, Terry and Alex talk about cadet life, transitioning from the military to careers in investment banking, and the importance of giving back to the veteran community.

This episode features an interview with Coach Brian Riley, Head Hockey Coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point. In this episode, Coach Riley relives his father’s stories, specifically his success in hockey at the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics and receiving an Olympic gold medal as a coach. He also talks about his own personal journey towards achieving his dream job and fulfilling the Riley family legacy.

This episode features an interview with Brigadier General Shane Reeves, Dean of the Academic Board, U.S. Military Academy at West Point. In this episode, BG Reeves talks about his path to becoming Dean and running the academic program. He discusses the importance of rigor at the academy and experiencing missions beyond the classroom. BG Reeves also explains why the West Point Press and other initiatives hold essential roles at West Point.

This episode of the WPAOG podcast features a conversation with Lieutenant Colonel Robert (Rob) Beale, class of 2002. Beale is the 2022 WPAOG Alexander R. Nininger Award winner. In this episode, Rob shares how his experiences in programs at West Point helped prepare him for his valiant military career. He provides insight on what’s required to excel and navigate the trials and tribulations of 12 deployments, explains his take on the Warrior Ethos, and the importance of mentorship from the Long Gray Line.

This episode of the WPAOG podcast features an interview with David F. Melcher, a businessman and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General. He spent 32 years serving in the military and is recognized as a prominent figure in the aerospace and defense community, as the former President and CEO of Exelis from 2011–2015 and of Aerospace Industries Association from 2015–2017. In this episode, David talks about how he had no doubt that West Point was where he could gain the best leadership skills. He discusses working in the White House and then transitioning into business after serving so many years in the army. David also explains what he feels are the keys to success in life, and the importance of continuing to be an active member of the West Point community.

This episode features a conversation with Joe Beard ‘96, Co-Founder & CEO of CollateralEdge, a Dallas-based fintech platform that provides banks with a flexible, automated sales enablement solution to efficiently increase lending capacity without compromising credit quality. Joe has had a diverse career spread across the military, technology, investment banking, and venture capital. As a former Partner at Perot Jain, a Dallas-based venture capital firm, he led 40+ investments in 5 years. He's a Founder and Board Member of Venture Dallas, the premier venture capital conference in the DFW region, and a recipient of the Tech Titans Investment Catalyst Award. He spent 8 years as an investment banker in New York and Dallas and has executed approximately $10 billion in transactions across M&A, debt, and equity. In this episode of On Point, Joe talks about how he had to adapt and use what he learned at West Point to succeed in business. He discusses the investment strategies that helped him make fifty investments in under five years, the importance of remaining clear headed when problem solving, and why having work experience before attending business school is extremely beneficial. He also talks about finding balance when moving between different segments of finance, business, and entrepreneurship. ----------- Key Quotes “The biggest challenge initially was just making sure that you're balanced, and really kind of being intentional about how you spend your time. And, there's never enough hours in the day, right? You know, no matter what work ethic you're bringing to the table, no matter how you're being creative about resources, there's never enough hours in the day to do all the things that you want to do. So you have to ruthlessly prioritize your time. You have to be ruthless about prioritization. Not chasing the next shiny ball, but really kind of focusing your effort and energy and doing the things that you know are gonna move the needle for your business.” - Joe Beard ----------- Episode Timestamps (02:08) Segment: AAR (03:45) Experience at West Point  (10:04) Journey in the Army (11:33) Segment: Sit Rep (15:17) Attending business school (17:06) Starting in investing banking (20:07) Investment strategies (25:10) About CollateralEdge (33:27) Quick fire questions (39:39) Segment: SOP (43:45) Mentorship (45:20) Segment: Giving Back ----------- Links David’s LinkedIn West Point Association of Graduates

This episode of On Point features an interview with David Hunt, Founder and CEO at Crossrope, a fun new way to get fit anywhere with a weighted jump rope experience. David is a 2004 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Entrepreneurial Masters graduate, former Naval Aviator, startup founder, and jump rope enthusiast. With just a library card and an entrepreneurial itch, David was able to overcome a severe injury to focus his energy into creating a company that provides fun, accessible, and impactful workouts with revolutionary jump rope technology. In this episode of On Point, David talks about his life as an aviation pilot in the US Navy, overcoming serious life-changing injuries through passionate entrepreneurship, and the importance of taking calculated risks while also embracing uncertainty. ----------- Key Quotes “A lot of people have ideas and it's really hard to take the steps, even if you don't know what they are, to go for it and to try something else, especially within the reality of you can do. Like a lot of times I think entrepreneurs are glorified for the unsung heroes taking crazy risks. And in reality, most of the time, it should be a calculated risk. If you are listening to this right now, and you are thinking about taking some sort of a risk or doing something entrepreneurial, please calculate it, and have some backup plans, because it can be a big mistake.” - David Hunt ----------- Episode Timestamps (01:48) Segment: AAR (04:52) Experience at the Naval academy (10:32) David’s initial career (14:06) Becoming a pilot (16:42) Entrepreneurship within the Naval academy (19:44) Experience on active duty (26:51) Starting Crossrope (33:03) Transitioning from active duty into Crossrope full-time (39:48) Lessons for service members (48:30) The future of Crossrope (53:17) Final remarks ----------- Links David’s LinkedIn Crossrope.com West Point Association of Graduates

This episode features a conversation with Bob Eisiminger ‘88, Entrepreneur, and Founder and Former CEO of Knight Point Systems. He is also a member of the Board of Directors at Chaminade University of Honolulu and Patriapps Software Venture Studio, and Board of Experts at Birthing of Giants Fellowship Program. Bob is a serial entrepreneur, an investor in veteran led companies, and a former CEO. In 2005, he founded Knight Point Systems, after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. While in the United States Army, Bob was an Air Defense Artillery Platoon Leader/Tactical Control Officer in Germany, a Public Affairs Officer at Fort Bliss in Texas, and an Airborne and Jungle Operations Expert. Bob is a graduate of the Birthing of Giants Fellowship Program, where post-exit entrepreneurs teach business owners how to grow companies for the purpose of acquisition, and is the recipient of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Mid-Atlantic Region in the category of Government Services. In this episode of On Point, Bob discusses how his West Point and Army experiences helped him develop his hundred million dollar business, what it’s like to work alongside the United States government, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people that will help make you a better person. He also talks about what it was like serving in Germany during the cold war and fall of the Berlin Wall, and how giving back to West Point graduates continues the same cycle that ultimately afforded him great success in business. ----------- Key Quotes "I see my role now as if anyone reaches out to me, I'm going to go meet with them. Young west point graduates, guys getting outta the service, they wanna talk about, you know, whether they should go work for a big or small. I will offer up my time to anybody, because people offered up their time to me. And, I think giving back to the community that you came from, that you grew up in so important." - Bob Eisiminger ----------- Episode Timestamps (02:19) Segment: AAR (04:00) Experience at West Point (07:00) Mentorship at the academy (08:40) Experience in the Army (10:30) Transitioning out of service (16:00) Starting Knight Point Systems (20:30) How the military prepared Bob for business (27:05) Startup tips (31:10) Segment: SOP (34:05) Mentorship (36:30) Segment: Giving Back ----------- Links Bob’s LinkedIn West Point Association of Graduates

This episode of the WPAOG podcast features a conversation between Tye Reedy '05, Director of Business Development at Adams Keegan, and James Keegan '55, a private investor and former Chairman of the Board of Adams Keegan. He is best known as a co-founder of Morgan Keegan & Company (now Raymond James), one of the country’s largest investment firms, where he served as president and COO until retirement in 1985. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of NASDAQ, Inc. Mr. Keegan served as a Director of AutoZone, Inc. from 1991 through 2004. In this episode, Jim tells us how his experiences at West Point and in the Air Force, helped prepare him for the business world. He provides his take on what is required to start a business and navigate the trials and tribulations to success. Jim also explains why being disciplined and resilient are paramount to being a great entrepreneur. ---------- Key Quotes “Starting a business right now, the first thing I'd want to have is passion for the business and be adequately capitalized to start. And there you have the base. You start from there, you go into the integrity problem that you want your customers, your clients, to feel the same way you do, and to have the same experience you do and want to do business with you. You have to have the perseverance to know that if someone's going to say no and slam the door on you as you're walking out, you gotta turn around and do it again the next door you come to. And you might even go back to the first door and see if you can't get back in.” - James Keegan “The idea of getting back and dealing with graduates, whether they're leaving the military after their obligation, like I did. Or setting out for a new life after retirement and starting their own business, I think if I can offer anything that helps them, makes it easier for them to do and understand what is involved, then I'd love to do it. That’s part of my goal. It's kind of a little payback if you will, because a great deal, pretty much everything I have, I gave West Point credit for whatever successes I might have had, however small or however large that goes along that line.” - James Keegan ---------- Episode Timestamps (02:30) Growing Up and Interest in West Point (06:30) Experience Attending West Point and in the Military (10:00) Path to Finance and Starting a Business (17:30) Military and West Point Professional Influence (19:45) Importance of Capital to Entrepreneurship (20:30) Keys to Success of Business and Navigating Hardships (23:15) West Point and Military Influence on Discipline Resilience in Business (29:00) Learning and Succeeding in Multiple Trades (31:00) Importance of West Point Entrepreneur Summit ---------- Links Tye’s LinkedIn About James Keegan West Point Association of Graduates

This episode of On Point features a conversation with Brian Elliott ‘14 and Andrew Wolgemuth ‘15, Co-Founders of Wove, a 21st century jeweler bringing the jewelry designer directly to couples for custom engagement ring creation. Brian Elliott is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for reinventing outdated consumer experiences. At Wove, he focuses on Digital Product, UX and Marketing. He previously worked in two former venture-backed consumer startups. Prior to this, Brian served as a Platoon Leader in the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment, leading a team of 40 Special Operators in unconventional environments around the world.  Andrew Wolgemuth grew up in an entrepreneurial environment working at his parents' jewelry company. After attending West Point and serving as a Platoon Leader in the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment, he attended Stanford GSB’s Ignite Entrepreneurship Program where the idea for Wove was born. In this episode of On Point, Brian and Andrew speak about their varying paths to attending West Point, and discuss how years of military experience are applicable to entrepreneurship and help drive their work. They discuss how the tight knit West Point community helped support their vision and afford them their success. They also talk about how they’re disrupting the engagement ring industry by changing the way people buy engagement rings. --------- Key Quotes “I think it is so important for founders to find people that they're compatible with. And I think what really accelerated that for Brian and I is this shared background of West Point, and then even more specifically the range of regiment. I think there's a very specific standard, very specific type of person that usually ends up there. And I think that really allowed us to have kind of instant confidence in who each other were and probably accelerated that dating period quite a bit. I always think about it now, like if I had to go out and find another co-founder, I would be scared to death, because you know, you face a lot together and there's a lot of things you have to overcome, and I think having that sense of shared values is so important.” - Andrew Wolgemuth “I think there's this question that is, how do I start a company? Right? And I think what I would challenge folks that are with that company is to reframe and say, you know, how do I test an idea? And if you remove the stress and the pressure of starting a company, which comes with all of these legal constraints and structural constraints where you're really focusing on the wrong thing, but instead say like, I have an interesting idea, what's the fastest way I can test this without a technical build. And you go out and test that idea, you remove the constraints, and the barriers, and the how am I gonna fund this, and you just go out and focus on the hypothesis.” - Brian Elliott --------- Episode Timestamps (02:18) Segment: AAR (04:47) Experiences at West Point (10:48) Choosing military branches (16:48) Segment: Sit Rep (22:52) Starting Wove (25:23) Where Wove currently stands (29:30) Most expensive ring sold (32:29) The process at Wove (39:44) Segment: SOP (42:22) Segment: Giving Back (44:24) What’s next for Wove --------- Links Brian’s LinkedIn Andrew’s LinkedIn West Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski ‘69, a Naismith Hall of Fame coach, a five-time national champion at Duke, and a six-time gold medalist as head Coach of the US Men’s National Team. He was also the West Point Men’s Basketball Head Coach from 1975 to 1980. Coach K was initially reluctant to attend West Point, but eventually realized how much he loved the academy, the Army, and the importance of being exposed to so many different ways of leading. In his senior year, Mike was captain of West Point’s basketball team. Following graduation, he served in the Army for five years before beginning his college coaching career. Mike believes that the education, training, and environment of West Point benefits people well beyond their time attending the academy. He sees the culture based system of shared values as important for being a lifelong learner and leader, which has helped him coach and guide his players to become well-educated, strong, successful men both on and off the court.  In this episode of On Point, Coach K talks about how he ensures that failure is not a destination, and how accountability helps people become the best version of themselves. He explains how his time at West Point and in the military informed and affected his approach to teaching and coaching. Mike provides insight into his career coaching in college and the US Men’s National Team, along with the challenges and solutions for teaching the youth of today. He also describes the importance of communication, and creating powerful and inspiring visions that have helped  lead and motivate his teams. --------- Key Quotes "In the military, obviously it can be life or life or death. And so in sport we talk about it being life, but it's not. There is pressure and all that, but you need to know the truth in that moment. You have to have the courage to say or do what needs to be said or done in the moment it needs to be said or done. And really that's what the academy was all about and still is about." "A culture based on value stands the test of time. It's great during good times, but you know what? It's even better during the tough times. And so what I've learned is whether the unit, I was an artillery officer, or the unit I was in, or the teams, you know, whether it be West Point teams, Duke teams, or I was an 11-year coach for the US team; I’ve always tried to create a good culture and based on values." --------- Episode Timestamps (03:52) Playing for West Point (07:50) Lessons learned as a cadet (13:36) Building culture in sports (18:24) Developing leadership skills (22:40) Coaching at Duke (31:58) Balance in teaching others (37:29) Teaching the youth of today (39:16) Challenges faced with change and communication (46:31) Creating impactful visions and messages (52:00) Giving back to fans --------- Links Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s LinkedIn Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s Twitter General (Ret.) Bob Brown’s LinkedIn West Point Association of Graduates

In this episode of the WPAOG Podcast, Bridget Altenburg ‘95, President and CEO of the National Able Network, is joined by Kimberly Jung ‘08, CEO of Blanchard, and Emily Miller ‘08, Senior Impact Fund Manager at Twilio.org. In 2014, they founded Rumi Spice, an award-winning social enterprise that provides high-quality, sustainably farmed saffron to world class chefs and Michelin-rated restaurants, by sourcing directly from Afghan farmers in an economic partnership partners in the supply chain. Kimberly and Emily are 2008 graduates of the US Military Academy at West Point, former US Army Engineer officers, and Harvard Business School graduates. As social entrepreneurs and co-founders, Kimberly led Rumi Spice as CEO and Emily as COO. They have employed over 4,000 Afghan women and partnered with over 300 Afghan farmers. Their work has been featured on Shark Tank, selected for Y Combinator's social fellowship program, and featured in the New York Times, the Atlantic, Foreign Policy, NPR, Forbes, the Chicago Tribune, Nightline with Diane Sawyer, Voice of America, Food & Wine, and more. In this episode, Kimberly and Emily talk about how their time at West Point and in the military prepared them for becoming entrepreneurs, the tremendous impact Rumi has had on spice trade in Afghanistan, and how their startup has helped create jobs for women in the country. They also recount stories of their experiences serving abroad in the Middle East. --------- Key Quotes “I think really what West Point teaches you is about leadership and management, which I think has been the most helpful in my career, and also in my time as an officer in the Army. That leadership part, you really just can't get anywhere else in the same way that West Point gives it to you. And you learn it by doing. You learn it through practice. You learn it by following. You learn it by leading in small teams over and over again, and getting feedback for how to do it better. And that's what I think is the most important thing that comes out of West Point into the Army” - Kimberly Jung  “Entrepreneurship is not for everybody, but it is addicting once you do it because you realize it has so many similarities to the West Point and Army experience, you know, in combat. It's fast paced, it relies on a small, tight team. You have to move fast. You have to ruthlessly prioritize. You have to be incredibly creative about how you problem solve, and you know, make things happen. You know, you've got this big commander's intent and you have to figure out how you operationalize this and work. And then I think the other thing is just being undaunted by failure and by being told no. You know, getting comfortable with being uncomfortable all the time. I think that is, that is what entrepreneurship is.” - Emily Miller --------- Episode Timestamps (02:46) High School Experiences (04:30) Why they attended West Point (06:31) Their R-Day experiences (10:03) Stories at the academy (11:09) Activities at West Point (13:15) Picking a military branch (17:58) Attending Sapper school (22:45 ) Deployment experiences (31:09) Creating Rumi Spice (35:30) Rumi’s impact on Afghanistan (39:19) Business Ventures after Rumi Spice (40:49) How West Point and the military prepares entrepreneurs (43:00) How West Point and the military have helped Rumi Spice Links Kimberly Jung’s LinkedIn Emily Miller’s LinkedIn Bridget Altenburg’s LinkedIn West Point Association of Graduates

This episode features a conversation with Brad Genser, Founder and CTO at Farther, the first digital family office that pairs expert advisors with intelligent technology to manage your entire financial life in one place. At Farther, Brad provides the vision for using technology to deliver an elite wealth experience for clients. Prior, Brad was at Goldman Sachs in New York where he founded and led an Artificial Intelligence team dedicated to Private Wealth, and was an advisor on a team which managed more than one billion dollars in assets for clients. Brad graduated from MIT with an SM in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA. He also graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2007. Brad is a two-time Iraq war combat vet and was awarded two bronze stars. In this episode of On Point, Brad discusses the importance of fostering relationships as a leader, managing over a billion dollars in assets, and how he received two bronze stars while serving in the Iraq War. Brad also talks about the valuable lessons learned during his time in the military, which aided his efforts in founding the next great financial institution. -------- “You’re going from doing this huge thing, living at the very edge of life, to starting over and being like the new person who is sitting there pushing paper back and forth. And, I think that adjustment is a very jarring thing. It is not something that is abnormal, but it is something that people need to go through and deal with. The advice here, as I've gone down this journey, is realize that it will take time to adjust to your stage and give yourself time to recover and rest." - Brad Genser -------- Episode Timestamps (02:00) Segment: AAR (03:00) Walking hours (04:30) Beast Barracks (09:30) Impactful classes at West Point (11:30) Mentorship (16:15) Fostering relationships with NCOs (18:45) Mental health suggestions for veterans (21:30) Segment: Sit Rep (26:45) About Farther (30:15) Valuable lessons from the military (36:00) Segment: SOP (39:00) Segment: Giving Back -------- Links Brad’s LinkedIn West Point Association of Graduates

This episode features a conversation with Michael Meese ‘81, President of the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA), a not-for-profit, member-owned financial services association that provides life insurance, military benefits counseling, Survivor Assistance Services, residential mortgages, financial planning, investment management and trust services to the American Armed Forces Community. Michael retired from the US Army as a Brigadier General after serving for 32 years. At AAFMAA, Michael oversees all aspects of the Association to ensure the financial security and independence of the American Armed Forces Community through insurance and other benefits. In his career, he served in a variety of strategic political-military positions including deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Bosnia. Michael was also the Executive Director of the Secretary of the Army’s Transition Team in 2005. He is a leader in military and Veterans issues, including chairing the 2016-17 Transition Team for the Department of Veterans Affairs. In this episode of On Point, Michael talks about his time as a student, teacher, and head of the economics department at West Point. He explains the importance of empowering people, educating them, and then allowing them the ability to run with what they've learned. Michael also gives insight into being a part of the presidential transition team, and how AAFMAA is working to give needed support to veterans, survivors, and caregivers. -------- “You get paid to work out, you get paid to study, they send you to school, you get paid to read and develop professionally. And all of those skills are not there just because the military likes to do it. It's because it makes it a better force. If you have a smart force that's reading, that’s studying, that's working out and it's doing all those things, it makes you more effective and it makes the force overall more effective.” - Michael Meese ‘81 -------- Episode Timestamps (02:00) First segment: AAR (04:00) The Service Academy Global Summit (05:50) Michael’s West Point experience (07:45) Teaching at West Point (08:00) Cadet walking hours (09:45) Mentorship (13:15) Branching in Field Artillery (17:30) Michael’s Army career (23:45) Segment: Sit Rep (26:45) Retiring from the military (28:00) Working at AAFMAA (34:00) Mentorship (38:30) Segment: SOP (40:45) Physical fitness and Routines (41:30) Segment: Giving Back -------- Links Michael’s LinkedIn West Point Association of Graduates

This episode features a conversation with Emily McMahan ‘01, Co-founder and General Partner of Academy Investor Network, a seed-stage focused venture fund that invests in dual-use technology and military veteran-led startups. She has a passion for working with startups and connecting people, technologies, and companies solving tough national security, civic, and social challenges for good. Before founding AIN, Emily was a startup founder. She led a military veteran-focused incubator, Capitol Post, that advised hundreds of startups to leverage the region's strong business and startup community. Emily holds an MBA from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point. After graduating from West Point two months before 9/11, she was commissioned as a U.S. Army military police officer and deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Noble Eagle. In this episode of On Point, Emily talks about her experiences at West Point and in the military, and how they impacted her professional work and focus after transitioning into civilian life. She discusses the successful path she followed in her post-military career in entrepreneurship and being a venture capitalist. Emily also emphasizes the importance of creating a space where service academy graduates and the entrepreneurial community can deeply connect, listen, learn, and ultimately support each other. ------------- “I think you have to know yourself when you're transitioning to know who you are and what you like. And, I hope that all the work we've done up until that point prepares us for that. So knowing yourself and who you are is really important because you have to be careful that you don't choose something based off of other people's expectations of what you should do. I see a lot of folks that are transitioning often that sort of have this expectation of what they're supposed to do. You have to know yourself and kind of go through that process.” - Emily McMahan ‘01 ------------- Episode Timestamps (02:18) Segment: AAR - Emily’s decision to attend West Point (04:35) Cadet type (05:19) Walking hours (05:56) Classes and studies (06:39) Mentors at the academy (08:20) Choosing a branch (10:58) First OBC assignment (11:21) Emily’s military career (13:50) Segment: Sit Rep - Emily’s civilian career (16:01) Starting Capitol Post (16:55) Merging Capitol Post with Bunker Labs (17:45) Co-founding the Academy Investor Network (23:41) Leveraging and investing in opportunities at the network (31:00) West Point Entrepreneurship Summit (34:10) Lessons from volleyball at West Point (36:33) Segment: SOP - Routines for success (40:34) Day-to-day in venture investing (42:39) Mentorship (48:22) Segment: Giving Back ------------- Links Emily McMahan’s LinkedIn Academy Investor Network West Point Association of Graduates

This episode of On Point features an interview with Brad Harrison, Founder and Managing Partner of Scout Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm making the world a better, safer place by investing in frontier and dual-use technologies built by veterans, intelligence leaders, and premier research labs. Brad is an entrepreneur and seasoned business development executive with a passion for building companies that are pushing the envelope of technological innovation. He has successfully helped incubate several companies out of the Scout office and has deep experience developing concepts to include co-authoring 3 patents in search, geo-tagging, and personalization. Brad was a distinguished honor graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1994 and served as an Airborne Ranger in the United States Army for five years before retiring as a Captain. He also graduated from the MIT Sloan School of Management where he studied New Product and Venture Development. In this episode of On Point, Brad discusses his experience in the military as a leader and why he always put the lives of his soldiers first. He explains how the skills and experiences he had at West Point and in the Army helped prepare him to be an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and mentor. Brad talks about his mission of making the world a better, safer place by guiding and investing in people to help build their business dreams and gain personal successes. ------------- “The advice that I give to people that come out of the academy and out of the military is you need to understand how special you are. You're different than everybody else out there. Right? If you were in combat, you had to make decisions, split-second decisions in an everly changing environment where it was life or death, right. You've got the capacity to think and process information in a way that your peers just don't have.” - Brad Harrison ------------- Episode Timestamps (02:24) Segment: AAR (03:37) Brad’s West Point experience (05:37) Impactful classes at West Point (07:07) How Brad spent his summers (07:52) Brad’s experience in the Army (13:00) Mentorship in the Army (15:59) Segment: SitRep (30:27) Brad on founder empathy (34:33) Sports aligning with VC (36:35) Funding at Scout Ventures (43:21) Academy Investor Network and the West Point AOG Entrepreneurs Summit (45:21) Segment: SOP (48:39) Brad’s daily routine (52:15) How to cultivate relationships (57:11) About the Academy Investor Network (61:14) Segment: Giving Back ------------- Links Brad Harrison’s LinkedIn Brad Harrison’s Twitter Tim Hsia’s LinkedIn Lance Dietz’s LinkedIn West Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with General Rebecca S. Halstead  ‘81, Founder and CEO of STEADFAST Leadership, a leading consultancy company she founded after serving for 27 years in the Army. She retired from the military as a Brigadier General. Becky specializes in inspirational and motivational speaking, developing leader training programs, leader coaching and mentoring. Becky has provided hundreds of keynote speeches and leadership training to the corporate and academic sectors at both national and international engagements.  General Halstead entered West Point in 1977 with just the second class of women, and was the first person from her hometown to graduate from the academy. She was also the first female graduate of West Point (‘81) to be promoted to General Officer in 2004. General Halstead served and commanded in combat as the first female Commanding General at the strategic level of leadership in Iraq. In 2007 she received the National Women’s History Project award for “Generations of Women Moving History Forward”. In this episode of the WPAOG Network Podcast, General Halstead talks about how she enjoys being a leader and why she sees herself as a role model for both men and women. Becky explains how her time at West Point and in the military provided her with many important skills and experiences that are transferable to the work she does today advising businesses on how to be better. She also gives insight on some of her proudest moments in the military and why it is important to be an honest, open, and direct mentor to help others succeed in the military and life thereafter.  ----------- Episode Timestamps (01:45) Becky’s Background (03:00) Deciding to attend West Point (05:05) Experiences at the academy (06:15) Mentorship (10:30) Significant achievements (13:38) Early promotions (15:49) Being a Role Model and Leader (18:10) Becky’s proudest achievement (26:15) Valuable lessons learned (30:00) About STEADFAST Leadership (31:10) Remaining active in the West Point community (38:05) Transitioning leadership (41:05) Becky’s book  ----------- Links Rebecca S Halstead’s LinkedIn Ian Faison’s LinkedIn Ian Faison’s Twitter West Point Association of Graduates

This episode features a conversation between Dr. Scott Parsons, Character Education Integrator for the Military Program at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and LTC Tom Dull, Executive Officer at the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic. Dr. Scott Parsons assists universities and institutions in developing leaders of character by designing curriculum, integration techniques, and assessment tools with a focus on character education. As a leader, teacher, and coach, he designs character education programs based on Neo-Aristotelian Virtue Ethics to facilitate a flourishing life for students, faculty, and staff. As a retired Army officer with over 21 years of military experience, Dr. Parsons spent roughly half of his military career in Intelligence and the other half in academia serving as an Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Ethics. LTC Tom Dull commissioned into the US Infantry in 2005 and has served at Fort Campbell, KY, Fort Bragg, NC and Fort Riley, KS. He has served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Troop and Company Commander, Aide-de-camp, and Battalion and Brigade Executive Officer. LTC Dull has deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Unified Response, Freedom Sentinel, and Atlantic Resolve. LTC Dull's military education is expansive and includes the United States Army Officer Candidate School, Infantry Officer Basic Course, Airborne Course, Ranger School, Air Assault Course, and the United States Naval War College. In this episode of the West Point Association of Graduates ‘Character Cut,’ LTC Dull talks about his background as a student of virtue ethics, responding to mission command and discipline initiatives, how the United States Military’s values vary from other nations’, and the importance of character education for young leaders in the academy. Dr. Parsons and LTC Dull also talk about Parsons' use of practical wisdom during combat in Iraq. ----------- "There's gonna be times where maybe, perhaps, some of these officers, soldiers are kind of alone and generally unafraid, but they're solving problems at the tactical level. And, some of those will be ones where their character will come into question. And so we really want them to kind of come through the other side with their character in tact, right? We want them as they represent not only themselves, the organization they're part of, but the American military that they fought with character, they fought with honor. And they've come back with it. And I think practicing early on, especially here, what we see at the military academy, what we could possibly see in some other initial entry training units, like I think would be such a phenomenal kind of experience." - LTC Tom Dull ----------- Episode Timestamps (01:09) LTC Dull’s background as a student of virtue ethics (05:32) How practical wisdom influences soldiers (09:34) Virtue ethics in military situations (13:58) Dr. Parsons on employing practical wisdom in Iraq (16:50) Mission command and discipline initiative (18:27) LTC Dull’s whiteboard explained (21:02) LTC Dull on Army doctrine (24:06) The importance of character education for young leaders in the academy ----------- Links Dr. Scott Parsons’ LinkedIn LTC Tom Dull’s LinkedIn West Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with Rolfe Arnhym ‘53, a Chair for Vistage, the world’s largest and most comprehensive executive coaching organization for small and midsize businesses with $1 million to $1 billion in revenue. As a Vistage Chair, Rolfe mentors numerous business leaders in the community through three groups he oversees. He has served every community in his personal and professional life with a focus on service to others before oneself, and making each community better for future generations. Rolfe is a West Point graduate and retired Army officer with a distinguished 21-year military career, including two combat tours in Vietnam and commanding an Infantry Brigade in the Army Reserve. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and later as a Colonel in the Reserves. Rolfe has held numerous significant leadership positions including serving as CEO of the Pasadena, Long Beach, Palm Springs, and Beverly Hills Chambers of Commerce from 1978-1999. In this episode of On Point, Rolfe talks about how he works at Vistage with CEOs and executives to develop and add to their professional skill sets and grow as business people. He provides insight on his highly varied career, and what inspired him to write a book for readers to gain insights into mentorship and coaching, being able to walk away with multiple calls to action. Rolfe also touches on the power of the Chamber of Commerce as an important resource to help you succeed in business, and sheds light on the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of moving the Army versus Navy game across the nation. ----------- “I find a general weakness right now in terms of people holding themselves accountable. They are ready to blame almost anybody else's circumstance, pin the tail on some other’s donkey; never-mind holding their people accountable. I find that internally and I worked very, very hard on this to make sure to help people establish core values. Some would call it a fundamentals and in my book, the number one core value is mutual respect, which is a fast way of saying, ‘treat others as you would have them treat you’, which makes a huge difference.” - Rolfe Arnhym ----------- EPISODE TIMESTAMPS (02:22) Rolfe’s role at Vistage (03:54) Moving the Army v. Navy game across the nation (11:44) Impact the Army v. Navy game left on the West Coast (14:38) Using the Army v. Navy game as a West Point marketing initiative (17:42) Why Rolfe wrote Start Everything, Finish Nothing: The Curse of Modern Management (19:52) Inviting the Mayor of Moscow to Beverly Hills (24:49) Transitioning out of the military (26:04) Creating the MILES system (27:32) The Chamber of Commerce as a career path (30:27) Rolfe’s relationship with West Point (36:58) Lessons learned from over the years (40:04) Life as a mentor (41:37) How the Chamber of Commerce can help you (44:55) Final thoughts ----------- LINKS Rolfe Arnhym’s LinkedIn Rolfe Arnhym’s Twitter rolfearnhym.com Ian Faison’s LinkedIn Ian Faison’s Twitter West Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview between Dr. Thomas Sherlock, Political Science Professor at the United States Military Academy and Ambassador William B. Taylor, Vice President, Russia and Europe at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Dr. Thomas Sherlock received his doctorate in political science from Columbia University and teaches courses on comparative politics, democracy and democratization, comparative political institutions, international security, nationalism and populism, and the politics of the post-Soviet region. He has written and contributed to many books and publications, providing insight and expertise on Russia, and frequently conducts field research in the post-Soviet space.  Ambassador William B. Taylor is vice president, Russia and Europe at the U.S. Institute of Peace. He has served as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, oversaw U.S. assistance and support during the Arab Spring, helped the U.S. government facilitate relationships and reconstruction in parts of the Middle East, coordinated U.S. assistance to the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and worked on the staff of Senator Bill Bradley. Ambassador Taylor is a 1969 graduate of West Point and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. He also served as an infantry platoon leader and combat company commander in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and Germany. In this episode of the WPAOG Broadcast Network, Dr. Sherlock and Ambassador Taylor provide perspective and insight on the current war being waged on Ukraine by Russia. The ambassador sheds light on the history of the region, its relationship with Russia, its rapid democratization, and shares his experiences with President Vladimir Zelensky. He talks about how the United States is supporting the Ukrainian people from both sides of America’s political aisle. As well, he details what the conflict means for the country’s people, how it will affect the U.S. and NATO, and what you can do to help support Ukraine as the country fights for its freedom.  ----------------- Episode Timestamps 03:00 History of Ukraine and the Perspective of War from It’s People 08:40 Expectations of the Russian Invasion  13:20 Character of President Vladimir Zalenski 19:40 United States’ Perspective and Interest in the Ukrainian Conflict 24:20 What the Conflict in Ukraine Means for the United States Military and NATO  29:50 Major Obstacles that Ukraine Faces in Entry into NATO and EU 35:20 What Americans can do to Support Ukraine 39:20 Ukrainian’s Reaction to Support of the West ----------------- Links Ambassador Taylor’s Biography  Dr. Sherlock’s Biography West Point Association of Graduates

This episode features an interview with Dan Streetman ‘91, Chief Executive Officer of TIBCO, a revolutionary software company that allows communication within the financial markets to occur in real-time and without human intervention. Dan is an expert at leveraging real-time data to enable faster, smarter decisions. Prior to leading TIBCO, Dan helped propel significant data-driven transformations, most recently at BMC, Salesforce, and C3.ai. He is a strong advocate for creating cultures of collaboration, and he honed his leadership skills as a U.S. Army officer, serving in combat operations and receiving decorations including the Bronze Star. Dan is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and earned an MBA at Harvard Business School. In this episode of On Point, Dan talks about how always finding the right solution and having humility are critical in everything you do. He explains that teamwork is crucial for success both in business and the military. Dan provides career advice for transitioning veterans, talks about receiving the distinguished MacArthur Leadership Award while at West Point, and gives insight into his post-military career path. Episode Timestamps (01:50) Segment 1: AAR (03:37) Dan’s West Point experience (08:50) Dan’s time in the Army (17:11) Receiving the MacArthur Leadership Award (19:06) Impactful classes at West Point (20:57) Segment 2: Sit Rep (25:32) Leadership in military vs. corporate leadership (28:09) TIBCO merging with Citrix (31:46) Sales advice for transitioning veterans (36:49) Segment 3: SOP (41:59) Dan’s daily routine (44:19) Balancing work-life and family (47:10) Segment 4: Giving Back Links Dan Streetman’s LinkedIn Dan Streetman’s Twitter Tim Hsia LinkedIn Lance Dietz LinkedIn West Point Association of Graduates On Point Podcast Breakline VetsinTech United in Stride Team with a Vision

This episode features a conversation between MAJ Benjamin Elliott, instructor for MX400 Officership at the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and Dr. Ryan Erbe, Emotional Wellness Integrator with the Character Integration Advisory Group at the United States Military Academy. MAJ Benjamin Elliott graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2007 with a BS in Psychology. In 2016 he earned an MS in Strategic Intelligence (MSSI) from the National Intelligence University (NIU) in Washington, DC. His first commission was as a Military Intelligence Officer, serving as a Human Intelligence Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Battalion Assistant Intelligence Officer. MAJ Elliott then served as a reconnaissance squadron Intelligence Officer and the Brigade Assistant Intelligence Officer. Following that he was assigned to the National Training Center as an Observer, Coach, and Trainer on the Cobra Team, Operations Group. After gaining his MS, MAJ Elliott served as an interagency fellow at the National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence where he was a counterterrorism analyst assigned to the Interagency Intelligence Committee on Terrorism.   Dr. Erbe has a demonstrated history of working in the higher education field and is skilled in research, teaching, course design, curriculum development, nonprofit organizations, and more. He earned his PhD from Indiana University in Health Behavior and Human Development in 2017. His current focus is on integrating character development into wellness initiatives across the military academy. Previously, he held positions as an Adjunct Professor at the Rocky Mountain School of Ministry and Theology along with the State University of New York at New Paltz, where he taught Counseling Adolescents, Health Psychology, and Research Methods. He most recently was the Lead Minister of the Hudson Valley Church, where he focused on Spiritual Formation and Family Health. In this episode of On Point and the West Point Association of Graduates ‘Character Cut’ series, Dr. Erbe and MAJ Elliott talk about making people a priority in the military. They discuss the virtues of love, competence, character, and caring, and whether unconditional love has a place in the Army, leadership, and service. MAJ Benjamin Elliott and Dr. Erbe also go into the five forms of love and the ways it impacts life in the military. Episode Timestamps (03:05) Introducing Dr. Ryan G. Erbe (03:25) Talking about the virtue of love (05:00) Does unconditional love have a place in the Army? (10:25) The three Cs: competence, character and caring (14:26) Army doctrine and leadership (16:35) The five forms of ways to love

This episode features a conversation with Rodney Manzo, Founder and CEO of Anvyl, a company that strives to bring intelligent and connected supply chains to customers around the world. Rodney has a demonstrated history of launching products around the world. His skill sets span operations management, international supply chains, cost negotiations, analytics, systems engineering and team building. Prior to starting at Anvyl, Rodney was a Senior Director of Supply Chain at Harry’s and a Global Supply Manager at Apple. He also served in the United States Army as a Combat Engineer during tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Rodney received his Bachelor's Degree in Management and Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and his Masters in Business Administration focused in Finance and Operations from Columbia Business School. In this episode of On Point, Rodney Manzo discusses his career as a combat engineer in the Army, the effect that maintaining a rigorous daily routine can have on consistency, how mentors are extremely important while in the military and throughout your career, and the trials, tribulations, and ultimate successes related to starting his own supply chain company. Episode Timestamps  (01:48) Segment: AAR - After Action Review (03:13) Rodney’s track and field experience (03:58) His experience at West Point (06:35) Life as a combat engineer in the Army (13:12) Mentorship at West Point (17:26) Segment: Sit Rep (21:10) Joining early startups (22:50) Challenges faced switching companies (26:03) What is Anvyl? (27:36) Starting Anvyl (30:37) Advice for starting a business (33:01) Segment: SOP - Standard Operating Procedure (34:34) Structuring a CEO’s daily routine  (39:24) Strengths of veteran entrepreneurs (40:36) Segment: Giving Back Links Rodney Manzo’s LinkedIn Anvyl Website West Point Association of Graduates

This episode of On Point features an interview with Chris Gaertner, Partner at Integrity Partners and Co-CEO and CFO of DHC Acquisition Corporation. Chris has 25+ years of experience in underwriting, advising, and mergers and acquisitions for some of the best technology companies in the world. He has been a lead advisor on over 100 equity and M&A transactions, including some of the largest deals in technology, and has led IPOs for companies such as Google and OpenTable. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, an MS in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University, and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Chris served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army with the 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, and 1st Special Operations Command. In this episode of On Point, Chris Gaertner talks about how as a first generation American, he felt a need to serve the country. He discusses his experiences in ranger school and serving in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. Chris also speaks about his passion for flying and diving that has continued to this day since his time at West Point. In addition, Chris provides insight on moving from the military to civilian life, and shares advice on how to make the transition to business successful. -------------- Episode Timestamps (02:15) Segment 1: AAR (02:39) Chris’ experience at West Point (03:41) Handling flying and diving on top of everything at West Point (04:56) Other activities at West Point (04:03) Advice from Chris’ personal experience (06:15) Chris’ West Point mentors (08:08) Why Chris branched Infantry and 82nd (08:52) Chris’ Army experience (11:08) Why Chris decided to transition from the Army (12:11) Segment 2: Sit Rep (13:30) Going to business school (13:48) Why investment banking? (16:41) Chris’ most memorable transaction experiences (20:38) Transitioning into investment banking (23:05) Focusing on mobility, infrastructure and digital security at Integrity (25:47) Segment 3: The SOP (29:47) Daily work-life balance (31:51) Piloting his own plane (33:34) Leadership principles (36:38) Segment 4: Giving Back -------------- Links Chris Gaertner LinkedIn Integrity Partners West Point Association of Graduates

This episode features a conversation between Rich Demarco, Associate Athletic Director and radio play-by-play announcer for the Army Black Knights, and Jeff Monken, Head Coach of Army West Point Football. In this episode of On Point and the West Point Association for Graduates ‘Character Cut’ series, Coach Monken talks about the interview process to become the Army West Point head coach, growing the football program as a leader, and the improvements to come for Army football in the future. Coach Monken also talks about the highly anticipated Michie Stadium Preservation Project.

This episode features an interview between Dr. Yasmine Kalkstein, the Lead Character Integrator and Associate Professor at United States Military Academy at West Point, and Dr. Jeffrey Peterson, the Director of the Character Integration Advisory Group (CIAG), at the United States Military Academy. Dr. Peterson served on active duty for 28 years in a variety of leadership and staff positions in the United States, Korea, Cuba, and the Middle East to include a combat battalion command during “the surge” in Iraq. After command, he served as the director of West Point’s economics program from 2008 – 2014. In 2012, Colonel (Ret.) Peterson was the Director, Center for the Army Profession and Ethic (CAPE) where he led the effort to publish the Army’s first doctrinal manual on the Army Profession and Ethic. Formally, while serving as the Chair for the Study of Officership at West Point from 2015-2021, he stewarded the West Point Superintendent’s capstone course on officership, designs character and leader development programs, and advises senior academy leaders on the state of West Point’s Honor System. He is a 1987 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, followed by the MIT Sloan School of Management, and holds a PhD in Policy Analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School. In this episode of On Point, Dr. Peterson discusses the diversification of the United States Military Academy over time in terms of gender, ethnicity, and race, and how as the army and society evolve, so too do the challenges being faced related to the complexities of behavior and character. He also talks about how the launch of the Character Integration Advisory Group is aimed at tackling this issue. The initiative helps launch a fourth pillar at West Point that teaches specific things about character education while still weaving character development into other programs to bring a coherent, cohesive, holistic, and progressive approach to the issue.  -------------- Episode Timestamps  1:37 - Introducing the Character Integration Advisory Group 2:12 - Pillars of the West Point developmental programs 3:04 - Character as the fourth pillar of development 3:24 - The Simon Center and the four colored books 7:39 - Interdisciplinary hiring at the CIAG 11:55 - Relationship between wellness and character 15:07 - Compliance with the honor code and acting virtuously 17:20 - Explaining the Character Growth Seminar 21:26 - The goal of improving character development at West Point 22:44 - The Souffle Scenario 26:08 - Integrity and relational skills in character development 28:30 - Impact of COVID on interpersonal communication 32:32 - Cadet basic training introducing squad journaling 36:36 - The 47 month deliberate, holistic, and progressive character education process 39:12 - The value of the CIAG -------------- Links Connect with Dr. Jeffrey Peterson on LinkedIn Connect with Dr. Yasmine Kalkstein on LinkedIn West Point Association of Graduates On Point Podcast

This episode of On Point features West Point graduate and technology entrepreneur, Ben Faw. As co-founder of AdVon commerce, Ben helps the company to harness proprietary software to create value in e-commerce. He has expertise in consumer internet with a focus on tech, e-commerce, and media.  Prior to AdVon, Ben served as a platoon leader and executive officer in the 25th infantry and was Co-Founder at BestReviews. Ben has been published by the Harvard Business Review, CNN, BusinessInsider, and many more.  In this episode, Ben talks about his journey to West Point, experiences in his military career, and following his interest in the business world. He provides some blunt advice on what it’s like being an entrepreneur, and shares insight about the importance of having a team around you that you can go to war with, learning and growing in everything you do.  --------------- Episode Timestamps (01:07) Interest in military and business (01:49) What led to West Point (02:48) Focusing on economics studies (04:00) Mentors (05:35) AAR Segment and postgrad life (06:58) Post grad journey (09:10) Career path and entrepreneurship (12:15) LinkedIn Experience and concept of sales (14:51) SitRep - AdVon Commerce (16:56) Getting back to entrepreneurship (18:50) Building teams (23:25) Future of AdVon (26:00) SOP - Help along the journey (29:20) Habits for success (31:55) Giving Back - Advice for younger vets interested in starting a business (34:55) Parting Advice --------------- Links Ben Faw LinkedIn Ben Faw Twitter Ben Faw Blog West Point Association of Graduates On Point Podcast

This episode of On Point features an interview with Rob Schneider, Chief Content, Development and Strategy Officer at Learfield. Rob has an accomplished background in corporate development and strategy. He drives innovation and acceleration across the content, data, and digital product teams at Learfield. In this role, he strategizes on how to support growth and development within the sports, media, and entertainment industries.  Rob currently serves on the advisory boards of Stadia Ventures, Courtside Ventures, and Big Media Holdings. Rob served in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army as an infantry officer, graduating with honors from the United States Military Academy and earned his MBA at the Columbia Business School. In this episode of On Point, Rob talks about why he commissioned for infantry and how networking was so important to help him advance professionally after serving in the military. He discusses the steps it took to get his career started, including the importance of transitioning to new experiences and executive leadership roles. As well, Rob provides insights on sports and video gaming, and how Learfield is at the forefront of their future.  -------------- Episode Timestamps (1:48) Segment: AAR - After Action Review (3:53) Rob’s West Point experience (6:13) Why Rob commissioned for infantry (7:47) Rob’s experience shifting gears post military (10:32) Networking after West Point (11:55) Segment: Situation Report (16:00) Rob’s experience at Learfield (17:16) Why Rob remains at Learfield (18:47) Rob on the importance of transitioning to new experiences (20:53) Impact of COVID on Learfield (23:00) How Learfield is approaching esports (25:33) Rapid fire questions (27:44) Segment: Standard Operating Procedure (29:51) How Rob’s West Point experience shaped him as a leader (32:26) Segment: Giving Back -------------- Links Rob Schneider’s LinkedIn Rob Schneider’s Twitter Tim Hsia LinkedIn Lance Dietz LinkedIn West Point Association of Graduates On Point Podcast

This episode of On Point features an interview with General Stan McChrystal, Co-founder of the McChrystal Group. Following his retirement from the US Army after 34 years, McChrystal founded the McChrystal Group, which is an advisory team that partners with businesses to improve the performance of their organizations and help build resilient and adaptable teams that can win in today’s dynamic environment. A retired four-star general, Stanley McChrystal is the former commander of US and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) Afghanistan and the former commander of the nation’s premier military counter-terrorism force, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). He is best known for developing and implementing a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan, and for creating a cohesive counter-terrorism organization that revolutionized the interagency operating culture. As founder of the McChrystal Group McChrystal Group, he specializes in leadership consulting, leadership training, executive coaching, strategy alignment, team-building, transparency, communications, disciplined execution, networked organizations, and keynote speaking engagements. In this episode McChrystal talks about wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps to attend West Point and be a military hero. We learn about his initial struggles at West Point, and how he went from the bottom of his class to improve his standing on the Dean’s List. He provides insight about navigating life as a junior officer, and then as a general officer in high stakes situations. McChrystal discusses a Rolling Stone article about his command group and how he handled the fallout and changes to his career that led to starting a new business. He also provides thoughts on mentorship, transitioning from the military to civilian life, and the importance of taking care of yourself. -------------- Episode Timestamps (01:44) Segment 1 - AAR (02:05) Entry to West Point and Military Career (02:59) First years at West Point (07:59) West Point Academic Standing (08:49) Meritocracy at West Point (10:45) Mentors and Relationship with father (13:30) Transitioning from Military and West Point (15:55) Experience as a Junior Officer (20:37) Progressing Through Ranks (25:55) Time as Commanding and General Officer (32:25) Building Mentorships (35:45) Rolling Stone Article (40:30) McChrystal Group (41:27) Segment 2 - Sit Rep (41:50) Running a Business (44:45) McChrystal’s Big Four (46:55) Empowering Teams (48:45) Segment 3 - SOP (49:15) Taking Care of Yourself (54:45) Staying in Rhythm  (56:23) Foundations Built from Military and West Point (57:55) Segment 4 - Giving Back (59:45) Lessons from Sports -------------- Links Stan McChrystal LinkedIn Stan McChrystal Twitter West Point Association of Graduates On Point Podcast

This episode features a conversation between Dr. Scott Parsons, Character Education Integrator for the Military Program at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and Dr. Tom Harrison, Director of Education at the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues at the University of Birmingham. Dr. Harrison’s specialist interests include character, cyber-wisdom and the internet, character education and virtue ethics, and youth social action and citizenship education. He researches, publishes and gives presentations in the UK and internationally in these areas. He also develops resources and training programmes for schools, the voluntary sector and other organizations.  In this episode of On Point and the West Point Association for Graduates ‘Character Cut’ series, Dr. Harrison talks about how he coined the term ‘cyber-phronesis,’ its relevance at West Point in training young leaders, and the models he came up with for cultivating character in children. He also talks about his most recent book that focuses on how to cultivate character in your children so they can flourish online. --------------- Episode Timestamps  (01:47) Introducing Dr. Tom Harrison (02:44) About Tom’s book, Thrive –how to cultivate character so your children can flourish online (06:25) Coining and defining cyber-phronesis (08:58) The relevance of phronesis at West Point (10:11) Phronesis in a combat setting (10:55) Explaining the ‘thrive’ model (15:10) Using the ‘react’ model as a young leader (18:54) Virtues in Tom’s life --------------- Links Dr. Tom Harrison Twitter Dr. Scott Parsons LinkedIn West Point Association of Graduates On Point Podcast

This episode of On Point features a conversation between Lisa Benitez, the Chief Diversity Officer at the United States Military Academy West Point, and Herman Bulls, International Director and the founder of JLL's Public Institutions Business Unit.  Herman also serves on several high-impact public, private and not-for-profit boards including USAA, The American Red Cross, The Military Bowl, Comfort Systems USA, American Campus Communities, and the West Point Association of Graduates. He is founder, President, and CEO of Bulls Advisory Group, a real estate and management advisory firm. Herman completed 12 years of active duty service with the United States Army, and retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves in 2008. He is part of the West Point graduating class of 1978 and received a MBA from Harvard Business School. In this episode, Herman talks about leading the initial charge for diversity, equity, and inclusion at West Point. As well, gives insight into how the school has continued to expand those efforts across the organization from the board, staff, and faculty to athletics, admissions, and alumni. He helped establish, and was the first chair, of the AOG board’s diversity committee, and continues to support West Point AOG to be the most connected and inclusive alumni group in the world.  ———— Episode Timestamps  (00:40) Herman’s Involvement in Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives (03:55) How Diversity and Inclusion was initially received at West Point (05:45) West Point Diversity Conference (09:30) Diversity and Inclusion Representation among Staff and Faculty (11:55) Establishment of Diversity and Inclusion Committee as Part of Board (12:55) Herman’s Role as Chair of Diversity and Inclusion Board (15:00) Diversity and Inclusion Representation for Athletes (15:51) West Point Special Interest Groups (16:50) Corporate Governance (17:15) Diversity Makeup within Board and Advisory Committee (20:44) Importance of Candid Conversations (24:10) Minority Visitation Program and other Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives (28:00) Need for Resources (28:45) Diversity and Inclusion Role in West Point Alumni Connectivity (35:45) Herman’s West Point Experience vs. his Son’s (40:25) Philanthropy and Margin of Excellence Program (47:00) Post Graduate Scholarship Distribution and Awards for Minorities  ———— Links Herman Bulls LinkedIn Herman Bulls Twitter West Point Association of Graduates On Point Podcast

Bob and Todd continue to speak about their shared vision for the future of AOG as it continues its mission to become the most highly-connected alumni body in the world for members of the Long Gray Line. They go over the efforts WPAOG is making to coordinate and encourage alumni connections and help provide a clearer path for what’s ahead. As a highly distinguished leader and civil servant, Bob shares insights and his vision for AOG. Complementing his vision, Todd discusses more immediate strategies AOG is implementing to ensure growth, connections, and valuable services to members of the Long Gray Line. Their efforts are geared towards supporting the US Military Academy and Margins of Excellence that drive West Point to continue to be the world-class institution it’s been for over 150 years. ———— Episode Timestamps (01:55) - What Does WPAOG Do? (07:00) - Giving Back to the Community (10:00) - Important WPAOG Projects (15:50) - AOG Facility Support (25:00) - Morale Welfare Recreation (27:40) - Vision of 2030 Plan ———— Links Todd A Browne LinkedIn Robert A. McDonald LinkedIn West Point Association of Graduates On Point Podcast

In this episode we feature an interview between the honorable Robert McDonald, the new Chairman of the WPAOG Board of Directors, and Todd Browne, the president and CEO of AOG. Bob and Todd share their mutual and individual goals and vision for AOG. The organization continues to grow and is aimed at fulfilling its mission to serve the Long Gray Line by becoming the most highly connected alumni body in the world. As a highly distinguished leader and civil servant, Bob shares insights and his vision for AOG. Complementing his vision, Todd discusses more immediate strategies AOG is implementing to ensure growth, connections, and valuable services to members of the Long Gray Line. Their efforts are geared towards supporting the US Military Academy and Margins of Excellence that drive West Point to continue to be the world-class institution it’s been for over 150 years. Episode Timestamps: (04:00) - Robert McDonald discusses new role as Chairman of the WPAOG Board of Directors (06:00) - WPAOG Initiatives for 2022 (07:30) - Importance of alumni being connected (09:00) - AOG as a hub for connection (09:35) - AOG Activities, Initiatives, Programs (10:50) - Human Centered Design and West Point Graduates  (13:40) - AOG Moments that Matter (17:20) - Transitioning and Life After the Military (22:05) - Design of AOG (26:03) - Making Connections with other Graduates (27:15) - Where Does AOG Want to Be (31:20) - Personalization and Outreach for AOG (33:20) - Comfort and Connections Between Graduate Entrepreneurs (35:50) - Importance of Data to Help Graduates (38:00) - Guiding Graduates  (40:00) - Advice for How Graduates Can Better Connect with Eachother (44:50) - Finding My Next Mission

This episode highlights servant leadership and living to serve others. The first interview features current USMA 1st Captain CDT Holland Pratt.  The second interview features Dan Futrell, CEO of the Pat Tillman Foundation. Moderated by LTC Andrea Peters '02.

In this AOG exclusive interview, Rich DeMarco, the Associate AD & Radio Play-by-Play Broadcaster for the Army Black Knights, interviews the USMA Director of Athletics, Mike Buddie to discuss West Point Athletics and more...

Hosted by LTC Dave Siry, USMA Class of 1994 Daniel Kaufman, USMA Class of 1968 was the 12th Dean of the Academic Board at the United States Military Academy.

The very first episode of the WPAOG Podcast focuses on our Career Services Department and all the great work they have done in helping our Alumni get job placements during pivotal transitional moments throughout their careers. Featured Graduates •Hosted by: Mike Lyons '83, Major Giving Officer •Todd Browne '85, President and CEO •Julia Ruddock '07, Director of Career Services •Anees Merzi '11 •Miguel Gutierrez '08, Assistant Director of Career Services •Hannah Dahlem '18 The brand new WPAOG Podcast expands existing connections between Graduates with tailored communications accessible from anywhere in the world. This customized content channel offers an exclusive look at the extraordinary lives of our Graduates while keeping you up to date on AOG projects, events, and happenings at our Rockbound Highland Home. If you would like to contribute to this podcast in any capacity, please email initiatives@wpaog.org. Thank you for listening as we unlock the power of the Long Gray Line.