Department of Chemistry and Life Science
Cadets Awarded AAMs: At lunch Friday, 30 JAN 2015, three Chemical Engineering majors, Cadets Dave Brown (’15, D2), Sean Crain (’15, H3), and Lauren Ng (’15, B1) received Army Achievement Medals from the Brigade Tactical Officer, COL Merkel, for their quick-thinking and calm action during a medical emergency. On 15 NOV 2014, the three cadets were in Atlanta, GA, for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) National Competition. At approximately 2000 hours, the three cadets were returning from dinner when they heard a scream. They turned to the sound and saw an elderly woman being hit by a taxi cab. CDT Brown called 911, while Crain and Ng assisted the woman and moved her belongings out of the street. The cadets helped bring the situation under control and cared for the woman until emergency responders reported. Their actions reflect great credit on them, the Corps, and the Army
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership
On Thursday, 29 January and Friday, 30 January, Mr. Tom Tierney, BS&L’s Class of 1951 Chair of Leadership Studies, visited West Point to start the second year of his partnership with the academy. Similar to his last four visits, Mr. Tierney held two 3-hour discussion-based leadership seminars with 20 cadets, this time focusing on power and influence within leadership. Feedback from the cadets mentioned the an appreciation for the value of reflection time toward self-awareness, an interest in various aspects of influence such as winning an argument vs. building relationships, the focus on submission versus often-preached dominance, and the concept of managing up and adding value to your relationship with your boss. One Class of 2015 cadet said, “I think in the past I have been prone to simply wish my boss was doing something different or was better or was less formal, etc., instead of accepting the reality of who they were as a leader and trying to adapt.” Mr. Tierney also held a small group session with six junior officers from three different academic departments and BTD, discussing personal definitions of success and how to manage time and energy to work towards them. Mr. Tierney continues to add tremendous value to numerous populations at West Point as he pours into our young leaders with his experience and personal mentorship. His next visit will be on 24-25 March, after spring break.
West Point Negotiation Project helps prepare 3BCT, 82nd ABN Division Commanders for Iraq Deployment: On Wednesday, 7 January, West Point Negotiation Project ran a 1-day training seminar for 25 Battalion and Company Commanders and primary staff leaders of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The mobile training team included MAJ Christina Fanitzi (BSL), Michael Kalikow (Vantage Partners), CDT Gene Fogh (’15, B-4), and CDT Rima Gasparini (’17, G-1). During the workshop, leaders (O-3 to O-6) were introduced to negotiation as a leader competency, learned how to analyze negotiation situations, and practiced managing difficult negotiation counterparts. The Project developed specialized scenarios for the unit as they prepare for their January 2015 Iraq Deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The West Point Negotiation Project is a USMA faculty effort to improve the ability of military leaders to negotiate and is an activity within BS&L's West Point Leadership Center.
West Point Negotiation Project attends Military Fellows Luncheon in NYC: On Wednesday, 13 January, West Point Negotiation Project attended East-West Institute’s (EWI) exclusive panel discussion and luncheon at the New York Yacht Club on the topic of “Global Security from a Military Perspective”, hosted by EWI Board of Director Member, Ralph Isham. The panel consisted of four military fellows from the Council on Foreign Relations who provided their insights and predictions on the issue of global security in 2015. During the luncheon, MAJ Christina Fanitzi (BSL), CDT Valerie Kutsch (G-4, ’15), and CDT Samuel Mahle (B-3, ’17) met with 12 Business Executives, EWI Key Leaders and Board Members, and CFR Military Fellows. Cadets engaged these leaders through lunch and then spent focused time speaking to COL Michael W. Rauhut, the Army Fellow, following the panel. The West Point Negotiation Project is a USMA faculty effort to improve the ability of military leaders to negotiate and is an activity within BS&L's West Point Leadership Center.
Faculty Member serves as guest speaker at the USAG West Point’s Leader Development Program: On Friday, 23 January, LTC McCoy served as the guest speaker for USAG West Point’s Leader Development Program. Speaking on the topic of Leading and Managing Change, LTC McCoy shared insights from BS&Ls expertise on organizational change and led members of the garrison staff through Kotter’s 8 step model on change management.
The Department of Behavior Sciences and Leadership attended United States Naval Academy Leadership Conference, from 25-28 January 2015. Since 1984, the Naval Academy has hosted an annual leadership conference for senior cadets and midshipmen from each of the service academies. In 2002, the conference expanded to include students from civilian universities and broadened its scope to include leadership topics relevant to government, business, and academia, as well as the military. The USNA Leadership Conference now includes more than 200 participants from over 45 military and civilian colleges. This year’s Conference theme was “Leading in an Interconnected World”. The Conference consisted of three keynote speakers and three panels that held a variety of outstanding Leaders serving in the military and civilian sectors. Keynote Speakers included: Patrick S Finn VP of Cisco, General Stanley McCrystal, Mike Spanos President and CEO PepsiCo China, Client Bruce former NFL player and Navy Seal, Richard Karlgaard Publisher Forbes Magazine. During the breakout discussions our Cadets and faculty offered value by providing insight and sharing their experience. The breakout discussion topics included: “The Conscientious Leader-Operating in the Realm of Perceptions,” “The Referent Leader,” and “Building Relationships in the Age of Technology.” Panel Members: Maria Zuber, Vice President for research MIT 2006; Renee Forney, U.S Department of Homeland Security; Courtney Radsch, Journalist UNESCO; Jim Brady, CEO at stomping Ground In’; Jeffrey McClellan, Associate Professor Frostburg State University; R. Admiral John Kirby, Pentagon Press Secretary; Thomas Furlong, VP Data Center Facebook; Harry Ingo, President and CEO District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce; Pete Blackshaw, Nestle Corporation; Jim Messina, Campaign Manager for President Obama.
Cadets spend some time visiting the Safe Haven Homeless Shelter, Bronx, NY: On 31 January, Cadet McGinnis led eight other cadets on a trip section to the Safe Haven Homeless Shelter, Bronx, NY. The shelter is operated by Volunteers of America and sets aside 40 beds for homeless veterans. The cadets served lunch to approximately 25 residents and spent a couple hours talking and playing games with them. They were also able to tour the facility and get first-hand insight into the city's homeless services programs. Despite the group being newly formed of members of the Cadet Gospel Choir and current/former PL100 students, all cadets worked well together during the community service activity. The visit was well received by the shelter staff and the group concluded the trip by sharing lessons learned. As the Co-President of the Cadet Gospel Choir, Cadet McGinnis assisted the OIC by providing oversight of the trip, conducted himself with the utmost professionalism, and demonstrated the care indicative of a leader of character.
Department of Systems Engineering
USMA Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Student Chapter attend a STEM workshop in Atlanta, GA. On 22 January 2015, 17 Cadets (including 4 DSE majors) and 2 OIC’s (both DSE instructors) from the Society of Women Engineers traveled to Atlanta for a Leadership, Ethics, and Diversity in STEM (LEADS) Workshop at North Atlanta High School and a follow-on service product at the Atlanta VA Medical Center. At the workshop, cadets mentored local Atlanta students in a variety of STEM and Ethics-based exercises. Cadets facilitated various exercises with the goal to help students realize the importance of ethical leadership. An additional goal was to help students understand the significance of having high scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) competence to maintain a competitive advantage. The Cadets also provided support to the Atlanta VA Medical Center’s monthly town hall meeting as well as set up lunch for the Veterans in attendance. The Cadets learned a great deal about Veteran’s benefits, healthcare, and heard many difficult and heartbreaking stories from Veterans, many from the Vietnam era, struggling to receive benefits and services. Afterward, the Cadets had lunch with members of the local Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple (Chapter 465/William H. Cunningham Chapter).
SE capstone team advisor visits TRAC White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) and presents at a Systems Engineering conference. Mr. Scott Hunter visited TRAC-WSMR (forward attached at Ft. Bliss) on 29 January to present the Hierarchal Value Model tool that the Command Post Agility capstone team created. Additionally, he presented at the International Test and Evaluation System-f-Systems conference on the very same model. Both venues received positive feedback.
During his visit to West Point in late January, General Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, visited the Combating Terrorism Center for a briefing on the latest developments at the Center. The briefing, the CTC’s second with General Votel at West Point, focused on the CTC-SOCOM relationship as well as the Center’s current research on foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria and the composition and nature of the fighters themselves. The latter information will be published in its entirety in a forthcoming special report by the CTC.
Twenty-two USMA Cadets with the Combating Terrorism Center’s Irregular Warfare Group participated in tactical shooting training at West Point’s Tronsure Range Complex on 31 January. Mentored by USMA faculty and the USMA Combat Weapons Team, the Cadets focused on improving their shooting techniques through numerous iterations on the M4 rifle and M9 pistol. The event, which also featured Cadet interaction with Special Forces officers, culminated with a marksmanship exam. The IWG, which was established by the CTC in 2014, exists for the purpose of enhancing Cadets’ understanding of irregular warfare concepts and skills.
Department of English and Philosophy
Cadet Fine Arts Forum Hosts Screening of “Amira & Sam”: On 28 January, the Film Forum, the Cadet Fine Arts Forum, and the Department of English and Philosophy hosted director Sean Mullin (USMA ’97) and actress Dina Shihabi at the pre-release screening of “Amira and Sam.” MAJ Rik Miller (Film Forum OIC) served as Moderator and Master of Ceremonies at the event. Immediately following the screening of the film about a veteran who has an unlikely affair with an Iraqi immigrant, Mr. Mullin and Ms. Shihabi engaged in a discussion panel featuring COL John Nelson (who teaches Film and Film Theory), Cadet Cyrus Cappo (’17, co-CIC of the Film Forum), and Cadet Bradley Hodgkins ( ’15, a former Film and Film Theory student). In addition to the panel discussion, the audience engaged in Q & A. After fielding questions about the creative processes of screen-writing, directing, and acting, Sean Mullin and Dina Shihabi addressed several of the movie’s themes: the military-civilian divide, re-integration of combat-veterans into society, immigration, and ethnic tensions between Muslim-Americans and their fellow citizens.
Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
EECS Awards CDT Adam Kratch Best-in-Course for EE360. COL Lisa A. Shay, EE Program Director, awarded CDT Adam Kratch the best-in-course award for EE360, Digital Logic with Embedded Systems. CDT Kratch earned the highest A+ out of 67 cadets in the course. CDT Kratch was also one of the few Yearlings in the which had 22 Cows and 38 Firsties.
Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering
Cadets prepare for the100th Night Show. Class of 2015 cadets, including several very talented G&EnE majors, are working hard on their 100th night show. The cast and crew are sacrificing nights and weekends through the month of January and February to get ready for the 20-21 February performances. In this photo, nearly the entire cast runs through choreography for a spectacular show-stopping number. LTC Mindy Kimball, as the Officer-in-Charge of the Theatre Arts Guild (TAG), has been assisting the class leadership with the show since December, and is ensuring that TAG cadets provide sets, lighting, and sound support for the production. While the show is a Class of 2015 production, the backstage support comes from TAG cadets in all four classes and is guided by the extremely skilled civilian staff at Eisenhower Hall Theater. The Class of 2015 is ready to put on a stellar performance, and faculty is encouraged to attend either of the two performances. The show runs Friday, 20 Feb at 2000hrs, and Saturday, 21 Feb at 1900hrs. The show will run 90 minutes with no intermission. Tickets are $15 each and are available at the Ike Hall Box Office.
Highland Falls Elementary School Geography Club. West Point’s local super hero, Dirtman, made a surprise visit to the Highland Falls Elementary School on 3 February to help the school’s Geography Club. The club consists of more than 15 first and second graders who are interested in learning more about the geography of the world and the West Point area. Dirtman entertained and educated the students as they looked at topographic maps and models and assisted with the student’s geography craft. As the children continued to work on their crafts, Dirtman’s parting words to them were, “You Rock!” The Department of G&EnE is reaching out to the local community schools and assisting both the Highland Falls Elementary and Intermediate Schools with their Geography Club events.
Department of Foreign Languages
Arabic: Eight Arabic students studying in Morocco and Jordan have begun their studies. In Jordan, classes were cancelled for 4 Feb in response to current and potential protests following the release of the video showing the killing of Jordanian Air Force Pilot Moaz Kasabeh by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Cadets there report all is quiet, and they are receiving constant updates from AMIDEAST and the US Embassy. Cadets in Morocco report all is calm and business as usual, with no fallout in response to events in Jordan.
Chinese: Cadets McKenzie Beasley and Peter Neise had an opportunity to dine with relatives of Cadet Neise. The cadets spent the weekend with Cadet Neise’s great uncle and his family. Cadet Neise had never met any of these relatives before this weekend.
Department of History
On January 30 and 31, Dr. David Frey, Dr. Rasheed Hosein, and Captain Nathan Jennings of the Department of History escorted 80 plebes who have demonstrated academic excellence in American and International history courses on a trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. After staying the night in the Hotel Harrington just blocks away from the National Mall, which the cadets were allowed to explore the evening of arrival, the group spent the entire next day in the museum. The experience included two hours of self-guided tour throughout four levels of displays, theaters, testimonials, and material evidence; a working lunch with discussion led by Dr. Frey and museum staff where the cadets reflected on observations; assessment of a temporary exhibit titled, “Some Were Neighbors”; and finally an intimate discussion with Holocaust survivors who told their stories in small-group settings. Designed to expose cadets to the commemoration and study of Holocaust history, the trip compelled each attendee to assess the role of military leaders in preventing future atrocities. One cadet thoughtfully summarized the value of this learning when he concluded that, “History is more about how we remember than what we remember. It is ultimately about the lessons we take away from it.”
International History major Cadet Lorraine Ariail, who is currently studying abroad in Hamburg, Germany, recently visited the nearby Neuengamme concentration camp. Her impression follows: “The grounds themselves are very unassuming- my friend and I got off the bus, walked down the road, and there was nothing but a sign and a small reception building marking the entrance. It was a typical dreary north German day, so the remains of the old railroad track and the rows of leafless trees were particularly chilling. In fact, if I did not speak German I might not have known it was a former concentration camp at all. The grounds are always open, and they are quite extensive. Over 100,000 prisoners were held in the camp. Most of the barracks are no longer standing, their former locations now marked by rocks and wire along the ground. The site of the crematorium is now just a concrete slab with a plaque.” “One of the most interesting aspects was learning that as early as 1950, a prison was erected on site for the regular German prison system. It was not closed down until the early 2000s due to protests, and there was really any sort of move to memorialize the site until the 70s. I suppose that is fairly typical, since it wasn't until around that time that the Second World War period of history was even incorporated into the German public education system. It is just fascinating to see how they have chosen to depict the site.”