Center for Enhanced Performance
The Center for Enhanced Performance Host Guest Lecture. On 2 March Dr Mark McLaughlin, medical director of the Princeton Brain and Spine Center, presented “A Neurosurgeon’s Take on Applied Sport Psychology” to the CEP’s PL360 Psychology of Elite Performance class. Dr McLaughlin provided insights on concentration, precision, and execution from his 30 years of experience as a neurosurgeon. The presentation included demonstrations of three neurosurgery instruments used in the case studies which Dr McLaughlin presented. This guest lecture highlighted how the mental skills taught to cadets through the CEP’s Performance Enhancement Program were utilized by a world-class medical professional.
Dr. McLaughlin addressed the Army Wrestling team as they prepared to compete in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) tournament on 6 and 7 March. Dr McLaughlin, a 1987 EIWA champion, shared with the wrestlers his own victory story and reminded each competitor that they all had the opportunity to write their own success stories in the coming days.
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Electrical Engineering Major Publishes and Presents Paper. CDT Dylan Smith recently presented and published a paper titled “Automated Demand Response of Thermal Load with a Photovoltaic Source for Military Microgrids” at the 2015 Clemson University Power Systems Conference on March 11th. He presented his paper to a well attended session on renewable energy topics. Additionally, Dylan entered into the student paper contest and was awarded first prize.
Department of English and Philosophy
Dar Williams leads discussion on creativity with Creative Writing and Jazz Forums. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Dar Williams visited Cadets from the Cadet Fine Arts Forum Jazz and Creative Writing clubs. Her discussion focused on the creative processes in poetry and songwriting. After fielding a number of questions from the Cadets, Dar Williams played a small concert showcasing some her most famous songs. Dar is a neighbor to West Point and lives in nearby Cold Spring, NY. After her visit to West Point, Dar shared on her Facebook page that “Soldiers' narratives have been invaluable to our country's understanding of the real world and the real challenges our fellow citizens face overseas and as veterans.” We look forward to a future return visit.
Elsie Sans Pinnell Art Appreciation forum visits Commandant’s house for Art Discussion. BG and Mrs. Thompson graciously hosted 25 Cadets of the Art Appreciation Forum for lunch and a discussion about the importance of art at Quarters 101. BG Thompson personally invited the West Point Museum curator, Ms. Marlana Cook, to guide the Cadets past the various artworks placed throughout the historic quarters. BG Thompson also took the time to share personal works of art from his own collection, and explained to the Cadets how art has shaped his own life and experiences in the Army.
Defense & Strategic Studies Program
Over spring break, the Defense & Strategic Studies program conducted a multi-disciplinary staff ride to Germany. The 16 participating cadets were chosen from several different majors across the academy and included DSS, GENE, History, DFL (German), and one Grand Strategy Minor. The staff ride took a broad approach and covered multiple time periods in German history ranging from Frederick the Great through the Cold War. The 10 day trip included stops at the Jena-Auerstaedt battlefield, Jena, Weimar, Buchenwald Concentration Camp, Berlin, Dresden, the German Army Officer School in Dresden, and an official visit to the U.S. Embassy.
Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering
EV203 Terrain Walk. The terrain walk showcases real examples of geomorphology at work on West Point to include faults, chemical and mechanical weathering and biological processes. Cadets were also familiarized with the various rock types found within West Point’s landscape and were presented a geologic overview of West Point, Storm King Mountain and the surrounding areas. Terrain walks are one of the many practical exercises in EV203 which help reinforce geographic concepts and offer cadets an opportunity to explore connections in the physical and human environment.
Trip Section – EV379 Photogrammetry. The EV379 Photogrammetry class toured Keystone Aerial Survey Inc. in Philadelphia, PA. Cadets toured the facility in small groups to see firsthand all aspects of conducting aerial survey operations including traditional black and white film photography to aerial laser scanning. Keystone is one of a few very successful US aerial survey firms. A highlight of their business is collecting nation-wide aerial photographs for Bing Maps. Cadet tour included camera operations and mounting in the aircraft, flight mission planning, post-process production, flight simulation, and UAV familiarization.
Department of Law
US District Court Chief Judge Carol Bagley Amon visited with cadets in the Advanced Constitutional Law seminar. Chief Judge Amon, who presides at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, was appointed to the bench in 1990 by President George H. W. Bush. She discussed government searches and seizures under the 4th Amendment to the Constitution. The seminar is taught by Department of Law Asst. Professor and Constitutional Law Chair, Tony DiSarro.
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership
On Tuesday, 10 March, LTG Caslen taught a class for all sections of PL479: Leading Organizations through Change. He shared his Strategic Plan with cadets and spoke of his own experience in leading change at West Point. The cadets were very impressed and especially so since the SUPE had volunteered to come to teach that session. LTG Caslen's approach demonstrated in practical terms the course concepts we have been studying all semester.
Eight cadets and two officers had the opportunity to learn from our country’s current and future business leaders over the weekend from 8 - 10 March. Cadets from the Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Department’s Black and Gold Leadership forum, under the guidance of MAJs Brian Montgomery and Mike Rybacki, traveled to New York City for a series of discussions and interactions with business leaders. The mission of the Black & Gold Leadership Forum is to build stronger leaders for our Army by providing Cadets the opportunity to engage with prominent leaders and leadership thinkers from all walks of life. The trip began with a visit to the 9/11 Museum. Afterwards, the cadets engaged in a character leadership discussion with the Honorable Richard Greco Jr. (former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Finance, White House Fellow, and CEO of Filangeri Capital). Next, the forum interacted with various leaders from the banking industry. The cadets enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with USMA graduates from the Classes of 2004, 2005, and 2007 while visiting Barclays and Credit Suisse. In addition to the USMA graduates at the banks, they interacted and discussed leadership with Managing Directors, Vice Presidents, and Senior Associates who provided unique contextual leadership lessons from the banks senior levels. On the final day of the trip, the cadets engaged in a question and answer session with the Strategy Division of transportation startup named Railex. The cadets who participated in the trip to New York City had an incredible opportunity to sit down with various leaders and discuss the importance of effective leadership in many different environments. The members of the Black & Gold Leadership Forum returned to West Point acknowledging the importance of having educated and character driven officers to lead Soldiers in today’s Army.
Dr. Jason Moss and Mr. Rodney Long from the Army Research Laboratory--Human Research and Engineering Directorate (ARL-HRED) in Orlando, FL visited PL488E to work with cadets on Distributed Learning Systems. Cadets assessed the usability and training potential of 4 systems including 1) Playbook, a Rapid Authoring Tool to Promote Social Learning of Small Unit Observations, 2) an ARES Sand table for war-gaming, 3) a Social Media Framework system and 4) Milsuite, a military version of Facebook and Youtube.
Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering
K’NEXercise – Building Construction Managers! Cadets enrolled in CE450, Construction Management, competed in the K’NEXercise on Wednesday, 11 March 2015. The competition requires teams of cadets to prepare estimates, bids, and construction schedules, and then execute the construction of the awarded project using rapid setting concrete and K’NEX components. The cadets complete the project by preparing a claim for the courts to hear to resolve issues that cost the team time and money on the day of construction. The winning teams in the Tower, Bridge and Hall projects were led by Cadets AR Al-Hanzab, Andy Wing, and Jake Tyer, respectively.
2015 USMA Civil and Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board Meetings. On Friday, 6 March 2015, the Department of Civil & Mechanical Engineering hosted its annual Civil and Mechanical Engineering ABET Advisory Boards. These boards were established and are maintained as a requirement for the CE and ME Programs’ ABET accreditation. Distinguished practitioners representing the constituencies of the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Programs, external academic institutions, and senior Army and government officials attended the meetings to advise and assist the two programs. The board members met with focus groups of cadets and faculty members, considered various issues presented to them, and provided feedback to the CME Department leadership.