WP-ORG has benefited from the guidance and experience of the following advisors who served on the Board in the past. Our organization would not be where it is today without their selfless service.
FRED BLACK
Fred retired from the Army in 1994 and now lives in Chapel Hill, NC, and works as an independent management consultant, specializing in leadership and organizational development for both private and public organizations. and was a professor in the Department of Social Sciences for 15 years. A 1968 Distinguished Military Graduate of Howard University with a BA in Political Science, he has served in a variety of Infantry command and staff positions with Airborne and Light Infantry units in the continental United States, Hawaii, the Republic of South Vietnam, and the Republic of South Korea. He received his graduate degrees in political science and public policy and administration at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University.
DICK BREAKIRON ’51 Be Thou at Peace 1927- 2006
Past CEO, Dick Breakiron ’51, passed away on 5 October, 2006 at 1930 HRS, at his daughter’s home in Webster NC.
Dick had long fought cancer with great resolve, and this was the cause of his death.
Dick was buried at West Point beside his wife, Joyce, who predeceased him in 2000. The funeral was be held Thursday, October 12, 2006 at 13:30 at the Old Cadet Chapel.
Dick’s Eulogy Page is located here: http://www.west-point.org/users/usma1951/18197/
JOHN GREIMAN ’81
John Greiman ’81 branched Field Artillery and worked with old-school computer systems such as (Freddie) FADAC, TACFIRE, BCS, and PLARS. While at Fort Lewis, John saw the future of tactical computer systems and resigned his commission to work on the HTTB and AES projects. John currently works for TRW (fomerly for BDM and soon to be Northrup-Grumman) on the PM-IE All Source Analysis System program that supports the Military Intelligence branch.
As a volunteer for West-Point.ORG, John moderates the WPS-Denver listserver and website.
John lives south of Denver, CO with his wife and two children and generally tries to keep himself out of trouble.
DONNA MCALEER ’87
After serving in the US Army in Germany as a Military Police Platoon Leader, Executive Officer and Division Deputy Public Affairs Officer, Donna left the military to pursue an MBA at the Darden Graduate School of the University of Virginia.
As one with a passion for speed, adventure, and change, in February 2000, she resigned her position as Vice President of Global Logistics and Support Services, with GenRad, a leading producer of electronic test equipment, and moved to Park City, Utah, to begin an intensive training regimen. For a few years, she committed herself to the pursuit of a lifelong dream and a unique opportunity-to represent the United States in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in the medal debut of Women’s Bobsled. She finished 4th in Olympic trials.
Most recently, Donna served as the executive Director of the People’s Health Clinic, a non-profit organization based in Park City, UT. In this capacity she led strategic business model transition and financial turnaround to ensure financial stability for this organization’s commitment to providing quality medical and healthcare for the uninsured.
Presently, Donna is authoring a collection of contemporary inspirational biographies about many of the women who have graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point within the past 25 years. Her current professional focus is working with a new venture developing a new governance technology platform which promotes secure and real-time collaboration of directors, investors, and executives to increase shareholder value developing and writing the detailed business plan and operational strategy to initiate the fundraising and marketing launch of this new venture.
Donna is also a high school girl’s volleyball coach, ski instructor, and board member of several community not-for-profit organizations including: the Park City Film Series, Park City Municipal Golf Course, and BizWorld. She helped to initiate the incorporation of a non profit to assist a school and orphanage in Siem Reap, Cambodia. She is an avid outdoor enthusiast with a particular passion for skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, hiking, golfing and traveling. Donna has traveled extensively with her most recent trip to the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan.
For more then 13 years, Donna has been a volunteer with AOG as a committee member on 5 different committees. She was also one of two candidates who pioneered the first true AOG election becoming a candidate by petition with significant support from west-point.org.
She is actively involved in the organizing of the 2006 USMA Women’s Conference.
Donna is married to Ted McAleer, a USMA classmate. They have one daughter, Carlyn Ann McAleer, and one dog, Col (ret) Thayer McAleer, and live in Park City, Utah.
As a volunteer for west-point.org, Donna is a liaison to the West Point Women’s Network and the AOG Board of Advisors.
DAN MCCARTHY, USNA ’77
Captain Dan McCarthy graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1977.
In 1980, he was selected for the Law Education Program. He attended Duke Law School where he graduated with honors in 1983, also receiving the North Carolina Trial Lawyer’s Litigation Award. He attended George Washington University Law School, where he received an LL.M. in International Law, graduating in 1991 with highest honors.
After completing his post-graduate education, Captain McCarthy was detailed as Executive Assistant to RADM W. L. Schachte, the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy and Acting Judge Advocate General of the Navy, from 1991-1993. Captain McCarthy was then selected to serve as Special Assistant for Legal and Legislative Affairs to the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable John H. Dalton. He served the Secretary of the Navy in this capacity from 1993-1998.
In September 1998, Captain McCarthy assumed command of Trial Service Office Southeast, headquartered at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.
Captain McCarthy is Surface Warfare Qualified and is also entitled to wear the Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, a Navy Achievement Medal, the Battle “E”, the National Defense Service Medal, four Overseas Service awards, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and a Pistol Markmanship Ribbon.
He is married to the former Barbara Weaver of Aiken, South Carolina. Barbara is employed as the Director of Medical Records at the Mayo Clinic and St. Luke’s Hospital. They have three children: John (18), who attends the Naval Academy, class of 2005, Jim (16) and Julianne (13).
Work constraints have caused him to pull back from his involvement from WP-ORG. Fair Winds, dear friend!
BOB MAGRUDER ’64 – Be Thou at Peace 1942-2018
Bob’s Bio as he wrote it before his death:
Bob Magruder ’64 at: bob.magruder@West-Point.Org lives in Reston, VA. Bob was a career artillery officer, retired as a Colonel, and subsequently worked on Enterprise Transformation and Business Process Reengineering with the Logistics Management Institute for five years. He served on the AOG’s Board of Trustees for four years in the Communications Committee and supported the Alumni Support Committee, when needed. Bob was the first Chairman of WP-ORG Inc. He has now taken a less active role with WP-ORG to pursue another objective to improve the welfare of soldiers and graduates of USMA. After a short retirement, Bob went back to full time work at the Institute for Defense Analyses where he is an Adjunct Staff Member in the Strategy, Forces & Resources Division. He works on special projects in support of DoD and generally loves his work. At the moment he is actively pursuing and supporting the quick development of a high energy laser and relay mirror system for the warfighters. An avid golfer, Bob also helps the WPS of DC with two annual golf tournaments as well as takes time to try to get his game somewhat under control. He is very active with his class, and in particular with DC area classmates. He organizes a monthly bridge game as well as annual class ski trips the past 11 years. He serves as the Secretary of the Class of ’64 and plays a role in all class reunions, especially in running golf outings at the beginning of each reunion.
BILL WELTER ’55 Be Thou at Peace 1932-2009
Bill Welter ’55 (VPI’61/W&M’75) served as an Advisor from our beginnings to Nov. 2005. He moderated the class of ’55 net, and the West Point Society of Hampton Roads net until his death in March 2009.
A triple-dipper, Army/Civil Service/Social Security, he kept off the street and out of his wife’s hair by the adjunct teaching of mathematics at local colleges and auditing courses at William and Mary.
MICHAEL MCGURK ’85
While a member of the Connecticut National Guard, PV2 McGurk applied for transfer and appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1981.
Upon completion of the U.S. Military Academy in 1985, 2nd Lieutenant McGurk received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science.
He served in a variety of assignments in the 25th Infantry, 5th Infantry and other Army units as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Staff Officer, Company Commander, and Army Advisor to the Washington State National Guard.
He later attended and graduated with honors from the Operations Research and Systems Analysis (ORSA MAC) at Fort Lee, Virginia followed by a Masters in Industrial Engineering from the University of Louisville.
In 1998, Major McGurk served on USMA Staff and Faculty, as the USMA Exchange Officer to the French Military Academy of St. Cyr, France.
LTC McGurk was later assigned to Fort Monroe, Virginia as senior analyst, Strategic Planning Group, US Army Accessions Command, where he is currently stationed.
In summer 2004 he deployed to Iraq as part of the Multi-National Force-Iraq for a 7 month combat tour.
COL McGurk’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, and the Ranger Tab. He has also been awarded French and British Jump Wings, the French Mountain Commando, and the French National Defense Medal.
He is a member of the Board of Directors for his local West Point Society (West Point Society of Hampton Roads) and a member of the West Point Ring Recovery Program.
Michael is currently assigned to the ARCIC-TRADOC , Fort Monroe, Virginia
BOB TOTTEN ’60
I’ve been a user and proponent of wp-org ever since it began. As a third generation member of the Long Gray Line I consider West Point my home, my heritage and my hope for the future of our nation. Having been intimately and actively involved with West Point societies ever since I graduated and having served as a society president for more than 10 years, I continue to be impressed by this unique group of committed Americans.
After 27 years on active duty I started second and third careers in New Jersey where in 1995 I became president of the West Point Society of New Jersey. Being fascinated by the internet and what was happening at West Point, I created our society’s web site and included a page listing the names and hometowns of all cadets from the state of New Jersey. In 2001 we moved to Pennsylvania where I served as president of the West Point Society of the Lehigh Valley for 5 years and transformed the Cadets of New Jersey site into the Cadets of West Point web site. That site has included thousands of cadets and has been visited by more than 160,000 people from all over the world. Hopefully it helps inform prospective West Point applicants as well as cadet parents, the Long Grey Line and the Great American Public. The site can be viewed by going tohttp://www.westpointcadets.org/.
DEMPSEY DARROW ’75
Dempsey was the CEO of WP-ORG for six years, and stepped down from that position in Oct. 2012. He is a member of West Point’s class of 1975, “Courage and Drive”, and has been affiliated with WP-ORG since its early days in 1995. He was the original moderator of the West Point Forum, a discussion list open to all classes of West Point graduates; Dempsey held this post for thirteen years before stepping down to devote more time to his CEO duties. Dempsey created and maintains the WP-ORG CEO’s BLOG:http://wporg.wordpress.com.
Dempsey is a computer professional by trade. Having cut his teeth on IBM’s ‘Big Iron’, he now programs on a variety of platforms in multiple languages.
PAUL WERNER ’83
Paul Werner ’83 is the past CEO of WP-ORG. He began his term in October, 2012, and ended it in January 2015. Paul Werner ’83 brings experience from ten years on active duty as an Army aviator, logistician, and maintenance test pilot. His tours of duty were in Ft Benning, GA; Ft Rucker, AL; Ft Kobbe, Panama; Coleman Barracks, Germany; and Ft Polk, LA. He left active duty in 1993 and remained in the Army Reserves. After leaving active duty, Paul worked supporting the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and the F/A-18, A-6, and EA-6B programs performing duties in contracting, logistics, and engineering. When NAVAIR moved to Patuxent River, Paul stayed in the Northern Virginia area and made a career transition to the information technology field. His training was initially focused in Novell NetWare, Microsoft, and Cisco. Paul has since gained the following IT certifications: CNE 4.11, MCSE, MCT, CCSE, CCNP and CCSI #20163. Paul was a Cisco instructor when he made a return to active duty after 9/11. Since returning to active duty, he was stationed in Korea (2ID), Germany (2/502d Avn), Pentagon (Army G-4),Kuwait (ARCENT G3 Air) and a senior official investigator at DAIG. Paul Retired from active duty in February 2012. He served briefly as a flight test engineer at NAVAIR. He is back at DAIG as a senior official investigator. Paul has been a member of the WP Forum since its early days (1996). He is a frequent contributor to the Forum and has taken on the task of optically scanning for OCR conversion a series of documents relevant to honor at West Point, which are found in the WP-ORG’s Publication pages. Paul is a family man married to Mila, his wife of 28 years. Mila and Paul also have a son Kyle.
JAY FOLK ’89
Jay Folk was born and raised in South Carolina. After graduation he served six years on active duty as a tanker in 1-10 CAV (Buffalo Soldiers), 194th Armored Brigade, Fort Knox, KY and the 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA. After leaving the Army, Jay moved back to SC where he has worked for an electric and gas utility since 1996; the last 10 years in risk management. Jay earned his MBA from the University of South Carolina in 2001.
Jay’s first contact with WP-ORG was in 1997 when he joined the West Point Forum which he currently moderates. He is active in the West Point Society of Columbia where he is on the Board of Directors.
Jay has three children: Jesse (21) who is attending Midlands Technical College in Columbia, SC; Katy (19) who is a sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill; and David (17) who is a freshman at NC State in Raleigh, NC.
Jay and his wife Tracy are active members of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church where he serves as a lay assistant, sings in the choir (with Tracy!), and is a member of the Congregational Council. They reside in West Columbia, SC.
RAY NELSON ’83
I am on active duty, serving as Professor and Deputy Head in the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineeringat USMA. My son, Steven, is a graduate in the Class of 2011. As an advisor, grad, and parent, WP-Org has been a very important part of my life for the past several years, initially through participation in the West Point Forum and Plebe-Net. I served initially as an infantryman and met and married my wife, Reva, during my first tour of duty in Alaska. We have two sons, the aforementioned Steven and Peter, who will be a sophomore at the New Mexico Military Institute this year. Since 1990, my army career has been primarily focused on USMA, between graduate school and service on the faculty. I love West Point, cherish my daily contact with cadets, and welcome the opportunity to serve the West Point community as a member of the board of adviso
DOUG DRIBBEN ’83
Doug Dribben.is a civilian attorney working for the U.S. Army Claims Service, Fort Meade, Maryland. I retired from the Army on June 1, 2003, at the U.S. Army Claims Service as a JAG Corps officer. If you are familiar with the television show “JAG,” then you know me. To avoid paying royalties, the show changed the main character, but the parallels are obvious – a former Academy graduate and line officer suffers an injury while on active duty, gets a permanent profile becomes a military attorney, he’s a good-looking fellow, solves the world’s problems every week in 55 minutes with commercials, and has the help of a smart and beautiful female partner.
I have two wonderful sons – Kevin, a civil engineer and U. Virginia graduate and lacrosse player on the 2003 national championship team, and Brian, a porject engineer and U. of Maryland graduate. I also have two Yorkies – Missy and Chewbacca (Chewie).
I have been a facilitator at the University of Phoenix since 2002, and an adjunct faculty member with APUS since 2007. I was an Assistant Professor of Law and Course Director for the required Constitutional and Military Law course at the U.S. Military Academy from 1994-97, and an adjunct professor at St. Thomas Aquinas College in 1995-96. I have authored several published articles on legal issues and served as the Co-Editor in Chief for the American Bar Association’s Urban, State, and Local Law Review.
MIKE LYMAN ’87
Mike Lyman served in the 2/3 FA battalion with 3AD and went through Desert Storm as a FSO for B 4/32 AR. After Desert Storm he resigned from the Army and went to work for AEgis Research, a small defense contractor in Huntsville, AL where he used USMA 87 as a test bed for the Internet work he was doing for the company. A USMA 77 grad recruited him to Microsoft in 1997 where he was part of their Computer Incident Response Team and became a Certified Information System Security Professional(CISSP). In 2003 he decided to return to defense contracting and with the help of a couple of USMA 87 classmates, he went to work for SAIC back in Huntsville, AL doing IT integration work and moving back into the IT security work helping developers develop more secure software. As a West Point volunteer, Mike maintains the USMA 87 and WPS Tennessee Valley web sites and moderates their mailing lists. USMA 87 is among the oldest classes on the Internet and the class web site and mailing list pre-date the WP-ORG’s official existence.He is married to Michelle and has two children Matthew and Meghan. He is active in Boy Scouts with Matthew and loves to watch Meghan show off her ballet when she comes home from her lessons.
KRISTEN LEWIS ’01
Her WP-ORG Bio read as follows:
All right. So, I am currently the youngest Grad Advisor here. I didn’t retire from the Army as a Colonel. I haven’t earned two Masters and a PhD as a nuclear physicist. And, I’ve never managed a national chain or taken over as CEO of anything. I’m pretty sure I am an advisor for this great organization simply to appeal to the vast majority of average achievers. I do enjoy a peaceful life in Southwestern Ohio, smack dab in the middle of corn country. I’m married to Billy Lewis, ’02, and we have two boys. On any given week night you can find me either at the baseball or football field watching our boys practice (the husband coaches). On Saturdays I go to the kid’s games, and on Sundays we go to Church.We also have two dogs. Jesse is a mini-daschund who makes squirrels look big. Balance is a daschund/chow mix. Everyone needs a little Balance in their lives.
JACK PRICE ’64 Be Thou at Peace. 1942-2018
Jack’s Bio as he wrote it prior to his death:
Jack Price ’64 currently serves as CFO of WP-ORG. Jack moderates our most active class net, for year group ’64. In February, 2001, he completed the work necessary to get our 501 (C)(3) with the IRS, and it has been granted to us. He is a “Jack” of all trades. Jack has functioned as our Chief Financial Officer and worked to evolve the web page formats for WP-ORG. He was medically retired in 1970 due to wounds received serving as an infantryman in Viet Nam. After graduate work at MIT in the early 70’s, he has been active in a number of fields to include high-speed, off-shore hull development, wholesale diamonds, and computer data processing for the medical field.
Jack and his beautiful wife, Sam, (She made me put that in!) are located on the south slope of Buffalo Mountain, just off mile marker 175, on the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you ever vist the most photographed place on the Parkway, nearby Mabry Mill, just stop in and ask for Buffalo Jack. They’ll be able to point you in the right direction.
BILL MACLEAN Be Thou at Peace 2020
I’ve worked many projects for WP-ORG since 1999, principal among these: program manager for semi-annual fundraising since 2000; moderator training since 2003; moderator of “moderator” listserver since 2005.
For me, always, the attraction to devote volunteer hours to WP-ORG has been the useful and appreciated services we provide, the talented people I’ve worked with, and the fine people of the community we serve.
I’m retired. ’67 graduate MIT (EECS), I worked many years in software and hardware development, marketing, and sales in the CAD/CAM turn-key systems business.
Our younger son Bob, USMA ’02, seven years in the Army, was platoon leader and staff officer in four deployments Afghanistan and Iraq with 173rd Airborne and 3/75th Rangers; company commander 1/507th PIR (Airborne School), Fort Benning, Georgia. Pat and I reside at Lexington, Massachusetts.