Old Grad Podcast

Mark and Holly West (A4 / B2)

In this repeat episode, we revisit with Mark and Holly West who are our local West Point ambassadors. We hear about their passion for serving the community of West Point and Highland Falls with their exciting venture Westy's - Where Craft Meets Community.

John Cook (H-4)

In this episode, co-host and companymate Tony Wizner joins John Cook as he shares his remarkable life journey. From his roots in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to his time at prep school, West Point, and his distinguished 30-year Army career, John offers an inspiring look into his experiences. Together, we explore the high points of his service, as well as the profound challenges of losing soldiers in combat. John also reflects on the incredible support he received from fellow classmate Doug Winton, who helped shoulder the burdens of war. John Cook is a true example of a selfless warrior and leader, facing trauma with bravery and resilience.
 
Sign up for our mini-reunion in Denver. link below for hotel block for mini reunion in Denver from Aug 21-24, 2025 Thursday:golf, and cocktail reception Friday: hike and party at Pat Kerns Saturday: white water rafting, Coors tour, dinner at cactus club Limited rooms in the block, book early https://bookings.omnihotels.com/event/denver-interlocken/west-point-reunion-main

2024 Reflections / 2025 Intentions

Reflections on OGP and Intentions moving Forward. 
Name of deceased GraduateCompanyProject Leader
Michael A. Aguilar
F4
Shannon D. Beebe
I3
Timothy H. Burnham
E2
Andrew F. Clements
A4
Kimberly L. Daffern
B3
Russell A. Davidson
E4
Anthony J. Detoto
A3
Kenneth A. Evans
H3
Carl T. Every
E2
Todd D. Farrington
B3
Peter C. Graff
H2
Janet M. Greco Gibson
C4
Joseph B. Gudenburr
F2
Michael J. Haas
I2
William F. Hecker
B3
Timothy B. Hoskinson
I3
Jenifer L. Kelley
H3
Yu S. Kim
C3
William J. Love
B4
Shawn D. Maxie
0
Thomas A. McTigue
D2
John P. Rann
I3
Robert R. Soto
F2
Steven E. Yost
B4
John J. Tiner
D2
William F. Van Mullen
G1
Eric J. Dejong
I4
Lennis S. Lammers
A4
Aaron R. Pogue
H1
David C. Reardon
B2
Keith T. Melinson
C1
Mark A. Wildermuth
D3
Paul J. Haggerty
I2
Howard M. Slee
E3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Dede (Broderick) Gibby (I-3) and Brian Gibby (I4'91 / E2'93)

Dede and Brian met at Beast in 1987 while in the same India Company for Cadet Basic Training. After our yearling year, Brian left to complete a mission with Church of Latter-Day Saints while Dede finished with our class. Today they are stationed at West Point and Brian is the Deputy Department Head for History.  We talk about their faith-filled journey while serving our country. 

Jason Marquith (I1) "Nothing Else Matters"

In this episode we talk about Jason Marquith's journey from barely being 17 years old as a plebe at West Point to a lifetime of service to the Nation. We talk about the unique experience he had transporting his father across the country to meet his great granddaughter for the first time in his final days. 

Mark Livesay (H2) "Let it Go"

Mark Livesay was joined by fellow company mate Norine D'Arcy Walker. We talk about the great experience in company Happy 2 and reminisce about barracks antics they called "Capers."
Mark leads a team of people at Google and his internal bio reads as follows:
Helping awesome people do amazing things for the best possible reasons
Mark’s tried about every fun job [and a couple that weren’t] in aerospace and auto manufacturing, businessoutsourcing, and financial services. And now, he’s giving technology a try.
He's built airplanes, acquisition strategies, communication plans, submarines, customer relationships, corporate business strategies,market segments, pickup trucks, integrated supply chains, mission statements, annual reports, user experiences, spaceships, anddefensive fighting positions.
During that time, he’s also created training curricula, career planning tools, executive succession plans, professional and personaldevelopment programs, as well as personal branding strategies for senior executives. People and culture are what make great thingsgreat, and it starts with connecting to a vision and purposeful path.
Prior to going all corporate, Mark ran around the woods and blew stuff up as a U.S. Army field artillery officer. He barely graduated from the U.S. Military Academy with a B.S. in leadership studies and has an MBA from Notre Dame.
Mark enjoys time with family, anything triathlon or open water, writing about himself in third person, and irony.
October 1st, 2024 Healthy Leaders Call
Topic: Healthy Leader Class of '91Time: 7pmET
Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/85182019860
Meeting ID: 851 8201 9860One tap mobile+13017158592,,85182019860# US (Washington DC)+13126266799,,85182019860# US (Chicago)
 
Sign up for Class Tailgate on October 19th, 2024 - Link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/usma-class-of-1991-football-weekend-tickets-970995693257?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios&fbclid=IwY2xjawFht5tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcR3vSdirZaMs7h9mvDNqCQtDFD_-7Ssxtev4L8kaXvtfZvtlWh9Muw15w_aem__PC09fRo2Yek4OkV6ij-2w

Dave Dadich (H-4)

Dave Dadich joined by fellow Hog co-host John Cook.  We talk about living every day like it could be your last. 
Sign up for our class tailgate: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/usma-class-of-1991-football-weekend-tickets-970995693257

Tony Wizner (H-4)

Tony served 30 years in the Army and retired at the rank of Colonel. He was commissioned as an Armor officer and then transitioned into acquisitions following his company grade time. He supported special operations command in that capacity which included multiple deployments in some unique situations. 

Mark Cramer (B2) and AAR of our Mini Reunion

Mark Cramer commissioned FA upon graduation and served in Hawaii after attending DLI for Turkish. After the Army, he went to B-School at Thunderbird (U-Arizona) and worked in technology for a number of years before transitioning to residential real estate where he works with his wife Lisa. They have two children and reside in Denver - the location of our next mini-reunion. The first 20 minutes are a fun AAR with the Wests as we recap the recent mini-reunion in Lexington Kentucky. 

Ron Lukow (I3)

Ron Lukow served 26 years in the Army as an aviator. In this podcast, he chronicles his journey from growing up in Mattoon Illinois (the youngest of five children in a military family) to West Point, the Army, and now at BAE Systems. He and his wife Kathy reside in Northern Virginia and have 2 children. Ron talks about highlights of his Army career including as commander of Task Force Comanche where he received the highest aviation honor the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroic actions under fire.