Old Grad Podcast

Episode 16 - Kim Evans (G3)

Kim Evans (G3) - was commissioned in the Medical Service Corps and served 6.5 years on active duty including a company command at Walter Reed. She has resided in Greenbay Wisconsin for the past 18 years and is getting ready to relocate to the warmer climate of Dallas in a few weeks. She and our classmate Ken Evans (H3) started dating during yearling year and were married the day after graduation in 1991. They were stationed together in Germany for their first assignment. She left the Army and relocated to Wisconsin to work as a healthcare administrator and Ken had several jobs including working for the Greenbay Packers. Tragically we lost Ken in 2009, Kim bravely tells the story of perseverance following his death. 
 
 

Episode 15 - Paul Smolchek (D1)

Paul lives in West Palm Beach Florida and has two children ages 24 and 17. He is getting ready to paddleboard 83 miles to raise money for Piper's Angels a non-profit that raises money to support families who have children living with Cystic Fibrosis. We chronicle his journey from recruited football player to cadet to Army Officer. Paul was originally planning to play football for Navy, but then fell in love with West Point during a recruiting visit. He received a nomination to go to Navy, but was accepted to West Point - it took some work to convince his local congressman to make the change. During the podcast we talk about several D1 classmates, and funny nicknames that inevitably get created during the time at West Point. His tac officer Captain Morgan was most notably referred to as "blinky" due to a nervous eye twitch. We had several other laughs including some funny ranger school stories.  

Episode 14 - John Abercrombie (C4)

John Abercrombie first met his wife Shannon (USMA '93) when she was a plebe in his company. Oddly enough he ended up taking Shannon's sister to 500th night. Years later John and Shannon would connect back up in the Army. John tells the painful story of losing Shannon to a stroke some years later. He was left as a widow single dad with three boys ages 9,7 and 4 at the time. Today John Jr. is a Firstie at West Point and was the starting field goal kicker on the football team. #2 son James is a Cow, and #3 son Benjamin is a senior in High School with a Letter of Assurance from West Point to join the incoming class of 2023. John is a State Farm Agent and is based out of Phoenix, Arizona. 

Episode 13 - Chris Smith Company B-3

Chris recalls his time as a B-3 Bandit and talks about his journey from Korea, to Hawaii, to New York City, to London, Columbia and Washington DC. We recall the two units in which we served together, the 2nd Engineer Battalion, 2ID and the "Fighting 411th" also nicknamed the "Archie Bunker Brigade." Chris served at a senior level in the Department of Energy and is now a Senior VP of Policy and Government Relations for Cheniere Energy. Chris talks about his family's pain of losing his cousin Lieutenant Emily Perez USMA '05; as well as losing his B-3 Bandit brother Bill Hecker. Chris also tells the story of his plebe year roommate Derrick Wright who sustained a traumatic brain injury while serving for a military contractor; and the inspiring and courageous journey he and his wife Cindy have endured since the event. 

Episode 12 - Scott Feight (C2) - Executive Director, Foundation for Hospital Art

Scott Feight lives in Georgia with his wife Tina and two identical twin daughters Megan and Morgan who are both seniors at the University of Georgia. Scott served 8 years as an Army aviator before leaving to join General Electric. He worked at GE for 9 years before accepting the role as ED at the Foundation for Hospital Art. The Foundation was started by Scott's Father in 1984. Scott tells the story of the healing power of art for those who are suffering. The mission of the Foundation is to give comfort and hope to patients, families, medical staffs, and visitors by providing artwork to hospitals and nursing homes. 

Episode 11 - Brigadier General Omuso George (F1)

In this episode we learn about the journey of Omuso and Monica George. They met at the beginning of cow year and were married on graduation day 1991. Mus ("Moose") recounts his bar pinning ceremony that was hastily done in the mirror of his cadet room right before he headed up to the West Point Chapel to marry Monica. We talk about the Army, overseas assignments in Germany and Korea, what it was like to make general, and trying not to fall asleep at his promotion ceremony. We recount a particularly trying plebe and yearling year where Mus was confronted with the death of a close family member, racism at West Point, and discovering that his father passed away in Nigeria. 

Episode 10 - Ted Russ (E4)

In this episode we talk to Ted Russ who is author of Spirit Mission.   The book is a true account of how he and company E-4 stole the Navy Goat our Firstie Year; it connects to a fictional story of stealing a CH47 Chinook in Iraq. As a philosophy major, Ted is deeply analytical and introspective about the unique bonds we forged at West Point. On the podscast he remembers the "jarring experience" the first time going to Pete Gaudet's house where he got to see fellow company mates wearing civilian clothes. He reflected on the very different styles and how that might have made them less likely to be friends "on the outside." At West Point, appearances are without the visual cues of civilian clothes, friendships are formed based on proximity, mutual hardship and a common code. 
 
 
 

Episode 9 - Becky Kanis Margiotta (A2)

Becky Kanis Margiotta  served an 11 year career in the Army as a Signal Officer. During that time she was stationed in Ft Bragg and Schofield Barracks. She was the first female company commander of a special operations signal company supporting special forces. 
In this episode we trace Becky's career back to her cadet experience and the conflict she faced as an "in the closet" gay service member. She describes the challenges she faced with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"; as well as her advocacy as a founding member of Knights Out.  After a rocky transition out of the Army, Becky worked briefly as a stock broker where she was effective, but not fulfilled. A chance phone call to her former Sosh P COL Jay Parker landed her in a new field working to reduce street homelessness in Time Square, New York City with Community Solutions. This would be lead to an 11 year journey with community solutions that culminated with leading a national effort of 186 communities to get 100,000 people housed in four years. She was profiled on 60 minutes for her work. 
Becky is the founder and CEO of The Billions Institute that is focused in training global leaders in the techniques to drive large scale change. 
Its in Becky’s DNA to lead, educate, support, and encourage others to go beyond the expected and the safe. She has a bias toward productive action. She sets ambitious and specific goals, with deadlines that she actually meets. She uses real-time (or as close to real-time as she can get) data to make continuous improvements. And she is always on the lookout for new and better ways to get the job done.
Becky had the tools, the know-how, and the experience to show individuals and organizations what they can and must do if they want to solve problems, rather than remain an endless loop of just managing them. And, being people with a bias toward action and seemingly boundless enthusiasm, she created an organization called the Billions Institute.
The kinds of problems the Institute looks to tackle—and solve—are some of the biggest and most urgent: the environment, violence, disease, and poverty. “We think that for a lot of these problems, small-scale solutions may already exist. But they’re not widespread…it’s a question of scale.”

Episode 8 - COL (Ret.) Rafael Paredes (C4)

Ralph recently retired in August of 2017, and did not waste a second getting back in service of our country. We talk about the Army, being a Tac at West Point, 9-11 stories, Korea and more. 
Rafael A. Paredes was born in El Salvador. At the age of 11, his family fled from the civil war and immigrated to the United States. Looking for opportunities to repay the country that provided his family safety, Rafael became a naturalized U.S. citizen when he turned 18 and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1991 (C4) and was commissioned as an Infantry second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He retired as a colonel after 26 years of service, leading people and organizations at various levels. He served as a company commander in the 82d Airborne Division and battalion commander (OPFOR CDR) in Germany. His last leadership position in the Army was the Deputy Commander for Operations at US Army South in San Antonio, TX. Throughout his career, he led by example, building teams and partnerships, developing processes and systems that improved organizational effectiveness, and developing the next generation of leaders within the organizations he served. Rafael served overseas in Korea, Egypt, Somalia, England, Germany, and Afghanistan. His experience overseas and working with a variety of groups and organizations helped him gain an appreciation others’ cultures and diverse points of views.
Rafael earned a master of science degree in counseling and leadership development from Long Island University, C.W. Post, as part of the Tactical Officer Education Program (TOEP). He then served as a TAC for Company G4.
As he changes careers, Rafael is working to promote national service, getting Americans to serve our country and make positive contributions to their communities. His passion for service that stems from a sense of gratitude and responsibility. To this end, he has been volunteering for organizations like Service Year Alliance, The Mission Continues, Team Rubicon, New Politics Leadership Academy, Military Officers Association of America, community organizer at COPS/METRO, the Parent Teacher Association, and San Antonio Food Bank.
He currently lives in San Antonio, but eventually plans to move to the Northeast with his sons, Zachary (9) and Alexander (7), and his wife Kathy.
 

Episode 7 - Carlisle Barracks and lots of Scotch. Ken Mintz (G2), Doug Winton (A2), Chris Hart (D2), Dave Morrow (G1), Jeff Settle (D1)

Episode 7: Chris Hart, Doug Winton, Jeff Settle, Craig Morrow and Kenny Mintz talk about West Point, the Army, Relief in Place with classmates downrange, dressing up as the OC as cadets and so much more.