2013 Class President’s Report

Posted: 12/9/2013

Classmates – This is the 2013 edition of my report to the class to keep you informed of recent events.

The Class of 1960 Memorial Scholarship 

Our scholarship in honor of classmates Donnie Lee Darrow, Alexander McIver, William Marshall Roark and Martin Nelson Tull , who were killed in action while in the service of our country was awarded to Matthew H. Washington, a graduate of Annapolis High School in Annapolis, MD. Matthew was team captain of the varsity lacrosse team, won MVP and was nominated for the Kelly Award honoring the premier lacrosse player in Anne Arundel County. Matthew also played varsity soccer, was a member of the National Honor Society, and tutored students in calculus and physics. Outside of school, he volunteered at a local homeless shelter. This year under our scholarship, Matthew attended The Hill School in Pottstown, PA. He is expected to enter the Naval Academy in the summer of 2014.

Class of 1960 Distinguished Visiting Professor in National Security

Despite an expenditure of $150,000 plus expenses to support the Chair, the market value of our fund grew over the past year from $3,147,756 to $3,285,840. Financially our fund is in very good condition.

I meet regularly with our DVP, Lori Murray as well as Professor Priscilla Zotti, the Chair of the Political Science Department to keep abreast of the activities surrounding our chair. I have attached a Stewardship Report from the Naval Academy Foundation describing only some of the highlights of the past year. After the report was written, Professor Murray chaired the World Affairs Councils of America’s National Security Conference and brought along a number of her Midshipmen. They had the opportunity to meet and interact with a number of prominent national leaders including former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, Supreme Court Justice Steven Breyer, Ambassador Marc Grossman – Special Representative to Afghanistan/Pakistan, Ambassador John Negroponti, first Director of National Intelligence, and Bob Dudley, Global CEO of BP. She also arranged for students to have lunch and meet with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

In addition to her course in ” Nuclear Weapons and U.S. National Security”, Lori has added a course in cyber security which looks at cyber security from two very important angles: 1) the Defense Science Boards provocative recommendation that Nuclear retaliation be used as a deterrent to massive cyber-attack, and 2) the cyber threat to the command and control of our nuclear arsenal.

I’d like to share with you a note from Professor Zotti that describes teaching evaluations of Dr. Murray submitted by midshipmen: ” Dr. Murray is amazing! The strategic memo was extremely useful because it is something we might actually have to prepare some day. Extremely intelligent and down to earth. Eager to help and share her knowledge and real world experiences. One of the best courses I have ever taken. Material taught and experiences provided were unparalleled. One of my favorite courses and teachers during my time at the Academy. Keep this course going, I’ve learned more real world practical solutions here than the rest of my four years at USNA.”

My view is that we have been very fortunate to have three outstanding DVPs. We’re very lucky to have Lori!

As always, BEAT ARMY!

John

Attachments:

Stewardship Report from the Naval Academy Foundation

DR Lori Murray’s Seminar Comments

 


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