I find one strikingly strong resemblance between USAFA's current superintendent, Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, and the person who served as the Supe when my son started his Naval Academy journey back in 2016, Vice Admiral Ted Carter. When I see them, either in person or online, it appears clear they know they have the absolute … Continue reading Lessons in multifacated leadership

Of the best-laid plans of mice and men … I'm writing this from Colorado Springs on a Saturday night, nestled on the couch as a quiet gas-powered fire continues to make the family room quite cozy. I glance toward an empty kitchen and beyond that lies a quirky game room where all is still. All … Continue reading The Missing Man Formation

Having experience with both the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy, I often get asked which is better. Not a fair question and certainly not an easy one to answer. So I took a step behind the headlines and asked an unbiased source, the ChatGPT bot we've all been reading about. I simply asked, … Continue reading Which is better, USAFA or USNA? An unbiased observer weighs in

Truth be told, I spend a lot more time thinking about writing than I do writing. As I'm walking or driving or just daydreaming while staring out an office window, I'm pondering different ideas and ways to approach them. As Winter Break ended, I kept mulling over two things I wanted to write about. First, … Continue reading A dark beginning to the Dark Ages

I've been working on a long-term project related to my alma mater with a fellow alum which results in us chatting on a regular basis, sometimes weekly when we're in the midst of an important part of the project, sometimes less frequently during lulls. He called during Christmas Break a few days before my cadet … Continue reading And then, depression set in

The December holidays present a mixed bag for military academy families. For some, it’s a social media highlight reel of smiling faces and other Kodak moments. For others, it’s relatively uneventful, some nice moments mixed with a few speed bumps. Then there are those that see their hopes for a joyful reunion turned upside down … Continue reading Christmas wishes and patently bad decisions

Two things happened this week, both related to the United States Naval Academy and while I could have addressed them on my USNA blog, I feel compelled to share them here. The theme is simple, drawn from a classic Rolling Stones tune ... You can't always get what you wantBut if you try sometime you'll … Continue reading The needs of the military, the desires of your child

We celebrate Veterans Day this week and when you're a military academy parent with no military experience of your own, it hits differently. I remember being at a football game for the first time after my son entered the Naval Academy. Standing for the national anthem, I found myself choking up. A friend turned and … Continue reading The many faces of Veterans Day

23 October 2022 Dear Catie: When you read this, you’ll be 21 years old. As I write this, I am trying to wrap my head around the whole concept. As you know, your birthday has always been complicated. I mean, we don’t really know for sure that today’s your birthday. Around this time of year, … Continue reading A letter to my daughter on her 21st birthday

This post is heavy on Naval Academy mentions, but the themes apply to us and our kids at USAFA, too. It’s often said that a person doesn’t get appointed to a military academy, an entire family gets appointed. Sure, the son or daughter does the really hard part - they endure Induction Day, live at … Continue reading Parents commission, too, and the training pays off