2016 GDRKMCC Welcome Packet

2016
General Donald R. Keith
Memorial Capstone Conference
28 April 2016
Conference Welcome Speaker:
Brigadier General Timothy E. Trainor
Dean of the Academic Board
United States Military Academy
Awards Banquet Speaker:
Ms. Kristen J. Baldwin
Principal Deputy,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Systems Engineering
Hosted by:
Department of Systems Engineering
United States Military Academy
West Point, New York
Schedule of Events
6:45 AM
8:00 AM
Thursday, 28 April ‘16
Shuttle runs between Buffalo
Soldiers Field and Jefferson Hall
7:45 AM
8:00 AM
Conference Packet Pick-Up
7:45 AM
8:00 AM
8:00 AM
8:30 AM
Judges Meeting
Opening Ceremony with Brigadier
General Timothy Trainor
8:30 AM
11:50 AM
Morning Presentations
11:50 AM
1:00 PM
No Host Luncheon (Option #1)
1:00 PM
3:40 PM
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
Afternoon Presentations
West Point Walking Tour (Optional)
by West Point Historian
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
7:00 PM
9:30 PM
Banquet Reception
Capstone Banquet and Award
Ceremony
Buffalo Soldiers Field
6th Floor Foyer
Jefferson Hall
6th Floor
Haig Room
Haig Room, 6th Floor
Jefferson Hall
Various briefing rooms
in Jefferson Hall
West Point Club and
Grant Hall
Various briefing rooms
in Jefferson Hall
Meet in Lobby of
Jefferson Hall
Eisenhower Hall
Banquet Room
Eisenhower Hall
Ballroom
Welcome Letter
Dear Capstone Conference Participant:
Welcome to the 2016 General Donald R. Keith Memorial Capstone Conference and
welcome to West Point! If this is your first visit to West Point, I hope that you have allowed for
some time in your schedule to enjoy the historic local area and the beautiful grounds that make
up the United States Military Academy (USMA).
Established in 1802, the Academy’s mission is "To educate, train, and inspire the Corps of
Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of
Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the
Nation as an officer in the United States Army." Here at West Point, over 4,000 men and
women simultaneously pursue an undergraduate education and a commission in the United
States Army; this takes place during a four-year process known as the “West Point
Experience”! All graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree “designed specifically to meet
the intellectual requirements of a commissioned officer in today’s Army”.
A special thank you to General Keith’s family for the generous endowment that allows our
Department to run this exciting event every year and to the staff and faculty in the Department
of Systems Engineering who have had a hand in the planning and execution of this conference.
Lastly, if we can assist you in any way, please make a point to stop by the registration table
that is set up in Jefferson Hall especially for your support.
West Point is truly a distinctive surrounding with a unique atmosphere. I hope that you
enjoy your time here while attending the 2016 General Donald R. Keith Memorial Capstone
Conference!
Sincerely,
Robert H. Kewley, Jr.
Robert H. Kewley, Jr.
Colonel, U.S. Army
Professor and Head
Department of Systems Engineering
Acknowledgement of Track Sponsors
The Department of Systems Engineering would like to thank our sponsors for their generosity
in supporting this event.
DATA TACTICS
The Phillips
Endowment
Systems Engineering Clients
General Information
Conference Office at West Point: The Capstone Conference Office/Registration Desk will
be located on the 6th Floor of Jefferson Hall, in the Haig Room Foyer and will be open on 28
April from 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Contact Phone Number during the conference: 845-926-2054
Wireless Access: There is wireless access throughout all of Jefferson Hall.
Lost/Found: The lost and found will be at the registration desk. Items not claimed at the end
of the conference will be left with the faculty members in the Department of Systems
Engineering, Mahan Hall, Bldg 752, 4th Floor.
Lunch: You may purchase meals at Grant Hall and the West Point Club. In addition, the
West Point shuttle buses will run to the front gate by Buffalo Soldier’s Field. It is a short walk
to the following eateries in the town of Highland Falls: Dong Fong’s Chinese Restaurant,
McDonald’s, Schade’s, The Park Restaurant, The West Point Eatery and Tony’s
Pizza.
Designated Smoking Areas: Smoking is NOT permitted in any building at West Point.
Designated smoking areas will be posted.
Local Area Map
Cadet Area Map
Guide Map of West Point
History of the Academy
West Point's role in our nation's history dates back to the Revolutionary War, when both sides
realized the strategic importance of the commanding plateau on the west bank of the Hudson
River. General George Washington considered West Point to be the most important strategic
position in America. Washington personally selected Thaddeus Kosciuszko, one of the heroes
of Saratoga, to design the fortifications for West Point in 1778, and Washington transferred his
headquarters to West Point in 1779. Continental soldiers built forts, batteries and redoubts and
extended a 150-ton iron chain across the Hudson to control river traffic. Fortress West Point
was never captured by the British, despite Benedict Arnold's treason. West Point is the oldest
continuously occupied military post in America.
Several soldiers and legislators, including Washington, Knox, Hamilton and John Adams,
desiring to eliminate America's wartime reliance on foreign engineers and artillerists, urged the
creation of an institution devoted to the arts and sciences of warfare.
President Thomas Jefferson signed legislation establishing the United States Military
Academy in 1802. He took this action after ensuring that those attending the Academy would be
representative of a democratic society.
Colonel Sylvanus Thayer, the "father of the Military Academy," served as Superintendent from
l8l7-l833. He upgraded academic standards, instilled military discipline and emphasized
honorable conduct. Aware of our young nation's need for engineers, Thayer made civil
engineering the foundation of the curriculum. For the first half century, USMA graduates were
largely responsible for the construction of the bulk of the nation's initial railway lines, bridges,
harbors and roads.
After gaining experience and national recognition during the Mexican and Indian wars, West
Point graduates dominated the highest ranks on both sides during the Civil War. Academy
graduates, headed by generals such as Grant, Lee, Sherman and Jackson, set high
standards of military leadership for both the North and South.
The development of other technical schools in the post-Civil War period allowed West Point to
broaden its curriculum beyond a strict civil engineering focus. Following the creation of Army
post-graduate command and staff schools, the Military Academy came to be viewed as the first
step in a continuing Army education.
In World War I, Academy graduates again distinguished themselves on the battlefield. After the
war, Superintendent Douglas MacArthur sought to diversify the academic curriculum. In
recognition of the intense physical demands of modern warfare, MacArthur pushed for major
changes in the physical fitness and intramural athletic programs. "Every cadet an athlete"
became an important goal. Additionally, the cadet management of the Honor System, long an
unofficial tradition, was formalized with the creation of the Cadet Honor Committee.
History of the Academy
Eisenhower, MacArthur, Bradley, Arnold, Clark, Patton, Stilwell and Wainwright were among an
impressive array of Academy graduates who met the challenge of leadership in the Second
World War. The postwar period again saw sweeping revisions to the West Point curriculum
resulting from the dramatic developments in science and technology, the increasing need to
understand other cultures and the rising level of general education in the Army.
In 1964, President Johnson signed legislation increasing the strength of the Corps of Cadets
from 2,529 to 4,417. To keep up with the growth of the Corps, a major expansion of facilities
began shortly thereafter.
In concert with the increasing role of minorities and women in society and the military over the
past three decades, greater numbers of minorities and the first women were brought to the
Military Academy and the Corps of Cadets. Their presence has enhanced the quality and
maintained the traditional representativeness of the institution.
In recent decades, the Academy's curricular structure was markedly changed to permit cadets
to major in any one of more than a dozen fields, including a wide range of subjects from the
sciences to the humanities.
Academy graduates are awarded a bachelor of science degree and a commission as a second
lieutenant in the U.S. Army, serving a minimum of five years on active duty.
As the Academy approached its bicentennial in 2002, the institution continued to ensure that all
programs and policies support the needs of the Army and nation now as well as in the
foreseeable future. The Academy, with its long and noble history, remains an energetic, vibrant
institution that attracts some of the best and brightest young men and women. It offers a
challenging and comprehensive array of opportunities while retaining its enduring commitment
to Duty, Honor, Country.
About the Academy
Since its founding two centuries ago, the Military Academy has accomplished its mission by
developing cadets in four critical areas: intellectual, physical, military, and moral-ethical - a
four-year process called the "West Point Experience." Specific developmental goals are
addressed through several fully coordinated and integrated programs.
A challenging Academic Program that consists of a core of 30 courses provides a balanced
education in the arts and sciences. This core curriculum establishes the foundation for elective
courses that permit cadets to explore in greater depth a field of study or an optional major. All
cadets receive a Bachelor of Science degree, which is designed specifically to meet the
intellectual requirements of a commissioned officer in today's Army.
The Physical Program at West Point includes both physical education classes and competitive
athletics. Every cadet participates in an intercollegiate, club or intramural level sport each
semester. This rigorous physical program contributes to the mental and physical fitness that is
required for service as an officer in the Army.
Cadets learn basic military skills, including leadership, through a demanding Military Program
which begins on their first day at West Point. Most military training takes place during the
summer, with new cadets undergoing Cadet Basic Training - or Beast Barracks - the first year,
followed by Cadet Field Training at nearby Camp Buckner the second year. Cadets spend their
third and fourth summers serving in active Army units around the world; attending advanced
training courses such as airborne, air assault or northern warfare; or training the first and
second year cadets as members of the leadership cadre. Military training is combined with
military science instruction to provide a solid military foundation for officership.
Moral-ethical development occurs throughout the formal programs as well as a host of activities
and experiences available at the Military Academy. These include formal instruction in the
important values of the military profession, voluntary religious programs, interaction with staff
and faculty role models, and a vigorous guest speaker program. The foundation of the ethical
code at West Point is found in the Academy's motto, "Duty, Honor, Country." Cadets also
develop ethically by adhering to the Cadet Honor Code, which states "A cadet will not lie,
cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do."
Admission is open to all young men and women, and is extremely competitive. Candidates
must receive a nomination from a member of Congress or from the Department of the Army.
They are then evaluated on their academic, physical and leadership potential. Those candidates
who are fully qualified receive appointments to the Academy.
The life of a cadet is demanding, but leisure time does permit recreational activities such as
golf, skiing, sailing, and ice-skating, Intramural clubs include a cadet radio station, orienteering,
rock climbing, and Big Brother-Big Sister. A wide variety of religious activities are available to
cadets from virtually all religious backgrounds.
About the Academy
From the day of its founding on March 16, 1802, West Point has grown in its size and stature,
but it remains committed to the task of producing commissioned leaders of character for
America's Army. Today, the Academy graduates more than 900 new officers annually, which
represents approximately 25 percent of the new lieutenants required by the Army each year.
The student body, or Corps of Cadets, numbers around 4,000, of whom approximately 15
percent are women.
A favorite expression at West Point is that "much-of the history we teach was made by people
we taught." Great leaders such as Grant and Lee, Pershing and MacArthur, Eisenhower and
Patton, Westmoreland and Schwarzkopf are among the more than 50,000 graduates of the
Military Academy. Countless others have served society in the fields of medicine, law, business,
politics, and science following their careers in uniform.
Ever mindful of its rich heritage, West Point continues to prepare its graduates to serve as
commissioned leaders of character in America's 21st Century Army. 2002 marks the bicentennial
of this American "national treasure." Guided by its timeless motto, Duty, Honor, Country, the
Military Academy is poised confidently to provide the Army and the Nation with its third century
of service.
Selected List of Noteworthy Graduates
CLASS OF 1808 - SYLVANUS THAYER. "Father of the Military Academy,” Thayer originated
technical education in America and established the education and discipline philosophies still
followed at the Academy.
CLASS OF 1815 - BENJAMIN L.E. BONNEVILLE. Bonneville explored and mapped the Great
Salt Lake and the Green, Snake, Salmon and Yellowstone Rivers, venturing into the unknown
American West.
CLASS OF 1818 - HORACE WEBSTER. Webster founded Hobart College in 1822. He later
founded and served as president of City College of New York from 1848-69.
CLASS OF 1819 - GEORGE WASHINGTON WHISTLER. An eminent civil engineer, Whistler
was chosen by the Czar of Russia to build a railroad from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
CLASS OF 1822 - DAVID MONIAC. Moniac, a Creek Indian, was the first Native American and
first minority graduate from the Academy.
CLASS OF 1824 - DENNIS HART MAHAN. A distinguished educator and writer, Mahan taught
the science of war to numerous Army officers.
CLASS OF 1827 - LEONIDAS POLK. The Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana; served as Lieutenant
General in the Confederate States Army.
CLASS OF 1828 - JEFFERSON DAVIS. Davis served as an Army officer, a U.S. Senator from
Mississippi, and as Secretary of War from 1853-57. He later served as the only president of the
Confederate States of America from 1862-65.
CLASS OF 1829 - ROBERT E. LEE. Lee, the Academy’s ninth Superintendent from 1852-55,
was a model cadet during his four years at West Point . He graduated second in his class and
never earned a single demerit during his four years at the Academy. At the beginning of the Civil
War, he was selected to serve as Commanding General of the Army, but instead resigned his
commission and was named General-In-Chief of the Confederate Army from 1861-65. Lee's
surrender to Ulysses S. Grant, class of 1843, at Appomattox Court House, Va., ended the Civil
War. Fort Lee, Va., was named in his honor.
CLASS OF 1832 - BENJAMIN EWELL. Ewell served during the Civil War in the Confederate
States Army. He was also President of Wm. & Mary College from 1854 to 1888.
CLASS OF 1835 - GEORGE G. MEADE. Meade served during the Civil War as commander of
the Army of the Potomac from 1863-65. During this time, his army defeated Lee and the Army of
Northern Virginia at Gettysburg, Va, Fort George G. Meade, Md., was named in his honor.
JOHN SEDGWICK - Sedgwick was the Commander of the Union VI Corps during the Civil War
and was killed at the Battle of Spotsylvania.
CLASS OF 1837 - BRAXTON BRAGG. Bragg fought under the command of future president
Zachary Taylor during the Mexican Wars. He later served under Lee in the Confederate Army.
Fort Bragg, N.C., was named in his honor.
Selected List of Noteworthy Graduates
CLASS OF 1840 - WILLIAM T. SHERMAN. Sherman served under Ulysses S. Grant, Class of
1843, during the Civil War and led the historic “March to the Sea,” from Chattanooga, Tenn., to
Savannah, Ga.; during the march, Sherman’s forces burned Atlanta, Ga., to the ground. He later
served as Commanding General of the Army from 1869-83. The Sherman battle tank was named
in his honor.
GEORGE HENRY THOMAS - Thomas commanded the Army of the Cumberland during the Civil
War.
CLASS OF 1843 - ULYSSES S. GRANT. Grant distinguished himself during the Civil War at the
Battle of Vicksburg in 1863; his victory secured control of the Mississippi River for the Union.
Lincoln later appointed him Commanding General of the Army in March 1864. On April 9, 1865, at
Appomattox Court House, Va., Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to him, ending the
Civil War. He later served as the 18th President of the United States from 1869-77. Today, his
image is immortalized on the $50 bill.
CLASS OF 1846 - HOMAS J. “STONEWALL” JACKSON. Jackson served as a Lieutenant
General and a Corps commander of the Confederate Army. He was accidentally killed by friendly
fire at Chancellorsville.
GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN - Graduating second in his class, McClellan served as Commanding
General of the Army from 1861-62. He was nominated for President in 1864, and served as
governor of his home state of N.J., from 1878-1881. Fort McClellan, Ala., was named in his
honor.
GEORGE E. PICKETT - At Gettysburg, Pa., in 1863, Pickett led more than 4,500 Confederate
troops over half a mile of broken ground against withering artillery and musket fire. With parade
drill precision they descended one slope, ascended the next, and assaulted the formidable Union
line only to be forced back in defeat. Less than one fourth of the troops returned from the charge.
The event, which was later called "Pickett's Charge," proved to be a turning point in the war. He
continued to serve the Confederacy with great devotion throughout 1864 and 1865. Fort Pickett,
Va., was named in his honor.
CLASS OF 1847 - AMBROSE P. HILL. Hill is best known for his performance as an aggressive
Confederate division commander who could move his troops at astonishing speeds. His finest
hour was the forced march from Harper's Ferry to Antietam, which saved Lee's Army during the
Civil War. In May of 1863, Lee described Hill as “the best soldier of his grade with me.” Fort A. P.
Hill, Va., was named in his honor.
CLASS OF 1853 - PHILIP H. SHERIDAN. Sheridan is remembered as one of the most stalwart
and offensive-minded soldiers that served in the American Army. His leadership and courage
under fire directly contributed to the Union victory in the Civil War. He later succeeded Sherman
as Commanding General of the Army. The Sheridan battle tank was named in his honor.
CLASS OF 1854 - OLIVER O. HOWARD.
University in 1867.
Howard was founder and president of Howard
Selected List of Noteworthy Graduates
JAMES E. B. STUART - As a cavalry officer and later as commanding general of cavalry in the
Confederate Army, Stuart distinguished himself and his cavalry brigade for acts of valor and
gallantry. He fought in many fierce battles, including the Battle of Seven Pines; he led multiple
raids on Gen. Ewell's depots; he protected the Confederate retreat from Gettysburg. He was
killed during a battle against forces commanded by Sheridan.
CLASS OF May 1861 - EMORY UPTON. Upton's extensive combat experience began at the
Battle of Bull Run. He fought in the Peninsula Campaign of 1862 and assumed command of the
121st New York Volunteer Infantry. The battle of Spotsylvania in 1864 was Upton's defining
moment; Upton devised a tactic of attacking in column formation rather than in linear formation.
He served with Sherman in the "March to the Sea" and the burning of Atlanta. He later served as
the Academy’s 19th Commandant of Cadets from 1870-75.
CLASS OF June 1861 - GEORGE A. CUSTER. After establishing a reputation of daring and
brilliance in battle, Custer served as an aide to Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, Class of 1846,
during the Peninsular Campaign and was commissioned a brigadier general at the age of 23.
After conducting several successful operations in 1864, he was placed at the head of the 3rd
Division, Calvary Corps, and was brevetted major general of volunteers. In 1876, he and his
regiment of 655 men were defeated at the Battle of Little Big Horn.
CLASS OF 1877 - HENRY OSSIAN FLIPPER.
graduate from the Academy.
Flipper was the first African-American to
CLASS OF 1880 - GEORGE WASHINGTON GOETHALS. Goethals became an architect and
was builder of the Panama Canal, 1904-14.
CLASS OF 1886 - JOHN J. “BLACKJACK” PERSHING. Considered the second most senior
officer in Army history, behind only George Washington, Pershing served as commander of the
American Expeditionary Force during World War I. The two million-plus troops of the AEF made a
decisive contribution to the defeat of Imperial Germany. Pershing's abilities as a leader
distinguished him among European commanders, and through repeated successes on the
battlefield, promoted American prestige around the world. He served as Army Chief of Staff in
1921, and was named General of the Armies of the United States by Congress upon his
retirement in 1924.
CLASS OF 1889 - ANTONIO BARRIOS. Barrios, the Academy’s first international cadet to
graduate, went on to serve as Guatemala’s minister of public works.
CLASS OF 1903 - DOUGLAS MACARTHUR. After World War I, MacArthur returned to West
Point to serve as the Academy’s 31st Superintendent from 1919-22. During that time, he was
responsible for the revitalization of the Academy. He was later promoted to General of the Army
and served as Supreme Allied Commander in the Pacific Theater during World War II. During this
time, he received the Medal of Honor for leading defense preparation and operations on the
Philippine Islands. He later served as Supreme Allied Commander, Japan, and as commander,
United Nations Command in the Far East. He was one of only five officers to be promoted to
General of the Army (five stars).
Selected List of Noteworthy Graduates
CLASS OF 1906 - ADNA R. CHAFFEE, JR. Chaffee is known as the “father of the Armor
Branch.” Despite a lifelong love of horses and riding, he spearheaded the movement of the
American Army into "armored warfare."
CLASS OF 1907 - HENRY H. "HAP" ARNOLD. Arnold was the pre-eminent U.S. military
aviator. His vision and determination were instrumental in the establishment of the U.S. Army Air
Corps (which later became the U.S. Air Force) and the development of the strategy of air warfare.
He was one of only five officers to be promoted to General of the Army (five stars), and later
served as the only General of the Air Force after its creation in 1949.
CLASS OF 1909 - GEORGE S. PATTON, JR. “Old Blood and Guts” Patton was one of the most
colorful commanders in the Army. During World War II the famed commander of the 2nd Armored
Division and later the Third Army displayed courage and daring as prominently as the pair of ivory
handled revolvers he wore. Patton accomplished one of the most remarkable feats in military
history in December 1944, when he quickly turned the Third Army northward to reinforce the
Allied southern flank against the German attack in the Battle of the Bulge. The General's doctrine
of aggressive employment of massive armor forces continue to prove themselves in combat
arenas around the world.
CLASS OF 1915 - OMAR N. BRADLEY. During his career, Bradley earned a reputation as one
of the best infantry commanders in World War II. He commanded the 82nd Airborne and 28th
Infantry Divisions before going on to command the 1st Army and the 12th Army Group. After the
war he served as Army Chief of Staff from 1948-49 and served as the first Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff from 1949-53. He was the last Army officer to be promoted to General of the Army
(five stars), and the Bradley fighting vehicle is named in his honor.
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER - During World War II, Eisenhower served as Supreme Commander
of Allied Forces Europe from 1943-44, during which he lead the D-Day invasion of Europe. During
that time, he was promoted to General of the Army (five stars.) After the war, he served as Army
Chief of Staff from 1945-48, president of Columbia University in 1948. He served as the 34th
President of the United States from 1953-61. He was one of only five officers to be promoted to
General of the Army (five stars.)
CLASS OF April 1917 - MARK W. CLARK. Clark succeeded Ridgway as U.S. and Supreme
Allied Commander, Far East, from 1952-53. He successfully negotiated the armistice with the
Communist forces in North Korea in July 1953, and later served as president of The Citadel, a
military college in Charleston, S.C., from 1954-65.
MATTHEW B. RIDGWAY - Ridgway served in many positions during World War II, including
commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division and commanding general of the XVIII
Airborne Corps. Later, he served as U.S. and Supreme Allied Commander, Far East, from 195152, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, from 1952-53, and Army Chief of Staff from 1953-55.
CLASS OF 1922 - MAXWELL D. TAYLOR. Commanded the 101st Airborne Division on D-Day,
and during the Battle of the Bugle and the drive through Germany. Taylor served as
Superintendent, USMA, 1945-49. He returned to Germany as U.S. Commander, Berlin, 1949-51,
then took command of the Eighth Army, Korea, 1953-54. Taylor was Army Chief of Staff, 1955-59
Selected List of Noteworthy Graduates
and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1962-64; after retirement in 1964, with the rank of General,
Taylor served as U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam, 1964.
CLASS OF 1929 - FRANK D. MERRILL. Commanded the 5307th Composite Unit, also known
as Merrill's Marauders, in 1944. Following World War II, Merrill served as Chief of Staff of the
Western Defense Command, and later served as Chief of Staff and as Commander of the 6th
Army. In 1947, he became deputy Chief of the American Military Advisory Mission to the
Philippines.
CLASS OF 1933 - WILLIAM O. DARBY. Darby organized and commanded the 1st U.S. Army
Ranger Battalion in 1942. From 2,000 volunteers, Darby selected and trained 500 Rangers that
successfully operated in North Africa and Tunisia. Darby trained and organized two more Ranger
Battalions in 1943. The 1st, 3rd, and 4th Ranger Battalions were known as "Darby's Rangers,"
and were famous for their endeavors in the Sicilian and Italian campaigns. He was killed while
leading a task force from the 10th Mountain Division in Northern Italy and posthumously promoted
to brigadier general.
CLASS OF 1936 - CREIGHTON W. ABRAMS, JR. Abrams commanded the 37th Tank Battalion
in World War II. He served in the Korean War as a Corps Chief of Staff and commanded at all
levels from regiment through corps. General Abrams commanded the U.S. Army Military
Assistance Command, Vietnam, from 1968 to 1972. He successfully ensured the safe withdrawal
of American forces from Vietnam at the end of the conflict. Appointed Chief of Staff of the Army in
1972, he guided the rebuilding of the Army. The Abrams main battle tank is named in his honor.
CLASS OF 1941 - ALEXANDER R. NININGER. Killed before his 24th birthday, Alexander
"Sandy" Nininger died a hero. His heroism, character and commitment to the West Point ideals of
Duty, Honor and Country made him worthy of emulation by future Army Officers. Nininger singlehandedly charged into the enemy positions with a rifle, grenades and fixed bayonet. For his
heroism "above and beyond the call of duty," President Roosevelt posthumously awarded him the
Medal of Honor. In his honor for outstanding leadership and the virtues he embodied, the Corps
of Cadets named the First Division of Cadet Barracks in his memory.
WILLIAM T. SEAWELL - After graduation, Seawell served as a pilot with the Army Air Force,
which later became the U.S. Air Force. He served as commandant of cadets at the U.S. Air Force
Academy from 1961-63. He later served as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer for Pan Am Airways.
CLASS OF 1946 - RUEBEN POMERANTZ. Pomerantz served as the Special Assistant for
Science and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, from 1962-69. Later, he served as
president of Holiday Inns of America from 1969-72.
WESLEY W. POSVAR - Posvar, a Rhodes scholar, served as chancellor of the University of
Pittsburgh from 1967-91.
CLASS OF 1947 - FELIX A. BLANCHARD. Blanchard won the 1945 Heisman Trophy. He is one
of only three Heisman Trophy recipients in Army football history.
Selected List of Noteworthy Graduates
GLENN W. DAVIS - Davis won the 1946 Heisman Trophy. He is one of only three Heisman
Trophy recipients in Army football history.
ALEXANDER M. HAIG, JR. - Haig served as Chief of Staff to President Nixon from 1973-74;
Supreme Allied Commander in Europe 1974-79; President of United Technologies Corporation
1980-81 and Secretary of State during the Reagan administration from 1981-82.
BRENT SCOWCROFT - Scowcroft served as military assistant to President Nixon in 1972. He
later served as National Security Advisor during the first Bush administration from 1989-1992.
CLASS OF 1949 - JOHN G. HAYES. Among Hayes’ many accomplishments, he served as
president of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in 1963.
RALPH PUCKETT - Puckett formed and commanded the 8th Army Ranger Company during the
Korean War. Following the war, Puckett served as commander of the Mountain Ranger Division
of the Ranger Department, and as the Ranger advisor in the U.S. Army Mission to Colombia
where he planned and established the Colombian Army Ranger School.
CLASS OF 1950 - FRANK BORMAN. An astronaut from 1962-70, Borman commanded the first
circumlunar flight of the earth. He later served as president of Eastern Airlines.
FIDEL V. RAMOS - One of the Academy’s international cadets, Ramos served as a Philippine
Army officer after graduation. He eventually became the country’s military’s Chief of Staff and
later Secretary of National Defense. He later served as President of the Republic of the
Philippines from 1992-1998.
CLASS OF 1951 - EDWIN E. "BUZZ" ALDRIN. An astronaut from 1963-72, Aldrin participated
in the first manned lunar landing with Michael Collins, Class of 1952, and was the second man to
walk on the moon.
ROSCOE ROBINSON, JR. - Robinson was the first African-American to be promoted to four-star
general in the Army, and served with distinction in both Korea and Vietnam. He later served as
the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division from 1976-78, commanding general, U.S.
Army Japan from 1980-82, and as U.S. Representative to the NATO Military Committee from
1982-85.
CLASS OF 1952 – MICHAEL COLLINS. An astronaut from 1964-70, Collins served with Aldrin
during the first manned lunar landing. During the mission, he served as the command module
pilot. He later served as the director of the National Air & Space Museum.
THORALF M. SUNDT, JR. - Sundt served as a doctor of Neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic who
became one of America’s premier neurosurgerons; Member of the National Academy of
Sciences.
EDWARD WHITE II - An astronaut from 1962-67, White was the first man to walk in space. He
was one of the three astronauts killed in the Apollo I disaster in 1967.
Selected List of Noteworthy Graduates
CLASS OF 1953 – RANDOLPH V. ARASKOG. Araskog served as president and chairman of
ITT Communications from 1979 and later as chairman and CEO from 1995-98.
CLASS OF 1954 - JOHN R. GALVIN. Among his many position, Galvin served as the Supreme
Allied Commander, Europe, and the Commander-in-Chief, United States European Command
from 1987-1992.
CLASS OF 1956 - H. NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF. As Commander-in-Chief, United States
Central Command from 1988-91, Schwarzkopf's command ultimately responded to Iraq’s
invasion of Kuwait with the largest U.S. deployment since the Vietnam War, including portions of
the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps as well as units from dozens of nations around the world.
The success of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm marked what former President
George Bush hailed as "the beginning of a new era of internationalism." After retiring,
Schwarzkopf received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
CLASS OF 1957 - JOHN R. BLOCK. Block served as the Secretary of Agriculture from 1981-86
during the Reagan administration.
CLASS OF 1959 - PETE DAWKINS. Dawkins won the 1958 Heisman Trophy. He is one of only
three Heisman Trophy recipients in Army football history. He later served as chairman and CEO
of Primerica.
CLASS OF 1962 - JAMES V. KIMSEY. Kimsey was the founding chairman of America On Line,
and in 1996 was named their chairman emeritus. He also founded the Kimsey Foundation in
1996.
CLASS OF 1964 - BARRY R. MCCAFFREY. McCaffrey’s many positions during his 32 years of
military service include serving as deputy U.S. Representative to NATO from 1988-89, and later
as Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Southern Command from 1994-96. After his retirement, he
served as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy during the Clinton administration
from 1997-2001.
CLASS OF 1969 - MICHAEL W. KRZYZEWSKI. Krzyzewski currently serves as the head men’s
basketball coach for Duke University.
CLASS OF 1976 - RICHARD MORALES, JR. Morales was the first Hispanic cadet to serve as
First Captain (cadet brigade commander).
CLASS OF 1980 - VINCENT K. BROOKS. Brooks was the first African-American cadet to serve
as First Captain (cadet brigade commander).
ANDREA L. HOLLEN - Hollen was the first female to graduate from the Academy.
CLASS OF 1990 - KRISTEN M. BAKER. Baker was the first female cadet to serve as First
Captain (cadet brigade commander).
CLASS OF 1995 - REBECCA E. MARIER. Marier was the first female graduate to receive
highest cadet performance score in all areas over four years.
General Donald R. Keith
31 January 1927 – 9 September 2004
General Keith was the Chairman of the Board, U.S. Field Artillery
Association, from October 2002 until just weeks before his death
when he retired from the Board. He had assumed the Chairman
position from Lieutenant General (Retired) David E. Ott, now
deceased.
Before his retirement from the Army, he was the
Commanding General of the U.S. Army Materiel Development and
Readiness Command (now the US Army Materiel Command),
Alexandria, Virginia.
Donald Keith was born 31 January 1927 in Ludington, Michigan. During World War II, he
served as an enlisted soldier in the Army before attending the United States Military Academy
at West Point, New York. He graduated from the Academy in 1949 and was commissioned a
Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery. He later attended Columbia University in New York
City where he earned a Master of the Arts in Science Teaching in 1958 before being
assigned to the faculty of the Chemistry Department at West Point. In 1982, the University
of Akron awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree.
After Graduating from West Point in 1949, General Keith served in various battery and battalion
positions in the 517th Field Artillery Battalion in Wetzlar, Germany, and as battery commander
and S-3 in the 2d Guided Missile Battalion, White Sands, New Mexico. Later as a Major,
he served in Eighth Army Operations in the Republic of Korea during the tense days of the
Cuban missile crisis.
General Keith commanded artillery units at all levels, to include the 5th Battalion, 73d Field
Artillery and the 36th Field Artillery Group, U.S. Army Europe. He also served as the Executive
Officer, Office of the Chief of Research and Development at the Pentagon, followed by a tour in
Vietnam from 1971 to 1972 where he served as the Director, Research and Analysis
Directorate, Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support in the U.S. Military
Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV). From 1972 through 1974, General Keith was back
in Washington, DC in the Office of the Chief of Research and Development as the Director of
Developments. He then became the Director of Weapon Systems in the Office of the Deputy
Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Acquisition, also in the Pentagon, until October
1976.
From 9 October 1976 to 21 October 1977, then Major General Keith served as the Chief of Field
Artillery, Commandant of the Field Artillery School and Commanding General of the Field
Artillery Center and Fort Sill.
Following his tour at Fort Sill, General Keith returned to
Washington, DC, where he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and
Acquisition until August 1981, Overseeing the largest modernization program ever undertaken
by the Army: “The Big Five.”
General Donald R. Keith
31 January 1927 – 9 September 2004
Upon promotion to General, he assumed command of the Army Materiel Development and
Readiness Command in Alexandria. He retired on 28 June 1984 with more than 35 years of
faithful service to the nation.
After retiring from the Army, General Keith joined Cypress International, a defense consulting
company, in September 1984. After more than 15 years with Cypress, he retired as the
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in December 1999.
General Keith also served on several boards, to include the National Defense Industrial
Association, the Defense Systems Management College Alumni Association, the Fort Sill
National Bank and the National Research Council Board on Army Science and Technology. He
served on the Committee on Army Science and Technology for Homeland Security as he
remained committed to the nation’s security. The committee dedicated its second report to
General Keith in recognition of “his quiet voice of reason, untiring dedication, and exemplary
efforts toward making life better and safer for America and her Soldiers.”
General Keith’s awards and decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal (two
awards), the Legion of Merit (three awards), the Bronze Star Medal, the Army
Commendation Medal (two awards), and several foreign awards and service ribbons.
The generous General Donald R. Keith endowment will significantly enhance cadet education
programs in the Department of Systems Engineering for many years to come.
Brigadier General Timothy E. Trainor
Dean of the Academic Board
Brigadier General Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D., is the 13th Dean of the
Academic Board at West Point. Trainor's former position was Professor and
Head of the Department of Systems Engineering at the U.S. Military
Academy.
Brigadier General Trainor graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from West Point in 1983
and entered the Engineer Branch of the U.S. Army. As an engineer officer, he served in
operational assignments around the world to include Germany; Honduras; Fort Bragg, N.C.;
Fort Riley, KS.; and Sarajevo, Bosnia.
Brigadier General Trainor deployed to Basrah, Iraq, in the summer of 2007 and worked with the
UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in helping the provincial Iraqi leaders improve their
infrastructure revitalization plans.
Brigadier General Trainor has a Master of Business Administration from the Fuqua School of
Business at Duke University and a Doctorate in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State
University. He is a member of the Military Applications Society of the Institute for Operations
Research and the Management Sciences; the Military Operations Research Society; the
American Society for Engineering Management; and the American Society of Engineering
Education. He is a past president of Epsilon Mu Eta, the National Engineering Management
Honor Society.
Brigadier General Trainor currently serves on the Board of Fellows for the David Crawford
School of Engineering at Norwich University. He teaches courses in engineering
management, systems engineering and decision analysis. As an analyst, he helped develop the
Installation Status Report that provides the Army a standardized means to assess infrastructure
and environmental conditions on installations to support resource allocation decisions. He has
applied decision analysis methods in completing an organizational analysis of the Army’s
Installation Management Agency and in assessing defense security cooperation programs.
Ms. Kristen J. Baldwin
Principal Deputy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Systems Engineering
Ms. Kristen J. Baldwin is the Principal Deputy to the Deputy Assistant Secretary
of Defense for Systems Engineering (DASD(SE)). Ms. Baldwin acts on behalf of
the DASD and is responsible for engineering and technical workforce, policy, and
systems engineering planning for major defense acquisition programs. Her
oversight includes concept engineering and analysis, design, development and
manufacturing, and independent program review and assessment. She supports the DASD role of
functional leader for more than 40,000 defense acquisition professionals in the Department of Defense
(DoD) Engineering (ENG) and Production, Quality, and Manufacturing (PQM) workforce. She oversees
the DoD strategy for Trusted Systems Design.
A member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), Ms. Baldwin leads modeling and simulation, system
security engineering, program protection, system of systems engineering, and systems engineering research
and development initiatives. She oversees the DoD Systems Engineering Research Center, a universityaffiliated research center dedicated to advancing systems engineering methods, processes, and tools, and
the MITRE National Security Engineering Center, a DoD federally funded research and development
center.
Ms. Baldwin has been with the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) since 1998, where she has led
the application of capabilities-based planning in the acquisition process and served as Deputy Director,
Software Engineering and System Assurance. Before working with OSD, Ms. Baldwin served as a
science and technology advisor in the Army’s Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and
Plans. Ms. Baldwin began her career at the U.S. Army’s Armament Research, Development, and
Engineering Center, Picatinny Arsenal.
Ms. Baldwin was a recipient of the Meritorious Presidential Rank award in 2014, in recognition of
exemplary service.
Ms. Baldwin received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech and a
master’s degree in systems management from the Florida Institute of Technology.
Updated: September 2015
Track Descriptions
Decision Analysis.
This track deals with evaluating complex non-repetitive decision
opportunities by examining values, uncertain variables, preferences, and alternatives.
Process Analysis and Improvement. This track deals with methods and applications
addressing the modeling of partially ordered activities to achieve a goal for systems existing in
the real-world (process analysis) or not (processing engineering), to support effective
design or systems improvement.
Modeling and Simulation. This track deals with modeling methods and applications for
representing static or dynamic characteristics of systems in order to support effective systems
design or improvement.
Systems Design. This track showcases projects from engineering and problem solving that
feature significant levels of systems design. This includes notable examples of requirements
specification, functional analysis, systems architecture, model-based systems engineering, or
the use of modeling and simulation in the design process.
Systems Design for Military Applications. This track showcases projects from defenserelated projects that feature significant levels of systems design. This includes notable
examples of requirements specification, functional analysis, systems architecture, model-based
systems engineering, or the use of modeling and simulation in the design process.
Modeling and Simulation for Defense Applications.
This track deals with modeling
methods and applications for representing static or dynamic characteristics of systems in order
to support effective systems design or improvement, specifically for military applications.
Problem Solving in Systems Engineering. This track features projects that apply systems
engineering principles and processes to solving problems. Emphasis is on correctly defining
the problem, generating possible solutions, then choosing and implementing the best one.
Engineering Management. This track features applications of engineering principles to
operations and business practice. Presentations include engineering surrounding product
development, manufacturing, construction design engineering, industrial engineering,
technology, production, or any other field that employs personnel who perform an engineering
function.
Model-Based Systems Engineering. This track features projects which utilize a significant
modeling component used to support system requirements, design, analysis, verification and
validation activities beginning in the conceptual design phase and continuing throughout
development and later life cycle phases.
Paper Competition.
This track features papers showcasing engineering and problem
solving projects. It includes topics from any other tracks in the conference.
Hollis Award.
The Walter W. Hollis Award’s annual competition is co-sponsored by the
Department of Systems Engineering and the Department of Mathematical Sciences which
recognizes excellence in military operations research and systems analysis.