John Hanks Alexander - Class of 1887

John Hanks Alexander is best known as the second African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Alexander was born on January 6, 1864 in Helena, Arkansas, to James and Fannie Alexander, who were both born as slaves in Virginia, and had six other siblings. In 1849, while still a slave, John’s father began working as a prominent barber who attracted many customers in Helena, Arkansas.  His success allowed him to purchase freedom for himself and his family along with property. Nineteen-year-old Alexander entered West Point in 1883 as the last of the 120 cadets accepted. While at West Point Alexander was respected by his fellow cadets due to his intellect. Nonetheless, he could not escape the racial discrimination common for that time and was socially ostracized by these same cadets just as Flipper had been earlier. Alexander graduated from West Point in 1887.

Alexander was stationed with the Ninth Cavalry, a Buffalo Soldier regiment, at Fort Robinson, Nebraska. At the time of his posting he was the only black officer in the Army commissioned to lead troops in combat.  In early 1894 Alexander was assigned to Wilberforce University, an African American institution in Xenia, Ohio, as a professor to teach military science and tactics, the first appointment of its kind in history. On March 26, 1894, Alexander died at age 30 due to apoplexy and was buried near Wilberforce University with full military honors. He was later honored by the U.S. Department of War when Camp Alexander in Newport News, Virginia, was named after him in 1918.

Charles Young - Class of 1889

Brigadier General Charles Young graduated from West Point in 1889.  A Buffalo Soldier serving with the 9th and 10th Cavalry and the 25th Infantry, Young eventually became the first African American to achieve the rank of colonel in the United States Army. Charles Young was born to ex-slaves in Mays Lick, Kentucky in 1864.  In 1889 he became the third African American to graduate from the Academy.

As a second lieutenant, Young’s assignment options were limited to the four Buffalo Soldier regiments. After serving five years on the “Western Front” with the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments, Young left to become a professor of Military Science and Tactics for four years, between 1894 and 1898, at all-black Wilberforce University in Ohio, where he became close, lifetime friends with fellow faculty member W.E.B. DuBois.

Young returned to active military service as a major in the 10th Cavalry of Buffalo Soldiers during U.S. operations in Cuba and the Philippines.  He was in command of the cavalry as they participated in the celebrated charge up San Juan Hill.  In 1903, Young was appointed superintendent of the Sequoia and General Grant National Parks in California.  He was the first African American to hold the post of National Park Superintendent. In 1904, Captain Young became the first Military Attaché to Haiti and the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola. Young joined 23 other officers (the only African American among them) serving in these diplomatic posts in the Theodore Roosevelt administration. 

When the United States entered World War I in 1917, many assumed Young, the highest ranking African American in the Army, would be given a prominent command.  Instead, he was declared physically unfit for duty due to high blood pressure.  After a 500-mile horse ride from Ohio to Washington, D.C. to prove his fitness, Young was returned to active duty in 1918 and promoted to Colonel.  He was later appointed United States military attaché to Liberia.  Colonel Charles Young died in 1922 while visiting Lagos, the capital of British Nigeria.  He was interred in Lagos with full honors by British troops.  However his body was returned to the United States in 1923 and interred at Arlington National Cemetery.  The eulogy was delivered by his friend W.E.B. DuBois.

The Cadet Gospel Choir has twice completed the Colonel Charles Young Haiti Mission Trip honoring Colonel Young’s legacy.

In recognition of the service and achievements of U.S. Army Col. Charles Young, the Under Secretary of the Army, Hon. Gabe Camarillo, promoted Young to the rank of Brigadier General, at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, April 29, 2022.

To learn more about Young and how we honor him, visit BG Charles Young’s page.

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. - Class of 1936

Benjamin Davis, Jr. was born on December 18, 1912, in Washington, DC, son of Elnora Dickinson and Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., who held the honor of being the first African American to earn the rank of general in the U.S. Army. Davis’ West Point appointment came at the recommendation of the only African American then serving in congress, Representative Oscar S. DePriest. Davis became one of the few African Americans to graduate from West Point before World War II. He was never assigned a roommate and his classmates frequently refused to fraternize with him. Despite being alienated by his peers, Davis persevered, and graduated in the top 15 percent of his class.

In 1943, Davis was promoted to full Colonel and assumed command of a larger Tuskegee fighter group, the 332nd “Red Tails.” The Red Tails shot down more than 100 German planes during the war and flew some 15,000 missions. In a 1945 confrontation with the German air force, unit pilots downed three of the Luftwaffe’s groundbreaking ME-262 jet fighters, aircraft with performances vastly superior to the propeller- driven planes of the U.S. Army. For his accomplished leadership and his own piloting ability, Davis was awarded the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

When President Harry S. Truman established the Air Force as a separate branch of the armed services in 1947, Davis became one of it founding officers. Finally permitted to command integrated units, Davis was given a variety of key posts over the next decade. He was appointed chief of staff for American forces in Korea in 1953, and later commanded the 13th Air Force group at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. After that appointment, he was named the Air Force’s first General, and after another decade of impressive service, he was promoted to three-star Lieutenant General, surpassing his father in becoming the first African American to attain such a high rank. He died on July 4, 2002.

Two years after his retirement, Davis was named a four-star general by President Bill Clinton. Eighty-five years after his graduation, USMA has payed homage to Davis' legacy with the dedication of the newest, most innovative and eco-friendly barracks in his memory. On August 18, 2017 the U.S. Military Academy superintendent, Lt. Gen. Robert L. Caslen Jr., along with West Point cadets, staff and faculty, and members of Davis' family, cut the ribbon to the barracks that stands tall above the rest.

Roscoe Robinson, Jr. - Class 1951

Roscoe Robinson, Jr. was the first African American to become a four-star general in the United States Army. Robinson was also the first African-American to command the 82nd Airborne Division.

Robinson was born on October 11, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended St. Louis University for only a year and then transferred to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1947. He graduated with a degree in military engineering in 1951.

Robinson served in the Korean in 1952 as a platoon leader and rifle company commander. For his actions, he received the Bronze Star. Sent back to the United States a year later he became an instructor in the Airborne Department of the United States Army Infantry School. He then went on to graduate from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1963. The following year he received his master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in international affairs.

By 1967, Robinson was serving as a battalion commander in Vietnam. For his actions and achievements, he received the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, 11 Air Medals, and two Silver Stars. After Vietnam, Robinson served at the National War College for three years as the executive officer to the Chief of Staff. He was promoted to Brigadier General and in 1975 became Commanding General of the United States Army Garrison, Okinawa.

In 1976, Robinson was promoted to Major General and assigned to command the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. General Robinson was the first African-American to command 82nd Airborne Division. After a battle with leukemia, Robinson died on July 22, 1993, at the age of 64.

Joseph B. Anderson, Jr. - Class of 1965

Mr. Joseph B. Anderson, Jr. born in Topeka, Kansas, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1965, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math and Engineering. He subsequently received two Masters Degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1972 and 1973. Mr. Anderson attended the Army’s Command and General Staff College in 1977. He also is a graduate of the Harvard Advanced Management Program, 1984. In June 2007, Mr. Anderson received an Honorary Doctor of Management Degree from Kettering University and in December 2013 he received an Honorary Doctor of Commercial Science Degree from Central Michigan University.

During his military career, Mr. Anderson commanded troops as an infantry officer in the 82nd Airborne Division and served two tours of duty with the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam. In addition to troop command, Mr. Anderson served as aide-de-camp to two general officers, and he also was an assistant professor in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point. Mr. Anderson and the infantry platoon he commanded in Vietnam were subjects of the highly acclaimed documentary film “The Anderson Platoon”. The documentary has been shown in more than 20 countries and has won several prizes to include the Oscar of the Academy Awards and an Emmy for the “Best Documentary Film of 1967”. Mr. Anderson’s military awards include two silver stars, five bronze stars, three Army Commendation Medals, and eleven Air Medals. Mr. Anderson resigned his commission in 1978, after 13 years of service and early selection for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel.

In 1977, Mr. Anderson was selected to be a White House Fellow and worked as Special Assistant to Secretary of Commerce, Juanita Kreps. Following his White House Fellow Year, Mr. Anderson continued to work for Secretary Kreps until he joined General Motors in 1979.

Mr. Anderson began his business career with General Motors in 1979 at Pontiac Motor Division. In 1981, after several manufacturing assignments, Mr. Anderson was named Plant Manager of the Pressed Metal and Plating Operations, Pontiac Motor Division. After three years as a plant manager, Mr. Anderson held several staff assignments until 1989 when he was appointed Director of the Exterior Systems Business Unit, Inland Fisher Guide Division of General Motors Corporation. In 1990 he was appointed General Director, Body Hardware Business Unit, Inland Fisher Guide Division, General Motors Corporation, a business unit with 7,000 employees and revenue of $1 billion. In late 1992, after 13 years of service, Mr. Anderson resigned from General Motors to become President and Chief Executive Officer of a privately held company, Composite Energy Management Systems, Incorporated (CEMSI). In October 1994, Mr. Anderson acquired a controlling interest in another privately held entity, Chivas Products Limited, which manufactured interior trim products and lighting assemblies principally for the automotive industry. In 1997, the company was restructured as Chivas Industries, LLC where Mr. Anderson maintained controlling ownership and held the position of Chairman of the Board & CEO before divesting his interest in 2002. He is currently the majority owner, Chairman and CEO of TAG Holdings, LLC which owns several manufacturing, service and technology based entities based in North America. These entities serve a variety of industries including automotive, heavy equipment, aerospace, defense, and recreational vehicles.

 In 2016, Mr. Anderson received the Distinguished Graduate Award from The United States Military Academy at West Point, honoring him for his lifetime of achievement.

Larry R. Jordan - Class of 1968

Lieutenant Genera (Retired) l Larry R. Jordan is a former Army officer, former Senior Vice President of Burdeshaw Associates, Ltd., and current Principal of LNJ Group, LLC. Jordan served for 35 years as a member of the U.S. Army, completing two active combat tours

in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm(Iraq). Jordan ended his career with the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Combat Infantryman’s Badge in addition to the Armor Association’s Order of St. George and the Field Artillery Association’s Order of St. Barbara.

Larry Jordan was born on February 7, 1946, in Kansas City, Missouri. After graduating from Central High School in Kansas City in 1964, Jordan was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Jordan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in engineering from West Point and was given a commission with the U.S. Army as an armor officer. Jordan also received a Master of Arts degree from Indiana University at Bloomington in 1975. Jordan’s additional military education includes the U.S. Army Armor School, the U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, the U.S. Army Command and Staff College, the National War College, and the U.S. Army Ranger and U.S. Army Airborne Courses. In 1992, Jordan received a certificate for completing Harvard University’s National and International Security Management Program.

During his military career with the U.S. Army, Jordan has served in numerous staff and command positions at the company, battalion, brigade, and installation levels. From 1992 to 1995, Jordan was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky where he served as the commanding general of the U.S. Army Armor Center and School. In 1997, Jordan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and subsequently assigned as the Inspector General of the U.S. Army, where he worked closely with the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army.

In 1999, Jordan became the deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe and the Seventh Army in Germany. Until that time, Jordan had served in various overseas areas including the Republic of Vietnam, Kuwait, Iraq, and twice previously in Germany. Jordan’s final assignment was as the deputy commanding general of U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Monroe, Virginia. Jordan also served as an Assistant Professor at West Point and as a member of the Combat Arms Training Board. After retiring from the U.S. Armed Forces in 2003, Jordan became the senior vice president of Burdeshaw Associates, LLC, a business consulting agency.  In 2013, Jordan left Burdeshaw Associates and became Principal of LNJ Group, LLC—another business consulting agency—where he has worked since.

 In 2018, Mr. Jordan received the Distinguished Graduate Award from The United States Military Academy at West Point, honoring him for his lifetime of achievement.

Lloyd J. Austin III - Class of 1975

Lloyd James Austin III was sworn in as the 28th Secretary of Defense on January 22, 2021. Mr. Austin is the principal assistant to the President in all matters relating to the Department of Defense and serves on the National Security Council.

Mr. Austin was born in Mobile, Alabama, and raised in Thomasville, Georgia. He graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission in the Infantry. He holds a Master of Arts degree in counselor education from Auburn University, and a Master of Business Management from Webster University. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. Of note, General Austin also served as a Company Tactical Officer at West Point.

His 41-year career in the Army included command at the corps, division, battalion, and brigade levels. Mr. Austin was awarded the Silver Star for his leadership of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.  Seven years later, he would assume the duties of Commanding General of United States Forces – Iraq, overseeing all combat operations in the country. He was the 12th Commander of U.S. Central Command from 22 March 2013 to 30 March 2016. He was the first African-American to lead this organization. In this capacity, he was responsible for military strategy and joint operations throughout the Middle East and Central and South Asia. He also served as the Combined Forces Commander, overseeing the military campaign to defeat the terrorist organization, ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

After a tour as the Army’s Vice Chief of Staff, Mr. Austin concluded his uniformed service as the Commander of U.S. Central Command, responsible for all military operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan.  In this assignment, he led U.S. and coalition efforts to battle ISIS in Iraq and Syria.  He retired from the Army in April, 2016.

Since his retirement from military service, Mr. Austin served on the Boards of Directors for Raytheon Technologies, Nucor, and Tenet Healthcare.

General Austin has a room in Hotel Thayer dedicated to him.

 In 2017, Secretary Austin received the Distinguished Graduate Award from The United States Military Academy at West Point, honoring him for his lifetime of achievement.

Archie Elam - Class of 1976

After receiving both Congressional and Vice-Presidential nominations, Archie entered West Point with the Class of 1976. There he pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics and named an Outstanding Graduate in Electrical Engineering in 2017. Archie became a top-ranked member of the Army Fencing Team and the Cadet Brigade Command Sergeant Major as a senior and selected for West Point’s Cadet Public Relations Program, where he spoke to the youth of Philadelphia schools. Upon graduation, Archie was commissioned in the US Army’s Armor and Cavalry branch.

His Army career took him to a wide variety of troop, command, and staff assignments at the US Army’s Armor School, West Point Admissions, US Army Europe, and the US 18th Airborne Corps. After completing graduate study in advanced mathematics and systems analysis, Archie was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of the Army and later, the US Army General Staff in the Pentagon. After his tour in the Pentagon, Archie was assigned to 18th Airborne Corps, and the 24th Infantry Division Mechanized then deployed to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm as the head of current operations for 36,000 troops. On his arrival in Saudi Arabia, he was selected for an interview on the Today Show. His division made the deepest attack behind enemy lines in Army history, over 250 miles, to cut off the Iraqi Army escaping Kuwait and helped destroy the Republican Guard. After acquiring a severe back injury on a joint operation, Archie retired from the Army at Fort Bragg and moved to Stamford, Connecticut. He went on to earn an MBA from Duke University, where he was elected class president and received their Alumni Leadership Award. He then went on to pursue a second career as an operations and technology executive with GE Capital, United Technologies, and as a management consultant in strategy and operations with the George Group and Accenture.

Archie has served on many community organization boards and as the president of several organizations. These include election to the Stamford Board of Education, former president of 100 Black Men of Stamford, former president The Westchester Black MBA Association, a life member and former president of two chapters to the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the Boule’ Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, and as the Chair of the Connecticut Ballet. While at GE Capital, he was selected by the CEO to lead GE’s 20,000-member volunteer service organization where he was awarded a citation from the Connecticut General Assembly and Keys to the City of Danbury for governing a state environmental restoration project.

Archie continues to remain active in veterans’ affairs. He sits on the Connecticut State Veterans Leadership Council, the Veterans Council, Service Academy Selection Committee for Connecticut’s 4th District Member of Congress, and the Veterans Council for the state’s senior Senator. After Sept 11th, he was chosen as a military affairs analyst for a local television station. Archie is a life member and State Officer for the Connecticut Veterans of Foreign Wars. He most recently served as Commander for the Fairfield County 1st District, overseeing twenty VFW posts and 2,500 members. Before that, he was responsible for the management of visitation programs with wounded and disabled veterans across the state. He holds numerous US and foreign military decorations, was awarded the commission as a Colonel from the Governor of Kentucky and selected to Connecticut’s Veteran’s Hall of Fame. He is a member of the West Point Association of Graduates Board of Directors.

Ronald L. Johnson - Class of 1976

Ronald L. Johnson is a Professor of the Practice in ISyE and Faculty Leadership Fellow at Georgia Tech. Prior to joining faculty at Georgia Tech, Retired Major General Ronald L. Johnson was the National Basketball Association’s first Senior Vice President, Referee Operations from July 2008 until July 2012. He was responsible for all aspects of the NBA’s officiating program, including recruiting, training and development, scheduling, data management and analysis, and work rules enforcement. Prior to joining the NBA, General Johnson served as the deputy commanding general and deputy chief of engineers (COO), the second highest-ranking senior engineer staff officer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). He retired in April 2008 after serving 32 years of military service.

In June 2003, Johnson was named director of military programs and G3 for the USACE, in which he was directly responsible for oversight of the Army’s Military Construction, Real Estate Services and Environmental Programs. He provided expert architectural engineering and design services to USAID, Department of State, and other agencies. Additional previous command assignments included: Commanding General, Pacific Ocean Division, USACE; Assistant Commandant, U.S. Army Engineer School/Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center; Executive Officer to the Secretary of the Army; Brigade Commander, 130th Engineer Brigade, V Corps, Germany; Senior Aide to the Secretary of the Army; Battalion Commander in both Fort Lewis, Wash. and Fort Ord, Calif; and Assistant Professor and Course Director Freshman Mathematics (Calculus) at West Point.

2019 Black Engineer of the Year Educational Leadership Award. He has two scholarships endowed in his name at Georgia Tech and one at West Point, which he named in honor of a friend who passed, and a room named for him in the Clough Student Center at Georgia Tech. Ron also served on the Board of Directors of Leave No Veteran Behind and as an Advisor to the Rushman-Micah Foundation, both 501 (c)(3) nonprofits.

Thomas P. Bostick - Class of 1978

Lt. General (Retired) Bostick is the only African American Graduate of the Academy to serve as the Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) with a Bachelor of Science degree in June 1978.  Bostick was the Captain of the 150-pound football team at West Point. He later earned a Master of Science degree in both civil and mechanical engineering from Stanford University and a PhD in systems engineering from George Washington University..

Bostick served as an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at West Point. He deployed with the 1st Cavalry Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom before commanding the Corps Gulf Region Division, where he was responsible for more than $18 billion of reconstruction in Iraq. He is a leading advocate for resilience and developing a systems approach to watersheds. He has appeared on CNN, Fox News, CBS Evening News, The Daily Show, and more. He also has spoken extensively on resilience, including remarks at the United Nations, the Risk Analysis World Congress in Singapore, and the National Academy of Sciences. He also served as a White House Fellow.

Retired Lt. Gen. Thomas P. (Tom) Bostick currently serves as the senior vice president of the environment sector at Intrexon, a leader in the engineering and industrialization of biology to improve the quality of life and health of the planet.

Lt. Gen. (Retired) Bostick will be recognized as a 2024 West Point Association of Graduates Distinguished Graduate Award Recipient.

Herman Bulls - Class of 1978

Herman Bulls is Vice Chairman, Americas, as well as an International Director and the founder of Jones Lang LaSalle’s (JLL’s) highly acclaimed Public Institutions which specializes in delivering comprehensive real estate solutions to federal, state and local governments, nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions. Mr. Bulls works with the firm’s largest public and corporate clients to devise and implement integrated real estate strategies to lower occupancy costs and increase productivity. During over 33 years at JLL, Mr. Bulls has worked in the areas of development, investment management, asset management, facilities operations and business development/retention. He provides thought leadership and strategic guidance to senior level executives. Mr. Bulls has served as an expert witness on real estate matters in court and testified before Congressional committees on real estate issues.

Mr. Bulls co-founded and served as President and CEO of Bulls Capital Partners, a multi-family financing company. Additionally, he founded Bulls Advisory Group, LCC, a management and real estate advisory firm. Prior to joining JLL, Mr. Bulls completed almost 12 years of active-duty service with the United States Army. His last active-duty assignments were working in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management at the Pentagon and as an Assistant Professor of Economics and Finance at West Point. He has completed the Army’s Airborne, Ranger and Command and General Staff College courses and served overseas in the Republic of Korea. He retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves in 2008.

Mr. Bulls serves on several public, private and not for profit boards. He is Chairman of Fluence Energy (NASDAQ: FLNC) and Vice Chairman of USAA. He is Vice Chairman of the West Point Association of Graduates and serves on the Department of Defense Policy Board. He also serves on the boards of Host Hotels (NASDAQ: HST), Comfort Systems, USA (NYSE: FIX) Collegis Education, the American Red Cross National Board of Governors, the Real Estate Advisory Committee for New York State Teachers’ Retirement System, and the Military Bowl- a NCAA sanctioned football bowl game played in the nation’s capital each December. Mr. Bulls former board service includes Tyco International, Exelis, Inc., Computer Sciences Corporation, American Campus Communities, and Rasmussen, Inc.

Mr. Bulls received a BS degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA in finance from Harvard Business School.

Vincent K. Brooks - Class of 1980

During his 36 years as a commissioned officer, General Brooks served in command and staff positions in the United States; in Germany during the Cold War; in Korea; in Kosovo; and in the Middle East. His tours of duty with fighting units include the 82d Airborne Division as a lieutenant; the 1st Infantry Division (Forward) as a captain; the 1st Cavalry Division as a major and again as a brigadier general; the 2d Infantry Division as a lieutenant colonel; the Third Army Central (with duty in Headquarters, Coalition Joint Task Force – Kuwait) and the 3d Infantry Division (with duty in North Atlantic Treaty Organization-Kosovo Forces) as a colonel; Headquarters, United States Central Command; Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division (with duty as Headquarters, Multi-National Division-Baghdad) and Headquarters, III Corps and Fort Hood as a brigadier general; Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division (with duty as Headquarters U.S. Division - South) as a major general; and most recently as the Commanding General of Third United States Army/US Army Central (ARCENT) continuously deployed to the Middle East countries of Kuwait, Qatar, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Jordan and United Arab Emirates.

General Brooks served at the national-level in the Pentagon. Within Headquarters, Department of the Army, he fulfilled staff duties as aide-de-camp to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, and later as the Army’s Chief of Public Affairs. Within The Joint Staff, he fulfilled duties as Deputy Director (J5) for Political-Military Affairs for the Western Hemisphere, and later as the Deputy Director (J5) for the War on Terrorism. General Brooks holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy; a Master of Military Art and Science from the School of Advanced Military Studies at the United States Army Command and General Staff College; and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the New England School of Law in Boston.

He also served as a National Security Fellow at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. General Brooks is married to Dr. Carol P. Brooks, an educator and physical therapist. Both the general and his wife are from career military families.

Joy Suzanne Dallas Eshelman - Class of 1980

Joy Suzanne Dallas Eshelman was born into an Army family on April 25, 1958 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Her father had begun his service in the segregated Army and her mother’s side of the family was from Leavenworth, Kansas where a great uncle had been a Buffalo Soldier. Twenty-two years later, Joy became the 37,331st graduate of West Point, a proud G-3 Gopher, a member of the first class of women and alongside her friend Pat, the first African American female graduate.

Joy went on to serve 21 years as an Air Defense officer with multiple assignments in Germany, Fort Bliss, Texas and the National Capitol Region. Personal highlights Joy was especially proud of included temporary duty assignments with the West Point admissions in the 1980s, working at Area 51 and the 1993 Presidential Inaugural. Joy attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and culminated her career in Europe, as Chief of Executive Services, United States Army Europe, before finally retiring in 2001 at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

Dana J.H. Pittard - Class of 1981

Major General (Retired) Gen. Dana J.H. Pittard spent 34 years in the Army and served as the commanding general at Fort Bliss from June 2010 to May 2013. He also led the 1st Armored Division after it relocated from Germany from May 2011 to May 2013.

Major General Pittard was commissioned as a second lieutenant from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1981, with a Bachelor of Science degree in History. He later earned a Master's Degree from the School for Advanced Military Studies at the United States Army Command and General Staff College. Major General Pittard also attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University as a Senior Service College Fellow.

Major General Pittard oversaw the transformation of Fort Bliss from a brigade-level air-defense post to a division-level installation. His prior assignments include serving as the Commanding General of 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss, TX. Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7 United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at Fort Monroe, Virginia. Commanding General, National Training Center and Fort Irwin; Commanding General of the Iraqi Assistance Group during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM; Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver) of the 24th Infantry Division; Commander of 3d Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division and Deputy Commander for Maneuver, Multi-National Brigade (East) during OPERATION JOINT GUARDIAN, Kosovo and later during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM; and Commander, 1st Battalion, 32d Armor and later 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, both as part of the 3d Brigade Combat Team, 2d Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington. He also commanded three units at the company level, including a combat deployment during OPERATION DESERT STORM, Iraq. His previous staff assignments include Chief of Plans and Exercises for 2d Armored Division and S-3 (Operations) for both 1st Battalion, 67th Armor and 2d Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, all at Fort Hood, Texas. He also served as the Military Aide to the President of the United States.

Nadja West - Class of 1982

Lieutenant General (Retired) Nadja West, USMA '82, was the 44th US Army Surgeon General and former commander of US Army Medical Command. She was also the first African-American Surgeon General, the first African-American female lieutenant general in the Army, and the highest ranking woman to graduate from West Point.

She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from West Point and a Doctorate of Medicine Degree from George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. Lieutenant General West completed her internship and residency in Family Medicine at Martin Army Hospital at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Her previous command positions include Commanding General; Europe Regional Medical Command; Commander, Womack Army Medical Center; and Division Surgeon, 1st Armored Division; Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany. LTG West was also Joint Staff Surgeon, Joint Staff, Washington DC.

LTG West is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Family Physicians. She was the keynote speaker at West Point during the 2020 Henry O. Flipper Dinner. West had a room in Hotel Thayer dedicated to her in 2021.

West was also awarded the West Point Association of Graduates Distinguished Graduate Award in 2022, the first year a woman graduate has ever been honored with such a recognition.  

Darryl A. Williams - Class of 1983

Lieutenant General Darryl A. Williams is a native of Alexandria, Virginia.  He graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, in 1983 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

A career Field Artillery officer, Lieutenant General Williams most recently served as the Commander, NATO Allied Land Command, in Izmir, Turkey.  Prior to this, he served as the Commander, United States Army Africa (USARAF), in Vicenza, Italy; the Deputy Chief of Staff G3/5/7 of United States Army in Europe, located in Wiesbaden, Germany; the Deputy Commanding General for Support for the 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea; and Commanding General for the United States Army Warrior Transition Command and Assistant Surgeon General for Warrior Care and Transition.

In addition to these assignments, Lt. Gen. Williams has served in key leadership positions at the tactical, operational and strategic levels to include Battery Commander deployed in support of OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM; Commander, Division Artillery, 1st Armored Division and Fire and Effects Coordinator, 1st Armored Division deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM; Deputy Director for Soldier Comprehensive Fitness, Department of the Army G3/5/7;  and while commanding USARAF in 2014, he was involved with OPERATION UNITED ASSISTANCE fighting against the Ebola outbreak in Liberia.

He assumed duties as the 60th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy in July 2018. Williams assumed command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa in June 2022. He also assumed command of NATO's Allied Land Command in August 2022.

His military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff College, School of Advanced Military Studies, and the United States Naval War College. He holds Masters’ degrees in Leadership Development, Military Art and Science, and National Security and Strategic Studies.

His awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Parachutist Badge, Presidential Service Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

Bernard Banks - Class of 1987

Brigadier General (Retired) Bernard (Bernie) Banks is a noted expert on the subjects of leadership and organizational change. Currently, he is the Associate Dean for Leadership Development and Inclusion and a Clinical Professor of Management at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. As an Associate Dean, Bernie is accountable for leader development integration across the school's global portfolio of programs. He is also accountable for the generation, integration and implementation of Diversity/Equity/Inclusion initiatives for the institution.  

Bernie retired from the United States Army as a Brigadier General in 2016 after having successfully led West Point's Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership from 2012-2016. In addition to having studied leadership extensively, he has led multiple military units ranging in size from 10 to 3000+ people. In 1995, Bernie was selected from over 40,000 officers to receive the Army's top award for entry-level managers (General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award). In 2006, the Apache Helicopter unit he was leading in South Korea was designated as the top Apache Helicopter unit globally in the U.S. Army's annual best aviation unit competition.

A West Point graduate, Bernie is broadly educated. He holds graduates degrees from Northwestern, Columbia, and Harvard Universities. Additionally, he earned his Ph.D. in social-organizational psychology from Columbia University. Bernie's work has been published in a variety of outlets (e.g., Harvard Business Review, Military Psychology, New York Times). Furthermore, he has worked extensively with organizations across all sectors concerning their leader development efforts (e.g., Procter and Gamble, Mercedes Benz, General Electric, IBM, 7-Eleven, The US Forest Service, International Chiefs of Police).

Ronald P. Clark - Class of 1988

Lieutenant General Ron Clark currently serves as Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC. He previously served as Commanding General, United States Army Central, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina; Chief of Staff, US Indo-Pacific Command at Camp HM Smith, Hawaii; and Commanding General of the 25th Infantry Division and United States Army Hawaii. 

MG Clark has commanded with distinction at every level from Company to Division and has held key staff positions at the tactical, operational and strategic level throughout his 32 years of military service.  He served on USMA Staff and Faculty as the 4th Director of the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic. 

Major General Clark’s civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Military Art and Science degree from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the US Army War College Fellowship at Duke University. He is also a graduate of the MIT Seminar XXI National Security Studies Program.

Omuso George - Class of 1991

Brigadier General (BG) Omuso D. George hails from Hempstead, NY and holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, where he received his commission as an Air Defense Artillery Officer in 1991.

He also holds a Master of Science in Management Information Systems from Bowie State University, a Master of Education from National Louis University, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

BG George’s military education and training includes: ADA Officer Basic Course, Finance Officer Advanced Course, Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution Systems (PPBES) Course, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. He is a Level Three Certified Department of Defense Financial Management Professional, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and a Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM).

BG George’s military awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Bronze Star (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Staff Identification Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the U.S. Army Finance Corps Regimental Distinguished Member of the Regiment Medallion for distinguished service.

Mark C. Quander - Class of 1995

Major General Mark C. Quander assumed command of the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division (LRD), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in June 2023.

As the Division Engineer, he serves as the senior military officer in the division, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The division delivers engineering and water resource solutions for the Great Lakes and Ohio River region, covering 335,000 square miles and parts of seventeen states. The division’s civil works mission provides planning, construction, and operation of navigation structures and flood damage reduction, hydropower, environmental restoration, water management, recreation, and disaster response. LRD also executes military construction in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, involving designing and constructing barracks, hospitals, airfields, and family housing on military installations. LRD consists of seven districts in Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Huntington (WV), Louisville, Nashville, and Pittsburgh.

Before assuming command of LRD, MG Quander served as the Commandant of Cadets for the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY. Other command assignments include the: Commandant, U.S. Army Engineer School, Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Commander, Transatlantic Division, Winchester, VA; Commander, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Cavazos, TX; and Commander, 7th Engineer Battalion, Fort Drum, NY.

MG Quander served twice at the national level in the Pentagon. Within the Joint Staff, he fulfilled duties as a Joint Chiefs of Staff Intern/Politico-Military Planner in the Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy (J5), Iraq Division. Within the Headquarters Department of the Army, he fulfilled duties as Director Office of the Chief of Engineers.

MG Quander commissioned as an Engineer Officer from the United States Military Academy in 1995. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy, a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri for Science and Technology, a Master of Arts in Policy Management from Georgetown University, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Landis C. Maddox - Class of 1996

BG Landis C. Maddox assumed command of the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support on June 15, 2023. Under his leadership, DLA Troop Support annually provides more than $20 billion worth of food, clothing and textiles, construction and equipment, pharmaceuticals, along with medical supplies and equipment for America’s warfighters and other valued customers worldwide. To accomplish this mission, Maddox oversees a global workforce of more than 2,100 civilian and military personnel.

A Texas native, who was born in South Carolina, Maddox was commissioned in the Quartermaster Corps upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1996. His first assignment was with the 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Georgia. After completion of the Captain’s Logistics Officer Advanced Course (CLOAC), Maddox served as a staff officer in South Korea in the 19th Theater Army Area Command. He left Korea and moved back to Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he served as a staff officer and a company commander in 24th Corps Support Group (Forward), Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Prior to going to Command and General Staff College (CGSC), Maddox moved to Ft. Drum, New York and served as the Support Operations Officer and XO in the 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. Following Command and General Staff College in June 2012, he then moved back to South Korea and served as the Chief of Petroleum Operations and the Chief of Current Operations in the United States Forces Korea J4, Yongsan, Korea.

Maddox commanded the Special Troops Battalion 1st Theater Sustainment Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina and then assumed duties as a Strategic Staff Officer in the Logistics Initiative Group in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff G4, Washington DC. After completion of the Army War College in 2018, he moved to Hawaii and served as the Assistant Chief of Staff G5 for the 8th Theater Sustainment Command, prior to assuming command of the 25th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. After command, Maddox served as the Executive Officer for the Army Materiel Command Commanding General, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. In his previous assignment, Maddox served as the Commander of the Joint Munitions Command, Rock Island, Illinois.

In addition, his operational experience includes five deployments to Iraq and one to Kuwait. Maddox’s military education and schools include Army War College, U.S. Army Command, and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Captains Career Course, and the Quartermaster Officer Basic Course.

His civilian education included a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy in Mechanical Engineering in 1996 and in 2006 he earned a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management from Webster University.

Erica Jeffries Purdo - Class of 1998

Erica Jeffries Purdo is the North America Pharmacy Channel Leader for the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson in the Strategic Customer Group (SCG). In this role, Erica creates and implements go-to-market strategies for Janssen therapeutics and vaccines through key pharmacy channels: Specialty Pharmacies, Retail, and alternate Pharmacy sites. Erica leads the cross-functional teams that drive these Pharmacy engagements and partners closely with the Janssen Therapeutic Areas to build strategies, and enhance the analytics and the patient journey overall. Erica also has responsibility for the SCG Learning & Development team that supports numerous channels across the Market Access ecosystem.

Most recently, Erica was the Portfolio and Process Management (PPM) Lead and Strategic Support Lead in Global Services. As PPM lead, Erica led a global team and was responsible for driving the development, implementation and execution of sustainable and cohesive Governance, Portfolio Management, and Project/Program Management to achieve goals defined by the overall strategic plan. Erica was a member of the Global Services Leadership Team (GSLT) and Sponsor for the LATAM Regional Leadership Council (RLC).

Prior to joining J&J, Erica had a successful career with roles in both the public and private sectors beginning as an officer in the US Army to serving as the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) where she was responsible for over 1200 employees serving nearly 700,000 veterans and their families. At the Federal level, Erica had the privilege of serving as a White House Fellow where she focused on building public-private partnerships. In the private sector, Erica specialized in defense strategy and national security policy with assignments in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Erica is an ardent supporter of military service members and their families. She has been a member of President George W. Bush’s Military Strategic Initiative council since 2015; and in November 2019, she was sworn in by the Secretary of the Army to serve as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) for the state of New Jersey. She also previously served as a CASA for the state of Illinois.

Erica earned a Master of Arts in Security Studies from Georgetown University, and a Master of Business Administration from Virginia Tech University.