This is the 20th installment in the Honored Role Series. Jana Fajardo grew up wanting to serve in the military, despite the fact that less than two percent of Americans do so. Both her maternal grandparents served in the Armed Forces. Her grandmother enlisted in the British Navy and her grandfather served 27 years in…
This is the 19th installment in the Honored Role Series. Like many, Angela Maria Lungu joined the Army to earn a college degree and did not anticipate serving past her initial five-year obligation or remotely consider the possibility of living and working overseas. The retired lieutenant colonel remarked, “I never thought I would stay in….
This is the 18th installment in the Honored Role Series. Saturday’s graduation at West Point will mark 30 years since the first women joined “the long gray line” of graduates of the storied Military Academy. During the commencement exercises, Taneshina Wright will take the oath of a commissioned officer and become a Second Lieutenant in…
This is the 17th installment in the Honored Role Series. In Kindergarten Candice O’Brien started running the 1/8th of a mile loop around her elementary school in Muscatine, Iowa. Each time she finished ahead of all the other kids—girls and boys. Although she ran for fun, she did not want anyone to beat her. From…
This is the 16th installment in the Honored Role Series. More than a word of welcome or parting, “Aloha”, in the Hawaiian language means affection, love, peace, compassion and mercy. Often described as the coordination of mind and heart, it also means the extension of warmth in caring with no obligation in return. This would…
March is Women’s History Month and this year’s theme is “Writing Women Back into History.” Honored to be the guest speaker at West Point’s Women’s History month celebration, I had an unique opportunity to share my story and the genius of Porcelain on Steel: Women of West Point’s Long Gray Line with a diverse audience…
This is the 15th installment in the Honored Role Series. Paula Broadwell does her best thinking and reflecting during her daily 6:00AM run with her Iphone and Pandora blasting. She runs at warp speed literally and intellectually. To say she is driven to perform is a precise statement of how discipline and determination have shaped…
This is the 14th installment in the Honored Role Series. Her military background is different from many colleagues, but Hannah Clifford says working with start-up companies is similar to that of being an Army officer. “At West Point and in Army, I was trained to act in the absence of guidance, communicate simply, lead by…
This is the 13th installment in the Honored Role Series. Although Raven Bukowski’s late grandfather, Donald, never spoke about his experiences as a sergeant in the 3rd Infantry Division during World War II, his quiet patriotism and strength planted in her the seed to become a soldier. Raven knew only that her grandfather fought in…
This is the 12th installment in the weekly Honored Role Series. Just as good steel is forged from hot fire, strong leaders are developed by challenge. Such is the path Teresa Hougnon took in her journey to serving others. While she felt compelled to enter religious life from an early age, she did not have…