William C. Collier ’06 graduated from VMI in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. As a cadet, Collier was a 4-year letterman on the lacrosse team, Company F guide sergeant, and 2nd Battalion S3 lieutenant. Since the fall of 2021, he has served as the class agent for the Class of 2006 and was the class fundraising co-chair for their last reunion. From July 2022 until July 2024, Collier served as the Northern Virginia/ D.C. co-regional director for the VMI Alumni Association. In July 2024, he was appointed VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors first vice president.
Collier’s professional experience started as a Transportation, Logistics, and Acquisitions officer while serving in the U.S. Army. He served 8 years on active duty and 4 years in the Army Reserves. Since leaving the Army, he has worked as a manager of logistics, vice president of supply chain, and contracts manager. Collier currently works for K2 Construction Consultants, Inc., as their contracts manager. His role as contracts manager for K2 covers all aspects of contract lifecycle management, including supporting proposals, developing and negotiating contracts, resolving contractual issues, and ensuring compliance with contracts, subcontracts, purchase orders, company policies and procedures, and government regulations.
His civilian education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI and a Master of Science degree in management with a concentration in contract management and procurement from the University of Maryland University College. Collier’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Commendation Medal, among many others, and the Meritorious Unit Citation. He is Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Contracting Level II certified and (SOLE) the International Society of Logistics, Demonstrated Master Logistician certified. He is also a proud graduate of Woodberry Forest School and an Eagle Scout. His professional organization memberships include USA Lacrosse, Sons of the American Revolution, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Association of the U.S. Army, National Eagle Scout Association, and Military Officers of America Association.
He currently lives in Stafford, Virginia, with his wife, the former Ms. Karen O’Donnell, their son William (10 years), their daughter Ann Caroline (6 years), their son James (1 year), and their 4-year-old German Shepherd, Lucy. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, coaching lacrosse, and watching VMI athletics, the Washington Commanders, Washington Capitals, and Baltimore Orioles.
Retired U.S. Navy Reserve Cmdr. Patrick J. Griffin ’80 graduated from VMI in the Class of 1980. During his cadetship, he held rank as a corporal, sergeant, and lieutenant in Charlie Company.
Upon graduation from VMI, Griffin commissioned in the U.S. Navy as a surface warfare officer, where he served aboard the USS Blue Ridge, LCC-19, flagship of the 7th fleet. He was subsequently selected for special duty assignment as a naval gunfire liaison officer with the United States Marine Corps 2nd Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, 2nd ANGLICO, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. After leaving active duty, Griffin joined the U.S. Navy Reserve, where he served in various positions with units of the Naval Control of Shipping Organization and the U.S. Military Sealift Command, retiring as a commander. In 1987, Griffin began his federal career with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, where he served as a compliance safety and health officer, a compliance assistance specialist, and a compliance assistance coordinator and area director. He retired from OSHA in 2018 after 31 years with the agency. Griffin currently works as a safety consultant in the construction industry.
Griffin is very proud to have served the VMI Alumni Association in various positions for over 24 years. He served as the VMI Alumni Association New England Chapter president from 1990–96 and again from 2006–15. In 2015, e was elected as the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors Region III – Northeast regional director. While on the BOD, Griffin served on the New Cadet Recruiting Committee and the Networking Committee and chaired the Outreach Committee for 3 years. Upon completing his term in 2021 and relocating to Lynchburg, Virginia, Griffin was selected as a VMI Alumni Association BOD special appointee to continue his work on the Networking Committee. In 2022, he was again elected to the VMI Alumni Association BOD, this time as the Region VIII – Southwest Virginia/Shenandoah Valley regional director. He continues to serve as a member of the Networking Committee. Additionally, Griffin is currently serving a 9-year term as a VMI Research Laboratories Board member responsible for vetting all academic department research project proposals. He also served on the VMI Parents Council from 2020–22, where he was an active participant and leader on the Parents Council Recruiting Committee and the Mess Hall Committee.
Griffin’s civilian board service includes the State of Rhode Island Federal Executive Council chairman, Quonochontaug Yacht Club commodore, and VMI Research Laboratories Board member. His military awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and Meritorious Unit Citation. Griffin’s civilian awards include the U.S Secretary of Labor Honor Award, U.S. Secretary of Labor Exceptional Achievement Award, and Hurricane Katrina Response Award. His memberships include the Military Officers Association of America, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, and Kappa Alpha Order/Beta Commission.
Griffin and his wife, Beth, a Navy veteran, reside in Lynchburg, Virginia, and Charlestown, Rhode Island. They have two sons, Michael ’17 and John ’23.
Richard Coupland III ’91 matriculated in August 1987 as the third generation of his family to attend VMI (grandfather was a member of the Class of 1915, and father was ’50B). He served on the Color Guard in his 2nd Class year and as the 1st Battalion S1 in his 1st Class year before graduating in 1991 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He also earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University in 2002. As an alumnus, Coupland and his father founded the Maj. Gen. Richard C. Coupland 1915 Electrical Engineering Awards at VMI. These awards are awarded to a 2nd and 3rd Class cadet majoring in electrical engineering who have demonstrated academic excellence, outstanding leadership abilities, and high moral standards. Coupland served as chapter president of the VMI Arizona Alumni Chapter from 2018 to 2021 and currently serves as the Southwest Region regional director on the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Following graduation, Coupland progressed through a 20-year career in the defense industry, working for Fortune 100 firms that included TRW, Motorola, and General Dynamics. Following 9/11, Coupland led the Science, Technology, and Products business at General Dynamics, focused on developing advanced technology and capabilities that could transition urgently into combat operations. During this time, he founded the EDGE Innovation Network, a global partnership of firms that focused annual research and development funds to join together, attack, and rapidly prototype urgent needs from defense customers. Through his leadership, the EDGE grew to over 600 firms and 12 innovation centers globally, responsible for delivering rapid prototype capabilities in an average of 71 days. In 2015, Coupland joined Republic Services, where he has served as the vice president of municipal sales. He is responsible for environmental services partnerships with approximately 2000 municipalities across 47 states.
Coupland has previously served on the Delta Information Systems Board of Directors and on the AMPEX Systems Advisory Board. He also served on the Men’s Board for the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation. He is currently a member of the International City and County Manager’s Association, as well as the Solid Waste Association of North America.
He met his wife Heidi 1 week after graduation from VMI, and they have been happily married since 1994. They have lived in Phoenix, Arizona, and raised their two daughters there since that time.
Matriculating from the Philippines, Mike Burke ’73 was one of the founders of the VMI Theatre his rat year, and he was managing editor of the VMI Cadet his 1st Class year. A four-year private, he graduated with honors in English and was chosen as valedictorian. During his 27 years in the Army, he served in the United States and overseas, was twice assigned to the U.S. Military Academy faculty, and deployed to the Gulf War with the 1st Armored Division. After retirement in 2000, he began teaching English, first at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and then at St. Louis Community College, until his final retirement as associate professor in 2024. He has been the new cadet recruiter for the St. Louis VMIAA chapter since 2001. He lives with his wife of 45 years, retired U.S. Army Dental Corps Col. Mary Burke, and their daughter, Emilie, in St Louis, Missouri.
Mark Gonsalves ’81 is a seasoned entrepreneur, business strategist, and leader with a diverse background that blends military service with extensive expertise in business development. After serving his country as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, Gonsalves successfully transitioned into the private sector, where he has spent years helping business owners and entrepreneurs achieve their full potential. As a franchise owner with the Tony Robbins, New York Times best-selling author, Gonsalves gained invaluable experience in personal development and business growth, which he later leveraged as a member of the advisory board at Anthony Robbins & Associates.
During his 8 years of active duty in the U.S. Army, Gonsalves distinguished himself as a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, and the U.S. Army Airborne School. A highly trained and capable leader, he became Ranger-qualified and attended the Special Forces Qualification Course. His military career culminated in his role as a HALO detachment commander with the 1st Special Forces Group. After transitioning out of active duty, Gonsalves continued to serve his country in the U.S. Army Reserves with the 12th Special Forces Group and the Vermont National Guard. He also held the role of Company Commander for the Vermont Mountain School, where he was responsible for leading specialized training operations.
Beyond his remarkable military career, Gonsalves has successfully owned, invested in, and operated a variety of businesses, particularly in the real estate and wine and spirits sectors. His unique ability to build successful ventures and develop impactful marketing strategies has made him a sought-after expert in seminar marketing. Gonsalves has worked with national businesses and high-profile celebrity brands, helping launch multimillion-dollar projects such as Daymond John’s Launch Academy and the Sopranos Wine Brand in collaboration with HBO. His talent for creating and scaling businesses has not only built lasting brands but has also connected a diverse range of audiences.
Gonsalves earned a bachelor’s degree in history from VMI, graduating as part of the esteemed Class of 1981. He remains deeply involved with his alma mater as an active member of the VMI Alumni Association. For the past 4 years, Gonsalves has served as the Alumni Association New York City – Long Island Chapter president, where he has worked tirelessly to increase engagement and support for the Institute. His leadership in the alumni community has helped strengthen the bond between VMI graduates and the school.
Currently, Gonsalves is the managing director of a hedge fund overseeing the Hawk and Horse Vineyards in Lake County, California, and several Amazon-based businesses in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. In addition to his professional ventures, Gonsalves is committed to philanthropy. He has actively supported several nonprofit organizations, including Friends of Karen, which assists terminally ill children and their families. His dedication to giving back reflects his strong sense of community and the values instilled during his military service.
Mark and his wife, Maria, live in New York, where they share a deep connection to their Mediterranean heritage. They enjoy their annual pilgrimage to the island of Patmos, where they have a family home. This tradition brings them both joy, renewal, and a strong sense of cultural and familial connection.
Whitney Matthews ’07 graduated from VMI with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and German and a minor in English. During her cadetship, Whitney was actively involved in study abroad, spending two summers in Berlin, Germany. She served as a cadet counselor and played women’s club softball for one season. As an alumna, Whitney has remained actively engaged with the VMI community and values the Institute’s enduring role in connecting graduates across generations. She attends numerous events across the Mid-Atlantic region in support of chapter and alumni association activities. Whitney is involved with the Career Networking Committee and attends the Cadet–Alumni Career Networking Forum each year. As the Mid-Atlantic regional director, she works to represent alumni throughout the region and foster strong relationships between graduates and the Institute by supporting alumni chapters, regional programming, and continued engagement with the VMI community. She currently serves on the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors as the regional director for the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Whitney is also a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has spent her career working at the intersection of culinary arts, entrepreneurship, and small business development. In 2012, she founded and operated the award-winning food truck SpiceSea Gourmet. During this time, she also served at several VMI rat send-off events in the Charlottesville, Virginia, area. In 2021, Whitney began working as the chief culinary officer of Taste Supply, a technology-driven e-commerce platform dedicated to connecting consumers with specialty foods produced by small and medium-sized American food makers. In this role, she works directly with independent brands and entrepreneurs to help expand their reach and share their products with a wider audience. Her work focuses on supporting independent food producers and bringing greater visibility to the stories and craftsmanship behind American specialty foods.
Whitney was selected to serve on the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors in September 2025. She also serves on the Alpha Kappa Board of Directors as the director of alumnae relations. In this role, she works to encourage continued engagement, mentorship, and support among generations of members while helping advance the organization’s long-term community and leadership goals. As a chef, Whitney has won several awards and was featured on the Cooking Channel’s show “Eat St.”
Whitney currently lives in Glen Burnie, Maryland, with her husband, Nathaniel Johnson. Nathaniel is active duty in the U.S. Coast Guard and serves aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Sledge, which is stationed at the Coast Guard Yard.
Matt Eads ’93 matriculated at VMI in fall 1989, having previously attended the VMI “pre-strain” summer program. As a cadet, he participated in U.S. Air Force ROTC, performed support tasks for the Honor Court, and was involved in a variety of activities. He served as a cadet representative at New Cadet Recruiting events. He graduated from VMI with a degree in French and from Georgia Tech with a Master of Business Administration degree in 1999. As an alumnus, Eads continued working at New Cadet Recruiting events. In addition, he served as treasurer for the VMI Alumni Association Atlanta Chapter and has been involved in several alumni activities and initiatives. His proudest role to date was serving as class agent for the Class of ’93, which included planning a class reunion and presenting a donation check to the Superintendent. Eads is nominated to serve as regional director in the southeast for the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Eads began his professional career in 1993 with Eads & Heald Investment Counsel. His duties began as an entry-level employee, rising through the decades to become an investment portfolio manager, equity analyst, vice president, and eventually co-owner of the company. Eads was a driving force behind the company’s expansion from a single-service firm to a full-service wealth management firm. He was critical in rebranding the company as Eads & Heald Wealth Management. In the nascent days of websites, Eads built the firm’s online presence and made a powerful proprietary retirement calculator functional for web use. Perhaps the most important testament to his career success is the long average tenure of the firm’s client base. He has been a generous supporter of the warrior community, providing donations or pro bono investment expertise to various heroes and causes. Eads remains with his company after 33 years.
Eads was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, which is the global gold standard for investment management and analysis. As a CFA charter holder, Eads became a member of CFA Institute. Mid-career, Eads was selected as one of Atlanta’s Top 40-under-40 Professionals. He was asked by media outlets to serve as an investment expert for the Atlanta community. More recently, he has been invited to serve as a guest lecturer in the College of Business at the University of North Georgia. He is also an advisor to the student investment club at UNG.
Eads splits his time between Georgia and Florida. He has three adult children from a prior marriage. Through his partner, Amy Cummins, he has a wonderful adoptive family. He is an experienced boater who is competent as the captain of large sailboats in open water or in an inshore fishing boat.
Lucas “Luke” Hale ’00 matriculated to VMI in 1996 from Pendleton, Indiana, on an Army ROTC scholarship. A civil engineering major, Hale served in the Corps of Cadets as a cadre corporal, color sergeant, and eventually Golf Company Commander. He also was a member of the VMI Glee Club and the Timmons-Gentry Society, where he attended numerous concerts across the East Coast. As a 1st Class cadet, Hale designed, built, and raced VMI’s first-ever concrete canoe, named Farfromflöten, in the American Society of Civil Engineers annual competition. As an alumnus, Hale has served as the Central North Carolina – Raleigh Alumni Chapter president and now serves as regional director for the Carolinas.
After graduation, Hale commissioned as an active duty officer in the Armor Branch, where he served in Germany with the 1st Armored Division. In 2004, Hale joined the Army Intelligence Corps, where he continued his active duty service in organizations like the National Reconnaissance Office, the National Security Agency, and the Joint Special Operations Command, among others. During his service, Hale deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism on multiple occasions. He retired from active duty as a lieutenant colonel in 2021 after 20 years of service. He is now serving as a software product manager for IBM, where he is focused on the development of artificial intelligence-enabled business automation solutions.
Hale’s awards and qualifications include two master’s degrees (a Master of Science degree in strategic intelligence and a Master of Business Administration degree) and certificates in technology entrepreneurship and supply chain operations. Since his retirement, Hale has been honored as a McLaughlin Fellow with the Jenkins MBA program for his leadership displayed while a student at North Carolina State University. He is now serving as an alumni advisor to the North Carolina State Poole College of Management Career Center and admissions teams. Hale is also an IBM Pathfinder Mentor, partnering with North Carolina State students interested in the technology industry, and an occasional speaker at IBM veteran events.
James R. Chalkley ’73 matriculated to VMI in August 1969 and graduated in June 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. While at VMI, he was a member of the basketball and track teams. He also served as a student assistant for boxing classes in the physical education department for 3 years, as a cadet waiter for 3 years, as the head waiter his 1st Class year, and as an A Company lieutenant. He was selected as a distinguished military graduate and received a U.S. Army commission. Since graduation, Chalkley has been active in his local VMI alumni chapter, assisted with New Cadet Recruiting activities, and served as a panel member covering the topic of Lessons Learned in Operation Desert Shield/Storm. He has been a longtime supporter of the VMI Keydet Club and served on the Board of Governors from 2004–10. He now serves as a VMI Alumni Association Region VII Florida regional director.
Chalkley began his Army career serving as a combat detail field artillery officer before transitioning to the Transportation Corps. He served in numerous assignments, including the 101st Airborne Division, the 37th Transportation Group, the University of Richmond as assistant professor of military science, the Military Personnel Center, the Pentagon, the 7th Transportation Group, and the 53rd Area Support Group. He commanded units at the company, battalion, and brigade level, culminating his career as the Headquarters United States Army Europe deputy chief of staff. After retirement from the Army, he served as Logistics Management Resources Inc. vice president, Global Real Estate and Support Services director for BearingPoint Inc., and as director of National Accounts for Apex Systems Inc.
In addition to his degree from VMI, he holds a Master of Science degree in logistics systems management from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
His military awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and seven Meritorious Service Medal awards. He was also selected as a Distinguished Member of the Transportation Corps Regiment.
He and his wife, Sharon, dated through 4 years of VMI, married after graduation, and now live in Florida.
Roberto H. “Rob” Robinson ’80 is a 1980 graduate of VMI with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. As an alumnus, he has remained active with VMI through service on the VMI Class of 1980 Foundation Board of Directors, membership in the Rockbridge Chapter of the VMI Alumni Association, the VMI Keydet Club, and the VMI Institute Society. He currently serves as the regional director for the Shenandoah and Southwest Virginia Region of the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Robinson is a 35-year veteran of the rail industry, spending his entire career with Norfolk Southern and its predecessor, Southern Railway. He began in 1982 as an engineering trainee in the Maintenance of Way and Engineering Department and later moved into marketing, working in equipment, coal, distribution services, modal logistics, and industrial products. Robinson retired in 2017 as group vice president of short line marketing and commercial development, managing relationships with 245 short line partners and leading development of new and emerging markets.
He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Averett University and a certificate in integrated supply chain management from the University of Tennessee. He completed executive programs in advanced transportation management at Northwestern University, Duke University, and the University of Tennessee. His board experience includes service on the Transportation Advisory Board to the commanding general at USTRANSCOM and the Surface Executive Working Group at USTRANSCOM, as well as two terms on the North Cross School Board of Trustees in Roanoke, Virginia.
Robinson has two daughters, Madeline (UVA 2020) and Caitlin (UVA 2025).
Charles W. “Charlie” Sachs, a proud member of the Class of 1979, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, was a Company E cadet, and an NCAA tennis letterman. He later co-founded the Omaha, Nebraska Chapter of the VMI Alumni Association. Following distinguished military and corporate careers, Sachs now serves as the director of Region X–South, responsible for 11 alumni chapters in six states with over 1,500 alumni. He chairs the Outreach Committee, serves on the Executive Committee and Nominating Committee, and previously chaired the Engagement Committee.
Commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as a communications-electronics officer upon graduation, Sachs served 25 years across the active Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve. His notable assignments included serving as a flight crew member and communications team officer-in-charge on the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center, commander of a Special Operations combat communications squadron, and Iraq-deployed J6 director of communications supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served as the first Air Force deputy director of irregular warfare requirements. Sachs retired as a colonel in 2010.
After retiring from the Air Force, Sachs held executive leadership roles at Bank of America, Harland Clarke Holdings Corporation, and USAA, specializing in business continuity, disaster recovery, and IT supplier governance.
He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Creighton University School of Law and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Air War College and Air Command and Staff College. Now retired from both public service and the private sector, Sachs currently advises Congressman Chip Roy on national security and veterans affairs and serves on the Military Officers Association of America Board of Directors.
Sachs is married to retired U.S. Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Jacqueline Purdy, a 1990 graduate of Texas A&M (Corps of Cadets). They live in Southlake, Texas, with their lively household of three dogs and three cats.
For more than 30 years, Dr. Paul Hebert ’68, Ph.D., has worked to promote development and support humanitarian action in less-developed countries. He graduated from VMI in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering and earned a Master of Science and later a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served 2 years as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps assigned to the US Army Environmental Hygiene Agency in Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland. Following a 1-year position with Bechtel Corporation in San Francisco as an environmental engineer, he began his dream of a career in development and humanitarian action through an assignment with the Near East Foundation in Iran from 1974–76, helping the government to improve water supplies, sanitation and tackling the environmental control of bilharzia (schistosomiasis), a parasitic disease, in southern Iran from 1974–1976 (pre-Iranian revolution).
His career as an environmental engineer and coordinator of humanitarian assistance work spanned four continents, including Asia (Southeast, South, and Southwest), the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. He lived full-time in eight countries, including Iran, Philippines, Nepal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia (covering Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia), Geneva, Switzerland (where he covered Iraq, the former Soviet Republics and the former Yugoslavia), Ethiopia, and Kenya. His development and humanitarian coordination work also took him to other countries in Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma, Thailand); South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh); former Soviet Republics in the Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan) and in West Asia (Tajikistan) and in Southern Africa (Swaziland and Malawi).
Hebert retired from the United Nations in 2008, and he continued work as a consultant for the U.N. and several nonprofit organizations for several more years, as well as organizing programs for humanitarian conferences in Dubai, serving as a speaker at several such conferences.
The VMI Board of Visitors selected Hebert to be the third recipient of the Jonathan Daniels Humanitarian Award. In March 2011, he received the award before the entire Corps of Cadets, faculty, and staff.
Hebert was awarded the Floyd D. Gotwald Visiting Professorship for Leadership and Ethics for the fall semesters of 2013 and 2015 and served on the faculty of the VMI international studies department and the civil engineering department from 2013–18.
Paul is a member of Rotary International and the Steamboat Springs Rotary Club, where he chaired the International Service Committee. For several years, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Advocates for Routt County, serving Routt and Moffat counties in Colorado to support women who have been sexually or physically abused and to confront such abuse. He is currently a member of the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council Board of Directors in Steamboat Springs, a climate action nonprofit organization.
Hebert is an avid skier and enjoys sailing, reading, outdoor sports, and adventure. He has two grown children in Colorado and three grandchildren. His wife, Dr. Mayling Simpson, is a medical anthropologist and writer who had a noted international career. She recently completed and published a book about Hebert’s VMI Class of 1968, “Lives Guided by Honor – How VMI Shaped the Class of 1968.”
Garland Gray III ’10 matriculated at VMI in August 2006. A history major, he competed on the cross country and track and field teams in his rat and 3rd Class years and was a cadet assistant for both squads as a 2nd Class cadet. Gray was a 4-year private in Charlie Company and served on his class’s Ring Figure committee. Gray began his involvement with the VMI alumni community by attending events hosted by the VMI Club of Richmond. He joined the VMI Club of Richmond’s board in 2014 before serving as its secretary, vice president, and finally as its president in 2020. He has served as the Region XII (Central Virginia) regional director since July 2021.
Gray graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law in 2015 and is a member of the Virginia State Bar. He has worked at the law firm Kane Jeffries, LLP in Richmond since 2018. He focuses his practice on residential and commercial real estate transactions and related matters, including commercial leasing and business entity work.
Gray lives in Powhatan County, Virginia, with his wife and Ring Figure date, the former Valerie Paquette, two sons and two daughters.
Christopher McCallum ’96 is the grandson (Class of 1934), son (’68), and brother (’94) of VMI alumni; his nephew is currently a cadet in the Class of 2027. A proud 1st Class private, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and was commissioned in the U.S. Navy.
After serving over 25 years in uniform, including the honor of serving as captain of a U.S. Navy destroyer, he transitioned to the private ship repair industry. He currently serves as a senior director with Vigor Marine|MHI Norfolk. There, he leads his team in the planning, execution, and certification of U.S. Navy and commercial ship maintenance and modernization and is directly responsible for scheduling, supply chain management, and subcontractors.
McCallum served as the VMI Alumni Association Virginia Beach Chapter vice president and Norfolk Chapter president before assuming his current role as Hampton Roads regional director.
He is a graduate of VMI (BA 1996), the Naval Postgraduate School (MA 2002), and the College of William & Mary (MBA 2018).
Andrew K. Bradshaw ’17 is a political science major and history minor from Christiansburg, Virginia. While a cadet, Bradshaw served on the S-5 Public Relations staff, participated in Cadet Peer Educators, worked in the quartermaster department, and was cadet in charge of the 2017 Spring FTX for those non-commissioning. Following graduation, Bradshaw moved to Alexandria, Virginia, and began working in the government contracting field and has served various DOD, OPM, DOJ, and DOD-adjacent customers, respectively. In June 2019, Bradshaw obtained a Master of Public Administration degree from Norwich University.
Since graduating from VMI, Bradshaw has been involved with the Career Networking Forum, originally attending back in 2017 and 2018. In April 2022, Bradshaw was asked to be a volunteer on the Alumni Association’s Career Networking Committee, and he has assisted several then-cadets, current cadets, and alumni, with their military or career transitions, with career networking advice related to the government contracting silo of industry. Bradshaw lives with his wife Samantha in Alexandria, Virginia.
Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Steven Amato ’83 graduated from VMI in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. During his cadetship, he earned an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship, was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate of AFROTC, and commissioned as a second lieutenant into the U.S. Air Force.
During Amato’s 27-plus years of active duty service, he was an instructor radar navigator and a senior standardization evaluation IRN in the B-52. Amato is a rated Master Navigator with over 3,400 flight hours, including combat time, and has flown in the T-37, T-43, B-52G, and B-52H. Amato’s career broadened in the logistics career, specifically into transportation, and he was a logistics readiness officer. While assigned to the 93rd Transportation Squadron, Castle AFB, California, he contributed to the squadron earning the 1993 Air Combat Command’s “Best Unit” and the prestigious National Defense Transportation Association Award.
Amato commanded the 2nd Transportation Squadron at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, which was the second-largest transportation squadron in the Air Force with 190 personnel, and during his tenure, the squadron was awarded four separate Air Combat Command-level awards, including runner-up for the ACC Best Unit NDTA. He completed tours in Headquarters Air Combat Command, Headquarters Air Force at the Pentagon, and a Joint Duty assignment with Headquarters Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, United States Army, as the executive agent for the Department of Defense’s Personal Property and Passenger Programs which was worth $2 billion per year.
Amato deployed three times in his military career: Twice with flight operations for Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Strike, and he volunteered to deploy for 1 year to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, as an LRO in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom and Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. Amato culminated his Air Force career as the professor of aerospace studies and commander, Detachment 880 AFROTC at VMI from 2008–11. While he was Detachment 880 commander, the cadet enrollment increased to more than 520 cadets, making Detachment 880 the largest AFROTC unit of a total of 144 in the nation. In addition, 100 cadets commissioned into the USAF, the Detachment was the 2010 Southeast Region’s High Flight Award winner as the best large AFROTC unit and was the 2010 runner-up as the best large AFROTC unit of a total of 58 large units in the nation.
Amato earned his master’s degree in industrial technology from Texas A&M University, Commerce, Texas. His professional military education includes the Squadron Officers School, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College. In 2011, Amato began his second career as a member of the federal government’s civilian service. He was assigned to five different divisions in the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and his last assignment was as an assistant section chief and program manager in the Victim Services Division, where he oversaw 275 victim service professions supporting victims of federal crimes. Amato deployed five times in support of communities affected by mass shootings. In 2024, Steve retired from the FBI with nearly 13 years of service and a total of 40 years of public service to our nation in both his Air Force and FBI careers. He is married to the former Mary Lagomarsino of Sacramento, California, and they reside in Northern Virginia. They have two sons and are blessed with seven grandchildren. He is engaged with family activities and with many friends. Amato is an active member of the Knights of Columbus, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the B-52 Stratofortress Association. He is a lecturer and Eucharistic minister in his local Catholic parish and is a former 1983 class agent (2018–23).
Surapong Suwana-adth ’79 graduated from VMI In 1978, completing his studies in an accelerated 3-year program as a scholarship recipient of the Royal Thai Army. During his cadetship, he demonstrated strong academic performance and leadership. As an alumnus, he has remained actively engaged with VMI through sustained alumni service, including serving as the Thailand Alumni Chapter president and supporting international outreach initiatives. He currently serves as the Region XV – Pacific Rim regional director and on the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Surapong began his professional career in the Royal Thai Armed Forces, where he served in a wide range of leadership positions over several decades. His career included an assignment as military attaché at the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C., and culminated in his appointment as chief of defense forces of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Following his military service, he was appointed as a senator in the Kingdom of Thailand, contributing to national policy and governance. He continues to serve in advisory and board-level roles across both public and private sectors, focusing on national security, strategic development, and international cooperation.
Surapong has completed numerous advanced military and executive leadership programs in Thailand and abroad. He has been awarded several distinguished military decorations, including among the highest national honors for exemplary service and leadership. He has also been selected to serve in senior advisory and board positions, reflecting continued trust in his leadership and experience.
Surapong resides in Thailand with his wife, Vanvimol, and their daughter, Mitila. He remains actively engaged in initiatives that strengthen ties between Thailand and the international community, particularly in education, defense cooperation, and leadership development.
Ken Kalisky ’73 entered VMI from New York City at the age of 16—the youngest cadet in the class—and graduated 4 years later at the age of 20 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.
Following graduation from VMI, Kalisky served in the Army at Fort Gordon, followed by 8 years in the Army Reserve. Following active duty, Kalisky accepted a position with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. While working at the EPA and at the age of 22, Kalisky decided to go back to school and earned a second bachelor’s degree, this in chemical engineering, graduating with honors.
Kalisky left the EPA to accept a position with Exxon Corporation, holding several engineering positions, which then led to several management roles. Positions included design engineer, field engineer, and then operations manager for a portion of the refinery and chemical plant. This role required coordinating with other parts of the refinery/chem plant complex while meeting production and quality goals, but always with a strong focus on safety and the environment, and while managing a large workforce. While at Exxon, Kalisky earned a Master of Business Administration in finance from New York University and followed that with an Advanced Certificate in Finance, also from NYU.
Having worked for Exxon for 19 years, Kalisky was asked to join an Exxon Corp.- Shell Corp. privately held joint venture, Infineum, focused on fuel and lube additives. Infineum has been very successful by most financial metrics and continues as a prized asset of ExxonMobil and Shell.
Kalisky’s first position at Infineum was Americas procurement manager. Three years later, he was named head of Global Procurement, leading a global team responsible for in excess of $1 billion in annual purchases. Kalisky’s responsibilities covered Infineum manufacturing plants and technology centers in more than 10 countries.
Following his procurement role, he was given the opportunity to head sales in North and South America and was also made head of the Commercial Operations Board, to which all sales directors reported, and was the decision maker for major Global Sales and Marketing decisions. Kalisky was also a member of the Infineum executive leadership team.
Having experience on both the buy side as head of global procurement and on the sell side as head of Americas sales, Kalisky was often used as the lead negotiator for the higher value, more complex negotiations. Kalisky was also the go-to executive to lead crisis management teams when highly sensitive situations due to, for example, facility disruptions, severe supply situations, complex technical issues, or other events occurred that could significantly impact the business.
After 37 years with Exxon and Infineum, Kalisky decided to retire in 2017.
Since retirement, and now without constant travel, Kalisky was able to follow one of his passions, which was to become more involved with VMI. Kalisky has represented VMI at many college fairs, has followed up with parents he met at the fairs, and has assisted admissions in contacting prospective cadets. Based on his experience talking to parents and students, Kalisky, along with several BRs, met with the admissions team in 2023 to share observations and suggestions to assist in recruiting and retention. One of the suggestions was to have a more formal alumni presence at open houses. Kalisky has now attended 10 open houses and has talked to more than 100 parents/students with most sharing their appreciation for the one-on-one discussions. Several prospective cadets have since matriculated, and several parents have asked Kalisky to mentor their sons. Kalisky was also selected as one of two alumni for the admissions webcast “The Value of a VMI Education.” Kalisky hopes to continue to help raise awareness of the immense value of a VMI education.
Bland Massie Jr. ’77 graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. As a cadet, he was actively involved in both athletics and cadet life. Massie played baseball during his rat year, lettered in football, and entertained crowds as Moe the Kangaroo during the 1976–77 basketball season. Massie also held several leadership and service roles while at VMI. He served as a corporal; worked at the Marshall Museum for 3 years, serving as head cadet during his 2nd and 1st Class years; served as head cadet on the Hop Escort Committee; participated in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; and was a KA Beta Commission member. Since graduating, Massie has remained deeply committed to supporting the Institute and its alumni community. He has held numerous leadership roles with the VMI Keydet Club, including president, first and second vice president, and chairman of the Stewardship and Fundraising Committee. As president, he represented the Keydet Club to VMI’s Board of Visitors, Foundation Board and Alumni Association Board. Massie also served for 9 years on the VMI Research Laboratories Board and for 5 years as class agent for the VMI Class of ’77. He is a member of the VMI Friends of the Legislature. He served as president of the VMI Alumni Association Lynchburg Chapter and as a regional director for the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors for 8 years. During his tenure on the board, he served as a member of the Finance, New Keydet Recruiting, and Communications Committees, and as chairman of the House Committee.
Following graduation from VMI, Massie completed post-baccalaureate science coursework at the University of Georgia before earning his Doctor of Medical Dentistry from the Medical College of Georgia in 1989. In 1990, he established his dental practice in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he continues to serve as both dentist and owner. For more than three decades, Massie has provided comprehensive dental care while managing all aspects of practice operations. In addition to his private practice, Massie serves as the dentist at Westminster Canterbury of Lynchburg. He is a licensed dentist in the Commonwealth of Virginia and maintains ongoing continuing education to remain current with best practices in dentistry.
Massie’s professional affiliations have included membership in the American Dental Association and the Lynchburg Dental Society. In addition to his professional work, he has been active in the community, including service with Historic Sandusky, where he served as both a board member and president. As president, he led a partnership with the University of Lynchburg that secured the site’s 2016 purchase, ensuring its preservation and educational use. He has also volunteered with and mentored dental students through the Free Clinic of Central Virginia and has served as a classroom volunteer for Junior Achievement. Massie is a member of the VMI Institute Society, the Washington Arch Society, and the Marshall Order. In 2023, he received the Bill Paulette ’69 Keydet Club Outstanding Governor Award.
Massie lives in Lynchburg, Virginia, with his wife, Janie, the former Jane Marie Henderson. He has two grown children: a son, Bland III of Savannah, Georgia, and a daughter, Belle, and her husband, Brad, of Atlanta, Georgia.
A member of the Class of 1991, Charles “Chuck” H. Story Jr. ’91 was a member of the Bomb staff and The Cadet staff as a writer and photographer. He is a proud member of the 1st Class Private club.
After graduation, Story worked for nearly 15 years in the financial services industry as a financial adviser with companies ranging from MassMutual to Well Fargo Advisors. He left the industry in 2009 to pursue opportunities in the technology integration industry. He worked as a project manager and estimator for a regional network and security integration firm in Lynchburg, Virginia. In 2020, he transitioned from the construction side of the industry to wholesale distribution. Story is now the regional business development manager for Western Virginia for Wesco Distribution, the world’s largest electrical, electronic, and security distributor.
Story has been an active member of the Institute Society and/or Keydet Club for several years. He has served as the class agent for his class for almost 15 years and is currently serving his second term as a VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors director at large.
Story currently resides in Forest, Virginia, with his wife, Vicky. His youngest son is a member of the Class of 2025.
Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph Lynch ’69 is a 1969 graduate of VMI. He entered active duty in the Air Force in 1972 following graduation from law school at Emory University. He served 10 years on active duty as a judge advocate, followed by 22 years in the Air Force Reserve. His final Air Force assignment was mobilization assistant to the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force. While serving in the Air Force Reserve, his civilian position was assistant general counsel (manpower and reserve affairs) for the Department of the Navy, a career senior executive service position (Level 5). He is a recipient of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal and the Department of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
Lynch joined the MOAA staff in 2010 as general counsel and corporate secretary. Founded in 1929, MOAA is the largest and most effective military advocacy organization in the United States with over 350,000 members. As the corporate secretary, he supported the board of directors and performed other duties associated with the operation of a large, nationwide corporation. As the general counsel, he advised the board of directors, president, and staff on a wide variety of corporate governance matters and directed MOAA’s legal affairs. He retired from his position at MOAA Jan. 31, 2025.
In addition to his duties as MOAA general counsel, Lynch has been actively involved in supporting the military community. He served as a member of the board of governors of the Army and Navy Club of Washington, D.C., and continues to serve on its finance, investment, and strategic planning committees. He also served on the boards of the PENFED Foundation and the Air Force Retired Judge Advocate Association. He and his late wife established the Major General and Mrs. Joseph G. Lynch Scholarship Fund at VMI to provide financial assistance to recent VMI graduates attending law school. He is a member of the Institute Society, the Washington Arch Society, and the George C. Marshall Order.
William Shannon ’10, M.D., matriculated to VMI from Richmond, Virginia. While at VMI, he served as Honor Court vice president, 2nd Battalion commander, and F-Troop Rat Challenge cadre. He was a distinguished graduate and an Honors Cadet as an Institute Honors Program member. He currently serves as a VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors director at large.
After VMI, he served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps for 4 years, deploying twice. Afterward, he completed a post-baccalaureate premedical program at the University of Virginia before completing medical school at George Washington University on a U.S. Navy scholarship. After an intern year at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia, he served as an undersea medical officer in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He is currently completing his residency in anesthesiology at NMCP.
Shannon currently lives in Norfolk, Virginia, with his wife, the former Maria Gohean, and three children.
Adrian A. Garcia ’87 matriculated Aug. 17, 1983, as an NROTC scholarship cadet. He was a private in Delta Company. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with a minor in English from VMI, a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix, a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies from the College of Naval Warfare at the U.S. Naval War College, and a Master of Science in Management degree from the University of North Florida’s Coggin College of Business. He has also completed a leadership development program held at Jacksonville University’s Davis College of Business.
Upon graduation from VMI, Garcia was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy. As a surface warfare officer, he served onboard the USS Canisteo (AO-99) and the USS Vreeland (FF-1068). While onboard USS Vreeland, he also participated in several operations, most significantly Operation Just Cause, Operation Desert Shield, and Operation Desert Storm. He transitioned to the reserve component in July 1992. He was assigned to various units, including the honor of being selected to serve in command on five occasions. While in the reserve, he was recalled to active duty to support several overseas contingency operations, including Operation Desert Fox, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Unified Response, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. Garcia retired from the Navy as a captain (O-6) in March 2015.
Within the private sector, Garcia has operational and executive-level experience, having led overall strategy, execution, and management of operations for a variety of organizations. As a people and mission-focused leader, he has developed expertise in various program/project management disciplines, including business analysis, strategic planning and analysis, leadership, management, financial controls and analysis, staff selection and development, and logistics. He has had great success in diverse professional environments ranging from business/operations management to residential real estate sales and mortgage financing to construction materials sales and production management.
Garcia’s VMI Alumni Association support activities/participation include being an active member and past president of the Northeast Florida – Jacksonville Chapter. In addition, he has supported the Institute’s visibility at college fairs and meetings with several potential candidates. He has coordinated/assisted in the coordination of chapter rat send-off outings. He served as a member of the Class of ’87 30th Reunion Committee. In July 2024, he was confirmed to serve as a VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors director at large.
Garcia and his wife, Kathy, have been happily married since July 3, 1993. They reside in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
Waite Rawls ’70 is a member of the Class of 1970. As a cadet, he was the head cheerleader, business manager of the Bomb, and chaired a significant symposium on the military-industrial complex. He was named to Who’s Who and was a distinguished military and academic graduate. Since graduation, his involvement with VMI has been extensive: Chapter president (Charlottesville) and Alumni Association Board of Directors member (1972–75), VMI Foundation Board of Trustees vice president and member (1993–97), and Board of Visitors member (1997–2005), where he chaired the Audit and Finance and Appeals Committees. He was asked by the BOV to serve on its special Commemorations and Memorials Committee (2020–23) as its only outside member. He was asked by Gene Williams ’74 to serve on the board of the College Orientation Workshop in 1986 and has served on that board ever since, and he funded and named a scholarship at VMI in Gene’s name. Rawls is now nominated to serve as a director at large for the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors.
After graduation, Rawls received a Master of Business Administration and law degree from the University of Virginia and served for 6 years in the Virginia Army National Guard, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. He was active in alumni activities at the Darden School at UVA, serving as Alumni Association president and on its Foundation board. He spent 30 years in New York and Chicago in investment banking roles as senior managing director at Chemical Bank, vice chairman of Continental Bank, and partner at Ferrell Capital Management. During that time, he served in official advisory capacities for the Federal Reserve Bank and the U.S. Treasury. He returned to Virginia in 2004 to become president of the Museum of the Confederacy, merging and renaming it the American Civil War Museum, which is by far the largest and most influential museum in the country for the subject of the Civil War and is especially known for its inclusive treatment of all aspects of the era. He retired in 2020 and now volunteers to lead the effort to build a new history museum in his native Southampton County, Virginia, volunteers for the National Park Service, and is a frequent lecturer.
Rawls has served on numerous boards, chairing several of them. For-profit boards include Continental Bank, Essex Bank, Liberty Brokerage, and Nevander Asset Management (former company of Neville Anderson ’84). Not-for-profit boards include the American Battlefield Trust, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Museum of Science and Industry, and The Camp Foundation. In 1918, he was made an honorary doctor of civil law by Sewanee, the University of the South, for his contributions to the study of American history.
Rawls now lives in Richmond with his wife of 55 years in a house where William Yarbrough, Class of 1867, a New Market cadet, lived 160 years ago.