Greetings 78ers…

First off, THANK YOU to everyone who sent in info this quarter. I truly appreciate all you guys who took the time to write and share great updates for the class. I requested to the editor to allow 4 pics (limit is 3) and hopefully that will be allowed.

 Ron Magnus is truly doing great things in so many areas, especially global management consulting. He was nominated as a Wharton Fellow (12 intense graduate classes) and then conferred alumni status in 2019. He was president FMI Consulting and is currently Managing Director. He is also founding principal for the Center for Strategic Leadership as well as a Director for Agora Enterprises, The Navigators, APi Group and Chair Telunas Resorts. In his free time he won the Global Leader in Consulting for Excellence in Influence award from Consulting magazine in London with Sharon his lovely bride (pictured below) last December. This award is given to only 25 management consultants worldwide for the year. Well done Ron! I have no doubt you will continue to do us proud.

Brett Vance send this very cool pic of him and (Dr.) George Ka’iliwai at the USAF Test Pilot School 75^th Anniversary party back in September at Edwards air patch. Brett is a former TPS instructor and currently an FAA test pilot in LA where he flies a boat load of airplanes and is key in aircraft certification. At the bash, he was selected to present the FAA Master Pilot Award to former TPS commandant Jimmy Doolittle III (grandson of). George and Debbie flew over from Hawaii where George is the PACOM J-8 (Director of Requirements and Resources) and has been since 2007. George was commandant of TPS from 2001-2003 as well.

Fellow UPT classmate Bill “Sureshot” Schauffert sent this great pic of fellow Reese 80-02 alumni Greg Sartor and Chuck Brininstool. As Bill described it, they are: Members of "Bring Me Rockers," TX Chapter, met at the base of the ramp of the Dallas House of Blues to take in the legendary Buddy Guy. Bill is a retired reserve two star and Delta captain, Greg is an exec for Edward Don & Co. and Chuck is an American Airlines captain. Great to see that they are continuing the tradition of ’78 “bonding.” Yeah, that’s it.

L to R Greg, Chuck and Bill

Dick Newton (retired 3 star) shared what he and Jody have been up to. They are currently enjoying quasi retired life in Jupiter Beach FL after 40 years and 23 moves. Chez Newton is always open to anyone in the area and he can be reached at rnewton393@gmail.com. Dick sits on several boards such as USAA Mutual Fund trustee with Victory Capital Mgt, among others. He is also part of a startup in the national security space arena with a company called PredaSAR. He’s an independent director and quickly recruited classmate Doug Raaberg to serve on the board as well as Willie Shelton (Gen, Ret and USAFA ‘76). Doug also has a day job serving as the EVP of the Air Force Association. Despite all he’s doing (along with guest shots on Fox News) Dick has no doubt that his best job is being Jody’s husband (graduation week blind date), a dad and now grandfather! He also stays in touch with Steve Sargeant who is currently the CEO of Marvin Test Solutions near LA.

Finally he asked to give a shout out to Dave Blisk who tracked him down to be part of the ’78 endowment effort working alongside Don Avery and others as they drive to ensure we as a class focus on appropriately giving back to USAFA. Great to hear from you Dick as you ably represent our class on so many fronts.

Fellow D&B alum Paul McVinney sent a great shot of a Wareagle gathering a couple of weeks ago at the ill-fated Navy game. Despite the final score (it was an exciting game) they all had a great time at dinner on Fri, lunch Sat, game, and post-game dinner in Annapolis. They’re planning on another Wareagle rendezvous somewhere in the US next year.

Pictured (L-R front) are Glenn Frick, Joe Reheiser, Glenn & Kim Spears, (L-R rear) Renate & Dee Carrier, Paul & Elaine McVinney, Ron & Linda Parkhouse 

Being the ever-shameless Scribe that you guys have grown to expect after all these years I asked guys in the group to share what they’re up to. Paul retired from civil service in Nov 18 and is now working for a California startup IT company bringing artificial intelligence to DOD and AF operations (able to conduct business remotely from the east coast with occasional travel). Glenn noted that he and Kim happily live OUTSIDE (by some 150+ miles) of the Beltway in beautiful Lynchburg, Virginia. They are proud grandparents of three boys, all within a half-hour's or half-day's drive. Glenn is an independent consultant regularly seeing classmates in the AFA and Airlift/Tanker Association circuit. He also volunteered to plan and produce a local air show (2016) and the 2019 "aerial tribute" for the 70th anniversary of D-Day at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. Mr. Frick is a JetBlue captain and lives just South of Charlotte in Fort Mill, SC. He sees fellow Bulldawger Rick Aulicino while flying the line (Rick is based in Boston). 

Another fellow D&B alum Rick Reaser is a senior engineer at a major Aerospace firm and the deputy president of the LA AOG chapter. He’s been diligently working football gatherings at his house as well as others in the LA area. He and bride Adrienne (met in High School) have been married 39 years and have lived in El Segundo for 19 years. They recently completed a three week river cruise in France along the Garonne, Dordogne, Gironde, Seine and Rhone Rivers. Highlights were the Normandy Beaches, Mount St. Michel, dinner in the Eiffel Tower, endless cheese and countless wineries. His latest hobby is competing in Triathlons becoming an avid open water/ocean swimmer and cyclist. He’s been the Race Director for his local 5K/10K for the past 15 years. Daughter Allison is professional Track and Field athlete and coach, married, and working on making it into the 2020 Olympics. Another daughter, Amy is engaged, a California State Ocean Lifeguard, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and attending A.T. Medical School where she is getting her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. Another daughter, Robin, is a Licensed Vocational Nurse. Our son, Ricky, just bought his own place and works in the City of Los Angeles Planning Department. Wow…great crew Rick, congrats to you and Adrienne for such great parenting. 

We’re now officially at the word limit so need to call it a wrap for this quarter. Again my thanks to all who contributed and may everyone have a blessed Christmas, Hanukkah and winter season!

’78 IS GREAT!