This section is to highlight Illustrious Classmates in the 21st Century
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Spiritual Musings by John Rabins
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John Rabins has just published his third book--Spiritual Musings from the Headlines of a Newspaper: A Biblical Compass for Christians Navigating a Culture of Lies.
This book offers a thoughtful and bold guide for Christians seeking clarity in a world of confusion. Tackling today’s most controversial issues—such as gender identity, abortion, skin color, and entitlement mentality—John uses Scripture to expose the deceptions that often dominate cultural conversations. Each chapter is insightful, engaging, and filled with practical wisdom for navigating modern challenges while remaining grounded in God’s truth. This book is a timely resource for those wanting to stand strong in their faith while ministering with love and grace in a divided world. Spiritual Musings is dedicated to one of John’s most impactful life mentors—Brigadier General (ret) Orwyn “O” Sampson—who recruited him for the Academy gymnastics team 57 years ago. O continued to mentor John until O’s passing on December 27th of last year. Remarkably, the book was published just two weeks before this hero of John’s died. |
If They Won't Bend, Break Them by Geoff Michael
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We all negotiate every day, sometimes without realizing it, and it’s not always about price. If you want to maximize every negotiation you ever do, no matter what the subject or stakes, you’ve come to the right place.
This 240-page book is based on my myriad experiences negotiating in the trenches for over four decades. I focus on time-tested, fundamental principles and explain the tactics and strategies I use to achieve successful results. My hands-on approach is as valuable to the average person as it is to someone who negotiates for a living. I explain the thought process I use when engaging in various negotiating scenarios and identify its primary components: preparation, determining worth, negotiating mindset, what to offer, why you counteroffer, maximizing leverage, manipulating psychological pressure, avoiding compromise, and closing the deal. |
Dedication of the skip Sanders air combat training center
Bob Munson and George Rampulla attended the dedication of the "Skip Sanders Air Combat Training Center" building at Tyndall AFB. Skip became the manager of the air to air training conducted there. In 'our day' it was referred to as the ACMI (Air Combat Mission Instrumentation), it was renamed TELMOC (Tyndall Enterprise Live Mission Operations Center) in 2018. After his motorcycle accident Skip assumed the lead role in 1982 and continued up to just before he passed away in 2022. He was responsible for the magic radars and computerized electronics and upgrades, but also for briefing and debriefing the fighter pilots. For those not familiar, fighter pilots cycled through the range for complex air-to-air combat training while their flights were constantly recorded in 3D....thus their flying and 'kills' weren't based on what the pilots said they were, it was based on what Skip saw. In those 40 years it's been estimated he was involved in training/evaluating over 10,000 fighter pilots. From his wheelchair.
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The incoming new Wing Commander, Col Chris Bergtholdt '00, made the presentation of the plaque to Skip's widow Joanne, which will hang inside the entry. Skip was also posthumously awarded the 'Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award
Afterwards there was a very nice buffet at the club that was sponsored by the Daedalians. Skip had been a past president of the Tyndall chapter, George Rampulla is the current president. There we presented the star sapphire stone from Skip's Class Ring; the ring itself will be melted down at this August's Forged in Blue ceremony to become part of the rings of the Class of 2026.
Afterwards there was a very nice buffet at the club that was sponsored by the Daedalians. Skip had been a past president of the Tyndall chapter, George Rampulla is the current president. There we presented the star sapphire stone from Skip's Class Ring; the ring itself will be melted down at this August's Forged in Blue ceremony to become part of the rings of the Class of 2026.
Jay Beard and VETERANS OF OPERATION SECRET SQUIRREL HONORED WITH
2022 OMAR N. BRADLEY SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE AWARD
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Jay Beard was Commander of the 596th Bomb Squadron at Barksdale AFB during Desert Storm. He led a 35-hour non-stop mission of seven B-52s to launch cruise missiles against Iraq initiating the bomb campaign. Thirty-two years later that mission was honored on Dec 23 at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, LA with Jay present as part of the group to accept the award.
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Video honoring Norty at the 2021 Distinguished Graduates Dinner
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Dr Brian Beard earns 2021 National Society of Professional Engineer of the Year for the US Department of Health and Human Services. Congratulations Brian, still actively employed, is with the US Food and Drug Administration
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Capt Dan Handlin is the Director of Safety at Fenix Space Inc. Responsibilities include building: A Safety Management System, A Flight Test Master Plan, FAA Licensing and more...
Animation of Fenix Space Technology |
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