Feature Article | Winter 2012
Maj. Jarrett Thomas ’95
Lt. Col. Janeen Birckhead ’91 with former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
Hampton University’s rich and distinct history has always carried a deeply rooted connection with the U.S. military. Since the university’s inception in 1868, a military presence has been in existence due to founder Gen. Samuel Chapman Armstrong’s requirement that all men take part in military drills. In 1948, the first U.S. Army officers were commissioned at HU. In 1985, U.S. Army ROTC became a separate active army command and was designated the HU “Pirate Battal- ion.” More than 2,100 officers have been commissioned into the U.S. Army through the HU program. For nearly a decade, our nation has been at war and numer- ous courageous HU men and women have served overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to retired Lt. Col. Claude Vann ’77, there are nearly 200 Hamptonians currently serving active duty in the U.S. Army alone. This figure does not even include the countless others who have served as reservists or National Guard. Our graduates have found success in the U.S. military. In 2009, three HU graduates had the distinct honor of being promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army: Robert Ferrell ’83, Mark McAlister ’81, and Darrell Wil- liams ’83. This summer, Ferrell was nominated by President Barack Obama to be appointed a major general, only the fourth HU graduate to achieve such a rank. In 2010, Lt. Lisa Brodsky ’10 was selected as one of the first 11 women to serve aboard a U.S. Navy submarine. "The pride I have in seeing my fellow Pirates rising to the senior levels of the Army leadership is humbling and over- whelming. I thank God for the opportunity to see members of Pirate alumni leveling the playing field in the Army, during a very difficult period in the history of this nation,” said Vann.
Numerous Hamptonians have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, including Maj. Myron Bell ’96, Capt. Jerimiah Joyner ’05 and Col. Terry Lee ’85. Maj. Jarrett Thomas ’95 was stationed in Baghdad, Iraq, at
Union III alongside Col. Anita Dixon ’85. Recently, Thomas achieve a significant accomplishment – he was one of the less than four percent of U.S. Army officers to be selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel “below-the-zone.” This rare accomplishment means he was selected one year prior to his peers. Additionally, he was handpicked by Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter to serve as his Secretary of the Joint Staff (SJS). According to Dixon, Thomas “is performing extremely well in good ol’ Hampton fashion.” Lt. Col. Janeen Birckhead ’91 is currently stationed in Ka- bul, Afghanistan, as the deputy director of current operations (CJ3) for security partnering. Since November 2010, Birck- head has been providing subject matter expertise for Afghan National Security Forces’ development, conduct training and assessment. Lt. Col. Myron McDaniels ’91, stationed at Ft. Bragg, N.C., is concluding a one-year deployment to Iraq. A pediatric physician serving as commander for the 261st Multifunctional Medical Battalion, McDaniels has been providing command and control of a total of 28 units and 900 soldiers for the year. These units provide healthcare to U.S. and coalition service members and civilians. HU salutes our military graduates and thanks each of them for their dedication toward protecting our nation. “To all warriors (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard) past and present, you have to let your lives do the singing and through your service to America you have brought great honor to our Home by the Sea,” said Vann. — Alison L. Phillips
Hampton University Alumni Magazine 13
Lt. Col. Myron McDaniels ’91
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