AROUND THE ACADEMY 20 Questions with . . . 1. What’s on your iPod? Over 6,000 songs hitting every genre, but on my top 25 most played I have Drake, Lana Del Ray, Lorde, Fun, Rebelution, and Macklemore. 2. Favorite item on your knick knack shelf? I have 10 different elephants on my shelf. My most impressive one was given to me by 3/c Ashley Dumont’s dad. It’s from Korea and it opens! 3. Guilty pleasure? Buying perfume. I love new smells and the pretty bottles they come in. 4. Personal hero (and why)? My sister, Christa DePorto. She is the strongest, smartest, most dedicated, and hardest working person I have ever met. 5. Describe yourself in three words. Compassionate, loyal, free- spirited. 6. The one thing you’ve learned at the Academy that you’ll never forget? Can’t forget your roots. Someone that forgets where they 1/c Kelsey DePorto came from or how they got where they are will not make it much farther. elsey DePorto is a powerhouse on 7. First website you access in the morning? Lumosity. Kthe volleyball court. Recruited as a 8. Fondest swab summer memory. Talking with 1/c Larla Brown at senior in high school by the Academy, night (she was my first swab summer roommate and one of my DePorto broke the record for most best friends to this day) about how we creeped on each other on blocks in her first season on the team her Facebook before coming to the Academy. fourth class year. Most recently she was 9. Three people, living or dead, you’d have over to dinner? asked to play in the NEWMAC’s All- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, my dad (Roger DePorto), and Star Volleyball game and she served as Marilyn Monroe. co-captain of the team this last year. She 10. Best trophy/award you ever won? I was named Most plays the position of “middle,” which Outstanding Freshman Female Athlete in the fall of my 4/c year she argues is the most exciting and the here. one that relies most heavily on one’s teammates for success. The middle is 11. If you could change one cadet regulation, which one would it be? Let anyone have a car and all 1/c cadets get a spot on base. typically the tallest person on the team and the one that is set up by others to 12. Pet peeve? People complaining about something they could fix make the kill shot. “I think it’s a great but do not set out to make the change. position; you do get the glory, but you 13. What would your dream billet be? Sector Puget Sound Marine can’t do it without your teammates.” Inspection. My fiancée is there in response, so I would love to be DePorto is extremely proud of the that close to him. fact that she stuck it out for all four 14. Favorite sport to watch? Hockey. years as a varsity athlete, playing for 15. What gets you out of bed in the morning? Honestly, thinking three different coaches. But she’s quick about the next time I can get back into bed. to say that she did not do it on her own. 16. Must-have app on your phone? Google Maps. I am directionally Her bond with her co-captain Samantha challenged and it has saved me so many times. Marmolejo and the staff in the athletics department kept her going. “I was very 17. What are you afraid of? Failing. fortunate to come into a program of 18. Favorite thing to do in the New London area? Go over to my dedicated people. I had great leaders sponsor family’s house. We scrapbook and make cards on the before me, especially the Class of 2013, weekends. Plus, my sponsor mom is a fantastic southern cook. which had some very strong players that 19. Ultimate spring break location? I think Australia would be pretty left a good impression on Sam and I to be neat! able to take over and continue on.” 20. How many text messages do you send a day? Approximately Now that the season is over, DePorto 350. I hate talking on the phone, so I prefer texting. is looking forward to what lies ahead: one more semester and a billet that she If you know of an alumnus/alumna, cadet, or Academy faculty/staff hopes is in Seattle. member who would be a good candidate for a future profile, please email me at [email protected] with their name and a brief description of why you believe they deserve attention.
28 THE BULLETIN AROUND THE ACADEMY
1. What keeps you up at night? Tenants … I am a landlord. 2. What’s a book you read recently? The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. 3. First album/CD you bought? KISS’ Destroyer… can’t believe my parents allowed it. 4. One destination you dream of but haven’t gotten to yet? Yellowstone National Park. 5. What’s the most thrilling/adventurous thing you’ve ever done? Adopted one of my sons from Ethiopia … or rather found him! 6. Guilty pleasure? Angry Birds. 7. Personal hero (and why)? Both Parents … I never quite appreciated how much they did for until I had children of my own. 8. First job? Dishwasher at a tennis camp. 9. Best career decision? Left my corporate job to stay at Mr. Tim Opstrup home with my first son for the first 6 years of his life. 10. If you had a free hour to do anything you could, what would it be? Sit down and hang out with my wife. ow you work is a direct reflection 11. First website you access in the morning? CNN to see “Hof your character.” This mantra the headlines. is one Tim Opstrup ’92 often shares 12. Favorite comfort food? Turkey sandwiches with with the cadets and is one that he lives cranberry sauce the day after Thanksgiving. by. Over the last four years, he has been 13. If you had a theme song, what would it be? “More to working hard 50-60 hours a week as the this Life” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Academy’s athletics business manager. Anything having to do with budgets 14. What did you want to be when you were a kid? (there are two – appropriated and non- Professional Athlete. appropriated), finance, and planning all 15. Pet peeve? Traffic. fall under his purview. 16. Favorite sport to watch? College Basketball. With an appropriated budget that 17. What advice would you give to yourself 10 years ago? has been steadily decreasing, Opstrup Invest as much money as you can as early as possible. has seen the non-appropriated funds become more and more important for 18. Nightmare job? Taxi driver in any city. the athletics department. These funds 19. Must-have app on your phone? The flashlight. come from a variety of sources, including 20. Favorite time of the day? Evening. donations from alumni, however, the primary source is sponsorships. Those can include long-term sponsorship athletes increase exponetially. While here he played basketball partners like USAA , Coca-Cola, and for four years and rowed crew his 4/c year and “now I’m not Mercedes Benz, as well as, one-time even sure I would make the team.” He believes that not only sponsors of events such as the Secretaries has the talent pool become very competitive, but there is also a Cup. Figuring out the intracies of those concerted effort to take sports more seriously. “We are making relationships within a government an intentful effort to treat it like a Division I program with all institition has been one of the more the bells and the whistles.” challenging aspects of the job. However, What he’s most excited about is seeing the program get in working with the legal team here a better and better and he’s thrilled to be a part of it. “I love the model was developed and now “we’re mix of academia, sports and business, and I like being part cranking along,” Opstrup said. of the military,” which he admits had a huge impact on his Not only has he seen changes in the development. He views working here as a way of being able business side of athletics at the Academy, to pay it back to the current cadets. “People are still malleable, but having been a cadet athlete himself there are so many lessons that can be learned...it’s just a fun Opstrup has seen the skill levels of place to be.”
February 2014 29 AROUND THE ACADEMY
Academy Briefs Eldridge Retires after 47 Years at Coast Guard Academy oast Guard Academy Giorgio, who placed fourth last season at Cveteran wrestling head 125 pounds in 2012. coach Steve Eldridge has Eldridge also served as the men’s announced his retirement cross country coach for 43 seasons, after 47 years. the last being 2011. He coached four Eldridge, ranked 55th All-Americans in cross country and all-time among collegiate led the Bears to the NCAA Division III wrestling coaches with 314 Championships in both 1989 and 2001. wins, played football and He was the New England Women’s and wrestled at the University of Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Missouri before coming to Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2010. the Coast Guard Academy in He was inducted into the Coast 1966. Guard Academy Hall of Fame in 1989 During his 47 years, and the National Wrestling Coaches Eldridge earned four Association (NWCA) Division III Hall of Coach of the Year honors Fame in 1995. Eldridge was the Lifetime and led the Bears to Service to Wrestling Award recipient by five New England team the NWCA Hall of Fame last year. championships. He coached “We wish Mr. Eldridge all the best nine All-Americans including in retirement. We appreciate his many two-time National runner-up Chris years of service to the Academy,” said Fertig (’01) and most recently Nate Rear Admiral Sandra Stosz, Academy Superintendent. Academy’s 2013-2017 Strategic Plan Available Online he USCGA Strategic Plan 2013-2018 has recently been Tpromulgated by the Superintendent. Excerpt from the Superintendent’s Letter of Promulgation “....In conclusion, the Coast Guard Academy is locally relevant, nationally prominent and internationally engaged. Cadets graduate as leaders with the character, core values and courage necessary to “do the right thing” under pressure...when no one is looking, as well as when all eyes are upon them in the spotlight. They are critical thinkers who can reason well and make sound decisions. They graduate worthy to earn the trust and respect of the enlisted men and women they will lead. They are ready to stand the watch. Our nation is in good hands. Our future is bright!”
The plan addresses a number of strategic goals (develop professional excellence, ensure academic excellence, promote athletics and physical excellence, model a community of inclusion, enhance communciation and partnerships, and optimize resources and promote sustainablity), as well as defines the shared learning outcomes expected of all Academy graduates (leadership abilities, personal and professional The full plan can be downloaded at qualities, ability to acquire, integrate and expand knowledge, communciation effectiveness, and critical thinking ability). www.uscga.edu/strategicplan.
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Practicing with “Live Powder” Investment Club teaches responsible money management with a cadet-led investment fund, field trips and guest speakers By LCDR Andrew Halvorson ’03 and 1/c Josh Gerry
Investment club field trip to Blackstone Group (New York City)
/c Josh Gerry, the President of The Cadet Managed Investment Fund– 1USCGA’s Investment Club, kicks off the club meeting with a question. “Who Learning from Experience did their research?,” he asks. Hands pop One goal of the Investment Club is to up around the table. Each member of provide cadets an opportunity to gain the club has come prepared to discuss valuable hands-on experience in the a specific stock market investment. management of investment assets. The Throughout the next 45 minutes the Cadet Managed Investment Fund offers cadets debate the merits and risks of that exact opportunity - providing cadets each investment idea. The outcome of an unparalleled education on the topic this particular meeting will result in of investing. Cadets are authorized to a $5000 allocation decision within the make investments with the fund after larger investment club portfolio. The requesting approval from an oversight fund managed by the club was made committee. For many cadets, the possible through the generous donation Investment Fund is an opportunity of $25,000 by Alumnus Tom Lucey ’65 to practice with “live powder” before with the support of the USCGA Alumni building their own investment portfolios. Association. In addition to weekly When asked about using the investment meetings, the Investment Club, one of the club portfolio as a learning tool, 1/c largest clubs at the Academy, broadens Dell’isola noted, “investing the club financial education through field trips portfolio has helped me feel much more and guest speakers. Through these comfortable investing my own money.” various efforts, the cadet investment The fund also serves as a point of focus club provides members an opportunity for debate and guest lecturers. 1/c Gerry to learn the fundamentals of responsible often invites Faculty & Staff from across money management, long-term savings, the Academy to review the portfolio and investing. and offer their perspective related to market timing, asset allocation, and
32 THE BULLETIN ENGINEERING & OPERATIONS
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February 2014 33 AROUND THE ACADEMY
security selection decisions. For example, LT Ricky Chmielecki, an Associate Professor in the Mathematics Department, presented an overview of technical analysis based upon his own extensive investment experience. Field Trips – Learning from Observation Field trips offer cadets an opportunity to learn about investing first hand from professionals. On a recent trip to the New York Stock Exchange, organized by 1/c Paul Dell’isola, cadets met CNBC host Jim Cramer and were featured on the Fox News channel. Cadets gained tremendously from the opportunity to watch market makers track supply and demand for individual stocks. It offered them the opportunity to actually see an Initial Public Offering unfold. Other recent field trips include visits to Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, FBR Capital Markets, Corigin Real Estate and Investment club field trip to Corigin Real Estate (New York City) the Blackstone Group. At Blackstone the cadets met with one of the CGA’s most distinguished Alumni, Mr. Conclusion Sandy Ogg. In Blackstone’s board room, against the spectacular backdrop of New York City’s Central Park, Mr. Ogg offered While the performance of the Investment cadets leadership advice grounded in active duty and private Club’s portfolio has been stellar - sector experience. He also helped coordinate an impressive returning 30% since its inception in list of guest speakers who offered perspective on the largest 2007 – the real aim of club is to broaden Private Equity fund in the world. “Every time we get out to the horizons of cadets and enhance visit an investment firm it motivates me to work harder,” said their education. For many cadets, the cadet 1/c Josh Gerry. investment club offers an extraordinary opportunity to learn the basics of responsible money management. Guest Speakers – Learning from Listening Inquiries regarding the USCGA While cadets gain “hands-on” experience from Investment Club can be sent to managing the investment club portfolio, they also learn [email protected]. from the experience of others through guest lectures. One interesting guest of the Investment Club was Diana Henriques, author of The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death LCDR Andrew P. Halvorson ’03 is an Assistant Professor at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in of Trust. Ms. Henriques was the only journalist to interview the Management Department. After serving at Mr. Madoff in jail. In her talk to the Investment Club she sea, he earned his MBA at Duke University and offered critical reflections on the most infamous Ponzi scheme passed CFA level 1 & level 2 exams. He serves in Wall Street history and offered lessons learned. Her on two non-profit Boards and has completed insights sparked conversations related to the importance of internships within the corporate, non-profit and academic sectors. As an Assistant Professor at character and truthfulness. More recently, the club hosted U.S.C.G.A, he teaches cross-disciplinary courses Dr. Arthur Solomon whose investment experience spans in Investment, Leadership and Consulting. academia, government and Wall Street. “We like to bring in speakers occasionally to highlight for cadets a more long-term 1/c Josh Gerry is a native of Quincy, perspective on investing,” said Professor Michael Schuster, the Massachusetts. He is a management major and a member of Bravo Company. He is also a member of faculty advisor to the Investment Club. the outdoor adventure club and is co-president of the running club. Upon graduation his goal is to go to one of the new National Security Cutters in Alameda, CA.
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