May/June Edition 2019 Published by the Alumni Association Laurentino 'Nito' Cortizo ’72C – President of Panama We are pleased to announce that Laurentino Cortizo '72C is the new President of Panama. Congratulations Brother, WELL DONE!!! We wish you SUCCESS!!! President elect Laurentino Cortizo’s campaign focused on corruption and slowing economic growth in this Central America trade and financial hub. Panama's Electoral Court has declared opposition candidate Laurentino Cortizo the winner of the country's presidential elections. The court said Cortizo of the Democratic Revolutionary Party won 33%, with 95% of votes counted. Cortizo said in a news article, "I call on all Panamanians to join in a national effort to correct the country's path, rescue the country and get the economy on the right track." The new President was a Sergeant in F Company where he was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Business Honor Society and had Academic Honors. He was a member of the Varsity Soccer, Baseball and bowling teams and was awarded the Silver Physical Education Badge. 1 Niall Gallagher ’15 Article by: Chris Bechtel, VFMA Teacher and Rifle Team Coach I was immensely proud to witness the graduation and commissioning of Niall Gallagher ’15 at Annapolis in May. It has been a long, hard journey since he was dropped off at VFMA in 8th grade and here he is at the peak of the mountain- a 2LT in the USMC. As a teacher, I can't put into words how incredible it feels to think I played a small part in Niall's journey up the mountain. I truly hope my own children can reach the same summit someday. Congrats LT!! SEMPER FI! Aaron Lock ’14 Article by: Travis Senseny, former VFMAC TAC officer I was honored to give Aaron a salute for the first time as a Navy Ensign. I bonded with Aaron and his mom Valerie during my VF years and I am very proud that Aaron looks to me at times for support. I hope I have lived up to the high expectations that entails and I will try to meet those expectations in the future. Aaron, you put the work in. You should be proud of yourself. I am proud to know you. I am proud that you chose me to give you a salute. I am proud that your awesome fiancé, Victoria , has confidence in me as well. I am so proud your family and you consider me part of your family. I won’t let you two down. Go out and do great things. The mission first, then your men/women, then you. Keep that in mind and you will fulfill your destiny. Thank you. 2 Leong LT-san ’92C and Colonel Dave Gigliotti ’91C Article by: Leong LT-san ’92 What an honor to meet up with my Valley Forge Military College brother after 28 years. Good to see you again Dave Gigliotti. These Brothers have traveled worldwide and now meet up in Seoul, South Korea. It is a tribute to the global brother/sisterhood we have established among ourselves as we encompass the World. If you meet a brother or a sister anywhere in the world please let us know, you too will be a part of the Alumni Newsletter. New Commandant of Cadets We are pleased to announce that Colonel J.J. Rivera, USMCR has accepted the position of Interim Commandant of Cadets at VFMAC. Colonel Rivera is excited for this new opportunity and will assume his new role on July 1, 2019. Col Rivera joined VFMAC in 2018 as a College Lead TAC Officer. He brings 23 years of military training, with an emphasis on leadership and flight operations/maintenance, to the role. His most recent military experience was commanding a squadron of Marines. Col Rivera became a Naval Aviator in 1999 and is a graduate of Virginia Military Institute. Col Rivera will be taking over from previous Commandant Colonel Kenneth DeTreux, USMC (Ret) who has tendered his resignation effective June 29, 2019. Col DeTreux has accepted an exciting position at the University of Pennsylvania within the Vice Provost University Life department as a Director of a veterans program. He has been a valuable member of our team and his contributions have been essential to our success this past year. 3 Professor of Military Science Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel Congratulations to VFMC's Professor of Military Science Brett Gambacorta on his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel! LTC Gambacorta has done a phenomenal job in producing some of VFMAC’s finest graduates. He now looks forward to a brand new incoming class of Plebes to work his magic on. These are the future leaders of our military and LTC Gambacorta and his staff are all experts in getting the best from each and every one of them. This should be fun to watch. Good Luck to you Sir and may your coming years be just as spectacular. Rifle Range Refurbish Project The Mellon Hall Rifle Range refurbishment is well underway. The first phase consists of removing and replacing the sand from the impact area and deep-cleaning and sealing the entire range. VFMAC has begun the transition to green ammo (lead-free) in order to reduce/eliminate contamination. Future phases for the project will include refurbishing and expanding back to 12 firing positions and improved lighting throughout the range. We are very excited for the completion of this project. These improvements will certainly enhance the cadet experience and ROTC training opportunities. 4 Commissioning 2019 Our very distinguished Commissioning Speaker was Major General John L. Gronski, Deputy Commanding General, Army National Guard, United States Army Europe. MG John L. Gronski, a native of Moosic, Pennsylvania, assumed his duties as Deputy Commanding General for Army National Guard, U.S. Army Europe May 1, 2016. The General served as Deputy Adjutant General–Army, Pennsylvania National Guard; Commander of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division (Forward), Ramadi, Iraq; Commander of 55th Brigade, 28th Infantry Division (Forward), Task Force Keystone, Central Region, Europe; Military Liaison Team Chief in the Republic of Lithuania; and command and staff assignments with infantry and armor units. He has served as J-2/3, Joint Force Headquarters, Pennsylvania National Guard. MG Gronski has commanded infantry units at the company, battalion, brigade and division level. We are all very proud of all of our Cadets that have chosen to serve our Country. These are the best of the best and we salute them as they become officers in the United States Army and Alumni of the Long Line of Gray. The Alumni Associations congratulates all of our 2019 graduates and welcomes them into the Alumni Association of Valley Forge Military Academy and College with open arms, hearts and as family. Good Luck and God speed to all of you. 5 2019 United States Army 2nd Lieutenants Jacob Bernocco Rodrique Binidi Joseph Candelaria Kyle Carr Jason Carter Andrew Cary Morgan Conner Sean Cooper Andrew Crawford Noah Danals Michael Daulerio Niko Fager Matteo Ficarella Stephen George Thomas Gerot Zachary Gutierrez Corey Hasley Tanner Howe John Iles Hayden Jones Edward Lockowitz Dustin Longacre Nicholas Mazaleski Keegan Murphy Owen Nizzi Neftali Reyes Zackary Robert Yadel Schnabel Bryce Shields Sean Silcott Zachary Stringer James Joshua Tolford Jordan Washko Tyriek Wiley Henry Zacharias Haley Zheng Graduation 2019 – 91st Corps of Cadets The Alumni Association of Valley Forge Military Academy & College wishes to congratulate all of our 2019 graduates and welcome them to the Long Line of Gray. We are honored to have you among us and we offer you our friendship, fraternity and prayers for you to continue to become the great successes we know you can be. Make us proud! 6 VFMC – Class of 2019 Brett Berger Jacob Bernocco Manguiliwe Binidi Jibri Bones Isaiah Boyd Miles Brown Davoughnte Brown Joseph Candelaria Kyle Carr Jason Carter Andrew Cary Morgan Connor Sean Cooper Andrew Crawford Noah Danals Michael Daulerio Shaun Davilla Joseph Dephillipo David Dortch James Ellison Niko Fager Kathleen Farlie Matteo Ficarella Louis Foreman Stephen George Thomas Gerot Garrett Grimes Zachary Gutierrez Marcutio Hamaker Corey Hasley Kalif Hopkins-Bey Khalil Hopkins-Bey Grant Horne Tanner Howe John Iles Hayden Jones Michael Jose Isaiah Jordan McIntyre Donald King Keldric Lawrence Bridget Lewis Stephano Lewis Xuanhao Liu Edward Lockowitz Dustin Longacre Yazen Mahasneh Christian Major Isaiah Maples Luis Maya Nicholas Mazaleski Jo’Mai McGowan Antoine Means William Medina Oscar Merchan Keegan Murphy Thomas Murphy Owen Nizzi Benjamin O’Brien Nyla Payton Austin Regan Steven Reisinger Jan Reyes Neftali Reyes Zachery Robert Felix Rodriguez Yadel Schnabel Devon Schrader Reuben Senatore Bryce Shields Sean Silcott Zachary Stringer Daniel Tolentino James Tolford Joseph Tripoli Nasir Walker Jordan Washko Francis Watson Ryan Wildauer Tyriek Wiley Henry Zacharias Haley Zheng Officiating for the College was Ms. Maureen Malone, Dean, and Mrs. Dawn Dreese, Senior Director of College Admissions. College Valedictorian: Dustin Longacre College Salutatorian: Yazen Mahasneh VFMC Colleges of Acceptance American University Kings College Syracuse University Catholic University Kutztown University Temple University Coastal Carolina University LaSalle University The Citadel Univ. of North Carolina Liberty University UC Davis Charlotte Alderson Broaddus Univ. Marion Military Institute UC Merced Arizona State University Michigan State University UC Riverside Baylor University Montana State University UC San Diego Bridgewater College Murray State University University of Iowa 7 Central Michigan University North Carolina State Univ. University of Northern Iowa Chestnut Hill College Norwich University University of Scranton Coe College Penn State University University of Texas Arlington Desales University Penn Tech Virginia Military Institute Howard University Rutgers New Brunswick West Chester University Hood College Shippensburg University York College of PA Immaculata University Stephen F. Austin Univ.