President Barack Obama was recently awarded the 2024 Sylvanus Thayer Award and is the fifth president to receive the honor.  The ceremony was held on the grounds of West Point and led by Bob McDonald, Chairman of the West Point Association of Graduates. Bob McDonald Presents President Obama with Sylvanus Thayer Award About the Sylvanus […]

Chairman Bob McDonald and The West Point Association of Graduates, known as the Long Gray Line, recently presented the 2023 Sylvanus Thayer Award to the Honorable Elizabeth Dole, founder of The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, for her service as a government official, as a leader of both national and international non-profit organizations, and as a tireless […]

We hope you enjoy these images from the 2023 Alumni Parade and Distinguished Graduate Award Ceremony at West Point.

Diane and I recently hosted a mini-reunion of 21 of my West Point classmates (Class of 1975) and company mates (Company G-2) and their spouses in Orlando.  We arranged for lodging at the Rosen Centre (you may recall, Harris Rosen is a Veteran and friend), golf at Isleworth, and a dinner at Isleworth.  Other events […]

Cadets and graduates will always share an unwavering commitment to service—a desire to contribute to something larger than themselves. West Point Ready is an opportunity to do just that and to honor West Point’s legacy of service. Before us is one, bold vision for the Academy and the Corps of Cadets. The campaign’s first significant […]

I recently traveled to West Point for the festivities around the annual Distinguished Graduate Awards (DGA) and the Alumni Parade.  The DGAs involved a dinner at Herbert Hall, our alumni building, and a parade to the statue of Sylvanus Thayer, and a Corps of Cadets parade.  As the Chairman of the Board of the Association […]

I recently visited West Point and met with Todd Browne, West Point Class of 1985 and President and CEO of the Association of Graduates (AOG) at Herbert Hall, the offices of the AOG.  I met with Todd in his office and we talked about a number of issues.  We then reviewed the composition of the […]

The 2021 West Point Association of Graduates (WPAOG) Nominating Committee recently met, with the primary task to select and recommend to the Membership, nominees for open governance positions. The Committee had a difficult task because many highly qualified graduates had submitted nomination packets. Nomination Process In accordance with the organization’s Bylaws, the Nominating Committee was […]

Every guest room at the renown Thayer Hotel in West Point, NY is dedicated to a distinguished graduate of West Point.  The decor of each room reflects the accomplishments and milestones of an individual who has made significant contributions to the nation and world. Below are the major milestones in the life of Robert McDonald: […]

Last week I flew to Washington, D. C. and drove to the Westin Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland, to attend the 5th annual Service Academies Global Summit.  I was going to represent RallyPoint and also to speak.  The conference began with a reception.  Attending the Summit were graduates and current students of all of the nation’s […]