WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., has appointed 35 military veterans, public officials and business leaders to two regional advisory boards that will evaluate Pennsylvania applicants seeking congressional nominations to four federal service academies, with candidate interviews underway through mid-November.
The appointments establish the review panels responsible for assessing applicants seeking admission to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
The boards, divided between eastern and western Pennsylvania, will review applications, interview candidates and recommend nominees to McCormick. Interviews began last weekend and are scheduled to continue through the middle of November.
Congressional nominations are a required component of the admissions process for most applicants to the four academies. Candidates must also apply directly to their preferred institution and satisfy its admissions requirements.
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy follows a different process and does not require congressional nominations.
McCormick’s Eastern Region Advisory Board includes 18 members, among them retired military officers, academy graduates, former public officials and professionals working in defense, finance and technology.
Several members have ties to Chester County and surrounding communities, including David Galluch of Newtown Square, Howard Crawford of West Chester and John Grobe of Spring City.
Galluch, a 2012 Naval Academy graduate and former Navy lieutenant, operates a defense-focused investment firm in Newtown Square.
Crawford, a retired Air Force captain and medical service corps officer, has served as an Air Force Academy liaison officer and is president of Patriotic Solutions in West Chester.
Grobe, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who served more than 30 years, received his commission through the University of Pennsylvania’s ROTC program. He owns Veterans Pallet Remanufacturing in Spring City.
The eastern panel also includes Ryan Aument, McCormick’s state director, a former Pennsylvania Senate majority whip and Army captain who served in combat.
Other members bring experience in military command, defense contracting, aviation, engineering and financial risk management.
Retired Maj. Gen. Wesley Craig previously commanded Pennsylvania’s 28th Infantry Division and served as the state’s adjutant general from 2011 to 2015.
Retired Col. Philip DeHennis served 36 years in the Pennsylvania National Guard, including command assignments with the 213th Area Support Group and 103rd Engineer Battalion.
Retired Army Maj. Tim Ryan has worked in Special Forces, infantry and military legal assignments and currently handles legal issues involving drone warfare, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence at a federal agency.
The board also includes retired Navy Cmdr. John Supple, a Naval Academy graduate and former naval aviator whose federal service included work as an Indo-Pacific spokesperson for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
McCormick’s Western Region Advisory Board comprises 17 members, including former professional football player and Army veteran Rocky Bleier, state Sen. Devlin Robinson and state Rep. Natalie Mihalek.
Bleier, who served in the Army before his professional football career, is managing member of Rocky Bleier Construction Group.
Robinson is a Marine Corps veteran, while Mihalek previously served in the Navy.
Former state Rep. Rob Mercuri, a West Point graduate and Army veteran awarded the Bronze Star for valor in Iraq, also serves on the western panel.
Other members include former military officers, academy graduates, business executives, a Gold Star spouse and public officials.
“I’m deeply grateful to this talented group of veterans and leaders who have volunteered their time for such a vital mission,” McCormick stated. “Their service on these advisory boards will help us select the finest young Pennsylvanians to attend our United States Service Academies and lead the next generation of America’s military.”
The full Eastern Region Advisory Board consists of:
- Ryan Aument: Former Army captain, Pennsylvania Senate majority whip and current state director for McCormick.
- Blaise Conwell: Former Air Force captain and C-130 navigator who now owns two restaurants.
- Bill Doyle: Retired Army lieutenant colonel, West Point graduate and former Army Reserve command judge advocate.
- David Galluch: Former Navy lieutenant, Naval Academy graduate and defense investment firm operator in Newtown Square.
- Dave Henderson: Former Army major, West Point graduate and owner of federal contractor Stronghold Group.
- David Miller: Retired Army captain and attorney with experience in law enforcement and corrections.
- Larry Sherbondy: Retired Air Force lieutenant colonel with extensive experience coaching military leaders.
- Earl Stagg: Retired Air Force master sergeant with more than 20 years of service across three military branches.
- Philip DeHennis: Retired Army colonel, former Pennsylvania National Guard commander and consulting engineer.
- Wesley Craig: Retired Army major general and former Pennsylvania adjutant general.
- Tim Ryan: Retired Army major with experience in Special Forces, infantry and military law.
- Howard Crawford: Retired Air Force captain, former academy liaison officer and West Chester business owner.
- Tim Keane: Merchant Marine Academy graduate and engineering consultant.
- John Grobe: Retired Army lieutenant colonel and owner of Veterans Pallet Remanufacturing in Spring City.
- John Supple: Retired Navy commander and senior communications manager at Hanwha Defense USA.
- Richard Ellis: Retired captain and president of Liberty Consulting & Strategies, with more than 38 years of Defense Department experience.
- Ted Boris: Financial services executive with experience at JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and PwC.
- Patrick Cubbage: Army staff sergeant and Vietnam veteran who served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
The Western Region Advisory Board consists of:
- Sam DeMarco: Marine Corps veteran and McCormick’s Southwest Pennsylvania regional director.
- Rocky Bleier: Army veteran, former professional football player and construction company executive.
- Tony Keiser: Army veteran and managing director at RBC Wealth Management.
- Brian Linville: Naval Academy graduate, former Navy officer and J.P. Morgan executive in Pittsburgh.
- Jim Litrun: Merchant Marine Academy graduate, former Navy officer and retired corporate executive.
- Rich Lockwood: Merchant Marine Academy graduate and marine transportation consultant.
- J.D. Longo: Marine Corps combat veteran, mayor of Slippery Rock and executive director of Citywide Development Corporation of New Castle.
- Rob Mercuri: West Point graduate, decorated Army veteran and former Pennsylvania state representative.
- Natalie Mihalek: Navy veteran and Pennsylvania state representative.
- Carmella Mullen: Gold Star spouse and veterans advocate.
- John Oliver: Navy veteran and Purple Heart recipient.
- Devlin Robinson: Marine Corps veteran and Pennsylvania state senator.
- Ken Staresinic: West Point graduate, former Army infantry officer and consulting executive.
- John Starr: Retired SAP executive, cattle farmer and parent of a Naval Academy graduate.
- Rob Woodings: President of Ironwood Capital Corporation and parent of a West Point graduate.
- Richard Jewell: Former Grove City College president, attorney and Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board commissioner.
- Carmine Cicalese: Retired Army colonel, West Point graduate and founder of cybersecurity consulting company CYBER CIC.
The advisory boards’ recommendations will help determine which Pennsylvania candidates receive McCormick’s nominations as they pursue appointments to the federal service academies.
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