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Long Gray Line Teammates,When I assumed command as Superintendent four years ago, I likened the Academy to a fast-moving train that most of us jump on and try to hang on. Since then, I have come to appreciate that what fuels that train is the incredible energy that runs through this place, generated by the dedication and hard work of all those who serve here, and more importantly, the motivation a

As members of the Long Gray Line, we pause to recognize and celebrate the remarkable service of Lieutenant General Steve W. Gilland ’90 and his wife, Betsy ’90.  Leading the United States Military Academy is a strategic and significant responsibility, one that LTG Gilland embraced with character, intellect, passion, and a deep commitment to service. As the 61st Superintendent, he guided West Point

CPT (R) Eric Rudberg ’05 successfully lobbied for a Purple Heart-design license plate in Washington, DC.Each of the 50 states in the nation offers a Purple Heart specialty license plate for veterans who have been awarded that medal. Washington, D.C. now offers that option for its resident Purple Heart medal recipients, thanks to the efforts of a 2005 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy.“We live

On August 16, 2026, the West Point Society of Annapolis (WPSOA) hosted its annual Welcome Picnic for West Point cadets participating in the fall exchange program at the U.S. Naval Academy. Nearly 40 Society members and guests gathered at the Fairwinds Community Pavilion in Severna Park, Maryland, to welcome the Class of 2028 cadets to the Annapolis community.Among those attending were two members

“Earned Not Given”On August 21, the Class of 2027 marked its transition into Firstie year by receiving West Point class rings —enduring symbols of their shared experience and connection to generations of graduates who came before them.The rings carry the legacy of 1,035 class rings donated by members of the Long Gray Line through the West Point Association of Graduates’ Ring Memorial Program. Melt

MG James B. Bartholomees III ’95 was promoted to lieutenant general and officially took command of the U.S. Military Academy as the 62nd Superintendent, succeeding LTG Steven W. Gilland ’90, during a change of command ceremony at 10 a.m. on Monday, August 17, in Eisenhower Hall.A 1995 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Bartholomees most recently served as Commanding General, 25th

By Erika Norton, Senior Multimedia JournalistWith the nation beginning its next 250 years, West Point Association of Graduates volunteer leaders gathered August 11–15 for Leaders Conference 2026 to strengthen the connections and character that will carry West Point and the Long Gray Line into the future. Held at the Windrose on Hudson and West Point under the theme “Courage. Commitment. Character.

USMA announced the names of the cadets from the Class of 2027 selected to lead the Corps of Cadets during the academic year. The brigade cadet leadership roles are the top positions in the Corps of Cadets charged with carrying out the responsibilities of leading the Corps. These cadets assumed their leadership duties on August 14, prior to the start of the academy’s fall academic session.“This yea

By Erika Norton, WPAOG Senior Multimedia JournalistEmbodying “Duty, Honor, Country” in every step, Old Grads marched alongside the Class of 2030 as the newest members of the Long Gray Line completed their 12-mile journey from Lake Frederick to West Point, marking the culmination of Cadet Basic Training and the start of their first academic year at the Academy. More than 400 West Point graduates—th

The U.S. Army announced Friday that BG Nicholas H. Gist ’94 has been confirmed as the 16th Dean of the Academic Board at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point. He officially assumed the duties of Dean during a ceremony held on Aug. 7.As Dean, Gist serves as the Academy’s chief academic officer, overseeing West Point’s academic program and faculty while ensuring the continued exce

By Erika Norton, WPAOG Senior Multimedia Journalist The West Point Association of Graduates received a handcrafted wooden American flag from recent Class of 2026 graduate 2LT Bobby Reuter as a special gift in honor of America’s 250th Birthday this year. Reuter, who graduated with an economics and American Foundations degree, started constructing wooden American flags when he was a 17-year-old livi

Then-Cadet Ananya Ganesh ’26 did not expect to be a math major. Then-Cadet Babe “BK” Kwasniak ’26 was planning to study history. Together, they are using one of the most counterintuitive concepts in mathematics to solve one of the Army’s most pressing drone vulnerabilities. The problem starts with a step back in technology. While huge advancements have been made in securing digital communications,

Class of 2026 Then-Cadets Boston Graf, Maksymilian Olszowka and Elizabeth “Ezra” Bardales labored on a capstone project, a philosophy-centric venture as part of the Department Law and Philosophy, focusing on the “Training Ethical Employment of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems,” or TEELAWS.The capstone explored software designed by Perceptronics Solutions Inc., in collaboration with the U.S. Milit

By Erika Norton, WPAOG Senior Multimedia JournalistWest Point Glee Club alumni raised their voices together during a four-day reunion July 16–19, celebrating the friendships, traditions and music that have connected generations of singers since the club’s founding in 1903.Seventy-one alumni singers were joined by family members and guests, bringing total reunion attendance to 133. The weekend feat

WPAOG held its West Point Survivor Community Weekend over the Fourth of July holiday at West Point and nearby Windrose on Hudson. The four-day event included interactive sessions presented by our grief experts and partners, TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Programs for Survivors), with a focus on communication and grief support. Attendees also took tours of Constitution Island and the Kimsey Center, and p

Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy are enhancing battlefield adaptability with a new weapon mount that increases the versatility of the Army’s next-generation M250 automatic rifle. In support of the 2026 Projects Day Research Symposium focus on supporting the warfighter, cadets in the Small Caliber Weapon Mount capstone design team developed solutions for real-world applications. Through collabor

As unmanned aerial vehicles continue to shape the landscape of war, a team of West Point cadets collaborated at the cutting edge of autonomous study through the Swarm Troopers research project in the lead-up to the Projects Day Research Symposium, April 23 at the U.S. Military Academy. This research aims to use drones to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to determine the locati

As a Division I wrestler, Class of 2026 Then-Cadet Cole Stone developed an interest in human performance through training and weight cutting for competition. That curiosity deepened two years ago during a treadmill run, sparking a question about the limits of the human body and how lessons from combat sports could apply to Soldiers operating in austere conditions.With the 2026 Projects Day Researc

By Erika Norton, WPAOG Senior Multimedia Journalist On the evening of July 7, 2026, graduates from across the Long Gray Line gathered virtually to celebrate a milestone that transformed the United States Military Academy forever: the 50th anniversary of the day women first entered the Corps of Cadets.Hosted by Donna Brazil ’83, the online celebration honored the 119 women of the Class of 1980 who

COL David W. Hensel ’01 assumed command of the 193rd Infantry Brigade during a June 26 change of command ceremony at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.Commissioned from the U.S. Military Academy in 2001, Hensel brings more than two decades of Army leadership and special operations experience to the role. After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2006, he served with the 1st Special Fo