Since 2026 is the 250th birthday of America, and I'm reading books about the American Revolution, I thought it made sense to ask Army Athletic Director Tom Theodorakis to join HEA for a conversation. Theo shares what it feels like every day at West Point and why it is such a special place. I asked him what perspective he gets from working at different institution types, including P4 schools, another military academy, and even The Ivy League at Harvard. The conversation turns to outlining his vision going into his second year in the AD chair. We discuss what it takes to put on an Army/Navy game and what it will take to keep it from being changed as the College Football Playoff dates continue to change. It's safe to say the game won't be in July. Theo explains how Army has to continue to think about what college athletics looks like at their institution since they do not do House, NIL, and the transfer portal is not the same for them. He also communicates what athletics means at West Point and what the future leaders of our nation's Army learns from the experience, including failure and trying to build up muscle memory of winning in tough situations. HEA is presented by PILYTIX, an AI tech company for higher education institutions and sports organizations. Increased Donations. Fast, Effective Targeting. Improved Performance.AD Vantage empowers athletic directors with comprehensive staff data, performance analytics, and AI-powered candidate insights to make smarter hiring, compensation, and retention decisions in an era where every dollar counts.Onrise provides complete mental health Coverage for your Athletes. One call. Same-day setup. Your athletes get immediate access to peer support from retired pros, licensed clinicians, and 24/7 crisis care. Less than one in-house FTE. No hiring hassles. No initiative fatigue.0:00 Introduction0:40 Experiencing West Point Daily as AD1:55 Perspective from Army, Harvard, UCLA, Arizona, Air Force6:52 Transitioning from 1st Year to 2nd Year as AD11:20 Visit Onrise.CARE for Mental Health Athlete Care12:20 What it takes to put on the Army/Navy Game18:45 How do you protect the Army/Navy Game Date?22:00 Institutional Collaboration at West Point27:05 Deciding to complete a Doctorate in Education31:35 Aspirational Advice: Get out of your Comfort Zone