Old Grad Podcast

Grant Goldsmith shares his interesting story from being a Prep School Tac Officer to negotiating for the release of hostages subject to a insurance policy that he managed. Grant is leading the efforts for our 35th reunion coming up in October of this year. Bad to the bone. 

In this episode I talk to Shaun Green, Rich Meehan and Bret Petkus who were all recent attendees at the Association of Graduates Leadership Conference.  The AOG leadership conference brings together a cross section of the West Point community - Parents groups, West Point Societies, the Admissions Field Force and Class Leadership. 

Lance Ashworth chronicles his journey as a dedicated public servant from his time as a cadet, to Army Officer, FBI agent and now non-profit executive. www.fishkillsupplydepothistoricsite.org

This was recorded in January 2026. Scott and Jamie discuss class gift plans, reunion plan and other class business. The conversation also gets very "real" discussing Scott's Cancer journey into full remission and his perspectives on life. 

Joined by co-host and B4 company-mate Vu Pearson, we sit down with Dave Knellinger to trace his remarkable journey from Baltimore, Maryland, to West Point and through a multi-decade Army career. Dave reflects on his years teaching mathematics at the Academy— including the unforgettable morning of 9/11, when he and his cadets witnessed events that would forever shape their service and their lives. A lifelong learner with an infectious growth mindset, Dave challenges all of us to keep reaching for our next bold move—because, as he reminds us, we can.

Lucie Deile Kroettinger, Kami Iannaco Hall, and Kirsten Howe Johnson revisit the journey that bound them together at West Point. Over four years, they balanced academic pressure, military discipline, athletic commitment, and the emotional weight of simply trying to survive and thrive. Through their recollections, we hear how each woman’s background shaped her path, how their friendships evolved in the crucible of the Academy, and how those bonds—and the lessons learned—still influence their lives today.

Kevin has spent the last several years volunteering in Ukraine, supporting frontline medical evacuations, and bearing witness to the human cost of a war that continues to reshape the world.

From the battlefields of Iraq to the shelled streets of Kharkiv… from FBI cases and near-ambushes to evacuating wounded soldiers under fire… Kevin brings a perspective forged by history, hardship, and a lifelong commitment to service.

He’s also a man who finds humor in the darkest places, who bonds with a mangy cat named Poupon, and who can still laugh with a medevac crew while a Shahed drone pops out of a fog bank twenty yards away.

This is a conversation about purpose.

So settle in… this is a powerful one.

Matt and Mike Lisowski take listeners through the arc of their lives—from childhood as a Gold Star family in Georgia and Germany after losing their father, to the diverging but ultimately converging paths that led them to West Point. Mike’s detour through prep school and Matt’s start in college set the stage for their military careers in both the Army and the Navy. The brothers reflect on how loss, family, and service shaped who they became and the lives they’ve built beyond the military.

Jim Walsh talks about his journey from West Point, to the Army, to senior leadership in the State Department. He fought off the Talaban, drug cartels and cancer in his 35+ year career. He talks about being the middle child of 3 West Pointers, and the emotional toll of career transitions. Co Hosted by companymate Jay DeJarnett and Norm Litterini. 

Tôi đã cuộc sống giấc mơ Mỹ. - translated from Vietnamese to English means "I have lived the American Dream"

Hung Nguyen’s indomitable spirit has carried him through life—from escaping the fall of Saigon to currently confronting his battle with liver cancer. His journey is inspiring. You can view the youtube version of this at this link:

https://youtu.be/Nq5cYa45i8E