Sing Second Alumni

Sing Second Podcast with Rylan Touhy ‘16 and Grace Doerfler. Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). We have a great double interview this week. First off, did you see the big decks? Spirit Spot-maker extraordinaire Rylan Tuohy ‘16 joins the pod to talk about his latest video and his current career in Hollywood. We also chat with graphic designer maven Grace Doerfler, a member of the comms team here at the AA&F. She is the creative genius behind Plus, the boys talk about the first USNA female SEAL selectee, the lost opportunity for College Football to make the Army-Navy game a special rivalry…and all the fights we had with family at Thanksgiving. Beat Army...always.

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). Give this pod a listen because the boys welcome in our merch partners we support on www.usna.com/shop. We chat with Kristin Cronic '11 from Easel on Stribling. She talks about the special holiday ornaments she does with Brian Dunn '08of Forever Firstie. We talk with NavalAcademy Parent Greer Mendalow about her company www.oldeschoolblazer.com. Need a snazzy blazer or tie for reunion season next year? Talk to Greer. And finally…we break some rules and welcome an Air Force Academy alum on the pod. We'll save the ChairForce jokes for later, but David Baska joins us to talk about VSA and their partnership they're embarking on with AA&F to get specific quality branded apparel to USNA classes and more. Plus, the boys talk about the 80th Anniversary A&SPGala, Honor our Fallen Heroes and favorite Thanksgiving dishes. Sit in traffic and learn more about the Alumni Association & Foundation. Beat Army...always.

Our special pod from Naval Bagels

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). A super-sized FOUR INTERVIEW segment comes your way as the boys go on location for the South Florida game in Tampa. We chat with class of ‘68 alum and Tampa Chapter icon Rick Buchanan ‘68 at the Tampa Chapter tailgate. We also get Ted Ahrens perspective as a Foundation development rock star. Ted was in Tampa for the more than football. These road trips allow AA&F to connect with donors and alums and remind them of the importance of their philanthropy. Ted was running point for the Foundation in Tampa. We had a great chat in the scorching heat. And this week marks the 80th Anniversary celebration for the Athletic and Scholarship Programs (A&SP). We talk with Don Hughes ‘86, Vice President for A&SP with our old pal Bill Wagner of the Capital Gazette. And we have a special chance to interview ADM Bill Moran ‘81. ADM Moran is the Chairman of A&SP and will be hosting the 80th Anniversary celebration dinner Friday night in Annapolis. Beat Army...Always!

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). Well…the dream is over! The football team lost at Rice…and this is why we can’t have nice things anymore. Chris and John break it down and talk about how the team can keep the alumni base excited through the rest of the season. Our Alumni segment is an amazing interview with Shawn James ‘89 of Transformation Systems Incorporated (TSI). Shawn is the president and CEO…and a participant at both AA&F Entrepreneur Summits. John chatted him up for 10 mins at the latest summit at Army-Navy Country Club last week. And we have a great interview with Rob Friedrich. Rob departed as the Director of Navy Rowing back in the summer to help NAAA stand up the new Letterwinner’s Association…coming your way in January. Rob gives a little nibble on what alums can expect in the new year from this new organization. FInally, we provide our thoughts and prayers for a total legend - the voice of Navy Athletics, Pete Medhurst. Beat Army...Always!

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F).

From the Fleet to the C-Suite, we bring you the "Real Deal" interview this week - a conversation with GDIT President Amy Gilliland '96. Amy came to Navy from humble beginnings working at Hallmark and starring in high school lacrosse in Ellicott City, MD. She became the Brigade Commander, studied at Cambridge, served as a SWO and PAO...and eventually transitioned to the civilian sector. Less than 20 years later, she's the President of a billion dollar enterprise. We chat with Amy about leadership lessons, parenting and the bonds in Bancroft Hall.

Chris and John also break down the football loss to Notre Dame, talk about our upcoming Entrepreneurship Summit and embrace another awesome fall season in Annapolis. Beat Army...Always!

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F).

A bonus pod this week as we welcome in VADM Fred Kacher ‘90 from Yokosuka, Japan. After his tour as the “Accidental Supe,” Fred pinned on his 3rd Star and landed as the Commander of U.S. Seventh Fleet in Japan. Fred joins us to offer hsi perspectives on 7th Fleet’s mission and recent activity, his lessons in leadership and his perspective on the leadership and dedication of Admiral Stockdale. VADM Kacher was the first Commanding Officer of USS Stockdale on top of his MANY more command assignments.

Chris and John discuss the tragic loss of two courageous aviators in the Growler crash near Mount Rainier, and we chat about a special weekend ahead for the Navy-Notre Dame football game. Beat Army...Always!

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast.

We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F).

We did a live show again! This show is starting to get to our heads. We hosted HUNDREDS of alumni and guests at the Fluegel Alumni Center this past Saturday for our Welcome Home event.

We chat with Navy Women's Lax coach Cindy Timchal, former Navy Football great Diego Fagot, the CO of the Naval Support Activity Annapolis Captain Chris Schwarz, Class of '94 alum and Alumni Association Board Member Enochia Anderson and Director of AA&F Engagement Nancy Murray.

There's a lot here to start your week...so Chris and John keep and intro and outro short, but we talk about the win over Charlotte, the Star Series and autumn in Annapolis.

Beat Army...Always!

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast.

We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F).

Navy Football is ranked...and for the first time since Eisenhower was president, Army is ranked at the same time. We chat about the excitement of that and the upcoming Homecoming weekend at AA&F.

And our Alumni Feature this week will go down as one of the best. We interview retired Rear Admiral Lawrence Chambers, class of 1952. Admiral Chambers joined John Schofield in the Blue & Gold Bar to discuss his career, the Saigon evacuation and the lessons in leadership he's learned along the way. To say it was an amazing conversation is an understatement.

The interview is part of AA&F's larger effort to collect Vietnam stories as part of our Legacy of Valor series.

We talk a little about our Thriving As Leaders awards, which will be announced this week. And we say farewell to Pussers. I'll have a #4 as we go out.

Beat Army...Always!

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast.

We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F).

The first leg of the trip to winning the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy is complete. Navy Football and the AA&F descended upon Colorado Springs…and we had a full weekend. We watched Navy Men’s and Women’s Rugby both drop 70 pts on AFA, and then Eli Heidenreich went all Heisman on Air Force Football…resulting in a 34-7 win over “Turnback U.”

We also had AMAZING interactions with the Chapter and Parent’s Club. We will continue to use road games and other holes in the sked to meet the alumni where they are!

Our feature interview this week is Derek Herrera of the class of 2006. Derek became a Marine and a MARSOC Raider…before being paralyzed in Afghanistan after being shot. He now drives forward as an entrepreneur and working on solutions for mobility issues.

And we take it out by celebrating the Class of 99’s first admiral and previewing Homecoming Weekend.Have a great week.

Beat Army...Always!