Thanking Those Who Serve

On this Veterans Day, I’d like to dedicate this entry of the Exchange to all of our faculty, staff, students and alumni who are former and active members of the uniformed services.

Veterans Day, originally named Armistice Day to commemorate the end of major hostilities in World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, is often observed with a moment of silence at 11:11 a.m. on November 11. Those we honor today are all current, former, living and deceased members of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, National Guard, Navy and Space Force.

Growing up, I had a front-row seat to the contributions and sacrifices that our military service men and women make to our country. As an Air Force “brat,” I followed my father’s deployment schedule from my birthplace outside of Madrid, Spain, to our final destination as a family in Jerome, Michigan. Between those two locations, we moved five times across the country, spanning Michigan to Texas and Ohio to Colorado. I went to eight different schools between kindergarten through 12th grade. 

In contrast, my wife Starr grew up in one town and attended one combined campus over that same period. Our children have only known one neighborhood and two different school buildings. Even in relative peacetime and away from the front lines of conflict, service to one’s country still comes with sacrificing your personal will and comfort.

I have also been able to experience firsthand the dedication, service and impact that our military service members make to their communities on behalf of our country. Those contributions came in the form of supporting community infrastructure projects and civic events, celebrating national holidays by displaying America’s military personnel and machinery as well as entertaining and educating the public through air shows and museums. 

Even now, on a Notre Dame football gameday, the one thing I hope for (second only to an Irish victory) is a loud and well-timed flyover at the end of the National Anthem. Chills!

As members of the Notre Dame community, we share in a long, proud history of partnership with and respect for service academies, from the famed “God, Country, Notre Dame” plaque over the Basilica door to Notre Dame ROTC cadets’ 24-hour vigil at the Clark Memorial Fountain taking place today. I encourage you to learn more about Notre Dame’s history of supporting military service. It’s inspiring!

We share the halls of Mendoza and Stayer with colleagues who have also made their own contributions and sacrifices to our national defense and domestic tranquility. Veterans on our faculty or staff include:

Mike Chapple - Air Force
Douglass Hemphill (emeritus) - Army
James Fuehrmeyer (emeritus) - Army
Pat Gibbons - Marine Corps
Jim Leady - Army
Bob Lewandowski - Navy
Drew Marcantonio - Marine Corps
Frank Mark - Air Force
Jim O’Rourke - Air Force
Amy Spangler - Army
(This list may not be exhaustive.)

Additionally, our graduate programs have traditionally held significant military and veteran representation, notably:

14% of the MBA Class of 2025
17% of the MBA Class of 2026
17% of the EMBA Class of 2025
23% of the Global EMBA Class of 2026

At the undergraduate level, we have representation in all of the branches of the campus ROTC program. And though they are too numerous to list here, the Mendoza alumni who have gone on to military service is a long and illustrious list of some of the University’s top alumni.

Veterans and active members, we thank all of you for your service, your contributions and your sacrifices.

Gratefully,

Rob

Rob Kelly
Chief Operating Executive