Friday February 2, 2017: 11:30-13:30
- Agenda (times estimated)
- 11:30-12:00 Networking & margaritas
- 12:00 Seats, introductions, announcements, lunch orders
- 12:15 Guest Speaker
- 12:20-12:30 Lunch plate service during speaker
- 13:15 Speaker conclusion, final announcements B&G
Guest Speaker: The Liberato Family
“Topics related only by Birth: Lawyer Stories and Advising Latin American Militaries”
Description: Mom and daughter of USNA grads, Lynne Liberato will share stories from arguing at the U.S. Supreme Court to representing the NFL during the Houston Super Bowl. Son Callon Nichols (’08) will follow with stories from his experiences as a Marine –advisor in Central America. And they both share memories from Grandfather Frank Liberato (’51), who flew reconnaissance during the Cuban Missile Crisis and was the only American pilot to survive being run over by a carrier.
El Tiempo “1308 Annex”: 322 Westheimer Rd
- Lunch Menu
- Chips & salsa, guacamole, & queso
- Choice of Entree:
- Chicken or beef fajitas
- Seafood enchiladas
- Las Vegas platter
TxGC Chapter membership has its benefits…
- Members get 15% when they enter their promo code at check-out
- Member’s promo code emailed out in member-only version of Newsletter
Friday March 2, 2018: 11:30-13:30
- Agenda (times estimated)
- 11:30-12:00 Networking & margaritas
- 12:00 Seats, introductions, announcements, lunch orders
- 12:15 Guest Speaker
- 12:20-12:30 Lunch plate service during speaker
- 13:15 Speaker conclusion, final announcements B&G
Speaker: Ms. Regan Katz, Managing Director, Wortham Insurance
Regan joined Wortham in 2012. Prior to that, she worked in public accounting and for a publicly traded insurance brokerage. During her tenure in insurance, she focused on professional service clients, providing advice on risk management for law firms, non-profit/social service organizations and retail/hospitality.
March’s lunch: Cyber/Privacy Coverage: What’s Next?
2017 was a year of ransomware cyber attacks… WannaCry, ExPetr, BadRabbit changed the landscape of ransomware forever. Ransomware became a $1B industry in 2016. In 2017, those attacks became focused on corporations instead of individuals. The targets of these attacks include everyone- from federal governments, private equity firms, financial institutions all the way to retailers and credit card companies. Find out why ransomware will continue to be the fastest growing industry in 2018. We will discuss how the landscape has changed, some specific examples and how insurance may provide relief in the event of a cyber attack.
El Tiempo “1308 Annex”: 322 Westheimer Rd
- Lunch Menu
- Chips & salsa, guacamole, & queso
- Choice of Entree:
- Chicken or beef fajitas
- Seafood enchiladas
- Las Vegas platter
TxGC Chapter membership has its benefits…
- Members get 15% when they enter their promo code at check-out
- Member’s promo code emailed out in member-only version of Newsletter
Friday April 6, 2018: 11:30-13:30
- Agenda (times estimated)
- 11:30-12:00 Networking & margaritas
- 12:00 Seats, introductions, announcements, lunch orders
- 12:15 Guest Speaker
- 12:20-12:30 Lunch plate service during speaker
- 13:15 Speaker conclusion, final announcements B&G
Speaker: Mr. Rob Eissler, Legislative Consultant at The Schlueter Group
Rob Eissler is a Legislative Consultant with The Schlueter Group of Austin, TX since January 2013. He was previously the President of Eissler and Associates, an executive recruiting firm based in his hometown of thirty-six years, The Woodlands, Texas. He received a B.A. in Architecture from Princeton University, and then served his country as a carrier-based attack pilot and LSO aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) in the United States Navy.
Rob Eissler has spent twenty-eight years dedicated to the public education system of Texas, 18 of which were on the Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees, including two terms as President, and 10 years serving on the Public Education Committee of the Texas House of Representatives, the last 6 as its Chairman. He has also served as the Vice Chair of the House Human Services Committee.
In 1999, he was named one of 25 “Original Hometown Heroes” for The Woodlands by The Woodlands Villager/Courier newspapers and The Woodlands Operating Company, L.P. The Chamber of Commerce named him “Citizen of the Year” in 1991, where he served as the Chairman of the Board in 1988-89. Mr. Eissler has also served as the President of the Woodlands Rotary Club and as a board member of the South Montgomery Y.M.C.A. He coached youth sports for twenty years and is well known as one of the voices of High School Football on the local internet broadcast of area games.
Mr. Eissler was elected to represent District 15 as State Representative in November of 2002. He was appointed to serve as Chairman of the Public Education Committee in his third session. Among many other honors, Rob Eissler was named one of Texas Monthly ́s “Top 10 Legislators” of 2009. He received Honorable Mention for this in 2007. His work on reforming the public school accountability system during the 81st Legislative Session helped place Texas at the nation’s forefront in public education reform. In 2005, he was named one of the Top Texas Legislators of the 79th Legislative Session by Capitol Inside. Rep. Eissler has also been named Legislator of the Year by the Texas Council of Special Education Administrators, received The Texas Foreign Language Association’s Distinguished Public Service Award, The Texas Art Education Association’s Governmental Award for Meritorious Service in the Arts, The Texas Music Educators Association Distinguished Service Award and the Champion for Free Enterprise Award by the Texas Association of Business three times. He also served as a Director of The Texas Education Reform Foundation.
He was presented with the Star Award by Texans Standing Tall in recognition of his efforts during the 79th Legislature to reduce and prevent the consequences of underage alcohol use and binge drinking. He is a member of the Southern Regional Education Board comprised of 16 southern states and was appointed by the Governor to their Executive Board. He has received the STAR award from the Texas Classroom Teachers Association twice. Governor Perry appointed Representative Eissler to the Education Commission of the States in October of 2007 where he represents Texas as one of 7 Commissioners. In February, 2008, he was awarded the Legislative Advocate of the Year by the Texas PTA and the 2008 Friend of Texas Children Award from the United Ways of Texas. He was also awarded Legislative Advocate of the Year by the Texas PTA again in 2009.
Rob and his wife Linda have three adult children and are members of The Woodlands United Methodist Church.
El Tiempo “1308 Annex”: 322 Westheimer Rd
- Lunch Menu
- Chips & salsa, guacamole, & queso
- Choice of Entree:
- Chicken or beef fajitas
- Seafood enchiladas
- Las Vegas platter
TxGC Chapter membership has its benefits…
- Members get 15% when they enter their promo code at check-out
- Member’s promo code emailed out in member-only version of Newsletter
May Monthly Lunch: Annual Blue & Gold Officer Appreciation
Annually, the TxGC Chapter honors our area BGOs, recognizing the hard work they do, day in and day out, in ensuring the Naval Academy has qualified candidates from the Houston area, that will represent themselves and our country proud at USNA, and in the Fleet.
If you’re one of our area BGOs, please contact Rich Bulger (rlbulger69@gmail.com, 281-788-3915), to ensure you’re signed up as an honoree, in order to be recognized during the festivities.
Featured Speaker: CAPT Paul Tortora, USN (Ret.)
Capt. Paul Tortora, USN (ret), was the first Chair of the new Cyber Science Department at the United States Naval Academy. He recently retired from the Navy following a 26-year active duty career as both a Nuclear Submarine Officer and a Naval Intelligence Officer. During his active service he served and deployed on two nuclear fast attack submarines, two amphibious assault ships, and a nuclear aircraft carrier, conducting peacetime and combat operations across the globe.
His ashore assignments included Director of Training at the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, on the staff of the Director of Naval Intelligence, as the Intelligence Officer and Naval Aide to the Secretary of the Navy, and on the staff of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Friday May 4, 2018: 11:30-13:30
- Agenda (times estimated)
- 11:30-12:00 Networking & margaritas
- 12:00 Seats, introductions, announcements, lunch orders
- 12:15 Guest Speaker
- 12:20-12:30 Lunch plate service during speaker
- 13:15 Speaker conclusion, final announcements B&G
El Tiempo “1308 Annex”: 322 Westheimer Rd
- Lunch Menu
- Chips & salsa, guacamole, & queso
- Choice of Entree:
- Chicken or beef fajitas
- Seafood enchiladas
- Las Vegas platter
TxGC Chapter membership has its benefits…
- Members get 15% when they enter their promo code at check-out
- Member’s promo code emailed out in member-only version of Newsletter
TxGC Foundation’s Top Gun Annual Benefit
In 2014, the US Naval Academy Alumni Association, Texas Gulf Coast (TxGC) Foundation, established a new tradition in the Houston area. The Top Gun Annual Benefit has become a noteworthy event that has integrated the community members at large with the local veteran population. The proceeds go to two handpicked, local veterans service organizations (VSOs), selected each year, in addition to a portion going to the TxGC Foundation. For 2018, the two primary VSOs are Team Rubicon and USO Houston. These organizations effectively enrich the lives of their members and communities. Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. During Harvey, Team Rubicon was intricate in serving the community at-large, quickly and effectively. USO Houston continuously adapts to the needs of our men and women in uniform and their families, so that the service member can focus on their mission, serving their country. The TxGC Foundation supports the mission of the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in developing young men and women into our nations future Naval Officers.
Over 800 people have experienced the beach volleyball, Kenny Loggins music, games, fun, food, and camaraderie that the Top Gun Benefit provides while raising, over the past three years, over $20,000 for local veteran charities, enabling them to continue their missions. With your support, the Top Gun Annual Benefit will continue to surpass each previous year’s numbers.
2018: Top Gun 5th Annual Benefit
Saturday July 7 @ Wakefield Crowbar
- Food & Drink Specials
- Beach Volleyball Tournament
- Silent Auction
- Family Activities and Games (Kids Activities)
- Giveaways & Prizes
- Top Gun Costume Contest
Sponsorships & Donations Wanted
- Support local veterans
- Interact with potential clients
- Make your mark in the veteran community
- Gain powerful advertising and media exposure
- More detailed information on sponsoring or donating (click here)
- Dan Hanley ’10
- 281-435-2523
- dhanley@2010.usna.com
TICKET INFO COMING SOON
STAY UP TO DATE ON TOP GUN BENEFIT FACEBOOK
2017 Results
- Online revenue: $474
- Door revenue: $1,291
- Volleyball revenue: $2,000
- Auction revenue: $7,135
- Donations: $889
- Sponsors: 4,750
- Total revenue: $16,539
- Expenses: ($1,539)
- Net profit: $15,000
- Funds contributed to benefactors
- USNAAA TxGC Foundation (50%): $7,500
- Lone Star Veterans Assoc. (25%): $3,750
- Team Red, White, & Blue (25%): $3,750
- Funds contributed to benefactors
Buddy Wellborn’s Navy Football Preview
Monthly Lunches are back! Join us for our annual Navy Football Preview, featuring Buddy Wellborn ’59. Buddy is well regarded as a Navy Football expert, having served as NAAA Trustee. Full bio.
TxGC MEMBERS ALWAYS GET $5 OFF!
- Advance purchase online: $30 ($25 for TxGC members)
- Week-of-event & walk-ups*: $35 ($30 for TxGC members)
- *if seats available
- TxGC Member discount is provided by a discount code via member-only newsletter
- TxGC Membership is only $10/year… join today
MENU
- Ice tea, water, soda, cash bar
- Choice of Sicilian salad or Mama’s gumbo
- Choice of entree
- Chicken John Kim: grilled chicken topped in mushrooms, roasted peppers, white wine butter sauce
- Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce: traditional penne pasta with Mama’s slow cooked meat sauce
- Blacked Trout: filet topped with etoufee served with red-skinned mashed potatoes and vegetables
- Choice of chocolate cake or cheesecake
Austin Huckabee
Commissioned as an Armor Officer from Sam Houston State University in 2007, Austin served as an Abrams tank platoon leader and an Air Assault Infantry platoon leader in Baghdad, Iraq from 2009-2010. Since 2012, he as worked for the Houston Police Department as a patrol officer in Greenspoint and Acres Homes, in the Gang Division in a city-wide street level anti-gang unit, and in the SWAT detail as a part-time officer. In 2016, he became a contract instructor for the State Department and Justice Department in Ukraine, training multiple law enforcement agencies in and around Kiev in high-risk tactics. Austin will talk to us about his experiences in training Ukrainian law enforcement agencies how to handle and respond to high risk tactical situations and the impact of the Ukraine’s current political climate affects its law enforcement’s ability to fight corruption.
TxGC MEMBERS ALWAYS GET $5 OFF!
- Advance purchase online: $30 ($25 for TxGC members)
- Week-of-event & walk-ups*: $35 ($30 for TxGC members)
- *if seats available
- TxGC Member discount is provided by a discount code via member-only newsletter
- TxGC Membership is only $10/year… join today
MENU
- Ice tea, water, soda, cash bar
- Choice of Sicilian salad or Mama’s gumbo
- Choice of entree
- Chicken John Kim: grilled chicken topped in mushrooms, roasted peppers, white wine butter sauce
- Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce: traditional penne pasta with Mama’s slow cooked meat sauce
- Blacked Trout: filet topped with etoufee served with red-skinned mashed potatoes and vegetables
- Choice of chocolate cake or cheesecake
TxGC MEMBERS ALWAYS GET $5 OFF!
- Advance purchase online: $30 ($25 for TxGC members)
- Week-of-event & walk-ups*: $35 ($30 for TxGC members)
- *if seats available
- TxGC Member discount is provided by a discount code via member-only newsletter
- TxGC Membership is only $10/year… join today
MENU
- Ice tea, water, soda, cash bar
- Choice of Sicilian salad or Mama’s gumbo
- Choice of entree
- Chicken John Kim: grilled chicken topped in mushrooms, roasted peppers, white wine butter sauce
- Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce: traditional penne pasta with Mama’s slow cooked meat sauce
- Blacked Trout: filet topped with etoufee served with red-skinned mashed potatoes and vegetables
- Choice of chocolate cake or cheesecake
Featured Speaker: Richard W. Murray, Ph.D.
We usually call on Richard Murray when an election is near and politics are on our mind. Certainly that is the case now, and Richard will weigh in on the Kavanaugh//Ford situation, as well as his views on everything from Beto v. Cruz to other key state and national races.
Bob Lanier Chair in Urban Public Policy, Department of Political Science, University of Houston
Director, Survey Research Institute, University of Houston Center for Public Policy
Richard Murray is a native of Louisiana with B.A. and M.A. degrees in Government from Louisiana State University (1962, 1963) and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota (1967). Dr. Murray has taught at the University of Houston since 1966, and is the Bob Lanier Chair in Urban Public Policy. After serving as the Director of the University of Houston Center for Public Policy for over nine years, he is now concentrating on the Center’s polling operations as the Director of the Survey Research Institute.
His academic interests are in Houston and Texas politics, focusing on campaigns and elections, political parties and interest groups, and public opinion. Professor Murray has written extensively in these areas including co-authoring Texas Politics: An Introduction (6 Editions, 1972-1992), and Progrowth Politics: Change and Governance in Houston (1991), while teaching courses ranging from graduate seminars to introductory American Government.
Professor Murray has previously consulted in more than 200 political campaigns. He conducts polls for The Houston Chronicle, other media, and local governments, and is the political commentator for the local ABC affiliate, KTRK-TV, Channel 13. In addition, his analyses and commentary are carried by television and radio, as well as print media such as The New York Times, Washington Post, L.A. Times, and The Houston Chronicle.
Professor Murray is married to Deborah Hartman, public relations consultant, and has three sons and one grandson.
In January, each year, the TxGC Foundation awards the Smith-McCool Sword to the Midshipment from the Chapter area, with the highest order-of-merit, going into their First Class year. The sword, is named after astronaut Michael Smith ’67, who was lost in the Challenger disaster, and astronaut William McCool ’83, who was lost int he Columbia disaster.
For the graduating class of 2019, we’re proud to award Midn 1/c Francis Kim of Clear Lake High School. Link to full biography
Presenting Astronaut, and keynote by Sunita Williams (Captain, US Navy, Ret.) NASA Astronaut. Link to full biography
TxGC MEMBERS ALWAYS GET $5 OFF!
- Advance purchase online: $30 ($25 for TxGC members)
- Week-of-event & walk-ups*: $35 ($30 for TxGC members)
- *if seats available
- TxGC Member discount is provided by a discount code via member-only newsletter
- TxGC Membership is only $10/year… join today
TxGC MEMBERS ALWAYS GET $5 OFF!
- Advance purchase online: $30 ($25 for TxGC members)
- Week-of-event & walk-ups*: $35 ($30 for TxGC members)
- *if seats available
- TxGC Member discount is provided by a discount code via member-only newsletter
- TxGC Membership is only $10/year… join today
MENU
- Ice tea, water, soda, cash bar
- Choice of Sicilian salad or Mama’s gumbo
- Choice of entree
- Chicken John Kim: grilled chicken topped in mushrooms, roasted peppers, white wine butter sauce
- Penne Pasta with Meat Sauce: traditional penne pasta with Mama’s slow cooked meat sauce
- Blacked Trout: filet topped with etoufee served with red-skinned mashed potatoes and vegetables
- Choice of chocolate cake or cheesecake
GUEST SPEAKER
Anne Keene is the author of The Cloudbusters.
75 years ago the New York Yankees won the 1943 World Series but they were beaten by a Navy “fighter pilot” team known as the Cloudbuster Nine with Red Sox legend Ted Williams. As a child, Anne Keene’s father, Jim Raugh, (a future minor-league Detroit Tigers player) suited up as the Navy team’s batboy. Seven decades later a trunk revealed the untold story of this team manned by greats from the Yankees, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Detroit Tigers and every other big-league team. Learn about “Greatest Generation” heroes in this narrative including: Babe Ruth, Presidents George H. W. Bush and Gerald “Jerry” Ford; astronauts John Glenn and Scott Carpenter; and Alabama’s Paul “Bear” Bryant.
Keene has written about THE CLOUDBUSTERS in the New York Times, and her book was listed among the top 20 selling summer sports books on Amazon. Keene has spoken at the Texas Book Festival, and has been on tour in Boston, Dallas, North Carolina, and New York. She’s also been a keynote speaker at the South Carolina- Palmetto Chapter of the USNAAA, and will be speaking at the Los Angeles and San Diego Chapters.