National Security and International Conflict: China & Russia
Lunch and discussion presented by Prof. Richard Stoll, Rice University, Albert Thomas Professor of Political Science
In addition to being well known as one of Rice University’s outstanding teachers, Professor Stoll is an accomplished scholar of international conflict. He has used computer simulation techniques and statistical analysis to study topics such as arms competitions, comparative foreign policy, and political realism. Dr. Stoll recently participated in a ten university effort funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to collect data on militarized interstate disputes. Along with Devika Subramanian of Rice’s Computer Science Department, Dr. Stoll is engaged in an effort to create events data from online news sources and to predict the outbreak of serious international conflict. This research has been supported by the National Science Foundation.
TxGC MEMBERS ALWAYS GET $5 OFF!
- TxGC Members, use the discount code, provided via email, at check out
- Attendance limited to meet COVID protocols
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
“A Warfare of Dockyards”: Expeditious Shipbuilding in the War of 1812. Lunch & presentation with William Prom ‘09, writer & historian.
During the War of 1812, two self-taught American shipbuilders, the brothers Adam and Noah Brown, made everything from gunboats to ships of the line for the U.S. Navy—including the most successful privateers, the sloop of war Peacock, and the first steam-powered warship, Demologos. However, their most impressive work occurred in the wilderness around the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. The presentation will illustrate some of their impressive feats and provide insight into current debates about raising and maintaining our modern navy.
William Prom commissioned into the Marine Corps after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2009 with a B.S. in History. In the Marine Corps, he served as an artillery officer for 5th Battalion, 11th Marines at Camp Pendleton, CA. He deployed to the Helmand province of Afghanistan in 2012 as a HIMARS Fire Direction Officer and on the 13th MEU in 2013-2014 as the BLT 1/4 Fire Support Officer and Fire Support Coordinator. William left the Marine Corps in 2014 and now works as a writer for CareerPro Global. His freelance work generally focuses on early U.S. Naval history and can be found in Naval History, CIMSEC, Real Clear Defense, and elsewhere.
TxGC MEMBERS ALWAYS GET $5 OFF!
- TxGC Members, use the discount code, provided via email, at check out
- Attendance limited to meet COVID protocols
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
Casual, “no-host” (pay your own meal) lunch in Beaumont for any Alumni or parents in the Beaumont area. No RSVP necessary but it helps us get a big enough table. Just look for us wearing Navy gear at the restaurant.
Buddy Wellborn ‘59 Annual N* Football Lunch
Special presentation, game to game, Navy football preview and predictions by Mike Yeager ‘76
- $30 per person, advance purchase
- $5 OFF for TxGC member
- Disc. code sent via email newsletter
- Lunch provided by El Tiempo Cantina
- Limited attendance, very limited walk-ups
Mike Yeager, ’76, played QB and slot back on the ’73,’74,’75 Navy football teams that won three Commander-In-Chief’s Trophies beating Army 3 times by a combined score of 100-6. Upon graduation, he served in USMC Artillery for 5 1/2 years. After leaving the service, he began a career as a petroleum engineer with ExxonMobil for 26 years and served as the CEO of BHP Petroleum for 8 years. He now serves as a Trustee on the Athletic and Scholarship Program committee at USNA providing needed funds for all 33 Navy Sports teams and is active with local Houston Marine Corps League Detachment #324 providing funeral honors for deceased Marines and assisting local Marines in need.
October Monthly Lunch
- Friday, October 8: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
- El Tiempo Cantina – 2814 Navigation Blvd
- $30 per person, advance purchase
- $5 OFF for TxGC member
- Disc. code sent via email newsletter
- Lunch provided by El Tiempo Cantina
- Limited attendance, very limited walk-ups
Afghanistan Experiences & Interpreters with Ian Knowles ’02 and Cress Clippard.
Listen to Ian and Cress share their personal experiences as Marines in Afghanistan and the impact interpreters had on their missions. They will discuss what it took to support interpreters seeking U.S. citizenship in the past and the importance of continued advocacy for Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans today.
November Monthly Lunch
- Friday, November 5: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
- El Tiempo Cantina – 2814 Navigation Blvd
- $30 per person, advance purchase
- $5 OFF for TxGC member
- Disc. code sent via email newsletter
- Lunch provided by El Tiempo Cantina
- Limited attendance, very limited walk-ups
Brigadier General Joe Medina ’76, USMC (Ret)
Join us for a presentation by our very own Joe Medina ’76. Joe has had a very unique career both in and out of the Marine Corps, including command of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines; 3rd Marine Regiment; Expeditionary Strike Group Three; Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler; 3rd Expeditionary Brigade; and 3rd Marine Division. His command of Expeditionary Strike Group Three was the first time a Marine Corps Officer commanded a Naval flotilla.
Since retiring from active duty in 2017, Joe has held several executive positions in the Asia Pacific Region. He is currently CEO of the risk consultancy firm, The Asia Pacific Strategies & Solutions (APSS) Group and recently published the book Battlefield to Business.
December Monthly Lunch
- Friday, December 3: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
- El Tiempo Cantina – 2814 Navigation Blvd
- $30 per person, advance purchase
- $5 OFF for TxGC member
- Disc. code sent via email newsletter
- Lunch provided by El Tiempo Cantina
- Limited attendance, very limited walk-ups
Andy Kahan, Victim Crime-Stoppers of Houston
We are privileged to host Andy Kaham, Director of Victim Services & Advocacy with Crime-Stoppers of Houston for what is sure to be a compelling conversation. Andy worked as both a Parole and Probation Officer before becoming a Victim Advocate–the first in the country to work in a Mayor’s Office. He spent the next 26 years as a Victim Advocate for the Mayor of Houston’s Office and the Houston Police Department. After retiring, he continued his work for victim advocacy with Crime-Stoppers of Houston. You can learn more about Crime-Stoppers and some of the services and programs Andy supports here.
Andy will share his victim advocacy experience and expertise with a presentation on Crime Stoppers 101 and the effects of felony bond reform.
We hope to see you all there.
Every year the chapter presents the 1/c Midshipman from our region with the highest order of merit with the Smith/McCool Award. The award is named in honor of the astronauts Michael Smith (Class of 1967) and William McCool (Class of 1983) who tragically died in the space shuttle Challenger and Columbia disasters respectively. With the award, we present the Midshipman with a Navy or Marine Corps Officer sword.
Join us as we recognize Midshipman 1/c Michael Kurp with this year’s award and a special presentation by Captain, Michael Coats, USN (Ret). Here are the details:
- Monday, January 3: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
- Taste of Texas – 10505 Katy Fwy. Houston, TX 77024
- $30 per person, advance purchase
- $5 OFF for TxGC member
- Disc. code sent via email newsletter
- Lunch provided by Taste of Texas
- Limited attendance, very limited walk-ups
Midshipman 1/c Michael Kurp
This year’s recipient, Michael Kurp of Oak Forest, is a Computer Engineering major with a minor in Russian. Michael has served as a Sea Trials Company Commander and Battalion Training Officer and will be 18th Company’s Operations Officer during the spring semester. He will begin work on a Master’s Degree in Computer Engineering at the University of Maryland through the Voluntary Graduate Education Program (VGEP) this spring. When studies and Academy responsibilities allow, he participates in the Muay Thai ECA, reads, plays guitar, and rock climbs. Michael will commission into the Marine Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant with a cyber contract this May.
Captain Michael Coats, USN (Ret)
Coats graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1968 and commissioned into the Navy as a Naval Aviator. As an A-7E pilot, he flew 315 combat missions in Southeast Asia from 1970-1972. After time as a flight instructor and test pilot, Coates was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1978. He flew in three space shuttle missions, STS-41-D in 1984, STS-29 in 1989, and STS-39 in 1991. Coats retired from the Navy and the astronaut corps in 1991. He worked for several air and space companies before returning to NASA in 2005 to serve as the 10th Director of the Johnson Space Center until his retirement in 2012. You can read more of NASA’s biography of Coate’s impressive career here.
We hope to see you all there.
February Monthly Lunch
- Friday, February 11: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
- El Tiempo Cantina – 2814 Navigation Blvd
- $30 per person, advance purchase
- $5 OFF for TxGC member
- Disc. code sent via email newsletter
- Lunch provided by El Tiempo Cantina
- Limited attendance, very limited walk-ups
Timothy Stroud, Army Combat Medic Veteran
Timothy Stroud is a former combat medic in the U.S. Army. During his five years of active service, he deployed to Kosovo, Kuwait, and Iraq, where he learned about team building, leadership, and camaraderie.
Since leaving the Army, Stroud has started several businesses and created an Army Wall of Fame in which over 1,000 celebrities, public figures, and elected officials signed photos for servicemembers to be displayed in Kosovo, Germany, Iraq, and Ft. Hood. He also founded the Killeen Police Department Law Enforcement Assistance Fund to assist the police, staff, and families of the KPD in their time of need.
He will deliver a talk on servant leadership and mentorship that is sure to be inspiring.
We hope to see you all there.
March Monthly Lunch
Please note the change of venue to the El Tiempo on Westheimer.
- Friday, March 4: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
- El Tiempo Cantina – 322 Westheimer Rd
- $30 per person, advance purchase
- $5 OFF for TxGC member
- Disc. code sent via email newsletter
- Lunch provided by El Tiempo Cantina
- Limited attendance, very limited walk-ups
Blue and Gold Officer Appreciation & USNA Trustee Update
We will be hosting our new Area Coordinator, Commander Don Link, USN (Ret.) and many of our local Blue & Gold Officers to allow them the opportunity to introduce themselves and provide updates on USNA admissions. Additionally, our very own Michael Yeager ’76 will provide details on several high-interest current and upcoming events at USNA.
Commander Don Link, USN, (Ret)
A native of Tacoma, WA, Don Link graduated from Stanford University in 1991 and received his commission in the US Navy via NROTC. Don served on active duty for 8 years with tours of duty aboard USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN-705) and as the Branch Head for Nuclear Field Recruiting at Commander, Navy Recruiting Command. Don went on to complete 28 years of service as a Reservist, with billets as Department Head, Executive Officer, and Officer-in-Charge of units providing Submarine Support, Mine Warfare, and Military Sealift support to the Active Component. He began serving as a Blue & Gold Officer in the northern Houston area in 2011 and has been USNA’s BGO Area Coordinator for Southeast Texas since 2021. Don currently works as a Business Development Director for Linde, evaluating large capital projects supporting the transition to clean hydrogen and alternative fuels. He has been married to the former Kathy Kurkul since 1994, and they have three adult children.
Michael Yeager ‘76
J. Michael Yeager ’76 serves on the USNA Foundation Board of Directors and as a Trustee to the USNA Athletic and Scholarship Program where he heads up the Fundraising Committee. Mike has just returned from Annapolis where he was briefed on a number of topics on the Strategic Direction of USNA, the issues and challenges for Navy Sports, and new post covid activities of the Brigade of Midshipmen. Mike will share these insights to inform alumni understanding and gain support for the needs of the Brigade.
Mike played football at Navy on the ’73. ’74 and ’75 teams that won three Commander In Chief’s Trophies and beat Army all three years by a combined score of 100 to 6. He went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps as an artillery officer. He then had a 38 year career in the oil and gas industry where managed the operations in over 40 countries around the world.
We hope to see you all there.