Class of 1976 Profiles
Frank Baleskie
Tim Buell
Steve Burchard
Gary Conary
- USMC: 106 Recoiless Rifle Platoon commander and Company XO in Okinawa. At MCRD served as Series Commander and Recruit Accessions Officer. Then H&S Company Commander and S4 with 1st Bn, 1st Marines. Left the Marine Corps in 1982 as O-3.
- Joined CIA and served in Costa Rica, Bolivia, Germany (Berlin), and Korea (Seoul), as well as extended TDY’s to Afghanistan and Jordan.
- Retired to Las Vegas in 2004.
- Advice: Focus on being technically and tactically proficient. Seek advice from senior officers. Read as much military history and biographies as you can. Be 3 inches taller and have 20/20 vision!
John Dohse
Kent Freeland
- USMC: Commissioned as Data Systems Officer (MOS 4002), stationed in Georgia and HQMC. Left as an O-3.
- Career: Completed Nuclear Power School in Idaho as a civilian with Westinghouse. Spent 40 years as a nuclear power plant operator, designer, and IT systems developer for power utilities and consulting. Also served as a diplomatic consultant with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for 22 years in Vienna, Austria supporting nuclear power safety worldwide.
- Moved to Europe in 1991, semi-retired, live in Slovenia with wife and son (who also works in the nuclear power industry).
- Advice: Make the most of the NROTC experience. Join the Drill Team and Seahorse. Camp in the wardroom a bit. Help or tutor other mids, maximize your summer cruises. Network on active duty and in civilian life afterwards. More often than not, good job opportunities come out of the blue from a network contact. Always remember that the US Navy and US Marine Corps are “two hearts that beat as one,” and support each other wholeheartedly in their mission of defense and freedom.
Peter Frost
Mike John
Mike Johnson
Richie Jones
Steve Klein
Jim MacDonald
Mike McCloskey
- USMC: Infantry, then Judge Advocate. Left active duty as O-4, then retired from USMCR as O-6
- Worked as partner in national and international law firms as business trial lawyer
- Family: Married, 3 kids, 3 grandkids
- Live in 4S Ranch, North County San Diego
- Travel: Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand
- Advice: Selfishly reserve time and opportunity to enjoy what you worked so hard to achieve. Smell the flowers, taste the coffee, relish your family.
Mike McMillian
Robert McWey
Bruce Nelson
- USN: SWO on USS Lang, FF-1060 homeported in San Diego. Deployments included the rescue attempt for the Iranian hostages in 1979 and at sea rescues of Vietnamese “boat people”. Moved on to shore duty as an instructor at Surface Warfare Officer’s School in Newport R.I. Left active duty as O-3.
- Career: Completed an MBA, held finance positions in the Los Angeles area. Eventually became Chief Financial Officer of multiple private and public companies. Served on five for-profit Board of Directors. Retired.
- Family: Married, 2 sons (oldest commissioned USC NROTC ‘2007), 4 grandkids.
- Live in Corona del Mar, CA
- Travel: Mostly Europe and the U.S.
- Advice: People in your life will stand the test of time. Value your family and friends along the way.
Jeff Newman
Don Parcher
David Robinson
Kevin Sandri
- USMC: Infantry Officer, left as 0-3.
- Army: Joined CA Army National Guard. Assigned as Asst. Prof Military Science at USC. Deployed to Bosnia. Retired O-5.
- Worked as an Investigator at US Investigation Services (USIS) for 10 years
- Married (Susan), 2 kids
- Live on Whidbey Island, WA
- Hobbies – Travel and Antiques
- Advice: I wish I could have told my young self… Spend as much time as you can with loved ones… work will always be there.
Jon Simmons
Cam Thornton