2025 VMI Alumni Association Annual Meeting of its Members

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Steven Amato ’83 graduated from VMI in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. During his cadetship, he earned an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship, was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate of AFROTC, and commissioned as a second lieutenant into the U.S. Air Force.

During Amato’s 27-plus years of active duty service, he was an instructor radar navigator and a senior standardization evaluation IRN in the B-52. Amato is a rated Master Navigator with over 3,400 flight hours, including combat time, and has flown in the T-37, T-43, B-52G, and B-52H. Amato’s career broadened in the logistics career, specifically into transportation, and he was a logistics readiness officer. While assigned to the 93rd Transportation Squadron, Castle AFB, California, he contributed to the squadron earning the 1993 Air Combat Command’s “Best Unit” and the prestigious National Defense Transportation Association Award.

Amato commanded the 2nd Transportation Squadron at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, which was the second-largest transportation squadron in the Air Force with 190 personnel, and during his tenure, the squadron was awarded four separate Air Combat Command-level awards, including runner-up for the ACC Best Unit NDTA. He completed tours in Headquarters Air Combat Command, Headquarters Air Force at the Pentagon, and a Joint Duty assignment with Headquarters Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, United States Army, as the executive agent for the Department of Defense’s Personal Property and Passenger Programs which was worth $2 billion per year.

Amato deployed three times in his military career: Twice with flight operations for Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Strike, and he volunteered to deploy for 1 year to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, as an LRO in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom and Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. Amato culminated his Air Force career as the professor of aerospace studies and commander, Detachment 880 AFROTC at VMI from 2008–11. While he was Detachment 880 commander, the cadet enrollment increased to more than 520 cadets, making Detachment 880 the largest AFROTC unit of a total of 144 in the nation. In addition, 100 cadets commissioned into the USAF, the Detachment was the 2010 Southeast Region’s High Flight Award winner as the best large AFROTC unit and was the 2010 runner-up as the best large AFROTC unit of a total of 58 large units in the nation.

Amato earned his master’s degree in industrial technology from Texas A&M University, Commerce, Texas. His professional military education includes the Squadron Officers School, Air Command and Staff College, and Air War College. In 2011, Amato began his second career as a member of the federal government’s civilian service. He was assigned to five different divisions in the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and his last assignment was as an assistant section chief and program manager in the Victim Services Division, where he oversaw 275 victim service professions supporting victims of federal crimes. Amato deployed five times in support of communities affected by mass shootings. In 2024, Steve retired from the FBI with nearly 13 years of service and a total of 40 years of public service to our nation in both his Air Force and FBI careers. He is married to the former Mary Lagomarsino of Sacramento, California, and they reside in Northern Virginia. They have two sons and are blessed with seven grandchildren. He is engaged with family activities and with many friends. Amato is an active member of the Knights of Columbus, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the B-52 Stratofortress Association. He is a lecturer and Eucharistic minister in his local Catholic parish and is a former 1983 class agent (2018–23).

Andrew K. Bradshaw ’17 is a political science major and history minor from Christiansburg, Virginia. While a cadet, Bradshaw served on the S-5 Public Relations staff, participated in Cadet Peer Educators, worked in the quartermaster department, and was cadet in charge of the 2017 Spring FTX for those non-commissioning. Following graduation, Bradshaw moved to Alexandria, Virginia, and began working in the government contracting field and has served various DOD, OPM, DOJ, and DOD-adjacent customers, respectively. In June 2019, Bradshaw obtained a Master of Public Administration degree from Norwich University.

Since graduating from VMI, Bradshaw has been involved with the Career Networking Forum, originally attending back in 2017 and 2018. In April 2022, Bradshaw was asked to be a volunteer on the Alumni Association’s Career Networking Committee, and he has assisted several then-cadets, current cadets, and alumni, with their military or career transitions, with career networking advice related to the government contracting silo of industry. Bradshaw is currently engaged and is set to be married in Richmond, Virginia, in August 2025.

Matriculating from the Philippines, Mike Burke ’73 was one of the founders of the VMI Theatre his rat year, and he was managing editor of the VMI Cadet his 1st Class year. A four-year private, he graduated with honors in English and was chosen as valedictorian. During his 27 years in the Army, he served in the United States and overseas, was twice assigned to the U.S. Military Academy faculty, and deployed to the Gulf War with the 1st Armored Division. After retirement in 2000, he began teaching English, first at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and then at St. Louis Community College, until his final retirement as associate professor in 2024. He has been the new cadet recruiter for the St. Louis VMIAA chapter since 2001. He lives with his wife of 45 years, retired U.S. Army Dental Corps Col. Mary Burke, and their daughter, Emilie, in St Louis, Missouri.

Adrian A. Garcia ’87 matriculated Aug. 17, 1983, as an NROTC scholarship cadet. He was a private in Company D. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with a minor in English from VMI, a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix, a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies from the College of Naval Warfare at the U.S. Naval War College, and a Master of Science in Management degree from the University of North Florida’s Coggin College of Business. He has also completed a leadership development program held at Jacksonville University’s Davis College of Business.

Upon graduation from VMI, Garcia was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy. Upon completion of the Surface Warfare Officer’s School, Division Officer’s Course, and Steam Engineering Officer of the Watch Course, he reported onboard the USS Canisteo (AO-99), where he served as gunnery officer/cargo ordnance officer and assistant first lieutenant until the vessel was decommissioned in September 1989. In November 1989, he reported onboard the USS Vreeland (FF-1068) as communications officer. During his tenure, he also served as electronic maintenance officer and assistant operations officer. In addition, he coordinated the decommissioning and transfer of the vessel to the Hellenic Navy (Greece) as the frigate Makedonia (F458). While onboard USS Vreeland, he also participated in several operations, most significantly Operation Just Cause, Operation Desert Shield, and Operation Desert Storm.

He transitioned to the Reserve component in July 1992. He was assigned to various units, including NR Naval Control of Shipping Office, Jacksonville, Florida; NR Naval Control of Shipping Office, South America; NR Advanced Base Functional Component, Headquarters Unit; NR Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (COMUSNAVCENT) 108; and NR Military Sealift Command Expeditionary Port Unit 109. During his tenure with COMUSNAVCENT, he supported various joint exercises, along with a contingency deployment to Naval Support Activity Manama, Bahrain, in 1998 in support of Operation Desert Fox. He has had the honor of being selected for command of NR USS Spruance; NR Atlantic Ordnance Command Yorktown, Deployable Ammunition Reporting Team; NR U.S. Naval Activities United Kingdom 408; and NR Sealift Logistics Command, Atlantic.

While in command, his units earned three Leo V. Bilger Awards for Command Excellence. In 2000, he served on extended active duty as flag aide/executive assistant to the deputy commander, Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in support of Operation Southern Watch. From August 2009–August 2011, he served on the staff of the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet as the director of logistics/commander, Task Force Forty-three (CTF-43), where he led a team responsible for the Navy’s operational logistics effort in support of Operation Unified Response. He also served as director of the Maritime Operations Center Training and Assessments. In August 2011, he was mobilized to serve as the officer in charge, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Forward Headquarters Kuwait/Qatar, in support of Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom. Garcia retired from the Navy as a captain (O-6) in March 2015.

Garcia has executive and operational level experience, having led overall strategy, execution, and management of operations for a variety of organizations within the private sector. As a people and mission-focused leader, he has developed expertise in various program/project management disciplines, including business analysis, strategic planning and analysis, leadership and management, financial controls and analysis, staff selection and development, and logistics. He has had great success in diverse professional environments ranging from business/operations management to residential real estate sales and mortgage financing to construction materials sales and production management.

Garcia’s VMIAA support activities/participation include being an active member of the NE Florida Chapter and the NE Florida Chapter’s past president. In addition, he has supported the Institute’s visibility at college fairs and meetings with several potential candidates, coordinated/assisted in the coordination of NE Florida Chapter rat send-off outings, served as a member of the Class of ’87 35th Reunion Committee, and has been actively involved in regional/local brother rat gatherings (’87 mini reunions).

Garcia and his wife, Kathy, have been happily married since July 3, 1993. They reside in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

Mark Gonsalves ’81 is a seasoned entrepreneur, business strategist, and leader with a diverse background that blends military service with extensive expertise in business development. After serving his country as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, Gonsalves successfully transitioned into the private sector, where he has spent years helping business owners and entrepreneurs achieve their full potential. As a franchise owner with the Tony Robbins, New York Times best-selling author, Gonsalves gained invaluable experience in personal development and business growth, which he later leveraged as a member of the advisory board at Anthony Robbins & Associates.

During his 8 years of active duty in the U.S. Army, Gonsalves distinguished himself as a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, and the U.S. Army Airborne School. A highly trained and capable leader, he became Ranger-qualified and attended the Special Forces Qualification Course. His military career culminated in his role as a HALO detachment commander with the 1st Special Forces Group. After transitioning out of active duty, Gonsalves continued to serve his country in the U.S. Army Reserves with the 12th Special Forces Group and the Vermont National Guard. He also held the role of Company Commander for the Vermont Mountain School, where he was responsible for leading specialized training operations.

Beyond his remarkable military career, Gonsalves has successfully owned, invested in, and operated a variety of businesses, particularly in the real estate and wine and spirits sectors. His unique ability to build successful ventures and develop impactful marketing strategies has made him a sought-after expert in seminar marketing. Gonsalves has worked with national businesses and high-profile celebrity brands, helping launch multimillion-dollar projects such as Daymond John’s Launch Academy and the Sopranos Wine Brand in collaboration with HBO. His talent for creating and scaling businesses has not only built lasting brands but has also connected a diverse range of audiences.

Gonsalves earned a bachelor’s degree in history from VMI, graduating as part of the esteemed Class of 1981. He remains deeply involved with his alma mater as an active member of the VMI Alumni Association. For the past 4 years, Gonsalves has served as the Alumni Association New York City – Long Island Chapter president, where he has worked tirelessly to increase engagement and support for the Institute. His leadership in the alumni community has helped strengthen the bond between VMI graduates and the school.

Currently, Gonsalves is the managing director of a hedge fund overseeing the Hawk and Horse Vineyards in Lake County, California, and several Amazon-based businesses in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. In addition to his professional ventures, Gonsalves is committed to philanthropy. He has actively supported several nonprofit organizations, including Friends of Karen, which assists terminally ill children and their families. His dedication to giving back reflects his strong sense of community and the values instilled during his military service.

Mark and his wife, Maria, live in New York, where they share a deep connection to their Mediterranean heritage. They enjoy their annual pilgrimage to the island of Patmos, where they have a family home. This tradition brings them both joy, renewal, and a strong sense of cultural and familial connection.

For more than 30 years, Dr. Paul Hebert ’68, Ph.D., has worked to promote development and support humanitarian action in less-developed countries. He graduated from VMI in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering and earned a Master of Science and later a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served 2 years as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps assigned to the US Army Environmental Hygiene Agency in Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland. Following a 1-year position with Bechtel Corporation in San Francisco as an environmental engineer, he began his dream of a career in development and humanitarian action through an assignment with the Near East Foundation in Iran from 1974–76, helping the government to improve water supplies, sanitation and tackling the environmental control of bilharzia (schistosomiasis), a parasitic disease, in southern Iran from 1974–1976 (pre-Iranian revolution).

His career as an environmental engineer and coordinator of humanitarian assistance work spanned four continents, including Asia (Southeast, South, and Southwest), the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. He lived full-time in eight countries, including Iran, Philippines, Nepal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia (covering Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia), Geneva, Switzerland (where he covered Iraq, the former Soviet Republics and the former Yugoslavia), Ethiopia, and Kenya. His development and humanitarian coordination work also took him to other countries in Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma, Thailand); South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh); former Soviet Republics in the Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan) and in West Asia (Tajikistan) and in Southern Africa (Swaziland and Malawi).

Hebert retired from the United Nations in 2008, and he continued work as a consultant for the U.N. and several nonprofit organizations for several more years, as well as organizing programs for humanitarian conferences in Dubai, serving as a speaker at several such conferences.

The VMI Board of Visitors selected Hebert to be the third recipient of the Jonathan Daniels Humanitarian Award. In March 2011, he received the award before the entire Corps of Cadets, faculty, and staff.

Hebert was awarded the Floyd D. Gotwald Visiting Professorship for Leadership and Ethics for the fall semesters of 2013 and 2015 and served on the faculty of the VMI international studies department and the civil engineering department from 2013–18.

Paul is a member of Rotary International and the Steamboat Springs Rotary Club, where he chaired the International Service Committee. For several years, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Advocates for Routt County, serving Routt and Moffat counties in Colorado to support women who have been sexually or physically abused and to confront such abuse. He is currently a member of the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council Board of Directors in Steamboat Springs, a climate action nonprofit organization.

Hebert is an avid skier and enjoys sailing, reading, outdoor sports, and adventure. He has two grown children in Colorado and three grandchildren. His wife, Dr. Mayling Simpson, is a medical anthropologist and writer who had a noted international career. She recently completed and published a book about Hebert’s VMI Class of 1968, “Lives Guided by Honor – How VMI Shaped the Class of 1968.”

I entered VMI at the age of 16, the youngest cadet in the class, and graduated 4 years later at the age of 20 with a degree in biology. In my senior year of high school, my father, a World War II vet, said, “You’re going to VMI.” Being from New York, I had never heard of VMI, but that didn’t matter, that’s where I was going! It was a life-changing decision. I am a great believer in the VMI experience, and I attribute the success I have had in the business world to what I learned at VMI.

Following graduation from VMI, I served in the Army at Fort Gordon, followed by 8 years in the Army Reserve. Following active duty, I accepted a position with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. While there, at the age of 22, I decided I could do more. While working full-time, I went back to school and earned a second bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, graduating with honors. At the time, the challenge never fazed me; after all, I had been through much greater challenges at VMI.

Equipped with this new degree, I left the EPA to accept a position with Exxon Corporation. I held several engineering positions, which led to several management roles. From 1989–93, I was the operations manager for a portion of the refinery and chemical plant. This role required coordinating with other parts of the refinery/chem plant complex while meeting production and quality goals but always with a strong focus on safety and the environment, and while managing a large workforce. It was pretty much a 24/7 role. While at Exxon, I earned an MBA in finance from New York University, again graduating with honors, and followed that with an advanced certificate in finance, also from NYU, all while working full time. Again, this somewhat heavy workload was made much more manageable due to my VMI experience.

I worked for Exxon for 19 years. I was then asked to join an Exxon Corp./Shell Corp. privately held joint venture, Infineum, focused on fuel and lube additives. Infineum has been very successful, by most financial metrics, and continues as a prized asset of ExxonMobil and Shell.

My first position at Infineum was as Americas procurement manager. Three years later, I was named head of global procurement, leading a global team responsible for in excess of $1 billion in annual purchases. My responsibilities covered Infineum manufacturing plants and technology centers in more than 10 countries.

Following my procurement role, I was given the opportunity to head sales in North and South America. I was also made head of Infineum’s commercial operations board, to which all sales directors reported, and was the decision maker for most major global sales and marketing decisions. I was also a member of the Infineum executive leadership team.

Having experience on both the buy side as head of global procurement and on the sell side as head of Americas’ sales, I was often used as the lead negotiator for the higher value, more complex negotiations. I was also the go-to executive to lead crisis management teams when highly sensitive situations developed due to, for example, facility disruptions, severe supply situations, complex technical issues, or other events that could significantly impact the business.

While I very much enjoyed my role with Infineum, I decided to retire in 2017, 1 year later than initially planned. I turned down several contracting offers to focus on things I had not been able to do due to the responsibilities of the job and the constant global travel.

Since retirement, I have been able to follow one of my passions, which is to become more involved with VMI. I have represented VMI at many college fairs since my retirement. I have followed up with parents I met at the fairs and have assisted the Office of Admissions in contacting prospective cadets. Based on my experience talking to parents and students and from my corporate role, I met with the Admissions team in 2023 to share observations and suggestions to assist in recruiting and retention. One of the suggestions was to have a more formal alumni presence at Open Houses. I have now attended six Open Houses and talked to approximately 100 parents/students, with most sharing their appreciation for the one-on-one discussions. Several have since matriculated, and several parents have asked me to mentor their sons, which I am doing. Helping raise awareness of the immense value of a VMI education has been very rewarding. I was also selected as one of two alumni for the Admissions webcast “The Value of a VMI Education.”

I owe a lot to VMI and have a deep appreciation for what it has done for me and my family. I firmly believe VMI to be perhaps the greatest contributor to one’s ability to be successful in life.

Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Joseph Lynch ’69 is a 1969 graduate of VMI. He entered active duty in the Air Force in 1972 following graduation from law school at Emory University. He served 10 years on active duty as a judge advocate, followed by 22 years in the Air Force Reserve. His final Air Force assignment was mobilization assistant to the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force. While serving in the Air Force Reserve, his civilian position was assistant general counsel (manpower and reserve affairs) for the Department of the Navy, a career senior executive service position (Level 5). He is a recipient of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal and the Department of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Lynch joined the MOAA staff in 2010 as general counsel and corporate secretary. Founded in 1929, MOAA is the largest and most effective military advocacy organization in the United States with over 350,000 members. As the corporate secretary, he supported the board of directors and performed other duties associated with the operation of a large, nationwide corporation. As the general counsel, he advised the board of directors, president, and staff on a wide variety of corporate governance matters and directed MOAA’s legal affairs. He retired from his position at MOAA Jan. 31, 2025.

In addition to his duties as MOAA general counsel, Lynch has been actively involved in supporting the military community. He served as a member of the board of governors of the Army and Navy Club of Washington, D.C., and continues to serve on its finance, investment, and strategic planning committees. He also served on the boards of the PENFED Foundation and the Air Force Retired Judge Advocate Association. He and his late wife established the Major General and Mrs. Joseph G. Lynch Scholarship Fund at VMI to provide financial assistance to recent VMI graduates attending law school. He is a member of the Institute Society, the Washington Arch Society, and the George C. Marshall Order.

Christopher McCallum ’96 serves as director, program support for MHI Ship Repair and Services, LLC. McCallum has spent over 30 years in operations management in the maritime industry. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from VMI, a Master of Arts degree from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the College of William & Mary.

In this role, McCallum leads a team of 40 people in the planning, execution, and certification of U.S. Navy and commercial ship maintenance, repair, and modernization, including supply chain management and subcontractor oversight. He joined MHI Ship Repair after serving over 25 years in uniform, including the honor of serving as captain of a U.S. Navy destroyer.