Hugh "Hamp" Wilson '74 received his Florida Tech degree in Contract and Acquisition Management. Hamp credits his Florida Tech degree as being instrumental in his promotion to Director of Procurement Policy at NASA headquarters. He has recently written an article entitled "Stellar Alumni" on Florida Tech alumni that received a Contract and Acquisition Management degree and that have risen to General Officers in the military and SES in the civilian agencies. His abridged version of the article was recently published in the "Florida Tech Today" newspaper. Below is an unabridged version of Hamp's article.

FIT
A Launch Pad for America's Leaders
&
A Gateway to the Stars

I was lucky to have attended FIT when I did because I joined a stellar group of classmates who went on to become some of AmericaÍs senior military leaders. They commanded major military organizations or projects during their active Army careers, then retired and became Presidents and/or CEOs of national firms. Most of those Army students were officers who had finished the highly regarded Logistics Executive Development Course (LEDC) at the Army Logistics Management Center at Ft. Lee, VA. FIT had a cooperative agreement with that school to grant its graduates eighteen hours of credit toward a Master of Science Degree in Contract and Procurement Management, a course that FIT had developed in concert with local officials of NASA and the National Contract Management Association (NCMA). The students who chose to participate in that program relocated to Brevard County on a permanent change of station for approximately eighteen months in order for them to finish their graduate programs. Since all of the classes they needed were night courses, those Army students were able to study all day, or study while fishing off one of the many causeways in Brevard County, and attend classes cocked, primed and ready to learn the intricacies of Federal procurement. With such productive study efforts, they made it difficult for fellow students (myself included) to compete with them because we didnÍt have the time to study Æ they raised the bar.  Most other nighttime students had been working all day and were tired when they arrived in the classrooms. However, the net result was that the classes were very productive and stimulating because all of the students were there to learn and time was not wasted on non-productive issues.

While this article highlights the accomplishments of my fellow students at the Melbourne campus, few people realize what a wealth of talent matriculate on the various campuses of FIT. A quick review of FITÍs graduate programs proves that they are producing a great number of national leaders in Government and industry. And, those graduates carry the story of FIT and Brevard County wherever they go in pursuit of their careers. Although this story spotlights the achievements of the Department of Management Science graduates, it is recognized that many more FIT graduates have made significant contributions to society in business, medicine, academia and the humanities.

When I first started thinking about doing this article, I personally knew of five classmates who had made general officer in the Army, but I had a sneaking suspicion that there was several more out there just waiting to be discovered. So, I started researching the UniversityÍs On-Line Directory for other such achievers and contacting all those that I could find one way or the other, and boy was I right!

Eighteen Generals and several Senior Executives have been graduated from FIT, and those individuals have had a significant impact on major Federal programs. Most of these graduates are from the Master of Science in Contract and Procurement Management program; however there are a few other logistics oriented degrees as well as the MBA. FIT probably has proportionally more general officers and SES alumni members than most other universities, except, of course, major military oriented schools. FITÍs MS Degree in Contracts and Procurement Management was a very unique program Æ maybe the only such program besides George Washington University in Washington, DC in the early 70s. That program really interested those officers because the Army did not have at that time an institution to groom its future generals as the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) did for Air Force officers, so the FIT grads were some of the first Army officers to achieve the rank of General in the procurement career field.

LetÍs count the stars that have adorned the collars of FIT graduates. There are two four stars, four three stars, nine two stars and three one star Generals, among the FIT graduates. Forty one stars for its graduates is an amazing story of success for such a relatively small institution as FIT!

Heading up that list are four stars Generals Herbert J. McChrystal, Class of 1981, and Johnnie E. Wilson, USA (Ret), Class of 1977.

FIT graduates include four Lieutenant Generals: They are:

LTG Douglas D. Buchholtz, USA, Class of 1974

LTG Otto J. Guenther, USA (Ret), Class of 1973

LTG Ronald V. Hite, USA, (Ret), Class of 1974

LTG Hubert G. Smith, USA (Ret), Class of 1975

Nine Major Generals are alumni of FIT. They are:

MG Jere H. Akin, USA, (Ret), Class of 1974

MG James Ball,  (Deceased) USA, (Ret), Class of 1974

MG William L. Bond, USA, (Ret), Class of 1979

MG Edward M. Browne, USA (Ret), Class of 1974

MG Charles C. Cannon, USA (Ret), Class of 1976

MG Charles F. Drenz, USA (Ret), Class of 1973

MG Harry G. Karegeannes, USA (Ret), Class of 1973

MG Aaron L. Lilley, USA, (Ret), Class of 1974

MG Julian A. (Al) Sullivan, Jr., USA (Ret), Class of 1980

Three Brigadier Generals received Masters degrees at FIT, and include:

BG James E. Bickford, USA, (Ret), Class of 1974

BG Dennis K. Jackson, USA, Class of 1980

BG Michael J. Pepe, USA, (Ret), Class of 1973

The military graduates have commanded major Army commands and installations and been project managers of major programs such as those for developing new helicopters and other weapon systems, and these positions have been worldwide in scope. They have commanded thousands of troops and civilian employees and have received numerous awards and medals for their service. The service of one was even recognized in the Federal Register by a Congressman from Utah. Several of the General Officers have gone on to become Presidents, Vice Presidents, CEOs, etc., of large, well-known American companies. Others have filled key positions in civilian agencies such as major airport authorities. For example,

Johnnie Wilson is President and COO of Dimensions International in Alexandria, VA

Otto Guenther is the Vice President and General Manager of the Tactical Systems Division, TRW Systems of Virginia, and serves on the Boards of Directors of the Army Distaff Foundation, Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association and the Electronics & Information Technology Association. He is also active with the American Heart Association

Ron Hite is the Chairman & CEO of Cyrpress International in Alexandria, VA

Hubert Smith is Senior Vice President of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority

Ed Browne served as President of three of Martin MariettaÍs companies in England, Canada and Denver before retiring in 1994

Chuck Drenz manages his own consulting business in Virginia and is the past president of the Army Aviation Association and serves on its Board of Directors, as well as on the U.S. Army Science Board

Harry Karegeannes recently retired as a Vice President of Lockheed Martin in Dallas, TX 

Al Sullivan is now Senior Vice President of the COLSA Corporation, a company that provides software and systems engineering services to DoD and commercial customers

James Bickford serves as the Secretary of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet for the Governor of Kentucky.

Since many of these men are still active in those civilian positions, their influence continues even now throughout our nation. So, FIT has helped mold leaders who have lead our nationÍs defense efforts in the past and continue to use the knowledge gained at FIT to run American industry today. This is a group of men from all over America who got their jobs done, by the book or through their own intuition. As a result of their own initiatives, they accomplished their missions and rose to positions of authority with the government and the giants of American industry. 

When queried as to the impact or influence that their days at FIT had on their careers after graduation, most indicated that their MS degree in Contract and Procurement Management was critical to their successful rise to General Officer. Harry Karegeannes commented that his days at FIT continue to have a positive influence on his life when he said: ñFIT had and continues to have a really important impact on my life. Having an advanced degree from FIT is a career enhancer that has paid off for me. More importantly, those were happy, carefree days for all of us and our families.î  Jim Bickford stated that when he was called upon to command the Defense Fuel Supply Center, fîmy education at FIT was crucial to running this organization.î

Among the FIT graduates receiving graduate degrees are several who attained Senior Executive Service (SES) status in the civil service with the federal government. It is important to note that it is very difficult to identify those FIT graduates because there is no title, nor indicator, associated with that achievement. Therefore, it is almost impossible to identify SES graduates by merely reviewing a roster of Master Degree recipients. Among the known FIT alumni who achieved SES rank are the following:

Mr. Joseph T. Bolos, SES, Class of 1972

Mr. Harry H. Fuchigami, SES, Class of 1972

Mr. James E. Hattaway, Jr., SES, Class of 1979

Senior Executive Service (SES) officials rank as the flag officers (or general officers) of the federal civilian work force. The FIT civilian graduates who achieved that rank did so in positions of leadership in NASA, Department of Energy and Department of Defense, just to name a few. They have been instrumental in managing and developing national policy of those agencies. Some of them are presently occupying senior management positions, while others who have retired are still contributing to the success of their agencies by providing advice on critical issues. HereÍs what those SES graduates have done since graduating from FIT. 

Joe Bolos, retired from the Department of the Navy, now runs his own consulting business and is well known in Federal procurement circles for his five books on procurement subjects and the professional educational seminars that his firm conducts.

Harry Fuchigami, one of those responding, was a former military graduate who joined a Federal agency after his military service and rose to SES rank. Today, Harry is the Director of Government Wide Programs, Contracts and Security for Silicon Graphics, Inc., and serves as a member of the Board of Advisors of the Coalition of Government Procurement.  Harry is very high in his praise for his former professors at FIT and the influence that one of those professors had on him in realizing the critical importance of ethical conduct in the performance of federal procurements.

Jim Hattaway, another SES alumnus, is presently the Director of Procurement and Contracting at NASAÍs Kennedy Space Center. Jim has received the highest NASA recognition for his innovative management initiatives. Jim has also served as an adjunct professor at FIT and is a strong supporter for FITÍs educational programs.

I think it becomes quite obvious that FIT has become a major launch pad for success for all of its graduates, and a gateway to the ñstarsî for its military students. Many of these graduates chose to attend FIT during its early years, when the University was struggling to be recognized. Starting out as an Engineering College in 1958, primarily to support the space industry in Brevard County, the University has grown with campuses in Melbourne and nine other locations all over the nation. The University is now recognized as a leader and innovator in the educational field, and likewise, its graduates are recognized as leaders in Government and industry. What a nice turn of events! Brevard County residents, officials and students should recognize the gold mine that they have on the several FIT campuses and support the school for the treasure that it is.

For me, my FIT degree was instrumental in my promotion to a position at NASA Headquarters that led to SES status, so I know what that degree means, professionally speaking. In addition to the boost in my professional attainment, my days at FIT afforded me the opportunity to learn from, and work with, many excellent educators like Drs. Jerome Keuper, Jim Stoms and that ñhappy Episcopalian pilotî John Miller, just to name a few. I also realize that I was very fortunate to have been a classmate of a group of outstanding men, many of whom I still count as close personal friends. While they were all super achievers, they have retained their good nature and sense of humor and down-to-earth friendliness. What a special group of men to have as friends, and what a staunch group of boosters for our University.

Hugh H. (Hamp) Wilson, MS, Class of ï74

Hugh H. "Hamp" Wilson, M.S. '74, President of Hamp Wilson Consulting, a firm specializing in executive-level contract management services.

Editor's Note: If you know of any flag-rank officers that we may have missed, please contact the Alumni Affairs Office at alumaffr@fit.edu. We would like to hear from you.