Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) has named area leaders to serve on his 2009-2010 Service Academy Advisory Board. The board’s purpose is to comprehensively screen and interview high school and college applicants wishing to receive a congressional nomination to one of the U.S. service academies.  The board then makes recommendations to Burgess for final review and nominations are submitted to the individual service academies (U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY; U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD; U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, CO; and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY) for appointment consideration. “One of the privileges I have serving in the United States Congress is the opportunity to nominate outstanding young individuals from the 26th District to our nation’s service academies,” Burgess said. “I am pleased to be joined in this responsibility by a stellar group of former military, education and civic leaders serving on the Advisory Board.  In this tumultuous time in our nation’s history, many young people in our area have expressed their interest in serving their country by attending one of our nation’s service academies.  After a rigorous selection process, I was grateful to receive excellent recommendations from this outstanding board.”

     Retired Air Force Lt. General Charles R. Hamm serves as Chairman of the Board. “General Hamm’s highly regarded service as the former Superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy enables him to capably lead the Board,” Burgess noted.  The twelve-member board met earlier in November to advise Burgess upon the selection of qualified service academy candidates. “I know how serious Congressman Burgess takes his responsibility to nominate highly qualified young people to the academies and working with this distinguished board, I believe we were able to recommend the right people to him for consideration,” said General Hamm. Members of the 2009-2010 26th Congressional District Service Academy Advisory Board are:

Lt Gen. Charles R. Hamm, USAF (Ret.), Chair of Argyle
Former Superintendent of USAFA
TX-26 Congressional Veteran Commendation, 2005
National War College, 1972
Air Command and Staff College, 1969
Lewisville, TX
M.S., Auburn University, 1969
B.S., U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY, 1956

Mrs. Elaine Emery of Lewisville
Medical Center of Lewisville Board of Trustees
Children’s Advocacy Center of Denton Co. Board of Directors
Christian Community Action Board of Directors
B.S., University of Oklahoma, 1968

COL Marc Hildenbrand, U.S. Army (Ret.) of Denton
Vice President of Infrastructure Development, Hillwood International Energy
Commanding Officer, 937th Engineer Group (Combat), 3rd Infantry Division, Operation Enduring Freedom-Iraq
Executive Officer to Commanding General, Army Corps of Engineers

Senior Military Aide Secretary of the Army
MMAS, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, 1992
MS, Arizona State University, 1987
BS, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY, 1979

Mr. J. Mark Lambright of Flower Mound
Chief Executive Officer, HealthPoints
University of Texas at Dallas School of Mgmt. Board of Advisors
MBA, Finance, The Wharton School, Univ. of PA, 1983
B.S. U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, 1975

Dr. Robert G. Landolt of Fort Worth
Professor of Chemistry, Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, 1981-Present
Department Chairman, 1981-85, 1990-95
Distinguished Visiting Professor of Chemistry, U.S. Air Force Academy, 2004-05
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 1965
B.A., Austin College, 1961

COL Pete Lane, USAF (Ret.) of Denton
Visiting Lecturer-Retired, Department of History, University of North Texas
M.A., 1969 & Ph.D., 1972, University of Washington-Seattle
B.S., U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, 1961

Mr. Kevin R. Purnell of Lantana
Project Manager, Siemens Industry, Inc.
Communications Officer, 56th Communications Squadron, Luke AFB, Arizona (2007)
Lieutenant, U.S. Air Force, 2004-7
MBA, WP Carey School of Business, Arizona State University, 2007
BS, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, 2004

Mr. Thomas A. Russell of Flower Mound
Aerospace Consultant/Owner, The Prime Connection?Southern Region Director, Honeywell Aerospace
Marketing Manager for Strategic Systems, Honeywell Space Systems Division
Manager, Honeywell Business Development: US Army Ammunition Research and Development Command, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ; US Army Communications Electronics Command, Fort Monmouth, NJ
Assistant Professor of Military Science, New Mexico State University
Commander, Three Infantry Companies, 9th Infantry Div., Mekong Delta, South Vietnam?Captain, U.S. Army Infantry Officer, Airborne Ranger ?B.S., U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY, 1963

MajGen Mary Saunders USAF (Ret.) of Denton
Executive Director, Leadership Institute, Texas Woman's University
Former Vice Director, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
34 years of service, USAF
Former Director of Supply, U.S. Air Force/Pentagon
Graduate, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
M.A., Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ
B.S., Texas Woman's University, 1970

CAPT Peter Stamps, USNR of Fort Worth?Quality Assurance Manager, North America, Hanson Pressure Pipe, Inc.?Former Academy Board Member, U.S. Senator Rod Grams (MN)?MBA, University of Phoenix, 1999?Graduate, Naval War College, Newport, RI; BSME, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, 1985

Mr. Peter Strohla of Frisco?Director, EDGE Process Improvement, Horizon Lines?MBA, University of Tennessee, 2003?B.S., U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY, 1985

Mr. Richard Walker of North Richland Hills
Finance Manager, Customer Support and Services, Bell Helicopter
Past State Vice President, Air Force Association
B.S., Oklahoma State University, 1982

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D., is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and three of its subcommittees: Health, Energy & Environment, and Oversight & Investigations.  He is also a member of the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Economic Committee.  Prior to becoming a member of Congress in 2002, Congressman Burgess practiced medicine in North Texas for over 25 years.