Influential Leadership Comes to South Whiting Field

By LT Sorcha Hartman, USN

In the fall of 1998 on the campus of Texas A&M University, Company H-1 was preparing for its 1st semester under the helm of H-1’s Commanding Officer, Cadet Matthew Kiser, ’99. The military class advisor was at the time, Major Eric Smith, ’87, now General Eric Smith, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. His influential leadership set the tone for Company H-1 that year and all members wanted to follow his example. TRAWING 5 was looking for a dynamic leader to inspire our young officers, so they invited General Smith to motivate our newly winged aviators on February 10th of this year and he did not disappoint. General Smith set high standards for his cadets at Texas A&M University and he did the same by challenging the new aviators to maintain high standards when they enter the Fleet. Many members of Company H-1 went on to serve in the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and four of them are currently serving in major leadership roles.

The Commanding Officer of Company H-1, CAPT Matthew Kiser, later on had the opportunity to lead the “Raptors” of HSM-71 and after completing Nuclear Power and Prototype Schools and was the Executive Officer of CVN 69, USS Eisenhower. He is currently the Commanding Officer of USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), the Navy’s only Joint Command Ship.

As part of the junior leadership class, CAPT Matthew Mulcahey, ’00, went on to serve as the Commanding Officer of VAQ-138, “Yellow Jackets,” and after his command tour he completed Nuclear Power and Prototype Schools. He is currently serving as the Executive Officer of USS Ford (CVN 78).

The sophomore cadre consisted of CDR Alex Buell, ’01, who is now a Professional Flight Instructor and is currently serving as the Officer-in-Charge of the Fleet Introduction Team for the TH-73, the Navy’s newest training rotary-wing aircraft. He is overseeing brand new aircraft being delivered from the factory to the Fleet.

As part of the freshman class, now CDR Dave Kiser, ’02, is currently the Commanding Officer of HT-18 at NAS Whiting Field. In this capacity, he is in charge of winging approximately 165 Naval Aviators every year from the United States Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and international students from Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Spain. At Whiting Field, 120,000 to 160,000 flight hours are executed every year encompassing 17% of all United States Naval flight hours, and according to some reports, this is the busiest airspace in the entire world.

These Officers are in their leadership roles because of the influence from General Smith. He left a lasting legacy on the members of Company H-1 at Texas A&M University and they are grateful for his actions as the Military Advisor. In addition, the newly winged aviators gained valuable leadership insight for them to take to the Fleet as they begin their careers. As a leader, General Smith led by example and he continues to lead Marines today in the same manner.

Editor's Note

General Smith has been nominated to lead the Marines as the next Commandant of the Marine Corps.