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Isakson appoints members to Military Academy Selection Board

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) recently named 16 Georgians to his 2005-2006 Military Academy Selection Board, which will help Isakson select Georgia students for nominations to our nation’s military academies. 

“I am honored to have so many accomplished men and women from around the state of Georgia serve on my Military Academy Selection Board,” said Isakson. “Selecting from among so many qualified young Georgians to nominate for our nation’s academies is not an easy job, and I thank the members of my board for their valuable service.”

Through a competitive process, the Military Academy Selection Board must read hundreds of applications from young people around the state interested in attending one of the nation’s four service academies that require nominations.  Qualified students who meet basic criteria are then interviewed by the Academy Board, and the board nominates ten students per open academy slot. The number of open academy slots varies from year to year.

There are five service academies: the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Nominations are required for all but the Coast Guard Academy.

The annual selection of young people to our nation’s military academies is the responsibility of each Member of Congress. Every appointee is awarded a full four-year scholarship valued at approximately $315,000, which includes tuition, books, board, medical and dental care. 

The members of Isakson’s 2005-2006 Military Academy Selection Board are:

• Edie Bostic, Atlanta, recruiter for Northwestern University. Her son is a former Isakson appointee and a 2005 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy.

• Anna Cablik, Marietta, president and CEO of Anatek, Inc. and Anasteel & Supply Company, LLC. She is on the Board of Directors of Georgia Power Company, a member of the fundraising committee of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Board of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

• Brian Canova, Atlanta, loan officer for Southeastern Mortgage Solutions, Inc. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, served in the U.S. Navy for nine years, and is a Lieutenant Commander of the U.S. Naval Reserve.

• Bill Cathcart, Savannah, vice president and general manager of WTOC-TV. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum and currently co-chairs the Savannah-Area Chamber of Commerce’s Military Support Initiative Task Force.

• Tom Colella, Alpharetta, head of Korn/Ferry International’s Global Aerospace and Defense Sector. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and upon graduation was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Marines. Colonel Colella is the former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower Reserves. Colella will serve as chairman of Isakson’s Military Academy Selection Board.

• Stuart Fleming, Atlanta, senior consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and received an Air Force Commendation Medal in 2003. He is an Air Force Captain in the 94th Logistics Group at Dobbins Reserve Base.

• Chris Kalafut, Acworth, Commander and pilot in the U.S. Navy Reserves in support of drug enforcement missions and controls counter narcotics forces in the nation’s “War on Drugs.” Kalafut is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

• Carl Liebert, Atlanta, senior vice president of operations for The Home Depot. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for five years. Liebert previously served on Rep. Anne Northrup’s (R-Ky.) Military Academy Selection Board.

• Jack Liles, Atlanta, major sales account manager for UPS and an on-air military analyst for CNN and CNN Headline News. He is a graduate of The Citadel, and served as a Naval Flight Officer as Lieutenant Commander for ten years. He also is a graduate of the Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN).

• Walt Russell, Stone Mountain, retiree and former DeKalb County Commissioner. Russell is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy.

• Patrick Smith, Augusta, attorney for The Smith Law Firm. Smith is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and previously served on Rep. Max Burns’ (R-Ga.) Military Academy Selection Board.

• Spencer Smith, Atlanta, retired Colonel in the U.S. Marines and served in the Korean War.

• Charlotte Stowers, Marietta, principal of Pope High School. She received her undergraduate degree from AuburnUniversity and her Ed.D. from the University of Georgia.

• Abbott L. “Chip” Taylor, Peachtree City, instructor pilot for Delta Air Lines. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, serving as an Advisor to the Commander of the Air Force National Security Emergency Preparedness Agency.

• Jud Vann, Camilla, president and CEO of Planters and Community Bank, chairman of the Camilla Downtown Development Authority and a member of the Board of Directors for the Camilla Chamber of Commerce. Vann also is active in Marine Corp Logistics Base Community Operation in Albany.

• Tom Wessels, Atlanta, retired major general of the United States Army and serves as chairman of the employers for the National Guard and Reserve for Georgia.