Greetings all. Bits and pieces of news from folks all over for you this issue.

Dave Cinalli continues to be a dependable remote correspondent, connecting us with information even while underway. Mixed in with his reports of classmates are small snippets of underway life in the Caribbean, including go-fast boat chases and other smuggling interdictions. Dave is headed to the Naval War College in the spring, so life will get calmer soon. Dave sent along the enclosed photo from his Change of Command with Keith Taylor, Pete Bergeron, Keith Curran,Rich Murphy, and Liam Slein all enjoying the fine Miami weather.

Dave Cinalli's Change of Command

One of his notes included an account of Jennifer Lay's Katrina experience from the Baptist Press. It read, "After the storm passed, Jennifer wondered what she should do next, and her answer was not far away. The Guard needed someone at the Emergency Operations Center in Baton Rouge with air operations experience, so she began taking calls and determining the need for boats and helicopters during the rescue effort. Throughout her 14 to 16-hour days, she received calls ranging from people stranded on rooftops to reports of gunfire."

The Senior Advisor, Under Secretary Policy and Planning, Department of Homeland Security sent along a note as well. Better known as Brad Kidwell, "the advisor" wrote "I just wanted to check in with you and provide a little fodder for our Class Notes. When I got out (retired) at 20 years I landed in a job here at DHS Headquarters in Border and Transportation Security. It has been incredibly challenging and rewarding helping stand up the new Department. The days have been long and the work tough but I work with, and for some outstanding folks. At home, Michelle & I are very blessed to have three kids that are happy, healthy, and doing well in what ever they take on. Kelly is 17, Joe is 15, and Steve is 13. They keep us hopping with sports, band, scouts, and church. We have settled in Maryland just outside Annapolis in Crofton so if anyone is passing through be sure to call on us.

"On a college scouting trip to Massachusetts I visited with Dave Calhoun and his family for those that remember Dave. He left in our Junior year. Dave has a beautiful family and settled in a wonderful home on the water in Cohasset, MA. He recently changed careers and has met with some incredible success. After a career in the construction industry as a Director for a General Contractor Dave is now a developer and doing very well. He and his wife Kelly have boy and girl twins age 13. Doyle and Riley. They are really nice kids and Dave has done really well for himself.

Congratulations Brad. You've gotta love that title of "Senior Advisor" as I think it describes what most of '83 is doing these days.

Kirk Hiles sent along a report showing that he remains active in the ship design industry, in this case serving as a senior advisor to his son Steve's "rain gutter regatta" sailboat. Steve's entry, called Eagle, won the Webelo I (4th grade) competition. Construction consisted of sanding, painting, and adhering the rudder, keel and mast. At the Builder's Sea Trials (photo enclosed) a directional stability test indicated the design was going to be competitive. The competition itself involved the scouts going head-to-head in a round-robin tournament, with the scouts providing the wind for their vessels. Since the event was a 12-foot course of twin rain gutters sitting on saw horses, the seas were calm for the race. Well done to the Superintendent of Construction and Steve. Kirk sent along a great photo to show, in his words, "can't stay away from the uniform only two years after retiring."

Eagle Sea Trial
Steve and Kirk Hiles

Pete Hoffman zapped in a note, probably from some wireless device that the rest of us might see in a few years. Pete is a Senior Engineer, Commercial Data Systems for Verizon Wireless. He wrote that it seems like he has been spending more time on active duty lately than in my civilian job. He recently spent a year on Title 10 active duty as Chief of Port Operations for MSO Detroit where he got to implement the new MTSA regulations and work through the transition as the MSO became Sector Detroit. He returned to his civilian job for 7 months, and was then called back to active duty again on Title 14 to assist in the response to Hurricane Rita as a member of the PFO staff for Admiral Hereth. Pete reported that no ' 83ers were present in his area, but he did get to work with the well-trained Denise Matthews and Paul Thomas from '85. Pete included a description that I could use some help with understanding the lingo, "We were only the 2nd PFO to be named since the NRP was completed, and the first to stand down (since VADM Allen is still working on Katrina), so we had the opportunity to develop metrics for PFO responsibilities."

Well done, Pete. Good to see that Verizon supports your Reserve work. If I were them I'd run an ad featuring your dual role as an engineer and Coast Guard officer.

If I missed anyone's note that they sent in, my apologies and please resend it with any new news. Sometimes my fingers set busy deleting e-mail and every now and then some useful things disappear into the ether without my even realizing it. At one point, a whole week's worth of e-mail disappeared but the sun still came up and I still got paid. so I guess nothing too critical was in the electrons that were liberated.

Jean & I wish all of our friends a Merry Christmas with the best of wishes for 2007. Cheers to all.