Marines On The Move

Marine Capt. Brian Adams ’01, above right, has been named by the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Association as the corps' Naval Flight Officer (NFO) of the year. The son of Kevin Adams, a research scientist with ODU's National Centers for System of Systems Engineering, he is serving in Iraq with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron Three (VMAQ-3) as the assistant aviation maintenance officer. His primary duty is as an electronic countermeasures officer flying the EA-6B Prowler jet. VMAQ-3 is one of four squadrons tasked with conducting airborne electronic warfare as part of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The Robert Guy Robinson Award that Adams received is given annually for the most outstanding contribution in combat, research and development, weapons employment or overall performance by a Marine NFO. Adams is pictured here with Gen. David Petraeus during his last deployment. Petraeus, currently the commander, U.S. Central Command, previously served as commanding general, Multi-National Force - Iraq.

Maj. William Bland Allen ’02, the senior active-duty Marine stationed in Alaska, and his family are pictured above with former Gov. Sarah Palin on May 21, two months prior to her resignation from office. Allen, the commander of Delta Company, Anti-Terrorism Battalion, and the other commanders of each service were asked by then Gov. Palin to be present when she signed a bill into law granting military children educational provisions for classes they completed at duty stations in other states prior to coming to Alaska under their parents’ military orders. Joining Allen at the signing were his wife, Michelle Crowder Allen ’93, and their children, Lindsey and Ashley. The picture was taken at Aurora Elementary School on Elmendorf Air Force Base. Allen is the stepson of Tom Wunderlich, assistant dean and director of ODU’s Career Management Center.