When Four-Stars Align

Presented by Notre Dame Alumni Association

Join us for a conversation with Admiral Christopher W. Grady ’84, the 12th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and General Bryan P. Fenton ’87, the 13th Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command — two of 41 active-duty four-star officers in the U.S. uniformed services — as they discuss the long tradition of military and public service shared by Notre Dame alumni.

Associate Vice President for Federal and Washington Relations Laura McAleer ’98 moderates the discussion and explores the distinguished careers of our honored guests.

This event is presented by the Notre Dame Alumni Association, Notre Dame International Security Center, and Office of Military and Veterans Affairs. For more information and to read the ND News article about this event, please click here.

Each year the Notre Dame Senior Alumni offer a Veteran’s Recognition Event that honors all who have served the country as a part of their God, Country, Notre Dame Signature Event Series.

The centerpiece of the 2023 event is highly decorated Lt. Colonel Everett Blakely ’65 M.A., a B-17 command pilot for the 8th Air Force’s famed “Bloody 100th” Bombardment Group during World War II. Blakely also served as the Notre Dame Air Force ROTC commander from 1960 until 1965.

In his interview with Mike Cerre ’69—Marine veteran and Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist—Jim Blakely ’69 recounts some of his father’s dangerous missions, including the famous raids on the Regensburg Messerschmitt factory and the Bremen submarine pens. The program also contains video of some of the lieutenant colonel’s memories of flying his B-17 “Just A Snappin” from a 1989 interview.

For more information, or to view the programs of the past few years, please visit the Notre Dame Senior Alumni website.