Schwartz named to service academy selection board
Richard Schwartz, Marion, has been appointed by Congressman Jerry Moran to serve on the First District Service Academy Selection Board. The board will meet Nov. 22 at Barton County Community College, Great Bend.
As part of the 16-member board, Schwartz will help interview candidates for admission to U.S. service academies. Following the interviews, the board will make recommendations to Congressman Moran for the final decision.
Candidates scheduled to attend the event have submitted applications for the U.S. Military, Air Force, Naval, or Merchant Marine academies. The interview before the selection board is the next step in the selection process.
"With 30 years of active service under his belt, Richard has seen what it takes for young men and women to succeed in the service academies and in the armed forces," Moran said. "I welcome him to the board and look forward to working with him to select a new generation of cadets."
Schwartz, a resident of the Marion County Lake, is an Ottawa University and University of Southern California graduate, being named to the Ottawa University Hall of Fame in 1999. He served for 30 years on active duty for the U.S. Marine Corps. He retired in 1989 at the rank of Colonel.
A graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Schwartz served as chief of ground operations for the U.S. Central Command, as a staff officer for the department of defense, and as the chief of staff of the Fourth Marine Division. For a time, Schwartz also served at the Marine Officer Candidate school, screening and selecting candidates for commissioning.
After retirement, Schwartz served as the director of the Agent Orange Payment Program in the southeast United States.
"I am honored with the appointment," Schwartz said. Having served on this board three years ago, Schwartz is aware of the responsibility and looks forward to the opportunity.
"There are a variety of applicants that will be interviewed," Schwartz said. "SATs and leadership qualifications will be reviewed. Some will be obvious leaders and will be chosen, and others won't."
Schwartz may be chosen again to serve on the annual, one-time appointed board and would be willing to provide the service if asked
