Speakers and Meeting Recordings

2024 Annual Congress of the General Commandery

“Four Centuries of Naval and Maritime History”

02 – 05 October 2024 ~ Buffalo, New York

Recorded Events

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Wednesday, October 02, 2024

0930 -- 1025 Roundtable: National History Day Program

1030 – 1125 Awards Committee (No recording available)

1030 – 1125 Investments Committee/Finance Committee

1300 – 1355 Site Committee

1300 – 1355 Constitution & Bylaws Committee & Resolutions Committee

1400 – 1555 Roundtable: Membership 

1400 - 1455 Commandery Support Committee

1600 - 1725 Roundtable: Commandery Commanders

Thursday, October 03, 2024  

0800 – 0955 Roundtable: Communications

1000 -- 1055 US National Security and the Navy in the Years Ahead - VADM Bob Murrett, USN (Ret)

1100 – 1155 Roundtable:  Development

1315 – 1530 General Council meeting

1530 – 1700 Roundtable: Finances-Process & Status

Friday, October 04, 2024

0800 – 0830 Presentation of the Colors National Anthem Invocation Tolling of the Bell Ceremony

Recording lasts fm 0800-1005

0830 – 0840 Administrative Remarks

0840 – 0850 Credential Committee Report

0850 – 0920 Commander General’s Report

0920 – 0935 Recorder General’s Report

0935 – 0950 Registrar General’s Report

0950 – 1005 Membership Committee Report

1020 – 1035 Treasurer General’s Report

1035 – 1045 Auditor General’s Report (To be provided following Congress due to Sched)

1045 – 1145 “Developing Naval Minds: The History and Uses of Studying the Naval Past”  CAPT Benjamin Armstrong, USN; The study of the naval past has long been a part of the preparation and education of naval officers in the United States and around the world. CAPT BJ Armstrong, Deputy to the Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the U.S. Naval Academy, will discuss the history of the study of history and how it has contributed to the development of naval minds across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and how it remains vital to facing the challenges of the twenty-first century.

1200 – 1315  Jan Armstrong / Distinguished Sea Service Award – Enlisted Award Luncheon

Saturday, October 05, 2024

0815 – 0830 Awards Committee Report

0830 – 0845 Communications Committee Report

0845 – 0900 Site Committee Report

0900 – 0915 History Committee Report / National History Day Project

0915 – 0930 Project Manager Report (starts at 1:14)

0945 – 1000 Commandery Support Committee Report

1000 - 1100 “USS The Sullivans (DD-537) History & Challenge” Paul Marzello, President & CEO, Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park; A Tin Can Sailor’s overview of the destroyer’s distinguished record, plus special insight into the unique aspects of maintaining USS The Sullivans for continued service in the Historic Naval Ships Fleet. (Starts at 1:53 of the recording)

1100 – 1150 “Measuring & Modeling Naval Presence”  CAPT Henry J. “Jerry” Hendrix, USN (Ret); In recent years, a crucial military mission of the U.S. Navy has been to provide “naval presence”. What does the term encompass and how is it measured? Captain Hendrix, whose many contributions include the book, To Provide and Maintain a Navy and service in DoD’s Office of Net Assessment, will provide insight into the Navy’s mission outside wars and major conflicts.

1200 – 1315 Lee Douglas Award / Admiral of the Navy George Dewey Award Luncheon

1330 – 1345 Investment Committee Report

1345 – 1400 Foundation President’s Report

1400 - 1500 “Deploying Swift Boats to Vietnam” Navy Veteran LCDR Willard “Bill” Mahood; Patrol Craft, Fast (PCF) or Swift boats were key units in the “Brown Water Navy” during the Vietnam War. Challenging service as a junior officer Swift boat OIC heralded many distinguished Surface Warfare Officer careers. At the front end of force deployment and early operations, Commander Mahood’s personal observations provide unique insight into those early days.

1515 – 1615 “Information Warfare”  RADM Sean Filipowski, USN (Ret); Background, current status, and thoughts on historical and future impact on information warfare in the maritime domain. Prior to retirement in 2919, Admiral Filipowski served as Special Advisor to the Director of Information Warfare. He is a Companion of the WNY Commandery.

1615-1630 Closing