Old Dominion University Alumnus General Martin Schweitzer Honored as Guest Speaker at Annual Military Ball

  NORFOLK VA - 06/03/2017 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

Retired Brigadier General Marty Schweitzer was welcomed to his alma mater, Old Dominion University (ODU), as a guest of honor and guest speaker for the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Monarch Battalion Annual Military Ball.  The event, now celebrating its 49^th year, was held on March 24^th, 2017 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriot.

This formal ball is a traditional event held to honor the Battalion, including ROTC students and Senior Cadets.  This year marked an incredible number of Cadets culminating, with 27 Senior Cadets going on to become 2^nd Lieutenants and ultimately, lead combat missions in the coming years.  The highlight of this year’s Annual Military Ball was the speech delivered by distinguished alumnus and Brigadier General Marty Schweitzer, who spoke about his long and successful military career, offering words of wisdom to the assembled Battalion.

Said Major Hunter Bowers, the Professor of Military Science (PMS) at ODU, “It was a fantastic evening.  The honor and privilege to have a distinguished alumni such as BG Schweitzer as our guest speaker made it all that much more memorable.”  Bowers went on to say, “His insight in what it takes and the responsibilities that surround being an officer are exactly what made his speech so impactful.  It is not every day in which a Cadet gets to see someone that was in their shoes before and the success that they have had, and realize that there is a chance that they, too, could have the same success.”

With experience in combat and operational missions spanning four decades, BG Schweitzer is more than qualified to offer advice to the students at ODU.  In an introductory speech, the Battalion Commander noted Schweitzer’s service in combat missions like Operation Just Cause, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as non-combat operations in Rwanda and the Congo.  The Battalion Commander went on to highlight some of the many positions Schweitzer filled, including the pinnacle of Schweitzer’s military service, by saying, “He culminated his career as the Deputy Director for Regional Operations on the Joint Staff, where he managed day to day military global risk for our nation.”

Other notable guests at the event included LTC Brett Venable, LTC Darrell Ward (former APMS), and LTC Barry Hendricks (former PMS).  In keeping with tradition, the event was executed by ODU’s Army ROTC students, with ODU Army ROTC Secretary Linda Baker organizing the event.  The Old Dominion University Monarch Battalion Annual Military Ball is held in recognition of ROTC students, with special acknowledgment given to Senior Cadets set to graduate with commission.

About General Martin Schweitzer:  BG Martin Schweitzer earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University in 1985, before going on to earn a Master of Science degree in Education, Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University in 1995 and a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College in 2006.  He rose to the level of Brigadier General in the U.S. Army before retiring from military service in 2014.  He currently serves as President, CEO, and COO of Network Designs, Inc. and serves as a member of Boards of Advisory for Red Gate Group, Ballard Brands LLC, and Ballard Hospitality LLC.