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Notable Veteran Alumni: David M. Crane

David M. CraneDavid M. Crane is an alumnus of Syracuse University, and also a military veteran. You should know his story, because it’s a Syracuse University story—one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future.

Born in Santa Monica, California, it’s unlikely David Crane immediately envisioned becoming a paratrooper, world-renowned jurist, international prosecutor, or honorary Paramount Chief among the civil society organizations of Sierra Leone.

 

David Crane launched his reputable career at Ohio University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in history, summa cum laude, and master’s degree in African Studies. While studying at Ohio University, Crane met his wife, Judi, his college sweetheart to whom he proposed six months later.

 

Following college, David Crane built quite an impressive resume serving as a U.S. Army officer and later Department of Defense (DoD) civil servant. His Army career spanned more than two decades, in which he starting out as a paratrooper and special operations officer. While serving, Crane later returned to school to earn a law degree from the Syracuse University College of Law and continued his military service in the U.S. Army JAG Corps. Following his military retirement, he worked another decade a senior DoD intelligence officer and held positions including Director of the Office of Intelligence Review, Assistant General Counsel of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Waldemar A. Solf Professor of International Law at the U.S. Army Judge Advocate Generals School.

 

While in federal service, Crane received an unexpected phone call leading to his nomination, and then appointment, by Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan to became the founding Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court of Sierra Leone, an international war crimes tribunal, from 2002 to 2005. He is accredited for indicting, among others, the former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor, the first African head of state in history to be held accountable for war crimes. David Crane was the first American since Justice Robert H. Jackson at Nuremberg in ‘45 to become Chief Prosecutor at an international war crimes tribunal. It is said that his greatest achievement with this trial was his assistance in securing the arrest of Charles Taylor. David Crane witnessed justice after a grueling 10 year case, when former president Charles Taylor was sentenced to 50 years in prison for crimes of terror, murder, and rape committed during the civil war in Sierra Leone during the 1990s, a testament that, in his words, the “rule of the law trumps the power of the gun.”

 

In 2006, David Crane became a Professor of Practice at Syracuse University College of Law, teaching international criminal law, international law, national security law, and the law of armed conflict. David Crane is on the Board of Advisors for the American Bar Association’s International Criminal Court Project (ABA-ICC Project), which implements American Bar Association’s policies on international criminal justice. In addition to his role on the College of Law faculty, Crane is a faculty member of SU’s Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism and currently serves as a co-chair on the sections International Criminal Court Task Force. With the support of more than 50 Syracuse law students to date, Crane also launched Impunity Watch, an online publication that informs the world of human rights violations in real-time, as well as the Syria Accountability Project (SAP), which provides impartial analysis of open source materials for future, open and fair prosecution of Syrian war crimes under the Geneva Conventions, the Rome Statute, and Syrian Penal Law. He also founded the “I am Syria” campaign in 2012 to help raise awareness of the atrocities perpetrated in the Syrian civil war.

 

For his service and distinguished accomplishments, David Crane has received multiple honors for his accomplishments, including the SU College of Law Distinguished Service Award (2005) and the university’s highest alumni honor, the George Arents Pioneer Medal (2006). David Crane is also an honorary Doctor of Laws recipient from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.

 

“Life is a challenge, and you have to deal with it as it comes,” said Crane. His life has certainly followed this axiom. A span of more than 30 years in service to his nation, his continual support and involvement in projects within SU’s College of Law, and work in international law, exemplify his boundless commitment to justice—not only for his nation, but also for humanity.

 

David M. Crane is an alumnus of Syracuse University and a veteran of the U.S. military. You should know his story.

Four Differences Between a Graduate Residence Program and an Online Degree Veterans Should Consider

Written by: Meghavaty Suresh

Graduate study is diverse in options, formats, and benefits. From all the queries we receive here at Syracuse University, we have noticed different groups of people opting for different programs based on multiple criteria. Veterans in particular choose between residence and online programs due to the convenience of location and life situations.

Here is a breakdown of four differences between the two formats that veterans need to keep an eye out for when considering graduate study and zeroing in on the best option.Residence-vs-Online-MBA

Instruction: The first and most evident difference is of course, the format of instruction. Residence programs are all about the campus and classroom experience. Students attend classes, take part in activities within the university framework, and enjoy face to face interactions with peers, professors, and staff. Online programs give you the benefit of learning the coursework through online sessions, videos, and forums, but less direct interaction on a regular basis with other people in class or the professor. An online program offers the comfort of forgetting about geographical and time constraints.

Program Duration: Residence programs usually have a set time frame that is shorter than an online format. This is because a residence program allows for a structured daily study schedule while the online format affords an easier schedule with classes spread out. For instance, the MBA residence program at Syracuse University can be completed in 14 months in comparison to the online program that requires 24 months for completion. It is worth noting, however, that many programs at Syracuse University allow greater flexibility and time to complete if requested for student veterans.

Start Dates: When it comes to a residence program, the application deadlines and start dates for the program are usually on an annual basis and follows a set timeline. Online programs usually have rolling admissions with start dates as frequently as four times a year. Different universities follow different formats when it comes to application deadlines and start dates. Pay careful attention to deadlines when applying to graduate schools and make sure to have your materials prepared well in advance.

Benefits: While the course material is the same, the benefits of the two formats are quite different. The campus and classroom experience gained from a residence program gives students the opportunities of meeting people from different demographics and with different ideas and views. The different interactions supplement instruction and add a social support structure. This can be important for some returning and adjusting to civilian life. With an online program, classes are delivered in a live, online format that also includes class discussions and conversations in a virtual manner. This is ideal for those who have full-time jobs and seek to earn a master’s degree during their spare time. The online MBA program at Syracuse University has three short residencies spread over the duration of the online program, which gives students a chance to meet their peers and instructors.

To learn more about the Whitman School of Management’s MBA residence program with specialized admissions for veterans, click here.

To learn more about the Whitman School of Management’s online MBA program that also features specialized admission benefits for student veterans, click here. 

 

Meghavaty Suresh is a Graduate Assistant at IVMF currently pursuing a Master of Science in New Media Management from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. She holds a Master’s in Management and Bachelor’s in Commerce from Mumbai University.

Setnor School of Music Director to Join Office of Veteran and Military Affairs

Dr. Patrick JonesThe College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) has announced that Patrick Jones, director of the Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music since 2011, will conclude his tenure as director at the end of 2014. Jones will join the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs beginning Jan. 19, 2015, reporting to Vice Chancellor J. Michael Haynie.

“I am excited for the opportunity to answer Chancellor Syverud’s call to make Syracuse the best university for veterans,” says Jones, a veteran of 30 years’ service and retired Air Force colonel who will help craft the execution plan for the University’s military-veteran strategy. “I am honored to have served Setnor and am proud of all we accomplished together. Setnor will always hold a special place in my heart. It is a wonderful school that is gaining greater recognition for the high quality of its faculty and students.”

“Throughout his time as director and professor of music in the Setnor School, Patrick’s passion for his administrative and academic responsibilities has served the school extremely well,” says VPA Dean Ann Clarke. “These strengths, combined with his military experience, will be a great asset to Vice Chancellor Haynie.”

“Given Patrick’s experiences as both a military and academic leader, he’s uniquely positioned to advance our institutional strategy related to empowering veterans, military-connected students and their families through education,” says Haynie. “I’m excited to have him join our team.”

Under Jones’ leadership, the gender and ethnic diversity of Setnor’s faculty increased; faculty governance was strengthened; the school’s visibility and recruiting footprints grew nationally; its physical plant and equipment were improved; and new degree programs were launched, including those in sound recording technology and voice pedagogy, as well as a revised music industry program with an optional five-year B.M./M.B.A. double degree in collaboration with the Martin J. Whitman School of Management. Named programs were established, including the Baker Artist Series and the Gilbert Week: NYC Seminar for Music Professions. Donations to the school were increased, including scholarships, funding for the Music Technology Access Project for special needs youth and funding for such new equipment as marching band uniforms and pianos. Launched under Jones’ tenure, Setnor’s campaign to become an All-Steinway School has netted several new pianos, including two new concert grand pianos for the Rose and Jules R. Setnor Auditorium and pianos for classrooms, teaching studios and practice rooms throughout the school.

In addition to his administrative leadership experience and academic career as a professor and scholar of music education history, curriculum and policy, Jones served for 30 years as a military bandsman, retiring at the rank of colonel in October 2011. His assignments included being a trombonist on active duty, commander/conductor of the 553rd Air Force Band and 12 years at the National Guard Bureau as chief of Air National Guard Bands. As chief of bands, he guided units toward readiness, developed policy and managed budgets for more than 400 musicians in 11 bands stationed across the United States. The bands performed throughout the U.S.; on diplomatic missions on behalf of the U.S. Department of State in Eastern and Western Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East; and for troop entertainment in deployed locations throughout the Middle East.

Clarke has appointed Martha Sutter, VPA assistant dean of undergraduate students, as interim director of the Setnor School effective Jan. 1, 2015.

Sutter joined the Setnor School’s voice and choral faculty in 1986 and was named VPA’s assistant dean of undergraduate students in 2000. She has served as a member of numerous University committees, including the Academic Coordinating Committee (chair, 2005-2008), the Behavioral Consultation Committee, the Judicial Review Board and the Retention Council. She began the Arts Adventure Learning Community in 2001 and served on the Student-Athlete Advising Task Force.

An active musician, Sutter has performed with the Syracuse Symphony, Society for New Music, Skaneateles Festival, Artpark, Oswego Opera and Syracuse Opera, where she held the position of chorus master for several years. For the past 20 years, she has served as director of music at University United Methodist Church in Syracuse. She holds a master of music degree in vocal performance from the Setnor School and a bachelor of music degree in music education from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.

“Martha has devoted her long career at Syracuse University to the education and well being of students, including those in Setnor,” says Clarke. “She understands the school—including its history, strengths and challenges—from the perspective of both an administrator and faculty member. She is a valued member of my cabinet, and I look forward to working with her in this new role.”

“VPA has been my academic home for more than 30 years, and I’m happy that I am now coming full circle back to Setnor,” says Sutter. “I’m excited to work with the music faculty and students, as well as my colleagues in VPA, to uphold Setnor’s mission and strong reputation as a top school for talented musicians and music industry leaders.”

Notable Veteran Alumni: Don Waful

At 98, Don Waful ’37, G’39 is one of Syracuse University’s oldest surviving military veterans. Here Waful reflects on his World War II service, meeting the loves of his life and why he has been a dedicated Syracuse football fan since 1933.

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Notable Veteran Alumni: Martin J. Whitman

Martin J. WhitmanMartin J. Whitman is an alumnus of Syracuse University, and a veteran. You should know his story because it’s a Syracuse University story—one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future.

Martin’s story starts and endures with strong ties to the Syracuse community. Born in the Bronx, New York on September 30, 1924, Martin was called to serve his country in World War II, where he served in the pacific theater. Mr. Whitman returned to New York State after the war, but instead of returning to New York City, he found a home in Syracuse. He enrolled at Syracuse University and graduated magna cum laude in 1949 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Upon graduation, he worked as a security analyst at Shearson, Hammill & Co. before first dabbling in investment banking with the Rosenwald family, renowned for its ties to Sears, Roebuck, & Co. Later, he went on to earn a master’s degree in economics from the New School of Social Research (now New School University) in New York City.

As a 50-year veteran securities investor, Martin’s accomplishments are unrivaled. In 1974, he founded the M.J. Whitman LLC, a broker-dealer firm that later affiliated with Third Avenue Management, founded in 1986. Additionally, he has co-managed Third Avenue Value Fund since 1990. Third Avenue Value currently manages over $21 billion in assets for clients, demonstrating Whitman’s success in leadership and the business world.

After construction of a new, state-of-the-art-facility in June 2003, Syracuse University honored Martin’s legacy and success by proudly naming the Whitman School of Management after him. He also serves as an honorary member of the university Board of Trustees. His commitment to education is further demonstrated by his membership on the Board of the Institute for National Security Studies, affiliated with Tel Aviv University.

Eager to share his wealth of knowledge with others, Martin has authored several books including The Aggressive Conservative Investor with Martin Shubik, and Value Investing—A Balanced Approach. What’s more, Martin also returned to school, teaching as an adjunct professor at the Yale University School of Management and at the school that bears his namesake at Syracuse University.

http://www.newswise.com/images/institutions/logos/whm-logo.gifToday, Martin is 90 years old. Upon his retirement in 2012, he transferred responsibility to his co-manager and protégé of Third Avenue Value Fund, Ian Lapey. At long last, he is enjoying his well-earned retirement. His career accomplishments exhibit passion for his work and demonstrate an intellect, ambition, and compassion that can only be cultivated through his unique experiences as a service member, a scholar, and a businessman.

Martin J. Whitman is an alumnus of Syracuse University, and a veteran of the U.S. military. You should know his story.

Col. Joseph R. Novack, Jr. (Ret.) Named Executive Director of Veteran and Military Affairs

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Veteran and Military Affairs (VMA) at Syracuse University is pleased to announce the appointment of Col. (Ret.) Joseph R. Novack, Jr., as executive director of Veteran and Military Affairs.

J Ronald NovackAs executive director, Novack will play a principal role in developing and directing the long-term planning and operational activities in support of the broad portfolio of veteran and military-connected programs at the University. Col. Novack will also serve as campus liaison to VMA’s partners and stakeholders and as lead integrator with other university departments developing strategies and initiatives focused on engaging and empowering the University’s military-connected students, staff and alumni.

“Colonel Ron Novack is a proven and principled leader,” says J. Michael Haynie, Vice Chancellor for Veteran and Military Affairs. “Chancellor Syverud and I are excited to have him join us in our ongoing efforts to position Syracuse University nationally as a leader in advancing educational opportunity for the nation’s veterans and their families.”

Novack enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1982, and served in Belgium and France before attending Officer Candidate School in 1990. He was commissioned as a field artillery officer in the branch detail program and became a quartermaster officer in 1992. He has served in numerous command and staff positions during his 32 years of service, retiring from the Army in November of 2015.

Most recently, Novack served as deputy commander, Capabilities, Development, Integration (CDI) for the U.S. Army’s Combined Arms Support Command, Ft. Lee, Va., where he directed the training, education and leader development of Army sustainment professionals and led a workforce of 300 military and civilian employees in over six directorates.

His most recent command position was as commander, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, in Fort Stewart, Ga., which included a nine-month deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His command positions include commander, 10th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, in Fort Drum, N.Y., with a 15-month deployment to Kirkuk, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and as commander of Headquarters and Alpha Company, 407th Forward Support Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., Supply and Services Troop Commander, 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta (Airborne) in Fort Bragg, N.C.

Novack is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a B.S. in management, and he holds an M.B.A from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an M.S. in national resource strategy from the National Defense University.

Notable Veteran Alumni: Albert Lee Gaines

Albert Lee GainesAlbert Lee Gaines is an alumnus of Syracuse University, and also a military veteran. You should know his story, because it’s a Syracuse University story—one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future.

Though born in Struthers, Ohio on November 27, 1923, Albert Lee Gaines and spent the majority of his adolescence in Seneca, New York, where he attended the Seneca Vocational School. Following high school, Gaines went on to Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri; however, in the thick of World War II, he transferred to the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. There he would go on to make a significant mark on American history.

With much reluctance and through great adversity, Gaines became a member of the now world-renowned Tuskegee Airman in his early 20s. Prior to the Tuskegee Airman, there were no black U.S. military aviators. When Congress forced the U.S. Army Air Corps to form an all-black combat unit in 1941, Gaines was able to complete the course. He graduated Tuskegee University, as a 2nd lieutenant and progressed to the rank of captain as a pilot, bombardier, and eventually flight instructor. While in attendance at Tuskegee, Gaines also met Leola McCoy, whom he would later marry in 1948 and have two daughters.

image006.jpgDuring the height of WWII, Mr. Gaines was one of the few Tuskegee Airman to join the ranks of a unit known as The Red Tails. This elite group developed a feared reputation among German pilots having been accredited for shooting down 106 enemy aircraft and never losing a plane under escort. It was only later in 1952 that Gaines and several other Tuskegee Airmen were acknowledged for their success by the T.J. Watson family, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the founders of IBM, with whom he would eventually find employment. Notably, when he took the IBM opening exam, he had achieved the highest test scores on record.

AlbertLeeGaines2With support from important figures, Gaines was accepted into and attended Syracuse University—it was a “Jackie Robinson moment” as he called it. From Syracuse to Westchester County, he finally settled down in Peekskill, NY, where he worked as a computer engineer. Later, he successfully integrated the New York National Guard and served as the Lakeland School Board President, where he met his “Princess and Best Friend” and married her in 1991. Mr. Gaines retired from IBM in 1999, but he didn’t stop there. He continued to be a legal activist at the Montrose VA Hospital and even ran once for county executive. Gaines fully retired in 2003.

Albert Lee Gaines served as an advocate for civil rights and held significant positions in several local political committees, state associations, and in Westchester community organizations; but most importantly, Gaines was a diverse, kind-hearted, and intelligent man. He enjoyed photography, furniture repair, boxing, and electronic and automobile work, but most of all—being a voice for others. Albert Lee Gaines’ lifetime achievement was helping race relations in this nation. However, according to his second wife, Addie Viola-Baldwin, this humble and discrete man never spoke of his accomplishments. This Ohio-native was a Tuskegee Airman legend, one that gained a high level of respect and will forever be part of our history books.

Albert Lee Gaines is an alumnus of Syracuse University and a veteran of the U.S. military. You should know his story.

Notable Veteran Alumni: Gerald Cramer

Gerald CramerGerald Cramer is an alumnus of Syracuse University, and also a military veteran. You should know his story, because it’s a Syracuse University story—one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future.

Born in Utica, New York on May 9, 1930, a year after the Wall Street crash and the beginning of the Great Depression, Gerald Cramer was the youngest of three in a family of Lithuanian immigrants. As a boy, Cramer, who deeply admired and modeled himself after his father’s strength and work ethic, thirsted for a college education. Encouraged by his parents, he applied to the prestigious Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, one of the oldest in the United States, but quickly learned that pharmaceuticals were not a lifelong interest. Instead, Cramer applied to Syracuse University and was accepted in the summer of 1948.

While attending Syracuse, Cramer held various student leadership positions and conspicuously created the Campus Leadership Scholarship with the Traditions Commission and Campus Leaders Society. He also played varsity tennis his senior year. Mr. Cramer graduated in 1952 with a bachelor’s of science in accounting from the Whitman School of Management.

He awaited a U.S. Navy commission upon graduation, and, in the meantime, applied to graduate school. Cramer was accepted to both Harvard Business School and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, but ultimately chose Wharton for its one-year program. While in graduate school, however, he received orders to report to Navy Officer Candidate School and left business school to serve his country.

Ensign Cramer’s first assignment was to Korea on the sole surviving Landing Ship Tank (LST 611) during the height of the Korean War. To his relief, however, LST 611 moved to Hawaiian waters. Cramer rose quickly from damage-control officer up to executive officer, the vessel’s second officer in command, and the rank of Lieutenant. LT Cramer served three years and four months on the ship that would be named Crook County 611, known for two things: “rugged and durable people and rugged and tough terrain.” The name appropriately describes the ship and its servicemen, much like Cramer.

Mr. Cramer’s hard work and dedication have spanned nearly six decades and contributed to an impressive investment-banking career. Most notably, Cramer co-founded and was chairman emeritus of Cramer Rosenthal & McGlynn LLC, an investment advisory firm that manages more than $10 billion in assets. He has also served on numerous boards and in leadership positions for firms such as Oppenheimer & Company, Silver Lane, GOM Capital LLC, and Seavest Capital.

Like his father in many ways, Cramer was also active in philanthropic work. Cramer’s civic commitments include membership on the boards of the National Road Safety Foundation and Ripplewood Corporation, a major equity firm. Cramer also served as director of Tea Town Lake Reservation and formerly on boards at St. Joseph’s Medical Center and the Glaucoma Foundation.

Cramer also remains active in Syracuse University affairs. Since 1995, he has served on the executive committee of the Board of Trustees and has held posts as vice chairman and chairman of the investment and endowment committee. He has also served as a member of the SU School of Architecture Advisory Board and the Metropolitan New York Advisory Board. He has been a major benefactor of the Maxwell School with more than three-dozen students as recipients of Cramer Scholarships and four Maxwell faculty members with the title of Cramer Professor. Mr. Cramer has also sponsored and funded a joint program between the Maxwell School’s Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism and the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) of the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel. In 2004, Cramer was selected as the first recipient of the Maxwell School Horizon Award; and, in 2006, Cramer was awarded the George Arents Pioneer Medal, Syracuse University’s highest alumni honor.

Gerald Cramer is an alumnus of Syracuse University and a veteran of the U.S. military. You should know his story.

Notable Veteran Alumni: John E. Breyer

A U.S. Navy veteran, John E. Breyer found his passion for science, technology, and education early on in his career. Following his military service, Breyer received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and continued his education by taking graduate courses at both Cornell and Syracuse Universities. It was at Cornell’s School of Integrative Plant Science that Breyer found gratifying work in the biophysics laboratory under Dr. Bill Fry, a renowned scholar who specializes in plant epidemiology and expert in late blight disease in potatoes and tomatoes.

Notable Veteran Alumni: Brad Anderson

BradAnderson2Brad Anderson is an alumnus of Syracuse University and also a military veteran. You should know his story because it’s a Syracuse University story—one that speaks to our past, our present, and our future.

Born in 1924 in Jamestown, New York, Brad is best known as an American cartoonist and creator of the comic stripsMarmaduke and Grandpa’s Boy. His career as a comic artist started at a young age. By high school, Brad was already publishing cartoons for aviation magazines such as Flying andFlying Aces. Having graduated in 1943 from the Brocton Central High School in western New York near the height of World War II, Brad served in the US Navy for three years. In this time, he gave more than just his service. He continued to hone his craft and published cartoons for the US Navy.

After the war, Brad used his G.I. Bill to attend Syracuse University for a bachelor of fine arts degree with a major in advertising. By this time, Brad’s work was gaining not only local popularity in the SU student magazine The Syracusan, but also commercial popularity in well-known commercial outlets like Collier’s Weekly and theSaturday Evening Post. He gave advertising a try, but quickly came to terms with his true calling and directed his energy exclusively on freelance cartooning.

Launched in 1954 and still going, Brad’s remarkably successful and celebrated creation Marmadukewas reportedly first inspired by his mother’s boxer, but he ultimately chose a Great Dane due to its “expressive face.” More than 600 newspapers in 20 countries published the comic strip throughout its syndication. Marmaduke grew into a staple of American pop culture, so much so that 20th Century Fox actually made it into a movie featuring stars like Owen Wilson, Emma Stone, and others.

Brad has received numerous awards and accolades throughout his storied career including the Newspaper Panel Cartoon Award from the National Cartoonists Society in 1978 and the George Arents Pioneer Medal in 1999, Syracuse University’s highest award that it bestows upon its graduates.

Brad Anderson is an alumnus of Syracuse University, and a veteran of the U.S. military. You should know his story.