Associate and Academy Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences
West Point, New York
Office: 237 Thayer Hall, (845) 938-3322
Program Director, MA206 (Probability and Statistics)
Founding Director, Center for Data Analysis and Statistics (CDAS)
PERSONAL
PROFESSIONAL
I was born in Chicago, Illinois but moved to Southern California in 1976 and consider that my home state. Despite being voted class clown in high school, USMA accepted me and I graduated in 1986 with a B.S. degree with concentration in foreign area studies. I stayed away from a math/science major or concentration due to starting in MA 100 - an additional course to bring "at risk" cadets up to snuff - also known as "rock math".
As an Ordnance Officer, my initial assignments were as a Battalion Maintenance Officer, Company XO and then Shop Officer in the 104th MI Battalion and then 64th Forward Support Battalion of the 4th ID (then at Fort Carson, Colorado). After the Officer Advanced Course I commanded an Ordnance Company at Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland.
When the Department of Mathematical Sciences invited me to return as an instructor, my Army career changed significantly. With the misguided confidence of youth, I headed to Stanford University for Master's degrees before teaching at USMA from 1995 to 1998. I then spent 3 years in the Washington D.C. area doing operations research work at the Army Personnel Command (PERSCOM). Most recently I spent 2 (of the planned 3 years) at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst pursuing a Ph.D. in Biostatistics. For a number of reasons (perhaps having not lost the misguided confidence of youth) I returned to the Math Department in 2003, one year early, to teach and complete my dissertation (defended 24 Sep 04!) Clearly, I have been richly blessed beyond what I deserve!
Education:
B.S. (1986) USMA - Distinguished Cadet (Top 5% of class), Lee Saber Award (Highest Average in Mathematics)
M.S. in Operations Research (1995) Stanford, with Distinction
M.S. in Statistics (1995) Stanford
Ph.D. in Biostatistics (2005) University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Hobbies and Interests:
Violin, singing, tennis (really all sports), reading
Family:
I have been married (for over 20 years) to the beautiful and obviously patient former Mandy Dunne. We have two great children: Chelsea (Junior at Grove City College) and Steven (8th grade).