Gary Cataldo

In 1995, Cataldo started organizing an AROTC alumni reunion. NMSU did not have current contact information for many AROTC alumni, but through Cataldo’s hard work, approximately 180 former cadets showed up for the reunion in 2000. His efforts led to the creation of the first AROTC alumni chapter, an organization that Cataldo believes will have a major impact on current and future AROTC cadets, as well as other students at NMSU.

One of Cataldo’s major initiatives has been to find a way that the AROTC, its alumni and the university can cooperate to enhance the teaching of leadership at NMSU. Cataldo believes the AROTC leadership courses should be available to all juniors and seniors, not just cadets. Even-
tually, he wants the university to develop a bachelor’s degree program focusing on leadership that would be available to all students.

He sees roles for AROTC alumni in the leadership program as teachers, advisers, and mentors. He also sees great advantages in ensuring that AROTC alumni remain in contact throughout their careers Cataldo’s efforts to persuade AROTC alumni to become more active have paid off. The AROTC alumni chapter continues to rediscover “lost” members. The alumni have begun raising funds for an endowment that will provide cadet scholarships and help offset cadet training expenses. Cataldo and other alumni held the first annual AROTC Recognition Dinner in 2004, where cadets past and present were honored, including “fallen Aggies.”

For more information:
Gary Cataldo
catgr@aol.com