Stephen Maloney will join 36 other 1978 U.S. Naval Academy graduates Friday in Annapolis to end 30 years of service in a mass retirement ceremony.
The class of 1978 is one of the last remaining Vietnam War-era classes, and has a resounding 31 flag officers ? admirals and generals ? including the academy?s superintendent, Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler.
The Examiner interviewed Maloney, who is retiring as a Marine
colonel and one of the event?s organizer.
How has the academy changed since 1978?
It?s hard to compare. From my perspective, today?s midshipmen are more qualified, as the academy was less stringent then. We performed well, but I don?t think we could measure up with them today in terms of overall academics and athletics.
I can remember having human relations training. Marines would sit around ? black, white, Hispanic ? and try to understand their perspective. You don?t have that now, you don?t need it as much now because [of the diversity].
Have the academy?s recent scandals ruined its image?
It?s embarrassing when we read about this stuff. That?s why you need a guy like Jeff Fowler who is heavy-handed and won?t put up with the stuff that goes on. But what goes on at any other university is much worse than what goes on at the academy.
How has the attitude of the military changed since you joined the Marines?
There is a lot more credit today. I had a lot of friends that were hippie radicals, and they had no problem with me. But there was an attitude prevalent that enlisting was not something most high school seniors clamor into. Now you have a long line waiting to get into the academy.
How does the class of 1978 compare to others?
I wouldn?t say we?re anything special from the other classes. We have astronauts, senior positions, captains of industries.
Our class had Adm. [Alan] Baker, the Marine Corps chaplain and the first academy grad to serve as
Chaplain Corps flag officer.
