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<p><em>Stephen Henry “Steve” Strom</em> was born in Columbia, MO to Lieutenant Colonel LaVere Strom and his wife, Eva Francis Strom. Steve’s parents instilled a Midwestern work ethic and demeanor in him, his older brother and hero, Pete, and his sister, Susan. Steve was very bright and competitive from an early age and loved tagging along after Pete to play sports with the older kids.</p>
<p>Steve attended Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, VA, where he played basketball and tennis and was inducted into the National Honor Society. During these years he also achieved Eagle Scout. </p>
<p>He entered West Point in 1966 and was assigned to Company A-2. Steve excelled in the classroom and on the courts, playing tennis and squash all four years. Beginning his love affair with all things Spanish, he also was a member of the Spanish Club for three years. In his last two years, he took part in the Debate Council and Forum and the Student Conference for United States Affairs. </p>
<p>At a mixer plebe year, he met Gayle Gannon, a freshman at Ladycliff, who became his wife of 51 years. </p>
<p>His gifted mind and relentless drive for excellence enabled him to graduate as a distinguished cadet, seventh overall in a class of 749. </p>
<p>Steve was commissioned in the Field Artillery and, upon graduation, attended Airborne School and Ranger School, where he earned the distinction of honor graduate. He drew as his first assignment the 5th Battalion, 81st Field Artillery, 8th Infantry Division in Wiesbaden, Germany. After assignments at the battery level, he became the aide to Major General Frederic Davison, the first ever African American division commander. He finished this tour as a battery commander.</p>
<p>After returning stateside in 1974, he earned a Master of Public Affairs (international relations) from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, with subsequent assignment to the USMA Department of Social Sciences, 1978-81, where he taught economics and assisted with coaching the tennis and squash teams. During these years he also managed to earn a Master of Business Administration from Long Island University. </p>
<p>In 1981, the family moved to Israel, where he was assigned to the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon.</p>
<p>After his year there, he rotated back to the 1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC, 1982-85. He participated in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada in 1983.</p>
<p>After his time at Fort Bragg, Steve was chosen to attend the Spanish Army Staff College in Madrid, Spain. He was very proud to be the only American in his class and spoke with wonder and admiration about the course, the Spanish people, and Rioja wine. Of the many exciting places he brought his family to, Spain was at the top of his list. He learned and embraced the language, culture, and people and taught his family to do the same. </p>
<p>Steve’s next assignment was a dream come true. He commanded the 4th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 3rd Armored Division in Hanau, Germany, 1988-90. The love for his soldiers was evidenced in the battalion’s high performance.</p>
<p>Following a one-year fellowship at Harvard University, he served as the chief, Planning Division, Army DCSOPS at the Pentagon. Steve finished his military career as a special assistant, plans, in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense, 1993-95. </p>
<p>In his over 25 years of military service, he attained the rank of colonel and earned the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star. He was an honor graduate in his Ranger School class, a Master Parachutist, and earned both the German and Spanish parachutist badges. </p>
<p>After retiring from the Army, Steve worked as an executive at Tenneco Inc., the Cessna Aircraft Company (earning a single engine pilot’s license), and Northrup Grumman Ship Systems, where he was the vice president of quality and business process improvement, a perfect fit for a man who believed in doing everything right the first time, on time, every time.</p>
<p>The last five years, as he faced health challenges, he volunteered to head the 1970 Campaign for West Point, in preparation for his class’s 50th year reunion and gift. The results speak for themselves. Under his leadership, the class achieved a 90-percent participation rate, the highest in Academy history. When the campaign ended, the class gift fund totaled $3.265 million, fully endowing the Cyber Leaders Conference, along with funding two other Academy projects. </p>
<p>Throughout his lifetime of service, both in and out of uniform, he always believed in sharing his enthusiasm with his wife and children. He coached many of his children’s sports teams, helped with Boy Scouts, served as a PTA board president, and encouraged his children to become good, ethical people. He always led by example. </p>
<p>His love for all his children—Sarah, Ryan (Class of 1997), Kristian, and Mary Shannon—was deep seated and steadfast. His greatest love, until the day he died, was his wife, Gayle. He set an incredible example for all his kids and grandkids on how to treat your spouse and how to enjoy life.</p>
<p>He would want to be remembered as a lover of God, his family, and his country. In both his military career and subsequent life, Steve embodied his class motto: <em>Serve with Integrity</em>.</p>
<p><em>— Gayle Strom and Fred Zilian (classmate and pal)</em></p>
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