James Brandt:  

ation. I lived in Keenan Hall for the first 3 years of college, then I resided in Dismas House for my senior year (a halfway house for ex-cons and students--what a great combination!). I was a member of a song and dance ensemble (read "show choir") called the "Shenanigans" for 3 years (a student-run organization). Also, I was on the Junior Parents Weekend Executive Committee as the Mass Chairman, and I led the music ministry for the Sunday night Masses in my dorm chapel. Lots of good times at ND! GO IRISH! Military I was in the Navy for nearly 15 years as a Surface Warfare Officer. My area of specialty was amphibious operations. I served on numerous amphibious assault ships, including a LST, LHD, LSD and LPD. My two most prestigious tours were as the Operations Officer onboard USS OAK HILL (LSD 51) (homeported in Little Creek, VA) and USS JUNEAU (LPD 10) (forward-deployed in Sasebo, Japan). I attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, where I earned my MS degree in Operations Analysis. My most memorable and enjoyable tour was at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. As a Military Instructor in the Math department, I taught first year calculus to the plebes and youngsters (read "freshmen and sophomores"). In addition to teaching, I was the Officer Rep for the Men's Varsity Water Polo team, and I was one of 4 readers of names at the Graduation Ceremony for two years in a row. After two great years at USNA, I resigned my commission in Jan 2005 to enter the seminary.