Posted: Friday, December 10, 2010 10:53 am

The Messenger 12.10.10

Retired Lt. Gen. John “Glad” Castellaw will deliver the fall commencement address at the University of Tennessee at Martin at 11 a.m. Dec. 18 in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.
About 602 degrees are expected to be awarded.
Tickets are not required for admission to December commencement. A live webcast will be available at the “View Commencement Live” news link at 11 a.m. Dec. 18 on the UT Martin homepage.
Castellaw, a Crockett County native, played freshman basketball at UT Martin and was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). In 1972, he received a bachelor of science degree in agriculture and the Paul and Martha Meek Leadership Award.
Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps, he first served in Marine tank and amphibian tractor units before becoming a helicopter pilot. He flew more than two dozen different aircraft and was Marine Aviator of the Year in 1990.
During his 36-year career, he held several commands, including Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 264, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1, the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, U.S. Forces East Timor and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. He served tours ashore and aboard ship in Europe, the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. His last assignments on active duty were in the Pentagon, where he oversaw Marine Aviation and the Marine Corps budget creation and execution.
In 2008, he retired with the rank of lieutenant general and returned home to the family farm. There he has resumed his first love, farming, in addition to consulting with various companies. He also serves on the board of directors for The Bank of Crockett and volunteers as a board member for the Crockett County Chamber of Commerce, the Crockett County Industrial Board, the Veteran’s Museum and the Tennessee State Veterans’ Homes and is a member of the UT Martin Alumni Council.
As a retired service member, Castellaw maintains a deep interest in national security issues and in veterans’ affairs. He serves on the Department of the Navy’s Naval Research Advisory Committee reporting to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Acquisition. He has authored editorials on security issues published in such newspapers as The Washington Times, The Commercial Appeal and The Jackson Sun.
As a veteran, he is a member of the Marine Corps League, the Marine Corps Association and is the National Commander of the Marine Corps Aviation Association.
He is married to the former Wanda Nelson of Obion County, who has a master’s degree from UT Martin and serves on the Development Committee. She is a senior policy analyst for Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) and works in support of the Department of the Army’s personnel programs. They have one son, Jake, who is with the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Joseph DiPietro, UT president-elect, will attend the ceremony to congratulate graduates, and UT Martin Chancellor Tom Rakes will preside over the exercises and confer degrees. Dr. Robert Hartshorn, University of Tennessee Alumni Association Alumni Distinguished Service Professor, will be the mace bearer and the processional marshals will be Dr. Janet Wilbert, Faculty Senate president; Dr. Mike McCullough, Faculty Senate vice president; Al Hooten, vice chancellor for finance and administration; and Len Solomons, vice chancellor for university advancement.
A reception will be hosted in Skyhawk Fieldhouse immediately following the commencement ceremony.