To honor alumni for current and past military service, a flag retreat ceremony will take place during the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association’s Reunion 2010. The ceremony will be held June 4 (Friday) at 4:15 p.m., at the Pasquerilla Center (ROTC building). In the case of rain, the ceremony will move inside to the Carey Auditorium in the Hesburgh Library.
The guest speaker, Col. Michael G. Schellinger, is a 1988 Notre Dame graduate and South Bend native. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in business from Notre Dame, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant, branched aviation, through Army ROTC. He later received his master’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Schellinger currently is director, G3/5/7 Aviation, of the United States Army Reserve Command. Previously, he held positions as chief of Current Intelligence, G2, and secretary of the General Staff of the United States Army Reserve Command.
He also has served as executive officer of the United States Special Operations Command Flight Detachment at the MacDill Air Force Base (Fla.) and commander of the U.S. Army Jet Training Detachment at Dobbins Air Reserve Base (Atlanta). In addition, he returned to Notre Dame to serve as an ROTC instructor and battalion executive officer.
Schellinger’s 22 years of service as a commissioned officer in the Army has included overseas tours and deployments to Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Haiti, Germany, Italy, Bosnia, Albania and Somalia.
A decorated officer, Schellinger has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two bronze stars, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, NATO Medal, Air Assault Badge, Airborne Badge and Master Army Aviator Badge.