Military Ball

Columbia University Military Ball

Friday, November 8, 2024
6:30 - 10:30 p.m.

Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers
23rd Street and West Side Highway
NYC

The Columbia University Military Ball is the premier event celebrating the Columbia and New York City veteran communities. Proceeds help underwrite academic and career transition programming for all veterans and military family members nationwide, financial aid for veteran students at Columbia University, and veteran student and alumni programming.

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Honoree

Vice Admiral (Ret.) John Mustin
15th Chief of Navy Reserve

Vice Admiral John Mustin is a native of Alexandria, Virginia. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Weapons and Systems Engineering and was commissioned in 1990. He holds a Master of Science in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and a Master of Business Administration (cum laude) in Finance and Management from the F. W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College. He earned his Joint Professional Military Education from the Air University’s Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base.

Mustin’s sea duty assignments include command of Expeditionary Strike Group 2/Task Force 29; commissioning operations officer on USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), and aboard USS Vincennes (CG 49), where he served as combat information center officer, navigator and the air warfare commander of the Independence (CV 62) Battle Group.

Affiliating with the Navy Reserve in 2001, Mustin served at Navy Reserve (NR) Carrier Strike Group 2 / USS George Washington (CVN 73) Strike Group during Operation Enduring Freedom. Other staff assignments include NR Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3N5) at the Pentagon Navy Command Center; Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 14; NR Carrier Strike Group 10 / USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) Strike Group; and Personnel Mobilization Team 101. Additionally, he served as the inaugural Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Navy Reserve Enterprise Director, responsible for the reserve manning, training and equipping of the 1000-billet LCS surface reserve force.

Other command tours include NR Joint Staff South; NR U.S. Fleet Forces Command Maritime Operations Center, Greensboro; NR Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 6; and Inshore Boat Unit 22, including a mobilization to Kuwait during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. His other flag assignments include deputy commander of Naval Surface Forces, spanning the Surface Type Commanders of the U.S. Pacific and Atlantic fleets; as a plankowner and the deputy commander of the re-established U.S. Second Fleet; and as vice commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

Mustin became the 15th Chief of Navy Reserve on 7 August 2020. As Commander, Navy Reserve Force, he leads approximately 59,000 Reserve Component personnel who support the Navy, Marine Corps and joint forces. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Battle Efficiency ‘E’, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and various service, expeditionary, unit and campaign awards.

Hosted in Collaboration

Celebrating the Columbia and New York City Veteran Communities

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS

Students

$100

One ticket to the event for a current student of Columbia University

Recent Alumni

$150

One ticket for a recent graduate (2020-2024) of Columbia University

Contributors

$260

One ticket to the event for a Columbia University alumna/alumnus, guest, or friend of the School
Listing in the dinner program

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SPONSORSHIP LEVELS

Philanthropic commitments to the Military Ball will impact tens of thousands of veterans and military family members annually while also strengthening the University’s support services for its 700+ veteran students and military family members campus-wide. Proceeds from the event will directly support:

Academic and career transition programming for veterans and military family members nationwide
Scholarships for veteran students at Columbia University
Support and programming for the Military Veterans of Columbia University student group and the Columbia Veterans alumni organization

For more information, or to purchase a table, email [email protected] or call 212-853-2444.

Platinum Shield

$50,000

Recognition on the Center for Veteran Transition and Integration website
Special recognition during the dinner
Logo in the dinner program
Two premium tables for twenty guests

Gold Shield

$25,000

Special recognition during the dinner
Logo in the dinner program
One premium table for ten guests

Silver Shield

$10,000

Special recognition in the dinner program
Listing in the dinner program
One premium table for ten guests

PAST HONOREES

Walter and Shirley Wang, University Trustee

in recognition of their generous support for student veterans at Columbia University.

Walter Wang is the CEO and chairman of North America’s largest plastic pipe manufacturer, JM Eagle. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the company has 23 plants throughout 17 U.S. states as well as Mexico and China. Mr. Wang has been a leading supporter of efforts to bring clean water to communities in developing countries around the world. As of 2010, JM Eagle has provided 400 miles of pipe, supplying 500,000 people with water in eight African countries. Mr. Wang sits on the board of directors of the Formosa Petrochemical and Formosa Chemical and Fiber Corporations. Mr. Wang also serves on the board of directors for the Drug Enforcement Agency Foundation and the Los Angeles Police Foundation.

Shirley Wang is the founder and CEO of Plastpro Inc., one of the world’s largest fiberglass door manufacturers. Plastpro was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, with a 300,000 square-foot fully automated plant in Ashtabula, Ohio. Builder News recognized Plastpro’s doors with a “Best Product” award, and Plastpro was recognized by Window and Door magazine with “Most Innovative” and “Top 100 Manufacturer.” In 2022, CIO Views listed Mrs. Wang among the year’s most admired women business leaders. Mrs. Wang serves as a director for the board of the publicly traded company Douglas Emmett Inc. Additionally, Mrs. Wang is currently a trustee at Columbia University and Harvard-Westlake School. Previously, Mrs. Wang was the first Asian chairwoman of the board of the UCLA Foundation and was on the UCLA Executive Campaign Committee raising $5.49 billion for UCLA.

Walter and Shirley Wang's multimillion dollar support has extended to numerous philanthropic initiatives, encompassing disaster relief, social justice, medical and cancer research, education, and technology. They have donated to educational institutions including UCLA, Columbia University, Brown University, and Harvard Westlake School for funding scholarships, endowed chairs, lounges, stadiums and buildings. The Wangs have contributed over a million to the Los Angeles Mayor’s Fund to help families who were impacted by the pandemic as well as over 50,000 face shields to healthcare facilities at UCLA and Cedars Sinai. Their donations to Cedars Sinai established the Walter and Shirley Wang Emergency Department Treatment Area East, and the Walter and Shirley Wang Endowed Chair for Pediatric Surgery. The Wangs have given in excess of a million to relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Syrian Refugee Crisis, and the Maui fires. The Wangs funded the Drug Enforcement Administration Museum exhibition at the California Science Center and donated millions to the DEA Foundation youth program, serving over 65 cities nationwide, and the Summer Night Lights LA Parks Program to curb gang activity amongst youngsters. They have also donated body cameras for police officers of the LAPD. Their donations to Asian Americans Advancing Justice have funded multiple staffing positions including six pro bono lawyers dedicated to aiding abused women and combating anti-Asian discrimination.

They were the first and major sponsors of the Emmy nominated PBS documentary, “Becoming American: The Chinese Experience” by Bill Moyers. They also supported the production of “Blood of Yingzhou,” which won the 2007 Oscar for Best Short Documentary. They also supported "The Warriors of Quigang,” which was nominated for the 2010 Academy Award in the same category and resulted in the Chinese government committing $30 million to clean up the toxic waste around the waterway where the film was set. They are also supporters of the LA Philharmonic.

The Wangs view sports as a vehicle to promote community pride and cohesiveness. They are trustees and proud sponsors of the US Olympic and Paralympic Foundations and LA28. As the title sponsor of the JM Eagle LA Championship, they engaged in a multi-year partnership with the LPGA and were the first to double the purse for this event, helping to elevate women’s sports. They also founded a professional basketball team in Taiwan, the New Taipei Kings.

Mr. and Mrs. Wang each have been awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for their contributions to America. They have also received awards including the China Institute Blue Cloud Award, the Asia Society Visionary Award, the Advancing Justice Ruby Hero Award, and the Anti-Defamation League Humanitarian Award.

VETERAN SUPPORT AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Columbia University founded the School of General Studies (GS) in 1947, in large part to meet the needs of GIs returning from World War II. By further building on these origins over the past 20 years, establishing close relationships with military bases across the country and supporting student veterans in their transition to civilian and campus life, GS has firmly established itself as the pre-eminent destination for veterans seeking an Ivy League undergraduate education. Today there are nearly 500 veterans enrolled at GS—a number many times greater than that to be found at any other elite institution.

These decades of experience gained by the School of General Studies in working with, and supporting, military service members led directly to the founding of the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration, a national center of excellence focused on providing access to world-class programming and support, ensuring veterans throughout the country have the tools to maximize their potential as they transition into higher education and the workforce.

Student engagement plays a significant role in veteran support at Columbia, as well. The Military Veterans of Columbia University (Milvets) was originally formed in 2002 by a group of students at GS to foster camaraderie and networking among veterans, joining a long tradition of veteran scholars at Columbia. Milvets provides military veterans with resources, opportunities, and support at Columbia University, in order to facilitate a successful education and provide a strong foundation that will endure well past graduation.

Currently the largest student veterans organization in the Ivy League, Milvets membership includes individuals from every branch of the armed forces who have served in countless operations worldwide, and members use their experience to promote diversity and understanding while striving to close the gap between our nation’s military and the society it serves. Milvets hosts multiple events and opportunities both on and off campus, and works to address veterans’ issues while highlighting opportunities for social, academic, pre-professional, and philanthropic engagement.