WEST POINT, N.Y. –– Isaac Newton Skelton IV will receive the prestigious Thayer Award in a ceremony hosted by the
U.S. Military Academy’s Association of Graduates Thursday, Oct. 18. The Corps of Cadets will conduct a review in his
honor at 5 p.m. on the Plain prior to the award presentation during a dinner ceremony. The review is open to the public.
As a leader on defense issues, Skelton was appointed to the House Armed Services Committee in 1981. He served
as chairman of the Military Forces and Personnel Subcommittee from 1993-94, the subcommittee’s ranking democrat
1995-98, the full committee’s ranking democrat from 1998-2006 and appointed chairman of the Armed Services Committee
from 2007-2011.
Skelton, an avid supporter for professional military education chaired a House Panel on the subject from 1987-88 and
was known as Congress’ chief advocate for better strategic thinking and improvements in the military’s intermediate and
senior level education programs.
He has been awarded the U.S. Army Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, U.S. Navy Distinguished Public Service Medal
Civic Involvement, U.S. Air Force Exceptional Service Award and named an Honorary United States Marine.
The Thayer Award, established in honor of Col. Sylvanus Thayer, “Father of the Military Academy,” is presented to an
outstanding citizen whose service and accomplishments in the national interest exemplify the Military Academy motto,
“Duty, Honor, Country.” The Association of Graduates has presented the award annually since 1958.
Past recipients of the Thayer Award include: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, Bob Hope, Neil Armstrong,
George H.W. Bush, Barbara Jordon, Walter Cronkite, Tom Brokaw, Colin Powell and Henry Kissinger. Last year’s
recipient was Robert Gates.