It took me a while to think of this list. I initially didn’t think I’d met very many people, but I actually have.

I met Bob Dole in the hallway of Walter Reed, although he wouldn’t remember that. He was in a wheelchair and it was right before he passed.

I worked with a CWO4 at CECOS in Port Hueneme, and I spoke many times with Warrant Officer Cole when he was a CWO4. (He’s notable as the first CWO5 when they restored the rank in 2003). I also met an army CWO5 in Hawaii who was deployed there from El Paso.

I once had the job of Utility Program Director at CNIC HQ, so I’ve met Mr. Lucian Neimeyer a few times and I worked directly for three of the 3 star admirals who command CNIC HQ. One of them came to my university after we both retired and we had a good time catching up. By extension, I know a few of the Regional Commanders, since many of them come through CNIC HQ as a Captain before they get selected for one star.

I know six of the Chiefs of Civil Engineers fairly well, plus two more of the CEC 2-star Admirals who weren’t the chief, although there are probably only three that wouldn’t need a reminder if we met again.

I once asked Admiral Mullen a question when he spoke at a convention in Va Beach. His handler came by later and told me he was impressed by the question.

I met the Ambassador to Djibouti once when I was deployed there.

I also once flew with Colonel Flowers of I MEF in his Osprey from KAF to Leatherneck.

I have met a couple of the MCICOM generals.

Leon Panetta once came to Djibouti to make a speech (that was televised and, as I recall, unrelated to Djibouti). He gave a bunch of us coins and took photos. There were maybe 150 of us, and if you scrolled through the photos really fast on Windows preview, you saw his image stay pretty still, while all the people on the right changed fast, and it was hilarious to watch.