Honorary Board

Colonel Sean M. McBride

Colonel Sean M. McBride was born and raised in Butte, Montana. In 1983 he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve, serving with 4th Reconnaissance Battalion until 1990 when he graduated from Montana Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health. He earned his commission through the Platoon Leaders Course and was commissioned in January 1991.

After entry level training, Colonel McBride reported in August 1992 to I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA, where he served as the Assistant Signals Intelligence Officer. After completing a deployment to the Republic of Korea, he reported to the 1st Marine Division where he served as the Signals Intelligence Officer and Special Security Officer. While assigned to 1st MARDIV, Col McBride deployed to Somalia in support of operation Restore Hope.

In June 1995, Colonel McBride transferred to Marine Support Battalion, Washington, DC, where he served as Battalion Adjutant. In August 1996 Colonel McBride was selected for the National Security Agency Junior Officer Cryptologic Career Program. From August 1996 through April 1999, he served in a variety of positions within the Agency, as well as serving as a Platoon Commander and the Company Executive Officer.

In April 1999, Colonel McBride reported for duty at 2d Radio Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During the next three years, he served as Company Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer.

In July 2003, Colonel McBride reported to Special Operations Command, Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii for duty as the Chief of Intelligence Operations.

In July 2006, Colonel McBride reported for duty with I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA, where he was immediately deployed to Iraq to serve as the Officer-in-Charge of the Multinational Force-West G-2 Iraqi Transition Team Support Cell.

In December 2006, Colonel McBride assumed command of 2d Radio Battalion. After returning from a second Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment, he was selected to attend the United States Army War College.

In June 2009, Colonel McBride reported to Headquarters Marine Corps Intelligence Department, where he served as Chief, Manpower and Training Branch; Chief, Intelligence Operations Division; and Chief of Staff.

From July 2012 through June 2014, Colonel McBride served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2 (Intelligence) with III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan, before taking command of III MEF Headquarters Group and Camp Hansen also in Okinawa, where he served until June 2016.

From June 2016 through May 2019 Colonel McBride served as the Chief of Staff at U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe & Africa in Stuttgart, Germany. He assumed his current position as the Commanding Officer of NROTC Unit Los Angeles Consortium and Professor of Naval Science at the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in June 2019.

Colonel McBride graduated from the Joint Military Intelligence College in 2003 and the Army War College in 2009. His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit (3), Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2), and Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2).

General John Dailey '56 (ret)

General John R. Dailey has served his country in one way or another for most of his life. After completing his Naval ROTC program and graduating from UCLA in 1956, Dailey joined the Marine Corps. During 36 years of service, he flew more than 7,000 hours in both aircraft and helicopters, completing 450 combat missions during two tours in Vietnam. In 1990, Dailey was promoted to Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, a four-star military rank of which there are only 36 officers leading the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Of these five branches, the Marine Corps has only two four-star generals, making Dailey, as assistant commandant, the second-highest ranking Marine in the entire Corps. Upon his 1992 retirement from the Marines, he became NASA’s associate deputy administrator and also a national delegate to the Research and Technology Organization supporting NATO.

In 2000, the general became director of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, a post he still holds with distinction. One of the world’s most popular museums, hosting the world’s largest and most diverse collection of air and spacecraft and, it has achieved remarkable expansion under his direction, including the 2003 opening of the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center which houses the Boeing Aviation and James S. McDonnell Space Hangars. In 2011, General Dailey was recognized by UCLA with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Johnnie Ashe 

When Johnnie Ashe returned from his first tour of duty in Vietnam as a Marine in 1967, it sparked a plan in his mind that few people — not even his brother Arthur— initially knew about. Five years younger than his brother, tennis legend and UCLA alumnus Arthur Ashe, Johnnie idolized him. “I always thought Arthur had a destiny far above the norm.” So after returning from his first tour, Johnnie went back to Vietnam. By voluntarily returning to a war zone, he ensured Arthur would never have to go due to a government policy precluding brothers serving in war at the same time. This allowed Arthur to stay on course and win the inaugural U.S. Open in 1968 as well as break many athletic barriers during his Hall of Fame career. After the war, Johnnie continued his military career becoming a company commander in the 80s. The rights he fought for are central to his belief in service. He called to mind what Martin Luther King Jr. said. “No men are free until all men are free.” Johnnie said, “There was absolutely no way Dr. King and those who followed him could have done what they did if African-Americans had refused to serve,” adding, these are values that “you keep for life and always have.”

Mark Stull '71

Mark was a student on a Navy Reserve Officer Training Corp (NROTC) scholarship at UCLA from 1966 – 1971.  Upon graduation, he was commissioned an officer in the US Navy and proceeded to his first duty aboard the USS America in Norfolk, VA.

In the US Navy, Mark served for two years as a Surface Line Officer including a deployment to Vietnam and was designated a Surface Warfare Officer (SWO).  In 1976, Mark changed his designator to Public Affairs Officer and served as a PAO until his retirement from the Navy in 1997.  He was stationed in Taiwan, Sicily, and Japan in addition to tours in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Washington DC.  While in Sicily, Mark served two assignments with the Multi-National Force in Beirut, Lebanon.  Mark’s final assignment was as Director, Navy Broadcasting Service at the Naval Media Center managing the Navy’s 30+ detachments providing American Forces Radio and Television (AFRTS) to overseas bases.

Following his Naval service, Mark was a Management Consultant for 19 years providing support to the US Navy in Washington DC and San Diego, retiring as a Senior Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton in 2015.

Upon moving to San Diego in 1999, Mark immediately became active in the UCLA Club of San Diego and soon joined the Board and has been a Board Member since 2000. Mark became a Chancellor’s Society member in 2005 and has served on the San Diego Chancellor’s Society Board since 2010, presently as Chair.  Mark is a member of the Wooden Athletic Fund supporting all UCLA’s teams.  Mark was recognized by the Alumni Association as Alumni Volunteer of the Year for 2018.

Mark has been a member of the Alumni Association since obtaining Lifetime Membership in 1971 and is a Gold member.  He is married to Jill DeWees Stull, also a Bruin, ’71 BA and ’76 M.Ed., and a Gold Alumni Association member.

Angel Fulgencio ‘ 14

Angel Fulgencio  graduated from UCLA with a BA in Geography/ Environmental Studies and a minor Geospatial Information Systems & Technology. Serving for 5 years in the Army as a Aviation Operation Specialist with 25th Infantry Division, he deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for a year and with Operation Iraqi Freedom for 15 months.

Angel is a founding board member of the Alumni Association’s Channel Islands Regional Network and served as their communications chair, helping to strengthen the regional network through newsletters and emails, as well as supervising the network’s social media channels. He also participates in the UCLA Volunteer Center’s program in conjunction with the nonprofit group Operation Gratitude, supporting service members by sending handwritten letters and care packages. Angel gives back to UCLA by  volunteering with the Community Programs Office as well as mentoring transfer and non-traditional students. For all of his incredible volunteer work he was the recipient of the 2016 Young Alumni Volunteer of the Year Award.

Angel is currently a graduate student at Columbia University, pursuing an advanced degree in social work.

D'Artagnan Scorza '07, Ph.D. '13

A native son of Inglewood Dr. Scorza graduated from Morningside High School and is a decorated US Navy veteran, having served in the Iraq-War, soon after September 11th. He helped establish a naval operations unit, managing 250 Navy personnel and an operation budget supporting service members traveling in and out of hostile zone.  He was awarded multiple medals for his service and received an honorable discharge.

In 2007 he concurrently earned two bachelor’s degrees: a B.S. in liberal studies from National University and a B.A. in the study of religion at UCLA, where he went on to earn his Ph.D. in education in 2013. At UCLA, he helped organize an effort to increase enrollment of African American and Latino students and served on the UC Board of Regents.

He also was named a 2010 Education Pioneers Fellow and a 2013-2014 Business Alliance for Local Living Economies Fellow. Among D’Artagnan’s many accomplishments, he has conducted expansive research that helped implement policies throughout the state of California, including passing policies that established veteran’s service centers across UC campuses and prioritized $160 million for student services.

Dr. Scorza serves on the Inglewood Unified School District Board of Education. Elected in April 2015, he has been driving change in Inglewood’s schools and holding the state accountable to put students first. His top priorities are to increase academic achievement, prepare our students for the jobs of the future, and create safe, clean, and healthy schools by using the Measure GG bond funding.

Scorza is the founder and executive director of the Social Justice Learning Institute, a non-profit organization that works to help communities achieve health and educational equity. His leadership helped establish community gardens, a farmers market and create healthy lifestyle centers in Inglewood.

Scorza also developed the Urban Scholars program to provide students with opportunities for academic support, personal growth, college guidance and jobs. Among the students who have completed the program, 95 percent have graduated from high school and 85 percent were accepted to college.

Major Steve Kwon

Major Steve Kwon graduated from the University of California-Riverside and was commissioned in December 2002 as a Military Intelligence Officer. He currently serves as the Professor and Chair of Military Science at the University of California-Los Angeles.

He previously served as the Executive Officer for the Chief of Operations Support Division and as the Military Intelligence Majors Assignment Officer at United States Army Human Resources Command-Fort Knox, Kentucky.

He was first assigned as a Military Intelligence Plans Officer and later a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Platoon Leader with the 501st Military Intelligence Brigade in Republic of Korea.  He then served as an Intelligence Officer for V Corps Artillery in Germany and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 as an Intelligence Officer for the Iraqi National Police Transition Team.  Upon his return from Iraq, he was selected to serve as the Executive Officer for the V Corps G2.

Other assignments include: Company Commander (162nd Infantry Brigade-Fort Polk, LA); Company Commander (International Security Assistance Force-Afghanistan); Military Intelligence Company Commander (162nd Infantry Brigade-Fort Polk, LA); Brigade Intelligence Officer (189th Infantry Brigade-Joint Base Lewis McCord, WA); Battalion S3 (Special Troops Battalion-Fort Leavenworth, KS); J7 Plans Officer (Combined Forces Land Component Command-Iraq, 1st Infantry Division); III Corps Commander’s Initiatives Group Executive Communications/Intelligence Officer (Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve-Kuwait).

Major Kwon is a graduate of the Military Intelligence Basic and Advanced Course and a graduate of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS.  He holds a Bachelors of Arts in History from the University of California-Riverside and a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University.

Military awards and decorations include the Soldier’s Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star; Iraq Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 4, NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters, Army Superior Unit Award, Parachutist Badge and the Combat Action Badge.  MAJ Kwon is also a recipient of the Military Intelligence Corps Knowlton Award and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold).

MAJ Kwon is married to the former Annprin Lee of Fullerton, California and have two boys, Elijah and James.

Daniel Sterling '17

Daniel Sterling joined the United States Army in 2007 upon graduating from high school. After completing the Army’s Airborne School and Ranger Indoctrination Program, he was selected to become a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment, deploying four times to Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2010, Daniel was severely injured by a grenade blast during a night raid in Afghanistan. After several months of treatment and rehabilitation he made a full recovery but was unable to continue his role as an Army Ranger.  In the summer of 2015, Daniel interned for a member of Congress and was an undergraduate intern for bio pharmaceutical company Amgen. Daniel graduated in 2017 with a degree in political science and plans to complete a master’s degree in business administration before pursuing a career in the field of biotechnology.

Alma Zavala '12

Former Navy Corpsman Petty Officer 2nd Class Alma Zavala 12’ obtained her BA from UCLA, double majoring in International Development Studies and Spanish. She served on active duty from 2000 to 2006, completing two tours in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II with Alpha Surgical Company and Operation Iraqi Freedom III with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Currently she works at the UCLA Graduate Division and was recently  invited to the Chancellor’s Breakfast to represent veterans working at UCLA.  During the recent Medal of Honor reception, Zavala presented a letter written by Gen. John R. Dailey ’56, USMC (Ret.) to Capt. Florent Groberg.  Last October she led a successful Welcome to the City hike for alumni who are veterans and is a supporter of Team RWB, a non-profit organization that enriches the lives of veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activities.

Christin St. John '14

1st Lt. Christin St. John was born in San Diego, CA and grew up in the Chicagoland area. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2014 with a major in Gender Studies. She graduated Officer Candidate School in November 2016 and graduated from The Basic School in June 2017. Christin St. John graduated from the Public Affairs Qualification Course at the Defense Information School in June 2018, and is currently a Communication Strategy and Operations Officer in the United States Marine Corps.