O’Callahan NROTC Committee

In 1994, alumni of the NROTC Unit at the College of the Holy Cross and other dedicated individuals formed the Committee for the Joseph T. O’Callahan NROTC Scholarship Fund. 

More on the life and accomplishments of Rev. Joseph T. O'Callahan, including his metal of honor citation »

The Committee was established to support the viability of the Unit and the battalion of midshipmen comprised of students from Holy Cross, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Worcester State College. Its primary mission was to raise funds to provide financial assistance not included in the NROTC scholarships that these students brought to their respective colleges.

Later, first Holy Cross and then WPI began providing financial aid in the form of housing assistance, an item not covered by the NROTC scholarship. It is provided to incoming midshipmen/students through their respective financial aid programs

Since then the Committee has de-emphasized fundraising. For 10 years it has focused on encouraging and cultivating the traditions associated with the Jesuit, liberal arts education of military and naval officers.  It also seeks to promote dialogue with the campus communities and to recognize the military service of alumni.

To see the first O'Callahan Committee newsletter, please click here (.pdf).

Annual Dinner

The Committee’s major annual event is a dinner with a featured speaker. The funds raised by this event are used support the midshipmen battalion by funding recognition awards and appropriate extracurricular activities.

The 9th Annual O'Callahan Committee Dinner will be held on Saturday, October 17 at the Hogan Campus Center at the College of the Holy Cross.  The featured speaker will be Vice Admiral Peter H. Daly ’77 USN Deputy Commander, Fleet Forces Command. Cocktails are at 6:00 p.m. to be followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m.  For more information, or tickets, please contact Bill Dempsey '63 at dempwill@aol.com.

For more information about all of our events at Fall Homecoming, October 17, 2009, please click here. To register for the events, please click here.

Transition from Committee to Society

In conjunction with the College’s Alumni Office, the O’Callahan NROTC Committee has decided to formally transform itself to an affiliate of the Alumni Office and become a membership group, tentatively titled the "O’Callahan NROTC Society". 

The Alumni Office will help the Society by updating & maintaining its ROTC alumni list (approx. 1,400 alums dating to the class of 1943), distributing the newsletter, promoting events and establishing a presence on its web site.

The Society seeks members not only from Navy and Marine Corps ROTC alumni of the College but also especially from the Air Force ROTC (formerly at Holy Cross now at WPI) and veterans of all military services.  Like the Committee, the Society will also include non alumni, such as persons, friends and family who have a connection to the Worcester-based ROTC programs and seek to advance the mission of the Committee/Society.

To become involved with the O’Callahan NROTC Society contact Jim Delehaunty at jfdel94@aol.com.

2009 Committee Members

Chair: Cdr. William Dempsey’63, USNR Ret.
Vice Chair: Capt. John T Nugent’68, USNR Ret.;
Secretary Alan Jackson
Treasurer Capt. Richard Walsh’63 USNR SC Ret.

Members:  James Delehaunty’67; Capt. Donald Fitzpatrick USN Ret.; Lester Paquin; Maj. Patrick Townsend USMC Ret.