Braley Announces 2012 Academy Nomination Selection Committee

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) has announced his 2012 Military Academy Nomination Selection Committee.  The committee is comprised of military veterans from across northeast Iowa.  This Saturday, Braley will meet with the committee to interview high school seniors for US service academy nominations.  Each year, Braley nominates up to 10 candidates from Iowa’s First Congressional District for each available vacancy at the four service academies: the US Military Academy, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy.  Applicants are judged on the basis of character, scholarship, physical aptitude, medical fitness, and motivation.

“I am pleased to announce that four outstanding Iowa veterans will serve on my Academy Nomination Selection Committee this year.  It’s a privilege to meet with some of the best and brightest young people Iowa has to offer and discuss their desire to serve our country,” Braley said. “Our nation’s service academies offer a world-class education for future leaders of our nation and it is my honor to nominate deserving young people to the post.”

2012 members of Braley’s Military Academy Nomination Selection Committee will be:

First Sgt. Todd Eipperle- Eipperle is an Afghan War Veteran who earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service to the members of his team following an attack from a rouge Afghan security officer. He sustained two gunshot wounds and engaged and killed the attacker in July 2011.  Eipperle currently resides in Marshalltown.

Dr. Kenneth Atkinson- Atkinson is a Cold War Army Veteran, and current Professor of History, Religion, and the Middle East at the University of Northern Iowa.  He currently resides in Cedar Falls.

Laura Hubka- A Navy hospital Corpsman for 10 years, Hubka now resides in West Union and works as an ultrasound technologist at Winneshiek Medical Center.

Brendan T. Quann- A West Point graduate, Quann, who currently lives in Dubuque, served two tours with the U.S. Army in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. He obtained his Law Degree from the University of Iowa and has served as Past President of the West Point Society of the Prairies and sits on the Clarke College Board of Trustees. He also currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Iowa State Bar Association.