Historical & Operational Perspective
TFGON began in the Mid-1990’s as THE FLAG & GENERAL OFFICERS’ MESS, formed by two retired Navy Flags with mutual business and military interests, Rear Admiral Chuck McGrail and Rear Admiral Jim Carey. Chuck and Jim served as the Founding National Co-Chairmen and the organization grew to a mailing list of over 450 members, with regular gatherings held at the Fort Myer Officer’s Club in the form of stand-up cocktail receptions, usually with speakers or presentations or both.
During the first several years of the organization, we were honored to have as our Guest Speakers the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chiefs of Staff of the Army and Air Force, and the Commandants of the Marine Corps and Coast Guard. There were also presentations by the Superintendent of Arlington Cemetery, the founders of The Military Channel on cable TV, a Former Attorney General of the U. S., and a broad spectrum of other distinguished speakers and organizations with presentations of interest to Flag and General Officers. Functions were held quarterly and attendance ranged from 30-60 flag and general officers, depending upon the speaker or “the competition” if there were other military-related functions on those dates. TFGON also became “the organization of choice” and was regularly contacted by executive search firms and major corporations seeking retired flag or general officers for job opportunities or board of director’s service.
Unfortunately, in the late ‘90’s, Admiral Chuck McGrail had a heart attack and passed away, and Jim Carey’s wife became ill and his time greatly restricted, so the gatherings became less and less frequent and then ceased altogether when Jim’s wife was hospitalized. That is, until Mid-2005 when some of the former members of the organization contacted Jim Carey and asked that the group be re-energized as they missed the comradery, business contacts, job opportunities, and the ability to stay in touch with both old and new flag and general officer colleagues.
The organization now meets socially once a quarter and regularly circulates the resumes/bios of retiring AND retired Flag & General Officers among it’s membership and to a broad range of executive search firms seeking flag or general officers for corporate or board of directors positions. The organization general membership consists of retired and reserve/guard flag and general officers of the five armed services, with active duty officers always warmly welcomed to attend the social functions as guests, and thus avoiding all the legal restrictions and encumbrances that we learned in the 1990’s accompany having active duty officers as formal members.
Social functions focus on networking and mutual assistance and comradery with a secondary goal of ensuring all can avail themselves of the resume/bio circulation system if they seek employment or wish to change jobs, as well as sharing such information with each other so that all are aware of who is available for corporate or board of director positions, who is leaving active service and ready to begin “Career # 2”, who works where and what projects and programs they are involved with, and what Q&E each has accrued through their 30+ years of military service. In addition, TFGON continues to be regularly contacted by executive search firms and major corporations seeking retired flag or general officers with specific qualifications and experience [Q&E] and those job opportunity announcements are circulated via e-mail or fax to the entire organization so that those so qualified who are interested can respond.
Bottom line is that all Flag & General Officers------ active duty, reserve & guard, and retired, are welcome to attend all TFGON social functions, and all reserve & guard and retired flag & general officers are welcomed as members of the organization, no matter where they are located. Experience has shown that ours is a “traveling group” so many out-of-towners are often traveling through Washington, DC on business when our social functions are held. There are no dues to belong to TFGON and all organizational and administrative functions are performed by volunteer members of the organization. Social functions are based on an attendance fee to cover the cost of the arrangements and food, plus a cash bar. Preferred venue has been the Tivoli Restaurant in Rosslyn, VA due to it’s location at the Rosslyn Metro Stop, free parking after 1700, and the general cooperative and supportive attitude of the management.
Major General [Ret.] Allen Youngman
National Co-Chairman
Rear Admiral
[Ret.] Jim Carey
National Co-Chairman