Distinguished Guests Visit the ALC
We were privileged and honored to host some distinguished guests today from the Candy Bomber Foundation - The Gail Halverson Legacy. Our esteemed visitors included:
General Mike Minihan - CEO/President of the Board of Directors
Jim Stewart - Executive Director
Lorene Moore - Operations Manager
*General (retired) Mike Minihan Completed a distinguished, 34-year career in the U.S. Air Force in 2024. His final assignment was as the four-star Commander of Air Mobility Command, which employs the world’s largest and most diverse air operation consisting of more than 1,000 aircraft and 100,000 personnel. It conducts worldwide humanitarian, support, and combat missions to secure and advance U.S. vital interests. Under his leadership, the command supported several consequential operations including providing ongoing support to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in February 2022 and to Israel following the Hamas attacks in October 2023.
General Minihan is a 1989 graduate of Auburn University and a 2007 graduate of the Army War College. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and three masters’ degrees. He has commanded operations in garrison, crisis and combat, and at the squadron, wing, task force and major command levels. He was a command pilot with over 3,400 flight hours and qualifications in the C-130, KC-10, and C-32. Mike is an enthusiast of family, football, dogs, surfing, flying, and fixing up old trucks. He also enjoys the painfully slow accomplishment of triathlons and long-distance open-water swims.
*Jim Stewart is a retired physician who served in the US Army and US Air Force for 26 years having leadership roles in medical operations and planning. Following his military service, he had a successful career with Intermountain Health in Utah. He was the inaugural Medical Director of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program at Utah Valley University, and a consultant to the Federal Aviation Administration. He has been a partner in an aviation-related small business in Spanish Fork, Utah.
Jim studied Business Management at Brigham Young University, where he first met Gail Halvorsen in 1977. He graduated from A.T. Still University where he received the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and the University of Texas Health Sciences Center Master of Public Health degree. He has been board certified in Family Medicine, Aerospace Medicine, and Disaster Medicine. Jim was selected as the US Army Company Grade Officer of the Year in 1989, received the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award, and was chosen as one of the 1995 Fifty Most Positive Physicians in America. He is an instrument rated commercial pilot and is a leadership instructor for Civil Air Patrol Cadets. Jim, and his wife Marge have five children and fifteen grandchildren.
These notable individuals toured the Advanced Learning Center. We were especially honored by the presence of General Minihan, who took the time to speak with several of our classes. His discussion emphasized the critical roles that grace, communication and teamwork play in enhancing all aspects of life.
We are truly grateful that these influential figures recognized the significance of our institution and chose to spend their valuable time with us. Their visit was a testament to the importance of the work we do here at the ALC!
