More than 13 years after he last laced up skates for Air Force Academy, Tom Starkey’s passion for helping his fellow Falcons alumni has never been stronger.
The 2004 graduate was a solid player for the Falcons, particularly excelling on the penalty kill, where his speed and ability to read opponents led to him netting several short-handed goals. Today the Minnesota native serves as an alumni board member, and he’s always on the lookout for opportunities to network and promote Falcons.
The Flight Path caught up with Tom at October’s alumni weekend at the Academy.
Can you update us on what you’ve been up to since your days at the Academy?
After graduating in 2004, I was stationed at Offutt AFB in Omaha, Neb., as a Finance Officer. Following that, I transitioned into the financial services field. I have my own financial planning firm, Falcon Financial Group, which is based in Minneapolis, but has clients in many other states as well. Eleven years into it, I truly enjoy what I do and am focused on continuing to grow the company.
You’re one of the drivers of gathering Falcons alumni. Why do you feel so strongly about being involved with that?
About two years ago a group of us got together in Colorado Springs to discuss ramping up the alumni efforts, and obviously Alumni Weekend is a big part of that. We also talked about networking in general, making sure when guys are transitioning out of the Air Force that they know who they can call, where to get ahold of people. How to say this is who I am, this is where I want to go, and how to ask who can help me. There are so many alumni that are willing to do anything to help these younger guys out to get them in the career force when the time comes. We’re really trying to build up that side of things as well.
Photo courtesy of Air Force Athletics
I’ve observed and heard about such a unique camaraderie between the alumni. Why is that so strong for so many after such a period of time?
It’s something that is second to none. The whole military aspect is so unique. Most of our buddies who played college hockey at other schools don’t have that element. They didn’t go through basic training or survival or all that other stuff that we’ve done. It’s very unique. When we talk about alumni events like this, guys are networking. People are really willing to do whatever they need to even though you might not have ever met the guy you’re talking to before but you have that common Air Force hockey bond. It goes a long way.
Are there any memories from your time playing at Air Force that really stand out to you?
It’s funny. You don’t remember many of the wins and losses. There are 120-something, 130-something games during your career. I could tell you very little about each game, but when it comes to locker room conversations, bus rides, airports, there are very specific stories and memories. Those are the things you remember. At the time you’re sometimes frustrated because practice goes long, or you don’t feel like lifting weights or whatever the case, but eventually you just remember all the fun parts.
It’s one of those places where time goes on, and there’s a period that you have to get through. Then you look back at Air Force hockey and all the good things it brought to you. Honestly, I can attribute so many things I have in life back to Air Force hockey in some way, shape or form, and it’s great. But you don’t know that when you’re here. You have to live through it to experience that. That’s the main thing all of us share.
Obviously everyone is excited about how much the profile of the program has risen, particularly in the past decade. Can you quantify the amount of pride the alumni have in that?
They’ve escalated it to levels that are much, much higher than what some of us saw when we were playing here. It’s good. You get the national TV games where all of us are watching from various states throughout the country. We’re having parties and get-togethers to watch the Air Force tournament games on ESPN, watching them go beat some of the big boys of the world, like Western Michigan last year. It’s really fun, and there’s all kinds of pride. It’s been fun to watch them progress every year. Frank’s big goal is the Frozen Four, and I think that’s probably not too far off.
Another thing that has stood out to me, as it has to most people I’ve spoken to who come to Cadet Arena is how the history and tradition of the program – and the Academy – is celebrated.
Frank’s been unbelievable with what he’s done. I was in one of his earlier classes, and just seeing what it was from the time he got here to what it is now. There’s 20-plus years of guys now who have played for Frank. He’s really turned the program into something it wasn’t before. It’s a legitimate Division I program. The goal is not to just get to the NCAAs anymore, but as he’s said the Frozen Four is the goal. And it’s fun to watch it every year; it gets a little bit better and better. Frank’s built a culture. That’s the biggest thing. The expectation isn’t just to get to the NCAAs, and it wasn’t always like that. It’s fun to watch.
Are there are other changes you’ve noticed?
They get nicer things every year – sticks, equipment, the locker room. It’s constantly changing, and that’s the way it should be if you want to stay competitive. At the same time, a lot of things stay the same. You see the locker room is organized. There’s certain way to put things in the stalls. That’s part of the culture Frank demands around here. The little things that help create the bigger culture are what it’s all about, and that’s what we all have instilled in us after we’ve graduated from Air Force hockey. And it translates – it’s a big reason why you see so many hockey grads with successful careers when their playing days are over.
Please check out the Flight Path’s previous alumni updates
On Lieutenant Colonel Scott Bradley
On Brigadier General Kevin McManaman
On Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Kurt Rohloff
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