Darlington’s keynote speaker for Career Day 2005, Cmdr. John Cordle (’80), has held leadership roles ever since high school, when he was president of the Chorus, editor of
The Darlingtonian, art editor of
The Jabberwokk and Regional Star Student.
After graduating from Darlington in 1980, Cordle attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., earning a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. He entered the Nuclear Propulsion program, attending an additional year of school and serving in two nuclear-powered cruisers, the USS California and USS Truxtun.
He then attended the Defense Language institute in Monterey, Calif., earning and degree in German, and served as an exchange instructor at the German Naval Academy in Flensburg, Germany.
After returning to the United States, Cordle served on the pre-commissioning crew of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman before being named executive officer of USS Cole, which was attacked by terrorists in Yemen’s Aden Harbor shortly after his tenure there. He then obtained a Master of Arts in International Studies from Naval War College in Newport, R.I.
Cordle’s most recent assignment was as commanding officer of USS Oscar Austin, a 510-foot AEGIS destroyer, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. One of the most sophisticated ships in the Navy, the USS Oscar Austin’s weapon system includes a radar capable of tracking hundreds of targets at the same time, standard missiles and both long-distance and close-range guns. During his time on the USS Oscar Austin, Cordle was awarded the Bronze Star.
He currently serves as the operations officer on the staff of the USS Enterprise Strike Group. The son of retired Lower School teacher Barbara Cordle and the late Lt. Cmdr. J.T. Cordle, he is married to the former Gudrun Sukatus of Flensburg, Germany, and resides in Chesapeake, Va. His sister, Marci Cordle Marrs, is a 1983 Darlington graduate.
Career Day, which was held Tuesday, Jan. 25, featured guest speakers representing more than 20 career paths. Sophomores, juniors and seniors signed up for four 30-minute "classes" in their careers of choice. Freshmen attended sessions designed to get them thinking about possible careers, including "An Early Start for College Admissions" and "Summertime: Fun & Profit."
In addition to Cordle, guest speakers included Chris Babb, associate professor of chemistry at Berry College; Luke Barton ('91), web developer; Allen Bell, executive director of Rome Area Council for the Arts; Bob Berry ('64), partner at Brinson, Askew, Berry, Seigler, Richardson and Davis, LLP; Joan Brock ('74), physical therapist at Rome Rehabilitation; Paul Brock ('74), surgeon at the Harbin Clinic; Barbara Cordle, former Lower School teacher; Renee Edwards ('87), nurse at Floyd Medical Center; David Harvey ('88), co-founder of MedicalMessaging.net; Henry Hine ('74), who works in advertising for Atlanta television station WSB; Elizabeth Hudson ('85), psychologist; Bill Jones, architect at William N. Jones, Jr., Architects; David Ledbetter ('88), vice president for leasing at R.H. Ledbetter Properties; Howard Lowden, president of Athletic Lighting Co.; Mike McDougald, owner of McDougald Broadcasting Consultants; Kelly Moore ('95), owner of Kelly Moore Photography; Dan Pate ('76), veterinarian at West Rome Animal Clinic; Leigh Patterson, district attorney for the Rome Judicial Circuit; Greg Paulson, head chef at Coosa Country Club; Jeremy Powell ('99), associate producer of the morning show on 99X; Shane Richardson, accountant at Whittington & Jones, PC, CPA's; Casey Rogowski, infielder/outfielder with the Winston-Salem Warthogs; John Scott ('94), database administrator at SecureWorks; Roger Sheppard ('72), pilot for Federal Express; Bill Temple ('90), realtor at Toles, Temple and Wright; and Van Willis ('88), co-founder of MedicalMessaging.net.
