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Jeffrey Kendall Sapp , M.S., M.A., M.A Captain, USN (Ret.)
Jeffrey Kendall Sapp , M.S., M.A., M.A Captain, USN (Ret.)
Mitchell High School
Class of 1973
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JEFFREY KENDALL'S PROFILE
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| First Name | Jeffrey Kendall |
| Last Name | Sapp , M.s., M.a., M.a Captain, Usn (ret.) |
| Graduation Year | Class of 1973 |
| Gender | Male |
| Current Location | Warrenton, VA |
| Hometown | COLORADO SPRINGD, CO |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| About Me | TEDx Talk https://youtu.be/pvFGTu-AasU Football Bkgnd https://youtu.be/nKCwB0VH4gc Part 1 of 2 FOOTBALL METAPHOR DESCRIBES MY FIGHT WITH CANCER Navy plays #13 ranked Notre Dame on Saturday, 26 August 2023, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. But it's not presumed Notre Dame will crush Navy because that rivalry is a classic example of David versus Goliath. DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH The tale of David and Goliath is meaningful to fellow cancer patients and me, as it symbolizes conquering formidable opponents. In my case, I have plasma cell leukemia. I—the cancer patient—am the small David battling cancer, the more powerful Goliath. But that doesn't mean it will defeat me. I have already played the David versus Goliath scenario via a football metaphor. FOOTBALL METAPHOR At 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing only 197 lbs., and a walk-on for the U.S. Naval Academy's varsity football team, many considered me to be too small to play as a nose guard in the defensive line against Michigan, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, and other collegiate powerhouses. My opponents had a significant size advantage over me, and they frequently teamed up to prevent me from stopping the ball carrier. These opposing football players were Goliaths trying to destroy me. Coaches trained us to run around obstacles, roll out of blocks, and keep attacking the ball carrier until the referee blew the whistle. Never, ever, were we to assume the play was over based on what we saw. A fumble. A tackle. Or even the ball carrier running out-of-bounds. None of that mattered. The only thing we listened to was the referee's whistle stopping the play. Equally important was playing our best, regardless of how huge the Goliath! And if one of my teammates was making a tackle, they coached us to assist by piling on until we heard that whistle. The keys were never to assume Goliath would win and always give it your all. That meant running towards the ball carrier and piling on the tackle until a referee blew a whistle. And if you got blocked or knocked down, you didn't stay there. Instead, you got up and still tried to tackle the ball carrier. NAVY VERSUS THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH (PITT) I don't have a video of the Navy versus Notre Dame game, but I do of another memorable game during my era that illustrates my point: the 1975 Navy versus Pitt. Navy was David, and Pitt was Goliath, with the future Heisman Trophy winner, number 33, Tony Dorsett, on the latter team. The week before our game, Pitt devastated Army with a 52 to 20 win. The media and others assumed Pitt would equally crush Navy, mainly since it was their homecoming game. The video shows that my fellow defensive teammates and I were coached well. That day, it felt like we were producing a tutorial on gang tackling as a team. Despite being blocked or double or triple-teamed, my teammates played well, which allowed me to make 17 tackles. We won that game 17 to 0. So much for Goliath destroying David! Part 2 of 2 CANCER & THE FOOTBALL METAPHOR Fighting cancer is like my football metaphor: coach and teammates are the health providers; cancer is the more powerful opponent. And even though I get blocked or knocked down by cancer, I don't stay there. Patients who "roll out of blocks" and keep their heads in the game have a higher quality of life and live longer. Giving in to cancer by not fighting against it is similar to being blocked, never getting back up, giving in, and allowing cancer to win. Cancer is knocking cancer patients down, but that does not mean we must stay there. Instead, we fight to get up, stay in the game, and defeat—tackle—cancer. My God is the referee in my cancer scenario and will blow the whistle when the play ends. That's when I die. Although I expected the whistle several times, I never gave up, gave in, or surrendered, and I am still hustling to tackle cancer. BACK TO NAVE Vs NOTRE DAME When Navy meets Notre Dame this Saturday, the David versus Goliath metaphor will be in full swing, just as in 1976 when we played #12 ranked Notre Dame. We lost 31 to 10, but the game was closer than the score. I received the Outstanding Defensive Player Award, which showed how well we played that day. The David in Navy football players will allow them to neither rollover nor surrender to the Goliath, Notre Dame. If Navy plays like Navy can play—and gets their David on—this will be one hell of a game. Go, Navy beat Notre Dame! Watch the video. It illustrates my metaphor of being the smaller David running around Goliath. "From Walk-on to All-American: Jeff Sapp's Football Background" (7:30) https://youtu.be/yc8GY86nUug ***************** Jeffrey Kendall Sapp, M.S., M.A., M.A. Captain, United States Navy (Retired) SUMMARY I am a 30-year career U.S. Navy Veteran currently serving as a Business & Leadership Consultant, Senior Advisor to IMPETAS Defense Solutions, and an entrepreneur participating in the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Startup Studio, which helps inventors create and validate business models for moving cutting-edge technologies from the laboratory to the market. I'm a polished speaker and cancer awareness advocate. My TEDx Talk about battling cancer received a standing ovation. DIVERSE EXPERIENCE I have experience in enhancing the day-to-day and strategic performance of businesses, government agencies, nonprofits, academic institutions, and Navy commands.. I am particularly effective at working across senior administrative lines and multiple channels to resolve conflicts, set priorities, improve teamwork, build partnerships and collaborations, and increase enterprise-wide success by advising, leading, managing, or stewarding organizations through periods of growth or change. The Washington Post reports I have “One of those infectious personalities that can adapt to any situation [and is] never uncomfortable with anyone.” SUMMARY OF POSITIONS HELD I served in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a U.S. defense contractor’s in-country Operations Manager overseeing 30 Saudi nationals and 182 U.S. employees providing support services to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. Other positions I held include: • Executive Director of the nonprofit, Serve Our Willing Warriors • Interim Vice President of Programs for the national education nonprofit Scholarship America • Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer of the Navy League of the United States • Strategic Advisor to Leadership of the U.S. Small Business Administration • Associate on Booz Allen Hamilton’s Transformation & Change Management Team • Leadership Advisor to the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) • Strategic Communications Project Manager for NGA • Lead Facilitator for NGA leadership offsites • Lead Facilitator for U.S. Department of Homeland Security leadership offsites • Visiting Faculty for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Leadership & Senior Management course • Adjunct Faculty for the U.S. General Services Administration’s Leadership Institute • Adjunct Faculty for the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s University School of Leadership Development • Professor of Naval Science teaching Leadership, Ethics, and Weapon Systems Engineering My Navy experience includes serving as: • Commanding Officer of six different ships • Commanding Officer of a Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (NROTC) Unit responsible for four undergraduate schools • Deputy Director of the U.S. Navy’s Enlisted Personnel Plans & Career Policy Division • Deputy Legislative Assistant to the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff • Deputy Director of Athletics for the U.S. Naval Academy’s Athletic Association • Chief of Staff to the DoD’s Executive Manager responsible for Military Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology & Training • Chief of Staff of the Naval Systems Engineering Directorate in the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) headquarters • Chief of Staff of NAVSEA’s Naval Surface Warfare Center • Senior Aide-de-Camp to the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff • Strategic Plans Officer in the Joint Staff’s Plans & Policy Directorate • Special Assistant to the U.S. Naval Academy’s Dean of Admissions • Head of the U.S. Naval Academy’s Physical Education Department MOTIVATION & BUSINESS STRATEGY SPEAKER As a polished motivational speaker, I am adept at helping K-12 students, MBA candidates, business professionals, and organizations to appreciate their full potential while empowering them with insights and models for achieving higher levels of personal, professional, and enterprise-wide success. The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies credits me as “One of the Nation’s finest charismatic and dynamic hands-on speakers.” Testimonials from my most recent TEDx Talk are similar to the accolades my motivational talks receive. They include: • “Your story is fascinating and also inspirational.” • “Thank you for the much-needed encouragement.” • “I’m truly inspired by your journey. and especially your message and attitude about how we can get through this together.” • “That speech was magnificent!” SPORTS, BOOKS, AND MORE I distinguished myself at the U.S. Naval Academy by becoming the first African-American in school history elected Co-Captain of the Navy’s varsity football team and the first African-American football player from the Navy to be selected as a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One All-American. I was one of the best defensive nose guards in football during my era. Several Head Coaches, including those at the U.S. Air Force Academy and Notre Dame credited me for being “One of the best linesmen we ever played against.” Several games, including Navy vs. Notre Dame and the Army vs. Navy rivalry, recognized me as the Outstanding Defensive Player. I am an inductee in the Athletic Halls of Fame for my high school, the U.S. Naval Academy (1977), and the City of Colorado Springs (2001). In 2009, a national fan-based poll voted me one as one of the best defensive linemen in the 50-year history of the U.S. Naval Academy’s stadium. And in 2012, I am also an inductee in my high school’s Inspirational Hall of Fame. My work has been featured on national TV channels such as ABC and CBS Sports in specials like "Saturday's Heroes" and "Anchors Aweigh for Honor and Glory: The History of Navy Football.". Naval Leadership to Football Halls of Fame, Denver’s “Doctor Daddy O” radio program, Colorado Springs’ KRDO radio program, and in dozens of television and public access programs on education, diversity, and motivation that aired in seven states and are highlighted in national newspapers. They include the Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Boston Globe, and the New York Times. Magazine articles include Football News, Odyssey West magazine, and Shipmate (the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Magazine). I am also featured in books on diversity, leadership, sports, and inspiration. They include Blue & Gold and Black: Racial Integration of the U. S. Naval Academy and Secrets of Self-Starters: 48 Amazing Stories to Ignite the Self-Starter in You! I wrote an article for Shipmate, and I’m writing an inspirational book about my battle with primary plasma cell leukemia. EDUCATION I am a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Naval War College, the Armed Forces Staff College, the Naval Postgraduate School, Salve Regina University, and the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management. My undergraduate degree is in American Political Systems (engineering minor). My master’s degrees are in Management Science, International Relatio...(read more) |
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Class of 1973 Alumni
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