Homecoming Heroes: Meet the 2023 MMA Alumni Hall of Fame and Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

Each year during Homecoming, Missouri Military Academy inducts new members into the Alumni Hall of Fame and the Athletic Hall of Fame. 

Members of the Alumni Hall of Fame have shown a strong commitment to duty, honor and achievement. The Hall of Fame is divided into five categories: business, entrepreneurship and leadership; arts and sciences; athletics; community and government service; and distinguished military service. 

While the Alumni Hall of Fame honors alumni for notable achievements after their MMA graduation, the Athletic Hall of Fame honors selected alumni and coaches for their athletic achievements during their time at the Academy. For example, these alumni, while MMA cadets, may have set Academy athletic records, finished with top performances at the state level and achieved other notable athletic accomplishments. 

The following inductees will be honored at the Homecoming Alumni Banquet on Saturday, September 30. 

MMA Hall of Fame 2023 Inductees

Chase Harlan ’89: As a production designer in film and television, Chase has created the visual concept for several of TV’s biggest hit shows such as Entourage, Ballers, Empire — and even the Academy Awards. For these and many other accomplishments, he is inducted into the 2023 MMA Hall of Fame for Arts and Sciences.

Lt. Col. Ian Wolfe ’91, USAF (Ret): MMA is where Lt. Col. Wolfe's flying career took off after winning one of two aviation scholarships that led him to his first-ever solo flight in 1991. He spent 14 years in the Navy as a naval aviator and then served seven years as a special operations pilot in the Air Force Special Operations Command, conducting foreign internal defense (FID) missions and controlling airspace over battlefields in Afghanistan. Throughout his military career, he accumulated over 4,000 flying hours, 1,309 combat hours and received 12 Air Medals before retiring in 2016, declining an offer to command his own squadron. For his dedication to our country and many honors, Lt. Col. Wolfe is inducted into the 2023 MMA Hall of Fame for Distinguished Military Service.

Chase Hughes ’99: Over the course of a 20-year Navy career, Chase became a leading military and intelligence behavior expert, creating the Behavior Pilot System and a brand for himself. He has set the standard and produced multiple curriculums used by law enforcement and government agencies worldwide. For these accomplishments and all of his accolades, Chase is inducted into the 2023 MMA Alumni Hall of Fame for Business, Entrepreneurship and Leadership.

MMA Athletic Hall of Fame 2023 Inductees 

Tony Serna ’04: Tony shone in the athletic arena. He received the Arbogast Award and the Keaton Award multiple times as the Colonels’ best wrestler. A three-time state qualifying wrestler, Tony took fourth place in Class 1 at the 2004 Missouri state wrestling tournament his senior year. For Tony’s dedication to his many clubs and teams, for the records he broke and those he holds, and for the example he continues to be, we are honored to induct Tony Serna, Class of 2004, into the 2023 Missouri Military Academy Athletic Hall of Fame.

Major Walt Diehl: From 1988 to 1992, the Colonels won 52 consecutive dual matches over four undefeated seasons with Walt as coach. Walt passed away on 3/18/2022, and in recognition of his dedication to the Academy, the cadets and leading our winning tennis team for many years, we are honored to posthumously induct Maj. Walt Diehl into the 2023 Missouri Military Academy Athletic Hall of Fame.