MMA Names New Vice President

Missouri Military Academy has named Bob Belknap vice president for institutional advancement. Belknap was selected after a national search that generated more than 70 applicants. His appointment at the Mexico, Missouri, college preparatory military boarding school will begin Jan. 20. Belknap comes to MMA from the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, Kentucky, where he worked as vice president of development for the past seven years.

“Bob’s highly successful record of fundraising, grant writing, and business leadership, plus military school and army officer experience, make him a strong addition to our leadership team,” said Missouri Military Academy President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret). “As we continue to execute our strategic plan, we have high expectations that he will energize our Academy advancement and fundraising efforts as we build upon and sustain our positioning as the Midwest’s premier, college preparatory, military boarding school.”

A 1983 graduate of Western Kentucky University, Belknap received his commission at graduation as a second lieutenant in the Army Quartermaster Corps. His military assignments have included petroleum platoon leader and later Battalion S4, 75th Support Battalion, 194th Armored Brigade, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. While stationed in Goppingen, Germany, Belknap served as property book officer and executive officer of the Division Material Management Center, Battalion S3 Ops, and as company commander, 299th Support Battalion, 1st Infantry Division.

In 1990, Belknap joined the faculty of New Mexico Military Institute as an assistant professor of military science. In the first two years of his assignment, he served as recruiting operations officer, working with NMMI’s admissions department. During his last two years at NMMI, he was senior ROTC instructor. Belknap has worked in the nonprofit arena for more than 16 years, first as branch director for Big Brothers Big Sisters, then as vice president of marketing and development at USA Cares, a military nonprofit working with active-duty military, veterans and their families.

Belknap has a long history of community service and successful fundraising events. He has served on the boards of United Way, Association of the United States Army, Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service, Veteran’s Court, Special Olympics and Visually Impaired Preschool Services. He holds certificates in fundraising management and in public and nonprofit leadership, and is a certified fundraising executive and a certified grant writer.

He and his wife, Miriam, a physical therapist, have two sons.