Aviation Executive Supports Parachute Team More Than 40 Years After His First Jump
Many cadets play sports for the rush of adrenaline. However, few cadet-athletes can claim to find their adrenaline rush where members of the West Point Parachute Team regularly find theirs—at 12,000 feet above the ground in freefall. Founded in 1959, the West Point Parachute Team is one of the oldest continuously operating parachute teams in the U.S. military.
Born in Munich, Germany, on a U.S. Army base, David Seymour ’86 seemed destined for the West Point Parachute Team. Seymour has been jumping since he was 16 years old, when he, his brother, Glenn ’85, and his father, Roger ’60, took their first sport parachuting static line jumps in Bad Tölz, Germany. Their mother completed her sport parachute training just a month later. As of today, he has completed more than 1,200 sport jumps. David, Glenn, David’s sister-in-law, Tracy ’85, and Roger all served in the 82nd Airborne, the airborne infantry division of the U.S. Army that specializes in parachute combat operations. Before he left active service in 1991, Seymour served his final year as the operations officer for the U.S. Army Parachute Team, known as the “Golden Knights.”
Seymour is now the Chief Operating Officer at American Airlines. He still jumps out of planes today. Seymour had an opportunity to visit West Point and spend time with the Parachute Team when he was the guest speaker at the Class of 1983 Distinguished Leader Series. He spoke to the Black and Gold Leadership Forum about leadership and how going to West Point and serving in the U.S. Army prepared him for success in business.
His support of the Academy extends beyond his leadership advice for the Corps of Cadets. In 2022, he and his wife, Colleen, established the Seymour Family Parachute Team Endowment, providing important funding for more jumping and competition opportunities and ensuring cadets have access to the best equipment for peak performance and safety. “Giving back to the Academy—and specifically, the West Point Parachute Team—is a privilege,” said Seymour. “Being on the team and attending West Point was an incredibly formative experience for my family and me that we want to ensure remains a possibility for future generations.” West Point’s famous “gray period” of weather and competing academic and military requirements necessitates that the team conduct intense training trips during the spring and fall. These trips often include the opportunity to jump with experts such as the U.S. Army Golden Knights or other service academy teams, which helps develop more competitive teams and fosters interacademy relationships. In addition, the ability to train in the winter requires funding for use of commercial vertical wind tunnels, which are a great tool to train for freefall competitions. Equipment—such as canopies, harnesses, altimeters, and automatic activation devices used in skydiving operations—comes at a high cost due to the level of quality required in this extreme activity.
The Parachute Team has a record of cultivating not only leaders in the sport—over the past five years the team has won 155 individual national medals and two national championships—but also leaders for West Point and the nation. The team is unmatched in its ability to produce leaders. Since 2001, several of the Academy’s First Captains, Regimental Commanders, and other leaders within the Corps of Cadets have been members of the Parachute Team. More than 50 Fourth Class cadets try out each year for the eight to 10 coveted spots on the roster. In the sky and on the ground, the team is comprised of some of the best cadets who also serve as ambassadors for the United States Military Academy as they perform demonstration jumps around the country.
Thanks to the generous support of David and Colleen Seymour, the Parachute Team will continue to provide leadership opportunities for many years to come.
FAQ for Parachute Team
What year was the West Point Parachute Team established?
The Parachute Team began in 1959 and is one of the oldest continuous operating parachute teams in the U.S. Military.
How many West Point Graduates have been members of the Parachute Team?
As of 2024 their have been 770 members.
Who was the first West Point woman graduate on the Parachute Team?
Ms. Ann Marie Collier (Hughes)
