the arts come alive 8 AQUINAS LANDMARK | SUMMER 2026 Two Paths, One Band Room, and a Pentagon Reunion Twenty Years in the Making by Kevin Brockler ’01 and Lewis Schmitt ’02 In a building as vast and busy as the Pentagon, tens of thousands of people move through their days without ever seeing the same face twice. Yet this past October 2025, amid the rush of uniforms and briefcases, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Brockler ’01 looked up and saw a face he hadn’t seen since Aquinas: Mr. Lewis Schmitt ’02. The recognition was instant. The surprise was mutual. And within minutes, two former bandmates and friends were standing in one of the most powerful buildings in the world, laughing like no time had passed at all. What neither could have predicted was how deeply into their shared past this reunion would reach: to a band room, a mentor, and a music program that shaped the trajectory of their lives. From the Band Room to the Pentagon From Aquinas to Washington After graduating from Aquinas in 2002, Lewis earned his degree in Music Education from Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. He returned to Rochester, where he taught music and assisted Mr. James Ferris with the Aquinas Marching Band. In 2010, Lewis answered the call to serve and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, joining “The Commandant’s Own,” The United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps. During his military career, he performed in more than 400 ceremonies annually for audiences around the world, including Presidents, royalty, foreign dignitaries and heads of state. In addition to his duties as a Marine Musician, Lewis served as a Section Leader, special assistant to the Commanding Officer, and Public Affairs Specialist. Following two enlistments, he transitioned from active military service in 2019 and now works at the Pentagon as a senior management analyst, specializing in Strategic Communications and Reporting for some of the nation’s top defense programs. Kevin’s path after Aquinas led him to SUNY Brockport, where he earned a degree in Meteorology before entering the United States Air Force. Over the course of his distinguished military career, Kevin has completed nine tours of duty, including multiple deployments to the Middle East. He has led weather forecasting operations in support of the President of the United States, commanded two full squadrons, and supervised organizations of up to 1,000 Airmen. Those who have served alongside Lt Col Brockler describe him as “a compassionate and steady leader,” whose commitment to service is matched only by his devotion to his wife and two sons. Last summer, while stationed at the Pentagon, Kevin was selected for promotion to Colonel - a rank achieved by only the top five percent of all Air Force officers. A Full Circle Moment Despite the pressures of military life, neither man ever let go of the role music played in shaping them. Lewis carried it professionally through the Marine Corps; Kevin carried it personally, performing on saxophone and organizing and leading big bands at nearly every assignment he had been on while deployed or at home, despite the rigors of demanding schedules. So, when Kevin asked Lewis to perform the National Anthem at his promotion ceremony, it felt like more than a musical request. It felt like a return to where it all began. “It’s serendipitous that the two of us would reconnect after not seeing one another in over 20 years, only to start talking about Mr. Ferris, music, and Aquinas,” Lewis reflected. “To be asked to perform the National Anthem at Kevin’s ceremony brought full-circle a connection that began with music at AQ. It was one of the most personally meaningful occasions I’ve had the honor to perform.” For Kevin, the moment represented more than a military promotion. It served as a reminder of where their journeys began. “Having Lewis perform at the ceremony made the event that much more special, connecting it to Rochester and AQ, as family and friends attended from across the country,” Kevin said. “We were among the hundreds of students greatly influenced by Jim Ferris during his years leading AQ’s music program, and we know he would have been proud of this moment.” The Teacher Who Started It All / The Ferris Legacy Indeed, no story about Kevin or Lewis could be told without recognizing the impact of Mr. James Ferris. Generations of Aquinas students remember him not simply as a music teacher, but as a mentor who challenged students to strive for excellence in all aspects of life. He was the kind of teacher who didn’t just instruct, he transformed. His passion for music was exceptional – a gifted musician, Jim was a trumpet player by trade, who also mastered (though he would never say that) the alto and soprano saxophones. But his true legacy was the passion he poured into enriching the lives of his students. Music, to him, was more than just a discipline; it was a vehicle for
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