Lambda Chi Alpha Announces the 2026 Order of Achievement Recipients

By Thomas Lichtenauer

Established in 1958, the Lambda Chi Alpha Order of Achievement recognizes alumni Brothers who have achieved outstanding success in business, industry, military service, public service, the arts, science, athletics, education, and countless other professions.

Their accomplishments bring honor to Lambda Chi Alpha while serving as an inspiration to Brothers across North America. They embody our values through leadership, service, integrity, and personal excellence.

In selecting recipients, the Grand High Zeta considers not only professional achievement, but also character, integrity, and the positive impact each individual has made on others. For nearly seven decades, the Order of Achievement has celebrated Brothers whose accomplishments have influenced their professions, strengthened their communities, and shaped our world.

Past recipients include some of the most accomplished leaders in American history, including:

Former President Harry S. Truman

United States Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun

World War II aviation pioneer General Jimmy Doolittle

ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen

Legendary basketball coach Hank Iba

And, renowned psychologist B.F. Skinner.

Together, they represent the extraordinary breadth of achievement recognized by this honor—and the lasting impact Lambda Chi Alpha Brothers have made through leadership, innovation, service, and excellence.

By action of the Grand High Zeta, Lambda Chi Alpha is proud to recognize the 2026 Order of Achievement class. This year's recipients represent excellence across business, military service, philanthropy, higher education, technology, finance, the judiciary, engineering, entrepreneurship, and public service.

Brother Brasher has served as a senior advisor, development leader, and strategic partner to some of the world's most respected organizations, foundations, and global initiatives. He played a foundational role in creating both the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum and The Carter Center, later serving as Special Assistant to President Jimmy Carter while leading fundraising and strategic development across the Center's global health, agriculture, democracy, and human rights initiatives. Throughout his distinguished career, Brasher has led major capital campaigns and development efforts for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Religions for Peace International, and the Synergos Institute, where he founded the Global Philanthropists Circle. Brother Brasher also served as Lambda Chi Alpha's Chief Development and Alumni Affairs Officer, where he led the Fraternity's first headquarters capital campaign, modernized the Cross & Crescent magazine, and strengthened chapters across North America.

Brother Chaney began his professional journey at Avon Products, where he spent nearly three decades and ultimately rose to the role of President. In 1984, Chaney led a leveraged buyout of Tiffany & Co., becoming Chairman and CEO and ushering in a transformative era for the iconic luxury brand. Under his leadership, Tiffany completed its initial public offering in 1987 and expanded its global presence while maintaining a steadfast commitment to product excellence and brand integrity. Beyond his corporate success, Chaney has demonstrated a strong commitment to service and philanthropy. He served as Chairman of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, championing diversity and expanding opportunities for minority-owned businesses.

Brother Darnold is a Super Bowl–winning quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks and a two-time Pro Bowl selection. After a standout career at USC—where he became the first freshman to win the Archie Griffin Award—he was selected third overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Darnold’s professional journey is defined by resilience and growth, culminating in a breakout 2024 season and a Super Bowl LX championship in 2025. Widely recognized as one of the NFL’s top comeback stories, he has established himself as a leader at the highest level of the game. A member of Lambda Chi Alpha at USC, Darnold’s career reflects perseverance, leadership, and the values of Brotherhood in action.

Brother Gerend serves as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Northwestern Mutual, one of the nation’s premier financial services organizations. Under his leadership, the company has achieved historic growth, building the largest, most productive, and most diverse field force in its history while serving more than 5 million clients nationwide. Gerend leads more than 20,000 advisors and team members, guiding the organization with a focus on long-term value, financial strength, and client impact. Northwestern Mutual consistently ranks among the top financial institutions in the United States, reflecting both its performance and its commitment to excellence.

Brother Herren is a highly accomplished business leader whose career spans some of the world’s most respected technology and logistics organizations, including IBM, FedEx, Citrix, Autodesk, and Cisco. Serving as Chief Financial Officer at both Autodesk and Cisco, he became a trusted strategic partner to executive leadership, helping guide complex, global organizations through growth, transformation, and innovation. Known for his ability to lead beyond traditional finance roles, Herren took on significant operational, international, and product leadership responsibilities throughout his career, consistently strengthening organizations and developing high-performing teams.

Brother Johnston, Jr. has led a life defined by service, leadership, and moral conviction. After earning a degree in electrical engineering and beginning a professional career, he made the life-changing decision to leave that path to pursue the priesthood. Ordained in 1990, he rose through Church leadership and was appointed a Catholic Bishop in 2008— one of a select number entrusted with guiding the spiritual, pastoral, and administrative life of an entire diocese. As Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield–Cape Girardeau and later the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph, he has led with vision and impact.

Brother Koepfgen built a distinguished career spanning more than six decades in global financial services, rising to the highest levels of leadership in the investment management industry. He served as President of Janus Capital Group from 2011 to 2022, helping guide the firm through significant growth and transformation, including its merger to form Janus Henderson Investors. Prior to Janus, he held senior executive roles at leading institutions including CEO of Oppenheimer Capital, a member of the Executive Committee at Allianz Global Investors, and Managing Director at Salomon Brothers.

Brother LeBoeuf has built an extraordinary dual career in military leadership and academia. Over 39 years of service in the U.S. Army, he rose to the rank of Major General, leading large-scale operations and overseeing the welfare and readiness of more than 190,000 personnel worldwide. Concurrently, he established a distinguished academic career as a professor of environmental engineering at Vanderbilt University, authoring more than 50 publications and earning multiple patents. His contributions to both national defense and scientific advancement reflect a lifelong commitment to excellence, integrity, and leadership.

Brother McElroy is an accomplished entrepreneur and creative leader best known as a co-founder of Volcom, where he helped build one of the most iconic brands in action sports. As the designer of the globally recognized Volcom Stone logo, he played a central role in shaping the company’s identity and growth, helping expand the brand into households worldwide. Beyond Volcom, McElroy founded McElroy Communications, an advertising agency that supported leading action sports brands such as Quiksilver, O’Neill, and Vans. He also contributed to gaming industry, including the launch of Xbox and the Tony Hawk franchise.

Brother Meline is a highly accomplished global finance and business leader who has played a transformative role across some of the world’s most prominent industrial and biotechnology companies. Over the course of his career, he has served as Chief Financial Officer of Moderna, Amgen, and 3M, following more than two decades of leadership roles at General Motors, where he held senior finance positions across multiple international markets. Meline’s leadership was especially impactful during his tenure at Moderna, where he helped scale the organization during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brother Saltzman is a four-star general in the United States Space Force and currently serves as the Chief of Space Operations, the service’s highest-ranking officer and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this role, he is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping all U.S. Space Force personnel worldwide and serves as a senior military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council on space operations and national security strategy. Throughout his distinguished career, Saltzman has held key leadership positions across space and defense operations, including command at the squadron, group, and wing levels.

Brother Starr was one of the most influential electrical engineers of the 20th century, earning international recognition for his pioneering work in high-voltage power transmission and nuclear energy systems. Over a distinguished career spanning more than five decades, he served as a professor at Oregon State University and later as Chief Engineer of the Bonneville Power Administration. His research on series capacitors revolutionized long-distance power transmission, enabling infrastructure that shaped the modern electrical grid across the western United States. Starr also contributed to the Manhattan Project and advised the Atomic Energy Commission.

Brother Wilkins is a distinguished jurist, civil rights leader, and public servant who serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit - widely regarded as one of the nation’s most influential courts. Nominated by President Barack Obama, his work on the federal bench reflects a lifelong commitment to justice, integrity, and the rule of law. Wilkins began his legal career as a public defender in Washington, D.C., where he later served as Special Litigation Chief, before becoming a partner at Venable LLP. Beyond the courtroom, Wilkins played a pivotal leadership role in the creation of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, serving as a founding organizer and chair of the Presidential Commission’s Site and Building Committee.

The 2026 Order of Achievement recipients reflect the extraordinary impact Lambda Chi Alpha Brothers continue to make across every sector of society. Their accomplishments exemplify the Fraternity's enduring commitment to leadership, service, character, and lifelong excellence. We congratulate each recipient on this well-deserved recognition and thank them for bringing honor to Lambda Chi Alpha.