Continuing family tradition: Mayfield back at Culver after Army career

 

After spending 27 years in the Army and retiring as a lieutenant colonel from the 3^rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, in March, Ryan Mayfield ’94 NB ’92 W ’89 has returned to a place that has shaped much of his life: Culver Summer Schools & Camps.

For the Band alumnus, the move is more than a new role. It is a homecoming to an institution where family roots run deep.

His father, Tony Mayfield ’65, served for decades as director of Culver Summer Schools & Camps, while his late mother, Sherri, served Culver Academies for 30 years, principally as its longtime director of the Academic Skills Center. His sister, Brooke Oak, ’97, SS’95, W’92, who currently serves on the Culver Summer Schools Alumni Association Board, met her husband of 20 years, Brandon Oak N’96, W’93, while on the summer staff and now have two sons as Gold C Beaver and Cub Woodcrafters. Nearly a decade after his parents retired, Mayfield is carrying on the family tradition as division commander of the Drum & Bugle Corps at Woodcraft Camp.

“It's home,” Mayfield said. “It's definitely home. Culver and especially the Drum & Bugle Corps and Naval Band, are near and dear to my heart.” After graduating from Culver, he attended Indiana University, where he enrolled in Army ROTC thanks to enjoying his time as a CMA cadet. That earned him a scholarship for his final three years, knowing he was committing himself to at least four years of service.

“I knew it would be an adventure and was proud to serve and lead others,” he said.

Although in the CMA Band throughout his time at Culver, he was commissioned as a field artillery officer in the Army, working with cannon and rocket weapon systems.

During his career, Mayfield specialized in fire support planning, helping maneuver commanders by integrating artillery, air support and other military assets. While he never set out expecting a military career that would span nearly three decades, he found new challenges and opportunities at every stage to further pursue.

 

 

"Once I started, I wanted to serve at the next level and reach the next milestone within the Army progression,” he said. “It was an adventure throughout, and an amazing opportunity to serve within so many outstanding units and organizations.”

Mayfield welcomed the opportunity to reconnect with many Culver alumni who also served in the armed forces through the recently established Culver Academies Military Alumni Group. After he retired in March, he was drawn back to Culver by the opportunity to return to the Woodcraft Camp staff.

“I really do have a passion for Culver,” he said. “So I'm grateful to come back now that I have the flexibility. I feel like I can continue to serve others and build a team with renewed purpose, now just at Culver.”

Mayfield leads the Drum & Bugle Corps, a Woodcraft unit consisting of five cabins and 64 campers. The group serves as the heartbeat of the Woodcraft Camp, providing music and drum cadences for parades while also competing in athletics, military events and other camp activities.

For Mayfield, the position combines many of the experiences that defined his own youth. A drummer throughout his Culver years, he grew up on North Terrace, where he could hear drum cadences echoing across campus.

“I loved hearing the drum cadences and was inspired from my earliest childhood memories to be a Culver drummer,” he said.

His connection to the Summer Schools & Camps extends even further. Before entering the Army, Mayfield spent three summers working as a counselor, including two years as a Drum & Bugle cabin counselor and one year with the Naval Band in Upper School.

Now, he finds himself working with the children of campers he once supervised.

“Now I have their kids,” he said. “That's amazing and provides many fun, full-circle moments.”

The Mayfield name remains closely associated with Culver Summer Schools & Camps. It is common for parents or alumni to approach him with a familiar question.

“They ask, ‘Are you related to Tony?’ ” Mayfield said.

 

Rather than feeling burdened by those expectations, he embraces them.

“It's an honor,” he said. “I’m proud of our family connection and tradition. It's fun to be here and keep that going.”

His return also carries personal significance. Sherri Mayfield, who died in 2022, shared her family's love of Culver and would be overjoyed seeing her son continue the tradition.

“She loved that too,” he said. “So she would have really enjoyed all of these special summer events and moments together.”

Mayfield said he turns to his father at times for advice.

“We talk about the way he handled certain circumstances in the past,” Mayfield said.

As a father himself, Mayfield hopes his own children eventually enjoy their own Culver experience. He and his wife, Mandy, an Air Force veteran as a C-130 Navigator, met at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and married in the Culver Chapel in 2012. Their family includes 12-year-old daughter, Stella, 10-year-old daughter, Ruby, and their 7-year-old son, Miles.

“I do think it is a tremendous opportunity,” he said.

Much of Mayfield’s focus this summer centers on helping campers develop leadership, teamwork and self-discipline. While musicianship remains important, he believes the lessons learned through camp extend far beyond playing an instrument.

Mayfield said he encourages humble leadership and focuses on developing self-discipline and helping campers learn to confront and overcome challenges. He guides the unit leaders to establish and record weekly shared objectives and goals to drive teamwork and cohesion.

“If they want to excel as a group, then they have to work together,” he said.

He said the key is to realize each camper has different motivations.

“You realize that every kid has a unique story,” he said.

His military background has prepared him to lead not only the campers but also his young staff.

While he is still relearning some of the details and processes that have evolved since his days as a camper and counselor, Mayfield says he enjoys the challenge.

“I enjoy the opportunity to lead and I enjoy building relationships within a team,” he said.

For Mayfield, the return is about more than leading campers or continuing a family tradition. It is a chance to give back to a place that helped shape him.

“This is the first summer,” Mayfield said, “but I hope it's not the last. I hope to keep coming back as I really enjoy the people, the team-building process and the opportunity to lead at Culver.”

For more information about Culver Academies and Culver Summer Schools & Camps, click here.