The Board of Advisors

Rear Admiral John F. Brunelli served 34 years on active duty before retiring in September 2001. His last assignment was as the commander of the Naval Surface Reserve Force, a command of over 66,000 Naval Reservists located in every state. During his career he commanded USS Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG -7), Surface Group IV. A graduate of Boston College, Rear Admiral Brunelli also earned a masters degree in Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. In 2000 he completed the National and International Security Matters Curriculum at the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University. Since retiring from active duty in the Navy, Rear Admiral Brunelli has been appointed to the Board of Directors of two national corporations and is the founder of a private consulting firm.

Vice Admiral Jim Card enjoyed a 36-year Coast Guard career, retiring in 2000 as Vice Commandant. Major commands were Pacific Area and the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans. As leader of the nation’s marine safety, maritime security, and marine environmental protection programs, he carefully balanced national needs and priorities with those of maritime commerce. He led special teams on diversity and communication that forged new policies, improving Coast Guard direction for both. Upon retirement, Vice Admiral Card joined the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. ABS is a leading international classification society devoted to security of life, property, and the marine environment. He is active in the maritime community and serves on boards supporting the United Nations World Maritime University.

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Jim Finch was appointed on August 2, 1999 as the 13th senior Air Force enlisted member to hold this position. As Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF), Finch served as the principal adviser to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, proper utilization and progress of the enlisted force.

A native of East Hampton, NY, Chief Finch entered the Air Force in July 1974 and retired in July 2002. His military background was in missile maintenance and professional military education, and served in a number of operational, maintenance and support units at every level of command, from squadron through major air command

Chief Finch is a graduate of the USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and holds an Associate of Arts degree in instruction technology from the Community College of the Air Force

Among his numerous military decorations and awards includes Distinguished Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters; and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Chief Finch resides in San Antonio, Texas with his wife and son. He is currently active in a number of nonprofit and corporate board positions, and does management consulting and motivational speaking.

A Principal of San Francisco-based Regent Pacific Management Corporation, Phil Gioia has twenty-three years’ business and operational management experience in investment banking, venture capital, and emerging growth firms. He has served as CEO of several San Francisco Bay Area technology firms, and founded two. Phil’s ten years of active service as a Regular officer in infantry included command assignments in airborne infantry, air cavalry, and special operations units in the United States and in South Vietnam. A Ranger, Master Parachutist, and Pathfinder, his military decorations include two Silver Stars and two Purple Hearts. Phil holds a B.A. from the Virginia Military Institute, an M.S.F.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, and an M.B.A. from Stanford University. He has served as Mayor and Councilman in Corte Madera, California, and is an Eagle Scout.

Rear Admiral Andrew A. Giordano, SC, USN (ret.)

Andrew Giordano is currently the Chairman of the Board of Joseph A. Bank, Inc. and is a veteran of corporate America serving as CEO, Chairman, Director, COO and CFO of several public and private corporations. He retired in 1984 as Chief of the Navy Supply Corps and Commander Naval Supply Systems Command. On active duty he specialized in logistical support of naval aviation forces and financial management of weapon system spare parts. His articles on integrated logistics support and combat ready support were selected for publication in the Naval Engineers Journal and the Naval Institute Proceedings. Admiral Giordano was recently awarded the Navy's Meritorious Public Service Award for his role in establishing the Navy's e-Business Office. He graduated with distinction from the Harvard Business School.

Secretary Hall is currently serving as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. Prior to the ASD(RA) job, Secretary Hall was the executive director of the Naval Reserve Association. Secretary Hall also served in the United States Navy, retiring with the rank of Rear Admiral. While on active duty, he commanded Patrol Squadron EIGHT (VP-8), Naval Air Station Bermuda, Fleet Air Keflavik and the Iceland Defense Force, Chief of Naval Reserve; Commander, Naval Reserve Force; and Director, Naval Reserve. He has also served tours with the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group and Head of the Program Objective Memorandum (POM) Development Section, as well as several assignments in the Bureau of Naval Personnel.  

Master Chief Hillis was Navy Pacific Fleet Master Chief from September 1997 until his retirement in February 2000. His long and distinguished career included service on the USS Nevada, where he was promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer and served as Senior Ship Superintendent at the Trident Refit Facility in Bangor, Washington. He was Chief of the Boat for the USS Ohio (BLUE) and served as Command Master Chief of Submarine Squadron SEVENTEEN, the USS Nimitz and Submarine Group NINE. In 1996 Master Chief Hillis graduated from Southern Illinois University, Magna Cum Laude, with a degree in Education.

Admiral Larson was twice Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, first from 1983 to 1986, and again from 1994 until his retirement from active duty in 1998. Admiral Larson was Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, 1991 to 1994. During his distinguished career he held both an aviator's rating and a submariner rating. In the latter capacity, he was Commander of Submarine Development Group One, in San Diego, California where he headed the Navy's worldwide deep submergence program. He was the first Naval officer to be a White House Fellow in 1968. He also was Naval aide to President Nixon from 1969 until 1971. 

General Mundy retired in 1995 as Commandant of the Marine Corps and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His 38-year career spanned command from platoon through regiment and at the brigade and expeditionary force echelons of integrated air-ground task force formations. Immediately following retirement, General Mundy was President and CEO of the Worldwide USO. He serves on numerous boards including General Dynamics, Schering-Plough Pharmaceutical Corporation and the NationsFund family of mutual funds.

Major General Myatt retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1995 to work for Bechtel Corporation. In September 2001, General Myatt was selected to be President and CEO of the Marines’ Memorial Association. He assumed that posting on 10 September, 2001. In his Marine Corps career, General Myatt served in command and staff positions in all three active Marine Divisions. On 8 August 1990, General Myatt was assigned as the Commanding General, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California. A few days later, in mid-August, and in reaction to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, he deployed his Division of 22,000 Marines to Saudi Arabia as part of I Marine Expeditionary Force for Operation Desert Shield. During the 4-day ground war in February 1991, his Division defeated seven Iraqi Army divisions in zone, seized Kuwait International Airport and liberated Kuwait City. Prior to his retirement he was assigned as the Director of Expeditionary warfare, serving in that billet until the summer of 1995 to work for Bechtel.  

Anthony J. Principi is the President and CEO QTC Management. He was QTC’s former president of Medical Services, and left only after being appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as the 4th Secretary of Veterans Affairs—the nation’s second largest government program with a $64 billion budget and 230,000 employees. Anthony is a combat-decorated veteran, having graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. He first saw active duty aboard the destroyer, USS Joseph P. Kennedy, and later commanded a River Patrol Unit in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Anthony earned his Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall University and then transitioned to the United States Navy’s Judge Advocate General Corps. He has worked on several national policy issues, and has since maintained various federal-level government positions including: Counsel to the Chairman on the Senate Armed Services Committee; Republican Chief Counsel and Staff Director of both the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Senate Committee on Armed Services; Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs during the administration of President George H.W. Bush; and, most recently, Chairman of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. Anthony also chaired the Federal Quality Institute, and the Commission on Servicemembers and Veterans Transition Assistance. He later served the private sector as a partner in the San Diego, CA, law firm of Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scrips; and Senior Vice President of Lockheed Martin IMS.

Robert A. Ravitz brings both a knowledge of advertising and marketing and a knowledge to the military to the Advisory Board. In his 40 year career in advertising he served as a EVP of Grey Advertising and an SVP of McCann-Erickson Worldwide. He now has a advertising consulting practice working with both agencies and clients. Ravitz also had a 30 year career as a Public Affairs Officer in the Naval Reserve and retired as a Rear Admiral and Deputy Chief of Information and Director of Naval Reserve Public Affairs Programs. He is currently a National Vice President of the Navy League and on the Foundation Board of the Naval War College.

Lou Reda is the President and Executive Producer of Lou Reda Productions, Inc., a television production and publication packaging company. For over 25 years, Lou Reda Productions has been a leading and innovative source of high-quality historical documentary films, with an emphasis on military subjects. Lou Reda Productions has produced over 200 cable and network specials and series episodes, seen regularly on the A&E Television Network, the History Channel, and the Discovery Channel. Lou Reda Productions has been honored with several awards including The Peabody People's Choice Award, the George Marshall Award, the Department of Defense Award, the Colonial Dames of America Annual Book Award, the Columbus International Award, the Ohio State Award, the Cine Golden Eagle Award, and a Golden Apple Award. Lou Reda enlisted in the United States Navy in 1943. He served with the 100th Battalion, Seabees, in the Marshall Islands and the Philippines, and was discharged 1946.

Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) Jack L. Tilley served as the 12th Sergeant Major of the Army on June 23, 2000 until January 15, 2004.

As Sergeant Major of the Army, Tilley served as the Army Chief of Staff's principal advisor on all enlisted-related matters, particularly in areas affecting soldier training and quality of life. In this position, he devoted the majority of his time to traveling throughout the Army observing training, and talking to soldiers and their families. He also held positions on a wide variety of councils and boards that make decisions affecting enlisted soldiers and their families and is routinely invited to testify before Congress.

A native of Vancouver, Washington, SMA Tilley entered the Army in November 1966, and is a Vietnam veteran. Throughout his 34-year career, SMA Tilley has held every key leadership position including tank commander, section leader, drill sergeant, platoon sergeant, senior instructor, operations sergeant, first sergeant and command sergeant major. His military education includes the First Sergeants Course and the Sergeants Major Academy.

Among his numerous awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star with V Device, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Vietnam Service Medal and Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Drill Sergeant's Badge, Parachutist's Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge. SMA Tilley resides in the Tampa, Florida area with his wife and son, and is a management consultant and motivational speaker.

General Welch retired in 1990 after a 40-year career in the Air Force. At the time of his retirement he was Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Welch is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) in Washington DC -- a federally chartered research center providing operations and technical analysis, and management and information systems design and development, for the Department of Defense and other U.S. government agencies.

Sergeant Major Marshall ("Will") Williams retired from the U. S. Army after 23 years of service in 2002. During his military career he held progressively important positions of leadership and high visibility and earned numerous honors, including "Soldier of the Year" on two separate occasions. In his last assignment prior to retirement, he served as the senior enlisted advisor for three Secretaries of Defense.

SGM Williams' educational accomplishments include a B.S. degree in Management, a M.S. in Management, and a M.S. in Human Resources Management and Development from National-Louis University. In addition, he also holds an Executive MBA from the University of Maryland and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from Northwestern University where he was a KPMG Fellow. He also served as a White House Fellow.

SGM Williams resides in Fairfax, VA with his wife and son, and is employed by General Dynamics Corporation as the Director of Homeland Defense. He is also a member of the USO World board of directors.