United States Army Captain Levi Reynolds was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Levi’s thirteen years of Army service began in 2010 when he enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard as a Field Artillery Crewmember. By 2015, he commissioned into the Active Duty Army as a Finance and Comptroller Officer.
Hometown Hero
Hometown Hero – Denise Moore, G’21
U.S. Army First Sergeant (Retired) Denise L. Moore is the daughter of the late Marvin Ellis, and Vicky Dixon Pasley of Jesup, Georgia. She entered the United States Army in October 1992 and attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC. Denise attended Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana where she was awarded the Military Occupational Specialty, 73D, Accounting Specialist. On July 31, 2013, Denise retired after 20 years of active-duty Army service from Joint Base Lewis-McChord as a Senior Financial Advisor in the 593rd Sustainment Brigade.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero – Dr. Nick Armstrong
Born and raised in mid-Michigan, Dr. Nick Armstrong has dedicated his life to serving the nation and advancing the lives of those who serve others.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero – Chelsea Palmer
Petty Officer Chelsea Palmer was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. Her father formerly served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps, and she has two older sisters and one younger brother. Chelsea graduated from Riverwood High School in May 2011 and spent her freshman year of college attending Georgia Southern University. She would transfer to Georgia Military College while working as a kindergarten paraprofessional at a charter school in Atlanta. Searching for a way to make a greater impact on the world, Chelsea made the decision to enlist in the U.S. Navy and arrived at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois in September 2019. Chelsea met and married her husband, Erik, after joining the Navy, and they have been married for three happy years, along with two cats.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero – Laurie Coffey
Lieutenant Commander (Retired) Laurie Coffey hails from Corning, New York is the oldest of four girls. Commander Coffey’s early years were spent tinkering in her father’s “boat shop” and on nearly every playing field imaginable. Accumulating 18 varsity and 3 JV letters, she started competing on high school teams in 7th grade. She led Corning East to a 20-1 record in basketball her freshman year and a first-ever sectional title her sophomore year. Her lifetime of “firsts” included landing a spot on the roster of the boys’ high school lacrosse team in 1993. At boarding school for the final 2 years of school, she attended Phillips Academy Andover (Massachusetts), and her list of accomplishments continued to grow. She still holds the single-season scoring record in basketball, led the first boat in crew to a New England championship, and was inducted into the Phillips Academy Athletics Hall of Fame.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero – Luis “Lu” Weierbach
United States Army CPT Luis “Lu” Weierbach hails from Hoosick Falls, New York. After winning a New York State high school wrestling title, Lu was recruited to wrestle at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2014.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: The Inspiring Journey of United States Army Lieutenant Colonel David Sly
United States Army Lieutenant Colonel David Sly is originally from Rutland, Vermont, and he graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. David was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Corps.
Hometown Hero: Alexis Perez
United States Navy Mass Communication Specialist Second Class, Alexis Perez was born October 7, 1993, in Syracuse, New York. Lexie is a 2011 graduate of Marcellus High School, where she excelled in lacrosse. Her college journey started at Mount Ida College in Newton, Massachusetts where she played for Mustang Women’s Lacrosse Team from 2011-2013. She transferred to Marymount Manhattan College and in 2015 earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree.
Hometown Hero: Jennifer Aquino
United States Navy Veteran Jennifer Aquino is a native of Puerto Rico. She enlisted into the United States Navy in 2003 She attended boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, and later become a cryptologic technician collector and interpreter. Petty Officer Aquino served aboard the Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower. She also served with the Navy Information Operations Command in both Virginia, and South Texas for a total of 14 years of honorable service.
Hometown Hero: Rear Admiral John Okon
United States Navy Rear Admiral (RADM) John Okon was born and raised in “the 315,” having grown up in Camillus, and he has bled orange his whole life. John attended the last game in both Manley Field House and Archibald Stadium, as well as the first game in the Carrier Dome. During high school, he worked for Syracuse University parking cars in the west lots of the Carrier Dome and at Manley Field House. John says while the money was good, it was the free ticket to see his ‘Orange’ that was the most valuable benefit!