On the American Valor Podcast, Mr. Steve Gonzalez preaches the importance of being better each day. Steve joined the Marine Corps because he realized that doing so aligned with what he wanted to achieve in life: service to country as a means of believing in something bigger than himself. Steve speaks to the difficulty of transitioning out of military service. 

The gap between society and former members of the military is discussed as well as ways to close this gap by supporting those who have served. Society must do more than say ‘thank you for your service.’ We must understand how to best help integrate those individuals fighting for us as they readjust to civil society. Through his time in the Marines and on Capitol Hill, Steve explains the similarities and differences between the organizations with the common mission of protecting the best interest of the country.

Mr. Gonzalez defines valor as helping others to strengthen society in a small way daily: valor is consistently serving individuals out of a genuine concern for their well-being.

Marine Steve Gonzalez earned his Bachelor of Arts in International and Global Studies from Queens University of Charlotte. Steve’s experience includes service as the Assistant Director of National Veterans Employment and Education for the American Legion, Senior Policy Advisor to the Committee on the Budget of the United States House of Representatives, and Vice President of Government Relations for the Career Education Colleges and Universities. Steve is a member of the Board of Directors of the Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation.

Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation
Hosts: Nathaniel Cameron and Colin Kirk
Edited by Tyler Buchholz
Special thank you to Jack Metcalfe

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Doug Flynn grew up playing several sports in Lexington, Kentucky. He attended the University of Kentucky and Somerset Community College before playing 11 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Cincinnati Reds, Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers. Mr. Flynn was a member of the 1975 Big Red Machine team that won the World Series. He is currently a broadcaster for the Cincinnati Reds and actively supports service men and women through multiple non-profit organizations, including Hope for the Warriors (supporting injured veterans and their families) at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, USACares (supporting family members of military personnel) and Save the Warriors (supporting veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder/PTSD).

Mr. Flynn speaks about his blessed childhood growing up in Kentucky and the impact of playing several sports including basketball and baseball at the University of Kentucky. He shares stories of trying out for the Cincinnati Reds and his tribulations rising through the team’s minor league system before playing with the Big Red Machine and National Baseball Hall of Fame managers Sparky Anderson and Joe Torre in his Major League career. Doug shares lessons learned from some of the greatest coaches and players of his generation.

Doug preaches playing for the team name on the front of the jersey rather than the name on the back and speaks to the importance of community involvement, sharing stories of his support for service men and women, often with his good friend National Baseball Hall of Famer and Bob Feller Award recipient Mr. Johnny Bench. Hear Mr. Flynn’s thoughts on the current state of the game of baseball and his experience of going on tour with the Oak Ridge Boys during the 1981 Major League Baseball players’ strike.

Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Nathaniel Cameron
Edited by Jack Metcalfe

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Major Lennon speaks about his decision to join the Marine Corps and his service in both the active and reserve components of the Marine Corps, as well as his decision to attend law school. In 2010, Major Lennon deployed to Afghanistan, receiving the Purple Heart and Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his service to our country. Major Lennon then went on earn his Doctor of Law degree from the Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, where he currently serves as Director of the Veterans and Servicemembers’ Rights’ Clinic.

Major Lennon encourages individuals interested in the military to research the four branches and speaks about the close connection among members of the military and the significance arising from service to others and country.

As an advisor to the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation and a community athlete for the Semper Fi Fund, an organization assisting injured veterans in all branches of the armed forces, Major Lennon became a Guinness World Record holder in the summer of 2019. His effort to earn the fastest one mile time pulling a 400 pound chain raised over $6,000 for the Semper Fi Fund.

Hear Major Lennon’s discuss the the Marine Corps slogan Semper Fi…Always Faithful.

Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Nathaniel Cameron
Edited by Tyler Buchholz
Special thank you to Jack Metcalfe

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Vice Admiral John “Jay” Donnelly (United States Navy, Retired) is Vice President of Advanced Technologies for Huntington Ingalls Industries. Jay serves as an active Board Member of the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation. Donnelly graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1975 and served 35 years in the Navy. A submarine officer by training, his commanding officer assignments included USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709) and USS McKee (AS 41). His final assignment was as Commander, Submarine Forces, responsible for establishing force-wide strategies on core submarine issues such as force structure, budgetary requirements and manpower.

Vice Admiral Donnelly speaks about what it means to be part of a three generation Naval family and the values he developed at the Naval Academy: integrity, honor and service above one’s self. Learn about life on a submarine and the rationale behind the decisions to allow women to serve in the submarine force and the elimination of smoking on submarines.

Vice Admiral Donnelly encourages young people to start their career in the military because it prepares one for success in life. Military service is an opportunity to develop self-discipline, teamwork and the other skills critical for success in any field: communication, leadership, integrity, doing things right and doing hard things well.

For Vice Admiral Donnelly, valor is the application of sacrifice and service to others in a time of great peril. To live with valor means to act with valor.

Donnelly lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife of 39 years. They have three married children who each became naval officers following college. They are happily accumulating grandchildren.

To learn more about the Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation, please visit: http://www.actofvaloraward.org/

Editor: Jack Metcalfe
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz and Nathaniel Cameron

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The Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation is proud to present a promotional speaker event between our podcast team of Nathaniel Cameron, Tyler Buchholz, and Colin Kirk and Foundation Board Members Peter Fertig, Steve Curtis and Johnathan Rose.

The awards honor the legacy of National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller, who made the selfless decision to put his career in the major leagues on hold so he could serve our country. Each honoree possesses the values, integrity, and dedication to serving our country that Bob Feller himself displayed. Award winners will be honored at the seventh annual award ceremony in Washington D.C. on November 14th, 2019.

The awards recognize seven recipients — one National Baseball Hall of Famer, one current MLB player, one U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer, two peer-to-peer mentoring awards (one for afloat command and one for ashore command), one military children award, and the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Jerry Coleman award.

The honorees this year: National Baseball Hall of Fame — Randy Johnson; Major League Baseball — Ian Kennedy; U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer — Logistics Specialist Chief Jairo N. Guity; Jerry Coleman Award — Gunnery Sergeant Joshua A. MacMillan; Peer-to-Peer Award (Afloat) — USS AMERICA (LHA 6) Junior Enlisted Association (JEA); Peer-to-Peer Award (Ashore) — Training Support Center Great Lakes Chapter of the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD), and Military Children Award — Mia Owen.

To learn more about the Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation, please visit: http://www.actofvaloraward.org/

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In our twelfth installment, Dr. CJ Mitchell, the 15th Force Master Chief of the Navy Reserve, chats with the podcast team of Nathaniel Cameron, Tyler Buchholz and Colin Kirk. Dr Mitchell discusses his career in the Navy, transition to civilian life and CJ's concept of leadership, including his rule of three. CJ has held several leadership positions in the Navy at every level and frequently speaks and facilitates leadership training for the United States Navy. He has facilitated training for senior Flag Officers for both active and reserve leaders in all services. As Force Master Chief, CJ represented and advocated for the Navy Reserve on Capitol Hill with Congress and worked with local politicians working on cooperative and collaborative programs for veteran and reserve personnel employment, education, and leadership programs.

Dr. Mitchell shares that leadership happens not by accident but by engagement. Dr. CJ Mitchell’s four pillars of leadership for business people, parents and students include:

1. Look them in the eye and tell them the truth.

2. Together we achieve more.

3. Leaders must first hold themselves accountable to a high standard, and then hold their teammates to a high standard.

4. Leaders must be able to communicate a vision. 

For more information, contact Dr. CJ Mitchell on LinkedIn and be on the lookout for CJ’s upcoming book on leadership: Look Them in the Eye and Tell Them the Truth.

To learn more about the Act of Valor Foundation, please visit http://www.actofvaloraward.org/

Editor: Jack Metcalfe
Hosts: Tyler Buchholz, Nathaniel Cameron, Colin Kirk

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Mitch Harris, the second Naval Academy graduate to play Major League Baseball, speaks about his adjustment to life at the Naval Academy, maintaining his baseball skills while serving five years in the United States Navy, including three deployments before playing Major League Baseball for the Saint Louis Cardinals in 2015. Listeners will be inspired and entertained in learning Mitch’s life story and thoughts, including commitment to self, work ethic, attention to detail, striving towards one’s goals, pitchers hitting and playing against the best players in the world. To learn more about Mitch Harris in the future, a book and movie on Mitch’s inspirational journey are being developed.

Host and Editor: Tyler Buchholz
Host: Nathaniel Cameron
Host: Colin Kirk

Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation website: http://www.actofvaloraward.org/

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On the American Valor Podcast, the 70th Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable John H. Dalton, reflects on his life: attending the United States Naval Academy, serving as an Officer in the Navy, working in private business and in government service. Mr. Dalton speaks about the challenging times he has faced in life as well as the positive attitude and support allowing him to persevere and grow. Mr. Dalton, embodying the Navy's values of honor, courage and commitment, speaks about the significance of service and the importance of character in leadership. Mr. Dalton provides listeners with three simple constants to provide guidance and assurance throughout life: faith...family...and friends.

Host: Tyler Buchholz
Host: Nathaniel Cameron
Host: Colin Kirk
Editor: Jack Metcalfe

Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation website: http://www.actofvaloraward.org/

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Mr. Johnny Bench speaks about his upbringing in Oklahoma, which was the inspiration for his values of hard work that he learned from his parents, as his father served in the Army during World War II. Mr. Bench and the team spoke about the fulfillment of his lifelong dream of becoming a Major League Baseball catcher at the age of 19 and eventually winning two World Series with the Big Red Machine.

Mr Bench served six years in the Army Reserves while playing professional baseball and was named the 2018 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award recipient from the Hall of Fame. Mr Bench supports Hope for the Warriors, a national non-profit organization aiding combat wounded service members, their families and families of those killed in action.

Johnny speaks about his travels around the world with Bob Hope, playing for Cincinnati Reds and Hall of Fame manager Mr. Sparky Anderson, traits of a leader, his definition of valor, personal vowels for success and catching every ball thrown one's way, in baseball and in life. On the American Valor Podcast, Johnny Bench provides an inspiring, individual-specific framework for students, business leaders and parents to follow.

Host and Editor: Tyler Buchholz
Host: Nathaniel Cameron

Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation website: http://www.actofvaloraward.org/
Johnny Bench website: https://johnnybench.com

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In our eighth episode, Nathaniel Cameron and Colin Kirk talk to United States Naval Academy Head Baseball Coach Paul Kostacopoulos. The team discusses Coach Kostacopoulous' start in baseball and his journey to become the youngest Division I baseball head coach, leading him to become the second most winningest coach in Naval Academy baseball history. Coach Kostacopoulos discusses his respect for the Midshipmen who balance duty to country, stringent academics and Division I athletics. Coach Kostacopoulos discusses what is required of the United States Naval Academy baseball player as well as his coaching philosophy and definitions of leadership and valor.

Edited by Jack Metcalfe.

For more information, please visit http://www.actofvaloraward.org/

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