Major General William M. Matz, Jr, U.S. Army (Ret), was appointed as the eighth Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission in January 2018 by President Donald Trump, a position he held until March 2021. 

General Matz is a highly decorated combat veteran of the United States
Army with a distinguished military career spanning four decades. As an
infantryman, he served in Korea and Panama, and as a company commander with the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam, where he was wounded in action in the 1968 Tet offensive. He served multiple tours in the 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions and was executive secretary to two secretaries of defense, Caspar Weinberger and Frank Carlucci. During the Vietnam War, he served two years with the Navy/Marine amphibious forces in the Pacific and deployed with the 7th Infantry Division to Panama during Operation JUST CAUSE in 1989. 

Upon retirement from the Army in 1995, General Matz worked nine years in the defense industry. He was first employed by Raytheon Company as vice president, Army Programs; and later as general manager for Vinnell/Northrop Grumman’s Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, returning to the United States in June 2004. 

In 2005, President Bush appointed him to the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission, where he served until the commission rendered its report to the Congress in 2008. He is also past President of the National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS), a national veteran’s organization that advocates in Congress for service members, veterans and their families. 

He is on the Eisenhower Institute National Advisory Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association. 

He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Airborne and Ranger Schools, the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Gettysburg College and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of San Diego. He is also a graduate of Harvard University’s Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security. 

Among his military service awards and decorations are the Distinguished Service Cross (second highest award our nation bestows for valor on the battlefield), Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge. 

General Matz was born in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Linda, reside in Naples, FL, and have three children and seven grandsons. 

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Melissa Ziobro began her career as a civilian historian, archivist, and curator for the US Army in 2004 prior to returning to her alma mater, Monmouth University, to teach full-time. She has taught over a dozen different courses, including Intro to Public History; Oral History; Museums and Archives Management Basics; NJ History; and the Vietnam War. In August of 2023, she became curator of the University's Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, after having worked with the Center for many years in her faculty role (to include curating the Center’s first traveling exhibit, Springsteen: His Hometown, with the Monmouth County Historical Association in 2019). Her most recent publications include Fort Monmouth: The US Army’s House of Magic (2024) and The Battlin' Bastards of Bravo: Bravo Company, 1/506th, 101st Airborne, in Vietnam and Beyond (2025).

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In the heart of every shadow that plagues our communities, from the silent cries of the trafficked to the silent battles of addiction, We Fight Monsters stands as a beacon of hope and defiance. Born from the shared experiences of those who've faced the abyss and emerged to tell the tale, our organization is a testament to the power of resilience and the strength of unity. We are the ones who navigate the night to bring back the lost, who stand in the face of evil not with weapons, but with the unwavering belief in redemption and recovery. Ben is a daddy to eight (sometimes ten), grandparent to one, humanitarian, fighter of evil, bringer of hope, formerly addicted, alcoholic and homeless. He's also the owner of BlackRifle Co, a data intelligence and digital media agency not to be confused with the coffee company of similar name, and co-founder of two non-profits—We Fight Monsters and Flanders Field—that help people in some of the worst places in America and the world. Ben loves sharing that his wife Jess can drive, load, and fire a M18 Hellcat, a WWII tank destroyer. He’s also the only crackhead ever invited to CIA headquarters. When they’re not in South Memphis helping others rebuild their lives after addiction, Ben and Jess can be found in rural Georgia where they live with their family.

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Command Sergeant Major retired Bart E. Womack, served the United States Army with distinction for over 29 years as a professional soldier, providing focus, leadership, and mentorship to all Officers and Enlisted soldiers. His maturity, expertise, and personal dedication to excellence contributed immeasurably to the readiness of the Armed Forces and the security of our great nation. Highlights of his distinguished military career include Drill Sergeant, Ranger Instructor, and Sergeant of the Guard at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He culminated his career in dual roles as Commandant of the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, and the 101st Airborne Division Command Sergeant Major. He’s a Combat Veteran whose awards include 2 Bronze Stars, one for Valor, the Legion of Merit, the Combat Infantryman Badge w/star, the Tomb Guard Identification Badge, and the Army Ranger Tab to name a few. He is also a Distinguished Member of the Regiment of the 327th Infantry Regiment and the 3rd Infantry Regiment respectively.

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Robert J. O’Neill is one of the most highly decorated combat veterans of our time. He served at SEAL Team Two, SEAL Team Four and eight years at the legendary SEAL Team Six. Having taken part in and leading over 400 combat missions, Rob operated in Liberia, The Balkans, The Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Having been decorated 53 times, his awards include two Silver Stars for gallantry in action against the enemy, four Bronze Stars with Valor to denote heroism against the enemy, a Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor, three Presidential Unit Commendations and three Combat Action ribbons to name a few. Some of Rob’s qualifications include Military Free-Fall Jumpmaster, Tandem Tethered Bundle Master, Naval Special Warfare Scout / Sniper, Breacher, Master Naval Parachutist, Master Training Specialist, Diving Supervisor, Range Officer in Charge for Small Arms, Close Quarters Battle, Breaching, Laser System Safety Officer among many others. Rob took part in the rescue for Operation Red Wings, which extracted the Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell, he was the lead jumper for the rescue operation that saved Captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates and he was a Team Leader for Operation Neptune’s Spear, the mission to kill Osama bin Laden. Rob is co-founder of Special Operators Transition Foundation, specializing in assisting Special Operations Forces veterans with the successful transition from the service into their next great career in corporate America. Rob is the author of the NY Times and London Times Best Selling Memoir THE OPERATOR: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior. Rob has been interviewed on Fox News, CNN, CBS, Newsmax and others.

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Join us as we dive into the world of firearms, optics, and tactical gear with Primary Arms! From expert insights to the latest industry trends, we bring you everything you need to stay sharp, informed, and ready for action. Whether you're a seasoned shooter or just getting started, this is your go-to source for all things shooting sports and defense.

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Founded by combat veterans and seasoned game developers Lewis Manalo and Matt Patak, Old Glory Studios brings over 25 years of experience in the gaming industry. Our founders have worked on some of the most popular tactical shooters in the world, bringing their real-life experiences into game development. Old Glory's goal is to make combat games that are easy to pick up, but hard to master. Backed by a talented network of developers, writers, and artists, our mission is to deliver games that are accessible to everyone while staying true to the authentic combat experiences of our founders. Matt Patak: Served in Iraq with the Third Infantry Division. Level Designer on Tom Clancy's The Division 1 & 2, Ryse: Son of Rome, Exoborne, and more. Lewis Manalo: Served in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne. Worked as an independent film producer before transitioning to video games. Writer on Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon franchise, Dying Light 2, Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodhunt, Exoborne, and more.

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Ever wonder what kind of lunatic books a vacation to North Korea, Haiti, and cartel-infested Mexico for fun? Meet Jurgis, a businessman and good friend of Brandon's from Lithuania who treats the world’s most dangerous hot spots like they’re all-inclusive resorts. We talk how they met at Harvard Business School and about the thrill of walking through gang territory like it’s Disneyland, the fine art of not getting kidnapped, and why some places on Earth make Mogadishu look like a retirement community. If that’s not enough, we close things out with a deep dive into stem cell therapy—because after all the bullets, bribes, and bad decisions, even the world’s most fearless traveler needs a little body repair. Buckle up—this one’s a wild ride. For more on stem cell treatments visit: https://www.bioxcellerator.com/

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Lieutenant (SEAL) Rob Sarver graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2004. He initially served as a surface warfare officer and ultimately as a Navy SEAL assigned to SEAL Team 3, completing seven deployments during his service. He completed three tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and two tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Rob's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with a combat "V" device and oak leaf cluster, the Combat Action Ribbon with a gold star device, and various additional personal and unit accolades. Since his departure from the military in 2013, Rob has held various leadership and executive roles and earned an Executive MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. Currently, Rob is the Co-Founder of Servius Group and serves as the Co-CEO and Co-Founder of The Heroes Journey, LLC. 

Alex Gendzier is a partner at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, where he is involved in veterans affairs. Although Alex has no personal military experience, he feels a connection to them through his own journey of overcoming the odds, experiencing painful losses and making life-changing transitions and the five years of research and interviews that went into this Field Manual. His sense of his own successes and failures, as well as his desire to make a contribution to our service members and their families, led him to collaborate with Rob Sarver.

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Austin Shamlin is the CEO and Founder of Traverse Project—a nonprofit organization that combats the human trafficking threat through data intelligence—where has pioneered data-driven methodologies to combat human trafficking. He is a former police executive who currently sits on the Advisory Board for the University of Houston’s Center for Research Excellence to Counter Human Trafficking, as well as the Board of Directors for Operation Path Forward—a nonprofit supporting those who serve America. Previously, Austin directed international counter-human trafficking operations for a nonprofit under the Tim Tebow Foundation and managed law enforcement operations for D.C. Public Schools. He has also worked as a government contractor in Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq, and Somalia. He is a recognized speaker at Blackhat USA, DefCon, BENS, and other major conferences.

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