Bernard Banks, Ph.D.
Brigadier General (Ret.) who played Sprint Football at the United States Military Academy

In his 29 years as a US Army Officer, he led military units ranging in size from 10 to 3,000 people with the motto: Fortune favors the prepared. In the early 2000s, he was brought in to improve an Apache Helicopter unit ranking in the bottom third globally. In just two years, under Bernie’s leadership, the same group was designated number ONE! Why? Practice. Lots of practice.

The private sector has tapped Bernie’s fundamentals, as well. He has worked extensively with organizations across all sectors concerning their leader development efforts, including Procter and Gamble, Mercedes Benz, General Electric, IBM, 7-Eleven, The US Forest Service and the International Chiefs of Police.

Today, as an Associate Dean at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, Bernie asks YOU: Do you deserve fortune?

Maryanne Miller
When she achieved the rank of four-star general, she was the only female four-star officer in any branch of the U.S. military. She played softball at Ohio State.

Maryanne Miller is a distinguished graduate of the AFROTC program at Ohio State, Miller joined the Air Force in 1981. She is a command pilot with more than 4,800 hours in flight, having flown a variety of aircrafts, including jets, large cargo planes and an aerial-refueling tanker.

Kyle Carpenter
Medal of Honor Recipient who played football at King Academy

Kyle Carpenter was posted on a rooftop in Afghanistan when an enemy grenade landed between him and a fellow Marine. Without hesitation, Kyle jumped on the grenade, saving his best friend but sacrificing himself. After flatlining three times, undergoing 41 surgeries, and spending three years at Walter Reed Medical Center, Kyle ran the Marine Corps Marathon.

Keith Hoskins
Blue Angel Pilot who played football at Missouri Western State

Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Hoskins had a distinguished, 27-year military career. He was a Blue Angels flight demonstration pilot from 1999-2001, served as commanding officer of Strike Force Squadron 15 and as national director of NROTC at Navy Service Training Command. In 2013, Keith became the first African-American commanding officer at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Today he oversees more than 7,5—team members as the Senior Vice President of Navy Federal Credit Union in Pensacola.