Here are your finalists
Scott Dillon
Branch of Service: Navy
Years of Service: 31
Significant Achievements While in Service
Scott Dillon retired from the US Navy in September 2022 after 31 years of service. He and his family currently are living in Orlando, FL, until they decide where to live permanently in retirement. A Pittsburgh native, Scott’s final military assignment was the commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division (NAWCWD). In this role, he served as the senior Navy executive overseeing all research, development, acquisition, test and evaluation, and fleet logistic support by an organization of over 8,000 personnel with facilities in China Lake, CA; Point Mugu, CA; and Eglin AFB, FL. He led strategic planning and coordination efforts for over 220 separate acquisition programs and 1,350 annual test events.
During his tenure at NAWCWD, Scott also oversaw a successful large-scale, multi-year disaster recovery program after China Lake’s engineering and test facilities were severely damaged by a pair of historically unprecedented earthquakes in July 2019.
Prior to this assignment, he completed another flag-level assignment leading the Naval Safety Center in Norfolk, VA. In this role, he led a 225-member organization that reported directly to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations for Navy-wide safety data analysis initiatives as well as related safety policy development, implementation, training and oversight.
Scott’s earlier Navy experience included P-3 patrol aircraft deployments throughout the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Middle East, as well as joint duty in Djibouti, Africa, during Operation Enduring Freedom. He also served in a wide range of specialized aircraft systems development, test and acquisition positions as a designated Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer.
A native of Pittsburgh, Scott was commissioned in the Navy in 1991 after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy with a B.S. in Systems Engineering. He also earned degrees from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (MBA with Finance concentration), the Naval Postgraduate School (M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering), and is a Distinguished Graduate of U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Class 117.
Involvement Post Military Service for Military
Retired on 1 September 2022. Currently working to start up a veteran owned small business. Also currently registered as a member of the Flag and General Officers Network Speakers’ Bureau, with the goal of using both of these platforms to continue to advocate on behalf of veteran and military organizations as my post-Navy transition planning progresses
Anthony Groff
Branch of Service: Army
Years of Service: 28
Significant Achievements While in Service
2nd MED BDE Junior MSC Officer / Gold Badge Recruiter / Glen E. Morrell Award (Recruiting) / Top AR Recruiter (March 2008) / PGH Medical Recruiting Company Commander – Moved Company from 13th (FY08) to 2nd (FY09).
Involvement Post Military Service for Military
Anthony Groff served as Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary for Highmark Health’s Veterans Business Resource Group. Currently DEI consultant. Serves as a Volunteer and Board Member for the Veterans Leadership Program. Volunteers for the annual Mutt Strut. Leads Highmark Health Veterans Business Resource Group’s initiative to unload truck for Wreaths Across America and worked to get special permission during COVID to unload. Past Chair of the Pittsburgh Veterans Employer Coalition (PVEC) and attends Western PA Veteran Student Meetings.
Chris Ann Phillips
Branch of Service: Marine Corps
Years of Service: 4
Significant Achievements While in Service
Squadron awards, range awards and meritorious promotions
Involvement Post Military Service for Military
My involvement with the veteran community has spanned over 20 years. I established the military recruiting program for PNC Bank and then transitioned to the Community Affairs and founded the Community Mutt Strut raising over $2 million dollars in support of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. I have been a veteran mentor for American Corporate Partners, recipient of the ESGR Patriot Award and a 2x finalist for the US Chamber of Commerce Individual Excellence in Veteran Employment Award. I am currently the Chief Administrative Officer of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs. We breed, raise and train service dogs for veterans in danger of suicide. I am the Director of Development for Pittsburgh Warrior Hockey, using hockey to create an environment of healing for our veterans. I am doing my life’s work and what I am meant to be doing. I have served as the Chief of Staff for the Military Employee Business Resource Group at PNC and established the Military Advisory Council at PNC and other local business.
Ben Stahl
Branch of Service: Navy
Years of Service: 8
Significant Achievements While in Service
A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Ben has served onboard the USS Gladiator, USS Avenger, USS Dextrous and at the Naval Sea Systems Command Southwestern Regional Maintenance Center. Ben holds a Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude in Social Science, with a dual concentration in History and Government; a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership; and a Doctor of Science in Information Systems and Communications, all from Robert Morris University.
Involvement Post Military Service for Military
Since becoming CEO in 2016, Dr. Ben Stahl has proven himself to be a dynamic leader of Veterans Leadership Program by turning the agency around from operating at a deficit and losing funding and constituents to becoming a nationally known premier Veterans Service Organization. As many know, 2020 and 2021 were years of uncertainty for many organizations navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic. Through his servant leadership in 2020 and 2021, Dr. Stahl increased the organizational budget by $3.4 million dollars from $4,532,741 to $7,977,833 to an annual budget in 2022 of $9,117,924 and decreased the deficit by 100%, effectively eliminating debt. These challenging feats were accomplished by Dr. Stahl cultivating critical external collaborative relationships, rapport building, and vital internal team building. Dr. Stahl transformed an organization that provided services to local veterans through 10 programs within 18 counties to an organization that currently takes a holistic, comprehensive, and contemporary approach, leveraging 16 programs within an expanded 30 county service delivery area in Central, Northern, Western Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. At the start of 2020, VLP had 39 employees and currently has a staff of 74 due to the organization’s geographic and programmatic growth and expansion under Dr. Stahl’s guidance.
Dr. Stahl empowers and encourages staff at every level of the organization to professionally develop through staff trainings, courses, certificate programs, and/or leadership programs such as LD, LDI, and CLCV. These initiatives assist the staff in reaching their fullest potential and better serve local veterans. In 2021, VLP served nearly 7,300 veterans and families, resulting in a 85% increase of veterans served since the beginning of Dr. Stahl’s leadership. Under Ben’s guidance, VLP now leverages innovative information technology platforms and efficiency processes that have tremendously reduced service delivery times. During Ben’s tenure as CEO, VLP has been recognized for organizational excellence by the Call of Duty Endowment, rated as a Top Nonprofit, awarded Gold Seal of Transparency through GuideStar, fourth year Hire Vets Medallion, Pittsburgh Business Times Best Places to Work award, accredited by, and received the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Behavioral Health Care Accreditation. Through the aforementioned accomplishments, Ben has proven to be a magnetic Chief Executive Officer that has transformed VLP into an organization that is fiscally responsible and a critical resource within the Commonwealth.
Anthony Stough
Branch of Service: Army
Years of Service: 11
Significant Achievements While in Service
Acting Brigade S1 as a First Lieutenant during my active duty service at Fort Polk, LA, with the 162nd Infantry Brigade. I led the organization through a decommission from 2014 to 2015, from a brigade to battalion level. I managed a team of senior officers, and senior NCOs to create a 175 person battalion, while finding new homes/roles for our 1,000 plus personnel brigade. The significance comes with the brigade’s history and legacy starting with the Vietnam War and our location of Tigerland. The modern mission of the 162nd Infantry Brigade sent Security Force Advisory and Assistance Teams to Afghanistan, and members of our 52nd Translator Interpreter Company (1 of 2 at the time within the US Army).
Altogether, I spent 11 years between the US Army and Army Reserve. I began my career in the Reserve as a ROTC candidate, and commissioned in 2010 as a 42B/HR Officer. I served in active duty at Fort Polk, LA, from 2011 to 2015, and transferred back to the Reserve in 2015, which brought me back home to Pittsburgh. I fully resigned my commission in 2017 as a captain. My duty/training stations include: Fort Polk, Fort Lewis, Fort Jackson, and Pittsburgh.
During my time with Robert Morris University, I was one of the first scholarship awardees and commissioned officers from that ROTC program. As a sister company of the Three Rivers Battalion (University of Pittsburgh), we created new programs at West Liberty University (West Virginia) and Franciscan University (Ohio).
Involvement Post Military Service for Military
Anthony Stough is the founder and CEO of Civease, an organization that helps military veterans and their families find meaningful careers post military service. A combination of the military and other industries, he has over 12 years of specialized experience in human resources, workforce development, talent acquisition, learning & development, and diversity & inclusion. After graduating from Robert Morris University in 2010, Anthony commissioned in the US Army and began his career as a HR Officer. A combination of active duty and the reserves, Anthony transitioned into the civilian workforce in 2017. Through his own personal struggles during the transition, and passion to help other military veterans and their families, Civease was born. Pulling from his experiences as a veteran and certified soft-skills facilitator, Anthony brings a transparent take on the struggles of finding a career post military service, while putting an emphasis on the diversity of unique transitioning experiences.
Civease partners with national and local partners to include Onward to Opportunity, The City of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Hires Veterans, ReEngage, Proper Patriot, Victory Float Lounge, Robert Morris University, Penn State University, and Chatham University.
Anthony actively leads career development workshops throughout the year in Pittsburgh and nationally. He has led workshops/discussions for the following: Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Onward to Opportunity, The City of Pittsburgh, St. Edmunds Academy, Veterans Breakfast Club, Robert Morris University, ReEngage, and others.
On October 30, 2021, Anthony and Civease launched the 1st Pittsburgh Military Arts Fest at the Energy Innovation Center. The event featured over 15 local veteran artists and over 10 veteran service organizations with a mission for attendees to see veterans as more than just their military service. Event sponsors included: The Pittsburgh Penguins, Rip It Energy Fuel, Highmark, First National Bank, Victory Float Lounge, Robert Morris University, and Chatham University. KDKA and WXPI were both in attendance for coverage.
An active leader and member of the Pittsburgh veteran community, Anthony has served as a board member for the Veterans Leadership Program and service committee for the Pittsburgh Veteran Employer Coalition. Anthony and/or Civease has been a featured guest and speaker for the following: Pittsburgh Armed Forces Day, Pittsburgh Today Live, Veterans Breakfast Club, ReEngage Pittsburgh Conference, NextPittsburgh, KDKA, WPXI, The City of Pittsburgh, and others.
Jack Wagner
Branch of Service: Marine Corps
Years of Service: 2
Significant Achievements While in Service
Jack is a combat veteran of the US Marine Corps and a recipient of the Purple Heart and other military commendations for infantry service in the Vietnam War. In the demilitarized zone between North and South Vietnam, Jack was injured when his squad was caught in an ambush. Jack was extremely fortunate to have survived – seven men died.
Involvement Post Military Service for Military
Founder and Chairman of the Board at Pittsburgh Hires Veterans, Jack Wagner honorably served his country as a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He is a Vietnam Veteran and a recipient of the Purple Heart. Jack devoted 28 years to public service: eight years as Pennsylvania’s Auditor General, 10 years as a Pennsylvania State Senator and 10 years on Pittsburgh City Council before founding Pittsburgh Hires Veterans. Currently, Mr. Wagner is the Regional Development Director for Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs and he is the Chairman of the Sharing and Caring Golf Outing that raises revenue for hospitalized veterans. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Safety Management with a minor in Business Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
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