Alumni
Penn State is home to one of the largest alumni networks in the nation
The Nittany Lion Battalion has alumni serving all over the world
Ranking from Lieutenant, to General
The Cadets of the Nittany Lion Battalion have the unique opportunity to gain mentorship from our alumni
If you are a Nittany Lion Battalion alumni, and are interested in the alumni interest group. Please visit the Facebook page below.
Point of Contact for Alumni Interest Group
Brendan Bagley
Phone: (814) 863-1093
Email: bjb30@psu.edu
Facebook: Penn State Army ROTC AIG
NLB Members in the US Army Cadet Command Hall of Fame
Vincent J. Tedesco, Jr. Colonel (Ret.)
Vincent J. Tedesco, Jr., was born in Jamaica, NY in 1943. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State University and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Artillery in the Regular Army in 1964. While at Penn State he was co-captain of the lacrosse team and a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Bucknell University in 1972 and is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College and the Naval War College. He retired from the Army, as a Colonel, in 1991 after 27 years of service. His military awards include the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit (2), the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (4), the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star. He commanded 3 batteries, the 1st Battalion 3rd Air Defense Artillery, 101st Airborne Division and the 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.
After his retirement, the Army honored him by making him the Honorary Colonel of the 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. He has also received a number of honors: the rare honors of having a street, Tedesco Way, at Fort Hood Texas named for him; the leadership award for lieutenants at the Air Defense Artillery School is named in his honor; a picture was painted of the fight he led in Vietnam and a wing in Snow Hall, the home of the Air Defense Artillery and Field Artillery, has been named Tedesco Wing! The Penn State Army ROTC Battalion honored him by making him the Honorary Colonel of the Nittany Lion Battalion. He retired from Lockheed Martin in 2011. While working for Lockheed Martin, he was awarded the Washington Award 6 times, the Washington Community Service Award and in 2005 the highest award that can be given to a Lockheed Martin employee, the Nova Award.
William 'Gus' Pagonis Lieutenant General (Ret.)
William G. Pagonis, a native of Charleroi, Pennsylvania, earned both a Bachelor’s degree in Transportation and Traffic Management and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University. He is a brother of the Alpha Chi Rho Fraternity. Called “the logistical wizard behind the Allied success in Operation Desert Storm”, in the book Delivering the Goods by author Damon Schechter, who goes on to say that one of the greatest inspirations Pagonis credits is none other than his Greek ancestor, Alexander the Great, who inspired one of Pagonis’ best remembered logistical innovations during the Gulf War, the mobile firebase. General Pagonis gained attention as General Norman Schwarzkopf’s logistics commander during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He was responsible for all logistics—food, shelter, fuel, ammunition, transportation and contracting during the Gulf War. His experiences resulted in the book Moving Mountains: Lessons in Leadership and Logistics from the Gulf War, published by the Harvard Business School Press. During his military career, he headed logistics in tours of Vietnam, Panama, and Germany, as well as during the Persian Gulf. He also served two tours in the Pentagon, one as a legislative liaison officer responsible for coordination with Congress, the other in charge of transportation, energy, and troop support for the Army. Among his awards and decorations are the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star with “V,” and three Air Medals.
The three-star general, known as Gus, joined Sears, Roebuck and Company in 1993 as Senior Vice President of Logistics. A year later he was named Executive Vice President for Logistics. He was responsible for all of the company’s logistics, including vendor relations, transportation, home delivery services, and the integration of logistics information systems. In 2000 he joined Railamerica, Inc. North America’s leading operator of short-line railroads
Samuel E. Hayes, Jr.
Pennsylvania Congressman
Samuel E. Hayes, Jr., was a lawmaker and legislative leader in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1970-1992. He served as Majority Leader and Whip in the House of Representatives. Samuel E. Hayes, Jr. was appointed in March 2003, to fill an unexpired term as a representative of Agricultural Societies. He previously served on the Board of Trustees from June 1997 to January 2003 as Secretary of Agriculture. The title of Trustee Emeritus was conferred upon Mr. Hayes on July 11, 2014. A native of Huntingdon County, Mr. Hayes has a B. S. and a M. Ed. from The Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Hayes served five years on active duty and 10 additional years in the US Army Reserves, and he is a veteran of the Vietnam War where he received the Bronze Star. He previously served on several boards to include: Chairman of the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Board, the Pennsylvania Farm Show Commission, the Pennsylvania Animal Health Commission, the Hardwoods Development Council, the Agriculture Law Center Board, and the Pennsylvania Fair Advisory Board.
He is also a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education, Warriors Mark Grange, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the State Conservation Commission, PA State World War II Commemorative Commission, and the Association of the United States Army. Mr. Hayes has received many awards. His honors include: Penn State Alumni Fellow; Penn State Outstanding Alumni Award; Honorary Doctor of Laws, Juniata College; Man of the Year Award, Pennsylvania Rural Electric Cooperatives; Leadership Award, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education; Guardian of Small Business Award, Pennsylvania Federation of Small Business; Lawmaker of the Year, Pennsylvania Retailer’s Association; Transportation Advocate of the Year Award, Pennsylvania Highway Information Association, and many others.
General Gary M. Brito
General Gary M. Brito is a native of Hyannis, Massachusetts. Commissioned as an Infantry Officer through Penn State University ROTC, he entered active duty in March 1987. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Airborne and Ranger Schools, Combined Arms Staff Services School, Command and General Staff Officers Course, and Senior Service College at the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS), Norfolk, Virginia. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Studies from Penn State University, a master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Troy State University, and a second master’s degree in Joint Strategy and Campaign Planning from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School. General Brito has served in a variety of command and staff assignments throughout his career which included the 18th Commanding General, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), 49th Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1; Commanding General, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning; Commanding General, Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) and Fort Polk; Deputy Commanding General for Sustainment, then later Operations, 25th Infantry Division; Director, Force 2025 and Beyond, US Army Capabilities and Integration Center (ARCIC), TRADOC; Operations Officer (G3) for III Corps, Fort Hood; Commander, 120th Infantry Brigade, First Army; Commander, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 3d Infantry Division; and tours as an Operations Officer, Aide-de-Camp, and twice as an Observer Controller/Trainer.
Additionally, he deployed multiple times on combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Legion of Merit (with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal (with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal for Valor, Army Commendation Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Expert Infantryman Badge.