Advisory Council
Patriot Point Advisory Council members are champions and advocates for Patriot Point. These volunteers serve as ambassadors to further communicate and advance the mission of Patriot Point. Through their diverse knowledge, experience and perspectives, the following members play a critical role in sustaining and growing the ability of Patriot Point to positively impact wounded, ill and injured service members, their families and caregivers.
Steve Beck
Steve Beck is the President & Executive Director of the Military Bowl Foundation, which is responsible for the operation of Patriot Point. Steve was one of the driving forces behind the purchase of the 294-acre property and its establishment as Patriot Point in 2016. “It is an honor for Patriot Point to offer a safe haven for our troops and their families,” Steve said. Steve has led the Military Bowl Foundation since its inception in 2008 and currently also serves on the Bowl Season Executive Committee, the association that promotes the grand tradition of the bowl system. Steve is a graduate of Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pa.; he and his wife Christy have four children and two grandchildren and live in Kensington, Md.
Alex E. Bryer
As a Senior Partner and Managing Director at Snowden Lane Partners, Alex Bryer provides advisory, brokerage, and investment management services to his Snowden Lane wealth advisory clients. His family is active with local charities and in the community, which led to his taking an active role with Patriot Point. “I was introduced to Patriot Point by my good friend, Stuart Plank, who is on the Board of Managers,” Alex said. “Immediately after seeing the property, hearing the stories regarding veterans and their families and ultimately seeing first-hand the impact that Patriot Point has on our country’s heroes, I was motivated to help.” During his time on the Advisory Council, Alex has continued to see the difference Patriot Point makes. He sees veterans arrive, enjoy their variety of activities and depart with a totally different outlook. “My favorite aspect of Patriot Point is the culture,” Alex said. “The activities and property certainly provide a terrific venue for our veterans whether they want to fish, hunt, shoot, relax, boat or anything else. But for me, the moment I stepped on the property I immediately felt a feeling of peace and home. It was that feeling that assured me Patriot Point was on to something extremely special for our veterans.” Alex has been recognized as a top retirement plan advisor by Financial Times and is a repeat honoree as “Best-in-state Wealth advisor” by Forbes. He and his wife, Erin, live in Bethesda, Md., with their three children.
Mark Drever
“I learned about Patriot Point from a few veteran friends when I was looking to introduce a group of CEOs to a veteran-focused organization and to educate them on the benefits of hiring and working with veterans,” Mark said. “I brought two groups of CEOs and veterans to Patriot Point and it was transformational for all who attended.” Several of Mark’s family are veterans. His grandfather and grandmother served in the U.S. Army during World War II; his father and uncle served in the Vietnam War; and his stepfather served as well. Mark, too, planned on serving; he had an appointment to the Naval Academy but lost vision in his left eye in an accident. “I found a job in government consulting and quickly realized that serving those who do serve could still help me fulfill my lifelong dream of serving,” he said. Mark is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, with an MBA from the University of Georgia. He is an active speaker and panelist, a lifetime learner and a dedicated member of the community. An avid outdoorsman, Mark owns a 62-acre gentleman’s farm in Leesburg, Va., where he lives with his fiance Joy Williams and their five children, along with their two English Bulldogs, Coco and Chip, and 30 or so chickens. “My favorite aspect of Patriot Point is that it serves as a place for healing, comradery, and fellowship to assist veterans with many aspects of life, post service,” Mark said. “The property itself is truly special and it meticulously maintained to create a safe and welcoming environment for our veterans and their families. Unless you visit the property, you can’t really grasp the healing power Patriot Point.
Daniel Gade
Daniel Gade enlisted in the Army in 1992. After graduating from West Point in 1997, he served on active duty until his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2017. During his service as an Armor officer in Iraq, he was wounded in action twice and decorated for valor. His second wounding caused him to lose his entire right leg. After recovering at Walter Reed, Daniel earned a Master’s and PhD in public administration and policy and was the White House Associate Director in charge of the veterans and military health portfolio from 2007-2008. He recently completed two years of service as the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. His book, Wounding Warriors: How Bad Policy is Making Veterans Sicker and Poorer is available on Amazon and Audible.
K. Weedon Gallagher
K. Weedon Gallagher is the Chief Executive Officer of a dynamic service-disabled, veteran-owned small business and brings vast experience to the Patriot Point Advisory Council, with more than three decades of experience in public and private sector positions. He is a qualified civil engineer and a senior military officer, with significant leadership experience and training in both military and civilian roles. In addition to being the CEO at Tower-FM, Weedon recently retired as a Brigadier General and Commander of the Virginia Army National Guard. He also brings more than a decade of experience as a civilian employee with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. He has more than three decades of service as a commissioned officer, including overseas deployments and command at company, battalion, brigade and state levels. “I learned of Patriot Point through my brother Sean and Military Bowl Foundation President & Executive Director Steve Beck,” Weedon said. “As my retirement from the Guard approaches, I’ve been searching for an avenue to continue to serve our troops. After visiting Patriot Point and seeing first-hand the impact that the environment has on the welfare of our veterans, I am very motivated to be part of Patriot Point.” Weedon has served in active-duty and guard roles for 32 years, including several deployments to Afghanistan. His father and grandfather served in both the Army and the Navy, his son is currently serving as an Army Officer on active duty, while two nephews are in the Navy and a niece in the National Guard. “Uniformed service has always been part of our family,” Weedon said. A graduate of Virginia Military Institute with a degree in civil engineering, Weedon holds several professional and military certificates and honors, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, a combat action badge and the Bronze Order of the DeFleury Medal from the American Engineer Association. “My favorite aspect of Patriot Point is the space it provides veterans to recharge or wrap their heads around experiences at their own pace and among fellow veterans,” Weedon said. “The property itself simply creates a space for veterans to relax, fix, hunt or just walk along the shoreline. It really is something to see.”
Bruce Howard
Bruce Howard is a co-founder of Synergy ECP, a service-disabled and veteran-owned small business where he serves as the chief executive officer. Synergy ECP is a multimillion-dollar company with more than 120 employees and provides cyber security and support to the Department of Defense and intelligence community. Bruce served in the armed forces for 21 years, with three years on active duty in the Air Force and 18 years in the Air Force Reserves. Serving in the military runs in Bruce’s family; his father was in the Army and his older brother spent 10 years in the Air Force. Bruce was first introduced to Patriot Point via one of the property’s nonprofit partners and subsequently decided to get involved to help Patriot Point. “I am motivated to serve on the Advisory Council because I believe in Patriot Point’s mission and feel that I can use my experience to provide guidance and support,” Bruce said. “My favorite aspect of Patriot Point is the work that our team does to create special and lasting memories for everyone that visits, especially our veteran service members.” Bruce has been presented the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Officer of the Year, two Meritorious Service Medals and various other unit and campaign awards. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in professional aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Science degree in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Bruce has been married to Jacqui Magnes for more than 25 years and they have two wonderful daughters, Cydney and Riley.
John Pellerito
John Pellerito’s introduction to Patriot Point came at the annual Home of the Free … Because of the Brave dinner. He was immediately moved emotionally by the work Patriot Point does for service members and inspired to learn how he could contribute. “My primary motivation for serving on the Advisory Council is to support the great work that is done at Patriot Point and provide a contribution towards awareness, future growth and sustainability,” John said. “I feel fortunate that I have been able to pursue my dreams in business and life as a direct result of the sacrifices that are made by the service members who protect our country and way of life and I feel compelled to give back.” On his first trip to Patriot Point, John immediately noticed how the buildings and grounds were built to accommodate all service members and their families. He felt the care and passion that has been invested in Patriot Point and how that conveys to guests and helps them heal. “My late father served in the Air Force during Vietnam and a significant motivation for my contributions to military causes, including Patriot Point, are in tribute to him and his service,” John said. “I have also directly seen the impact that multiple wars have had on our veterans and their families, and it is very important to me that these brave men and women are supported when they come home and have opportunities for healing and enjoying life with their families. Patriot Point allows this to happen in such a beautiful way. “When entering through the front gate, it invokes a feeling of solitude, care, and detachment from daily stress. The natural beauty and great hospitality that is experienced thereafter is what makes Patriot Point so special and important.” A graduate of Colorado State University, John lives with his wife and two children in Loudoun County, Va.
Stuart Plank
Stuart Plank has always taken an interest in veteran’s causes and supporting the nation’s service members. When the opportunity presented itself, it was Stuart who helped create what is now known as Patriot Point. Stuart had visited the property with its previous owner, Jim Bugg, as Bugg often brought service members who were recovering at Walter Reed Army Hospital to what was then known as Poverty Point. When Bugg passed away in 2015, Stuart, who played college football at Virginia Tech, approached Military Bowl Foundation President & Executive Director Steve Beck with a proposition: Could the Military Bowl Foundation purchase the 294-acre property and take what Bugg was doing to another level? It was an ambitious plan, but Plank was there to sign on as a founding member and in the spring of 2016, Patriot Point became a reality. Stuart has been there all along, serving as a managing member as Patriot Point was completely transformed. A new Welcome Center constructed. The old barn and caretaker’s residence were torn down and replaced. The Main House was renovated. The Guest House saw accessibility and cosmetic improvements. Then there are the improvements to the activities around the property, with a new skeet shooting stand and a new shooting range. New boats for guests to enjoy and the new Under Armour Freedom Fitness Center for guest wellness. It was a cause that Stuart’s family got behind. His mother, the late Jayne Plank, donated generously to sponsor various projects. His son, Casey, and his classmates have volunteered at Patriot Point. “What Stuart has helped us accomplish is nothing short of amazing,” Beck said. “It is nothing short of remarkable to think of the transformation that has taken place and how Stuart’s original idea has taken hold and become a jewel to help wounded, ill and injured service members, their families and caregivers.”
John Rego
John Rego decided to join the U.S. Army shortly after high school and reported to basic training on September 7, 2001 – just four days before our nation was pulled into war. His goal from the outset was to be an Army Ranger. John’s Ranger unit deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 and Iraq in 2003. Both deployments were intense, and John was involved in countless confrontations. In March 2003, he was a part of one of the most iconic battles of the Iraq War — the battle for Haditha Dam. It was there that John was trapped inside a collapsed building. He had to be dug out and resuscitated twice, then spent one week in a coma and two more months in a hospital. While his body healed, his mind struggled. “I always looked at myself as an injured vet,” says John. “I thought there was no way I’d ever be as good as I once was. John fondly remembers his first trip to Patriot Point. As he turned left and passed through the gate at the entrance to the property and meandered down the driveway, John was immediately struck by what he saw. “This place is amazing,” John said. “For me, it hit right away the first time I came. I love the outdoors. I love being out in nature. It was out in the middle of nowhere and all the beauty of the Eastern Shore I have come to love – the views, the water, atmosphere. And I love that it is completely agenda-free. ‘Here is what we have to offer and it’s yours. We will tailor it however you want.’ ” The impact Patriot Point makes on veterans fuels John’s involvement. In addition to bringing groups of veterans to Patriot Point, he hosts an annual fundraiser in Ocean City for Patriot Point. John also is president of T&G Builders & Custom Design in Berlin, Md., which has donated and provided labor and materials for general maintenance and improvements at Patriot Point. “I got home from that first visit and my heart was so full,” Rego said. “I said I have to do this more. I need to bring as many people here as I can.”
Mike Strittmatter
It was while sitting around a bonfire one night at Patriot Point that Mike Strittmatter fully appreciated what it meant to help the nation’s service members. Mike and a few friends helped host a retreat. The group had stayed up the night before, hanging out with a group of veterans around a bonfire, playing cornhole and sharing stories. Normally, Mike and his friends always had something to say. That night, though, was different. “Typically, no one can get a word in edgewise,” Mike said. “But none of us spoke – we were just listening to the veterans and hearing their stories.” It inspired Mike to become even more involved in Patriot Point. A star high school football player who played wide receiver at the University of Maryland, Strittmatter graduated from business school and soon went into business with his father, a U.S. Navy veteran. The family business, Strittmatter Companies, has grown to be one of the Washington area’s leaders in excavation and land development. “Being involved and supporting Patriot Point is a way to honor all of those who have served our great country,” Mike said. Strittmatter Companies has often donated labor, materials and equipment for projects at Patriot Point. But getting to know those who have been helped by Patriot Point has motivated Mike to want to do more. “Hearing about their experiences, I wanted to be more involved,” Strittmatter said. “And getting to know (Patriot Point Vice President Hugh Middleton) has drawn me in more, too. Hugh is a shining example of someone who bravely served our country as a Navy SEAL and then continues to serve others in his current role leading operations at Patriot Point.”
