BGen Roger R. Machut, USMC (Ret.)
Brigadier General Machut was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Upon receiving an NROTC Scholarship, Brigadier General Machut attended Tulane University in New Orleans, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1982 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. As a company grade officer, he served with 7th Engineer Support Battalion at Camp Pendleton, as a platoon commander, Company XO and the Battalion Assistant Operations Officer. He further served aboard the USS Forrestal (CV-59), as the Marine Detachment Executive Officer / Guard Officer.
Joining the Marine Corps Reserve in 1988, he served in several billets with 4th Bridge Company and Engineer Support Company, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, to include tours as the Executive Officer for each company and as the Commanding Officer for 4th Bridge Company. From 1996 to 1998, and again from 2000 to 2002, he served as the Group Engineer Officer for 4th Force Service Support Group in New Orleans. In between, from 1998 to 1999, he was assigned as the Commanding Officer, Engineer Company C, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, Peoria. In 2002, he assumed command of the 6th Engineer Support Battalion in Portland, Oregon.
As a Lieutenant Colonel, Brigadier General Machut was in command of 6th Engineer Support Battalion when the entire battalion was activated in support of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He led the battalion into Iraq at the commencement of the war, providing bulk fuel and water support for IMEF forces during the campaign to Baghdad. Returning the battalion back home after 7 months, he continued to prepare companies for further deployments in support of OIF. Promoted to Colonel in 2004, he relinquished command later that year.
As a Colonel, Brigadier General Machut served as a Senior Assessment Officer with Marine Corps Mobilization Command, as the Commanding Officer of 4th Marine Logistics Group Forward West, as the Lead Planner for 4th Marine Logistics Group and finally as the Deputy Commander for 4th Marine Logistics Group.
Promoted to his current rank in August 2010, Brigadier General Machut was assigned as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Mobilization Command in November 2010. In September 2011, he assumed the duties as the Commanding General, 4th Marine Logistics Group, which he held until July 2014. Brigadier General Machut retired from the Corps in May of 2015.
Brigadier General Machut’s education includes a Masters in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. As a civilian, Brigadier General Machut is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois.
Brigadier General Machut’s personal decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with a gold star, the Navy Commendation Medal with gold star and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Col Brietta L. (DelManzo) Larmon, USMC
Brietta DelManzo was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy in February, 1998 from Officer Candidate School, after graduating from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine with a Bachelor of Arts in English. During flight school, she requested and was accepted as an inter service transfer to the Marine Corps. After earning her wings at NAS Whiting Field in December, 1999, she was sworn in as a Second Lieutenant and attended The Basic School, Bravo Company 2000.
Upon graduation First Lieutenant DelManzo reported to HMT-302 for CH-53E initial training from 2000-2001. She reported to MCAS Miramar, San Diego, California and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 466 in April of 2001.
During Captain DelManzo’s tour with HMH-466, she completed one extended UDP to Okinawa, Japan from July 2002 to December 2003. She participated in Exercise Talon Vision in the Philippines, and served as the S-5, Substance Abuse Control Officer, Voting, and Airframes Officer in Charge (OIC). She joined the 31 st MEU and served as the S-1 Officer and then served Marine Aircraft Group (MAG)-36 as an Assistant Operations Officer. She then cross-decked to HMH-361 where she attended Aviation Safety Officer (ASO) Course at Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA. She served as the ASO and deployed to Iraq from 2004-2005. Her final active duty tour was as the MAG-16 and then MAG-11 ASO and she left active duty in August, 2006.
In October 2006, Captain DelManzo joined HMH-769 at Edwards Air Force Base in California as the Flight Line Officer and remained with them until the squadron was decommissioned in August, 2008. She then joined HMH-772 at NAS Willow Grove, PA. In March of 2009, the squadron was mobilized and Major DelManzo deployed to Afghanistan (OEF), participating in Operation Khanjari, etc from April-November. She attended Aviation Maintenance Officer School in Pensacola, FL and remained with HMH-772 until April 2012.
In May 2012, Major DelManzo completed Command and Staff College (weekend seminar program) and completed Flight Safety International in Wichita, KS to fly the UC-12W (King-Air 350) with VMR Detachment, Headquarters and Headquarters Services Squadron, Miramar. In June 2012, Major DelManzo was mobilized and deployed to OEF to fly missions in the UC-12W as part of the VMR detachment as the Logistics Officer. Upon her return she assumed the duties of Assistant Operations Officer and Schedule Writer for VMR Miramar.
In June 2013, Major DelManzo was asked to assume the duties of the Executive Officer of Reserve Support Unit, Air Stations West and served them until February, 2014. In January, 2014 she attended the Naval Aviation Safety Commander’s Course and subsequently the USMC Commander’s Course in May, 2014. She went to HMHT-302 to refresh in the Ch-53E in June, 2014.
Lieutenant Colonel (DelManzo) Larmon served as the Commanding Officer of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772 (HMH-772) at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey from 2014-2017. During that time, she deployed with the unit to Honduras and Joint Task Force Matthew in Haiti to provide humanitarian relief. Her squadron earned Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron of the year for 2016. In 2017, Lieutenant Colonel Larmon was asked to serve on Active Duty for two years as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1 and the Deputy G-3 for 4th Marine Aircraft Wing in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Lieutenant Colonel Larmon was promoted to the rank of Colonel in August, 2020. She served as the Lead Culture Workshop Facilitator for the Commandant of the Marine Corps Safety Division, serving Navy and Marine Corps flying squadrons. In her civilian career, she was a Production Test Pilot for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation for five years and currently serves as the Chief Pilot for Merck, Sharp and Dohme out of Trenton, New Jersey. Colonel Larmon has accumulated over 6000 flight hours in the CH-53E helicopter, UC-12W (King Air 350), S-76D, S-76C++, S-92A, S-300, S-333, and Airbus H160B helicopters. Colonel Larmon resides in West Chester, Pennsylvania with her husband Brian and they have four daughters Hazel, Ava, Alex (19), Ella (17) and son Robbie (8).
CAPT Kelly J. Mahaffey, USN
CAPT Kelly Mahaffey is a native of Redwood City, California. She graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a Minor in Spanish. CAPT Mahaffey assumed command of Naval Beach Group ONE (NBG-1) on 6 December 2024.
At sea, her first division officer tour was on the USS TORTUGA (LSD 46) as the Electrical Officer. There she qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer and received her EOOW certification. She completed her second division officer tour in USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) serving as First and Second Division Officers. Her Department Head tours include Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer in USS PORT ROYAL (CG 73). During these tours, she deployed numerous times to the Arabian Gulf and the Pacific in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom to include a BALTOPS deployment.
Ashore, CAPT Mahaffey most recently served as Levant and Egypt Branch Chief, Political-Military Affairs (Middle East), J-5, Joint Staff. She also served as Port Operations Officer onboard Naval Support Activity, Souda Bay; as a Resource Sponsor for Amphibious Ships on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N953); as the Head Officer Promotion Planner (OPNAV N131); as the Director of Staff at Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center; and as the Force Diversity/Force SAPR Officer on the staff of Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
CAPT Mahaffey holds an Executive Master in Business Administration from the Naval Postgraduate School, a Master of Arts Degree in National Security & Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, and was a member of the National Defense University’s Program for Emerging Leaders (PEL 15).
CAPT Mahaffey was Commanding Officer at Beachmaster Unit ONE (BMU-1) from June 2020 to December 2021, after fleeting up from her tour there as the Executive Officer.
CAPT Mahaffey’s personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal (two awards), and the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards) to include numerous campaign and unit awards.
CAPT Michael Jelinek
A native of Naperville, IL, Captain Jelinek is a 1998 graduate of the University of Illinois, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and was commissioned out of the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He received initial training at Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, RI. Following graduation in December 1998 with distinction, he reported for his first sea tour as Main Propulsion Assistant aboard USS HOPPER (DDG-70), home ported in Pearl Harbor, HI. During this tour, HOPPER completed two Maritime Expeditionary Force deployments to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Fox and the continued enforcement of the United Nations embargo of Iraq. He reported aboard USS COMSTOCK (LSD-45), home ported in San Diego, CA, in January 2001, for duty as the Ship’s Navigator where COMSTOCK participated in Operation Enduring Freedom as part of the PELELIU Amphibious Ready Group.
Jelinek transitioned to the Reserve Component in August 2002. During the next 14 years, he was assigned to numerous selected Reserve billets, supporting Navy and Joint Forces active component commands in the United States and overseas. From March–April 2011, Jelinek served as a Selected Reserve augment to the Commander, Task Force 65 and Destroyer Squadron 60 as part of the Joint Force Maritime Component Command for Operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector. Mobilized in May 2013 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, he reported aboard Expeditionary Strike Group Five as the Current Operations Director. Jelinek began a three-year Active Duty recall in 2016 as an instructor in the History Department at the United States Naval Academy where he also served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Sprint Football Team. Most recently, he completed a mobilization as the Director of Forward Operations for Security Assistance Group – Ukraine, leading a team of advisors executing Train, Advise, and Assist support for Ukraine.
His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various other unit and campaign awards.
Jelinek holds a Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Illinois as well as a Master’s of Art’s in History with a concentration in Ancient and Classical History through the American Military University. He is a graduate of Joint Professional Military Education through the United States Naval War College. A high school teacher and coach, he currently resides with his family in Frisco, TX.
SgtMaj Ernest R. Twigg, USMC (Ret.)
Sergeant Major Ernest R. Twigg enlisted in the Marine Corps on 15 July 1996 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, graduating with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. He then reported to the School of Infantry, Infantry Training Battalion, completing training in January 1997. His first assignment was with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he was meritoriously promoted to corporal and served as a Squad Leader. He later joined 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines as a Section Leader with the Combined Anti-Armor Team. Following a combat tour in Operation Iraqi Freedom II, he passed the Scout Sniper screening and deployed again with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, serving as a Scout Sniper Team Leader.
In 2008, Sergeant Major Twigg reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, where he served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, Chief Drill Instructor, and Drill Instructor School Instructor. During this tour, he was meritoriously promoted to Gunnery Sergeant. After this successful special duty assignment, he returned to the operating forces as Company Gunnery Sergeant, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines.
In 2014, he was selected to serve as Company First Sergeant, Engineer Company, Marine Wing Support Squadron. The following year, he assumed duties as Company First Sergeant, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, Engineer Company. In 2016, he reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, where he served as Company First Sergeant, Company F. In 2019, Sergeant Major Twigg received orders to 1st Battalion, 11th Marines as the Battalion Sergeant Major. He retired honorably in 2021 after 24 years of distinguished service to the Marine Corps.
Since retirement, Sergeant Major Twigg has transitioned to the private sector, serving as an executive council member for CEOWORLD Magazine, Manager of Special Projects, and currently as a Learning and Development Consultant for United Site Services. He is the author of A Leader Provides, a leadership book translated into 12 languages and featured in CEO libraries worldwide. He has also published over 15 leadership articles in CEOWORLD Magazine, Marine Corps Gazette, and Proceedings.
Sergeant Major Twigg resides in West Virginia with his wife, Natalia, and their four dogs.
CMC Jonathan Reicks, USN
Master Chief Petty Officer Jon Reicks, was born in Council Bluffs, IA. He graduated from Lewis Central High School in 2002 and immediately entered the U.S. Navy. He received recruit training in Great Lakes, IL, Mess Specialist “A” School in San Antonio, TX and Basic Enlisted Submarine School in Groton CT. His first duty assignment was on board the USS Nevada Gold (SSBN 733) stationed in Bangor, WA where he was promoted to Third Class Petty Officer and Second Class Petty Officer. His first shore assignment was Submarine Group Nine in Bangor, WA where he was promoted to First Class Petty Officer. He took his third set of orders to his second ship, USS Connecticut (SSN 22) in Bremerton, WA as Leading Culinary Specialist, where he conducted a ICEX and one WESTPAC deployment before being selected to Chief Petty Officer.
In 2012 he reported to his first duty as a Chief Petty Officer on board USS Louisiana Blue (SSBN 743) stationed in Bangor, WA. As the Supply Senior Enlisted Advisor, he served four years, qualified Diving Officer of the Watch, and was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer. In February 2017 he reported to Naval Base Kitsap as Services Department Senior Enlisted Advisor. After a shorted shore duty he took his fourth set of operational orders to USS Kentucky Gold where he qualified Chief of the Boat in July of 2019. In December of 2020 he reported onboard USS Alabama Blue as the Chief of the Boat and promoted to Master Chief in 2021. He was selected for Command Master Chief in 2023 and has served at Theater Undersea Surveillance Command Pacific since October 2023.
Reicks’ personal awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medals, Enlisted Submarine Warfare Insignia, and several other citations.
Master Chief Reicks has earned an AAS in Business Administration from University of Phoenix.
1st Sgt Randall Parkes, USMC (Ret.)
First Sergeant Randall Parkes is a senior leader with over two decades of experience leading Marines and Sailors in some of the world’s most challenging environments. He joined the United States Marine Corps in July 2001 and went on to complete four combat deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, and off the coasts of Africa and Yemen in support of global counterterrorism operations.
From 2006 to 2011, Randall served as a founding member of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC). In 2011, he was named MARSOC Support Marine of the Year. He then served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and Chief Drill Instructor at Parris Island, South Carolina, from 2011 to 2014.
In 2014, Randall was assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion and deployed to U.S. Central Command in support of counterterrorism operations in 2017. As a First Sergeant, he led a company of 97 Marines and Sailors across multiple theaters. His final duty assignment was at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, where he served as First Sergeant of India Company. After 20 years of faithful and honorable service, Randall retired from the Marine Corps on September 30, 2021.
Following retirement, Randall and his wife launched a real estate business with Compass, achieving over $61 million in residential sales. In addition to running his real estate company, Randall also serves as a Program Manager at Anduril Industries, a leading defense technology company modernizing the arsenal of democracy.
Randall holds a Masters of Business from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management (Magna Cum Laude).
His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Valor, and the Combat Action Ribbon (second award). Randall is married to Heather Parkes, and together they have two children, Brody and Kinsley.