Major Stephen Flanagan
Army, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute '01, Harvard Kennedy School/Graduate School of Education '12

"The rich discussion with a diverse group of faculty and classmates at Harvard has truly broadened my perspectives and insight. I have made friends from all over the world, who have helped me to look at problems and challenges in new and different ways. The coursework has developed my abilities in analyzing leadership, policy and organizational challenges. I believe the experience has helped to bridge the military – civilian gap as well. I have shared my military experiences with my civilian colleagues and I have learned a great deal about education, business and politics in America and around the world. I believe this experience is helping to develop us (military officers) well for higher levels of leadership in the US military."

Major Stephen C. Flanagan graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2001 with a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering and was subsequently commissioned into the Army Infantry. He served as a Rifle Platoon Leader in the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, a Ranger Platoon Leader in the 1st Ranger Battalion, and as a Commander of a Special Forces Operational Detachment – Alpha in the 10th Special Forces Group. He has completed three combat tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Army Achievement Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Airborne Badge, Pathfinder Badge and the Military Freefall Jumpmaster Badge. He is now dual-enrolled in the Human Development and Psychology program at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and the Mid-Career Master in Public Administration program at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. His next assignment will be teaching in the Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Department at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He has been involved with service projects while at Harvard, including the Mission Continues, HKS Serves, Read for the Record, and Team Red, White and Blue (Team RWB). In June 2011, He led a Team RWB climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, in which his team raised over $7000 for wounded warriors. He also organized a 9-11 Memorial Run from Cambridge to Boston, in conjunction with Team RWB and the HKS Armed Forces Committee, which involved over 150 area residents in a tribute to the fallen.

Haney Hong
Navy, Stanford University '03, Harvard Kennedy School '12

"I am impressed everyday by the amount of drive that my classmates at the Harvard Kennedy School have to serve the public good. We have so many seemingly intractable problems in society--and some people even say that our democracy is in poor shape. Not so, I say, because my faith is rejuvenated daily by those around me who want to make a difference. I am excited about the leadership and innovation for the public good that my classmates--both military and otherwise--will drive for our future."

Haney Hong, currently a Master in Public Policy Candidate at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, hails from the Los Angeles metro area. After graduating from Stanford University in 2003 with a BS in Management Science and Engineering, he served for seven years as an active duty officer, three of which were on USS Topeka, a fast-attack submarine homeported in San Diego. His last duty station was in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy at the Pentagon, where his portfolio spanned a range of policy, strategy, and budgetary issues for the Department of the Navy. While in Washington DC, he also had the privilege to serve as a Consulting Associate Professor at Stanford University's program in Washington, Bing Stanford in Washington, where he taught an undergraduate seminar on the challenges of policy development. He currently sits on the Advisory Council of Ashoka U, a division of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, and he maintains his affiliation with the United States Navy as a Lieutenant in the Navy Reserve. He recently completed the Harvard Kennedy School Dukakis Fellowship in the Office of the Governor of New York, and he was an International and Global Affairs Fellow with the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University. He is married to Lauren.

Captain Charlie Lewis
Army, United States Military Academy '04, Harvard Kennedy School '12

"My experience at Harvard has been truly broadening. The appreciation of and interest in my background was incredible when I arrived at the Kennedy School. I find that appreciation to come from both students and faculty, which allows for great discussion. In addition, I find that many of my classmates' experiences are relevant to my future and I now have a vast pool of friends and connections I can draw from throughout my military career."

Captain Charles D. Lewis graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2004 and was subsequently commissioned in the Field Artillery. CPT Lewis served in a variety of assignments with 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division from Fire Support Officer to Company Commander. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), Combat Action Badge, Ranger Tab, Airborne badge, Air Assault badge, Pathfinder badge and Combat Diver (Scuba) badge. CPT Lewis currently attends the Masters in Public Policy program at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government before instructing in the Social Sciences Department at USMA. He is married to the former Marie Cicerelle, USMA '04.

Captain Michael Harrison
Army, United States Military Academy '04, Harvard Kennedy School '12

"Currently there exists a lack of understanding of the military with our society – specifically within the Ivy League community. The incorrect stereotypes of military personnel, both active duty and veterans, exacerbates the growing civil-military divide and threatens to further isolate the military from academia and the rest of society. Over the past two years, I’ve personally witnessed the important steps taken by Harvard to reach out to its military community and encourage communication and dialogue. It is exciting and encouraging to witness firsthand the steps taken by Harvard, a longtime leader within the Ivy League community, to support its military students, faculty, and alumni and help bridge the gap."

Captain Michael L. Harrison graduated from the United States Military Academy in 2004. Following commissioning and the officer basic course, he proudly served in 1-32 Infantry Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division for six years as an Infantry platoon leader and company commander, including two and half years deployed to northeastern Afghanistan. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Action Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, and Ranger Tab. Mike Harrison currently attends the Masters in Public Policy program at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government before instructing in the Social Sciences Department at USMA. He is married to the former Mikele Fitzsimmons.

Edward Brandler
British Army, Edinburgh University ‘02, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst '03, Harvard Business School '12

"HBS requires its students to make and articulate complex decisions based on incomplete data and then challenges its students to defend robustly and justify their views. Needless to say, this is an environment with which anyone who has military experience is very familiar and in that respect veterans often thrive at HBS. Both the Business School and the wider Harvard community are extremely supportive of veterans and we have never been made to feel anything less than welcome by students or faculty."

After graduating with an MA in History from Edinburgh University, Edward Brandler enrolled at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. On completion of his training he was commissioned into the Royal Gurkha Rifles where he served as an infantry officer commanding Nepalese troops on operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Edward learned to speak Pashto at the Defence School of Languages and used this skill regularly when deployed to the southern Afghan provinces of Helmand and Kandahar. After leaving the Army in 2009 he worked for a charity in Nepal inspecting micro-hydroelectric projects that brought electricity to some 50 villages in the remote Himalayas and then in 2010 enrolled at Harvard Business School.

Matt McKnight
Marine Corps, Darmouth College '05, Harvard Business School/Harvard Kennedy School '12

"Spending time deployed with the Marine Corps offered me a broad range of experiences, and it has given me an important sense of perspective as I view how approach the challenges facing our society. During my military service, we came across seemingly intractable problems that we were able to resolve as a team. I have come to understand that our issues at home, while difficult, are entirely within our ability to solve."

Matt is currently a joint degree student at the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government where he is also a Zuckerman Fellow. From 2005-2009, Matt served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. During this period, Matt spent time working in the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the State Department and was deployed to western Iraq for 13-months with the 5th Marine Regiment. While in Iraq, Matt's time was focused on facilitating transition of authority to the Iraqi government while also attempting to prevent a reemergence of insurgent elements that had largely been eliminated during the tribal awakening and the corresponding troop surge. Matt is originally from Maine, he attended Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, and he graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in History in 2005.

Jake Cusack
Marine Corps, University of Notre Dame '04, Harvard Business School/Harvard Kennedy School '12

"My time in the Marine Corps was the formative experience of my life. Both humbling and invigorating, it shaped the values that guide me while starkly revealing my limits and strengths."

Jake Cusack is in his final year as an MPP-MBA candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School. He previously graduated from University of Notre Dame, and served in the Marine Corps as a Scout/Sniper Platoon Commander and Intelligence Officer in the Fallujah area of Iraq during 2005- 06, and led in the capture of the kidnappers of American hostage Jill Carroll. He returned to Iraq in 2007-08 to serve as the senior intelligence advisor for the Iraqi border forces responsible for securing the Syrian, Jordanian, and Saudi Arabian borders. Subsequent to his military service, Cusack worked as a civilian intelligence officer in support of counterterrorism operations. He has done extensive research on firms and finance in frontier markets, written for the New York Times and Harvard Business Review, and is a contributing author to the forthcoming book Passion & Purpose from Harvard Business Press. Most recently, he worked at Abraaj Capital, the largest Middle East/North Africa private equity fund.

Danny Cho
Army, United States Military Academy '05, Harvard Business School '12

"Given that HBS is my first environment since high school that isn't military-dominated, I feel a deep underrepresentation of veteran students who bring a wealth of experience that cannot be taught. Crimson Serves is uniquely positioned to bring all the Harvard veteran groups together and give voice to this growing population."

Danny Cho is a 2005 U.S. Military Academy graduate and a native of Los Angeles. Upon completion of the U.S. Army Signal Officer Basic Course, he deployed to OIF 05-07 with the 440th Signal Battalion based out of Darmstadt, Germany. Upon redeployment, he helped in the inactivation of his unit and relocated to Mannheim. Danny spent the last of his 5 years with the Army in Waegwan, South Korea, as a Communications Officer and Liaison to elements of the Second Republic of Korea Army (SROKA). Danny is a MBA candidate at Harvard Business School and the current co-president of HBS’s Armed Forces Alumni Association, a 12-year old organization with 91 current members. His interest lies in continuing to contribute to his nation’s security through a career in defense technology.

Brandon Groff
Army, Georgia Institute of Technology '10, Harvard Business School '13

"I quickly learned why the Armed Forces Alumni Association was the best club I could have joined at Harvard Business School. An excellent group of people with a very strong bond through military service. Being able to share this across the entire University will be a great step for Harvard and a great way to strengthen Harvard's military community."

Brandon Groff grew up in Lancaster, PA. He enlisted in the United States Army and left shortly after graduating high school. He was part of the ground invasion of Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division, as well as a second tour in 2005. After completing his six year enlistment he left the military to go to school. He graduated with highest honors from Georgia Tech with a B.S. in Computer Engineering as well as a M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Brandon is currently a first-year MBA candidate at Harvard Business School.

C. Randolph Whipps
Navy, Georgetown University '03, Harvard Business School '12

"Harvard and the military are distinct but highly complementary institutions, and each is stronger because of the other. It has been a tremendous privilege to experience both."

C. Randolph Whipps is a second-year MBA candidate at Harvard Business School. He holds a BSFS in International Politics and a Certificate in Asian Studies from Georgetown University, and studied at King's College London and Yonsei University in Seoul. He deployed three times in support of OEF/OIF, and served in Washington, DC with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Rob Rain
Marine Corps, Washington and Lee University '07, Harvard Business School '13

"Harvard Business School’s mission of providing leaders who make a difference in the world compliments the work of the US Military, which forges leaders prepared to take on the vast array of challenges facing our nation and world."

Rob Rain is a first-year MBA candidate at the Harvard Business School. He graduated magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University with a B.A. in English and History. Upon graduation, Rob commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and is a graduate of the Basic Officers Course, Infantry Officer Course, and Infantry Mortar Leaders Course. He deployed to Al Anbar Province, Iraq in 2009 as a Rifle Platoon Commander, and to Helmand Province, Afghanistan as an 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander in 2010-2011. While in Afghanistan, he commanded two Patrol Bases in Northern Helmand.