2022 CT Military All-Stars

David C. Warfield | United States Navy

David served six years as a nuclear plant operator aboard the USS John Marshall, SSBN 611, during the Vietnam War. When he was discharged he vowed never to work for the government but as fate has it he landed a job at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He was than tapped to help facilitate the establishment of the Commander Navy Region Northeast where he was a lead in a Business Case Study to consolidate east coast naval logistical operations. When the Department of Homeland Security was tasked with setting a new agency, the Transportation Security Administration, in response to the 9-11 terrorist's attacks, David was once again tapped to help facilitate, this time as the Financial Officer and then the Administrative Officer at Bradley Airport. David retired from government with 35 years.

Doris Maldonado | United States Army

Doris deployed in ‘19-20 to Cuba, was placed on both Federal and State Active Duty orders in response to the COVID 19 Pandemic for a majority of 2020, and then deployed yet again from ‘21-22 to the Horn of Africa on short notice, originally as a member of the Rear Detachment. Her willingness to put the uniform and her service to her Country first is not only admirable, but inspiring. She deserves to know how much she is appreciated for all that she has done.

Thomas Geanuracos | United States Air Force

Senior Master Sergeant Tom Geanuracos has been in the United States Air Force for 25 plus years and has served his country with over 14 deployments. He is proud, dedicated and loyal to the United States Air Force.

William J. D'Amato | United States Navy

- Entered the Navy in 1944 at age 18

- Served two years as Seaman First Class aboard the USS Merrimack during World War II

- Was the last of six brothers to serve during the war

- Served aboard transports and tankers in England, Belgium, Russia, the Panama Canal, Hawaii, and Japan

- His wife, Dora, was also a proud veteran having served as a WAVE during World War II in Washington

Tom Denault | United States Air Force

- Served for 25 years in the US Air Force as a Law Enforcement Specialist and C-5 Galaxy Aircraft Loadmaster

- Deployed to Japan, Korea, Europe, and the Middle East

- Involved in Operations Just Cause, Joint Endeavor, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom

- Awards include the Air Force Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Air Reserve Force Meritorious Service Medal and the US Air Force Aerial Achievement Medal

- Retired in 2005 with over 2500 flight hours

Jay DeZinno | Connecticut Army National Guard

- Current Unit: 2nd Battalion, 169th Regiment (Regional Training Institute)

- Prior Units: 1-102 Infantry; 141 Med Co.

- Position: 638W38 Combat Mode Instructor

- Army Commendation Medal - 1 award

- Army Achievement Medal - 3 awards

- Army Reserves Component Achievement Medal - 1 award

- 2018 2nd Battalion, 169th Regiment Instructor of the Year

William F. Lee Jr. | United States Marine Corps

MOS 3529 Motor Transport Chief, United States Marine Corps 1974-2001 (Nearly 27 years of service)

Units include:

Commandant, Marine Corps League

Detachment #681, Danielson, CT

1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA

1st Marine Brigade, Oahu, HI

1st Bn 3rd Marines, Desert Storm

9th Marines, 3rd FSSG, Okinawa, Japan

Awards include:

2 Navy Commendation Medals

2 Navy Achievement Medals

Southwest Asia Service Medal

Kuwait Liberation Medal

Combat Action Ribbon 

Rosario Lombardo | United States Army

- Joined the Army in July, 1943

- Served in Central Europe and the Rhineland during World War II

- Served on the Anti-Aircraft Artillery group then transferred to the Infantry

- Specialized training with the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) and usually carried six magazine on his person

- Awarded the Bronze Star Medal

Fred Peterson II | United States Coast Guard

- Served aboard the USS Kanawha (AOG-31) on Auxiliary, Olier, and Gasoline ship

- Served in the Western Pacific and sailed through the Panama Canal during World War II

- Gunner Captain of the ship in charge of firing weapons and training new gunners

Awards:

- World Ward II Victory Medal

- Philippine Liberation Ribbon

- Navy Occupation Service Medal (Japan)

- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

Eugene Polaske | United States Marine Corps

- Joined the US Marine Corps in 1945 at the age of 17 during World War II

- Trained with thousands of others for an invasion of Japan, including training for tear gas warfare and dismantling land-based traps

- Following Japan's surrender, he completed active duty in 1949

- Called back into service with the Marine Reserves in 1951 during the Korean Conflict

- Was about to ship to Korea before his unit got called back

- Finished reserve duty in 1951

Rob Simmons | United States Army

- Over 50 years of public service on the local, state, and federal levels

- Joined the US Army in 1965 as a Private and spend 19 months in Vietnam, earning two Bronze Medals

- Rob has served in the US Army Reserve as a Military Intelligence Officer since 1970, retiring as a Colonel in 2003 with over 37 years of active and reserve service

- Numerous medals and awards including the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Service Ribbon, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal

- Member of the Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame, the Infantry Officer Candidate Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, GA

Daniel A. Taylor | Connecticut Air National Guard

- Joined the US Air Force in 1994

- Four years active duty in Dover, DE. - Aircraft Structural Maintenance

- Joined the Connecticut National Guard in 1998 - Aircraft Structural Maintenance Supervisor

- Deployed to:

 - Al Jaber, Kuwait (1999, 2001)

 - Jordan (2005)

 - Ramstein, Germnay (2007)

 - Ali Al Salem, Kuwait (2017)

 - Al Udeid, Qatar (2021)

- Worked on: A-10, C-21, C-17, B-52, MQ-9, C-5, F-15, C-130