Veteran Ambassadors
Andrew Reid - Director of K-9 Services
Staff Sergeant Reid exited the Marine Corps in Aug 2014 and is currently attending Northern Virginia Community College in pursuit of his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Born in Ireland and a resident there until the age of 12, he and his family moved to Virginia. Reid enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 2002 and underwent recruit training at 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Golf Company, Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, S.C.
After completion of Military Police school in February 2003, he was ordered to 2nd MP Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group in Camp Lejeune, N.C. where he was deployed during the same month to Kuwait for Operation Iraqi Freedom. In March 2005, he deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. In November 2005, Corporal Reid was transferred to the K-9 section in order to help with the Combat Tracking Dogs School. It was during his six months helping out with this school that he soon found his new career path.
In June of 2006, Reid attended the Military Working Dog School, Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated as the “Top Dog” for his class and was awarded a Meritorious Mast from the Detachment Commander. In March of 2007, Sergeant Reid was deployed to Camp Ramadi, Iraq where he managed dual responsibilities: dog handler and kennel master to a kennel of 6 dogs.
After deployment, he was transferred to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia where he held numerous roles from Patrol Supervisor to Platoon Commander. In February 2010, he received orders to Lackland Air Force Base. During his time at Lackland, Sergeant Reid spent some time at the Dog Training School and the majority of the time was spent as a Military Working Dog Instructor.
In June 2012, Staff Sergeant Reid was transferred to Security and Emergency Services Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Ca. During his time aboard Camp Pendleton, he held the Kennel Master position as well as the Chief Dog Trainer.
His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with three bronze stars, National Defense Ribbon, Iraqi Campaign Medal with three bronze stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two bronze stars, Certificate of Commendation, and six Letters of Appreciation/Commendation.
John Preston
John Preston is a Universal Music Group / Concore Entertainment recording artist and full time firefighter. John was a Marine Corps veteran and began his music career while in Iraq writing his song “Good Good America” the song gave John his first shot at the music industry signing a record deal upon his return from Iraq.
John returned to the music industry in 2014 signing with Pacific Records and quickly releasing his first single “this IS war” in October of 2014. The song also became a national media topic when the Marine veteran made a call to action to veterans across the nation to stand against ISIS which had just made a surge through Syria and Iraq.
Just one month later, John released his Los Angeles Music Awards nominated EP “Your War is Over”. This time the topic was very different. John highlighted veterans’ struggles with Post Traumatic Stress and suicide and took the fight public with several TV and radio appearances across the United States.
John took to the studio again and in September of 2015 released in the Top 100 New Alternative Albums chart with his second EP “Day to Night.” With this EP, John told the story of a Marine that was killed on his last day of combat. John took to the media continuing with his fight against PTSD, veteran suicide, and also reminding the people of America that the country is still at war.
John’s life took a turn of tragic irony when in January of 2016 John’s own brother fell victim to post traumatic stress and took his own life. The passing of his brother was enough to make him consider ending his career, but has instead fueled his hard work ethic that secured a national campaign against suicide. John executive produced the album “Battlecry: Songs of America’s Heroes which reached number 21 on the iTunes rock charts.
John has currently signed on with Universal Music Group / Concore Entertainment and has released his singles “Before I am Gone” and “Superman Falls” that have both reached the top 20 in rock music (drt) and iTunes top 200. John continues to fight against veteran suicide and continues to grow as an artist with “Superman Falls” crossing over into the FM market.
Kerry Tooley, Command Sergeant Major (Ret.)
Command Sergeant Major (Ret) Tooley- was born on 19 December 1969, in Tompkinsville, Kentucky. He graduated from Monroe County High School, Tompkinsville, Kentucky in 1988. He joined the United States Army attended Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill, OK and Airborne School at Fort Benning GA in 1988 and retired in 2011.
During his 23 year career, he held numerous leadership positions serving in the following locations: Fort Bragg, NC, 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, and United States Army Special Operations Command, Fort Richard Alaska 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, and Fort Polk, LA Joint Readiness Training Center.
He served in the following campaigns, Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.
His military education includes Warrior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Senior Leaders Course, Battle Staff Course, First Sergeant Functional Course, United States Army Sergeants Major Course Class 56, Airborne Course, Jumpmaster Course, Air Assault Course, Support Operations Course and Manpower And Force Management Course. Pre Command Course, and the CSM/SGM Force Management Course.
He holds an a holds a Master of Arts degree in Management and Leadership and a Baccalaureate degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Business Management from Wayland Baptist University.
He married to the former Mrs. Rebecca Isenberg and they have two sons, Logan (20) and Sheldon (17).
Montgomery Granger, Major, USAR (Ret.)
Three times mobilized U.S. Army Reserve Major (Ret.), with deployments to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Ft. Dix, NJ, and various locations in Iraq, from 2002-2005. Montgomery Granger is a devoted husband and father of five, who lives on Long Island, New York and is a public school district administrator.
He is the author of “Theodore,” a personal narrative published in the Random House (2006) wartime anthology, “Operation Homecoming: Iraq, Afghanistan and the Home Front in the Words of U.S. Troops and their Families,” edited by N.Y. Times best selling editor, Andrew Carroll; and author of “Saving Grace at Guantanamo Bay: A Memoir of a Citizen Warrior” (2010, and 2012) http://sbpra.com/MontgomeryJGranger/
Mark D. Smith, Lt. Colonel, USAF (Ret.)
White House Fellow
Air Force Thunderbird
Founder, NASA/Department of Veteran Affairs Wounded Warrior Rehabilitation Program
Commercial Airline Pilot
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Referee and Judge