About
AUSA’s Noon Report Webinar series invites you to join us on Thursday, 7 September 2023, at 12:00 EDT to hear a presentation by John H. Davis, author of Combat to College: Applying the Military Mentality as a Student Veteran. Davis—a former paratrooper who says he was the most tattooed person at Harvard—will give practical advice to veterans who may be struggling as they start their college careers.

Agenda
  • 1145-1200: Log-on
  • 1200: Opening remarks by LTG Leslie Smith, Vice President, Leadership & Education, AUSA
  • 1205-1225: Presentation by John H. Davis author of Combat to College: Applying the Military Mentality as a Student Veteran
  • 1225-1245: Question & Answer Session with John H. Davis and CW5 Phyllis Wilson, U.S. Army Retired
  • 1250: Closing remarks by LTG Leslie Smith, Vice President, Leadership & Education, AUSA
Presenters
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John H. Davis
John is a combat veteran, author, and Harvard graduate. He's spoken to congress as a legislative fellow for the VFW and Student Veterans of America. John was an infantry squad leader in the 101st Airborne Division and developed a coaching program for Student Veterans. He's an AUSA Book Program Author and the author of Combat To College, The Student Veteran Semester Journal, and the #FreedomChallenge. John lives in the Dominican Republic.
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LTG Leslie Smith
Vice President, Leadership & Education, AUSA
Lieutenant General Leslie C. Smith, US Army (retired) currently serves as the Vice President for Leadership and Education, Association of the United States Army, the Carter Chair for leadership at Georgia Southern, LV Smith Corporate Group CEO, and on several corporate boards. LTG Smith received his commission from Georgia Southern University (GSU) in 1983 as a Field Artillery Officer. In 1985, he graduated from GSU with a bachelor's degree in accounting and as a distinguished military graduate and branched as a Chemical Officer.

LTG Smith's final assignment on active duty from 2018 to 2021 was as The Inspector General, Office of the Secretary of the Army, the first Chemical officer to serve in that position. His early assignments include service in the Georgia National Guard; Chemical Staff officer in the 3-52d Air Defense Artillery Battalion; Division and DIVARTY staff officer and company commander in the 82d Airborne Division; Chemical Branch Assignments Officer, PERSCOM; S-3 and XO in the 23d Chemical Battalion; and the Joint Staff, J-5. In 2001, he assumed command of the 83d Chemical Battalion, where elements of the Battalion deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.

Following command, he served on the Army Staff in the G-8 in the Full Dimensional Protection Division. In 2005, he assumed command of the 3d Chemical Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and later served as the G-3, 20th Support Command (CBRNE). From 2008-2010, he was the 25th Chief of Chemical and Commandant of the United States Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School. In 2010, LTG Smith returned to the 20th Support Command (CBRNE) as the Commanding General. In June 2013, LTG Smith became the first Chemical officer to serve as the Commanding General of the United States Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood. He served as the Deputy the Inspector General from 2015 to 2018.

His military education includes the Chemical Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Airborne School, Jumpmaster School, Command and General Staff.

LTG Smith also holds master’s degrees from Central Michigan University and the National Defense University and is married to Vanedra, and they have two daughters.
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CW5 (Ret) Phyllis Wilson
Chief Wilson began her Army career as a Military Intelligence (MI) German linguist Voice Intercept Operator. During more than 37 years of active and reserve service, she has served at all echelons from tactical to strategic, with duty in Germany, Iraq and the United States. In August 1990, she was mobilized to support OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/ OPERATION DESERT STORM and served as the Signals Intelligence collection manager for XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, NC. In December 2002, she mobilized in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM as a senior Counter Terrorism Analyst. She deployed twice to Iraq with a highly specialized Joint Special Operations Task Force.
Chief Warrant Officer Five (CW5) Phyllis J. Wilson served as the 5th Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) for the United States Army Reserve. She was a key member of the Executive Team managing an organization with an annual operating budget of more than $8 Billion. She completed a Senior Fellowship with the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Strategic Studies Group focused on Global issues 2050 and beyond.
Chief Wilson holds a master’s degree in Management from Webster University, two Bachelor of Science degrees: nursing (registered nurse) and liberal arts (sociology/German) and three Associate of Science degrees. She also holds a certificate in Non-Profit Management from Duke University. She is pursuing a second master’s degree in Public Administration with a Non-Profit Organizations focus. She attended the Defense Language Institute for German and Spanish.
Chief Wilson’s military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary & Service Medals, and the Army Parachutist Badge. She was inducted into the Army Women’s Foundation Hall of Fame in 2017.
Her non-profit experience includes being the President of the Women in Military Service for America (WIMSA) Memorial Foundation – the only major national memorial honoring all women who have defended America throughout history from the Revolutionary War to today. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Allied Forces Foundation; the Army Women’s Foundation; and the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA) Board of Directors. She is also a Senior Fellow at AUSA.
In March 2020, Phyllis was named a Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace Power Player of the Week. View the Video Here.
She has eight children: Joseph, Jeremy, Rebekah, Matthias, Rachel, Jared, Maria and Jesse. Four sons: Joseph, Jeremy, Matthias, and Jared are in the military and are all combat veterans. She has twelve grandchildren and counting!
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