Sponsors

Ship Sponsor: Jodi Greene

As the Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy (DUSN) for Policy, Jodi Greene serves as the Secretary and Under Secretary of the Navy’s primary advisor on foreign and defense policy and strategy; security cooperation and international engagement; security and space policy; intelligence and counter intelligence; intelligence oversight; defense sensitive support, signature reduction, and sensitive activities; special operations and irregular warfare; global force management and posture. She aligns Department of the Navy strategic narrative through posture hearing preparation, oversees the SECNAV advisory panel, serves as the DON Security Executive and is responsible for DON interactions with the Under Secretaries of Defense for Policy and Intelligence

A native of Northfield, MN, Greene is a veteran of the US Air Force, serving from 1990-1995, with assignments at the National Security Agency, in the Offices of the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary of Defense.

Honorary Chairperson: Greg Coleman

Greg Coleman is a former NFL punter, retired business executive and current sideline analyst for the Minnesota Vikings Radio Network. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Greg is recognized as being the first African American Punter in the NFL. He was selected as a member of the Vikings 40th Anniversary Team, the Florida A&M Hall of Fame, and the Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame. Greg is an ordained minister, and he and his wife Eleanor are committed to numerous philanthropic efforts that promote learning, tutoring, mentoring, life skills and marriage education.

Honorary Chair

Ambassador Bruce Laingen, Posthumous
Ambassador to Iran during the Iranian Hostage Crisis, US Navy Veteran, Minnesota Native

SPECIAL CHAIRS

David Mortenson, Chairman, Mortenson Company
CAPT David Ratte, USN Retired, Commanding Officer, USS Minneapolis Saint Paul SSN 708 April 2002 to December 2003
B Kyle, President, Saint Paul Chamber of Commerce
Jonathon Weinhagen, President & CEO, Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce
Stan Hubbard, Hubbard Broadcasting

SPECIAL RECOGNITION, POSTHUMOUS

Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas Higgins, lost at sea December 27, 2007
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Holtz, lost at sea December 27, 2007
Final Deployment, USS Minneapolis Saint Paul SSN 708, Portsmouth UK