Steve Bannon served as the White House Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor to the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. Before joining the White House, Mr. Bannon served as the Chief Executive Officer of President Trump’s historic insurgent 2016 presidential campaign. Mr. Bannon is the Executive Chairman of Breitbart News Network. According to Amazon-owned Alexa analytics, Breitbart is ranked the 50th most popular website of all websites in the United States. In September, Mr. Bannon was named by Politico Magazine #1 of their Annual Top 50 for being “the man who got us here.”
He is the co-founder and former executive chairman of the Government Accountability Institute which investigates and exposes crony capitalism, misuse of taxpayer monies, and other government corruption or malfeasance. He is an entrepreneur and financier in the media and film industries and a former investment banker in Mergers & Acquisitions at Goldman Sachs. He wrote and directed Generation Zero, The Undefeated, Occupy Unmasked and Torchbearer, among other groundbreaking political documentaries. Mr. Bannon served in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer on the USS Paul F. Foster (DD – 964) for two deployments in the South China Sea, Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. In addition, he served as special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, a Master’s Degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown University’s School of Government and a M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
John Dodson was born and raised in a small rural town in Virginia. His mother was a custodian at an elementary school and his father was a farmhand. He was a member of the JROTC throughout high school and entered the army after graduation. He served in intelligence in the army for three years. After an honorable discharge, he returned to his hometown as a deputy and began a long, successful career in law enforcement.
This included making detective in Loudoun County, working in the vice-narcotics unit, joining the DEA Task Force, and eventually being hired as an ATF Special Agent in 2005. In late 2009, he was transferred to Phoenix to be a part of a group that would specifically target firearms trafficking. It was in Phoenix that he became aware of the misguided and dangerous tactics that were a part of the case known …. Read more as Fast and Furious. The deadly impact of these tactics led him to blow the whistle on the operation in early 2011. Amazingly, throughout an ordeal that reached into the highest ranks of our government, John has remained a Special Agent with ATF to this day.
John is the author of “The Unarmed Truth – My Fight to Blow the Whistle and Expose Fast and Furious ”, a hard-hitting inside account of the Fast and Furious scandal—the government-sponsored program intended to “win the drug war” by providing and tracking gun sales across the border to Mexico. “If it weren’t for John Dodson, Americans would never have known the truth about Operation Fast and Furious and the death of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. This book is his story, a tale of the personal and professional journey of a man who decided to tell the truth, no matter the costs. He didn’t take the easy way out. For that and much more, the American people owe John Dodson a debt of gratitude” wrote Senator Chuck Grassley and Representative Darrell Issa in the foreword of the book. Like whistle-blowers before him, John would not be welcome back on the job. But he found strength in his conscience, in the support of the American public, and in his family. When his first-amendment rights to publicly tell his story were threatened, the ACLU took up his case. Ultimately, John Dodson was cleared by the Inspector General’s office, publicly heralded as a hero, and returned to Arizona. Perhaps a lesson gleaned from John Dodson’s powerful account is well stated by former Speaker of the House of Representatives Sam Rayburn: “If you always tell the truth, you don’t have to remember what you said.”
There is only one Norma Zimdahl. She is truly one of a kind and there is no way to sufficiently describe all that is ‘Norma’. Norma is an amazing and exuberant woman with an American spirit that dramatically impacts the lives of so many. A farmer’s daughter from upstate New York, and the youngest of 7 children; Norma’s God-given and uniquely remarkable talent began on the piano at the young age of 4. At 16, Norma was the youngest artist ever to perform with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra performing “Rhapsody in Blue” on the piano. She appeared with Arthur Godfrey on radio and television. She also toured the country with Fred Waring showcasing her classical piano jazz technique and distinctive vocal style. Later she signed with CBS television, recorded albums, appeared on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theater, and had star billing at the famous Empire Room in the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Most notably she performed with Sid Caesar on his last television series utilizing her innate ability to speak five languages and several accents.
Norma’s life represents the antithesis of today’s selfish superstars. She credits God as the source of her talents and many blessings – all of which she has devoted to the service of others, the betterment of her fellow countrymen and the future of her beloved Nation. Norma is among the most generous philanthropists in America. Because of her generous charitable gifts to organizations such as the American Heart Association, Freedom Alliance, George Mason University, the Heritage Foundation, National Right to Work, the American Cancer Society, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, the Patriot Academy, the Brian Terry Foundation and countless youth leadership programs; lives have been changed for the better. It is evident from the life that she has lead that Norma Zimdahl is a generous and passionate American that aspires to share her many gifts with others and routinely makes a notable difference for all.
Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has inspired a nation. Her courageous recovery after an assassination attempt in January 2011 demonstrated her intrepid spirit and determination. She has served in Congress and the Arizona Legislature and has she has devoted her life to public service. And despite the challenges involved in her recovery, she continues to do so. While in congress Giffords worked to secure passage of the August 2010 bill to fund more Border Patrol agents and surveillance technology for Arizona’s border with Mexico. Because of her indomitable spirit Ms. Giffords is the recipient of the Brian A Terry Courage and Heroism in the Community Award.
Sharyl Attkisson, a Washington DC based correspondent for CBS News, is honored for her tireless efforts to bring the tragedy of ATF’s Operation Fast and Furious to a national audience. Her reporting won the CBS Evening News the Radio and Television News Directors Association’s National Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Video Investigative Reporting. Ms. Attkisson’s outstanding reporting is not limited to operation Fast and Furious. She has also distinguished herself in reporting on the embassy attack in Benghazi despite attempts made by the Obama administration to deny her access to records and materials. Because of this persistence and determination Ms. Attkisson is the recipient of the Brian A Terry Courage in Journalism and Reporting Award.
Sue Krentz and her late husband, Robert Krentz, grew up in Douglas, Arizona and lived on a ranch that had been in Robert’s family since 1907. In March of 2010, Robert was shot and killed in a remote area of his ranch. It’s believed Robert Krentz was killed by illegal immigrants working for a Mexican drug cartel. Despite this tragedy, Sue Krentz continues to live at the ranch that is her family’s legacy while at the time advocating for border security. She exemplifies the spirit of Arizona ranchers, many of whom live with the perils of operating close to the border with Mexico. For these reasons Ms. Krentz is the recipient of the Brian A Terry Profiles in Courage Award.
Agent Eric C. Gough was serving at the Herat Regional Training Center in Herat, Afghanistan on his second Middle East tour as a CBP advisor. On July 22, 2012, in Herat, Afghanistan, as CBP personnel and contractors gathered after hours outside their living quarters, an armed assailant, alleged to be an Afghan National Policeman, opened fire on them at the Herat Regional Training Center. Without regard for his own personal safety, Agent Gough immediately engaged the assailant upon hearing the gunfire. The assailant approached from a blind spot behind a vehicle and opened fire with an AK-47 assault rifle, killing two people immediately. As the assailant continued his attack, personnel attempted to take cover in a nearby bunker, and three additional people were shot, one fatally.
Hearing the gunfire, Agent Eric Gough immediately headed toward the location. As the assailant continued to fire, Agent Gough tactically approached and then terminated the threat by returning fire, which resulted in the death of the assailant. Agent Gough’s quick action prevented the assailant from progressing through the compound and harming many unarmed personnel; his actions greatly limited the loss of American lives.
Agent Gough, also a Border Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) member and a Border Patrol Legacy SRT member, rendered aid to the wounded. The combat medical care he provided to critically wounded Border Management Task Force member Dana Hampton is credited with saving his life. Hampton was shot three times, including a severe wound to the abdomen. Agent Gough stabilized Hampton’s injuries, assisted with transport, and remained with him until proper medical attention could be provided. In the course of the transport, Agent Gough had to overcome security obstacles caused by a lockdown of the compound and medical facility. Agent Gough’s perseverance and tenacity ensured that Dana Hampton was given proper medical care in a timely manner.
U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker lauded Agent Gough’s heroic actions and acknowledged that his decisiveness saved numerous lives. Additional accolades were received from the Department of Defense’s U.S. Central Command, Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Homeland Security
On September 9, 2012, the RCTG received actionable intelligence that an Armed Rip Crew was en route to infiltrate the desert and conduct criminal acts. The RCTG contacted BORTAC to conduct high-risk mobile conveyance takedown prior to the Rip Crew entering into the desert. The RCTG established physical surveillance of the vehicle as it traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, picked up two other suspects, and then traveled south on a state highway. Meanwhile BORTAC deployed a mobile team to function as the main effort of the takedown, while an air team maintained high cover via an Office of Air and Marine UH60.
Once the Rip Crew vehicle entered the interdiction zone, the BORTAC mobile team conducted a vehicle assault. Within seconds, all three subjects were taken into custody. Two SKS rifles, Springfield XD ammunition, a night vision device, camouflage clothing, and backpacks containing food and supplies were located inside the vehicle.
The RCTG began conducting evidence collection that would ensure all subjects would face the maximum consequences allowed by the United States and the State of Arizona justice systems. Currently, all three subjects are pending trial and face a 15-20 year sentence.
