When our hometown of Philadelphia was announced as the site of the 34th Annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games (August 12-17), Comcast and NBCUniversal immediately stepped up to support our wounded warriors. I am proud of Comcast and NBCUniversal’s continued leadership in honoring and supporting our nation’s veterans, including our title sponsorship of the Games. As a fellow athlete and veteran, I will serve as a volunteer at this amazing and humbling event. My duties will include presenting awards to the athletes and managing targets for the Air Rifle/Pistol competition.
My family has a proud military tradition. My father served in the Army and my brother currently serves as a Navy Commander at the Navy Special Warfare Command in Coronado, CA. I played Division I Water Polo at the United States Naval Academy and served as a Naval Officer for eight years. Throughout my last tour in the Navy, I led Antiterrorism teams in the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I now help lead our Comcast field operations workforce as we work to provide the best products and services to our customers and to drive innovation in their homes.
Our veterans stand up for all Americans and for our way of life. After serving our country, serious injury shouldn’t stop veterans from living the full, rewarding lives they deserve. The National Veterans Wheelchair Games provide injured veterans the opportunity to drive forward and compete. The athletes in these Games are all winners. They never quit. They embody service, courage and commitment. I look forward to taking my wife, Niki, and my children, Lucy (5) and Alex (3), to the Games. I know Lucy and Alex will be inspired by the athletes as they learn lessons on the real meaning of determination.
Comcast is committed to becoming America’s finest veteran-friendly company, both in the community and in the workplace. I am incredibly proud that Comcast and NBCUniversal have hired thousands of veterans since the commencement of our 2012 Hiring Our Heroes campaign. The company offers industry-leading benefits for mobilized reservists, and has a very active Veterans Network employee resource group with over 3,000 members from around the country. Comcast and NBCUniversal have a strong history of hiring veterans across all levels of the organization. In fact, Comcast’s founder, Ralph Roberts, served in the Navy and the President and CEO of Comcast Cable, Neil Smit, was a member of SEAL Team 6.
Being involved in events like the Veterans Wheelchair Games and supporting veterans in general allows my fellow Comcasters and me the chance to do what we love to do: visualize the mission and work as a team to achieve success. Good luck to all of the athletes participating in the Games!