Meet the Flag Ambassadors Behind Comcast’s Operation Old Glory

Where others see a tattered flag, they see an opportunity to serve.

That’s the spirit behind Operation Old Glory, a grassroots initiative led by military-connected employees at Comcast. Since 2017, these volunteers—known as Flag Ambassadors—have replaced thousands of worn or damaged American flags in communities across the country, free of charge.

Meet five of the Flag Ambassadors leading this effort.

Carlos Couto

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Carlos Couto’s commitment to service didn’t end with his Army career. Whether he’s responding to emergency calls as a volunteer firefighter, advocating for fellow veterans and their families, or helping replace American flags through Operation Old Glory, he continues to lead with purpose. In recognition of his impact, he received the 2024 Veterans in Business Award from the Philadelphia Business Journal and the 2024 Employee Veteran Leadership Award from Military Friendly®.

Most recently, Carlos represented Comcast at the District of Columbia’s annual Flag Day commemoration hosted by the Office of the Secretary. His team also helped lead a flag retirement ceremony at the Delaware County Veterans Memorial, where Comcast Flag Ambassadors from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware honored more than 150 American flags they’d collected throughout the year.

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Candice Mahoney

Panama City, Florida

Candice Mahoney has helped make Florida one of Operation Old Glory’s most active regions. A former military spouse and proud Navy mom, she sees every flag she helps raise as a tribute to her own family’s legacy of service.

In the lead-up to Flag Day, Candice organized a campaign to replace hundreds of American flags across several counties. Her efforts have strengthened community partnerships and inspired dozens of colleagues to get involved.

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Brian Howard

Saint Clair Shores, Michigan

Brian Howard has been in the U.S. Navy Reserve for nearly two decades, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer—a role defined by leadership, dedication, and service. At Comcast, where he’s worked for 17 years, Brian brings that same sense of purpose to Operation Old Glory.

In addition to replacing flags in his own community, Brian has led efforts across multiple states in the Midwest. From recruiting and mentoring new Flag Ambassadors to leading trainings on ceremonial best practices, he’s helped grow the program year after year.

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Lea Dimalanta

Puyallup, Washington

For Lea Dimalanta, a Military Account Representative in Washington state, the American flag carries profound personal meaning that extends far beyond fabric and thread. As both an immigrant and a military spouse, she sees each flag as a symbol of "freedom, resilience, and gratitude"—values that have guided her career at Comcast and her involvement with Operation Old Glory.

Lea’s most memorable flag replacement came after a devastating fire displaced more than 30 families at an apartment complex near Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Rather than simply swapping out the smoke-damaged flag, she organized a community breakfast and ceremony that brought her neighbors together in a moment of healing and connection.

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Lance Cone

Houston, Texas

After returning from his latest deployment in Qatar, U.S. Air Force Reservist and Assistant Xfinity Store Manager Lance Cone sought ways to channel his military values into community impact. Operation Old Glory provided the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Over the past three years, Lance has replaced 35 flags throughout Texas while encouraging teammates to join the cause. He's helped build what he calls a "see something, say something" culture in his region, where employees rally together to tackle flag replacements at apartment complexes, businesses, housing communities, and even Comcast's own facilities.

Learn more about Operation Old Glory and how Comcast supports the military community at corporate.comcast.com/military.