Russell Armstead:  

I grew up very poor and lived in government housing until I graduated high school. I was raised by a single mom. There was a lot of violence, crime, and unemployment in my neighborhood. My saving grace was the time I spent at the local library and my participation in the Boy Scouts of America. I joined the U.S. Army at age 19 and was mentored by a group of Vietnam Veterans. They taught me: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. Those values helped me to succeed professionally and think strategically about my future. I earned a masters degree while in the military. I served in combat twice; once in Iraq and once in Afghanistan. As a result, I was awarded two Bronze Star Medals. I retired from the U.S. Army in 2009 after 21 years of active duty service. Next, I leveraged my military experience and education to market myself and eventually accepted a position in ...Expand for more