Sigholtz-Capital Chapter Leadership Team
Chapter President – Steve Brignolli
Steve Brignoli is a former US Army Special Operations Officer with multiple deployments and field experience. He is also an established businessman and the Managing Director of an Anti-Poaching non-profit, Humanitarian Operations Protecting Elephants (H.O.P.E)As the CEO and Founder of Beyond SOF, a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) he employs veterans full and part time to staff federal and commercial jobs with veterans. Steve also consults 7 technology companies, including startups, to provide them a path toward Government funding and eventually tech transition the Warfighter.
Steve’s background as a Special Forces Detachment Commander for 10th Special Forces had a primary focus on Special Reconnaissance and Foreign Training in the Trans Sahel Region of Northern Africa. He was also a Special Operations Task Unit Commander for TF 10 in Afghanistan responsible for US/Romanian Special Reconnaissance and Direct-Action Missions in RC-East.
Prior to Special Forces, Steve was one of the first lieutenants in the newly reactivated 2-503rd in the recently reactivated 173rd Airborne back in 2001. He served as a Rifle Platoon Leader for 2nd PLT, Able Co, which was the Brigade main effort in an airfield seizure in Czech Republic, followed by a NEO in Hungary. Steve served as the 2-503rd S&T Platoon Leader, Assistant S4, and Chosen Company XO in Iraq. As a 1st LT he planned, led and executed the Brigade Air Load and heavy drop of 64 vehicles into Bashur Airfield in Northern Iraq
Steve has worked for the DIA as Senior Consultant/Analyst, deploying to Afghanistan to liase for the DIA between FBI, DEA, ISAF SOF, and other Intelligence Organizations for target development and prosecution of leading nefarious actors affecting Afghan/Paki/US relations.
Steve served as the Joint Special Operations Command Portfolio Manager for Transitioning technologies at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), helping transition 11 programs totally $2.6B in taxpayer invested defense technology to JSOC and SOCOM.
Steve received his Bachelor’s Degree in fine art and graphic design at Furman University. Steve’s number one priority is that of being a father to his 10 year old son, Valor.
Chapter Vice President-Bill Connoly
Bio-To be published
Chapter Treasurer- LTC Dana Savage
LTC Savage in Center
Dana Savage was commissioned as an Engineer officer, upon graduation from West Point, in June 2001. During her 18 years of active duty, she has been stationed in such diverse locations as Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Kansas City, Missouri; Baltimore, Mary-
land; Bamberg, Germany; Vicenza, Italy; San Antonio, Texas; and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. She has over 55 deployment-months, in response to requirements in Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, and Puerto Rico.
As a Captain, Dana was as- signed to the Southern Euro- pean Task Force (Airborne) in Vicenza, Italy, and deployed to Afghanistan, in support
of Operation Enduring Freedom V, as the CJTF-76 CJ17 (Engineer) Operations Officer. She served in the SETAF G- 3 Transformation Cell, spearhead- ing the 173rd Combat Brigade’s transformation to an Airborne Bri- gade Combat Team.
In 2006, she was one of the first females assigned to the newly transformed 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. After serving as the Brigade Engineer, she deployed with Task Force Bayonet to Afghanistan, to support Operation Enduring Freedom VIII, where she also served on Brigade HQStaff as Officer-in-Charge of the Brigade’s Joint Visitors Bu- reau.
In November 2007, Dana took command of Headquarters and Headquarters Company 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, at Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan. She served as the Company Commander until redeployment, in January 2009.
LTC Savage is currently stationed in Texas, where she commands the 512th Engineer Detachment (Geospatial Planning Cell), US Army South. In addition to her military career, Dana is also an owner/ partner of both Brass Bullet Coffee Company and Rick’s Roasters Coffee Company.
Chapter Secretary – Vacant
Mack was commissioned in the Infantry, in 1969. He served two tours in Vietnam: 173rd Airborne Brigade and, with MACV, as an advisor to the Vietnamese Airborne Division. Mack served with A Company, 4/503 and Aide-de-Camp, while with the Herd. Following Vietnam, Mack transferred to the Adjutant General Corps. His assignments included West Point, as an Admissions Officer; Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe; the National War College; and Army POW-MIA Affairs. After retirement, Mack worked for George Washington University and later for the Defense Security Services (DSS).
Membership Chair – Joe Flesch
Joe is a Past President of Chapter 1 ( 2014-2019). He served with the Brigade in Vietnam June 1966–June 1967. He was charter member of the 4th Battalion, 503d Airborne Infantry, and deployed with them by troop ship. He served as Platoon Leader, Executive Officer and Company Commander in Dog Company 4/503d.
Joe is long-time member of the Chapter and a life-time member of the Association. He retired from active duty in 1986 as an LTC following assignments as an instructor in the Ranger Department, a combat tour in Vietnam with the 1st CAV DIV, ROTC Instructor at Washington University in St. Louis, a tour with the 25th INF DIV in Hawaii, HQ Forces Command IG Team, G-3 Advisor to the Saudi Arabian Land Forces, and Director of the MTOE Branch of Documents Division at HQ Forces Command.
Joe has BA from Gettysburg College and a MA from St. Louis University. He is a graduate of the Royal New Zealand Army Grade II Staff and Tactics Course and the Armed Forces Staff College.
Following active service Joe worked 19 ½ years as a full time government contractor sup- porting Army and Air Force programs. He currently works part-time as a government contractor.
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) Recruiter -Vacant
Mack Brooks – Newsletter Editor of The Herd Word
Mack was commissioned in the Infantry, in 1969. He served two tours in Vietnam: 173rd Airborne Brigade and, with MACV, as an advisor to the Vietnamese Airborne Division. Mack served with A Company, 4/503 and Aide-de-Camp, while with the Herd. Following Vietnam, Mack transferred to the Adjutant General Corps. His assignments included West Point, as an Admissions Officer; Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe; the National War College; and Army POW-MIA Affairs. After retirement, Mack worked for George Washington University and later for the Defense Security Services (DSS).
Webmaster – Gene Cartier
Gene Cartier served two tours with the Brigade. The first was as an NCO and Forward Observer with the 4.2 Mortar Platoon of the 1/503d from 1963 to 1965. Gene deployed with the 1/503 from Okinawa to Vietnam in May 1965. After completing Officer Candidate School in 1966, Gene had a second tour with the Brigade as an Artillery Forward Observer with B/1/503d and as the XO and CO of C Battery 3/319th Artillery.
After Vietnam Gene stayed in the Army and completed a 24 year career. During that time he served in the 82d Airborne Division, 18th Airborne Corps, US Army Europe and in the Army Special Operations Command. His last Army assignment was as the Chief Information Officer for the Army Inspector General in the Pentagon. After leaving the Army he joined private industry as a systems engineer. He retired from industry in 2013 as the Senior Vice President of Network and Systems Engineering for SRA International, a major systems integration firm.
Wounded Warrior Support Leader – Vacant
Historical Projects Leader – Ed Anthony
SSG Ed Anthony RVN 1964
Adv Tm 89
Ed Anthony enlisted in the Army in 1959. After basic training and advanced infantry training at Fort Jackson, S.C, his first assignment was with Delta Battery,65th Artillery (NIKE-HERCULES) on the wonderful island of Okinawa, Japan.
Veterans Administration (VA) Advisor – Mike Bargmann
Michael Bargmann served with C Company, 4/503 in RVN, 1970. He retired in 1972 as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. He had a 30-year career with the Disabled American Veterans, retiring in 2006. He subsequently served on the DOD/VA Senior Oversight Committee, where he revamped the agencies disability system. He has served for the VA’s Central Headquarters, Office of Policy and Planning, and as the Veteran Service Organization Liaison for the Under Secretary for Benefits. Michael currently serves in the Veteran Heath Administration’s Office of Interagency Affairs. His expertise includes veteran law and management and policy analysis.
Deceased Veteran Families Leader – Vacant
Gold Star Research Team Leader – Vacant
Gold Star Families Leader – Vacant
Contact Us
If you are interested in contacting Sigholtz-Capital Chapter 1 or any of our members: contact any of the above officers, and we will refer your inquiry to the appropriate person.