Terry Reagan Allvord

Terry Reagan Allvord
File:File:Reagan Headshot 2014.jpg
Personal details
Born	May 21, 1964(1964-05-21) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Janine Allvord
Alma mater	Southern Illinois University, University of San Diego
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1985–2007
Rank	Lieutenant Commander
Battles/wars	Operation Earnest Will, Iraq War
Awards	Captain Harry T. Jenkins Leadership Award HeroVet

Terry Reagan Allvord (born Terrence Robert Allvord; 1964) is a defense industry executive, author, wounded warrior advocate, entrepreneur, former professional baseball executive and Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Goodwill Ambassador selected by the President of the United States. He served seven tours of duty in the Middle East and during the aftermath of numerous disasters including; Hurricane Katrina and Ground Zero at the World Trade Center in New York.

Career

A native of Santa Monica, California, he began his career in sports during spring training as a hawker for the California Angels. His mother was the field manager when they led his Babe Ruth team to the state Championship. Following his selection as the De Anza League MVP. He was invited to tryout for USA Baseball by Arizona State coaching legend Jim Brock. He joined the U.S. Navy in June 1985 and served as an aviation electrician and rescue swimmer. In 1987 he deployed with the USS Constellation Battle Group to the Persian Gulf. He flew the first combat missions as a door gunner in support of Operation Earnest Will directed by President Reagan to protect reflagged Kuwaiti Tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz from Iran. In 1989, he founded the National Search and Rescue Competition featuring the top Search and Rescue professionals worldwide attracting international defense, corporate, and media interest. He went on to complete his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University with honors while on active duty in 1990. He attended Aviation Officer Candidate School and flight training in Pensacola, Florida. While at flight school, he was selected by President George H. W. Bush in 1990 to re-establish baseball for the United States Armed Forces. He founded United States Navy Baseball Club and teams in all the other branches of the military. He created the U.S. Military All-Stars. In addition to creating the U.S. Military All-Stars, Allvord served as Director of Special Programs for Commander, Navy Region Southwest creating the annual Navy-Marine Corps All-Star Game, the centerpiece in building the San Diego Padres into the Official Team of the Navy and Marine Corps. He went on to serve 23-years and seven tours in the Middle East with over 5,000 flight hours as a crew chief, rescue swimmer, naval aviator and program manager.

Allvord served onboard: USS Camden, USS Mars, USS Kansas City, USS Flint, USS Peleliu, USS Boxer, USS Nimitz, USS Tarawa and USS Essex with Commander Task Force 76, as air officer for Rear Admiral Gary Jones.

He completed his final U.S. Navy assignment in June 2007 at Space and Naval Warfare Center Systems Command as Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (CWID) Program Manager for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In 2008, Allvord partnered with Baltimore Orioles Executive Vice-President of Baseball Operations, Dan Duquette to develop a new farm system to provide professional opportunities to armed forces. Built under the umbrella of the U.S. Military All-Stars, the organization established over 50 teams worldwide at the military, collegiate and professional levels featuring teams in the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, New England Collegiate Baseball League, Latin Stars and Heroes of the Diamond.

Navy-Marine Corps All-Star Game

Allvord created the Navy-Marine Corps All-Star Game played each summer immediately following a San Diego Padres game. The event features the Best of the Best dedicated to Pearl Harbor survivor Commander Lawrence S. Jackman, U.S. Navy. The most valuable player award is dedicated to Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Wayne Kidd, USMC, who was killed in the line of duty while stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in March 1996. The annual event serves to showcase the most talented players in the armed forces. Allvord worked with Kevin Towers, General Manager of the San Diego Padres to sign U.S. Military All-Star prospects. Among the first signed were Corporal Cooper Brannan, a United States Marine Corps wounded warrior who lost a finger on his left hand while serving in Iraq. He signed with the San Diego Padres in February 2007 and pitched in 20 games for the Rookie-level Arizona League Padres in 2007 and the Class-A Eugene Emeralds in 2008. In 2009, he pitched for the American Defenders of New Hampshire. The current record for the annual contest is a 9-9 tie between the Navy and Marine Corps. The most recent contest was claimed by the U.S. Military All-Stars defeating the United States Marine Corps 12-1 played in Tony Gwynn Stadium at San Diego State University.

U.S. Military All-Stars "Red, White & Blue Tour"

The U.S. Military All-Stars have earned 15 Armed Forces Championships. Players represent first responders and military athletes. Most have deployed in the Global War on Terrorism and "Promote the Awareness of all Americans in Support of the Honorable Sacrifices our Armed Forces make on the front lines." Over 25,000 active duty, reserve, Veterans and first responders have participated in the program, making it a popular summer baseball exhibition. In 2002, the program was featured on the CBS TV series JAG episode The Boast. The annual Louisville Slugger "Red, White & Blue Tour" barnstorming 45 states and 12 countries makes it possible to compete against summer collegiate and professional teams with a reputation as a patriotic force in baseball with winning credentials. After undefeated streaks of twenty games or more against professional and summer collegiate programs like the Boston Red Sox and Cape Cod Baseball League players have gone on to earn full scholarships and professional contracts making it a source for future talent.

Dan Duquette joined forces with Allvord, founder of the U.S. Military All-Stars Red, White & Blue Tour and executives of Nocona Athletic Goods Company to create a new ownership group dedicated to providing opportunities for members of the armed forces and military academies. The new ownership group created a new line of Nokona American Defender “Bloodline” baseball gloves to promote and fund the franchises that included the Nashua Pride/American Defenders of New Hampshire/Pittsfield Colonials (CanAm League); Pittsfield Dukes/Pittsfield American Defenders, (New England Collegiate Baseball League); U.S. Military All-Stars Red, White & Blue Tour; Southcom “Goodwill Diplomacy Tour"; and the Latin Stars.

U.S. Military All-Stars "Red, White & Blue Diplomacy Tour"

Created annual Baseball Diplomacy Friendship Tours for Southern and Central Commands, 7th Fleet and Major League Baseball in support of missions to Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Cuba, and Chile. Established partnership with MLB Alumni to provide initial field managing experience to former major league players including: Brian Daubach, Iván Cruz, Pedro Guerrero, Rick Wilkins, Elías Sosa and Omar Moreno.

Heroes of the Diamond "Road to Ground Zero Tour"

Over the past decade, the Ground Zero Flag that was on site when President George W. Bush delivered his famous Bullhorn Speech following the September 11 attacks has been presented to thousands of heroes in ceremonies from Iraq to Afghanistan and back. In 2011, the Ground Zero Flag was presented all over the nation by the U.S. Military All-Stars during the "Road to Ground Zero Tour" on its cross-country journey.

American Defenders of New Hampshire

American Defenders of New Hampshire, LLC led by Dan Duquette joined forces with retired Allvord and executives from Nocona Athletic Goods Company to create an ownership group dedicated to providing opportunities for members of the U.S. armed forces and military academies on and off the field. The group purchased the Nashua Pride, an independent minor league franchise in the CanAm League with hopes of saving the team from bankruptcy. Despite an expensive renovation of Historic Holman Stadium and VIP suites, the Defenders battled through an extremely challenging inaugural season due to bad weather, bad economy and poor fan support. The following season, the team was moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts in the Berkshires and renamed The Pittsfield Colonials. The franchise improved and went on to play for the CanAm League Championship in year two and returned to the Play-offs in season three.

Pittsfield American Defenders

In their inaugural season, the Defenders were led by former American Baseball Coaches Association Chairman and collegiate baseball legends Dr. Carroll Land and Coach Bob Warn assisted by Coach Ron Swen. Due to the timing of the new partnership and the desire to hold as many spots as possible for players from military schools and service academies, the roster was extremely late in taking shape. The military academies had a hard time providing talent to a premier NECBL team interested in dedicating their efforts to provide an opportunity for their players. Add to that a nation-wide economic downturn, stadium under construction, a daily sun delay and at one point submerged under two feet of water, and Pittsfield faced every challenge imaginable.

Newport Gulls

Allvord worked alongside Lou Gorman to lead the Newport Gulls as Vice President, General Manager and Head Coach, expanding fan interest and franchise values among 12 teams in 5 New England States.^{[citation needed]} He built the foundation for the franchise leading the Gulls to Back-to-Back New England Collegiate Baseball League Championships in 2001–2002 while recruiting numerous future major leaguers setting records on and off the field^{[citation needed]} placing the franchise in the top three for attendance, sales, and wins.

Naval Academy Preparatory School

He was the first-ever Athletic Director selected to lead the Navy's fourth oldest school while serving on active duty; only the Naval War College, the Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval Academy are older. As Head Baseball Coach, Allvord guided the program to a 22-5 record in his first year following 14 straight losing seasons. Over 90 new records were set during his tenure at the Naval Academy Preparatory School, known as NAPS. It serves as the preparatory school for the United States Naval Academy located at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. Due to the difficult nature of the Naval Academy's entrance examination, then Undersecretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt also allowed the school to prepare Sailors and Marines with the mission "To enhance Midshipman Candidates' moral, mental, and physical foundations to prepare them for success at the United States Naval Academy".

Honors

In 2003, he earned the Captain Harry T. Jenkins Leadership Award, was National Image Award finalist and was selected as an Advantage Hero Vet. He served in the aftermath of numerous disasters including Hurricane Katrina and Ground Zero at the World Trade Center in New York City assisting in the recovery of personnel lost in the 9-11 tragedy arriving on scene less than 24 hours after the attack. His experiences led him to establish the "So Others May Live Foundation" and his story "Back from Ground Zero" was published worldwide.

Awards

File:NavyAircrew.jpg

Badge	Naval Aviator insignia
1st row	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ 3 award star	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ 3 award star
2nd row	Navy and Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon	Joint Meritorious Unit Award	Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon w/ 4 award star
3rd row	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon w/ 4 award star	Navy E Ribbon (Wreathed Battle "E" Device)	Navy Good Conduct Medal
4th row	Navy Expeditionary Medal w/ 2 service star	National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service stars	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal w/ 4 service stars
5th row	Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 1 service star	Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 2 service star	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
6th row	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal	Humanitarian Service Medal	Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
7th row	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 1 silver service star	Navy Expert Rifleman Medal (Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with Expert Device)	Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal (Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with Expert Device)

Bottom Insignia

• Naval Aircrew Warfare Specialist

Warfare and Other Qualification insignia

• Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist
• Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist

Books

• Heroes of the Diamond Mascot Books (2011) ISBN 978-1936319510
• Invest in What You Love
• Home and Away

External links

• U.S. Military All-Stars "Red, White & Blue Tour"