Anthony Dill | University of West Florida

In June 2016, Anthony Dill was among 326 military leaders selected from the more than 650,000 ROTC graduates nationwide to be inducted to the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s ROTC Hall of Fame. Other inductees include former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and George Marshall, the U.S. Army chief of staff during World War II.

Tell us more about your incredible military career.

During my 29 years of active duty, I served 81 months in hostile fire zones, traveling to battlegrounds around the world, including Panama, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. My career eventually led me to become a Green Beret in the U.S. Army Special Forces. I retired from military service as a colonel this past summer, and it feels like the time flew by.

We heard you helped a former president jump out of an airplane. Can you tell us more?

I served as the commander of the Golden Knights U.S. Army parachute demonstration team from 2007 to 2010. One of the highlights from this time was coordinating former President George H.W. Bush’s parachute jump in celebration of his 83rd birthday.

How did the UWF ROTC program build the foundation for your career?

ROTC gave me the mental fortitude and training to do well in the Army’s advance camp and later on in ranger school. I remember we were in these field training exercises, wading waist-deep in the swampy waters near campus, learning how to navigate, read a map and work together as a team—that stayed with me throughout my career. I think a key to success is surrounding yourself with good people and giving them the ability to do good.