Norwich University

Brigadier General Steven Spano learned a valuable lesson in his quest to make the football team at Norwich-never quit. Not having been invited to football camp his freshman year, he joined the team as a 'walk on' and play JV for a year. "It was miserable," Spano says of having to try out as well as adjust to rook week. "This rejection was, in retrospect, my first and most humbling event as an athlete." 

Why didn't he quit? "I knew if I quit when faced with the first sign of adversity, it would likely lead to a trend that would follow me for the rest of my life," he said and his determination paid off starting every game as a wide receiver from his sophomore season on and broke several school records in the process. By the time Spano graduated, he set the all time records for receptions and receiving yards along with earning ECAC Player of the Week, ECAC Team Honorable Mention, and was dubbed an All-American his senior year. 

BG Spano's military career has covered several state and international appointments in Japan, Korea, Germany, and Iraq including serving as the Director of Communications and Information for the Multi-National Force at Camp Victory, Iraq. During his distinguished career, Spano earned numerous medals including the Global War on Terrorism medal and Korean Defense service medal. .