• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Leadership

The new warrior elite

By
Brian O'Keefe
Brian O'Keefe
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Brian O'Keefe
Brian O'Keefe
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 22, 2010, 12:00 AM ET
Maura Sullivan

Age: 30

Education: Northwestern University, class of 2001; Marine ROTC

Military experience: Marines, 2001-06, Captain

Mission: Logistics officer at Camp Fallujah

Corporate path: Joint MBA/MPA degree from Harvard, 2009; joined PepsiCo's Leadership Development Program as a senior franchise development manager

Why she has an edge: Sullivan's vet status commands respect and admiration, even on a campus like Harvard, where ROTC hasn't been welcome since the turbulent days of Vietnam. In one class, students stood and applauded her. "I had chills. That really drew me in to the school."
Maura Sullivan Age: 30 Education: Northwestern University, class of 2001; Marine ROTC Military experience: Marines, 2001-06, Captain Mission: Logistics officer at Camp Fallujah Corporate path: Joint MBA/MPA degree from Harvard, 2009; joined PepsiCo's Leadership Development Program as a senior franchise development manager Why she has an edge: Sullivan's vet status commands respect and admiration, even on a campus like Harvard, where ROTC hasn't been welcome since the turbulent days of Vietnam. In one class, students stood and applauded her. "I had chills. That really drew me in to the school."Photographs by Martin Schoeller for Fortune

This article was originally published in the March 22, 2010 issue of Fortune. Read the original article, “Battle-Tested.”

Recommended Video

Tracey Lloyd

Tracey LloydPhotographs by Martin Schoeller for Fortune

Age: 30

Education: West Point, class of 2003

Military Experience: Army, 2003-09, Captain

Mission: Managed communication systems for a battalion in Iraq and built a fiber-optic network in Baghdad

Corporate Path: Recruited through Walmart‘s (WMT) junior military officer program; now manager of a supercenter in Palm Coast, Fla.


Croft Young

Croft YoungPhotographs by Martin Schoeller for Fortune

Age: 37

Education: University of North Carolina, class of 1995; Marine Officer Candidate School, 2002

Military Experience: Marines, 2002-06, Captain

Mission: Two deployments to Iraq; led Marine reconnaissance platoon near Fallujah

Corporate Path: Earned MBA from UNC in 2009; now associate investment banker at Morgan Stanley (MS)


Steve Mumm

Steve MummPhotographs by Martin Schoeller for Fortune

Age: 30

Education: West Point, class of 2002

Military Experience: Army, 2002-07, Captain

Mission: Platoon leader and Army task force engineer in Tikrit

Corporate Path: Entered GE’s (GE) Junior Officer Leadership Program in 2007; now project manager for GE Oil & Gas; working on MBA from University of Texas


John Whang

John WhangPhotographs by Martin Schoeller for Fortune

Age: 30

Education: Naval Academy, class of 2001

Military Experience: Marines, 2001-08, Captain

Mission: Three tours in Iraq; led Marine reconnaissance platoon near Fallujah

Corporate Path: Financial analyst at Northrop Grumman (NOC) working on F-18 program; pursuing MBA at UCLA


Maura Sullivan

Maura SullivanPhotographs by Martin Schoeller for Fortune

Age: 30

Education: Northwestern University, class of 2001; Marine ROTC

Military Experience: Marines, 2001-06, Captain

Mission: Logistics officer at Camp Fallujah

Corporate Path: Joint MBA/MPA degree from Harvard, 2009; joined PepsiCo’s (PEP) Leadership Development Program as a senior franchise development manager

 

Join us at the Fortune Workplace Innovation Summit May 19–20, 2026, in Atlanta. The next era of workplace innovation is here—and the old playbook is being rewritten. At this exclusive, high-energy event, the world’s most innovative leaders will convene to explore how AI, humanity, and strategy converge to redefine, again, the future of work. Register now.
About the Author
By Brian O'Keefe
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.


Latest in Leadership

Jensen Huang says some CEOs have a ‘God complex’ when it comes to AI apocalypse warnings, which can create shortages of critical workers
AIchief executive officer (CEO)
Jensen Huang says some CEOs have a ‘God complex’ when it comes to AI apocalypse warnings, which can create shortages of critical workers
By Jason MaMay 2, 2026
3 hours ago
conway
North AmericaObituary
Gerry Conway, comics legend who created the Punisher, dies at 73
By Claire Rush and The Associated PressMay 2, 2026
5 hours ago
bard
C-SuiteJeffrey Epstein
Bard College president steps down, months after his deep ties to Jeffrey Epstein were revealed
By The Associated PressMay 2, 2026
5 hours ago
shoplift
EconomyGen Z
Gen Z is rebelling against the economy with ‘disillusionomics,’ tackling near 6-figure debt by turning life into a giant list of income streams
By Jacqueline MunisMay 2, 2026
5 hours ago
First Watch CEO Chris Tomasso holding his fist up at the New York Stock Exchange
SuccessView from the C-Suite
CEO writes hundreds of thank you notes to staff and still eats in the break room—which ‘always, for whatever reason, blows new employees away’
By Preston ForeMay 2, 2026
5 hours ago
Suze Orman once said earning more than $800,000 would make her ‘sick to my stomach’—but that turning down Oprah Winfrey cured her self-doubt
SuccessHow I made my first million
Suze Orman once said earning more than $800,000 would make her ‘sick to my stomach’—but that turning down Oprah Winfrey cured her self-doubt
By Orianna Rosa RoyleMay 2, 2026
5 hours ago

Most Popular

Scott Bessent on financial literacy: 'it drives me crazy' to see young men in blue-collar construction jobs playing the lottery
Personal Finance
Scott Bessent on financial literacy: 'it drives me crazy' to see young men in blue-collar construction jobs playing the lottery
By Fatima Hussein and The Associated PressMay 1, 2026
1 day ago
A Chick-fil-A worker got fired and then showed up behind the register to allegedly refund himself over $80,000 in mac and cheese
Law
A Chick-fil-A worker got fired and then showed up behind the register to allegedly refund himself over $80,000 in mac and cheese
By Catherina GioinoMay 1, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of May 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 1, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 1, 2026
1 day ago
China dominates the world's lithium supply. The U.S. just found 328 years' worth in its own backyard
North America
China dominates the world's lithium supply. The U.S. just found 328 years' worth in its own backyard
By Jake AngeloApril 30, 2026
2 days ago
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne—whose stake would be worth up to $400 billion had he not sold it in 1976—says that at 91, he has no regrets
Success
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne—whose stake would be worth up to $400 billion had he not sold it in 1976—says that at 91, he has no regrets
By Preston ForeApril 27, 2026
5 days ago
Current price of gold as of May 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of May 1, 2026
By Danny BakstMay 1, 2026
1 day ago