Meet the Valley Forge Team

VFMAC Main Telephone: 610-989-1200
VFMAC Toll Free Telephone: 1-800-234-8362
VFMAC Main Fax: 610-688-1545

Leadership

Senior Leadership

  • MG Walter Lord, ’84C
    MG Walter Lord, ’84C
    President
  • Col Stuart B. Helgeson, USMCR
    Col Stuart B. Helgeson, USMCR
    COO & Commandant of Cadets
  • Vincent Vuono
    Vincent Vuono
    CFO
  • Greg Brinn
    Greg Brinn
    Vice President of Institutional Advancement
  • Sandra R. Young
    Sandra R. Young
    Valley Forge Military Academy Head of School
  • Maureen Malone
    Maureen Malone
    Dean of Valley Forge Military College
  • Rich Casey
    Rich Casey
    Director of Athletics

How to call Staff & Faculty:

Unless otherwise noted, all phone numbers begin with 610-989-XXXX. Add the 4-digit extension, listed by department, for the person you wish to reach.

How to email Staff & Faculty:

If you know a staff member’s name and would like to reach him/her via e-mail, the following format can be used to do so:
“first initial, last name” followed by “@vfmac.edu”. Therefore, if the individual’s name were John Public, it would translate into: “JPublic@vfmac.edu”

Mailing Address:

Valley Forge Military Academy & College
1001 Eagle Road
Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087

Staff Contact Information Table
Chief Operating Officer & Commandant of Cadets Colonel Suart B. Helgeson, USMCR 1256
Chief Financial Officer Mr. Vincent Vuono 1232
Dean, Valley Forge Military College Mrs. Maureen Malone 1453
Head of School, Valley Forge Military Academy Mrs. Sandra Young 1360
Senior Director of College Admissions Mrs. Dawn Dreese 1307
Dean of Enrollment, Valley Forge Military Academy Mr. Lawrence D’Andrea 1430
Vice President, Institutional Advancement Mr. Gregory Brinn 1330
Vice President, Facilities Operations COL Bryan Geiling ’94 / ’96C 1353
Adjutant COL Kenneth Seitz, VFMAC 1254
Director of Marketing & Communications Mrs. Mary Heller 1345
Director of Alumni Relations Mr. Thomas Goldblum ’69 1329
Director of International Admissions Ms. Erica Diaz 1561
Bandmaster / Director of Music  Mr. Vincent DeMarro 1252
Bursar / Cadet Accounts Manager Mr. Stephen Berezansky 1236
Cadet Store Mr. Josh Konoza 1540
Chaplain, Director of Character Development CAPT Gerald Hale, USCG (Ret.) 1506
Controller Mr. Chuck Steinmetz 1229
Director of Athletics Mr. Rich Casey 1491
Director of Choir Mr. Harry Sokol 1252
Dean of Academics, Valley Forge Military Academy Ms. Megan Sullivan 1384
Director of Health Service Ms. Debbie Hammer 1518
Director of Horsemanship Ms. Maria Metz 1502
Director of Human Resources
Director of Information Technology Mr. Michael G. Brock 1246
Director of Library Services Ms. Dana Kerrigan 1364
Director of Special Events Ms. Jessica Sekerak 1509
Director of Student Activities Ms. Elizabeth Wahlberg 1253
Director of Summer Camps Ms. Elizabeth Wahlberg 1253
Professor of Military Sciences (SROTC) LTC Nathan A. Minami 1440
Director of Financial Aid Ms. Elizabeth Sierra 1300

Valley Forge Military Academy and College

VFMAC Logo With Shield and Gold Lettering

1001 Eagle Road
Wayne, PA 19087

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MG Walter Lord, ’84C
President

Major General Walt Lord is the Military Executive to the Reserve Forces Policy Board in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The RFPB provides direct advice to the Secretary of Defense regarding policies, practices and strategies to strengthen America’s seven military Reserve Components in support of 830,000 National Guard and Reserve Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen. He enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment in 1982 at the age of 17. He was commissioned into the Pennsylvania Army National Guard at Valley Forge Military College in 1984 and began his career of full-time military service in 1990. General Lord has led at the platoon, company, squadron, and coalition headquarters levels, culminating in command of NATO Headquarters Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina from June 2012 through June 2013. He has held critical army and joint staff positions at every level from unit to coalition in the Continental United States, Germany, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Afghanistan. He holds a B.A. from LaSalle University; a M.A. from the United States Naval War College; and a M.A. from the United States Army War College.

Col Stuart B. Helgeson, USMCR
COO & Commandant of Cadets

Colonel Helgeson attended Penn State University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics.  At Penn State, he played Varsity Lacrosse and later walked on to the football team as a receiver on the 1986 National Championship and 1987 Citrus Bowl Teams. Upon graduation, Col Helgeson was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Following The Basic School, and subsequently the Infantry Officer’s Course, Col Helgeson reported for duty with 1st Battalion 2D Marines, 2D Marine Division, stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC.  During his tour, he served with Company A as a Rifle Platoon Commander.  He participated in Exercise Alpine Warrior, and later was deployed for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Upon his return in 1991, he was selected to be the 2D Marine Regiment’s Scout Platoon Commander.

In October 1991, then 1st Lieutenant Helgeson was selected for duty with 2D Force Reconnaissance Company, 2D SRIG, II MEF. As a platoon commander at 2D Force Reconnaissance Company, he participated in operation Victor Square and was deployed as the Detachment and Platoon Commander with the 22nd MEU (SOC) where he participated in operation Provide Promise and Deny Flight (former Yugoslavia) and Continue Hope (Somalia).  Upon return from Deployment in 1994, he received orders to The Basic School.

Upon reporting to The Basic School, Colonel Helgeson was assigned as the primary patrolling instructor.  In 1995, he was assigned as an instructor at the Infantry Officer Course.  In August 1997, upon completion of his duties at the Infantry Officer course, he attended Amphibious Warfare School in Quantico, VA, from where he graduated in May 1998.

In June 1998, Colonel Helgeson was assigned as the Head Coach for the Sprint Football team at the United States Naval Academy. While assigned to the Naval Academy, then Major Helgeson was also assigned duties as a leadership instructor, Marine Corps Capstone Class instructor, OIC of the Physical remedial program and member of the Marine Corps Selection team. In June of 1999, Major Helgeson and three other Marines Biked and Ran across America to raise money for the Children’s Hopes and Dreams foundation, completing the ride and run in 27 days.

In August 2000, Colonel Helgeson left active duty for civilian employment with MBNA Bank in Wilmington, DE and transferred to the IRR. In 2004, he joined the Selected Marine Corps Reserve and took command of Co B 6th Engineer Support Battalion in Wilmington, DE. During this time, he completed the Command and Staff College. In May of 2005, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and in October of 2005 was assigned to The Marine Emergency Planning and Liaison Officer Program (MEPLO), whose team covered the Mid-Atlantic and National Command Region of the United States.

In 2009, LtCol Helgeson joined 4th Reconnaissance Battalion as the Executive Officer and then assumed Battalion Command. LtCol Helgeson and Marines from 4th Reconnaissance Battalion participated in Exercise Commando Raj with The British Royal Marines and 2nd Royal Ghurka Battalion in Brunei and the South China Sea.  In 2010 Lieutenant Colonel Helgeson was mobilized and transferred to Marine Corps Special Operation Command (MARSOC) and deployed to Afghanistan assigned to Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command – Afghanistan (CFSOCC-A), where he performed the duties as Director of Special Operations Plans and Liaison Element for RC-W. In August 2010, after returning from Operation Enduring Freedom, then Lieutenant Colonel Helgeson help create the MARSOC G-9 Recruiting, Assessment & Selection Branch where he was responsible for recruiting and screening Marines for duty with MARSOC. Upon completion of his mobilization in October 2011, Colonel Helgeson began working in business development for Sechan Electronics, Inc., a defense electronics manufacturing service provider based in Lititz, PA.

In January, 2013, while employed at Sechan Electronics, Colonel Helgeson was promoted and transferred to MAGTF Staff Training Program Reserve IMA Detachment in Quantico VA.  In July 2013, he was mobilized to support II MEF FWD as the Special Operations Coordinator (SOCORD) for RC-SW, Helmand & Nimroz providences. After returning from Operation Enduring Freedom in February 2014, Colonel Helgeson returned to his role at Sechan Electronics.

In April 2015, Colonel Helgeson joined Marine Forces Europe/Africa, in Stuttgart, Germany Reserve IMA Detachment where he assumed duties as the Deputy G-5.   A year later, Colonel Helgeson was selected to his present billet to be the Regional Coordinator, Reserve Support Program Region 3, the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

Vincent Vuono
CFO

Mr. Vincent J. Vuono serves as the Valley Forge Military Academy Foundation’s Treasurer and VFMAC’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Vuono is responsible for Finances, Information Technology, Facilities, Human Resources and serves as our Risk Manager.

Mr. Vuono has been with Valley Forge since 2006 and joined the Forge with 21 years of experience in commercial finance serving in various leadership positions in the insurance financing industry with companies owned by the Reliance Insurance Company and later Aon, the world’s largest insurance broker. Previously, Mr. Vuono was a public accountant with KPMG and has been a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in Pennsylvania since 1982. He is a member of both the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of CPA’s.

Mr. Vuono earned his BS in Accounting from LaSalle University, and an MBA in Finance from Drexel University. He and his wife Mary have two children, Caitlyn (married to Michael Sheehan) and Vincent (married to Cassidy Hobbs).

Greg Brinn
Vice President of Institutional Advancement

Mr. Greg Brinn has been Vice President of Institutional Advancement at VFMAC since February 2017.

Mr. Brinn started his career with Yale University’s Department of Athletics, where he was coordinator of Alumni Relations and later became Assistant Athletic Director for Development and Alumni Relations. He then moved to Central Connecticut State University, where he became Major Gifts Associate. When Mr. Brinn left the university, he took a break from higher education and was Sales Executive at Tracy-Driscoll Insurance Company. After a few years, the call of education called him back. Mr. Brinn started at Xavier High School in Connecticut in 2012 as Assistant Director of Annual and Planned Giving. Later, he became Assistant Director for Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, before taking his last position at the high school as Director of Advancement, before he joined VFMAC.

Throughout his career, Mr. Brinn has worked a great amount on community outreach programs through athletics, working with Alumni Relations and Development, and fundraising efforts.

Mr. Brinn earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology with a minor in Communication from Central Connecticut University in 1998, and earned his Master of Science Degree in Sports Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University in 2004.

Sandra R. Young
Valley Forge Military Academy Head of School

Ms. Sandra Young has been the Head of School for Valley Forge Military Academy since 2014. In her time at VFMA, Ms. Young has been involved with the successful completion of Middle States Mid-Term Review, helped to launch new academic programs, continues to aid fundraising efforts, and supervise Academy enrollment.

Prior to coming to VFMA, Ms. Young spent 17 years within Catholic Education, where she started her career as a classroom teacher in 1998 at Conwell-Egan Catholic High School. From there, she moved on to become Assistant Principal for Student Affairs and Assistant Athletic Director for Women’s Sports at Bishop Shanahan High School. Ms. Young has also served as President of John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School from 2010-2014.

Ms. Young earned her Bachelor of the Arts for Religious Studies and Secondary Education from Holy Family College. In addition, she earned her Master of Science in Education/ Instructional Technology and received her PA Instructional Technology Certification from Saint Joseph’s University. Currently, Ms. Young is a Doctorate of Education student at Cabrini University.

 

Maureen Malone
Dean of Valley Forge Military College

Ms. Maureen Malone was appointed College Dean in August 2016 after serving Valley Forge Military College for nine years in numerous leadership capacities, which included Assistant Dean of Academic Services and Assistant Dean of Academics and Assessment.  Dean Malone brings a diverse educational and business background to her appointment. She began her career as a Treasury Analyst Assistant for Health America, and then became an Associate Accountant for the CPA firm Kisel, Grenel and Associates. Eventually, she took a position as the business manager for a medical practice that specialized in podiatry medicine.

Having been successful in business, she expanded her professional career into “for-profit” education, and became a member of University of Phoenix’s advising and financial services team. Dean Malone came to Valley Forge Military College in 2007 and served as the College Registrar. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, and a Masters in Library and Information Science, both from the University of Pittsburgh.

 

Rich Casey
Director of Athletics

Mr. Richard Casey has been the Director of Athletics for VFMAC since June 2013.

Mr. Casey has been an active participant in Philadelphia athletics for more than 20 years as a player, coach, and athletic director. He began his athletic career as a high school basketball and baseball player for North Catholic High School in the early 80’s and continued playing both basketball and baseball in college. Mr. Casey began his coaching career at the Friends Select Middle School, where he coached the girls’ basketball team while spending his summer coaching girls’ basketball for Cathy Rush’s, Future Stars Basketball Camps.

Mr. Casey went on to coach men’s basketball at Archbishop Ryan High School under the direction of Coach Dave Mulholland, and soon entered the college coaching ranks at Manor College. After much success at Manor, he accepted the Head Men’s Basketball coaching position at Neumann University, and continued his career with the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) as Assistant to the Athletic Director, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, and Head Women’s Softball Coach. Additionally, Mr. Casey has spent the last six summers as Director for the Philadelphia 76ers summer and seasonal camps. After leaving USP, he was excited to continue his growth as an athletic administrator as the Athletic Director at John W. Hallahan High School for Girls where he also served as Head Women’s Softball Coach.

Mr. Casey graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing Management. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Caroline, and their two daughters, Gwenyth and Darby.

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