eric gormly
Student Veteran Advocate | Kansas City, Missouri
Eric Gormly is a dedicated higher education leader committed to empowering student veterans. A Kansas City native, Gormly enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after high school, served six years with two deployments to Iraq, and participated in humanitarian missions, including Hurricane Katrina relief and joint training with the Peruvian military.
Following his military service, Gormly pursued higher education, earning an associate degree from Johnson County Community College and a bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology from the University of Kansas. He advanced his expertise with a master’s degree in higher education leadership in 2024.
Gormly’s professional journey reflects his unwavering commitment to supporting fellow veterans. He has held pivotal roles in veteran student support services at institutions including Johnson County Community College, the University of Kansas Medical Center, Appalachian State University, and Kansas City Kansas Community College. In these positions, he has been instrumental in developing programs and policies that facilitate the transition of student veterans into academic life.
Currently, Gormly serves as the director for Student Veteran Support Services at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. In this role, he oversees initiatives like the At Ease Zone, a dedicated space for veterans on campus, and manages funds that support scholarships, emergency assistance, and programming for student veterans.
Gormly’s contributions have been recognized beyond academia. In 2020, he was honored as the Kansas City Chiefs’ “Salute to Service” recipient, acknowledging his dedication to veteran support.
dale dye
U.S. Marine Corps Captain (Ret) & Hollywood Military Advisor | Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Captain Dale Dye is a decorated Marine Corps veteran who has transformed Hollywood’s portrayal of military life. Born in 1944, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Dye’s early exposure to World War II veterans’ stories ignited his passion for military service. He graduated from Missouri Military Academy in 1962 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1964.
Dye served 20 years in the Marine Corps, including three tours in Vietnam, where he participated in 31 major combat operations. His bravery earned him numerous decorations, including the Bronze Star with “V” for valor and three Purple Hearts. He rose through the ranks from enlisted to Master Sergeant before being commissioned as a Captain. In 1982-83, he served in Beirut as part of the Multinational Force in Lebanon.
After retiring in 1984, Dye founded Warriors, Inc., a premier military consultancy for the entertainment industry. His mission: to bring authenticity to military portrayals in film and television. Dye’s rigorous boot camps have trained actors for acclaimed productions like “Platoon,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Band of Brothers,” and “The Pacific.”
Beyond consulting, Dye has appeared in over 70 film and TV roles, often portraying military figures. Notable performances include Colonel Robert Sink in “Band of Brothers” and roles in “JFK,” “Mission: Impossible,” and “Starship Troopers.”
An accomplished author, Dye has penned several novels and the novelization of “Platoon.” His dedication to authentic storytelling continues to influence Hollywood’s depiction of military service.