Gerry byrne
Vietnam veteran, media executive | New York, New York
Gerry Byrne’s history with the Marine Corps goes back to Fordham University, where he is a member of the Military Hall of Fame. While studying at the iconic Bronx-based university, Byrne was a member of Fordham’s Marine Corps’ Platoon Leaders class and began active duty immediately after graduating, serving from 1966-1969. The final two years of his service included an extended combat tour in Vietnam.
Returning to New York after concluding his service with the Marine Corps, Byrne accepted a position with the New York Daily News as a national sales representative. This would be the first step of a storied career in the media business. In 1989, Byrne was tapped as the chief publisher of Variety, a go-to daily and weekly trade magazine for the entertainment industry. After a successful 11-year run at Variety, Byrne went on to hold senior positions at several notable media entities, including senior vice president at Nielsen, the leading measurement firm for American media audiences.
Byrne’s publishing career continued an upward trajectory. In 2009, he became vice chairman of Penske Media Corporation (PMC), a conglomerate that serves as the most prominent publisher of print and digital entertainment coverage in the world. He has overseen the operations of such popular publications as Rolling Stone, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, Billboard, and many more for the past 16 years. He has also held a seat on PMC’s board since 2010.
A self-described “kid from the Bronx,” Byrne has made sure to give back to the city he has called home his entire life. Concurrent to the beginning of his career at PMC, he also became chairman of the board of the John A. Reisenbach Foundation, which raises funds from within the media and communications communities to support organizations working to make New York City a “better, safer place.” He has also founded two New York-centric veteran support organizations, Veterans Week NYC and Veterans on Campus NYC, the latter a collaboration between multiple New York City universities and colleges to guarantee substantial financial aid to veterans in their pursuit of higher education. He has been a board member of the Intrepid Museum in New York since 1995.
Byrne’s dedication to veteran support extends well outside of New York as well. Since 2000, he has worked with the non-profit Veterans Advantage, also known as WeSalute, which provides helpful resources to military families, including military discounts, access to federal and state benefits directories, a jobs and career network, community content, and free events. He holds a senior position on the board of the Fisher House Foundation, a global organization dedicated to providing military and veteran families housing while their loved ones are in a hospital. Additionally, Byrne has been a board member of the Bob Woodruff Foundation since 2011, working to ensure veterans have access to stable futures after their military careers are completed.
In January 2025, Byrne was awarded the Navy’s highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service Award. This award was presented by Carlos del Toro, former secretary of the Navy, who spoke very highly of Byrne, saying, “His unwavering support of our nation’s veterans, paired with his belief in participation and his innovative initiatives and leadership, has greatly enhanced our Department of the Navy’s community engagement. His contributions to our military are incalculable.”
Throughout his time as a student, Marine, media executive, and philanthropist, Gerry Byrne has stood as an outstanding example of the far-reaching impact of Marine Corps values.
Zach iscol
Commissioner, NYC Emergency Management | New York, New York
Zach Iscol is a decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran, nonprofit founder, and public servant who currently serves as commissioner of New York City Emergency Management. Previously a captain in the Marine Corps, Iscol spent six years on active duty and deployed to Iraq where he served on the front lines during the Second Battle of Fallujah, one of the most intense urban battles fought by U.S. forces. His time in uniform left him deeply committed to addressing the unseen wounds of war.
That commitment drove him to launch The Headstrong Project, a nonprofit that provides free, stigma-free mental health care to veterans and their families. Under his leadership, the organization became a national model for trauma-informed care. He also founded Hirepurpose, a mission-driven employment platform connecting veterans with meaningful civilian careers, helping ease the often-challenging transition from military to civilian life.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Iscol was tapped to serve as deputy director of the temporary hospital at the Javits Center in Manhattan, one of the largest field hospitals ever established in the U.S., where he coordinated critical relief efforts and large-scale logistics under intense pressure.
Now, as head of NYC Emergency Management, he draws on both battlefield experience and nonprofit leadership to help one of the world’s largest cities prepare for and respond to crises.