Biography

Marcus Jannitto is passionate about making people think differently about leadership. He is a Gallup- certified Strengths Coach for Leadership Rhode Island, presenting Strengths training to over 45 businesses, schools, universities and non-profit agencies in RI and southeastern New England in order to increase their leadership capacity as a strengths-based organization. He has facilitated efforts in culture change and strategic planning in many organizations including the United Way of Rhode Island and for the air show industry as vice-chair of the International Council of Airshows board of directors. Before retiring in 2016 he served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Adjutant General for the Rhode Island National Guard. He was a member of the Air National Guard’s Strategic Planning System steering committee, setting the future direction of the ANG, and on the Chief of the National Guard Bureau’s Joint Diversity Executive Council. He was the Director of the Air National Guard Commanders Development Course, a 9-day leadership course for new Group and Wing commanders taught 3 times per year in Washington, DC. Brig Gen Jannitto has accumulated 5200 flying hours and more than 50 combat missions in the C-130 aircraft and is a veteran of numerous deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Central America and Bosnia, finishing as commander of the 746 th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron based in Ali Al Salim, Kuwait. He is a graduate of the Air War College and the Combat Aircrew Training Instructor School at Nellis AFB, a certified Director of Mobility Forces (DIRMOBFOR) and completed the Dual-Status Commander certification at NORTHCOM. He directed all joint functions of the RI National Guard including Domestic Operations during Hurricane Irene, super storm Sandy and winter storm Nemo, and was designated by name as the Dual-Status Commander for RI by the Secretary of Defense and Governor for Hurricane Sandy. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal and 2 Rhode Island Stars. After 35 years of coaching volleyball and soccer at the high school and NCAA level, he recently retired from coaching as the head boys and girls volleyball coach at La Salle Academy in Providence, and spent 10 years as an athletic administrator, coach and adjunct faculty member at both Roger Williams University and Salve Regina University. He conducts leadership workshops worldwide for the Air Force, European Airshow Council, Army and National Park Service and works with college athletic teams throughout the East Coast on peer leadership, team culture and captain development. For fun he plays throughout the east coast in a Chicago tribute band (Chicago Total Access), and flies paramotors.