Through stories from military service, Willis Mathews explores how leadership, accountability, teamwork, and resilience can help individuals succeed in school, work, and life.

Willis Mathews is an eight-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving on both the East and West Coasts from 2017 to 2025. During his service, he completed a seven-month deployment aboard a U.S. Navy ship that took him across the Atlantic Ocean, through the Mediterranean Sea, and ultimately to the Middle East.

Willis was later sent to Afghanistan to support the evacuation and recovery efforts for American citizens and at-risk allied partners. After his deployment in Fall 2021, he received orders to Southern California, where he served as an advisory and training officer supporting U.S. Navy construction battalions. Since the fall of 2025, Willis concluded his active-duty service and returned home to the northern suburbs of Chicago.