ISSUED: 23 October 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Commander Tom Deitz, U.S. Navy (Ret.), headlined Shepherd University’s annual The Storied Life speaker series on Monday, October 20, at the Robert C. Byrd Center. Cosponsored by the University’s Center for Appalachian Studies and Communities and the Civil War Center, the evening of storytelling, reflection, and inspiration drew not only students and faculty from Shepherd, but also many community members, including Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) students from Jefferson and Berkeley County Schools.
Deitz recounted moments from his distinguished naval career, including earning his Surface Warfare qualification aboard the USS Tuscaloosa and serving as a Navy SEAL with SEAL Team Five during Operation Desert Storm. His service earned him the Bronze Star Medal with “V” for Valor and distinction as the first SEAL assigned to the U.S. Special Operations Command’s Congressional Liaison Office, where he worked closely with Congress on national security initiatives. He later led combat operations following the attacks of September 11.
“The discussion was wide-ranging, and students were treated to insights about the nature of service as well as thrilling stories about American foreign policy,” said Dr. Benjamin Bankhurst, director of the Center for Appalachian Studies and Communities. “These stories resonated with, and no doubt inspired, the audience, especially the JROTC students from across the Eastern Panhandle who came to hear Commander Deitz.”
Dr. Bankhurst noted that the annual speaker series event has become a valued Shepherd tradition and “a fixture in the Shepherd University calendar.”
The Storied Life series is part of the Center for Appalachian Studies and Communities’ broader storytelling initiative, the Shepherd Speaks StoryCorps Project, which preserves personal narratives that shape collective human understanding.
For more information about the Shepherd Speaks StoryCorps Project, visit https://www.shepherd.edu/appalachian/shepherd-speaks-storycorps-project.
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