Expand Your Talent Pipeline with Career-Ready Military Spouses—Through a Funded Fellowship Model

Stephen B. Simmons serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Military Community and Family Policy, where he oversees initiatives to strengthen military families, enhance quality of life, and foster resilience to support the warrior culture. With a distinguished 17-year career in the United States Marine Corps, exiting as a Major in 2022, Mr. Simmons brings extensive expertise in manpower policy, operational leadership, and advocacy for service members.

Mr. Simmons enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2005 and later commissioned in 2007. During his military service, Mr. Simmons served in critical leadership roles, including Site Commander, Operations Officer, and Retention Officer for the Marine Corps Total Force. Throughout his career, Mr. Simmons has been a tireless advocate for the service member and military readiness. He played a pivotal role in elevating critical manpower readiness issues, shaping national policy discussions.

Following his military service, Mr. Simmons led transformative logistics programs as a Senior Program Manager at Amazon, improving North American delivery performance and leading the Last Mile Performance Operations Team. As an advisor to the Walk the Talk Foundation, he championed veterans’ rights while advocating for policy reforms to bolster military readiness.

Mr. Simmons holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in leadership studies from Hardin-Simmons University. He is also a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Expeditionary Warfare School, and Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, four Navy Commendation Medals, and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Eryn Wagnon is currently the Director of the Office of Spouse Employment in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP).

Prior to this position, Ms. Wagnon was the Chief of Staff for MC&FP. There, she oversaw the daily operations and strategic planning for MC&FP’s portfolio. Prior to coming to MC&FP, Ms. Wagnon was the Director of Staff for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

From 2023-2024, Ms. Wagnon was selected to do a detail assignment as Senior Advisor for Joining Forces in the Office of the First Lady. In this role, she led inter-agency efforts to establish meaningful policy improvements across the federal government in support of military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors. She also provided direct support to the President and First Lady's travel, strategic planning, and background memos related to support of military families.

In 2021, Ms. Wagnon began her federal service as a personnel and readiness program analyst in the Joint Staff (J-1, Personnel and Readiness Division). In this role, she was the subject matter expert for military and veteran policies and programs, providing best military advice and policy recommendations that supported the Director of the J-1, Combatant Commands, and Joint Staff leadership, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Before entering civil service, Ms. Wagnon was Director of Government Relations for Military Family Policy and Spouse Programs at the Military Officers Association of America.

Ms. Wagnon also taught as a sociology professor for several years at University of South Carolina- Aiken Campus and Georgia Southern University. She holds a master's degree in sociology from Georgia Southern University, a bachelor' s degree in sociology and Spanish from Stetson University, and a certificate of legislative studies from Georgetown University.

Originally from Florida, Ms. Wagnon has called many places "home" as a military spouse. Her husband, Ethan started his military service in the Army and later transferred to the Space Force where he currently serves.