Col. Parker Schenecker

Before joining the social movement and nonprofit dedicated to the betterment of humanity, called "because I said I would," Colonel Parker Schenecker was a Senior Leader and Strategist in the United States Intelligence Community, responsible for U.S. defense and counter-terrorism efforts in the Middle East. He completed his 27-year Army career at United States Central Command in Tampa, Florida, with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and over 30 deployments to the Middle East.

Colonel Parker Schenecker graduated with honors from Washington & Lee University in 1984 where he excelled in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in Army Intelligence. He has numerous U.S. and foreign defense service awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the third highest recognition from the Department of Defense, and the German Service Cross in Silver. After retiring from the Army in 2011, he transitioned to a Department of Defense Civilian employee and continued to take pride in his service to the country.

However, his life took a tragic turn in 2011. While on a brief deployment to Afghanistan, his only children, Calyx and Beau, were murdered by their mother. This devastating event spurred him to focus his efforts on philanthropy, specifically founding the Calyx & Beau Schenecker Memorial Fund, which emphasizes Youth Development in the Tampa Bay area through scholarships for leaders, athletes, and artists, and a Leadership & Ethics Speaker Series for Middle School students. As a keynote speaker, he addresses topics such as philanthropy, leadership, patriotism, social responsibility, and overcoming adversity, enriching his talks with personal stories of commitment and resilience. He pledges 100% of his efforts to nonprofit causes in Youth Development and Scholarship, driven by the memory of his children and his continued commitment to service.