Stephen Simmons is a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Readiness at Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Colleagues describe them as "I can't overemphasize the tenacity with which Stephen solves problems. With his sights set on a specific outcome, he will always find a way. Stephen had this lofty goal of completing an OCONUS exercise that I did not see possible. I did not have the vision that he did at the time. Luckily I didn't discourage his efforts because he found the money, found the transportation, and coordinated deployment of a Reserve Marine Wing Support Squadron under numerous constraints. A great friend. A great Marine. You want Steve leading your team!" and "Stephen is an amazing leader and mentor. While I was coming up in the Marine Corps, he took me in and provided me the guidance to maneuver through the muck that is being a junior officer in the United States Marine Corps. No matter the time and no matter the situation Stephen was always available to answer any of my questions in detail and lead me down the right path. In the Marine Corps, you define leaders as whom you would follow into battle and die for. Stephen is that leader that I would follow into battle and die for. If you are looking for a leader that cares for the people that he works for and will get tremendous buy-in from his subordinates. Stephen is your guy. I'll put any amount of money on that he will be an amazing asset for any organization that gets him"