OPERATION BLUE PRIDE
BOARD MEMBERS
NANCY GRODBERG
OPERATION BLUE PRIDE
DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT
OPERATION BLUE PRIDE
DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT
Nancy is the President of Operation Blue Pride. She is a Scuba Schools International Scuba Instructor, SDI Instructor and Adaptive Scuba Diver Instructor (HSA and DiveHeart Certified). She has been involved in OBP since it became active in Boston, Massachusetts in 2014. She is committed to OBP's mission and is very grateful for the support of all who have volunteered and contributed to OBP's first 8 years of operation. She is very excited about OBP's upcoming season.
A treasured photo that retired United States Senator Bob Dole was kind enough to take with Nancy at the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC.
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MATTHEW GREGORIO
OPERATION BLUE PRIDE VICE PRESIDENT & VETERAN OUTREACH COORDINATOR
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
BATTLE OF RAMADI, 2006
OPERATION AZADA WOSA & THE BATTLE FOR JUGROOM FORT, 2008
OPERATION BLUE PRIDE VICE PRESIDENT & VETERAN OUTREACH COORDINATOR
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
BATTLE OF RAMADI, 2006
OPERATION AZADA WOSA & THE BATTLE FOR JUGROOM FORT, 2008
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Matthew Gregorio was a graduate of the first class of Operation Blue Pride in 2014.
Matthew enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2005.
Matthew served with the First Battalion Sixth Marine Regiment, Second Marine Division. Matthew was not ready for how suffering presented itself while participating in the battle of Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006. In the first month of my initial deployment to Ramadi, Iraq, he watched three of my best friends killed in action, experienced emotions never felt before, and genuinely prayed for God to save his soul. Matthew was fortunate to come home from that deployment with his life, although it had been changed forever. The experiences and anguish in Iraq allowed him to prepare the next generation of warriors for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan as Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operation Qualified). As the Breach Team Leader of the assault element for the 24th MEU, it was Matthew’s responsibility to breach and gain a foothold on the objective of every assault the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted while in Afghanistan. The most notable was Operation Azada Wosa and the Battle of Jugroom Fort. Matthew was diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina shortly after returning from his second deployment. The hidden wounds associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury brought on a new type of suffering Matthew wasn’t familiar with when ending his active service as a United States Marine.
Moreover, the trauma Matthew experienced during his developmental years as a teenager was exacerbated by the two combat deployments supporting the Global War on Terror. Adhering to years of necessary treatment has allowed Matthew to pursue an education from Liberty University and their Bachelor of Science in Psychology: Focused on Military Resilience from 2019-2022, learning everything he could about trauma and the trauma he attained while in service to America. Matthew believes that he is setting the example for all veterans that having a purpose in life and striving to reach that purpose, and a growth mindset are needed to eliminate symptoms associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.
Matthew is a passionate advocate on all issues pertaining to Disabled Veterans and Ocean Conservation.
Massachusetts Certified Veterans Service Officer
Education: Liberty University
B.S Psychology: Military resilience
Massachusetts School of Law: 2023 - Present
“Trauma is personal. It does not disappear if it is not validated. When ignored or invalidated, the silent screams continue internally, heard only by the one held captive. When someone enters the pain and hears the screams, healing can begin.” ― Danielle Bernock.
Matthew enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2005.
Matthew served with the First Battalion Sixth Marine Regiment, Second Marine Division. Matthew was not ready for how suffering presented itself while participating in the battle of Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006. In the first month of my initial deployment to Ramadi, Iraq, he watched three of my best friends killed in action, experienced emotions never felt before, and genuinely prayed for God to save his soul. Matthew was fortunate to come home from that deployment with his life, although it had been changed forever. The experiences and anguish in Iraq allowed him to prepare the next generation of warriors for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan as Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operation Qualified). As the Breach Team Leader of the assault element for the 24th MEU, it was Matthew’s responsibility to breach and gain a foothold on the objective of every assault the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted while in Afghanistan. The most notable was Operation Azada Wosa and the Battle of Jugroom Fort. Matthew was diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina shortly after returning from his second deployment. The hidden wounds associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury brought on a new type of suffering Matthew wasn’t familiar with when ending his active service as a United States Marine.
Moreover, the trauma Matthew experienced during his developmental years as a teenager was exacerbated by the two combat deployments supporting the Global War on Terror. Adhering to years of necessary treatment has allowed Matthew to pursue an education from Liberty University and their Bachelor of Science in Psychology: Focused on Military Resilience from 2019-2022, learning everything he could about trauma and the trauma he attained while in service to America. Matthew believes that he is setting the example for all veterans that having a purpose in life and striving to reach that purpose, and a growth mindset are needed to eliminate symptoms associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.
Matthew is a passionate advocate on all issues pertaining to Disabled Veterans and Ocean Conservation.
Massachusetts Certified Veterans Service Officer
Education: Liberty University
B.S Psychology: Military resilience
Massachusetts School of Law: 2023 - Present
“Trauma is personal. It does not disappear if it is not validated. When ignored or invalidated, the silent screams continue internally, heard only by the one held captive. When someone enters the pain and hears the screams, healing can begin.” ― Danielle Bernock.
LAURA A. MCCALLION
OPERATION BLUE PRIDE
VICE PRESIDENT & COURSE DIRECTOR
OPERATION BLUE PRIDE
VICE PRESIDENT & COURSE DIRECTOR
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Laura is a PADI Course Director, Emergency First Response (EFR) Instructor Trainer and Adaptive Scuba Diver Instructor Trainer (DiveHeart).
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