A Commitment To Serve

Upon hearing the term Black Hawk, many Americans immediately think of pop culture. Maybe the latest Ridley Scott film or perhaps a Chicago sports team. Rarely do they associate black hawk with corporate America, let alone a soft-spoken woman. Meet Hallie Huggins, a vice president on the Chase Pay Strategic Alliances Team at JPMorgan Chase — and a former Black Hawk pilot.

Raised in a military family, Huggins knew from an early age that she would follow in her parents’ footsteps. Her mother was among the first female helicopter pilots in the Army, and her father, after his military service, became the head of Veterans Affairs for the state of Alaska. “When I was growing up, it was always red, white and blue,” she recalls. “In my family, it’s simply expected that you give back and serve your country.”

Brian Storemski wears an ankle brace to help keep his gait stable and to regulate the pain that runs up and down his leg. As a young, active man in his twenties, Storemski never expected to be dealing with a life-altering injury so early-on in life.

Storemski is a retired U.S. Army Specialist who served as a medic in Afghanistan. While serving his country, he suffered a major combat injury, was forced to return home, and then faced additional health challenges before having to retire due to medical reasons. After an unexpected end to his Army career, finding a new professional path was challenging, all while struggling to pay rent and manage medical bills. His dream of buying a home with his wife was becoming less and less of a reality.