Corporate Governance
First Command's Ethical Standards
Corporate Governance
Our Core Values
We hold ourselves to strict standards of ethical behavior.
First Command is committed to operating at the highest level of ethical standards. Every person throughout the organization plays an active role in implementing and following business standards and practices that are based on the company’s core values: courage, love and effectiveness. These values are used to guide creativity, decision-making and the conduct of our daily business.
Governing Body
Meet our Board of Directors.
First Command’s Board of Directors—the governing body of the company— is the ultimate advocate of our ethical standards. The board selects the senior executive team, provides them with advice and counsel, and monitors their performance. In addition, the board ensures that high ethical standards are reflected in our everyday culture.
Chairman of the Board
J. Scott Spiker
J. Scott Spiker joined First Command Financial Services in September 2007, becoming the first Chief Executive Officer recruited from outside the company. In January 2017, the company’s Board of Directors elected him as Chairman in addition to his title as CEO. In 2020, Scott relinquished the CEO title in January and retired from the company in September, staying on as Chairman. In this role, Scott focuses on the continued development of the strategic direction of First Command, reaffirming and strengthening the company’s commitment to serving our nation’s career military families in their pursuit of financial security.
This emphasis aligns with Scott’s own history of military service where, as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, he served as a Surface Warfare Officer onboard a frigate and served as Head of Enlisted Recruiting for the Midwest Region.
Following his military service, Scott served in a number of senior executive roles in the investment, insurance and banking industries. His previous executive leadership positions include: President and CEO of Destiny Health, President and CEO of the Stanton Group, President and COO of Definity Health, and President of the Business Services Group at Dain Rauscher (now RBC). He also served in senior leadership positions at Norwest Bankcorp (now Wells Fargo Corporation) and Mark Twain Bancshares.
Scott is actively involved in both his community and the financial services industry. In August 2014, he became the Chairman of the Board for United Way of Tarrant County and held that position until July 2016. He was also elected to the 2018 Board of Directors for the Financial Services Institute, an organization dedicated to ensuring all individuals have access to competent and affordable financial advice, products and services. Scott is also on the Board of Directors for CaringBridge, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to helping those with health issues get the support they need through online outreach.
A 1977 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Scott holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business. He is married and has two daughters.
Board Directors
Vice Adm. Jody A. Breckenridge, USCG, Retired
Vice Adm. Jody A. Breckenridge served as Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area, from July 2009 to May 2010, overseeing operations of units performing missions across over 73 million square miles throughout the Pacific Basin to the Far East. Additionally, she had oversight of two service level commands — the Deployable Operations Group and the Coast Guard Force Readiness Command.
Previously, Vice Adm. Breckenridge served as the Director, Strategic Transformation Team, where she was responsible for aligning and synchronizing the efforts to transform and modernize the Coast Guard. Simultaneously, she served as Assistant Commandant for Human Resources where she had oversight of the Coast Guard’s HR professionals. From 2006-2007 Vice Adm. Breckenridge served as Commander of the Eleventh Coast Guard District in Alameda, Calif., overseeing Coast Guard operations in the Southwest and the Eastern Pacific. During her tenure, the Eleventh District stepped up its interagency collaboration leading to record drug seizures including the M/V GATUN, the largest maritime interdiction in US history, and the arrest of Francisco Javier Arellano Felix, head of the Arellano Felix Drug Cartel. Her initial flag assignment was as Commander, Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific, with responsibility for all mission support in the Pacific Theater.
Vice Adm. Breckenridge grew up in Potomac, Md., and joined the Coast Guard in 1976, graduating from the Officer Candidate School in June of that year. Her first tour of duty was in the National Response Center, eventually as Senior Watchstander. Afterwards, she was assigned to the Pollution Response Branch of the Marine Environmental Protection Division at the Coast Guard Headquarters. During that time, she served as a White House Social Aide. For a short time, she worked in the Coast Guard Academy for summer training programs.
In September 1979, Vice Adm. Breckenridge reported to Group Seattle, where she served as the Assistant Port Safety Officer and was then selected as the first Group Operations Officer. Subsequent duty assignments have included the Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center, Coast Guard Headquarters, postgraduate school at the University of Maryland, Chief of Officer Candidate School at Training Center Yorktown, VA, Executive Officer of Integrated Support Center Seattle, Coast Guard Personnel Command (Chief, Officer Assignments), Industrial College of the Armed Services, the Coast Guard Personnel Command (Assistant Chief and Chief, Officer Personnel Management Division), and Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Recruiting Command. While assigned to the Personnel Command, Vice Adm. Breckenridge represented the Coast Guard on a five-month Department of Defense study titled “The Officer Personnel Structure for the 21st Century.” She also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Coast Guard Headquarters.
Vice Adm. Breckenridge earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a Masters Degree in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, and a Masters Degree of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. While attending the University of Maryland, she was elected to the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi and was presented an Excellence in Scholarship award, graduating with honors. In 2007 she was honored with the University of Maryland Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Awards and Decorations
- Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal with one gold award star
- Legion of Merit with two gold award stars
- Meritorious Service Medal with two gold award stars
- Coast Guard Commendation Medal with three gold award stars
- Coast Guard Achievement Medal with gold award star
- Meritorious Team Commendation with one silver award star
Mark C. Brickell
Mark Brickell is Chief Executive Officer and a board member of Blackbird Holdings, Inc. in New York City. He is a graduate of University of Chicago and the Harvard Business School. During 25 years with J.P. Morgan, his responsibilities included treasury, lending, derivatives trading and regulatory concerns. Mr. Brickell joined the First Command Board of Directors in 2006 and serves on its Executive Compensation and the Compliance Committee.
Logan Dickinson
Logan Dickinson has been actively involved in the employee benefits broker/consulting practice since 1982 starting with The Equitable Life Assurance Society as an individual agent. Logan grew his practice forming The CSG Companies, a comprehensive group of employee benefit planning, consulting and brokerage firms headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. He led the company through multiple mergers, all leading to its acquisition by USI Insurance, a national insurance brokerage firm. Logan earned a BBA in Finance and MBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. Professionally, he has achieved certification as a CPA, as well as both the CLU and ChFC industry designations. Logan came to the First Command Board of Directors in 1998 and serves on the Finance, Investment and Capital Committee, and is the Chair of the company’s Audit Committee.
Gen. Michael X. Garrett, USA, Retired
General Michael X. Garrett served as the commanding general of the United States Army Forces Command from 2019 to 2022. He previously served as the commanding general of United States Army Central, chief of staff of United States Central Command and commanding general of United States Army Alaska.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Gen. Garrett attended high school in Germany. He completed Army ROTC at Xavier University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. He was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1984.
During his service, Gen. Garrett served in multiple joint and operational tours and staff assignments at numerous levels in addition to several commands. Highlights of his service include commanding the 3rd Battalion, 325th Infantry (Airborne), 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He deployed to Afghanistan as chief of current operations, Combined Task Force 180 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He then commanded the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division (Light), which deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following brigade command, he served as the deputy commanding general of the United States Army Recruiting Command. Following his tour with Recruiting Command, Gen. Garrett returned to Fort Bragg where he served as the Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps. As the XVIII Airborne Corps chief of staff, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn, where he served as the deputy chief of staff for United States Forces-Iraq.
Gen. Garrett’s awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal and Legion of Merit Medal among several others.
Gen. Garrett and his wife Lorelei live in Charlotte, N.C., and enjoy spending time with their two children and grandchild.
Henry G. Hagan
Henry G. Hagan, Chairman of Red Oaks Resources, LLC, a strategic consulting and CEO advisory service, possesses more than 30 years of broad business experience encompassing sales and marketing, business operations, acquisitions, and leadership and governance.
He began his career in 1975 with Southern Life Insurance Company of North Carolina, then from 1981-2010 held executive positions of increasing responsibility with Monumental Life Insurance Company - An AEGON Company, culminating in his tenure as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer from 2002-2010.
A graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A., Political Science) and The University of Virginia Colgate Darden School of Business Administration (M.B.A., with Honors), he has served on the boards of numerous corporate, professional, civic, charitable and educational organizations, institutions and foundations. He is a Fellow of both the Life Management Institute (with Distinction) and the LIMRA Leadership Institute, as well as a Board Governance Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors.
Henry and his wife, Sims, reside in Baltimore and have three daughters and one son. He enjoys hunting, fishing, sailing, water skiing and snow skiing.
Jeninne McGee
Jeninne McGee is a risk professional in the financial services industry. With a background in change management; data governance; environmental, social and governance; and operational risk management, her strengths lie in implementing broad, complex change. Throughout her career, she has held leadership positions across both staff and line functions, including operations, technology and change implementation.
In 2023, Jeninne retired as Chief Risk Officer of Ameriprise Financial, a Minneapolis-based Fortune 250 financial services company, where she led enterprise risk management for the global Advice and Wealth Management, Asset Management and Insurance businesses.
Prior to her role as Chief Risk Officer, Jeninne oversaw Ameriprise’s Enterprise Change Management group. Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, Jeninne led teams tasked with providing support for the implementation of large-scale, complex change in the rapidly evolving financial services sector. This function brought world-class standards to the company’s change management process.
Jeninne’s governance experience includes service on both nonprofit and corporate boards. Most notably, she chaired the YWCA Minneapolis board of directors after chairing its governance committee. Additionally, Jeninne is the finance chair and vice-chair of the Carleton College board of trustees. She previously served as the co-chair for the college’s first strategic plan for diversity, equity and inclusion. Jeninne is also an internal director for RiverSource Insurance and Ameriprise Bank and chair for the Audit and Risk committee for the bank board.
Jeninne earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Carleton College and an MBA in general management from the University of Minnesota Carson School of Management.
Paula Meyer
Paula Meyer's distinguished career in the investment management and mutual fund business began with Vanguard Group in 1981 and most recently has included serving as President of Piper Capital Management (from 1993 to 1998) and in executive leadership positions with Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (from 1998 to 2006). She has run her own independent consulting business since 2006 and serves on a number of corporate, professional and foundation Boards of Directors. Paula graduated from Luther College, where she has served on the Board since 2002 and as Board Chair since 2008. She earned her MBA with emphasis in finance and marketing from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business. Paula and her husband Kurt have three children and make their home in St. Ansgar, Iowa, where she is active in their church, the community, and politics.
John Osarczuk
John Osarczuk is the Executive Vice President and National Director of Advisor Operations at First Command Financial Services. With a focus on company growth, John leads a Field Force of over 500 advisors toward accomplishing the company’s mission of coaching those who serve in their pursuit of financial security. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, he guides the strategy, culture, and growth of the company.
John joined First Command Financial Services in 2004, starting as a Financial Advisor in Manhattan, Kansas. He held this position until 2013, when he was promoted to the role of District Advisor. In 2017, he served as the District Advisor of First Command’s office in Killeen, Texas, and held this position until he moved to the Home Office to assume the role of Chief of Staff. In 2019, John was promoted to the position of Director of Advisor Operations for the Northeast Division and served until he was promoted to his current position in 2021.
A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Factors Engineering, John served in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot for 10 years, attaining the rank of captain. In 1996, he received an MIS degree in Information Systems Technology from the University of Maryland University College. John worked in the manufacturing industry as both a product manager and new product development manager from 1996 to 2004.
John holds Series 6, 26, 63, and 65 securities licenses, plus state life and health insurance licenses. John and his spouse Teresa have two adult daughters – one is a nurse and the other is currently a teacher in Honduras. His pastimes include hunting, fishing, and shooting sports.
Carroll H. Payne II
Carroll H. (Chip) Payne II has been a member of the First Command Board of Directors since 1983. Chip is owner of an architectural practice in Fort Worth, specializing in residential design, energy efficiency and historic preservation. Chip’s abiding love and respect for the values of the company founded by his father provide inspiration to Board members. He serves on the Executive Committee, Audit Committee and Executive Compensation Committee.
Chris Perkins
Chris Perkins serves on the Board of Directors at First Command Bank and at First Command Financial Services. Throughout his 38-year career, Chris worked with boards and audit committees of Fortune 500 companies and served PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) largest global clients across multiple markets and industries, with an emphasis in energy, financial services and technology.
During his career at PwC, Chris was appointed to leadership roles where he was responsible for driving the strategy and operations of the firm. He managed major client relationships and gained a thorough understanding of board and management responsibilities in dealing with risk and regulatory matters. Chris was PwC’s Global Engagement Leader serving a Fortune 100 technology company in its business transformation and execution of more than $100 billion in transactions. He also served as the Global Engagement Leader of two large public global asset managers, helping them navigate the financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic.
In his role as Vice Chair, Chris led the execution of PwC’s strategy across the West and Southwest regions. His responsibilities included ensuring the development of committed relationships between the firm and clients for a broad range of assurance, tax and advisory services, as well as leading a multibillion-dollar business with more than 10 thousand professionals. Chris also served as West Region Assurance Leader in addition to Financial Services Leader and Managing Partner.
Chris received his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Business, majoring in accounting, from the University of Oklahoma. He is a certified public accountant and is licensed in California, Oklahoma and Texas. He also serves on the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Advisory Council and on the Advisory Board of Clearstory, a construction software business.
Chris and his wife reside in Austin, Texas, and have four adult children. They enjoy snow skiing, hiking, traveling and spending time with their nine grandchildren.
David B. Rich
Dave Rich is the CEO and Managing Partner of DBR and Associates, a corporate development firm specializing in advising companies in the software and services industries. DBR and Associates also advises executive leadership teams – including the leadership team at First Command Financial Services – on digital transformation initiatives.
In addition to his work with First Command, Dave currently serves as the Executive Chairman of DemandBridge, a company that provides marketing automation and enterprise resource planning software to the marketing services industry. He also serves as the Executive Chairman of Chicago-based InContext Solutions, the global leader in enterprise class virtual reality solutions for retail and consumer packaged goods companies. Previously he was Chairman/acting CEO of Palo Alto-based Revolution Analytics, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2015.
Dave began his distinguished career in the General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16 Fighter Program as a manufacturing technology engineer. In 1984, he joined the Dallas office of Accenture, a global firm specializing in management consulting, systems integration and outsourcing. Over the next 28 years, he held several key leadership roles there, including global managing director for Accenture analytics, the CRM service line and the high tech industry. He was also responsible for the profits and losses of various operating entities, including North America Communications and the media and high-tech industry operating units.
A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Dave holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Technology. He is a board member of the Naval Academy Foundation and BlueStar HonorCare, a start-up led by a retired admiral and classmate of Dave’s which is focused on providing health monitoring services for veterans and their families. Previously, he served as Chairman of the Board for the Aidmatrix Foundation, which leveraged supply chain technology solutions to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
Mark D. Steffe
Mark Steffe is the President/CEO of First Command Financial Services, Inc. which provides personal financial coaching to about 290,000 client families around the world. Mark is responsible for guiding the organization in its efforts to make lifelong financial security possible for all military families. First Command accomplishes this by creating lasting bonds with clients through face-to-face coaching and empowering them to develop positive financial behaviors for every stage of their lives. First Command is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, and has more than 165 offices nationwide. First Command, through its subsidiaries, maintains more than $35 billion in managed accounts and mutual funds and has more than $62 billion in life insurance coverage in force, while First Command Bank holds more than $960 million in deposits.
Mark joined First Command as a Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff of Advisor Operations in 2010 and has since played an integral role in evolving the client experience in a digital world. At the same time, he has protected the integrity of the face-to-face coaching that is central to the First Command philosophy. Throughout his subsequent roles as Senior Vice President and Director of Advisor Operations for the Midwest Division and Executive Vice President and National Director of Advisor Operations, Mark helped build strong, collaborative relationships between Advisors and the Home Office. This has been crucial in enabling Advisors to help clients pursue their financial goals more effectively and efficiently. His accomplishments and demonstrated leadership ability led to his promotion to President in 2017 and expanded COO responsibility in 2018.
In January 2020, Mark was appointed as the first CEO in First Command’s history without military service experience. His selection was the result of an ethos of service to the military gained during more than a decade immersed in First Command’s culture, a deep understanding of the challenges faced by our Nation’s military families, and in recognition of the demonstrated leadership skills required to guide the organization in its efforts to make lifelong financial security possible for all military families. On day 70 in his new role, Mark was confronted with a once-in-a-generation crisis as a global pandemic was declared. Under his leadership, First Command rapidly adjusted its operations to continue to help military families pursue financial security amidst a volatile economic landscape in which in-person face-to-face coaching was no longer possible. At the same time, at Mark’s direction, First Command immediately made financial relief programs available to clients to bolster their financial outlook during the crisis.
To ensure that First Command continually adapts to the needs of military families, Mark and his team regularly meet with clients to seek out their perspectives. During his tenure at First Command, Mark has visited more than 50 military installations in 23 U.S. states and three countries. This personal outreach is supplemented by the First Command Financial Behaviors Index®, a monthly survey that assesses the financial behaviors, intentions and attitudes of career military families. Mark also consults regularly with First Command’s Military Advisory Board, a select group of retired senior flag officers and senior enlisted leaders from the Nation’s military services. The 10-member board provides Mark and First Command with an independent perspective on issues relevant to First Command’s work, as well as advice on how to best serve the interests of military clients.
In his role as President/CEO, Mark has spearheaded inclusion initiatives for First Command. Under his leadership, First Command is striving to create a more inclusive culture in which all employees and Advisors feel trusted, valued and empowered. For Mark, advancing equality is not just the right thing to do from a business perspective, but a personal imperative born from a desire for everyone to have the same opportunities he has had in his career. In service of this goal, Mark committed to the CEO ACT!ON pledge for diversity and inclusion in 2020. He also championed the hire of the company’s first Diversity & Inclusion Director. In recognition of Mark’s leadership during the pandemic and on issues of diversity and inclusion, he was nominated as one of the Dallas Business Journal’s Most Inspiring Business Leaders of 2020. Mark was also recognized in 2020 as a member of the Fort Worth 400, an annual list by Fort Worth Inc. magazine of influential community leaders.
Mark actively supports several charitable endeavors, including the annual Spirit of Giving campaign by United Way of Tarrant County and the First Command Educational Foundation (FCEF). United Way of Tarrant County is a local charity focused on providing leadership and harnessing resources to solve persistent social challenges, while FCEF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering those who serve our Nation by improving their financial literacy. FCEF accomplishes this goal by offering approximately $130,000 in annual scholarships and financial education to America’s military servicemembers, civilian federal employees and their families. In addition to his philanthropic pursuits, Mark is active in LeaderPrime, which fosters connections among Fort Worth business leaders new to the city or to their roles.
Mark graduated with high honors from the University of Illinois, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. He holds Series 7, 8, 23, 63 and 65 securities registrations. He completed the Harvard University Advanced Management Program in 2015.
He lives in Fort Worth, Texas along with his wife and five children. On any given day off, you can find him attending one of his children’s sports games or cooking family dinners.
John Woerner
John Woerner is a retired executive with 30 years of financial services experience. He has extensive experience in investment banking, strategic consulting, and personal financial services.
In 2022, John retired from Ameriprise Financial Inc., the largest U.S. financial planning firm, as the president, Insurance and Annuities and chief strategy officer. As president, Insurance and Annuities, he was responsible for product development and management, sales, marketing, underwriting, claims, service, operations, and risk management. As chief strategy officer he oversaw global corporate, business unit and product strategy, mergers and acquisitions and divestitures, and was a key advisor on risk management, legislative, and regulatory matters. In addition, John led the global data science and advanced analytics program.
Prior to Ameriprise, John was a partner at McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm, where he focused on asset management, wealth management, and insurance. He advised clients on strategy, organization, and operations, and he co-led the U.S. wealth management practice. John began his career at Goldman, Sachs & Co., as a financial analyst in debt capital markets. He advised corporate clients on capital structure and financing, private and public debt issuance and repurchases, interest rate swaps and options, tax advantaged financings, and acquisition financing.
John is experienced in board governance and public service. He is currently on the board of Colorectal Cancer Alliance, serves on the finance committee for the City of Minnetonka Beach, and is the treasurer for St. Martin’s Church. Prior governance roles include serving on the advisory council of George Washington University’s Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center and on the board for American Council of Life Insurers. He was the board chair for RiverSource Life Insurance and RiverSource Distributors, and he was board Chair for the National Endowment for Financial Education.
John earned a Bachelor of Science in finance from Pennsylvania State University, and an MBA in finance and strategy from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
John and his wife, Colleen, live in Minnetonka Beach, Minn. They have four sons and enjoy spending time with family and traveling.