March 19, 2026 | HAPO Center | 7:00 am

North Star Award Recipient: Tom Mattis

Tom grew up in Richland near Jason Lee School and graduated from Richland High School in 1966. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1967 and is a Vietnam War veteran, having served with the 1st Battalion, 12th Marines, an artillery battalion, in northern Quang Tri Province along the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Vietnam from September 1968 to October 1969.

Following his honorable discharge in late 1970, Tom earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and psychology from Central Washington University and later a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Sonoma State University.

After four (4) years working in non-profit anti-poverty programs, Tom went on to serve 26 years with the State of Oregon, including 16 years in the State’s Executive Service administering regulatory agencies.

In retirement, Tom continued his commitment to public service, serving two (2) years as the volunteer Director of Disaster Services for the Walla Walla Chapter of the American Red Cross, as well as two (2) years on its Board of Directors.

In 2015, Tom and his wife, Thoa, a Vietnam War refugee, returned to Vietnam, where he had the profound experience of meeting and spending time with two veterans of the North Vietnamese Army. Engaging in thoughtful conversations with former adversaries of his own generation was a highlight of his return.

After relocating back to Richland in 2015, Tom served from 2016 to 2022 as a Board Member, Board President, and later as Mentor Coordinator for the Columbia Basin Veterans Center. He also served on the task force that established the Benton County Veterans Court and, in early 2019, founded and managed the Court’s Mentor Program until stepping down in 2022.

In 2021, Tom was appointed as a local board member of the Selective Service System, serving through 2025. Since 2023, he has also served on Eagle Scout Boards of Review for the Blue Mountain Council.

Keynote Speaker: Major General William E. Souza

Major General William E. Souza most recently retired from the US Marine Corps after 41 plus years of service.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1984 and served for eight (8) years after which he graduated from Central Washington University and received his commission in 1993. Major General Souza is an all-around ground-combat-arms officer. He is the only US Marine Corps General to have commanded a Tank Company as a Captain, an Assault Amphibian Battalion as a Lieutenant Colonel, and an Infantry Regiment as a Colonel; he has held staff billets from the Company to the Division; and deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism to the Philippines, Iraq, and Afghanistan. His general-officer assignments have included Deputy Commander Marine Forces Reserve; Deputy Commander (Mobilization) Marine Forces Command / Fleet Marine Force Atlantic / Marine Forces North; Commanding General 4th Marine Logistics Group; Commanding General United States Marine Corps Forces Korea, and his last billet was as the Deputy Commanding General for Training and Education Command.

Major General Souza is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Naval War College. He holds an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and is a graduate of the National Defense University Capstone course, the University of Virginia’s Strategic Thinking Course, the Air Force Combined/Joint Force Air Component Commander’s Course, and the Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course.

Major General Souza’s highest military awards are the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Cheonsu Korean Order of National Security Merit from the President of Korea.

Major General Souza was a Scout starting in Cub Scouts through to the rank of Life Scout. He also served in several adult leader positions and has two sons who became Eagle Scouts.

Currently Major General Souza, known to his friends as Wes, resides with his wife Jodi in Richland Washington.