Mr. John Falkenbury was appointed as President and CEO for USO of NC in March 2009. He is responsible for planning, organizing and directing the operations of the state headquarters, 11 locations, in the areas in and surrounding Jacksonville, Charlotte, Fayetteville, and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. These base and airport centers provide a full range of services including critical resiliency, transition assistance, financial literacy and children's educational programs; travel assistance at Charlotte Douglas International, Raleigh-Durham, Fayetteville and Ellis Airports; deployment and homecoming operations; internet and video link access; military and civilian community outreach programs; Fallen and Wounded Warrior escort services; Holiday feasts; and extensive morale-boosting activities.
With over 35 years experience in demanding corporate and military environments, he has successfully created business growth and operational successes through sound business management, organized strategic communications and marketing, and motivational leadership. Mr. Falkenbury served over twenty years in the U.S. Army, with command and staff assignments throughout the United States and in Germany, including Chief of Operations and Director of Public Affairs, 56th Field Artillery Command, Germany; Battalion Executive Officer, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Office of Army Chief of Public Affairs, The Pentagon; and Director of Public Affairs, US Army War College and Carlisle Barracks at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. Upon leaving active service, he returned home to North Carolina to become the president and CEO of Five Oaks Nursing Center in Concord, managing partner of the Falkenbury Family LLC and president of the Stephen D. Falkenbury Jr. Foundation in Charlotte. Mr. Falkenbury established and operated the first North Carolina division of Fleishman-Hillard International Communications holding the position of Senior Vice President and General Manager and serving as the Chair of the North Carolina Advisory Board. He was an adjunct faculty member in the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Department of Communication Studies. In Charlotte, Mr. Falkenbury served as WBT-AM radio station’s on-air military analyst and was a credentialed military consultant and frequent guest for News14 Carolina. He was also heard on WPTF-AM in Raleigh.
Mr. Falkenbury continues to serve on the board of the Brigadier Foundation, as well as the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, The Citadel, Charleston, SC and advisory board of Carolinas Freedom Foundation, having served over 10 years on its board of directors.
Mr. Falkenbury received a bachelor’s degree in history from the Citadel, in Charleston S.C., and earned his master’s degree in management from Webster University, in St. Louis, Mo. He is also a distinguished graduate from the Defense Information School and a graduate from both the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Mr. Falkenbury, a former North Carolina Healthcare Facilities Association board member, is a licensed North Carolina nursing home administrator.
