Rev. Brad Duty
Foundation Services Advisor
I grew up in rural Illinois and went to college at the Air Force Academy. After a 30-year career in the Air Force, I retired at the end of 2006, having picked up an MBA along the way. Throughout my service, I held numerous positions, starting out as a nuclear missile launch officer. After the Cold War ended, I switched to space operations, working mostly with Air Force and NASA satellites. During the last six years of service, I worked for the Pentagon. I was there on 9/11 and led my team and many others safely out of the burning building. Upon retirement, I became a contractor, first for the Department of Defense, and then for Homeland Security.
After that I joined my wife in her retirement planning business for two years, attaining my Virginia Life and Annuity license. I then started working in the financial assistance world, processing grant applications from disabled veterans for financial assistance at the PenFed Foundation. From there, I taught financial classes to service members preparing to retire or separate from the military. I also became an accredited financial counselor (AFC®) and earned a retirement income certified professional (RICP®) designation. I was working at military bases teaching classes and providing individual counseling when I received the call to shift my focus from serving the military (who recognized the lack of financial literacy problem and is working to solve it) to serve God.
I attended Wesley Seminary in Washington, DC, where I completed my master of divinity degree. At our Annual Conference in June 2024, I was commissioned as a provisional deacon. I work two-thirds time for the Foundation and one third time at Sydenstricker UMC in Springfield, Virginia, as an associate pastor deacon. I have been called to become a deacon and serve God by helping God’s churches and God’s people better steward their God-given resources.