Hal Koster
Executive Director
The Aleethia Foundation
Introduction:
The Aleethia Foundation was formed in 2005, when the Friday Night Dinners that were started at Fran O’Brien’s Steakhouse in 2003 needed some financial assistance. Since Hal was an owner of Fran O’Brien’s, he took on the task of forming the 501c3 called The Aleethia Foundation. He therefore became the Executive Director and has held that position since the corporation was formed.
Hal is dedicated to supporting the newly injured service members. As with all members of the Aleethia Board, Hal does not receive any compensation for anything he does with the Aleethia Foundation and its activities. For Hal, and all the board members this is a labor of love. It is to help the service members and not to exploit the service members.
- 2005 to Present – Founder and Executive Director, The Aleethia Foundation
- 1997 to 2006 – Owner/Manager Fran O’Brien’s Stadium Steakhouse
- 1990 to 1997 – Regional Manager VoiceCom Systems
- 1985 to 1990 – District Manager for PSC International
- 1974 to 1985 – Sales Manager for NCR Corporation
- 1970 to 1974 – Program Manager for Diversified Numeric Applications
- 1966 to 1969 – US Army
Experience:
- 30 years in the computer business in various positions of technical and management capacity
- 10 years ownership and management in the restaurant business
Military:
- Thirty one months in the US Army
- Twenty Six months in Vietnam
Education:
- Completed MBA program at Frostburg State – 1985
- One year undergraduate school in Aeronautical Engineering
Awards:
Hal’s work with The Aleethia Foundation has earned him many awards from various groups including letters of appreciation from President George W. Bush, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon R. England and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace.
- Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award – October 2004. Highest award given to a civilian by the Department of Defense
- Medal of Honor Society - Above and Beyond Citizen of Washington, DC – January 2008
- VFW – James Van Zandt Citizenship Award – August 2007
- Nobles and Knaves -- December 23, 2007
- American Legion Citizenship Award – June 2006
- Honorary Kentucky Colonel – 2006
- American Postal Workers Union National Human Relations Director’s Award – August 2006
- Letters of thanks from the President, Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff – October 2005
- Special History of the Flag book in a beautiful wooden display case given by the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs – October 2005
- Secretary of the Army Public Servant Award – October 2008
- USMC Intelligent Support Battalion Recognition of Patriotism, Dedication and continued Support – July 2012
- Director of WJB Dorn VA Medical Center’s Award of Recognition for Continued Support of South Carolina Veterans and their Family Members – 2011
- The American Legion “Recognition of Support to American Military Personnel injured during Services in the Global War on Terror” – presented at The American Legion 47th Annual Washington Conference on March 7, 2007
- Rear Admiral Matthew Nathan presented the “Commander Special Recognition” Medallion for Support of the Newly Injured Service Members recovering at National Naval Medical Center since October 2003 – presented on December 8, 2010
- USMC Wounded Warrior Regiment – Wounded Warrior Battalion West and Wounded Warrior Battalion East - Certificate of Appreciation – November 3, 2012