The Castleton Alumni Association will recognize the many talents and achievements of alumnus Phillip Modesti by presenting the 1990 graduate with the University’s Outstanding Alumni Award for 2021, which will be celebrated at a small in-person ceremony on campus in August. Established in 2005, the Outstanding Alumni Award recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves through their professional accomplishments and displayed exemplary service to the University, community, and/or humanitarian efforts.
Modesti’s service to his country began in the Marine Corps Reserves while attending Castleton as a Communication student. After graduation, he was called to active duty and deployed with his unit to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield. During the ground war in Kuwait, he was a tank gunner on the M60A1 Main Battle Tank for B Company, 8th Tanks, 4th MARDIV (2nd MARDIV). They remained deployed from November 1990 to May 1991 and were the first tanks through the minefield for the 2nd Marine Division and the last Marine Corps tank unit to leave Kuwait. Modesti served a total of 10 honorable years and received the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat ‘V’ among other personal awards of recognition.
After finishing his military service and earning an advanced degree, Modesti began a career in medical sales and professional clinical education programs, leading teams for companies like Merck, Kyphon, Medtronic, and Siemens. He now oversees Global Medical Education for Hologic's Breast & Skeletal Health Division as Senior Director in Danbury, Connecticut, and works primarily with Radiologists and Surgeons to improve the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
In 2021 Modesti established the first independently funded scholarship for United States veterans at Castleton University. The Phillip Modesti Scholarship will be awarded annually to deserving Castleton student veterans who are currently serving in the reserves, guard, or have served in the United States military with first preference given to those with verified combat service.
“I am proud of where I am today, I have a great wife and two awesome daughters with all the basic needs of life, so if I can give back and help others, I would like to do that,” said Modesti, who also served on the board of directors for a Veterans transitional home, Homes for the Brave, in Connecticut, along with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association CT 31-2 whose motto is ‘Vets Helping Vets.’ “This scholarship is an extension of giving back in another way to those who are or have served in the United States military.”
Modesti graduated from Castleton in 1990 with a BS in Corporate Communications. He holds an MS in Human Resource Development and Administration from Barry University and has completed Executive Education Programs at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in Leading and Managing People and Leading Organizational Change.