North Carolina Veteran & Military Spouse Talent Roadshow: Wilmington

Date: October 28, 2026

Location: University of North Carolina Wilmington, North Carolina

Guest Speakers

Secretary Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette

Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette is the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and is a third-generation service member. As Secretary, Jocelyn leads the Department in its mission to support the military and veteran connected communities in North Carolina.

As the daughter of Goldsboro natives, Jocelyn received her nomination to the United States Air Force (USAF) Academy from North Carolina Congresswoman Eva Clayton. After graduating, Jocelyn served for ten years in the USAF. First, as an Admissions Officer at the Air Force Academy. Then, she secured a mission critical assignment as an intelligence officer, during which she briefed pilots in South Carolina and in Germany. Jocelyn cross-trained into the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps after graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Jocelyn served as a prosecutor and general practice attorney in the JAG Corps at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. After ten years of active-duty military service, Jocelyn started her civilian career as an attorney by clerking for the Honorable Barbara A. Jackson of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Following her clerkship, Jocelyn spent six years at the international law firm of McGuireWoods, where she represented Fortune 500 companies in complex commercial litigation and became partner.  

As an active member of her community, Jocelyn currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Southeast Raleigh YMCA. She also is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and the Junior League of Raleigh. She is married to Harold A. Mallette, who is a licensed architect, and she is the proud mother of two hilarious and lively children. 

Secretary Lee Lilley

Lee Lilley's service as North Carolina's Secretary of Commerce began on January 1, 2025. Appointed to the office by Governor Josh Stein, Secretary Lilley brings extensive economic development experience to the role.

Immediately prior to joining the department, Secretary Lilley served as the Director of Economic & Pandemic Recovery for Governor Roy Cooper. In that position, he coordinated statewide pandemic recovery efforts, served as State Infrastructure Coordinator, and led economic development initiatives for the Cooper Administration. Lee also advised Cooper Administration leadership on strategy and communications.

Lee joined the Governor’s Office in 2018 as the Director of Legislative Affairs, where he led all Gubernatorial and Executive Branch engagement with the North Carolina General Assembly and served as the principal advisor to the Governor on policy and legislative strategy. Lee was previously senior vice president and deputy director of federal practice at McGuireWoods Consulting, LLC, based in Washington, D.C. There he represented a diverse group of clients including Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, trade associations, and non-profits before Congress and the federal Executive Branch. He led public affairs strategies for clients facing political and regulatory scrutiny of international mergers and acquisitions, litigation, and trade disputes. Prior to joining McGuireWoods, Lee served as legislative director for Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), a member of U.S. House Democratic leadership and the Energy & Commerce Committee, and the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. He served as the Member’s senior legislative strategist and policy advisor.  Lee is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

A native of Williamston, North Carolina, Secretary Lilley lives in Raleigh with his wife and daughter.

Mike Benson

As Chief Talent Officer of GE Aerospace, Mike Benson is responsible for providing strategy, leadership and expertise for the full scope of talent management, organizational development/effectiveness, culture/engagement, leadership development & learning, talent acquisition and leadership pipeline activities for the business.  Mike and his team have a wealth of expertise focused on talent management, leadership development, organizational performance, and building a diverse pipelines.  Mike has been a leader in Human Resources, Talent Management, and the Military for more than two decades as well as being a published author and invited speaker across industry groups and professional associations.  Prior to GE Aerospace, Mike served as Vice President, Talent & Organization Capabilities at General Mills where he was responsible for delivering a robust, diverse leadership pipeline through best-in-class talent management initiatives while leading the integrated, end-to-end talent management ecosystem. Additionally, Mike has held a variety of senior talent management and consulting roles at Johnson & Johnson and Personnel Decisions International, a global HR consultancy. During his tenure at J&J & PDI, Mike had responsibility for several global and enterprise-wide initiatives delivering impact to leaders and organizations around the world.  Mike started his career as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force where he spent 12 years on active duty serving across several specialties including time as an aircraft maintenance officer (one of his cherished roles was leading the Propulsion Operation at Shaw AFB where the team maintained F110-129s and TF-34s).  Mike has delivered leadership training sessions, performance feedback and talent management consulting to military and corporate audiences around the world.    Mike has a Ph.D. in Industrial & Organizational Psychology from the University of Minnesota, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Behavioral Sciences & Leadership from the United States Air Force Academy.  He holds memberships in the American Psychological Association, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and the Academy of Management.  

Major General Marvin T. Hunt (Todd)

MG Todd Hunt assumed his duties as The Adjutant General of North Carolina on 1 December 2019. As The Adjutant General, he commands nearly 10,000 Citizen Soldiers and Airmen of the North Carolina National Guard and is the Governor's principal advisor on military affairs.

He is a graduate of East Carolina University where he received his commission as an Aviation officer. He is also a graduate of several military schools, to include the United States Army War College and Naval Post Graduate Program for Executives in Homeland Defense and Security.

His former positions include Deputy Commanding General for the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, and Joint Force Headquarters Director of Joint Staff. He has commanded at the company, battalion, and brigade levels.

MG Hunt has deployed to Kuwait in support of Southern Watch and Desert Fox (1998), as the Detachment Commander, Company E, 130th Aviation Battalion, and to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom- Afghanistan (2001), as the Executive Officer of the 1st of the 130th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion and Aviation Task Force 130.

He has received multiple awards, to include the Legion of Merit with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Master Army Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge. He is rated in numerous helicopters: UH-1 Huey, OH-58 Kiowa, UH-72 Lakota, and AH-64 Apache.

John Maslin

John Maslin is Vulcan Elements’ Chief Executive Officer. Before founding Vulcan Elements, he spent several years as the financial manager for the U.S. Navy’s nuclear propulsion program (Naval Reactors), executing a $2B annual budget to finance and procure sensitive materials and components for nuclear reactors on the Navy’s newest aircraft carriers and submarines. A former Navy Supply Officer, John received his MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master of Accounting from the University of Cambridge, and a BS from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Dr. Chambala Roach

Dr. Chambala Roach is the Program Manager of Military Affairs at HCA Healthcare, where she leads enterprise-wide efforts to connect service members, Veterans, and military spouses with meaningful and rewarding careers. She oversees strategic recruitment initiatives, strengthens Military Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and partners with internal and external stakeholders to ensure military-connected colleagues have the support, resources, and pathways needed to thrive. She also serves as a Board Member for the Women Veterans Interactive Foundation, where she contributes to advancing support, advocacy, and engagement for women Veterans.
Before stepping into her current role, Dr. Roach served as a Human Resources Business Partner at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. She joined HCA Healthcare in 2023 following a distinguished 25-year career in the United States Army, where she served as a Combat Medic, Human Resources Specialist, Career Recruiter, and ultimately Station Commander for the Army Medical Department (AMEDD). She also taught as an Adjunct Professor in the College of William & Mary’s ROTC program.
Dr. Roach holds a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership, an MBA in Human Resources Management, and is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt. She is deeply committed to advancing opportunities for military talent and fostering a workplace culture that honors and empowers those who serve.