The Honorable Ryan D. McCarthy, Secretary of the Army, appoints Ben Coronado, a resident of Oro Valley, Arizona, as a new Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army during an investiture ceremony on May 14, 2020, at Fort Huachuca.
The Honorable Ryan D. McCarthy, Secretary of the Army, appoints Ben Coronado, a resident of Oro Valley, Arizona, as a new Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army during an investiture ceremony on May 14, 2020, at Fort Huachuca. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army ) VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON – The Honorable Ryan D. McCarthy, Secretary of the Army, appointed Ben Coronado, a resident of Oro Valley, Arizona, as a new Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army during an investiture ceremony on May 14, 2020, at Fort Huachuca.

“Our Army is an all-volunteer force, and now more than ever, we rely on our volunteers, such as CASAs, to help build networks, foster relationships and tell the Army story to their communities” said McCarthy. “They are my first phone call into the city and the last handshake as I head back to DC. Ben will be that contact for me.”

CASAs, a vital part of the Army, promote good relations between the Army and the public and advise the secretary on regional issues.

Each state, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories have one or more CASAs to provide vital links between the Army and the communities they serve. CASAs are usually business or civic leaders who possess a keen interest in the welfare of the Army and their communities.

CASAs serve a two-year term without compensation. Terms may be extended to a total of 10 years of service. The secretary may recognize a civilian aide as a CASA Emeritus after 10 years of service with distinguished service.

“I am extremely humbled and grateful to have been selected as a civilian aide to Secretary McCarthy to represent Arizona,” Coronado said. “Having spent six years in active duty and my college years attending the U.S. Military Academy, I truly understand the incredible institution the U.S. Army is and what it represents. I am proud to be a U.S. Army veteran and honored to support the secretary and his office with the initiatives laid before me. I look forward to the work ahead and to ensuring the U.S. Army and its objectives are met here in Southern Arizona. Thank you for this great honor – Go Army!”

Coronado is a successful executive leader in the pharmaceutical industry. He is currently the regional business director for Pfizer, Inc. West Region. In this position, he oversees 120 personnel in 13 states responsible for delivering revenue of over $300 million. Coronado graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1998 and earned his MBA from the University of Arizona’s Eller School of Business in 2013. He served in the U.S. Army as an intelligence officer for six years. He was deployed four times overseas as part of the 3rd Infantry Division, which included service during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and the invasion of Iraq, and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. After his military service, he joined Pfizer, where he has worked for over 16 years. He has lived in southern Arizona for the last 10 years and has close connections to the Tucson Chamber of Commerce. He is also a board member of the West Point Society of Southern Arizona and serves on U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s veteran advisory council.