PHILANTHROPY AS LEADERSHIP: Tony Guzzi ’86 on Giving Back to West Point CONTINUED FROM COVER
alternative he might have pursued, and says it prepared him well for Harvard and beyond. Most recently, the Guzzis have also aligned their support to give the Commandant the flexibility to direct resources where they are needed most, when they are needed most, in service of the Corps. The Commandant’s Unrestricted Fund , now known as the Commandant’s Warfighter Endowment and Fund , equips Academy leadership to act rapidly with precision, directing resources toward both enduring priorities and emerging demands in an increasingly dynamic global environment. The leadership approach at the Academy reflects the way Guzzi leads in business—hire the right people, set the mission, and trust
simply cheering for Army. The Bicentennial commemoration activated his passion to get involved with West Point in a concrete way. The Academy has not been the same since. Investing in Leadership Guzzi and his wife, Michelle, have focused their West Point philanthropy on the Superintendent’s Annual Fund , the A-Club Fund , the Department of Social Sciences, the Commandant’s Unrestricted Fund , and athletics. “Athletics are forward-facing,” Guzzi says. “People see how Army competes. They see the
toughness. That matters.” He credits former Athletic Director Boo Corrigan and Head Football Coach Jeff Monken with restoring competitive edge and culture to Army Football during a pivotal period. “It’s not about winning every game,” he says. “It’s about how you play. When people watch Army, they should see discipline, toughness, teamwork. That reflects the institution.” At the same time, Guzzi remains deeply committed to academics and leader development. He considers his undergraduate education at West Point superior to any
Tony Guzzi with his wife, Michelle.
them to execute. “I believe in the leadership in place,” he explains. “If you have the right leaders, they should make the decisions about how to use the resources. We trust the leadership to make the right decisions in allocating our capital to the most impactful areas.” “The core of who I am as a leader hasn’t changed much since I was a cadet company commander,” he reflects. “Hopefully I’m better at it now. But the foundation was built there.” He believes West Point develops universal skills and durable talent which apply in the military, in academia, in the business world, or wherever USMA grads end up in life. “If you give to West Point, you’re becoming a force multiplier for what can happen in this country,” he says. “You’re investing in leaders.”
A Legacy of Service Beyond the Uniform Though he left active duty during the Army’s drawdown, Guzzi believes he has continued serving in a different way. Under his leadership, EMCOR has hired hundreds of veterans—from the enlisted ranks all the way up through general officers—and has invested heavily in structured leader development from the front-line to the most senior executives. The company partners with Thayer Leadership to deliver customized programs for its executives and rising leaders. EMCOR’s values of “Mission First, People Always” serve as the foundation of how the company is led and how it promotes and chooses its leaders.
Guzzi with his family at the Army–Navy Game, December 2025.
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WEST POINT ASSOCIATION OF GRADUATES
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