Paul Arcangeli

"People don't do things because you tell them to do it. They do things because they want to follow you. You have to give them reasons to follow you," Arcangeli said. "If you say you care and you don't, they're going to know. You can't hide it. You can't fake it. You really have to invest in those who are doing things for you."

Arcangeli has sought to model that approach during his 12-year stint in the Army and as a congressional staffer. Arcangeli is the majority staff director for the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, for which he has served for 16 years.

He learned lessons about leadership within the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Corps of Cadets.

"Everybody wants to be a leader," Arcangeli said. "But you have to be a good follower and know what it's like to take orders before you can lead people."

Arcangeli worked at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for two years, but noticed a difference from his training at UNG, one of only six senior military colleges.

"What I got at North Georgia was better," Arcangeli said. "It forced me to deal with the real world and not a world that's insulated from how things really are. It made me a better leader, there's no doubt."

Arcangeli never imagined he would work in the nation's capital 16 years, but he loves what he does and is grateful he still helps care for soldiers.

"Most people think Congress is fighting all the time," Arcangeli said. "It's a testament to the people who work there that they try and get past the fighting to produce outcomes that are good for the country."

The event that shifted his career path also has shaped his story. He retired from the Army after suffering sudden cardiac arrest.

"Everybody thinks they're going to live forever, but at 33, I found out I was very mortal," Arcangeli said. "And every day is extra. Make the most of what you've got."