Benjamin A. Gilman is a former Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and U.S. Representative for New York. During World War II, Gilman served in the Army Air Corps as a staff sergeant from 1942 to 1945 as part of the 28th Bomb Squadron of the 19th Bomb Group. He was stationed primarily in the Mariana Islands and flew 35 missions over Japan. Staff sergeant Gilman earned the Distinguished Flying Cross that is given for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. He was also given the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters for acts of merit or heroism. Gilman’s service to his country did not end with WWII. He served for 30 years as the Member of Congress from the 20th Congressional District of New York and later Congressional delegate to the United Nations. He is considered a pioneer in human rights issues. Today, Gilman is chairman of the Gilman Group in Washington D.C., which specializes in advocacy for international and domestic projects.