Samantha Sullivan, a U.S. Army Staff Captain and member of the bronze-medal winning U.S. Rugby Sevens team at the 2024 Olympic Games, will be the keynote speaker at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Kickoff Luncheon.
Competing in her first Olympics this past summer, Sullivan scored three tries, all coming in Team USA victories. The United States lost to eventual gold medalist New Zealand, 24-12, in the semifinals before securing a thrilling, last-second 14-12 victory against heavily favored Australia in the bronze-medal game to earn the team’s first-ever Olympics medal in the event. A member of the U.S. team since 2022, Sullivan also competed on the victorious squad at the 2023 Pan American Games.
Sullivan graduated from Army West Point, where she tried out for the rugby team at the beginning of her freshman year. Despite never having played rugby prior to college, the former soccer player earned a starting position by the third game of the season and ultimately became a three-time All-American and the winner of the 2019 Prusmack Award given to the nation’s top female collegiate rugby sevens player. Sullivan also earned the distinction of being the first rugby player to receive the Army Athletic Association Award (AAA).
A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Sullivan joined the Army in May of 2020 and currently serves as an Engineer Officer (12A). She is part of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), a military unit whose primary mission is to support nationally and internationally ranked soldiers in participating on the U.S. Olympic team.
“Serving in the Army and being an Olympian fills me with immense pride, embodying strength, discipline and honor in all I do,” Sullivan said.
The annual luncheon, sponsored by Omni Fort Worth Hotel and American Airlines, will take place at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26. Luncheon tickets are on sale at ArmedForcesBowl.com.
“We are confident that our participating teams and luncheon guests will be inspired by Captain Sullivan, a true American icon who is so selfless and so talented that she serves her country as a member of the armed forces and represents her country as a member of Team USA,” said Brant Ringler, executive director of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. “It will be a treat and an honor to have her as part of our bowl festivities this December.”
The “Bowl for the Brave” has featured the armed forces theme since 2006. Patriotic overtones recognizing all branches of the service are prevalent throughout the game. The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, played in honor of the Armed Forces of the United States, was the first collegiate football bowl game to host all three U.S. Military Academy football teams – Air Force (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2022, 2023), Army (2010, 2017, 2018, 2021) and Navy (2013, 2016).
The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl is one of 17 bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN. The 22nd edition will be played Friday, Dec. 27, at TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium. The game time will be announced following the selection of teams on Sunday, Dec. 8. Kickoff will be either 11 a.m. (CT) or 2:30 p.m. (CT).
