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USAA appoints retired Army General Bryan P. Fenton, former Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, to Board of Directors. SAN ANTONIO - (BUSINESS WIRE) - USAA today announced that retired Army General Bryan P. Fenton, a career Special Forces officer and former Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), has joined its Board of Directors. Fenton's decades of leadership in complex global operations and strategic defense roles will help guide USAA's mission to serve the military community with excellence. As the 13th Commander of USSOCOM, Fenton oversaw U.S. Special Operations forces across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps totaling 70,000 personnel. Prior to serving in this post, he commanded Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and served as Senior Military Assistant to two U.S. Secretaries of Defense. His distinguished career includes leadership roles spanning the globe, along with multiple deployments in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa and the Philippines. "General Fenton brings unparalleled leadership experience and a lifetime of service to our nation," said retired Vice Admiral Jim Zortman, U.S. Navy, Chairman of the USAA Board of Directors. "His strategic insight and deep connection to the military community will help ensure USAA continues to innovate and develop strategies that deliver exceptional value and support to those who serve." Fenton holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame and a master's degree from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He was a U.S. Army Fellow at Georgetown University and completed negotiation and leadership programs at Harvard's business and law schools and the University of North Carolina. "It's a privilege to join USAA's Board and support an organization that has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with military families for more than a century," Fenton said. "USAA's mission is deeply personal to me, and I'm committed to helping shape forward-looking strategies that honor the sacrifices of our service members while meeting the evolving needs of their families today and for generations to come." Today, more than half of USAA's Board of Directors have honorably served its nation and nearly 25% of its employees are veterans or military spouses - and the company continues to expand military hiring. Embedding lived military experience into the Association helps ensure USAA's advocacy initiatives, products and services - such as government shutdown relief and $3.7 billion in member financial rewards - provide value to the military community and their families. About USAA Founded in 1922 by a group of military officers, USAA is among the leading providers of insurance, banking and retirement solutions and serves 14 million members of the U.S. military, veterans who have honorably served and their families. Headquartered in San Antonio, USAA has offices in eight U.S. cities and three overseas locations and employs more than 38,000 people worldwide. Each year, the company contributes to national and local nonprofits in support of military families and communities where employees live and work. For more information about USAA, follow The AI Journal Ltd. on Facebook, Instagram or X (@USAA), or visit usaa.com.

USAA has appointed retired Army General Bryan P. Fenton to its Board of Directors. Fenton previously served as the 13th Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, overseeing 70,000 personnel across all military branches, and led Joint Special Operations Command before that role. During his career, Fenton held multiple leadership positions and deployed to Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa and the Philippines. He also served as Senior Military Assistant to two U.S. Secretaries of Defense. Fenton holds a business administration degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master's from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. More than half of USAA's board members have served in the military, and nearly 25% of its employees are veterans or military spouses. The company serves 14 million military members, veterans and their families.

USAA sues Whirlpool after dishwasher valve failure causes $123,513 flood. One of the largest military, and military family, insurers in the United States is taking a home appliance behemoth to task in court. USAA had to shell out over $123,000 to a customer in Colorado after his dishwasher flooded his home, and the insurer is pointing the finger at Whirlpool. Back in February of 2024, a USAA customer was going on a two-week vacation, according to a lawsuit filed in federal courts in Pennsylvania. He had his water turned off when he left but turned it back on before getting back home. When he walked through the front door, he reportedly found the place flooded. "When [the plaintiff] returned home on or about February 15, 2024, water was entering into the home from the Whirlpool dishwasher," the lawsuit filed by USAA reads. "The point of failure on the dishwasher was identified to be a fractured solenoid valve, which was manufactured by Robershaw." Essentially, USAA is saying Whirlpool and the valve manufacturer should be on the hook for the $123,513 paid out by the insurance company because its dishwasher was the source of the flood. It's a subrogation lawsuit, which essentially is just a means for insurance companies to seek reimbursement for an insurance payout if the insurer thinks another company is responsible for the damage - similar to when USAA took on the California public utility company Pacific Gas and Electric Co. back in 2019 after the tragic Camp Fire that killed 86 people and destroyed homes. Though, several things will have to be plaid out in court or legal proceedings. Based on USAA's filing, it seems the customer had his public utility provider turn his water back on before he arrived home. Therefore, it's unclear whether he followed common protocol, which includes restoring service slowly and opening a faucet to let out trapped air. Want more mysa? Make My San Antonio a Preferred Source on Google to see more of My San Antonio when you search. "When turning water back on to your house, you must be careful not to let air and water rush back into the pipes too quickly," Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company wrote in an advice column over disconnecting and reconnecting water services. "You should turn the water back on slowly. Open one or two faucets before turning the water back on, then incrementally restore water until you see it freely flowing out of the open fixture." The dishwasher was fairly new, considering most dishwashers have a lifespan of about 10 years. According to the court filing, the USAA customer bought the dishwasher in 2022. According to CLT Appliance Repair, based in North Carolina, dishwashers need regular filter cleanings and should be deep cleaned often to avoid clogs. Filters and spray arms should be cleaned monthly, and door seals should be checked every three months. Texas True Appliance Repair in McKinney, Texas, warns that regular maintenance work and professional checkups - much like consistent oil changes or A/C filter changes - can make a big difference in prolonging the life of a dishwasher and avoiding costly malfunctions. "Dishwashers with neglected filters and seals are more likely to leak or shut down unexpectedly. This can lead to water damage, mold, and safety concerns. Preventive measures reduce the risk of system-wide failures," the Texas company warns." Several resources online suggest adding a dishwasher inspection by a professional to your annual checklist, whether that be your spring cleaning or your winter preparedness rundown.