Lunch With A Marine
Real stories. Real service. Real lives.
Real stories. Real service. Real lives.
Lunch with A Marine is a long-form interview series dedicated to honoring the voices of Marine Corps veterans. We believe every story deserves a seat at the table.
Long-form conversations with Marine Corps veterans about their time in service, what it cost them, and what it gave them.
We open the door to honest conversations about the mental and emotional weight veterans carry long after their service ends.
A growing network of veterans, families, and civilians united by a shared respect for those who served.
To preserve veteran stories before they are lost, and to build awareness around the real human experiences behind military service.
D.J. Higgins is a filmmaker, writer, and director. Combining a passion for storytelling with a strong academic background, he holds four master’s degrees in Italian Cinema, Italian Literature, Spanish Studies, and Film & Television. He also earned a Doctorate in Modern Languages from Middlebury College.
In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Dr. Higgins serves as a university professor, teaching film, media, and language courses. His films have screened internationally and received numerous awards for their storytelling, originality, and emotional impact.
Whether behind the camera or in the classroom, Higgins is committed to creating work that sparks conversation, challenges perspectives, and inspires audiences.
Graduated from Tamaqua High School in 2007. Started my first company in 2010 Boyle Electro Mechanical. Graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Pennsylvania College of Technology in 2012.
I am the Father to two beautiful all American (Brinley and Reagan) kids and a loving wife (Sarah) at home. I operate Seven companies with the help of an amazing management staff. Those companies are very diversified from each other. The companies specialize in Information Technology Consulting, Transportation, Long Term Property Rentals, Equipment and Tool Leasing, Project and Land Development, Tree Timbering, and Towing and Recovery.
I serve on the Schuylkill County Planning Commission, and as Vice President of Tamaqua Area School District.
Richard “Vinny” Caputo is the Senior Vice President of Aerospace Systems at V2X, overseeing all aerospace and defense services, modernization, sustainment, program integration, and mission support for the Department of Defense and other government agencies worldwide. He joined V2X in 2012 as Senior Director of Aviation Field Maintenance in the Army Sustainment Division in Huntsville, Alabama.
Vinny graduated from Rhode Island College in 1988 and went on to serve a 25-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring as a Colonel. Designated as a Naval Aviator in 1990, he logged over 3,600 flying hours in Marine Corps aircraft, including more than 700 combat flight hours in operations such as IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and JOINT GUARDIAN, as well as disaster relief during Operation INIKI in Hawaii.
Vinny’s command tours included leading Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 for two combat deployments to Iraq and serving as Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 24, where he oversaw heavy lift assault support for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan and the Pacific region. His assignments also spanned operational and staff roles, including positions as an aviation maintenance officer, an instructor at Marine Aviation Weapons & Tactics Squadron 1 (MAWTS-1), and Deputy Plans Chief at U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), where he contributed to strategic planning in the Global War on Terror.
Vinny holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Rhode Island College, a master’s in operational art and science from the Air Force Command and Staff College, and a master’s in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College. He also completed Executive Leadership Programs at Harvard Business School and Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Joe Minnella first began studying film as a senior at the University of Scranton. After graduation, he attended New York Film Academy and went on to produce several short films and music videos. In 2010, he premiered his first feature film, Maria’s Gravy Pot, on the main stage at the Garden State Film Festival.
Joe would then go on to work as freelance cinematographer before starting his own company, Joe Minnella Studios, in 2011. He spent the next few years building a top-rated wedding and corporate events company, before producing his first documentary film, After Sandy, chronicling the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy at the Jersey Shore.
In 2019, Joe premiered his first web series, Greetings from Italian America. It’s a travel/food series that explores The contributions and traditions of Italian Americans all over the Unites States. To date, the series has been viewed over three million times.
Today, Joe continues to work toward his ultimate goal of one day winning an Oscar. He produced and shot his First SAG feature film in 2022, The Bastard Sons and followed this up as Director and Producer on upcoming horror-thriller, The Hare, to be released in late 2025/2026.
Julie Robinson is no stranger to filmmaking. As a production assistant in the early 1980s, Julie worked on various productions before taking a break to live life and pursue other interests.
Several decades later, the filmmaking bug bit again, and Julie became involved in the Connecticut Film Industry Training Program, where she learned the complex role of script supervisor.
Through that experience, Julie connected with other filmmakers and productions throughout Connecticut, allowing her to work on projects featuring Stephen Dorff and James Woods in Officer Down, Melanie Lynskey and Blythe Danner in Hello I Must Be Going, and Oscar-nominated actress Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor in The Volunteer.
In 2013, Julie decided to return to school and enrolled in the Film and Television Master’s Program at Sacred Heart University, earning her MA in 2014.
During graduate school, Julie started a production company with classmate and friend DJ Higgins. As a producer at Meet Mario Productions, Julie works alongside DJ to bring entertaining, important, and thought-provoking films to the big screen.
Nicholas Hair served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps as an Artillery Officer with India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines. His time in the Marines gave him a strong foundation in leadership, planning, and working through problems.
After the Marine Corps, Nicholas became a strength and conditioning coach, helping people get stronger, move better, and stay consistent.
Concurrently, Nicholas also freelanced web design and development projects. What started as a skill he wanted to learn eventually became a business. Nicholas and his wife, Hannah Corbacio, started HC Digital Agency, where they help businesses with social media management, web design, and web development.
Together, Nicholas and Hannah also started The Bridal Brand, a company focused on wedding and event spaces. Between digital work, business ownership, and the wedding industry, Nicholas has built a career that blends strategy, creativity, and practical problem-solving.
Nicholas was asked by DJ if he would be interested in creating a landing page for this project and is honored to be a part of this project.
