Our Team

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President/Director

Kevin is a retired United States Army Colonel who culminated his 26 year Active Army career after successfully commanding a Military Police Brigade/Group.  He “collected” three combat tours (Iraq/Afghanistan) and two “peacekeeping” tours (Kosovo) while on active duty.  

While on active duty, he was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Bronze Stars, and an Army Commendation for Valor while in combat.  Prior to his active duty service, he served four years in the Massachusetts Army Nation Guard as an enlisted Solider while attending the University of Massachusetts- Amherst.

Kevin is a graduate of the National Defense University (MS) and also has an MPA from the University of Central Michigan. He currently serves as a government contractor supporting the Department of Homeland Defense.

He started his interest in the brown water while stationed in Germany in 2014 with Frank and Chris and loves how that brown water brings people together. Kevin loves the Aqua Vitae community because it is is a group of like minded folks who are focused on supporting US military service members, Veterans, family members, and their support networks. Aqua Vitae is a way for Kevin to remain attached to the military community while being physically absent from it for the first time since 1992.  

In 2021, he along with Aqua Vitae for Veterans Vice President, Chris started the Aqua Vitae Single Barrel Program and they operated from Chris’ basement on Joint Base Lewis McChord for the first year.  Kevin was selected as the President of Aqua Vitae for Veterans in 2022 but truly believes that these are just words and a title..…….. Aqua Vitae belongs to all of you.

Kevin is originally from Whitman, Massachusetts and currently lives on Saint Simons Island, Ga. He is married and has three young children.  He has a passion for Vizslas and enjoys walking the beaches of Saint Simons Island with his family, camping/ exploring, hiking and being involved with his children’s activities.   

 Vice President/Treasurer 

Chris Hodl is an Active Duty U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, currently serving on the Joint Staff.  In this role, Chris works on developing recommendations and plans for allocating forces across the globe.  In his almost 20 years of service, Chris has led at the Battalion, Company, and Platoon level in addition to several incredible roles on varying echelons of staff, and is incredibly fortunate to be a founding member of Aqua Vitae.

A career Military Police officer, Chris has served twice in Afghanistan; served on the Joint Staff; Trained new lieutenants to be Military Police; trained as and conducted duties as an operational planner in multiple key assignments; and led operations and staff support for investigative units.  He has proudly commanded Military Police Detentions units at the Company and Battalion level, and is a member of several distinguished Law Enforcement organizations, including the FBI National Academy Alumni, the North American Association of Wardens, and the Military Police Regimental Association.

A strong believer in service and spirits, Chris helped to found Aqua Vitae in 2016 while stationed in Germany with his family, and was selected to be it’s Vice President as it established 501C3 status in 2022.  He was introduced to the “water of life” by Frank, and quickly built a large collection over four years in Germany of all types of spirits, which he most enjoys when sharing with friends and family.

Originally from the Spokane, Washington area, Chris and his family have lived in New York, Missouri, Kansas and Virginia as duty stations and adopted homes, some for multiple tours.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Gonzaga University; a Masters of Science in Criminal Justice from University of Central Missouri; and a Masters of Military Arts and Science in Operational Studies from U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.  He and his wife of 22 years, Mary, have three children: Anna (21), Elizabeth (16), and William (11), all of whom enjoy theater, outdoors, playing family games, watching movies, and having travel adventures. Chris has several lifetimes of whiskey according to his incredibly understanding wife, and spends most of his time looking for opportunities to share with friends.
 

Secretary

Saythala “Lay” Phonexayphova is an active duty U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, who currently serves as an Army Strategist and Homeland Defense Plans Branch Chief for NORAD and USNORTHCOM J5.  In this role, Lay leads a team of planners who are responsible for the contingency plan to defend the United States against potential adversaries.  In his 19-plus years of service, Lay has lead and been part of some amazing teams and missions, and he feels absolutely privileged to be a member of the Aqua Vitae Team.

 A career Army strategist, Lay has been deployed twice to Iraq; served in the Pentagon on the Army Staff; taught philosophy and advanced composition at West Point; was the lead Army contingency planner for the defense of Europe; and worked on the Joint Staff as a joint qualified plans specialist for security force assistance programs.

Passionate about the spirits and service, Lay proudly joined the Aqua Vitae Team as a regular member in 2015 while stationed with his family in Germany and was selected to be its Secretary and Board Member in 2022.  He was introduced to the spirits as a rogue participant of the Scotch Friday Society at West Point in 2013, and this interest grew as he traveled to distilleries throughout continental Europe, Scotland, and Ireland.  With a personal commitment to serve his community, in the past, Lay has volunteered as an English teacher to immigrants in Washington D.C. and supporter for widows at his local church.

Hailing from Joliet, Illinois but born in At Tapu, Laos, Lay’s family immigrated to the United States after escaping from a communist reeducation camp in Southern Laos.  Tremendously driven by his family’s past, he aims to give back to his adopted Homeland, in and outside of uniform, and live the American Dream.

Lay holds a Bachelor of Science in Comparative Politics and Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point; Master’s of Arts in philosophy from Loyola University Chicago; and a Master’s of Education from Touro University.  He is married to the former Jennifer Anne Fisher of Oglesby, Illinois and they have three children: Kiyo (15), Noah (13), and Evelyn Grace (4).  Both boys attend the Vanguard School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the family is busy with soccer, lacrosse, and dance classes while trying to ski and hike when the weather permits.  Lay’s whiskey collection and affinity for the spirits, especially bourbon, continues to grow—to the chagrin of his better half. 

 Frank Dennis is an Active Duty U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, currently serving on the Secretary of Defense staff. Having spent the majority of his 20 year career overseas, Frank’s military career has been shaped by the incredible honor of leading American Soldiers at the Brigade, Battalion, Company, and Platoon level.

While serving in Afghanistan, Frank envisioned an international community, connected through military service and a shared passion for fellowship and camaraderie. While stationed in Germany, he created Aqua Vitae with fellow co-founders, Chris Hodl and Kevin Hanrahan.  

A career Military Police officer, Frank’s operational deployments include Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, and Kenya. Additionally he has trained new Military Police lieutenants, served as an Exchange Officer to the British Army, and as an assignments officer at Army Human Resources Command. Frank has had the incredible honor of commanding a Military Police company in Iraq and commanding a CID Battalion in Hawaii.

Frank holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of South Dakota; a Masters of Military Arts and Sciences from the Command and General Staff College; and a Masters of National Security and Resource Strategy, from The Eisenhower School.

Frank is married to his best friend and high school sweetheart, and has two incredible children that are his life’s purpose. A world traveler and collector of hobbies, Frank is an “expert novice” and never stops looking for the next experience and adventure.