Meet the Fall 2025 Class of Veteran Fellows

Joshua Xavier Backus

Xavier is a Marine Corps veteran with extensive leadership and technical experience. He served from 2012–2021, including three deployments and leadership roles overseeing hundreds of Marines in training and operations. Xavier also managed training programs and SharePoint systems for multiple units.

Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia, he is the oldest of four and has played the violin for 28 years. Xavier earned a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and is pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science. At the Port of Seattle, he supports the Information Security Section, applying his skills to policy development and hands-on projects while helping the team wherever needed.

Roger Leech

Roger Leech’s connection to military service runs deep. Growing up in a military family, he moved frequently before serving over two decades himself as a Naval Aviator. He held key leadership roles, including Deputy Director of Mishap Investigations at the Naval Safety Command, and played a pivotal role in preparing the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) Combat Direction Center team for deployment. His service took him across the Northern Arabian Gulf, Eastern Pacific, Caribbean Sea, and Far East Pacific. 

After retiring from the Navy, Roger brought his expertise in operational planning, risk management, and team leadership to the Port of Seattle. He now serves as an Assistant Project Manager with the Waterfront Project Management Group, where he supports senior managers and leads small works projects that help maintain the Port’s critical maritime infrastructure. 

Roger is married with three children, and after a lifetime of moving, he and his family are proud to call Tacoma, Washington, home. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time outdoors with his family.

Ghislain-Firmain Fonkeng 

Ghislain served in the U.S. Army as a Logistics Operations Specialist from 2021 to 2025, where he specialized in logistics planning and asset accountability. His military service strengthened his skills in discipline, teamwork, and precision while supporting large-scale operations and strategic missions. Before joining the Army, Ghislain worked in finance, logistics, operations with global nonprofits and the United Nations Refugee Agency, supporting donor-funded humanitarian programs. He currently serves as a Veterans Fellow in the Aviation Facilities & Infrastructure Department at the Port of Seattle, where he contributes to the development of the Port’s asset management program. Through this role, he has gained valuable experience in capital project operations, asset accountability, data-driven process improvement, and cross-department collaboration.

Ghislain hopes to continue growing within the Port and pursue a long-term career in logistics and infrastructure management, with plans to eventually establish an operations consulting firm.

Ghislain holds a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Buea, Cameroon, a second bachelor's degree in supply chain and Operations Management from Western Governors University and is currently pursuing a master's degree in applied business Analytics at the American Military University. He is also a Certified Supply Chain Manager and Agile Scrum Master. 

Outside of work, Ghislain is married and a proud father of two special needs children, who inspire his commitment to advocating for children and families as a Policy Council Member for the Early Head Start program. He enjoys exploring the outdoors of Washington State and continuously learning about emerging technologies in data analytics and artificial intelligence.