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Centinel Community Fund Awards $155,000 in BlueStar Scholarships to 31 Students From Military Families 

Centinel Public Partnerships continues its commitment to military families, with more than $1.8 million in scholarships awarded since 2012 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 23, 2026) – Centinel Public Partnerships (Centinel) is proud to celebrate this year’s 31 BlueStar Scholarship recipients, who collectively have been awarded $155,000 through the Centinel Community Fund (CCF). 

This year’s recipients represent military families from seven Army, Air Force and Space Force housing communities spanning California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kentucky, New York and Texas, highlighting the program’s reach and impact on students living in Centinel’s military housing communities nationwide. 

Established in 2012, the BlueStar Scholarships program provides scholarships to dependent children of active-duty and retired military members as they pursue higher education. The program helps military families invest in their children’s futures and gives students meaningful resources as they work toward their academic and professional goals. 

“The BlueStar Scholarships program is about more than providing financial assistance; it’s about investing in the potential of students who are part of the military community,” said Gretchen Turpen, president of CCF. “We know that service members make tremendous sacrifices, and so do their families and children on the homefront. These scholarships are a meaningful way to honor military dependents, recognize their resilience and encourage them as they pursue their goals. We are incredibly proud of this year’s recipients and look forward to seeing the impact they will make in their schools, careers and communities.”  

Since its inception, the BlueStar Scholarships program has awarded more than $1.8 million in scholarships to students across the military community. The program has also celebrated 48 graduates who have successfully completed their higher education journeys as BlueStar Scholars. 

“I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to apply for the BlueStar Scholarship, as the support [Centinel provides] students who are pursuing higher education is extremely generous and can make a huge difference for people struggling with the cost of college,” said Andrew Doyle, a resident of Fort Campbell’s Campbell Crossing and the No. 1 selection for 2026.  

This year’s 31 recipients represent the latest class of students to benefit from the program, joining a growing network of BlueStar Scholars pursuing educational opportunities and preparing for their futures. 

To learn more about the Centinel Community Fund and the BlueStar Scholarships program, visit https://centinelus.com/community-fund/.  

Chief Commercial Officer Kevin Davis is responsible for Centinel’s commercial services, including transactions, operations and government relations. He also oversees risk and compliance, along with leadership of Environment, Health and Safety, and Marketing and Public Affairs. Kevin spent 18 years with Lendlease in senior business development, commercial and legal roles, following earlier experience in private law practice and service in the U.S. Air Force.

With nearly two decades of experience in marketing and communications, Meryl Exley leads Centinel’s brand, communications and public affairs strategy as Executive Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs. She oversees corporate communications, client and customer engagement, public relations, media, and crisis management, strengthening the company’s reputation and community connections. Before Centinel, Meryl held senior marketing leadership roles at Lendlease, where she advanced growth and visibility for its military housing and lodging platform.

Matthew Garrett is Executive Vice President responsible for Centinel’s Air Force Housing and Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) portfolios. He directs operations and strategic initiatives across both programs. Before joining Centinel, Matt held senior leadership roles at Lendlease, where he expanded its student housing platform and managed a military housing portfolio of more than 40,000 homes. He also led federal lobbying and outreach efforts, engaging with congressional and Department of Defense stakeholders. Earlier in his career, Matt served as a U.S. Army officer, earning a Bronze Star for Valor during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Leading Centinel’s legal, compliance and governance functions, Heather Niemeyer provides strategic counsel to support growth and manage risk across the portfolio. She brings more than 15 years of experience advising global organizations, including senior legal roles at Lendlease and earlier practice with two international law firms.

As Centinel’s Chief Financial Officer, Jeremy Martin is responsible for financial strategy, operations and reporting, guiding the company’s long-term growth and performance. He has more than 20 years of experience in corporate and real estate finance, with expertise in financial planning, compliance and risk management. Jeremy served as CFO for Lendlease (US) Public Partnerships Holdings LLC prior to the company’s acquisition by Centinel, where he directed financial operations for Lendlease Communities.

Gretchen Turpen serves as Executive Vice President, Asset Management, where she directs operations and asset, property and development management for Centinel’s Army housing portfolio of more than 25,000 homes. In this role, she leads corporate strategy, financial performance, and client and customer relationships. Previously, Gretchen was Head of Lodging, where she delivered the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) program including the renovation of over 12,000 hotel rooms across 40 military installations nationwide.

In his role as President, Phillip Carpenter guides operations for Centinel’s Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) and Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) portfolios. He is responsible for property management, asset management, development, construction, and environmental health and safety. With more than 40 years of experience supporting the Department of Defense, Phillip has held senior leadership positions with Lendlease and J&J Worldwide Services, bringing expertise in real estate, development and facilities management. 

Justin Kern, Chief Executive Officer of Centinel, sets the company’s strategic direction with a focus on long-term sustainment and outcomes for customers, partners and employees. He has more than 20 years of leadership in real estate finance, construction and operations. Prior to Centinel, Justin served as President and CEO of Lendlease (US) Public Partnerships Holdings LLC, where he oversaw asset management, property management and development for military housing and lodging communities.