Joe DePinto, CEO of 7-Eleven Inc., has been honored to receive the Sam Johnson Defender of Freedom Award. Presented by the National Defense Briefing Series (NDBS), the award recognizes Dallas-Fort Worth area leaders who have demonstrated continuing and unwavering support for veterans and their families.
The Defender of Freedom Award is named in honor of Congressman Sam Johnson, who dedicated 65 years of service to his country as an Air Force fighter pilot, POW, and U.S. congressman.
The NDBS honored DePinto during a dinner at the Heritage Ranch Golf and Country Club in Fairview, Texas.
“I am deeply honored to receive the 2025 Congressman Sam Johnson Defender of Freedom Award,” said DePinto. “It was incredibly moving to be surrounded by family, friends and colleagues at this special event. A highlight of the evening was the fireside chat with my West Point classmate, Dr. Mark Esper, which was both inspiring and thought-provoking. Being associated with a true American hero like Congressman Sam Johnson, a decorated fighter pilot, POW and longtime Congressman, is truly humbling. I am grateful to the board of NDBS for this recognition—it’s a milestone in my career.”
DePinto, a West Point graduate and MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, is a recognized leader in both business and veteran support. As CEO of 7-Eleven, which operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 13,000 stores in the United States and Canada, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the retail industry. In addition, he serves as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army and sits on several boards, including the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation and the Kellogg School of Management’s Global Advisory Board.
CSP chose Joe DePinto as its 2011 Retail Leader of the Year.
“Joe DePinto’s commitment to supporting our nation’s military and veterans is exactly what this award stands for. His contributions made him a natural choice for this honor,” said Charles Daniels, president of McKinney, Texas-based NDBS’s board.
DePinto is the third recipient of the Sam Johnson Defender of Freedom Award, following previous honorees Scott Murray, CEO of Murray Media, and Darcy Anderson, vice chairman of Hillwood Management, a Perot company based in Dallas.
The National Defense Briefing Series, founded in 2021, aims to educate the community on vital national security issues and raise funds for member organizations dedicated to military and veteran causes.
7-Eleven is No. 1 on CSP’s 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.
7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 13,000 convenience stores in the United States and Canada. It also operates and franchises operates and franchises Speedway and Stripes c-stores and the Laredo Taco Company and Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuits restaurant brands.
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