Forever Missed, Forever Remembered

 

Two months ago, Drexel Hamilton lost a cherished member of our family. Devin Bartel, an integral part of Drexel Hamilton for over eleven years, passed away in Los Angeles on February 19, 2025, at the age of 36.

In 2009, Devin enlisted in the U.S. Army as an infantryman. After graduating from Airborne School, he joined the elite 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, South Carolina. He was later attached to a MARSOC unit and deployed to Afghanistan in 2011, where he took part in efforts to eliminate Taliban control in the Helmand Province. During these operations, Devin’s platoon experienced 49 straight days of TICs (troops in combat). Devin was awarded numerous medals and commendations for his service, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, and the Global War on Terrorism Medal, among others.

Following his honorable service, Devin pursued a degree in economics at Fordham Unive

rsity. The move from his hometown in Oklahoma to New York City surprised his family, who initially worried about how he would adjust to such a different environment. But when Devin discovered Drexel Hamilton’s social mission through fellow Veterans on campus and earned an internship, his family felt a renewed sense of peace — he had found a new home. In 2013, Devin took part in Drexel’s former “Vet with a Vet” initiative, which paired transitioning service members with seasoned Wall Street professionals. After obtaining his FINRA licenses, Devin joined Drexel Hamilton full-time.

Since 2014, Devin’s drive, discipline, and positive energy steered his journey across several departments, including Operations, the Debt and Equity Syndicate Desk, Municipal Finance, and most recently, the Str

uctured Products Group. In that role, Devin worked closely with Managing Partner Alex Kim and Vice President Sunny Wong, forming a dynamic trio that has built powerful relationships and driven the Structured Products Group to be one of Drexel Hamilton’s most successful business lines.

“Devin was like a younger brother to me and a colleague whom I respected and came to rely on heavily for the success of the desk,” said Alex Kim, adding, “I’ll miss our conversations and happy hours. He was one of the originals at Drexel Hamilton and a part of our family forever.”

Sharing Alex’s sentiment, Sunny Wong added, “I’ve worked with Devin for basically my entire time here at Drexel. Since we ran the day-to-day activities on our desk, Devin and I basically spoke to each other on a daily basis. He always struck me as both a consummate professional and also a very warmhearted and kind man. He also had a great sense of humor and really brightened our days at times when the markets got rough. I will miss him deeply.”

The entire Drexel Hamilton family echoes their words. We grieve the loss of a teammate, a Veteran, and a friend — but above all, we honor the life of a man who served with profound loyalty, quiet strength, and unmatched selflessness.

Rest in peace, Devin Paul Bartel.