He retired from the United States Army on 31 January 2000, and later worked for the USO and The Aerospace Corporation.

Tilelli was raised in Holmdel Township, New Jersey, and is a 1963 graduate of Pennsylvania Military College, now named Widener University, where he received a degree in economics and was commissioned an armor officer.

[2] He earned a master's degree in administration from Lehigh University in 1972 and is a 1983 Army War College graduate.

He also holds honorary doctorates in business management from Widener and in law from the University of Maryland.

[8] This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government