TEAM

President George W. Bush Honorary Chairman

President Bush was born on July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Barbara and George H.W. Bush – later the 41st President of the United States. In 1948, the family moved to Texas, where George W. Bush grew up in Midland and Houston. He received a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University in 1968 and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School in 1975. He served as a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard from 1968 to 1974. He settled in Midland, where he started an energy business and married Laura Welch on November 5, 1977. After working on his father’s successful 1988 Presidential campaign, George W. Bush joined a group of partners that purchased the Texas Rangers baseball franchise in 1989.

On November 8, 1994, George W. Bush was elected the 46th Governor of Texas. In 1998, he became the first governor in Texas history to be elected to consecutive four-year terms.

After the Presidency, George and Laura Bush founded the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas. The Bush Center is home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, which houses President Bush’s presidential papers. The Bush Center is also home to the George W. Bush Institute, a public policy organization that focuses on economic growth, education reform, global health, and human freedom. The Bush Institute supports the rights of women with its Women’s Initiative and honors those who have served in the United States armed forces through its Military Service Initiative.

President Bush is the author of Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors, a collection of paintings and stories honoring the sacrifice and courage of America’s veterans. He is also the author of two bestselling books, Decision Points and 41.

He and Laura are the parents of twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna, son-in-law, Henry Hager, and proud grandparents of Margaret Laura “Mila” and Poppy Louise Hager. The Bush family also includes two cats, Bob and Bernadette, as well as Freddy the dog.

Michael R. Rodriguez President/CEO

Michael “Rod” Rodriguez is the President and CEO of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. Rod joined the U.S. Army in 1992 and attended the Special Forces Assessment and Selection course to become a Green Beret in 1997. In 2013, he was medically retired due to numerous combat injuries. His last assignment as a Green Beret came as a Sniper Instructor assigned to the JFK Special Warfare Center (Range 37) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He has deployed ten times in service to our nation.

Rod’s involvement with the GWOT Memorial Foundation began in 2016 when he joined the organization as a board member in support of the Foundation’s sole mission to construct a Memorial on the National Mall that appropriately honors the profound service and sacrifices of all who served in America’s longest war. Rod later led the organization as President and CEO from March 2018 to September 2020 before taking a leave of absence for a personal matter and overseas deployment. He was re-appointed President and CEO in December 2021.

From 2015-2018, Rod served as a member of President George W. Bush’s Military Service Initiative Advisory Council, advising, and supporting the President and leadership of the Bush Institute on strategies and programs to support veterans and their families. In 2013, Rod was appointed as a Fellow of the Manhattan-based Explorers Club, an international organization dedicated to the advancement of scientific exploration and inquiry, for his research on traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress.

In August of 2021, Rod directly assisted in evacuating U.S. allied personnel and their families from Afghanistan, and he continues to provide support for their resettlement. He helps several other non-profits in both veteran and non-veteran spaces. He also provides leadership advice and training to local, state, and national government agencies, corporations, and private businesses. Rod holds a B.S. in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis and an M.A. in Diplomacy with a concentration in International Conflict Management, both from Norwich University.

As an artist who works with metal, Rod is a passionate advocate for the power of art to heal, connect, and inspire us all. In addition to being part of several private collections including the British Royal Family, his work has been exhibited at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Rod also works with the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Forces initiative.

Rod is a New Mexico native who comes from a family with a strong tradition of military service. Both his grandfathers served during World War II, and his father is a Vietnam veteran. His eldest son is currently serving with the 82nd Airborne Division and has deployed twice, one of which was to the same regions of Afghanistan as Rod. Rod is a committed outspoken advocate for veterans and their families and often speaks publicly on the need to increase understanding of life experiences between the civilian and military communities. Most importantly, Rod is a proud grandfather, father, and hermano to many.

Theodore “Ted” C. Skokos Chairman

Theodore “Ted” C. Skokos, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, is an entrepreneur and philanthropist residing in Dallas, Texas. Ted’s extensive 21-year legal career began as a deputy prosecutor and ultimately led to managing partner of Skokos, Bequette, and Billingsley, P.A. in Little Rock, Arkansas. While working as an attorney, Ted proudly served in the U.S. Army Reserves and was one of 550 U.S. soldiers to serve in all three missions of the Persian Gulf War, i.e., Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Provide Comfort. Upon returning from the war, he retired from the Army in 1992 as a 21-year veteran.

Two years later, in 1994, Ted retired from the practice of law and turned his energy toward building entities that would benefit society, most notably in the wireless industry focused on everything from bringing cellular service to rural communities to providing high-speed wireless internet service to major metropolitan areas. From 2002 through 2008, Ted and his Aloha Partners acquired 700 MHz C-Block wireless spectrum licenses in FCC auctions as well as on the secondary market to cover 196 million people in 281 markets including 72 of the top 100 and all of the top 10 markets in the U.S. Those licenses were purchased by AT&T Mobility in 2008 for $2.5 billion. Before selling, Aloha pioneered using UHF-TV for wireless broadband in Phoenix, Arizona in 2006. Aloha also pioneered using UHF-TV to send TV channels to smartphones in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2007. After acquiring the Aloha licenses, AT&T followed Aloha’s lead with a nationwide rollout of high-speed wireless Broadband using 700 MHz spectrum that revolutionized communications.

Believing that we each have a responsibility to leave the earth a little better than we found it, Ted and his wife Shannon founded The Ted and Shannon Skokos Foundation in 2008, which awards grants to public charities that make a positive impact by, among other things, advancing the arts, humanity, education, and faith. Ted has served on numerous boards, including The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation (Chairman), The Texas Rangers Baseball Club, The Ted and Shannon Skokos Foundation, UT Southwestern Medical Foundation, ATS Medical Inc., Denison Ministries, Dallas Center for the Performing Arts President’s Advisory Board, and North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee.

Ted is also a former racecar driver in the North American circuit of the Ferrari Challenge Racing Series, where he and his teammate were North American Champions in 2009. He received both his Bachelor of Science degree and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas. He has three children and five grandchildren all residing in Arkansas.

Kenneth A. Hersh Vice-Chairman

Kenneth A. Hersh, 58, is President, Chief Executive Officer, and board member of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, a Dallas-based non-partisan institution which houses the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the George W. Bush Institute. Mr. Hersh focuses on executing the strategy to sustain the Bush Center’s mission for the long term.

He is the Co-Founder and former CEO of NGP Energy Capital Management, a premier private equity investment franchise in the natural resources industry managing over $20 billion of cumulative committed capital since inception in 1988. Until 2016, Mr. Hersh served as NGP’s Chief Executive Officer. From 1988 through the end of 2015, under his leadership, NGP invested over $12 billion and achieved significant investment returns making it one of the nation’s leading private equity firms.

Mr. Hersh currently manages his family investment office and serves as Senior Advisor to The Carlyle Group’s natural resources division. He also sits on the boards of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club and the Dallas Citizens Council. In addition, Mr. Hersh serves on the Board of Overseers of the Hoover Institution, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Council of the American Enterprise Institute, and the Dean’s Council of the Harvard Kennedy School. In 2014, he was recognized as Master Entrepreneur of the Year for the Southwest Region by Ernst & Young during its Entrepreneur of the Year program, and in 2017 received the Oil & Gas Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2020, Mr. Hersh received the L. Frank Pitts Energy Leadership Award conferred by the SMU Cox School of Business for demonstrating outstanding leadership and innovation in the field of energy.

Mr. Hersh is also very involved in the nonprofit arena both nationally and locally on a personal basis and through the efforts of the Hersh Foundation. He serves on the boards of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, the Communities Foundation of Texas, the Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation, and sits on the Advisory Council of The Asian American Foundation. In 2015, Mr. Hersh received the St. Mark’s School of Texas Distinguished Alumnus Award. In 2019, he received the Henry Cohn Humanitarian Award, presented by the Texoma region of the Anti-Defamation League for his work in advancing the cause of human rights, dignity, and equal opportunity.

Prior to co-founding NGP, Mr. Hersh was employed by Morgan Stanley & Co. where he was a member of the firm’s energy group specializing in oil and gas financing and merger and acquisition transactions.

Mr. Hersh was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from St. Mark’s, he attended Princeton University where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Politics in 1985. In 1989, Mr. Hersh earned his M.B.A. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business where he graduated as an Arjay Miller Scholar.

Mr. Hersh resides in Dallas, Texas.

Rye Barcott Secretary

Rye Barcott is co-founder and CEO of WithHonor.org, a disruptive political organization helping to reduce polarization and repair our country by electing and supporting a cross-partisan coalition of next-generation veterans who pledge to put principles before politics. Barcott served in the U.S. Marine Corps and co-founded the non-governmental organization Carolina for Kibera to fight extreme poverty. He has been a part of Carolina for Kibera as a volunteer and board member for nearly 20 years. His book, It Happened on the Way to War, juxtaposes military service and social entrepreneurship. Dartmouth awarded him an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters. After the Marines, Barcott earned his MBA and MPA and co-founded the clean energy investment firm Double Time Capital with another post 9-11 veteran. He lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife and children.

Cecilia Deyo Treasurer

U.S. Navy Veteran, community change agent, veteran advocate, mother of two, and CEO of D-DEY Response Group, Cecilia Deyo was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. At the age of 19, she began her eight year tenure with the U.S. Navy that included an Iraq War deployment, the awarding of Sailor of the Year, multiple awards, honors, and commendations, and an honorable discharge in 2009.

During Cecilia’s Navy deployment, she met Don Deyo, a US Army Special Forces operator and first responder. After her separation from military service, they married and soon added to their blended family with the arrivals of their children, Daniel and Madeleine. “Team Deyo” as Cecilia refers to them includes Cynnamon and DJ Deyo, Don’s two older children.

With the help of her mentors, Cecilia established D-DEY Response Group in 2014 in the kitchen of her home as a stay-at-home mom and full-time student at Florida Atlantic University. From humble beginnings, D-DEY has doubled in revenue nearly every year since its inception and has grown to be an elite force in crisis training.

Cecilia’s vision for D-DEY was twofold – to create value-focused careers for members of her beloved veteran community and to empower and prepare students to become potential heroes in an emergency.

Helping fellow citizens and first responders throughout the nation overcome living life in fear through training and preparedness is one of the greatest responsibilities to have. D-Dey is proud to provide a program that allows others to save and respond to a life in need while building confidence and empowerment in its clients.

As D-Dey has grown, so has Cecilia’s drive to expand the company’s footprint. In 2018, she founded D-Dey Relief Corp, serving as the president of this not-for-profit organization that was dedicated to sending medical aid and security teams to areas devastated by natural disasters during Hurricane Dorian. In 2020, she established two more companies with the founding of D-DEY Offshore and D-DEY Tactical.

Cecilia’s compassion extends beyond D-Dey. Since 2010 she has dedicated herself to other business, community and non-profit activities. They include: FAU Entrepreneur Bootcamp 2014, Junior League of Martin County 2010-2018 Active Member, Junior League of Martin County 2019 Sustainer, Impact 100 Martin County 2018 – present, Freedom Fighter Outdoors Volunteer 2016-2017 and Freedom Fighter Outdoors Board 2018-Present.

General Joseph L. Votel Board Member

General Joseph L. Votel is a retired U.S. Army Four-Star officer and most recently the Commander of the U.S. Central Command – responsible for U.S. and coalition military operations in the Middle East, Levant and Central and South Asia. During his 39 years in the military, he commanded special operations and conventional military forces at every level. His career included combat in Panama, Afghanistan and Iraq. Notably, he led a 79-member coalition that successfully liberated Iraq and Syria from the Islamic State Caliphate. He preceded his assignment at CENTCOM with service as the Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command and the Joint Special Operations Command.

Votel was recognized with the Distinguished Military Leadership Award from the Atlantic Council, the U.S. – Arab Defense Leadership Award from the National Council on U.S. - Arab Relations, the Patriot Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, the SGT James T. Regan Lifetime Achievement Award from the “Lead the Way” Foundation and the Freedom Award from the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.

In January of 2020, General Votel became President & CEO of Business Executives for National Security (BENS). He is a Strategic Advisor for Sierra Nevada Corporation as well as a member of the Board of Trustees for Noblis Corporation. Votel is a non-resident Distinguished Fellow at the Middle East Institute and the Belfer Center at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and advises the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. He sits on the Executive Board of Freedom House and the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL). He serves on the Board of Directors for Service to School, Minnesota Wire, Digital Force Technologies and Owl Cyber Defense. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Votel is a 1980 graduate of the United States Military Academy and earned master’s degrees from the U.S. Army Command and Staff College and the Army War College. He is married to Michele; and they have two grown sons, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. The Votels reside in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.

Bill Kraus Board Member

Isaia Vimoto Board Member

Command Sergeant Major Isaia T. Vimoto entered the military under the COHORT program from the island of American Samoa on 5 November 1981. He started One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Ft. Benning, Georgia on 10 November 1981.

CSM Vimoto’s assignments include tours with 2/31st IN and 2/9th IN, Ft. Ord, California; 1/9th IN, Camp Greaves, Korea; 6/14th IN and 4/87th IN, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; 3/75th Ranger Regiment and 2/58th IN (ITB) Ft. Benning, Georgia; 3/325th and 1/508th ABCT, Vicenza, Italy; 1/502nd IN and Sabalauski Air Assault School, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky; United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA), Ft. Bliss, Texas; 2/14th IN, Ft. Drum, New York; 2-327 IN, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky; 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza Italy;  8th BDE US Army ROTC, Ft. Lewis WA; 1^st Army Division West, Ft. Hood Texas; 1^st Cavalry Division, Ft. Hood Texas; and XVIII ABN Corps & Ft. Bragg, NC.

Command Sergeant Major Vimoto has served in every leadership position including Team Leader, Squad Leader, Scout Platoon Sergeant, Airborne Infantry Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Assistant Commandant of The Sabalauski Air Assault School (1SG). Operations Sergeant Major, BN Command Sergeant Major, Brigade Command Sergeant Major; Division Command Sergeant Major and Corps Command Sergeant Major.

His military education includes PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC, the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, and the Keystone Course. He also completed the following courses: Basic Airborne, Jump Master Course, Ranger School, Air Assault School, Drill Sergeant School, Rappel Master Course, Special Operations Training Course (SOT), Applied Explosives Technique Course, Combat Life Saver, and Master Fitness Course.

CSM Vimoto’s awards and decorations include the DSSM, LOM, BSM (x2), DMSM, MSM (5OLC), ARCOM (x6), AAM (x6), Good Conduct Medal (10th award), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, GWOT- SM, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NCOPD (x4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (x7), MFO Medal, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist, Air Assault Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, German Jump Wings, and Brazilian Jump Wings. He is a recipient of the prestigious Sergeant Morales and the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. He was awarded the Infantry Order of Saint Maurice, the Field Artillery Order of Saint Barbara, and the Combat Spurs.

Officially retired 1 April 2016.

Edwin “Spike” Wahlen Director Emeritus (In Memory)

Mr. Wahlen was a Founder and Managing Partner of Toxaway Capital Partners, his personal investment vehicle.  From 1985 to 2014 he was a Founder and Managing Partner of CGW Southeast Partners which successfully invested four private equity funds aggregating over $750 million and acquired more than 40 companies.  The last of these funds was successfully closed out in 2014.  These private equity funds supported management teams in acquisitions and recapitalization of middle-market companies (typically valued between $25 and $200 million). He was a Chartered Financial Analyst and an officer of several banks and investment banks prior to forming CGW in 1985.

Toxaway Holdings had several venture investments including Bastille Networks and The Cipher Brief (www.thecipherbrief.com) among others and held the controlling interest in two companies: TWR Lighting, Inc. and Pharos Marine Automatic Power, Inc.

He was a member of the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Advisory Board and an emeritus member of the Board of Visitors of the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC, where he received his MBA.

In addition he served on the board of directors of Business Executives for National Security (BENS), (www.bens.org), a national, nonprofit organization of senior business leaders working for a more secure America.  In 1991, Mr. Wahlen co-founded Atlanta Charity Clays, Inc., which to date has raised more than $5 million dollars for children’s charities in Atlanta and is chairman of its’ board of directors.  He also served as vice chairman of Zoo Atlanta and served on that board for over twenty years as well as having served as the Chairman of the board of The Atlanta chapter of The American Diabetes Association. He resided in Atlanta with his wife Cathy. Mr. Wahlen passed away in 2022.

Lyn Schultes Franco Vice President of Communications

Lyn Schultes Franco is a communications strategist with over 15 years of journalism, public relations and marketing experience. Before joining the Foundation as its Director of Communications, Lyn worked at both global marketing agencies -- including Ogilvy and FleishmanHillard -- and small, start-up consultancies to develop award-winning public awareness and advocacy campaigns for mission-driven organizations. A writer at heart, Lyn began her career as a reporter at The Miami Herald and producer at ABC News and FOX News. 

She comes from a military family -- her father is a retired US Marine Corps officer and Vietnam Veteran -- and is passionate about advocating for military families and Veteran caregivers. Throughout her career, she has managed over a dozen projects for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs aimed at raising awareness and driving utilization of VA healthcare and mental health services for Veterans and their families. 

Lyn earned her Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism and International Relations from the University of Miami and her Masters of Science (MSc) in European Studies from the London School of Economics. She lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband, a former Marine, and their daughter.

DiAnne Owen Graham Development Strategist

DiAnne Owen Graham is the Director of Development for the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial Foundation where she is responsible for raising an initial $50 million to fund the building of the National GWOT Memorial.

Mrs. Graham is President of Graham Advisors, LLC, a full-service consulting firm specializing in advising and fundraising for nonprofit, political and issue advocacy organizations. Mrs. Graham directs multi-million dollar national fundraising efforts on behalf of her clients, which have included Governors, U.S. Senators, U.S. Congressmen, Attorneys General, national and state political committees and numerous issue advocacy and nonprofit entities. Mrs. Graham also serves as Co-Founder and Partner of Strategic Advisors, LLC, a full-service public and government affairs firm.

Prior to entering the private sector, Mrs. Graham directed, from its inception in 2009, the RGA’s Executive Roundtable program, a major donor program of CEO/executive-level contributors. During her three-year tenure, the program raised over $50 million which led to record-breaking fundraising for the organization totaling over $170 million, and the number of Republican governors increased from 22 to 30.

Mrs. Graham served as a political appointee for three years in President George W. Bush’s administration in Washington, DC. She held top-secret clearance throughout her various roles with the U.S. Department of State. As Senior Outreach Protocol Officer, she advised Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, the Chief of Protocol, on strategic planning, policy sensitive issues and key protocol practices. She led the first series of the “Experience America” trips for the Diplomatic Corps and executed official functions and programs hosted by the Secretary of State, the Chief of Protocol and other high-level Department officials.

She was the Chief of Staff to Dina Habib Powell, the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), and acted as the liaison to the Office of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs led by Ambassador Karen Hughes. Additionally, Mrs. Graham was the Director of International Initiatives in ECA. Through her role as the primary Department of State member of an interagency team, she earned the prestigious Bronze Medal for Superior Federal Service.

Prior to her government service, Mrs. Graham was the Director of Scheduling for Governor Haley Barbour beginning in 2001 in Washington, DC when he served as Chairman and CEO of Barbour Griffith and Rogers, in Mississippi throughout his gubernatorial campaign in 2003 and in his elected position of Governor of the State of Mississippi in 2004.

Following her tenure with Governor Haley Barbour, she directed the International Program at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York. At the conclusion of the Convention, she began her role of Chief of Staff to Lisa Gable, the U.S. Ambassador to the 2005 World’s Fair in Nagoya, Japan where the United States was represented among 121 countries.

Mrs. Graham is a native of New Albany, Mississippi. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree at The University of Mississippi in 2001. The Ole Miss Alumni Association selected Mrs. Graham to join the 2006-2007 Board of Directors as the youngest member of the Board, and she is a Lifetime Member of the Association. While living in Washington, DC, she served as the President and Chairman of the Mississippi Society of Washington, DC and was a member of the Junior League. She is a founding fellow of the Susan Schiffer Stautberg Leadership Foundation and a member of the Belizean Grove, where she serves on the Executive Committee.

Governors Jeff Colyer and Laura Kelly appointed Graham to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet. She also currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL), on the Board of Directors for The Foundation for Andover Schools, is President of the Mid-Kansas Rebel Alumni Club, a former Trustee for Historic Wichita Cowtown, Inc., and is active in the children’s ministry at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. Mrs. Graham was selected as one of the Wichita Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Awardees in 2017.

Mrs. Graham lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband, Chris, and their sons, Owen and Parker.

Wyatt Smith Vice President of Development

Wyatt has over 20 years of development and fundraising experience in the political and nonprofit world, as well as the private sector.  From his early career in politics, to his post at the George W. Bush Foundation, he has implemented and led fundraising efforts raising in excess of $1B.  Wyatt currently serves on the North Texas Folds of Honor board and has worked with many military personnel and their families since 9/11 while working for a D.C. based military non-profit and through his work at the Bush Foundation.

Wyatt grew up in Phoenix and earned his B.A. in political science from ASU, and holds an MBA in finance, strategy, and management from SMU’s Cox Business School.  He resides in Dallas with his wife and two kids.

David Wilezol Communications Strategist

David Wilezol is the founder and president of Seventh Floor Strategies, a Washington, D.C. writing and strategic communications firm specializing in national security, international business, defense, and other issues of international significance. His work on behalf of clients has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, USA Today, Fox News, the Hill, and the Washington Times, among other outlets.

From 2017-2021, David served as Chief Speechwriter to the Secretary at the U.S. State Department. He also previously wrote for former Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus and former Secretary of Education Bill Bennett.

David is also currently a Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy at the American Foreign Policy Council. He graduated from American University (B.A., History) and The Catholic University of America (M.A., Latin; Graduate Certificate, Ancient Greek).

Jane Horton Gold Star Coordinator

Ms. Jane Horton brings over ten years of experience as one of the most respected and influential leaders in the national security and veterans spaces in Washington D.C. and across the globe. She is known as a fearless and relentless advocate who has worked across the aisle with democrats, republicans, and independents alike to write multiple pieces of legislation, policies, and programs to better the lives of veterans, service members, and their families.

Jane currently serves as a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense in the Pentagon. In this capacity, Ms Horton advises on matters ranging from civilian and military personnel policy to military and community family policy as well as leading efforts to advance warfighter brain health and Gold Star family initiatives. Prior to this position, Ms Horton served as the Congressional and Military Liaison for the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington D.C. As a personal advisor, Ms Horton provided guidance and oversight for national, regional and international partner engagements to advance equities and manage interactions with visiting delegations worldwide. Additionally, Ms Horton has served as a policy consultant to the Travis Manion Foundation, the Advisory Board to the Independence Fund, Freedom Hunters, Remember My Service, Medals of Honor and the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. Last year, Jane served as a Presidential Delegate to the Invictus Games in Sydney, Australia where she met with Prince Harry, and was also appointed to the U.S. Afghan Women’s Council, cochaired by Laura Bush and Hilary Clinton.

Ms Horton’s diverse career includes extensive experience in political, security and legislative relations serving as a contributing writer for publications such as Task and Purpose, Huffington Post, and The Drudge Report, and has been featured on ABC, USA Today, Fox and Friends, CNN, The Jake Tapper Show, Special Report by Brett Baier, Kelly File, along with numerous other paper publications and public appearances. Furthermore, as a proud native of Cleveland, Ohio, Ms Horton has extensive leadership in military and veteran advocacy and a passion for service, dedicating over 12,000 hours to Gold Star family and survivor populations. Some notable achievements include championing the extension of the Fry Scholarship to surviving spouses, The Sergeant First Class Sean Cooley and Specialist Christopher Horton Congressional Gold Star Family Fellowship Program Act, the Department of Defense Comprehensive Strategy for Warfighter Brain Health, and several laws in multiple National Defense Authorizations Acts regarding service member brain health research, protections and initiatives, Gold Star, surviving family, and casualty policy. She has advised numerous senior military, congressional, and government leaders across the globe, earned multiple awards for her community and civilian service, and traveled to combat zones to visit the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan on numerous occasions.

Ms Horton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from Rogers State University and a certificate in International Studies from Harvest Brisbane, Australia.

Stephanie Ouellette Gold Star Coordinator

Stephanie became a Marine Corps Gold Star sister on March 22, 2009 when her brother Cpl. Michael Ouellette was killed in action while serving in Afghanistan. Since her brother’s death, she and her family have worked tirelessly on behalf of Veterans and Gold Star families across New England and across the United States to carry on his legacy of service. She is the Founder of the NH Gold Star Families Memorial Project a community organization that is dedicated to recognizing and honoring the families of NH fallen military service members. This organization helps support the families of the fallen in their charitable and community service-based efforts in remembrance of their loved ones. She also serves with the Travis Manion Foundation as a Character Does Matter program mentor. She proudly sits on the board of the NH Veterans Cemetery Association focusing her efforts on community outreach and development. In addition to being an honorary board member of The Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation, she served as the director of the NH Gold Star Families monument project bringing a Gold Star Families monument to the NH Veterans Cemetery in the fall of 2018. Personally and professionally, Stephanie dedicates her time and energy to serving others.

Nate Boyer Army Green Beret, philanthropist, humanitarian

Nate Boyer is what many would deem a renaissance man. The Army Green Beret is also a philanthropist, humanitarian, and former football player for the University of Texas Longhorns (despite never playing a down of organized football prior to the Special Forces), and later for the Seattle Seahawks becoming the oldest rookie in NFL history at age 34. Being a member of both the military veteran and athlete community, he saw an opportunity to team up both populations to tackle their transition struggles together through Merging Vets & Players (MVP), a charity he co-founded with Jay Glazer. Nate currently works in Film and TV as a producer, director, actor, and host. Among his many projects he recently directed his first feature film about the genesis of MVP, which will be released later this fall.

Joseph M. DePinto President and CEO of 7-Eleven

Joe DePinto is the President and CEO of 7-Eleven, Inc. and leads the premier company in convenience retailing.  Globally, there are more than 66,500 7-Eleven stores of which some 11,900 stores are in North America.

Before being appointed Chief Executive of 7-Eleven, Inc. in 2005, Joe was President of GameStop Corporation.  He has also held executive positions at PepsiCo, Inc. and Thornton Oil Corporation.

Currently, Joe is a Board Director of 7-Eleven, Inc., Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. (TYO: 3382), and is the Chairman of the Board of Brinker International (NYSE: EAT).

In December, 2017, Joe was appointed a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army.  He also serves on the Board of the Business Executives for National Security, the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, the Southwestern Medical Foundation and the Dallas Citizens Council.  Additionally, Joe is a Council member of the George W. Bush Presidential Center Military Service Initiative, the Kellogg School of Management Global Advisory Board, and the Dallas Stars Ownership Advisory Group.

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Joe earned a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Management from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Matt Gannon Head of Federal Affairs, Farmers Insurance

Matt Gannon is the Head of Federal Affairs for Farmers Insurance. Volunteering for GWOTMF, Matt played a crucial role in passing the legislation, where he made introductions to key policymakers and advised on lobbying strategy and messaging. Gannon has also helped the foundation in the brand building among major donors and influencers since 2016. A financial services lobbyist for 16 years, he joined Farmers in 2013. Previously he lobbied for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies and the American Financial Services Association. He began his career as a campaign fundraising director at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Gannon has an undergraduate degree from James Madison University and an MBA from Georgetown University. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and twin daughters.

Rev. Darius Holland Pastor, Captain, United States Army

Reverend Doctor Darius Holland, a pastor of 20 years, is a chaplain in the Army National Guard, currently attached to 1st Special Warfare Training Group at Fort Bragg. Holland was previously a pastor at True Life Church in Thornton, Colorado. Prior to entering the military, Holland played for ten seasons as a defensive lineman in the National Football League, winning a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 1997. Holland has an undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado Boulder, a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) in Pastoral Studies/Counseling from Golden Gate Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Jared Lyon National President & CEO of Student Veterans of America

Jared Lyon was appointed National President & CEO of Student Veterans of America (SVA) in 2016. He leads the organization’s efforts to empower student veterans using the transformative power of higher education. Since he took office, Lyon has overseen SVA’s growth to a network of more than 1,500 chapters on campuses in all 50 states and three countries representing over 750,000 student veterans.

During his tenure, he co-authored the National Veteran Education Success Tracker (NVEST), a comprehensive study of the first 854,000 student veterans to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill. In 2017 Lyon led SVA’s commitment to pass the “Forever GI Bill,” the largest expansion of college aid for military veterans in a decade with an economic impact of $3.4 Billion. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served as a submariner and diver, taking part in multiple deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

Prior to joining the headquarters team at SVA, Lyon previously served as the National Program Manager for the Institute for Veterans and Military Families Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans and as Manager of Florida Operations for the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team. Lyon is a member of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran’s Advisory Committee on Education, and a commissioner for the American Council on Education’s Commission for Education Attainment. He also serves on the Florida State University Veteran Advisory Board and is a 2018 Presidential Leadership Scholar.

He holds an Associate of Arts from Eastern Florida State College, a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University, and a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, where he is an adjunct professor at the Whitman School of Management. In 2011, SVA named Lyon the National Student Veteran of the Year. Jared and his wife Chayla reside in Alexandria, Virginia with their son, Campbell.

Susana Martinez Governor of New Mexico (2011-2018)

In 2010, Susana Martinez was elected governor of the State of New Mexico. She became New Mexico’s first female governor and the first Hispanic female governor in the history of the United States. Prior to being elected governor, Martinez was a prosecutor for 25 years along the nation’s southern border and served as Doña Ana County’s elected district attorney for over half that time. As governor, she prioritized keeping New Mexico’s communities safe, ensuring all students receive a high-quality education, and diversifying and growing the state’s economy.

When Governor Martinez took office in 2011, she inherited a nearly half-billion-dollar budget deficit, on a state budget that totaled just over $5.5 billion at the time. Through responsible spending and a commitment to expanding and diversifying the state’s economy, she turned the largest structural deficit in state history into a $2 billion surplus by the time she left office.  She never raised taxes.  In fact, she vetoed over $1 billion in proposed tax increases, and cut taxes and fees 61 times while in office.

Governor Martinez also made New Mexico’s economy more competitive for jobs and new investment. She established a robust closing fund and expanded job training incentives, streamlined regulations and cut red tape, lowered the business tax rate, and worked with governors in Mexico to build a bustling bi-national economic corridor along the border. When she left office, New Mexico’s job growth had reached a 12-year high and the unemployment rate had fallen from 7.8 to 4.6 percent. New Mexico became a national leader in export growth. And, as a result of these tools, reforms and investments, national and global companies like Netflix, Facebook, and SafeLite have moved major operations to New Mexico, while homegrown cutting-edge businesses like RS21, Skorpios, Risksense, Descartes Labs, and others have been able to expand and thrive.

The Governor also implemented bold education reforms to raise academic standards, improve student learning and school performance, and close persistent achievement gaps. On her watch, New Mexico’s graduation rate increased 10 percentage points – to an all-time high of 73 percent, fewer graduating students needed to take remedial courses in college, and the four-year college graduation rate at the state’s flagship university doubled. Governor Martinez raised the salaries of starting teachers, significantly increased funding for – and participation in – Pre-K programs and other early childhood education initiatives, expanded literacy programs and tutoring for at-risk students, and launched new teacher and principal mentoring programs that improved classroom instruction and student performance.

Ensuring that New Mexicans feel safe in their homes and communities was also a top priority for Governor Martinez. Her administration cracked down on repeat drunk drivers and launched various “ENDWI” initiatives that helped drive alcohol-related highway fatalities to record lows. She raised State Police officer salaries and fought to provide law enforcement officers and prosecutors with the tools they needed to get criminals off the streets. For example, as District Attorney, Martinez fought to pass “Katie’s Law,” which required a DNA sample to be taken from those arrested for certain crimes in New Mexico. As Governor, she signed the expansion of that law, requiring a DNA sample for all felony arrests. The law has matched felony arrestee DNA to more than 1,500 cold cases since 2007, saving countless lives and helping identify and prosecute murderers, rapists, and other serious offenders.

In 2014, Governor Martinez won re-election by the largest margin of any Republican gubernatorial candidate in modern history, earning substantial support from Democratic and Independent voters in rural and urban areas alike.  She served alongside a Democratically-controlled Legislature throughout her time in office, with the exception of a two-year period of Republican control of one chamber. She has been named to Time Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People in the World and served as a Chairman and long-time executive committee member of the Republican Governors

Erica Jeffries Purdo North America Pharmacy Channel Leader, Strategic Customer Group

Erica Jeffries Purdo is the North America Pharmacy Channel Leader for the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson in the Strategic Customer Group (SCG). In this role, Erica creates and implements go-to-market strategies for Janssen therapeutics and vaccines through key pharmacy channels: Specialty Pharmacies, Retail, and alternate Pharmacy sites. Erica leads the cross-functional teams that drive these Pharmacy engagements and partners closely with the Janssen Therapeutic Areas to build strategies, and enhance the analytics and the patient journey overall. Erica also has responsibility for the SCG Learning & Development team that supports numerous channels across the Market Access ecosystem.

Most recently, Erica was the Portfolio and Process Management (PPM) Lead and Strategic Support Lead in Global Services. As PPM lead, Erica led a global team and was responsible for driving the development, implementation and execution of sustainable and cohesive Governance, Portfolio Management, and Project/Program Management to achieve goals defined by the overall strategic plan. Erica was a member of the Global Services Leadership Team (GSLT) and Sponsor for the LATAM Regional Leadership Council (RLC).

Prior to joining J&J, Erica had a successful career with roles in both the public and private sectors beginning
as an officer in the US Army to serving as the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs(IDVA)
where she was responsible for over 1200 employees serving nearly 700,000 veterans and their families. At the Federal level, Erica had the privilege of serving as a White House Fellow where she focused on building public-private partnerships. In the private sector, Erica specialized in defense strategy and national security policy with assignments in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Erica is an ardent supporter of military service members and their families. She has been a member of President George W. Bush’s Military Strategic Initiative council since 2015; and in November 2019, she was sworn in by the Secretary of the Army to serve as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) for the state of New Jersey.

Erica earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Arts in Security Studies from Georgetown University, and a Master of Business Administration from Virginia Tech University. Erica lives in Westfield, NJ with her husband Derek, daughters Talia (4) and Brielle (2), and Cairn Terrier Sampson (15).

Shannon Slutman Gold Star Widow – Mother of Three

Dr. Shannon Slutman is the wife and Gold Star Widow of United States Marine SSGT Christopher Slutman.  SSGT Slutman was a firefighter with the FDNY and was killed in Afghanistan in April of 2019 while serving as a reservist.  Chris and Shannon were blessed with three amazing daughters.  Together they enjoyed paying it forward by working with local and national foundations.  She continues this legacy by proudly serving as an Ambassador for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

 A lifelong educator, Dr. Slutman has worked as an elementary school counselor and is currently the Vice President of Grants, Compliance, and Development for charter schools throughout the country.  For almost 20 years, she has helped schools to build rich academic programs through grant funding and to increase school choice opportunities for families.   Dr. Slutman is passionate about educating our children on the service and sacrifice of our military.

Kevin Sullivan Senior Advisor for External Affairs at the George W. Bush Presidential Center

As Senior Advisor for External Affairs at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Kevin Sullivan provides guidance and counsel on the Bush Center’s communications and marketing efforts and serves on the Bush Center’s leadership team.

Sullivan was appointed by President George W. Bush as Assistant to the President for Communications in July 2006, where he oversaw message development and communications planning.  His responsibilities also included oversight of the White House website; the rapid response operation; outreach to regional and specialty media; and the production of Presidential events.  Prior to working in the White House, Sullivan served as the Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach at the U.S. Department of Education.  Before his move to Washington, Sullivan held senior leadership roles with NBC Universal, NBC Sports and the Dallas Mavericks.

Sullivan also consults with outside clients and provides media training and presentation coaching as part of the strategic communications practice he established after leaving the White House in 2009.

He holds a bachelor of science in management from Purdue University and a master of arts in mass communication from Iona College in New York.

Sullivan is the author of Breaking Through: Communications Lessons From the Locker Room, the Board Room and the Oval Office, an eBook published in June 2015. He and his wife, Jo Anne, have five children.

Jennie Taylor Gold Star Widow- Mother of seven

Mrs. Jennie Taylor is the wife and Gold Star Widow of Utah Army National Guard Major Brent Taylor, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in November of 2018 while on a leave of absence from his position as Mayor of North Ogden City, Utah. Major and Mrs. Taylor are the parents of seven children. She is the founder and director of the Major Brent Taylor Foundation, a founding member of Follow the Flag—North Ogden, and an active volunteer in her children’s public schools. A former secondary educator of history, government and psychology classes, Mrs. Taylor has a passion for helping today’s youth prepare to become tomorrow’s leaders. She is currently serving as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for the State of Utah and continually looks for ways to carry on her husband’s legacy of service to God, family and country.

Brendan Dignan Ambassador

Brendan Dignan is a Partner at Baker Botts L.L.P. and serves as the Foundation’s legal counsel. In addition to his work with the Foundation, Brendan advises public and private companies, including private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, in mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, and joint ventures, as well as corporate governance, securities law compliance, and general corporate matters. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army as a Field Artillery Officer in 2001 and served in Germany with the First Infantry Division, deploying to Kosovo (2002) and Iraq (2004-2005) before leaving the Army as a Captain. He has a B.A. and J.D. from the University of Virginia. He and his wife, Emma, live in Washington, D.C.

Maggie Duskin Ambassador

Upon her marriage to Michael Duskin in 1993, Maggie Duskin became an Army wife, and the Matriarch of a multi-generational Army family. Her journey with the army began when the family was stationed at Fort  Benning, GA. Michael was assigned to 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. After a brief return to civilian life and then a stint with the National Guard, the family decided to return to Army life. Returning to Active Duty meant establishing a new home at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Maggie and Michael settled into their new life. Maggie stayed at home raising three children, pursued her education and supported Michael through his new assignment with the 3rd Special Forces Group and multiple deployments.

In October of 2012, CWO2 Micheal S. Duskin was killed in action while serving his seventh deployment. The course of Maggie’s life changed forever at that moment.

Over the past six years, Maggie has dedicated her time to helping Gold Star Families in the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Community cope with their loss. As a Gold Star Family liaison, she is committed to helping others through the healing process and memorializing the lives of other fallen heroes. Maggie didn’t realize it at the time, but she was also learning first-hand what a military family really needs during this difficult time.

Never a woman who pursued the limelight, Maggie soon found herself in the role of Executive Director of the Duskin and Stephens Foundation, an organization established to honor her husband’s legacy and sacrifice. The Foundation provides direct support to families of fallen operators, healing programs designed to combat the effects of post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and loss of a loved one, as well as education grants for the children of fallen soldiers.

Maggie continues to find the strength within to raise her three children, with the two oldest boys both serving as active duty soldiers.

James Howard Ambassador

James Howard (CPT, ret.) grew up in Lynchburg, Va a part of a large military family. Three generations served from WWII through the War on Terror with the 82nd Airborne. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 2002 and commissioned into the Army. He had the privilege of serving in Iraq and completing Ranger, Sapper, Jumpmaster, and Special Forces courses. James medically retired in 2010 after numerous combat and training injuries that left him a quadriplegic in a wheelchair.

He considers his injury as “a blessing by misfortune” which led him to start two all-volunteer non-profits. He is the founder and president of REACHcycles and VAU that has supported thousands of children and veterans with disabilities. James helped design and coordinate the effort to build the VAU traveling fallen heroes dog tag memorial flag (www.VetsAU.com/memorial) which brings awareness of our fallen heroes from GWOT and provides proceeds from its travel to the GWOT Memorial Foundation as well as gold star family organizations.

He also works and volunteers for many other non-profits: SOCOM Care Coalition- mentor, Quality of Life Foundation Family- Case Manager, Christopher Reeve Foundation- Military Veterans Program MVP Coordinator, and Paralyzed Veterans of America-member. He is the proud father to his son Luke and husband to his wife Amanda. James is honored to be a small part of this valuable mission to complete the GWOT memorial in DC.

M. Lyla Kohistany Ambassador

Lyla graduated in 2001 from Pennsylvania State University and was commissioned through the U.S. Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. She spent two years onboard the U.S.S. ESSEX (LHD 2) in Sasebo, Japan, receiving her Surface Warfare Officer qualification. After her overseas assignment, she transferred to the U.S. Naval Intelligence Community in February 2004. Her three-year intelligence career included current crisis intelligence briefings, project management, and a deployment to Bagram, Afghanistan in 2005 as a Counterterrorism analyst.

As a counter-insurgency intelligence analyst and consultant from 2008 to 2013, she worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, and U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) preparing U.S. and NATO military, law enforcement, and civilian personnel for their South Asia deployments. From 2013-2014, she served as the Cultural Advisor to the Commanding General at the NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan/Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan headquartered in Kabul. Upon returning from the year-long deployment, Lyla began consulting for USSOCOM as a Senior Cultural Advisor and continues to educate military and civilian personnel deploying to Afghanistan. She is also currently the Director of Government Programs/Master Trainer at the Cultural Intelligence Center, a global research and consulting firm focused on diversity and inclusion.

Lyla’s favorite role is as the President/Co-Founder of PROMOTE, a nonprofit focused on accelerating innovation in the Special Operations community through inclusive leadership and mentorship. Her memberships include the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Office of Strategic Services Society, National Association for Female Executives, Truman National Security Project’s Defense Council, and Women in International Security. She is a 2017 fellow at Veterans in Global Leadership, a 2018 Scholar at the George W. Bush Presidential Center Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program, and a 2017-2021 member of the Virginia Board of Veterans Services.

Lyla holds a M.A. from Georgetown University. She is an avid Star Wars aficionado, enjoys international travel, and spends every free moment with her niece and nephews.

Bert Sorin Ambassador

Bert and his wonderful wife Lesley are the proud parents of three children. Bert and his family, a family rooted in strength, have been entrenched in the human performance world for as far back as he can remember. Growing up with a barbell in his hand has been pivotal in charting the course of his life and leading him to become a 4-time Division 1 All-American Track and Field (Hammer and 35 lb. Weight Throw), Southeastern Conference Champion, former record holder in Weight Throw, and an Olympic Trials athlete. Bert is currently the President and Co-Owner of Sorinex Exercise Equipment, a very successful family run business founded by his father, another major contributor to the iron game, Richard Sorin. Together they are the inventors of hardware and applications to make people more effective, efficient, and safe on the sports field and the battle field. Although Sorin never served in the arms forces, his gear is changing the game to provide readiness and rebuilding to the veterans prior to, during and after their deployments to far off, hostile lands. Bert’s network of veterans, scientists, coaches and therapists allows for a combination of expertise and support, and has been changing lives on both sides of the table. Bert pushes each day to find the best in people, and to assist in their exploration of their potential and maximize their value to the cause. Bert is beyond honored to be a part of this team and have the ability to use his gifts to serve those who gave this country so much.

Ganpat “Gunner” Wagh Ambassador

Ganpat “Gunner” Wagh is a senior executive leader in cybersecurity capability development and public sector engagement. In his role as a Senior Manager for Law Enforcement Engagement with Amazon, he works closely with law enforcement and public sector entities from across the country. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Tiffin University and the Principal/Owner of GVW Cybersecurity Consulting, LLC.

He retired from the FBI in 2020, with over 20 years of service in multiple FBI field offices and FBIHQ. During his time in the FBI, he completed TDY assignments in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Ganpat enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1987 and later accepted a commission in 1991, leaving active duty in 1999. He and his wife have four children, with two of them currently serving with the US Army.