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 Emeritus

Michael “Rod” Rodriguez is a retired Special Forces Green Beret with nine deployments, from his first in Somalia with 10th Mountain Division to his last in Afghanistan with 7th Special Forces Group. His last assignment as a Green Beret was as a Sniper Instructor at Fort Bragg, NC (Range 37). After 21 years of continuous service, he was medically retired for numerous injuries he received while in service to our great nation.

He comes from a military family, his Grandfathers served during WWII, and his father is a Vietnam Veteran. His eldest son is currently serving with the 82nd Airborne Division and recently returned home from Afghanistan, marking the 16th deployment for the Rodriguez Household. He advocates for Veterans and their families and speaks publicly on the need to decrease the misunderstanding between civilians and the military. He is an active advocate for Art and the impact it has on everyone’s lives; he practices his very own in the form of metalwork and blacksmithing.

In November 2015 Rod was selected and served for over three years as a member for President George W. Bush’s Military Service Initiative Advisory Council with the role of advising and supporting the President and leadership of the Bush Institute on key Strategic and Programming priorities in support of Veterans and their families. He also assists with several other non-profits and is always only a phone call or email away from both the Civilian and Military community. In 2013 Rod was inducted into the lauded “Explorers Club” based in Manhattan as a “Fellow” for his research efforts on Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress. However, most importantly he is a proud Grandfather, Father and Hermano to many.

Marina Jackman President/CEO

Marina received her Army commission in 2011 and spent eight years as a Medical Service Corp Officer stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. She held numerous leadership positions within the 44th Medical Brigade including as a Platoon Leader, an Executive Officer, and Brigade Adjutant. Jackman also served as the Department of Surgery Chief Administrative Officer and ultimately as a Company Commander for Womack Army Medical Center. Marina is passionate about honoring those that serve our Country and the commitment of their families.

A native of Danbury, Connecticut, Jackman holds a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Fordham University and an MBA from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. She lives in Fayetteville, North Carolina with her husband, who is currently serving as a Special Operations Officer, and has three children.

Theodore “Ted” C. Skokos Chairman

Theodore “Ted” C. Skokos, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, is an entrepreneur residing in Dallas, Texas. After a lengthy legal career first as a prosecutor and then as a civil attorney, Ted focused his energy on the businesses world. He founded multiple companies in various industries, including most prominently the wireless communications industry and the medical device industry. In order to give back, Ted and his wife Shannon founded The Ted and Shannon Skokos Foundation, which awards grants to public charities that make a positive impact on society by, among other things, advancing education, the arts, science and religion. Ted most recently served on the boards of The Texas Rangers Baseball Club, The Ted and Shannon Skokos Foundation, Dallas Center for the Performing Arts President’s Advisory Board, North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, Southwestern Medical Foundation, Dallas Opera, and Brinker International Forum Advisory Board. Ted proudly served in the U.S. Army during all three missions of the Gulf War, i.e., Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Provide Comfort, and retired in 1992 as a 21-year veteran. 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.

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 2019 with the founding of Dark Hammock Ranch, D-DEY Offshore, and D-DEY Tactical. She has also founded D-Dey Relief Corp, serving as the president of this not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to sending medical aid and security teams to areas devastated by natural disasters.

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.

Edwin “Spike” Wahlen Board Member

EDUCATION

Georgia Institute of Technology – BSIM
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – MBA

BIOGRAPHY

Mr. Wahlen is 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 is a Chartered Financial Analyst and was an officer of several banks and investment banks prior to forming CGW in 1985.

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

He is 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.

In addition he serves 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 and his wife, Cathy, reside in Atlanta

Bill Kraus Board Member

Lyn Schultes Franco Director 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.

DiAnne Owen Graham Director of Development

DiAnne Owen Graham is President of Graham Advisors, LLC, a full-service consulting firm specializing in advising and fundraising for political, nonprofit 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, Attorneys General, national and state political committees and numerous issue advocacy entities.

Prior to founding the company, Mrs. Graham directed, from its inception in 2009, the Republican Governors Association (RGA) 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.

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 was a founding fellow of the Susan Schiffer Stautberg Leadership Foundation.

Governor Jeff Colyer appointed Mrs. Graham to the Kansas Children’s Cabinet. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Foundation for Andover Schools, is President of the Mid-Kansas Rebel Alumni Club, is a Trustee for Historic Wichita Cowtown, Inc., a member of the Belizean Grove, 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 (7) and Parker (3).

Farahn Morgan Communications Strategist

Farahn is an independent communications and public relations advisor. Before joining the GWOTMF team, Farahn led public relations campaigns for clients across industries, organizations, and disciplines at Washington’s leading boutique book agency and public relations firm, Javelin DC. Prior to joining Javelin, Farahn served as strategic communications advisor in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs and, previously, as Communications Director for U.S. Representatives Rob Wittman (VA-1) and Jack Bergman (MI-1). She has secured coverage for clients in national outlets including the TODAY Show, CBS This Morning, FOX & Friends, Morning Joe, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, New York Post, Washington Post, Fast Co., Axios, and Politico, among others.

A double Demon Deacon, Farahn holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in philosophy from Wake Forest University and a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law. She is a proud native of middle Appalachia and an avid hiker.

Tyler Ross Communications Support

Tyler Ross is a strategic communications consultant who coordinates public relations campaigns for corporate and nonprofit organizations. Prior to working with the GWOTMF, Tyler served in the Office of White House Communications as the deputy director of media affairs, where he directed regional and local media outreach for President Donald J. Trump’s policy objectives. 

During the Trump/Pence Presidential Transition, Tyler served as Deputy Research Director of the Republican National Committee (RNC), where his responsibilities encompassed directing the rapid response operations for Cabinet confirmation hearings and managing the development of communications briefings for incoming White House staff. In the midst of the historic 2016 election, Tyler served as the Director of State and Regional Research of the RNC, in which he helped to shape the Committee’s strategic communications strategy and messaging at the local and state levels.

A proud Terp, with a degree in economics from the University of Maryland, Tyler started his career serving as a press staffer for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Blake Stilwell Communications Support

Blake Stilwell is a former combat camera airman and Iraq War veteran whose past life includes work as the Near East Foundation’s Communications Officer – Middle East and Africa. He is currently the Veteran Jobs Editor at Military.com. His work has appeared on Business Insider, Military Times, We Are The Mighty, Fox News, ABC News, NBC Sports, and HBO Boxing. Blake is based in Los Angeles but is often found elsewhere.

Brad Rateike Communications Support

Brad Rateike is the founding principal of Bar Communications where he has directed public relations strategy and message development for corporate, government and nonprofit clients in the Midwest and in Washington, D.C. since 2010. Brad has created and managed public affairs campaigns for Fortune 50 companies in addition to directing media relations and grassroots outreach for small businesses and startup companies.

Brad took a hiatus from the firm in 2016 to serve as a communications and policy advisor for the Donald J. Trump for President Campaign and the Trump/Pence Presidential Transition Team. After being recruited to join the White House Office of Communications, Brad served as the director of Cabinet communications where he coordinated message strategy and rollout of Presidential priorities with Federal agencies in addition to assisting agencies with crisis management. Additionally, Brad served as the communications lead in assisting Cabinet nominees through the Senate confirmation process.

Prior to founding the firm, Brad served for five years as deputy press secretary and policy director for former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. In that role, he handled media outreach and worked with state agencies and external stakeholder groups on grassroots initiatives to advance the governor’s legislative agenda.
Brad served as an organizational development volunteer in the United States Peace Corps and has experience in trade association management. He received a bachelor’s degree in English from Franklin College, where he was president of the student body. Brad is a contributing columnist on business and political issues for the Indianapolis Business Journal and is a volunteer with the White House Office of Presidential Advance. He has been a mayoral appointee and chairman of the Indianapolis Citizens Police Complaint Board and a past president of the Downtown (Indianapolis) GOP Club.

Brad is married to Lawren Mills, a partner in the public affairs practice group at Ice Miller LLP. They split their time between Indianapolis and Washington, DC.

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

Martha E. Newton Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs at the United States Department of Labor

Martha E. Newton has spent the last 20 years of her professional career leading successful programs in both government and private sector capacities. For the past decade, Ms. Newton assisted individuals, companies, and non-profits in the areas of corporate social responsibility and strategic partnership development.

Currently, Ms. Newton is the Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs at the United States Department of Labor (DOL), where she leads the formulation of international economic, trade and labor policies on behalf of DOL. In addition to her current government service, Ms. Newton served from 2002-2007 at both DOL and the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Ms. Newton has also served with various non-governmental organizations, including as Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Halifax International Security Forum, an elite global security event.

Martha is a former Board member of the Junior League of Chicago and the Co-Founder of Shelters to Shutters, a non-profit that provides employment opportunities for homeless victims of violence and veterans.

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.

Jane Horton Senior Advisor at United States Department of Defense

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.

Isaia Vimoto Command Sergeant Major United States Army (Retired)

Joseph M. DePinto President and CEO of 7-Eleven

Colonel Miguel Howe, USA, Ret. Colonel United States Army (Ret.)

Matt Bissonnette Former Navy SEAL

Matt Bissonnette is a former Navy SEAL who served his country for 14 years. During his career, he deployed over 13 times in support of combat operations and the GWOT. Matt received his bachelors degree in 1998 and upon graduating from college, enlisted in the Navy to pursue his dream of serving his country as a Navy SEAL. Matt graduated as BUDS class 226  “Honor-man” and went on to be stationed at SEAL Team 5. During his first deployment as a Navy SEAL, 9/11 happened, and Matt was among some of the first to be deployed in support of the GWOT.      In 2004, Matt completed selection and training to enter the ranks of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group.   Matt continued to volunteer and serve at the tip of the spear throughout his career finally leaving service in 2012. Matt’s military awards include the Silver Star, 5 Bronze Stars with “V”, Purple Heart,  Joint Commendation with “V”, Navy Commendation with “V”, Presidential Unit Citation and numerous other awards.

Matt continues his service by serving on the Advisory Board for the GWOT Memorial Foundation as well as advocating for transitioning veterans and helping raise money and awareness for multiple veteran-related charities. Matt is outspoken about the difficulties he and other veterans have faced with the transition out of military service and into the civilian world.

Matt is the author of 2 New York Times Bestselling books titled; “No Easy Day” and “No Hero”. He is also the Executive Producer of the CBS hit show “SEAL Team” and shares the leadership principles he learned while serving with a multitude of corporate executives and professional athletic organizations.

Matt is a constant optimist that is committed to helping the entire veteran community and does so without taking any personal credit. In the past, he has used the pseudonym of Mark Owen and a disguise when doing any press to keep the message focused on the team and not the individual. Joining the GWOT Team is the first time he has stepped into the light but maintains his focus on the team and the mission.

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.

Jake Wood CEO and Co-Founder, Team Rubicon

Jake Wood is cofounder and CEO of Team Rubicon, the only nonprofit disaster response organization that utilizes the skills of military veterans to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. In repurposing the skills gained during service – like emergency medicine, risk assessment and mitigation, logistics, teamwork and decisive leadership – Team Rubicon provides veterans with a sense of purpose, community and identity created by joining a new mission. Since the organization’s founding in 2010 following the devastating Haiti earthquake, Team Rubicon has responded to over 100 disasters and grown from eight to 35,000 volunteer members. Under Wood’s leadership, the organization has responded following the 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri, Hurricane Sandy, the 2013 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the 2014 wildfire in Pateros, Washington, and the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal, among many more.

Prior to Team Rubicon, Wood served four years in the United States Marine Corps where he graduated at the top of his class at Boot Camp, the School of Infantry, and the Marine Scout Sniper School. During his service he deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, and earned numerous commendations, including the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor distinguishing device.  Wood left the Marine Corps a Sergeant.

A leading veterans’ advocate, Wood has briefed President Obama on veterans’ issues, met with former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to talk about Team Rubicon’s role in veteran transition and disaster response and testified before a Senate committee to improve mental health care services for returning veterans. He has also appeared in the major media, including MSNBC, CNN, NBC, ABC, Al Jazeera, US News & World Report, Forbes, Huffington Post and Fox News and penned an op-ed for The New York Times. An expert on veteran reintegration, disaster response and social entrepreneurship, Wood has spoken at Harvard, University of Wisconsin, University of Washington, University of Southern California, and Syracuse University as well as Goldman Sachs, Jones Lang LaSalle and Home Depot. He has also delivered keynote addresses at the National Emergency Management Conference and the National Green Building Conference and presented at TedX San Diego in 2010. In 2014, Crown Publishing published Wood’s book, Take Command: Lessons in Leadership.

Wood has received numerous awards including: the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s “40 Under Forty”; the LA Chamber of Commerce Visionary Leader Award; the Goldman Sachs “100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs” award; GQ Magazine’s 2011 “Better Men, Better World” Gentleman of the Year designation; University of Wisconsin’s “Forward Under 40” award; the Grinnell Prize for social change; the Heinz Foundation’s Heinz Award; and was selected as a CNN Hero in 2012. He was also selected as a Millennium Fellow by the Atlantic Council.

Wood holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin with a double major in Business and Political Science.  He played football for the Badgers on a full athletic scholarship and was twice selected to the Academic All-Big Ten football team.  He splits his time between Los Angeles and New York City with his lovely wife.

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.

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.

JJ Pinter Executive Director of Team Red, White, and Blue

JJ Pinter is the Executive Director of Team Red, White, and Blue. As Team RWB’s 2nd employee, he has played a key role the development, growth, and operation of the organization. JJ works closely with board members, staff, and volunteer leaders to ensure the delivery of excellent programs that deliver impact. He provides strategic guidance in addition to building and managing critical partnerships.

JJ is a West Point graduate and combat veteran, serving as a Field Artillery officer. After his military service, he held both leadership and analytical positions in the construction, defense and medical industries. He currently resides outside Louisville, KY with his wife and 3 kids, where he loves to coach youth sports and be outdoors with his family.

Ashish “Ash” Vazirani Principal, A2O Strategies, LLC

Ashish Vazirani is a dedicated military family champion, accomplished leader, and problem solver.

As Executive Director and CEO of the National Military Family Association, Ashish led the organization – programs, advocacy, and staff – through a worldwide pandemic. He championed the expansion of dependent care flexible spending accounts to military families and facilitated the creation and roll-out of NMFA’s child care fee relief assistance program. His leadership, consulting experience and business acumen, ensured that NMFA regained its four-star charity rating. His fresh perspective, and track record of setting organizations on a trajectory for growth, positioned NMFA to better serve and support the military family community.

Vazirani served as a Member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Committee on the Well-Being of Military Families.

Before joining NMFA, Ash led development and programming at Armed Services YMCA. He was responsible for developing deep and lasting engagement with the donors and ensuring implementation and measurement of standardized programs serving military families.

Prior to his work with the ASYMCA, Ashish spent 22 years as a management consultant working with leading high tech and pharmaceutical companies to improve their marketing and sales functions to deliver profitable growth. Ash also served as a marketing and development advisor to military services organizations such as the USO (2011 – 2014) and Operation Homefront (2014 – 2017). Before his career in consulting, and sales and marketing management, Ash served in the US Navy as a Submarine Officer from 1986 – 1993.

Ashish holds a B.E. in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt University, a M.E. from the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University, and a M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Ashish’s family immigrated to the United States when he was 3 years old. He is the son of a combat wounded, Vietnam-era Marine and the father of a currently serving Marine; service is the family business. His priorities are faith, family, and country … and occasionally a long run. Ash, his wife Deborah, son Benjamin and daughter Isabella are avid Washington Nationals fans.

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.

Cpt. Florent “Flo” Groberg Ambassador

Retired U.S. Army Captain Florent “Flo” Groberg was born in Poissy, France, May 8, 1983. Groberg became a naturalized U.S. citizen, Feb. 27, 2001, and graduated from Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Md., in June of the same year.In November 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan as part of Task Force Lethal, with responsibility for the Pech River Valley in Afghanistan’s Kunar Province.

Upon returning home in June 2010, he continued serving as a platoon leader until he was reassigned as an infantry company executive officer from October 2010 to November 2011. He was then assigned as the brigade personal security detachment commander for 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He deployed again to Kunar Province, Afghanistan, in February of 2012, with Task Force Mountain Warrior. He was promoted to captain in July 2012.

As a result of his actions, Groberg sustained the loss of 45 to 50 percent of his left calf muscle with significant nerve damage, a blown eardrum, and a mild traumatic brain injury. Groberg spent his recovery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center from August 2012 through May 2015. He was medically retired from Company B Warriors, Warrior Transition Battalion, as a captain, July 23, 2015. On November 12, 2015, Groberg received the Medal of Honor for his heroic action in Afghanistan.

Groberg currently resides in the National Capital Region and is a civilian employee of the Department of Defense.

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.

Will Attig Ambassador

Will Attig is a Combat Infantry Veteran that served with the Army during the Global War on Terrorism, where he deployed multiple times with 1-26 Infantry Regiment the Blue Spaders. Upon returning home he struggled to transition into civilian life until he was given an opportunity through Helmets to Hardhats a veteran training program with the National Building Trades and become a union pipefitter.

As an apprentice, Attig began volunteering his time to advocate for veterans issues in his home state of Illinois. Quickly becoming a leading advocate for veterans issue in the state, Attig helped create and pass major pieces of legislation, including the launch of the Veterans Suicide Task Force which is now a national model. Will was the youngest appointed political director at UA Local 160 and political coordinator for the southern Illinois area.

In 2017 he was selected to lead the Union Veterans Council, AFL-CIO representing 1.2 million veteran workers across America, with a focus on providing gainful employment for veterans, Attig’s mission is to Engage, Educate and Mobilize the veterans community by giving veterans the tools, platform, and self-empowerment to advocate for issues that matter most to them at a local and national level.

Attig brings extensive experience working with lawmakers, especially with veteran members of the house and senate, along with a network of grassroots veterans advocates across 50 states.

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.

Vincent “Rocco” Vargas Ambassador

Vincent “Rocco” Vargas was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California. After several years of college baseball, Vincent enlisted in the US Army and went on to serve 3 combat deployments with 2nd Battalion of the elite 75th Ranger Regiment. After 4 years of active duty service to his country, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves and continue his service. In 2009 he became a Federal Agent with the Department of Homeland Security, and was a Medic with the Special Operations Group.

Vincent is currently a successful entrepreneur, actor, writer and producer. When time allows, he also is a motivational speaker that focuses on the military and youth audiences. Happily married with 6 kids and living in Salt Lake City Utah

Bryon Vincent Ambassador

Information Systems and Operations Leader Federal Government

Bryon is responsible for overseeing information systems implementation, infrastructure management, and call center operations. He leads highly talented project teams to advance priority initiatives, enhance organizational capabilities, and promote financial efficiencies.

Military Experience:
Bryon served 8 years in the United States Army as an Armor Officer holding positions as a Tank Platoon Leader, Stryker Executive Officer, and Headquarters Troop Commander. He led numerous ground, mounted, and air assault combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-06 where he sustained injuries from two Improvised Explosive Device attacks that led to medical retirement. Bryon’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.

Education: In 2005, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Management from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he played collegiate golf from 2001-2005. In May 2014, he graduated as Valedictorian from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and received a Master’s of Science degree in Leadership.

Items of Interest: Bryon is married to Major Abigail Vincent who serves as the Comptroller for the United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases. In 2017, Bryon was painted by President Bush and featured in Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors. Additionally, Bryon serves on the tournament committee for the Bush Cup, which is an annual golf competition held between Army West Point and another university in recognition of President George H.W. Bush.

Andrea Hechavarria Ambassador

Andrea Hechavarria is a manager of Federal Affairs & Public Policy after a decade of experience as a U.S. Congressional aide and a government relations consultant.

Andrea worked for U.S. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, where she was a policy advisor on matters including, energy, environment, infrastructure, regulatory reform, and telecommunications matters. Before joining Senator Ernst, Andrea served as an advisor to U.S. Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska, where she supported his legislative agenda on the Senate Appropriations, Commerce, and Environment and Public Works Committees.

Andrea got her start on Capitol Hill working for U.S. Senators John E. Sununu and Judd Gregg from her home state of New Hampshire. She also worked for the One Campaign during New Hampshire’s “First in the Nation Primary” and has both senatorial and congressional campaign experience. She holds an M.B.A. from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and a B.A. in political science from Loyola University Maryland.

Jeff Murray Ambassador

Jeff Murray is a Senior Manager of Government Relations for Accenture North America, with over a decade of experience advising elected officials and business executives on public policy.

Prior to returning to D.C. and joining Accenture, Jeff practiced health care law at Baker & Hostetler in Atlanta, GA, advising clients on state and federal regulatory matters, operational and compliance concerns, and related government inquiries. Before his move to Atlanta, Jeff served as a public policy adviser to Representative Tom Feeney (FL) and Senators Jim DeMint (SC) and Ted Cruz (TX), providing legislative strategy and policy counsel on issues before the House and Senate Committees on Judiciary, Commerce, and Banking. In between his service in the House and the Senate, Jeff was a consultant at The Nickles Group, representing Fortune 500 companies on a variety of issues before Congress.

Jeff holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Auburn University, and he received his Juris Doctor from Samford

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.

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.

STEPHANIE OUELLETTE Ambassador

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.

GANPAT “GUNNER” WAGH Ambassador