Veteran Outreach Coordinators
We exist and are effective because every day citizens are willing to stand up and bring the message of The Mission Continues into their communities. Our Veteran Outreach Coordinators (VOCs) bring a variety of skills and backgrounds to the mission. It is through our VOCs that we are able to not just change lives but strengthen communities and build a stronger nation.
A Crucial Role. The backbone of The Mission Continues is our network of Veterans Outreach Coordinators (VOC). VOCs are strategically recruited in different geographical areas of the country-with a focus on major metropolitan areas and locations with high military or veteran populations. A VOC serves as a liaison for The Mission Continues is a specific location. All of the hands-on work with the Fellows and the partner organizations is done by the VOCs. Without VOCs The Mission Continues cannot exist.
Breaking Ground. When The Mission Continues enters a new geographic area, the project must be integrated into the community, similar to breaking ground on a new construction project. A "ground-breaking VOC" will establish relationships with charitable organizations, distribute materials to local military and veteran organizations, recruit prospective Fellows, and disseminate information about other Mission Continues projects.
Expanding the Mission. The VOC is TMC's lifeline to a specific region. Each VOC is responsible for all Mission Continues activities within the region. The VOC will maintain partner organization relations, recruit Fellows, and track Fellows as they complete their Fellowships. VOCs may accomplish these duties by forming teams of volunteers, called Outreach Teams. The workload will vary depending on the size of the Outreach Team and the popularity of TMC in a given area, but any VOC should expect to spend about five hours each week on the program.
Reaping the Benefits. The Mission Continues is dedicated to enabling wounded veterans to continue their mission of service here at home. Our hope is to create a network of "citizen leaders" that will help strengthen our communities and our country. It is an incredibly rewarding experience to be involved with such great potential leaders.
Joining the Team. If you're interested in serving as a Veteran Outreach Coordinator in your area or would like more information about this opportunity to support America's greatest asset, please email the Fellowship Program Coordinator, Mike Pereira, at mpereira@missioncontinues.org .
The VOC Team
Katie Wells
National Veterans Outreach Coordinator
Katie Wells graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Sewanee (The University of the South) with a BA in Russian language and a concentration in Russian literature in 2005. Katie is also a graduate of the Middlebury Language School where she completed the nine-week Russian language summer immersion program.
Katie has worked as a White House intern in the Public Liaison Office and Office of Presidential Correspondence in Washington, DC. At the end of her internship, she became the Acting Associate Director of the White House Comment Line while the Associate Director was called to active duty in the Navy.
Katie was invited in April 2005 to become a military peer visitor at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The Military Peer Visitor Program at Walter Reed enables amputees like Katie to visit wounded veterans on a weekly basis. Following the Military Peer Visitor training and certification, Katie's main role at Walter Reed was helping the amputees with their adjustment process from the intensive care unit until they were discharged. Katie is thrilled to join The Mission Continues team as a Regional Veterans Outreach Coordinator for the Southeast.
As Veterans Outreach Coordinator, Katie recruits and manages The Mission Continues fellows in the Southeastern region of the United States.
Washington, DC
Dan Connell
Veterans Outreach Coordinator, Mid-Atlantic Region
Dan Connell grew up in a Coast Guard family, moving around the United States before settling in Southern New Jersey. While attending Seton Hall University, Dan was involved in the Academic Teaming Assistant Program, which provided in-residence tutors to students free of charge within their dormitories. In 2002, he completed the University Honors Program and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He was engaged in a variety of internships during and after college, including stints with the Ocean County New Jersey Major Crimes Investigation Unit and the Ocean County Historical Society, as well as an opportunity to work for a United States Congressman in Washington, DC.
In September 2004, Dan was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy upon completing Officer Candidate School. During the spring of 2006, he was assigned to an EA-6B squadron at Whidbey Island, where he served as a Division Officer and completed a deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The following spring Dan deployed again, this time to al Anbar Province in Iraq. After his tour in Iraq, Dan was stationed in Seoul, South Korea.
Dan remains on active duty in the Washington, DC area and was recently promoted to Lieutenant. He resides in Northern Virginia, joining The Mission Continues in September 2008 as a Veterans Outreach Coordinator for the Washington, DC area.
Alex Borisov
Veterans Outreach Coordinator, Washington DC
Alexander Borisov was raised in Saint Louis, Missouri and attended Saint Louis University (SLU) while studying biomedical engineering. His time at SLU led him to intern as an Apple Higher Education Marketing Representative while also taking on the role as the music director for the all-youth Lewis and Clark Fife and Drum Corps of Saint Charles, Missouri.
In December of 2006, Alex auditioned with The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, one of the Army's four premier musical organizations, and was accepted as an instrumentalist. After receiving his acceptance, Alex enlisted in the Army in August of 2007 and attended Army Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina as part of the 1-61 Infantry Regiment. Upon completion of training, he reported to Fort Myer, Virginia where he currently holds the rank of Staff Sergeant with the 3rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion, "The Old Guard," Fife and Drum Corps on active duty. Alex also serves as a public affairs NCO for The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, responsible for marketing and public relations for the unit. Alex is currently attending American University in Washington D.C. studying marketing and economics in the pursuit of a joint MS/MA.
Alex resides in Northern Virginia and joined The Mission Continues in 2009 as a Veterans Outreach Coordinator for the Greater Washington, D.C. area.Texas
Fernando Lujan
Veterans Outreach Coordinator, Texas
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Fernando Lujan graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1998 and was commissioned as an infantry officer. After completing airborne and ranger training, his first assignment was with the 82nd Airborne Division, where he served as a rifle platoon leader, company XO, and assistant operations officer. Shortly after the September 11th, 2001 attacks, Fernando successfully completed the Special Forces Qualification Course and was assigned as a detachment commander in the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), where he had the opportunity to conduct counterinsurgency and counterterrorism missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout Latin America.
After returning from his last combat tour in 2006, Fernando attended Harvard's Kennedy School of Government as a Presidential Scholar and Public Service Fellow. Since then, he has had the opportunity to support several non-profit organizations including Mountains for Miracles, Service Nation, and the Wounded Warrior Project. He is also a member of Alamo Silver Wings, a San Antonio-based veterans association of current and former paratroopers. While in graduate school, Fernando served as a part-time advisor for the House Foreign Affairs Committee on issues related to human rights and irregular armed groups in Latin America. He graduated with a Master in Public Policy (International Security) in June 2008 and began his current assignment as an Assistant Professor of Politics at West Point.
Fernando joined The Mission Continues in February, 2009 as the Veteran's Outreach Coordinator for San Antonio, Texas, where his family continues to live. He is extremely excited to be working in one of the most active military veterans and retiree communities in the country and the future home of the San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMS), which will be the largest military medical center in the world. Fernando enjoys riding motorcycles, traveling, mentoring cadets, Crossfit, and writing. His professional research includes terrorism, insurgency, political advocacy, and Latin American Studies. Fernando is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and speaks fluent Spanish and some Arabic.
Brandon Garrison
Veteran Outreach Coordinator, San Antonio
bgarrison@missioncontinues.org
After joining the US Army in 2003, Brandon Garrison was stationed at Fort Drum, New York with the 10th Mountain Division. Throughout his deployments to Afghanistan, Brandon served as a gunner, first responder and logistician for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1-32 Infantry Regiment. While conducting routine operations in the Pesch Valley and The Korengal Outpost, Brandon sustained multiple injuries in his back, shoulders, and skull. He was hospitalized upon his return and was later medically retired in March of 2009. Brandon believes his mission may be over in Afghanistan but the overall mission has just begun. For his fellowship, Brandon will serve as a "groundbreaking fellow" in San Antonio, Texas as well as working with fellow wounded veterans at the Audie Murphy VA Hospital and VFW in Kerrville, Texas.
Jon Arnold-Garcia
Veterans Outreach Coordinator, Austin
jgarcia@missioncontinues.org
Jon enlisted in the Army in January of 1998 as a Spanish Linguist and served numerous tours in South America as part of the War on Drugs and Plan Colombia. Following 9/11, he re-classed as an All Source Intelligence Analyst and was stationed with the 101st ABN Division out of Fort Campbell. While stationed with the 101st he served two tours to Iraq. On his first tour in Iraq, he was part of a team that assessed and provided funding for developmental projects in Iraq.
On his second tour, he was on a MiTT Team training the Iraqi staff officers in intelligence operations and served as a liaison between the Iraqi government and multinational forces. He suffered an amputation to his right leg below the knee following a grenade attack on his convoy in the city of Hawija, Iraq in April of 2006. Since being medically retired from the military as a Staff Sergeant, he has gone back to school in preparation for a life in public service. I graduated Summa cum Laude from The University of Texas at San Antonio with a degree in Political Science and is currently a graduate student at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas. He hopes to lead a career in National Security and Defense Policy upon completing his degree, as well as continued veteran's advocacy.
His current volunteer work includes the Amputee peer visitor program at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio where he visits and mentors service members from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on an individual basis, explains life as an amputee, medical treatment, veterans benefits, family assistance and general support available to ease injured service members and their families through the recovery process. He is also a patient advocate at the Frank Tejeda Outpatient Clinic in San Antonio. He advocates the advantages of a form of PTSD treatment known as "Cognitive Behavioral Restructuring" to groups of combat veterans from the Vietnam War to the present ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, he is the Mission Continues Veterans Outreach Coordinator for Austin, TX as well as the Chair of the LBJ School of Public Affairs Military Association. He lives in San Antonio with his wife and two children.
Andrew Traver
Veterans Outreach Coordinator, Chicago
atraver@missioncontinues.org
Andrew Traver graduated summa cum laude from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Following graduation he joined the United States Navy and completed Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, graduating third in his class. He then attended and graduated with honors from Surface Warfare Officer School in Coronado, California and reported for duty as the Gunnery Officer aboard the USS Benjamin Stoddert, DDG-22, home ported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Following his Honorable Discharge in 1987, Andy swore in as a Special Agent in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) in Chicago, Illinois, where he worked as a criminal investigator and an original member of the Entry Control Team, forerunner of the Special Response Teams. In 1993 he was promoted to become a Group Supervisor in ATF's Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Field Division, where he served until 1998. Following a brief tour in ATF Headquarters in Washington, DC, he was promoted to serve as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge, first in New Orleans, Louisiana (2000) and then in San Francisco, California (2002).
He is currently assigned as the Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division of ATF and has been in that position since June of 2004. In September 2006 he was appointed to the Senior Executive Service. He resides there with his wife Becky and their three sons Anthony, Dominic and Vincent.
In March of 2008, Andy was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 44 and underwent major, life-saving surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota in May of that year, followed by many months of recovery. Pursuant to his cancer experience, Andy felt a burning desire to engage in meaningful service to others and found his passion fulfilled in The Mission Continues. Andy can think of no more noble or deserving endeavor than supporting our wounded OIF and OEF veterans in any way possible and considers his work with The Mission Continues to be his true vocation. Andy joined The Mission Continues in September of 2009 as the Veterans Outreach Coordinator in the Chicago area.
Anne Bacher
Veterans Outreach Coordinator, Fresno, CA (Central California)
Anne Bacher holds a BA in Romance Languages and Literatures from the University of Chicago, a Master of Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University (NYSSILR), and an Executive MBA from Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA. She has extensive experience in business and community organizational development and change management and is currently serving as Operational Excellence Ombudsman at Pelco Inc. (Clovis, CA).
Anne's husband, John, served three tours in Vietnam (USAF) and is a 100% disabled veteran. Anne's service with The Mission Continues honors his service and that of all veterans of wars and conflicts in which the U.S. military has been involved.
In September, 2002, Anne and John moved from the Boston area to Fresno, CA. Through continuing active involvement in John's care, Anne became acquainted with the Fresno VA Medical Center, the Fresno Vets Center, and a number of VA medical facilities in the Bay area. She completed the genealogical research necessary to join the Daughters of the American Revolution in 2008 and has been active in the many veteran-related DAR programs carried on by the Fresno-Yosemite chapter. In January, 2009, she learned about the Mission Continues from co-workers who had heard Eric Greitens speak on leadership at a national Human Resources conference. Her employee agreed to contribute seed money to start a presence for The Mission Continues in the Central Valley. The immediate and significant growth of interest in The Mission Continues is due to the presence of a number of bases in the local area, a large VA medical presence, extremely active and connected veteran resource organizations, and an extraordinary spirit of patriotism and volunteerism evident in the local communities.
As Regional Outreach Coordinator, Anne is responsible for all aspects of local organization and implementation of The Mission Continues programs in Central California.
Rich Witt
Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, San Diego
Richard Witt graduated in 1998 from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he earned a Bachelors degree from the College of Engineering in Atmospheric, Oceanographic and Space Sciences. In 1999 he joined the United States Navy and completed Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, where he was commissioned in the fall as an Ensign.
In June of 2000 he completed Basic Underwater Demolition / SEAL training where he was selected as the top graduate in his class (honorman) and he was assigned to SEAL Team ONE in San Diego, Ca. from 2000-2004. During that time he deployed twice as an assistant platoon commander, once in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Horn of Africa and once to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
From 2004-2006 he served at Naval Special Warfare Unit ONE in Guam as an action officer where he spent time supporting Joint Combined Training Exercises in South Korea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Australia. He also provided Humanitarian Assistance during the May 2006 earthquake in Yoyakarta, Java, Indonesia which left an estimated 1.5 million people homeless. From 2006-2008 he served at SEAL Team THREE as a Platoon Commander where he deployed to Al Anbar Province, Iraq from March - Sept 2008.
He currently is assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, Ca. where he resides with his wife Maggie and their newborn daughter Nora. Rich joined The Mission Continues in October of 2008 as a Veterans Outreach Coordinator in the San Diego area.
Marc Wolf
Veterans Outreach Coordinator, New York
Upon graduation, Marc attended Naval Officers Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida before attending the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia as a Naval Intelligence Officer. His military experiences span the Western Pacific to Southwest Asia as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Intelligence Officer attached to CTF 57/72, responsible for all Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Intelligence requirements in both the 5th and 7th Fleets. He was also Senior Operational Intelligence Officer attached to SEAL Team TWO, making deployments to both Afghanistan and Iraq.
In 2006, after 4 years on active duty, Marc joined the Naval Reserves as well as the audit team of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in New York where he performed Sarbanes-Oxley 404 audits for financial service firms and recommended operational and technology enhancements. In 2007, he left PwC to pursue an MBA at Washington University's Olin Business School in St. Louis, Missouri. Through the MBA program, Marc interned in New York at Deutsche Bank in their Global Markets Associate Program and participated in a semester-long MBA exchange program at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Marc first became involved with The Mission Continues as a student host in 2009 when Eric Greitens guest lectured at the Olin Business School thru a course taught by former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of Emerson, Charles F. Knight, "Creating Exception Value: Performance Without Compromise." Marc has since helped with various fundraising and awareness events for The Mission Continues. After graduating with his MBA in May 2009, Marc is happy to have returned New York City where he serves as the Veterans Outreach Coordinator for the state of New York.
Tim Smith
Veterans Outreach Coordinator, St. Louis
tsmith@missioncontinues.orgTim Smith served in the US Army from June 2003 to February 2007. He deployed with a field artillery unit to Iraq in 2004. Upon returning to the United States, Tim was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and severe chronic conjunctivitis in his eyes. Tim is a former TMC Fellow. As a Mission Continues fellow, Tim was able to volunteer at the Department of Veterans Affairs as a peer counselor. He desired to help others who suffered from mental health conditions and work with them to achieve a higher quality of life. Tim graduated from the University of Missouri St. Louis with a Bachelors degree in Social Work, and is currently attending Washington University in St. Louis pursuing a MSW with a primary focus on mental health issues. Tim is married to his very supportive wife Terri. They have two sons, Timothy, Jr. and Tyler. Tim currently continues to serve as a VA counselor at the Hope Center in St. Louis. After completing his Fellowship, Tim has offered to step up as a VOC in his community.
Jon Deng
Veterans Outreach Coordinator, St. Louis
Jonathan Deng currently attends the Washington University in St. Louis, where he is a dual major in Finance and Anthropology. At Washington University, Jon is a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi business honorary, an executive board member for the community service organization Campus Kitchens-WashU, and an orientation counselor for the Office of Orientation.
Growing up in Ft. Lauderdale, Jonathan was first introduced to the military from one of his teachers, a retired Army First Sergeant. Jonathan is currently enrolled in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at Washington University, training to become an Army officer.
Jonathan originally heard about The Mission Continues from a conversation with Eric Greitens at a campus event, leading him to an internship at The Mission Continues office in St. Louis. In August of 2009, after working closely with the Fellowship program, Jon took up the position of Veterans Outreach Coordinator for St. Louis
North Carolina
Brianna Bake
Veterans Outreach Coordinator, North Carolina
bbake@missioncontinues.org
Brianna Bake attends the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she is a dual major in International Studies, concentrating on the Middle East and in Religious Studies of Islam. She will be studying abroad at the University of Jordan at Amman for the 2010 -2011 academic year. Brianna was a member of the History and International Studies Learning Community for 2008-2009, as well as a campus Tour Guide, and member of the International Studies Students Association. She is conversational in Arabic and Spanish.
Born and raised at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Brianna has always been closely connected to the military. Her father retired from the Army with twenty-five years of service. Her two older brothers are in the Army, one serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The other is in the Warrior Transition Battalion and sustained injuries during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Brianna's prior volunteer service projects consisted of local food drives, soup kitchens, Cookies for Troops, Adopt-a-Highway and personally orchestrating the development and establishment of a recycling center in her hometown.
Brianna joined The Mission Continues in June of 2009 as a Veterans Outreach Coordinator for North Carolina.
Hawaii
Dionisios Nicholas
Veterans Outreach Coordinator, Hawai'i
dnicholas@missioncontinues.org
Dionisios H. Nicholas, was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He graduated from Cleveland High School in Reseda, CA in 1980. In 1983, he received a degree from Los Angeles Valley College before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. While in the Marine Corps, Dionisios earned an undergraduate degree from Campbell University (NC) in 1991 and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Troy State University in 1996. Dionisios' Marine Corps career began at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, and after training he was assigned as the legal services specialist military occupational school. Over his career, he volunteered for many overseas assignments, including time in Okinawa, Japan, and Korea. He spent 23 years in the Marine Corps serving as a leader of Marines and prominent Senior Noncommisioned Officer in the legal field. Dionisios became a US citizen in 1987 in Agana, Guam. He is fluent in English, Greek, Japanese, and Spanish, and has a working knowledge of Mandarin Chinese.
While deployed overseas with the 3rd Marine Division & III Marine Expeditionary Force, Dionisios sustained a fracture of his lower back. Returning from overseas and injured, in 1997, he was admitted to Balboa hospital where he underwent an emergency operation on his spine. After traditional therapy, and with determination, he continued his duties until he sustained a second injury to his lower spine. After recovery from his second surgery, he volunteered to again serve overseas from 2000-2003. Back from overseas in 2005, Dionisios suffered a third major spinal injury, and as a result, he received a titanium disc cage fusion and sustained permanent nerve damage to the L5-S1 area of his spine. Additionally, he has been diagnosed with collapsing discs. In 2006, due to continued nerve damage, chronic pain, and right side semi-paralysis he was honorably discharged and found permanently disabled.
After 23 years in the Marine Corps and a successful career, Msgt Nicholas' time as an active duty Marine had come to an end. The next two years were fraught with frustration, depression, guilt, anger and pain. It has taken two years for Dionisios to emerge from his ailments and feel strong enough to volunteer and, ‘‘Go forth and do good," as he likes to say. Although he suffers daily from permanent nerve damage, numbness, and chronic pain, Dionisios is making an effort to give back to his community. He has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship with the National Park Service, volunteering as an assistant Park Ranger at the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawai‘i. Here, Dionisios will further his desire to become something bigger than himself and prove his ability to help others, despite his disabilities.
Msgt Nicholas' awards include the Meritorious Service Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal 2nd award; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal 4th award; Marine Corps Good Conduct medal 7th award; Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, amongst others.
Virginia
Jeff Gibson
Veterans Outreach Coordinator, Norfolk
Jeff Gibson was born and raised in St. Louis and received a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an officer in the US Navy via the Navy ROTC program.
Jeff has over 20 years of combined active and reserve military service in the Navy. His active duty assignments included duty as the Diving and Salvage Officer onboard the USS SUNBIRD (ASR-15), where he was responsible for the diving, submarine rescue, and SEAL support operations. After successful completion of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, California, Jeff was assigned to SEAL Team ONE as a Platoon Commander, where he deployed to Southeast Asia. He transferred from the West Coast to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team TWO in Norfolk, Virginia and deployed to the Mediterranean. Subsequently, Jeff fulfilled duties as the Operations Officer responsible for various SDV Task Units. In addition, he was stationed in London, England as an unconventional warfare planner and special operations advisor to theater commanders.
Jeff left active service in the summer of 2000 and went back to school to get his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis while remaining in the Navy Reserves. Upon graduation, he was hired by a large multi-national, diversified technology company in St. Paul, MN as business development manager and strategic planner for international business divisions. Most recently, Jeff was the Vice President of International Operations for a high profile, defense-services company that provides training, aviation, and security support to the US Government around the globe. He has traveled extensively to remote and precarious places that include Afghanistan, Iraq, as well as various locations in Africa, South America, and Southwest Asia.
Jeff currently resides in Chesapeake, Virginia with his wife, Karen, and two children, Mia and Katerina. He joined The Mission Continues in June of 2009 as a Veterans Outreach Coordinator in the Norfolk area.
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