The Mission Continues | Fellows | Current Fellows

Ian Smith

St. Louis, MO

Ian has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to work with the Washington University (STL) Warren Brown School of Social Work and The Mission Continues. Ian served as an Intelligence Analyst in the US Army from 2000-2009. Ian deployed to Iraq in support of OIF twice during his military career. During his time in the desert, Ian was injured when a 120mm round landed near his position. Ian wishes to use his Fellowship to further his goals of working in the field of medicine with non-profit organizations.

Chad Watson

Port Barrington, IL

Chad has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to work with The Wounded Warrior Project. Chad served as an infantry team leader in the Marine Corps, during which he suffered from wounds resulting in a right leg amputation. With his disabilities he still continues to serve his community spreading the word to other disabled Veterans. While in grad school he would like to be in charge of the Student Veterans group. Chad hopes to find work in the government.

Lucas Volkomener

Colorado Springs, CO

Lucas has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to work with Life Quest. Lucas served as a combat engineer in the US Army for seven year, during which he survived eight IED blasts. Although alive, Lucas suffers from PTSD, TBI, and other related physical injuries. Determined to continue service, Lucas already been volunteering with Life Quest, a non-profit organization that helps wounded warriors to gain confidence with their disabilities. Lucas will use his Fellowship to become fully integrated into Life Quest and is determined to gain employment there upon completion of his Fellowship.

Mike Garner

San Antonio, Texas

Mike has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to work with CrossFit Gym and training. Mike served in the US Army for 12 years as first an infantryman, and then as a supply specialist. Mike is an athletically inclined individual who believes in physical fitness. Unfortunately, Mike suffers from severe physical disabilities as a result of an ambush on his convoy while deployed in Iraq. Mike's goal is to bring as many wounded veterans to the gym to help establish confidence in themselves and get back in shape.

Felicia McGrue

San Antonio, Texas

Felicia has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to work with Operation Homefront. Felicia is a US Army veteran who suffers from Fibromyalgia and bilateral chronic foot pain and was medically retired from service. While she is working at Operation HomeFront it will give her the experience of counseling and helping vets. She will soon have her Masters degree in Community Counseling.

August Coleman

New York, New York

August has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to work for the Jewish Board for Family and Children Services. August suffers from Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after deployment in 2003. She is in school finishing up her nursing degree, and hopes to gain the experience necessary from this fellowship to aid veterans in whatever way necessary.

Omar Hernandez

San Antonio, Texas

Omar has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to work with The Mission Continues in San Antonio, TX. Omar is a US Army veteran who suffers from PTSD and was honorably discharged from service in 2006. Omar's disability was sustained during his deployment to Iraq where his unit was hit by an improvised explosive device during a combat patrol. Omar's Fellowship will allow Omar to become fully integrated and familiar with The Mission Continues and help him establish himself as a leader on our team.

Neil Daniel

Chicago, Illinois

Neil has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to help with the rehabilitation of veterans at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Neil served as civilian contractor cultural liaison and sufered multiple gunshot wounds while protecting the commanding officer during an ambush. He wishes to give back to the same organization which helped him recover from his wounds.

Jeff Palenske

Chicago, Illinois

Jeff has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to continue his efforts and promote his organization, Pizzas4Patriots . Jeff was in the army for 15 years. While he was in he was hit with eight different IEDs, because of which he suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. Jeff works to send thousands of frozen pizzas overseas to deployed troops and hopes to increase the number of service members which his pizzas reach with the help of The Mission Continues.

Phillip Sturgeon

Benton, Missouri

Phil has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to volunteer his time at The American Red Cross. Phillip suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and a bad right knee. He sustained these injuries from being hit with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). Due to his injuries he is expected to loose his eyesight within eight months. He will at this time become completely blind. Instead of dwelling in these horrible circumstances he is choosing to serve his community. The Red Cross and Phil will work together to accommodate Phil's desire to serve and his upcoming vision impairment.

Brendan Kraft

Huntersville, North Carolina

Brendan has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to help with the rehabilitation of birds of prey. Brendan is a US Army veteran who suffers from a herniated spinal disc and occasional sciatica. He is also pending a disability designation for PTSD. The injuries were sustained in the line of duty as a result of his role as squad supporter with the 71st Medical Detachment out of Grafenwoehr, Germany. Upon his discharge, Brendan has experienced an increased desire to contribute his time and talents to the Carolina Raptor Center as a surgical assistant. He hopes to benefit upwards of 40 birds per month.

Colin Archipley

San Diego, California

Colin has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to help run his farm in California, a farm owned and operated by veterans. Colin is a USMC veteran who suffers from tension headaches, PTSD, and tinnitus because of IED explosions. Colin deployed three times to Iraq as a Squad Leader. Upon his release from active duty Colin and his wife founded the Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training (VSAT) program. Colin and his wife want to use VSAT to tap into the great resource of the veteran community to provide them training and employment opportunities in the high-demand industry of agriculture.

Philip Bauer

New York, New York

Philip has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to train service dogs in New York. Phil served as a cavalry scout in the Army; His duties included observation and listening to obtain intelligence on terrain features, enemy strength, disposition, and equipment. While flying in a Chinook helicopter Philip and his crew were shot down, leaving him trapped under the wreckage for hours. His injuries resulted in a below knee amputation of his right leg. Phil hopes to use his experience with The Mission Continues to establish his own full time career working with anumals after his Fellowship.

Tiffany Garcia

St. Louis, Missouri

Tiffany has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to work in The Mission Continues national office, gaining experience and developing relations with the veteran service community. Tiffany served in the USMC for five years as an airframe mechanic. While maintaining an aircraft, Tiffany fell and suffered injuries to her back and neck. During her Fellowship Tiffany hopes to gain mentorship skills and establish herself as a leader in the veteran community.

Daniel McKenzie

Bellingham, Washington

Daniel MacKenzie has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to establish VETCOMM - a web based resource for veteran service organizations in Whatcom County, WA. Dan served in the Army as a light-wheel mechanic for three and a half years. He sustained injuries to his right foot while working at a guard gate and was medically discharged. Dan will also continue to work at the DAV office as he wishes to gain permanent employment and expand his leadership role.

Jacob Wood

Los Angeles, California

Jacob Wood has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to further develop Team Rubicon, an immediate response element to international disaster areas. During his Fellowship, Jacob will establish a strong foundation for Team Rubicon to ensure future growth and financial stability. Jacob is a former Marine sniper who suffered two major orthopedic injuries. Deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan worsened these injuries. After separating from the military, Jacob identified the need for immediate response to international disaster areas.

Clay Hunt

Los Angeles, California

Clay Hunt has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to assist in the developemnt of Team Rubicon, an immediate response element to international disaster areas. Clay will be working alongside Jacob in building a firm foundation. He is hoping to eventually gain full time employment from Team Rubicon. Clay was a radio operator and observer on a sniper team in the Marine Corps. While deployed in Afghanistan Clay was shot in the wrist from enemy sniper fire. Since Joining Team Rubicon he has been to both Haiti and Chile in relief efforts.

Casey McCausland

St. Louis, Missouri

Casey has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to establish a strong Warriors in Service program in the St. Louis area. Casey will continue to coordinate and lead service projects as well as establish partnerships with local volunteer agencies. While deployed in support of OEF, Casey encountered IED blasts, mortar and rocket attacks, and was in a vehicle when an IED blast struck and killed or injured many of the vehicle's passengers. Casey suffered few physical injuries, but was diagnosed with PTSD as a result of his time in Afghanistan.

Lewis Ellis

Oneida,Tennessee

Lewis has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to support his art therapy initiative through the film "The Last Mission," which he has developed over the years based on his experiences as a soldier. Lewis will distribute DVDs of the film after production is complete and receive feedback from viewers regarding the film. While deployed in support of OIF in 2006, Lewis was injured twice from two direct IED attacks and sustained neck injuries, which later led to him suffering severe headaches, hearing loss and tinnitus. Lewis also suffers from vision loss and TBI.

Jesse Scollin

Great Falls, Montana

Jesse has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to serve at Xsports4vets, a white water rafting program in Montana that serves veterans. Jesse will serve as a participant and mentor in the program and will help with the program's logistics as they continue to reach out to veterans in the Great Falls community. Jesse deployed in support of OIF and sustained a blunt trauma injury to his back as a result of his service in Iraq.

Shane Conrad

Gresham, Oregon

Shane has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to establish a Team River Runner chapter in his local community. Shane will organize outdoor paddling events and fundraisers for the new Team River Runner chapter. While deployed in support of OIF, Shane suffered a concussion from an IED blast and was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 2007.

Nick Holman

Columbia, Missouri

Nick has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to serve at the Central Missouri Humane Society. Nick will be working directly with animals at the Humane Society, providing support in exam rooms and supervising other volunteers. As a member of the United States Marine Corps, Nick deployed in support of OIF and suffers from hearing loss, tinnitus and residual anxiety as a result of his deployment.

Pedro Guardado

Silver Spring, Maryland

Pedro has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to serve at the American Red Cross at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. During his volunteer service, Pedro will maintain volunteer records at the Red Cross and implement training programs for volunteers. Pedro deployed in support of OIF, where he served as a hospital corpsman in the Navy.

Adam Burke

Jacksonville, Florida

Adam has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to continue to develop Veterans Farm, a horticulture therapy farm he developed. After his service as an Infantryman in the U.S. Army, Adam began Veterans Farm in order to instill positive values of teamwork and service into others and to help other veterans like himself with cognitive and hand/eye coordination skills through horticulture therapy. While deployed in support of OIF, Adam sustained injuries from a mortar blast, including PTSD, TBI, vertigo, fibromyalgia, tinnitus and migraines.

Daniel Guzman

Salinas, California

Daniel has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to work with the Wounded Explosive Ordinance Disposal Wounded Warrior Foundation (WEODWF). Daniel will help plan the 2010 annual fundraising bike ride for WEODWF. While deployed in support of OIF, Daniel received injuries from training exercises and physical training, including hearing loss and back spasms, and while on pass from deployment Daniel sustained neck and shoulder injuries due to an automobile accident.

Dan Casara

Chicago, Illinois

Dan has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to continue his service through working with Wounded Heroes Foundation's SALUTE program and to build and expand The Mission Continues in the Chicago area. Through his service work, Dan will help to promote The Mission Continues in Chicago and serve in his role as an advisory board member of SALUTE. While deployed in support of OIF, Dan suffered bilateral compound fractures of both legs, shattered both ankles and both feet and dislocated his right hip when his tank struck an anti-tank mine.

Casey Fulp

Colonial Heights, Virginia

Casey has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship for his outstanding and excellent commitment to service. Casey will be hiking the Applachian Trail in support of The Mission Continues to showcase to others that any challenge, big or small, can be overcome with dedication and a passion to serve. Casey sustained severe injuries following a car accident while on leave after training in 2007.

Mahmoud Miri

San Antonio, Texas

Mahmoud has been awarded a full-time Mission Continues Fellowship to continue his service by working with the San Antonio chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Through his service work, Mahmoud will assist the vicitm/support center of MADD. While deployed in support of OIF, Mahmoud sustained non-combat injuries in the line of duty.

Jon Arnold Garcia

Austin, Texas

Jon Arnold has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to continue his service by working as the Veterans Outreach Coordinator in Austin, Tx. Through Jon Arnold's "Joint Task Force LBJ," Jon Arnold will bring together active duty military, veterans, and military supporters to conduct community service projects. While deployed in support of OIF, Jon Arnold suffered a right transtibal (below knee) amputation, as well as mild PTSD and TBI.

Steve Baskis

Chicago, Illinois

Steve Baskis has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to continue his service by establishing a Team River Runner chapter in Chicago, Il. By establishing a chapter of Team River Runner, Steve will provide the opportunity for other disabled veterans to gain confidence and the chance to inspire others. While deployed in support of OIF, Steve was injured when his convoy was struck by a roadside bomb causing permanent blindness.

Cathy Vornberg

St. Louis, Missouri

Cathy has been awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to serve at the Make-A-Wish Foundation Missouri. She will be working with the organization to plan and fundraise for events such as a radio-thon, organizing a Christmas party for St. Louis area children, and the Walk for Wishes campaign. Cathy was actively involved in AFROTC and is a former Air Force pilot trainee.

Our Mission:

To build an America where every returning veteran can serve again as a citizen leader, and where together we honor the fallen by living their values through service.