The Mission Continues Announces New Board Members,Organizational Updates 

St. Louis, MO – Sept. 24, 2024 – The Mission Continues is excited to announce two new appointments to its Board of Directors, Lori Stachelski and Jason Galui, both of whom bring a wealth of experience and knowledge in the military veteran space to the nonprofit organization The two are joining a diverse Board that is comprised of industry leaders in defense, finance, education, and more. 

Both Lori and Jason are military veterans with backgrounds that align with The Mission Continues’ strategic goals of empowering veteran-led impact to communities nationwide.

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome Lori and Jason to the leadership team of The Mission Continues,” said Len Kortekaas, Chairman of The Mission Continues’ Board of Directors. “The passion, experience, and insight these leaders bring to the table will no doubt have an immediate and lasting impact on our veterans and the communities in which they serve.” 

As Chief Talent Officer at TA, a leading global private equity firm, Stachelski oversees all facets of Talent Management across the firm – organizational design, talent acquisition, recruiting, human resources, training, performance management, and talent strategy. Before joining the private sector, Stachelski spent more than seven years as a Logistics Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.  In addition to her years in command positions, she served as the principal assistant to the Secretary of the Navy where she worked with senior leadership in the White House, Department of Defense, Congress and foreign countries, interfacing with the highest levels of national and international leadership in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.   Stachelski holds a master’s degree in Public Policy with a concentration in International Trade and Finance from Harvard University. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy. 

Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Jason J. Galui is Director for Veterans and Military Families at the George W. Bush Institute, an Adjunct Professor at the SMU Cox School of Business, a Fellow at the John G. Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs at SMU, and founder of 4 Liberty Consulting LLC. Throughout a unique military career, Jason led soldiers in combat, taught economics to West Point cadets, advised the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and served in both the Obama and Trump White Houses.  As Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Security Council and Chief of Staff to the National Security Advisor, Jason served as a key point of national security continuity during the 2017 Presidential Transition.  He concluded his Army service at the Council of Economic Advisers.  Jason holds a B.S. and M.S. in Economics from the United States Military Academy at West Point and the University of Texas at Austin, respectively. 

Additional Organizational Leadership Updates 

Effective immediately, La Costa Moore has been named The Mission Continues’ interim Chief Executive Officer, replacing Kevin Cherep. Moore, who has been the organization’s Chief People Officer for nearly four years, is looking forward to the additional leadership responsibilities that accompany the appointment. 

“Along with an experienced Executive Team, a passionate staff, and dedicated network of volunteers, supporters, and funders, we look forward to continuing our mission of providing more opportunities for service for our nation’s veterans to leave lasting impacts in our communities,” Moore said. 

Supporting Moore on the Executive Team are Autumn Smoot, Chief Financial & Technology Officer, and Annie Hudson, Chief Programs Officer. 

James Gillen, Chief Development & Marketing Officer, has decided to move on from the organization, and we wish him the best of luck in his next chapter. 
 

About The Mission Continues 

The Mission Continues is a national veterans organization dedicated to empowering veterans as community-based leaders. We invest in veterans and under-resourced communities, developing new skill sets and equipping a growing veteran volunteer movement with the tools to drive positive change. We deploy veteran volunteers in more than 40 cities nationwide alongside nonprofit partners and community leaders to improve educational resources, address food insecurity, increase access to parks and green spaces, foster neighborhood identity, and more. Through this unique model, veterans are provided opportunities for personal connection and professional growth while generating visible community impact. To learn more, visit www.missioncontinues.org. 

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Media Contact: 
Keith Thomas 
Senior Director, Communications & Digital Marketing
The Mission Continues 
kthomas@missioncontinues.org