National Headquarters
National Headquarters
The Armed Services YMCA’s National Board of Directors is comprised of leading national volunteers who provide fiduciary oversight and insight and expertise to help advance the mission and grow the organization. The Armed Services YMCA is grateful for their time, talent, and support.
David Halverson, Lieutenant General, USA, Ret.
ASYMCA Board Chair | Chief Executive Officer, Cypress International
Lieutenant General David D. Halverson, retired on June 30, 2016 from the United States Army after over 37 years of service. On 1 October, he became the Chief Executive Officer of Cypress International Inc. in Alexandria, Virginia.
LTG Halverson grew up in Babbitt, Minnesota and graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery. He attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he was awarded a Master of Science degree in Operations Research and Systems Analysis. He graduated from the Kenan-Flagler Business School’s Executive Development Program at the University of North Carolina.
LTG Halverson’s last active duty assignment was the U.S. Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, where he transformed the business approach to the global installation management and programmed the $19B annual energy, general services, force protection, construction and quality of life programs for the over 154 installations in the Total Army.
He has served in various staff and leadership positions including command at every level from Battery to Post Command to the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command. He has served in Continental America, Europe, Korea, Panama, and South West Asia.
His staff positions, focused on program development, testing, concept and requirement development, strategic planning, cost-benefit and risk analysis, with assignments as the Senior Military Analyst in the Joint Wargaming and Policy Division of the U.S. Southern Command in Panama, joint requirements and Army budget development in positions such as the Commander in Chief Team Chief in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army, Program, Analysis, and Evaluation Directorate. LTG Halverson was the Central Command J3, Chief of Plans, and planned, coordinated, and executed war plans for OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM after 9-11. He deployed as the Deputy Commanding General (Support) for the 4th Infantry Division for OIF 5/7. After his deployment, he assumed duties on the Army Staff, as the Director of Operations, Readiness, and Mobilization, G-3 and then became the Director of Force Development, G-8, where he developed the RDT&E investment, modernization and equipping programs for the Army totaling $200B across the POM. He transformed the training and modernization as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where the Air Defense and Field Artillery merged under one post. LTG Halverson served as the Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command where the newest doctrine and concepts were developed, along with leader development, training and learning models programs were revamped.
LTG Halverson’s military education includes the Field Artillery Basic and Advanced Courses, the Armed Forces Staff College, the Army War College, and the British Higher Command and Staff College.
LTG Halverson’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster, Defense Superior Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Joint Unit Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Staff Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.
Robert Brooks Brown, General, USA, Ret.
ASYMCA Vice Chair | Executive Vice President, Association of the United States Army
General Brown is a proven and innovative leader with distinguished leadership experience at the highest levels of the military. Well-known for building trust in organizations, he is an authentic leader and team builder with impeccable integrity and broad experience in the operational, strategic, and educational areas of the military.
General Brown is a 1981 Graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. While at West Point, he played men’s basketball under Coach Mike Krzyzewski, was a Co-Captain, and scored over 1200 points in his NCAA career.
General Brown has had the honor to lead and serve in various Army units at every level from platoon to the largest service component command, the U.S. Army, Pacific. He has been the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, responsible for doctrine, education, and leader development across the Army enterprise; the Commanding General of I Corps and Joint Based Lewis-McChord, an operational command responsible for 70,000 Soldiers and their families, focused on the Indo-Pacific area of operations; Commanding General, U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning, the Army’s center for education, training, and leader development of all Armor and Infantry Soldiers and leaders; most recently he was the Commanding General of the U.S. Army, Pacific, from 2016-2019 with responsibility for 106,000 Soldiers, Army Civilians, and their families throughout the 100 million square mile area of the strategically important Indo-Pacific region.
General Brown has the unique experience of leading innovation and change during several crucial transitions in the Army; he worked developing the Air Land Battle doctrine that would define how the Army operates as a warfighting organization; he developed, tested, formed, and deployed the Army’s Stryker Brigade Combat Team concept that validated the Army’s change to modularity; he wrote the first ever Field Manual (FM 6-22) on Army Leadership Development; he developed the Army’s first-ever Human Dimension Strategy that focused on developing leaders to thrive in ambiguity and chaos; most recently, he has led the Army in developing the future Joint Operating Concept of Multi-Domain Operations which is the largest doctrinal change in over 30 years.
His service has taken him to over 28 countries throughout the Indo-Pacific region, which is unique among Army leaders. He has held diverse assignments that have enabled him to travel all across the United States, Europe and the Middle East. He has deployed in support of: Operation Uphold Democracy, Haiti; Operation Joint Forge, Bosnia-Herzegovina and two combat deployments to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
General Brown holds a Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Military Academy; a Master of Education from the University of Virginia; and a Master of Science in National Security and Strategic Studies from the National War College, where he was a Distinguished Graduate.
General Brown retired in October 2019 after over 38 years of dedicated service to the Nation.
Meg O'Grady
ASYMCA Board Secretary | VETS National Employment Manager, Department of Labor
Meg is a nationally recognized expert on creating marketing and outreach programs that engage the military community. Drawing on 25 years experience, she leads Crosby teams to create communications campaigns and strategic partnerships that help clients effectively reach active duty personnel, veterans, military spouses and families. She currently supports Crosby’s major programs for the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs and DAV (Disabled American Veterans).
Using her deep military community ties and personal experience as a military spouse, Meg has created innovative programs for Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education. She joined Crosby from Kaplan Higher Education, where she served as the Vice President of Military and Public Sector Solutions.
Earlier in her career, as a senior leader in the Department of Defense, she was instrumental in launching the Spouse Education and Career Program, including the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, whose 390 employer partners include Bank of America, Comcast, 3M and Amazon. During her tenure with the U.S. Army, Meg worked with Army Family Advocacy, Army Education, the Army Career and Alumni Program, and was the first training officer for the Army’s Wounded Warrior Program, AW2. She also spearheaded the development of the Coalition for Veteran Owned Business for First Data Corporation in partnership with Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families, bringing together industry leaders including American Express, Disney, Lockheed Martin, Walmart and others to grow and support veteran-owned businesses.
Meg was a member of the class of 1990 at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she was an All-American swimmer and, in 2002, earned a Master of Education degree from National Louis University. An active volunteer, she currently serves on the boards of the Armed Services YMCA, the PsychArmor Institute and Operation Job Ready Vets. In 2017, she was one of four nominees for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes program’s Colonel Michael Endres Leadership Award for Individual Excellence in Veteran Employment.
Meg enjoys skiing, cooking, traveling the world and watching her daughter play lacrosse.
Robert K. Burke
ASYMCA Board Treasurer | President, Bob Burke Consulting, LLC
Bob Burke is a retired Managing Director of Nuveen. He was a member of the National Sales Management Committee, Co-Director of National Sales Management and Strategy and Director of the Professional Development Group. Following his retirement in February 2011 he established Bob Burke Consulting, LLC and he consults exclusively to Nuveen.
Bob’s area of expertise includes management leadership, corporate strategy and company-wide meetings. In addition, he specializes in working with wealth-owners and family offices regarding complex financial concerns. These family wealth issues include integrated wealth management, governance, family meetings, family wealth education and effective philanthropic management.
He joined Nuveen Investments in 1996. Prior to Nuveen, Bob served as Managing Director of Kemper Trusts and EVEREN Trusts. In addition, during his more than thirty years in the financial services industry he served in a variety of management and professional roles in the primary client divisions of INVEST Financial, A.G. Edwards and Morgan Stanley.
Bob is a graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and did post-graduate work at Oxford University. He completed the Leadership Best Practices Program at Harvard Business School and he received his Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation from The American College.
Tim Allen
CEO, Care.com
Tim Allen is the CEO of Care.com, responsible for the company’s strategic direction, leadership and growth, as well as its commitment to deliver on its mission to transform and improve how families around the world connect with and manage care for their loved ones.
A 15-year veteran of media and technology company IAC (Nasdaq: IAC), Tim has played pivotal roles shaping the early days of well-known IAC brands like Vimeo and Ask.com, and has held leadership, operations and management positions at dozens of other IAC portfolio companies in categories such as search, mobile software and video. Most recently as founder and CEO of IAC’s Mosaic Group, Tim led the acquisition of more than a dozen mobile software developers globally to bootstrap what is now a thriving collection of award-winning mobile subscription products—including iTranslate, Robokiller and Daily Burn— that collectively counts 4 million paying subscribers across 40+ titles. A major contributor to IAC, Mosaic Group generated nearly $200 million of revenue in 2019.
Tim earned his MBA from Northeastern University, a B.S. in Information Technology from the University of Massachusetts and completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Annie Andrews, Rear Admiral, USN, Ret.
Assistant Administrator for Human Resource Management, Federal Aviation Administration, Ret.
Annie B. Andrews served as the Assistant Administrator for Human Resource Management at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from 2015-2022. While there, she directed personnel recruitment, retention, and accession; employee accountability, employee relations and labor relations; career and leadership development; employee compensation, benefits, and worklife; and workers compensation services to nearly 45,000 federal personnel across the nation.
Under her executive leadership, her office served with the mission: “We take care of the people who make it safe to fly,” engaging in strategic partnerships across the FAA and Department of Transportation to provide collaborative-shared services in the areas of workers compensation and learning management systems. She launched improved employees services systems and implemented the use of Robotic Process Automation and other efforts to streamline paperwork and processes. Her organization initiated efforts to shape the future FAA workforce through innovative Strategic Workforce Planning and Succession Planning programs. She also led efforts to enhance the nation’s aviation workforce through Diversity Recruitment efforts and initiatives to encourage the growth of women and youth in aviation.
A retired rear admiral, Ms. Andrews is the third African American female to achieve this rank in the United States Navy. Her distinguished naval career is highlighted by leadership roles including: commanding officer of Boston Military Entrance Processing Station, Navy Recruiting District San Francisco, and Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes; Chief of the Requirements Branch & Joint Manpower Planner for the Washington D.C. Joint Chiefs of Staff; Executive Assistant & Naval Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower & Reserve Affairs; and Senior Fellow on the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group at the Naval War College.
Ms. Andrews’ 32-year naval service culminated as the Commander, Navy Recruiting Command. As the Navy’s top recruiter and principle advisor to the Chief of Naval Personnel and Chief of Naval Operations on recruitment strategy and objectives, she led recruitment efforts for officer and enlisted programs in both the Active Duty and Reserve components.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Savannah State University, a Master of Science in Management from Troy State University, a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the College of Naval Command and Staff; she is also a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College. She has been conferred honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from both Wilson College in Pennsylvania and Savannah State University.
Ms. Andrews has received multiple awards and honors including the: 2014 “Stars & Stripes” Honors for Leadership; 2015 Savannah State University Award of Excellence for Noteworthy Leadership; 2015 Women of Color Lifetime Achievement; 2016 Court of Honor of “Distinguished Daughters” of the Philadelphia High School for Girls Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award; 2017 Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Trail Blazer Award; 2018 she was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame for outstanding achievement in Government and Law. In 2022, Ms. Andrews received the Mary Jane Miller Volunteer Service Award for NFCU.
John Bird, Vice Admiral, USN, Ret.
Senior VP Military Affairs, USAA | ASYMCA Immediate Past Chair
John joined USAA in February 2013 as the Senior Vice President of Military Affairs. He leads the USAA Military Affairs Team comprised of more than 50 retired officers and senior noncommissioned officers who advocate for and support our military including those currently serving, our veterans, and military families. His team of professionals have more than 1,400 years of combined military experience and are geographically disbursed across the nation, representing each of their services as well as the nation's Guard and Reserve forces. They are responsible for creating and sustaining relationships between USAA, strategic partners, military leaders, and military-related organizations, allowing USAA to better serve and advocate for the military community. He and his team support our nation’s service members and their families through face-to-face and virtual engagements, creating an enduring bond with the military community USAA serves.
Prior to USAA, John served 35 years in the Navy before retiring in October 2012 as a Vice Admiral and Director of Navy Staff. Earlier assignments included: Commander, United States Seventh Fleet; Director, Operations, Plans and Logistics at United States Joint Forces; Commander, Submarine Group Seven; Commander, Submarine Squadron Eight; and Commanding Officer of USS Scranton SSN 756.
In 1977, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He holds a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the Catholic University of America and has completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI in Foreign Affairs, International Relations, and National Security. John currently serves on the board of the National Veterans Memorial Museum, Armed Services YMCA, Naval Submarine League, and is the Chairman of the Board for American Military Banking Association.
John has been married to his high school sweetheart, Nonie, for 42 years. They have two grown children, Jack and Elizabeth, who are both UVA Engineering graduates. They are also blessed to have 2-year-old twin granddaughters, Nell and Zoe.
Henry Bonilla
Partner, The Normandy Group | United States Congressman, 1993-2007
Henry Bonilla is in his 28th year working in Washington D. C. with key players on Capitol Hill and in the Executive Branch to affect public policy and regulatory issues. He served as a Member of Congress (1993-2007) and is currently a consultant and federal lobbyist with The Normandy Group, a government relations firm. Prior to his career in federal policy, Henry had a successful career in television news.
Henry was the first Hispanic Republican ever elected to Congress in Texas (1992). After his election, Henry served as a major player on the powerful Appropriations Committee. He specifically worked on subcommittees that funded a wide range of major federal agencies, including the Defense Department, CIA, Food and Drug Administration and Agriculture Department. For six years, he chaired the Subcommittee on Agriculture and was responsible for its entire annual budget. This experience led President Donald Trump to interview Henry for the position of Secretary of Agriculture. Henry was given strong consideration as a finalist until the President selected former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue for the position. In addition, Henry’s 12 years of leadership on defense issues allowed him to interact with U. S. military and intelligence leaders around the world. In his last term in Congress, Henry was rated by Congress.org as the seventh most influential member of Congress in its Power Rankings.
Henry became a national figure during his time in Congress. Time Magazine chose him as one of America’s Top 50 Young Leaders in 1993. In 2000, Presidential Candidate George W. Bush chose him as one of the original 10 members of his Steering Committee to launch his campaign. President Bush later chose Henry as a co-chair of the GOP conventions in 2000 and 2004. His responsibilities included regularly appearing on all major television networks as a surrogate. Henry’s history in television news made him a huge asset in this effort.
After his last term in Congress, Henry was nominated to be the U. S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS). The OAS includes 35 countries in North America and promotes economic and political projects among participating countries. Henry was approved to move forward for U. S. Senate confirmation in 2007. However, tensions between the White House and Senate leadership halted all ambassador confirmations for several months, leading Henry to withdraw his nomination and join The Normandy Group.
At The Normandy Group, Henry works with a variety of clients to address their issues before the federal government. Clients have included Fortune 500 companies, universities, cities and nonprofits. His long history working in the federal space has allowed him to navigate complex issues through federal agencies and the ever changing political leadership on Capitol Hill.
In addition, Henry served on Microsoft President Brad Smith’s Advisory Council for three years, beginning in 2017. Council meetings with Smith were held quarterly to discuss political and public relations strategies involving issues of concern to Microsoft.
Aside from Henry’s most recent consideration for a Cabinet position, Henry’s views remain prominent in Washington. In past years his op-eds have appeared on the FOX news website and The Hill on subjects ranging from the Puerto Rican financial crisis to missile defense.
Henry’s strong communication and public relations skills were developed during his first career out of college as a producer in broadcast news. At his peak in that career, he was the producer of the 11 PM news at WABC-TV in New York City, the flagship station for the ABC television network when the show’s audience each night ranged between two and twelve million viewers.
Henry serves as Honorary Chairman of the board of trustees for the nonprofit BCFS, a global system of health and human services (bcfs.net); and serves on the board of Southwest General Hospital in San Antonio (southwestgeneralhospital.org). He earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1976 and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of the Incarnate Word in 2002. He is speaks Spanish. His wife Sheryl is a recently retired corporate vice-president with UPS. He has two adult children, Alicia Wieser, residing with her family in Hong Kong, and Austin Bonilla, residing in Houston.
Jody Breckenridge, Vice Admiral, USCG, Ret.
Chair, California Military Council
Vice Admiral (RET) Jody Breckenridge serves as the Chair for the California Military Council. Appointed by the Governor, she leads a council of retired military from all the Services, elected officials from both houses of the Assembly, and heads of several state agencies in supporting the more than 30 major defense installations as well as military members and their families while seeking to sustain and grow the National Security footprint in California. She currently serves on a state Space Task Force, guiding a look at access to specialty medical care for military member, and fostering unique partnerships between the state and military for energy, childcare, and other services. VADM Breckenridge is committed to veterans, Service members and their families, and the community through her service as Vice Chair of San Francisco Fleet Week, Secretary for Marines Memorial Foundation, Board Member for Oakland Military Institute, Vice Board Chair for Council for a Strong America, Board of Visitors member for National Defense University, Board Member for Association for Rescue at Sea, and Board Member and Governance Committee Chair for U. S. Vets. She also serves on the Board for First Command Financial Services and the Military Advisory Council to Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. On Dec 31, 2019, Vice Admiral Breckenridge completed a 6 year term as the Chair of the Board for the Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority, a public transportation ferry service and emergency response agency.
Prior to her community and board service, Vice Admiral Breckenridge served 34 years in the US Coast Guard retiring in 2010 from her assignment as Commander, Pacific Area and Defense Forces West with responsibility for all operations in an area encompassing six of the seven continents, 71 countries, and more than 74 million square miles of ocean. Her other flag assignments included Director for Strategic Transformation (largest business realignment in the modern history of the Coast Guard), Deputy Commandant for Human Resources, Commander, Coast Guard District Eleven, and Commander, Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific.
Steven Browne
Branch Representative | Board Chair, Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton
Steve was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area where he attended elementary high school. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of California at Davis, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences.
After college Steve joined a property management company that managed private dormitories across the country. After five years, Steve ended up in Austin, Tx where he joined a residential property management firm. In addition to residential property management, Steve also gained experience in managing office properties, high rise buildings and retail malls. After working for a couple of property management firms over a fifteen-year period, Steve took a Regional Manager Position with the REIT Security Capital, Inc. From there he moved over to Equity Residential Properties, managing a portfolio of 4,500 units in the San Diego and Palm Springs area for seven years.
In 2003, an opportunity presented itself to move over to Lincoln Military Housing, which had started managing Naval Family Housing in the San Diego and Mid-Atlantic areas. In October of 2003, LMH ventured into Marine Corps Housing at Camp Pendleton and Steve began his career at LMH as a Regional Vice President which spanned for fourteen years before retiring at the end of 2017. Steve took a portfolio of 2,500 homes in the beginning to almost 11,000 homes spread across five bases and included almost 300 employees. In addition to property management, his team also oversaw new construction of around 2,500 homes and the renovation of 3,000 additional homes.
This position was hugely rewarding due to the fact that LMH was making a major impact on the families of the Marines and Sailors stationed on Marine bases. It also gave him the opportunity to work with the various commands daily and understand the needs of military families. During this time, Steve joined the Board of Management at the Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA where he has served for sixteen year. Steve was recently elected Board Chairman starting in 2020.
Steve and his wife Mary live in Oceanside, Ca. Keeping busy in retirement, Steve enjoys playing golf, biking and playing ice hockey. He also holds a California Real Estate Brokers License.
John Butler, Colonel, USA, Ret.
Senior Vice President & Program Executive, HealthNet Federal Services
John Butler is Senior Vice President and Program Executive for the T2017 TRICARE program for Health Net Federal Services (HNFS). In this capacity, he has end-to-end responsibility for all program operations of the Managed Care Support Contract supporting 2.9 million beneficiaries within the Military Health System’s T2017 Western Region upon start of health care delivery. Mr. Butler serves as the company’s primary executive point of contact with the Defense Health Agency on all T2017 matters and reports directly to the CEO of HNFS.
John comes to HNFS with extensive experience in the operation, leadership and administration of military health care systems. Through 25 years of active U.S. Army Medical Service Corps service, John held positions at every level within the military health system across a broad range of functional areas, retiring as the CFO for Army Medicine. Notably, most of the last ten years of John’s career was served at the enterprise headquarters level of Army Medicine, including the Army Staff. In these positions, he supported implementation of some of the largest and most influential programs to impact the Army and Army Medicine in decades, including Army Modularity, Global Rebasing, and Traumatic Brain Injury – Psychological Health. He was personally instrumental in contributing to solution design for Medical Base Realignment & Closure, the Army Medical Action Plan (launch of Warrior Care), and navigating the command through Sequestration.
Since retiring from the Army, Mr. Butler has held private sector positions with PricewaterhouseCoopers’ healthcare services sector and Anthem Health’s Government Business Division. He has an accomplished record of business performance, network optimization, budget development and execution, strategic planning, cost containment and personnel management across a broad range of public and private health care environments. His experience is complemented by an MBA in Operations and Resource Management from Syracuse University and a Master of Science in National Resourcing Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University.
John and his wife Susan have a son, Sean, and daughter, Erin, and currently reside in San Antonio, Texas, with plans to relocate to the Sacramento area to work out of the Rancho Cordova office.
Ricardo J. Chamorro
Senior Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions, Pentagon Federal Credit Union
Ricardo is a Senior Vice President at PenFed Credit Union, the nation’s second largest federal credit union with assets of $23 billion and more than 1.6 million members. Ricardo leads PenFed’s deposits and consumer lending teams, overseeing all deposits products as well as auto loans, student loans and personal loans. Ricardo also spearheads PenFed’s mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) and corporate development strategy and has consummated over a dozen merger partnerships while at PenFed.
Prior to his current position, Ricardo worked as an Investment Banker for UBS and Lazard, where he was responsible for the creation and execution of M&A, restructuring, and capital markets strategies.
Some of his prior advisory engagements include advising InBev on its $62 billion acquisition of Anheuser-Busch and advising Hilton Hotels on the $26 billion leveraged buyout by the Blackstone Group. Ricardo also previously led a 60+ store multi-channel and multi-product consumer finance company in Spain.
Prior to starting his corporate career, Ricardo served in the military as an intelligence officer, leading numerous operations and soldiers in a variety of deployments, including Bosnia and Iraq. Ricardo is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal. Ricardo is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and has an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Jo Decker
Vice President, Strategy & Growth, BAE Systems Integrated Defense Solutions
Jo Decker serves as Vice President of Strategy and Growth for the Integrated Defense Solutions business area within the Intelligence & Security (I&S) sector of BAE Systems, Inc. She joined the company in January 2019 and is responsible for developing and overseeing all systems engineering and integration strategies and growth for customers, including the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, MDA, and other federal agencies.
Previously, from 2013 through 2018, Ms. Decker was Vice President of Business Development for the Global Solutions Division of General Dynamics IT. In that role, she was responsible for the division’s business initiatives, strategic development of solutions and services, and customer relationships across the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, state, local, and commercial customers.
Prior to serving within the defense industry, Ms. Decker completed a career as a senior executive with the Department of the Navy. During her tenure, she held many of the most senior positions in the department. Her final position was Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics. In that role, she served as the senior civilian responsible for ensuring all requirements, resources, and policies were in line with high priority fleet needs. Concurrently, she served as Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management, where she had oversight for all budgetary and fiscal responsibilities for the Department.
Throughout her career, she has held various leadership positions with increasing responsibilities, including Director, Office of Program Appraisal for the Secretary of the Navy; Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources; Director, Fiscal Operations for Military Personnel; Deputy Commander/Comptroller for Naval Air Systems Command; and Director, Assessments and Evaluations for the Office of Naval Intelligence.
Ms. Decker serves on the board of directors for the DataPath Inc. She is President Elect for the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association D.C. chapter. She serves on the President’s Advisory Council for the University of Southern Alabama and is a member of the Surface Navy Association, Association of the United States Army, and Australia America Association.
Ms. Decker holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Troy State University and has completed graduate work at the University of West Florida and the University of Southern California. She has been recognized for her many accomplishments and extraordinary efforts with awards including: the Department of Defense “Distinguished Civilian” award, the highest civilian award given by the DoD; numerous Department of the Navy distinguished civilian awards; the “Department of Defense Senior Women’s Leadership Award”; and the “Naval Intelligence Distinguished” civilian award. She also was awarded the “Service to the Flag Award” in 2017 by Women in Defense.
Sharon Dunbar, Major General, USAF, Ret.
Vice President for Human Resources, General Dynamics Mission Systems
Sharon Dunbar is vice president of Cross-Company Business Initiatives for General Dynamics Mission Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics. In this capacity, she supports General Dynamics Mission Systems and other General Dynamics business units through joint initiatives, strategy, and interfacing with senior Department of Defense customers.
Prior to her current position, Sharon was vice president and general manager of the Federal Systems line of business for General Dynamics Mission Systems. The Federal Systems team was responsible for delivering communication, surveillance, and public safety solutions for the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. Sharon previously served as the company’s vice president of Human Resources.
Before joining General Dynamics in 2014, Sharon served 32 years in the U.S. Air Force. Her assignments spanned command, homeland security, contracting, and government relations. She retired in 2014 as a Major General and Commander of the Air Force District of Washington with responsibilities for aerospace expeditionary operations involving 60,000 personnel assigned worldwide and oversight of national capital region operations to include homeland security, special air missions, and national special security events.
Sharon earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering and business management from the U.S. Air Force Academy and graduated with distinction from the National War College with a Master’s Degree in National Security Studies. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from California State University and completed her doctoral studies in Public Policy at The George Washington University along with executive programs at Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Defense Acquisition University. Sharon serves on the board of directors for several non-profit organizations.
Jason Evans, Lieutenant General, USA, Ret.
Lieutenant General (ret) Jason T. Evans has four decades of distinguished service with the United States Army. As an accomplished strategic leader, he has extensive command and staff experience leading and taking care of people at every level of the Army.
In his culminating assignment with the Army, Jason was selected to serve as the Army’s first Deputy Chief of Staff, G9 (Installations) responsible for providing best Military advice to Army Senior Leadership for budget management of an $18B portfolio, policy, and regulatory guidance for 141 camps, posts, and stations Army-wide. His previous experience as a Garrison Commander and as a Deputy Commanding General, Headquarters Installation Management Command prepared him to be the Headquarters Department of the Army’s principal expert and champion for the world’s most capable and efficient installations. The Secretary of the Army designated the Army G9 to lead the Army’s Quality of Life Task Force with the charter of improving the quality of life for 1.1 million Soldiers and their families in Housing/Barracks, Health Care, Child Care, Spouse Employment and Permanent Change of Station moves. The Army G9 was responsible for leading and or co-leading key initiatives critical to taking care of people, modernization, and readiness of Army installations; the Army Climate Strategy, the Army Installations Strategy Implementation Plan, comprehensive update of the Army Military Construction standards, establishment of the Army Control Systems Governance Office, Army Utilities Privatization Program review, and leading the Army’s reform of the Exceptional Family Member Program in support of 100,000 Soldiers and family members.
Jason also has over 30 years of serving in and leading the Army’s most prominent and complex Human Resources commands and organizations. His experience includes Human Resources Management, Talent Management/Acquisition, Human Capital Strategy/Policy, Diversity, Equity and inclusion policy. His key assignments include: G1, Joint Task Force Support Command, Mogadishu, Somalia; Deputy Chief, General Officer Management Office, Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army; Commander, 510th Personnel Services Battalion, United States Army Europe; Chief, Department of the Army Secretariat for Centralized Selection Boards and HR Career Manager, Army Personnel Command; Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; Director Personnel, Multi-National Forces-Iraq; The Adjutant General, Human Resources Command; Director Military Personnel Management, Headquarters Department of the Army, Army G1.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and master’s degrees in business administration and national resource strategy.
His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), Legion of Merit (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with four Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Parachutist Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
Todd Fox, Colonel, USA, Ret.
Branch Representative | Chair, Armed Services YMCA Killeen
Executive Vice President at First National Bank Texas. He served in the US Army for 24 years and retired as a Colonel in 2018. His last assignment was Fort Hood, Texas where he served as the Garrison Commander for Fort Hood and the Chief of Staff for III Corps and Fort Hood.
Fox received a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the United States Military Academy, West Point, a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College, a Masters of Public Policy from Georgetown University, and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategy from the United States Army War College.
He serves on multiple committees and boards in the community to include the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce, Association of the United States Army Central Texas-Fort Hood Chapter, the Armed Services YMCA Killeen, the Central Texas College Foundation Board, and the Texas Military Preparedness Commission.
Jay Gothard, Brigadier General, USA, Ret.
Branch Representative | Chair, Armed Services YMCA Fort Bragg
BG Jay Gothard was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry upon graduation from the University of Dayton ROTC program in 1978. His first assignment was with the 82d Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, NC, as a Rifle Platoon Leader. BG Gothard graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1980 and served with the 5th and 7th Special Forces Groups, the Special Warfare Training Group as a Military Freefall Instructor, and classified assignments. BG assessed in the Army Acquisition Corp in 1992 accepting a classified Civil Service position and Reserve Commission In the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command. Selected for promotion and command, BG Gothard commanded the 353rd Civil Affairs Command from 2008-2010.
Recalled to Active duty on multiple occasions, BG Gothard served as the Training Officer for pre-deployment training for the Bosnia operations, and operations at the U.S. Joint Forces Command after the September 11, 2001 attacks. BG Gothard deployed to Iraq in 2006 as the Chief U.S. Advisor to the Commanding General of the Iraqi 5th Division. BG Gothard served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, G7, at U.S. Southern Command during the Haiti earthquake relief effort in 2010. From April 2010 until November 2011, BG Gothard served as the Deputy Commanding General, Support and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army Reserve Command. BG Gothard retired from the Army as the Deputy Commanding General of the 81st Regional Support Command, Ft. Jackson, SC, in May 2014. BG Gothard’s awards include the Defense Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Master Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger and Special Forces Tabs.
BG Gothard retired from Civil Service at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command in January 2019, where he served as the Chief and Senior Program Manager of the Science and Technology Division. BG Gothard is a recipient of the David Packard Award for Acquisition Excellence for his work on the Multi-purpose Anti-Armor Weapon System (Carl Gustav) and is a Level III (Professional) Certified Program Manager.
Larry Hughes
Vice President of Operations, 7-Eleven
Larry Hughes, Ed.D. of Frisco is a zone vice president of operations at 7-Eleven, Inc. Prior to joining 7-Eleven, he served in a variety of leadership assignments in the retailing and hospitality sectors.
Hughes previously served as a founding member of the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City – Kansas City. He is a national board member of the Armed Services YMCA and a group leader in Bible Study Fellowship International. In addition, he serves as a life member of the National Black MBA Association and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Army and Army National Guard.
Hughes received a Bachelor of Science in U.S. history from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago, Master of Science in Management from Baker University, and Doctor of Education in Human and Organizational Learning from George Washington University.
Andrea Inserra
Executive VP, Booz Allen Hamilton
Andrea Inserra, a Booz Allen Hamilton Senior Vice President, is recognized for her expertise in program and system management, organizational re-engineering and transformation for US Federal and commercial clients.
Andrea Inserra leads the Firm’s Global Defense Group Operations and Crosscut Market Strategy. As the Global Defense Operations Officer, she is responsible for identifying and executing strategic initiatives to drive business growth and maximizing financial performance. She is recognized for her consulting expertise in program and system management and organization transformation for US Federal and commercial clients. Andrea works with leaders across the Firm to integrate service offerings, develop talent, and drive toward integrated solutions.
She has provided leadership to the Firm’s military and civilian health business where she focused on healthcare transformation. Andrea has led the Firm’s clinical services offering, including behavior health supporting programs to enhance the well-being and psychological health for service members, veterans, and military families. She implemented a community-based model to facilitate collaboration and improve the integration of efforts across federal, private, and nonprofit organizations in addressing the challenges of the military and their families. These nationwide pro-bono, community-based summits addressed the challenges military families face including unemployment, education, behavioral, and physical health issues, access to care and veteran treatment courts.
Andrea chairs the Firm’s veteran’s agenda to provide ongoing support to veterans and military families –both inside and outside our Firm –by providing best-in-class benefits, partnering with nonprofit organizations, and engaging in community volunteerism. Andrea is a passionate leader working with the private sector, government, and NGOs leaders to address the reintegration, including health needs, of our military, veterans, and their families.
Prior to joining Booz Allen, Andrea served in engineering positions for Mobil Oil Corporation and Armstrong World Industries. She served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) Consulting Services. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS) and on the Elizabeth Dole Foundation National Advisory Board for Caring For Military Families.
She holds an MBA from the Pennsylvania State University and a BS in Industrial Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University.
Neil Jarvis
Former Director of Digital Insights, Boeing Global Services
Neil Jarvis co-owner, The First Watch Group and served as Director of Digital Insights at Boeing following his retirement as President & CEO of Fujitsu Defense and National Security Corp., the leading information and communications company offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services in more than 100 countries. Neil was responsible for setting and executing the strategy and direction of the business, developing the offering portfolio, and growth plan.
He brings diverse expertise gained through his experience as a business leader, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Information Officer in industries including defense, supply-chain and logistics, government, energy, insurance, and financial management. He spent 37 years in the Information Technology business, with 25 of them with the government, defense, and logistics industries at companies including Xerox, Pegasus Logistics Group and EDS in the US and Europe where he was the executive sponsor for UK Ministry of Defense contracts, and Delivery Executive for the US Department of Defense’s largest contract, the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet. He is a National Board member of Armed Services YMCA which focuses on strengthening our military families through hands-on, innovative programs and support services.
He lives with his wife in Dallas, TX and has two grown daughters three grandsons and a granddaughter.
Anthony Kurta, Rear Admiral, USN, Ret.
Vice President & Strategic Account Executive, LEIDOS
Tony Kurta joined Leidos in August, 2019 after more than 40 years of service, in an out of uniform. Prior to joining Leidos Health, as a member of the Senior Executive Service, he performed the duties of both Under Secretary and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness in the Department of Defense, where he was the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense for Total Force Management as it relates to force readiness; National Guard and Reserve component affairs, DoD-VA collaboration; transition to Veteran programs; military health affairs; training; and personnel requirements and management. Kurta was also the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy from 2014 to 2019.
A native of Columbia Falls, Montana, he graduated with merit from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1981, earned an M.A. in National Security Studies from Georgetown University, is a distinguished graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, and was a National Security Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Kurta’s career includes over 32 years on active duty as a Navy Surface Warfare Officer, during which he commanded USS Sentry (MCM 3), USS Guardian (MCM 5), USS Warrior (MCM 10), USS Carney (DDG 64), Destroyer Squadron Two Four and Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). As CJTF-HOA, his command included Active and Reserve officers and enlisted, Navy, Army, Marines, Air Force, Special Operations, National Guard, inter-agency and coalition personnel. Shore assignments included: Chief, Special Actions Division on the Joint Staff; Director, Surface Officer Distribution Division (Pers-41) at the Navy Personnel Command; Director for Policy, Resources and Strategy for U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa; and Director, Military Personnel Policy (N13) on the OPNAV Staff. He retired from the Navy in 2013 as a Rear Admiral.
He has also served as a Senior Leader in the Department of the Navy from December 2013 through September 2014 as the Director of Navy Flag Officer Management and Development where he was responsible for flag officer community management and executive development.
His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medals, Legions of Merit, Meritorious Service Medals, Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award, and the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award.
He is married to the former Maria Vidro, a native of San Juan Capistrano, California. They have a future retirement home in Whitefish, Montana.
Charlotte La Belle, USA, Vet.
Senior Manager for Global Military Affairs, Amazon
Charlotte La Belle is an Army Veteran and currently leads all military community outreach and retention for Amazon’s Global Military Affairs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Public Relations from The University of Akron, and a Master’s of Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from Ohio University. She began her military career as a private in the Army National Guard, serving in the 1485th Transportation Company in Ohio. After two years enlisted, she commissioned as a Logistics Officer and served 6 years on Active Duty with the 108th ADA BDE at Fort Bragg, and the 10th MTN Division at Fort Drum. Throughout her active duty tour, she served as a maintenance Company Commander supporting a Patriot Missile Battalion while deployed and later served as the Brigade HHC Rear-Detachment Commander.
She started at Amazon in 2020 as an Operations Manager through the Military Pathways Program and then as a Senior Operations Manager for Amazon Air in Kentucky before starting her role in Global Military Affairs. In her current role as the Senior Manager for Global Military Affairs, she is responsible for the retention and development of all 50,000 Veterans and military spouses at Amazon. In addition, she developed Amazon’s current military community outreach strategy that focuses globally on mental health, urgent need, disabled Veteran support, and Gold Star families. She is passionate about developing suicide-safer communities through advocacy and training. She has been teaching Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) from LivingWorks Education for the last 7 years within our military communities and to surrounding community leaders.
On her very first day of Active Duty she met her husband, Andrew La Belle, who she served alongside for 6 years. They both left the Army in 2020, and he is now a Pilot and Flight Instructor. They currently reside in Northeast Ohio with their two boys, James who is 3 years old, and Maxwell (Max) who is 1 year old.
Keith Manternach
Branch Representative | Board Chair, Armed Services YMCA Alaska
Jeremy Martin, Colonel, USA, Ret.
Director of Public Affairs and Engagement, Bell
Jeremy Martin is the Director of Public Affairs and Engagement for Bell’s Advanced Vertical Lift Center in the nation’s capital.
Jeremy is a retired Army Colonel with a distinguished 30-year military career to include Commander of the Defense Information School, Senior Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Public Affairs Advisor and Spokesperson for the Secretary of the Army, and the Director of Public Affairs for the Joint Task Force at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Other key assignments include serving as the Acting Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Community and Public Outreach, and Acting Principal Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs.
Prior to joining Bell, Jeremy served in the Senior Executive Service as the Chief of Staff to the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, and Pentagon Press Secretary. Jeremy is a graduate of Grambling State University. He earned a Master’s Degree in Strategic Planning from the United States Army War College, and a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Development from Webster University.
Roxanne Moore
Executive Director, SODEXO Stop Hunger Foundation
Roxanne Moore is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and Project Management Professional (PMP) with 25 years of experience specializing in nutrition policy, program development, project management and public speaking.
Currently Roxanne is the Executive Director for the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation. Prior to working with the Foundation Roxanne served as director of client engagement and research in the Sodexo Schools segment where she led research and developed strategies that improved operational effectiveness and promoted business growth. The Partnership for a Healthier America recognized Moore’s initiative to serve 17 million more breakfast meals to eligible students as well as a collaborative program with Cornell University Food & Brand Lab to implement behavioral economic techniques in 3,700 Sodexo school sites to maximize healthy food consumptions and reduce food waste.
As a former administrator of the USDA Child Nutrition Programs for both the Maryland State Department of Education and the Army, Moore has in-depth knowledge of governmental policy, implementation of child nutrition programs and the importance of community partnerships to improve the overall health and well-being of individuals, especially children. While working with the Sodexo Schools segment, Moore created and produced more than 50 educational videos on healthy eating, sports nutrition, kids cooking and STEM education.
Chris Padilla
Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs, IBM Corporation
Christopher A. Padilla was named Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs of International Business Machines Corporation in April 2009. He leads the company's global government affairs function, representing IBM before governments worldwide with a team of professionals located in 38 countries.
Prior to joining IBM, Mr. Padilla served as Under Secretary for International Trade at the U.S. Department of Commerce, leading efforts to develop U.S. trade policy, promote and review foreign direct investment in the United States, support U.S. exports, and enforce compliance with trade laws. Padilla was also appointed by the President to serve on the Congressional Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China. Before serving as Under Secretary, he was an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, overseeing the export of items controlled for national security reasons.
From 2005-2006, he served as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick. From 2002-2005, he was an Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, where he built support for international trade agreements.
Mr. Padilla worked for more than fifteen years in the private sector prior to his government service. Over a ten-year career at AT&T and Lucent Technologies, he held several positions including marketing, business development, and government affairs. Later, he was Director of International Trade Relations at Eastman Kodak Company.
He holds a B.A. and an M.A. in international studies from Johns Hopkins University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He serves on the boards of the Information Technology Industry Council, the Council of the Americas, and the US-India Business Council. He previously served on the board of the YMCA of the USA.
Terri Page, Colonel, USAF, Ret.
Vice President of Market Operations, Humana Military
Terri leads field operations for the East Region and is responsible for provider and health systems management, and local customer support for 6M eligible TRICARE beneficiaries and over 200 Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs). She oversees outreach to National Guard and Reserve units in the East and clinical resourcing activities to help the MTFs recapture health care. Terri provides oversight of the Military Health and Resiliency office focused on improving health outcomes of military families through collective impact with local community partners. She also oversees the Resolutions team that addresses TRICARE Congressional inquiries, priority correspondence and escalated issues. Terri serves as liaison to the staff of the Defense Health Agency’s TRICARE Health Plan office for information sharing, collaboration on TRICARE contract operations, and resolution of problems and concerns.
Terri is a retired Colonel having served in a variety of leadership roles during her Air Force career, including Chief Nurse, Air Force Inspector, Squadron Commander, and Deputy Director of Air Force Nursing Services. Immediately before joining Humana Military in 2004, she was the Director of Population Health for the Office of the Air Force Surgeon General.
Originally serving as the Humana Military Regional Quality Manager and then Associate Executive Director, Terri was selected as the Regional Senior Executive for TRICARE South Contract in January 2013, and was promoted to her current position in 2016.
Terri earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the Medical College of Georgia and a Master’s in Education from the University of Southern California. She has a Master Certificate in Six Sigma from Villanova University and is a Nationally Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality. Terri has also completed PhD course work in Leadership Studies at Our Lady of the Lake University’s School of Business and attended Air Force Squadron Officers School, Air Command and Staff College, Air War College, and the Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives at George Washington University.
Tim Paynter, USN, Ret.
Vice President of External Communications, BAE
Tim Paynter is vice president of External Communications for BAE Systems, Inc., which employs more than 35,000 employees in the United States, United Kingdom, and Sweden, and generated 2020 revenues of approximately $11.9 billion. He is responsible for leading the company’s media relations, financial communications, community investment, and digital and social media activities.
Prior to his current role, Paynter served in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility at Northrop Grumman Corporation, including vice president of Strategic Communications and vice president of Media and Public Relations. Prior to that, he served in various director roles in the company’s Aerospace business, including leading advocacy for priority win campaigns, marketing communications, international communications, and as director of communications for the Military Aircraft division.
Before rejoining Northrop Grumman, Paynter served as senior manager of corporate communications at EADS North America, the U.S. arm of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., now Airbus Group. Prior to joining EADS North America, he led communications activities for Northrop Grumman’s KC-45 Tanker campaign. Paynter first joined Northrop Grumman at its Unmanned Systems division.
While serving in the U.S. Navy as a chief journalist, Paynter worked in a variety of communications and public affairs leadership positions at shore, afloat and at joint commands throughout the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia; including USS Frank Cable (AS-40), USS Peleliu (LHA-5), and deployments aboard USS Patriot (MCM-7) and USS Topeka (SSN-754).
Paynter’s military and civilian achievements include the U.S. Navy Broadcast Journalist of the Year award, Naval Media Center Worldwide Sailor of the Year, and the Rear Admiral Ravitz Excellence in Public Affairs award. He has also earned various Chief of Information Merit Awards for excellence in print and broadcast journalism. Paynter has also served as a Public Relations Society of America guest speaker on crisis communications, as well as being named PRNews’ 15 to Watch Under 30.
Paynter’s military qualifications and awards include Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, damage control leader, and anti-terrorism/force protection specialist. His military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service medal, the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation medal (three awards), the Joint Service Achievement medal, and the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement medal (four awards).
Paynter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and is a graduate of the Defense Department’s Defense Information School in both print and broadcast journalism. He also serves on the national board of directors of the Armed Services YMCA.
Kate Boyce Reeder
President, KRBR Consulting, LLC
Kate Boyce Reeder is the President of KRBR Consulting LLC, which provides federal policy, legislative and appropriations consulting services primarily to Native American clients and nonprofit organizations.
Previously, she practiced law for decades as a Partner at Patton Boggs LLP, specializing in federal public policy and political law, and founded the firm’s Indian law practice. For over 35 years, she represented sovereign governments, including Indian tribes, corporations and trade associations, as well as tribal health consortia, enterprises owned by tribes or Alaska Natives, and other Native American owned businesses. Ms. Boyce is co-author of the book Corporate Political Activity as well as several legal journal articles and is a member of the Federal Bar Association and its Indian Law Section, D.C. Bar Association, and National Native American Bar Association.
She serves on the Armed Services YMCA National Board of Directors, chairs the Advisory Council of the Child and Family Network Centers, D. C. Council of Vital Voices Global Partnership, and has led the FASD United Executive Committee for more than a decade.
Kat Sadeghi, JD
Vice President, HNTB Corporation
Kat Sadeghi is a project finance and infrastructure development professional specializing in large-scale public-private partnership (P3) projects in North America. Kat is currently serving as a Vice President at HNTB doing strategic advisory work with a focus on P3s and alternative delivery. Kat previously served as an Investment Director at AECOM Capital (ACAP), the equity investment arm of AECOM, where she managed the commercial and legal work streams on public infrastructure pursuits. Prior to joining ACAP, Kat was a practicing attorney for over 7 years, focusing primarily on infrastructure and project finance. She worked as a Senior Associate at Ashurst and, before that, an Associate at White & Case. Kat has extensive transactional experience, both as an attorney and a developer, and has experience working across asset classes, including on transportation (road, rail, aviation), social infrastructure, and broadband projects.
Kat received a JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law, an MA in Near Eastern Studies from New York University, and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. Kat is also a former Fulbright Scholar (Ankara, Turkey - 2003-2004), a founder and co-president of the Young Professionals in Infrastructure, and lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Dave Scanlan
Former Chief Executive Officer, Sodexo Government North America
Dave Scanlan most recently was the CEO of Sodexo Government, North America responsible for over $400 million in business serving the U.S. and Canadian government markets. With $9.8 billion in annual revenues in the U.S. and Canada, Sodexo's 133,000 employees provide more than 100 unique services that improve performance for 9,000 client partners and improve Quality of Life for 15 million consumers every day.
Dave is an accomplished Senior Executive with over 30 years of in-depth, hands-on, “roll up your sleeves” experience. His background includes extensive knowledge and experience in financial analysis and planning, internal controls and corporate governance.
During his tenure with Sodexo, Dave contributed to Sodexo’s growth as a member of the worldwide Sodexo global Senior Leader’s group and the Sodexo North America Regional Leadership Committee. he has held positions at both the Corporate level and in Business units including Finance Director, Assistant Treasurer, Vice-President for Treasury and Finance, and two Chief Financial Officer roles overseeing business in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. He worked internationally for Sodexo in operations and has provided executive leadership for several strategic initiatives.
A committed supporter of the Military community, in 2012, as a member of the American Patriots Campaign Leadership Cabinet, he led the creation of the Sodexo Scholarship Fund with the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. In 2013, he was honored with the Annual Globe and Anchor Award given to notable industry leaders for their stewardship of the Foundation's mission. In 2014, Mr. Scanlan was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) and subsequently elected Treasurer.
He has served on the Boards of Directors for Nana Management Services, a certified Minority Business Enterprise, and the Sodexo Foundation.
Dave holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from Bentley University.
Lauren Stevens
Vice President of Production Engineering & Operations, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Lauren Stevens is the Global Hawk UAS Vice President and Program Manager for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, a premier provider of manned and unmanned aircraft, space systems and advanced technologies critical to our nation’s security.
In this role, Stevens is responsible for the continuing development, production, delivery, sustainment and operational support of the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS), the provider of persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information, for both domestic and international Customers.
Previously, Stevens was the Director of the Program Integration Team (PIT) within the Strike Division, responsible for day-to-day Program & Division operations while ensuring the integrity and executability of the program baseline through horizontal integration and disciplined execution of change management. In addition to Division and program integration, Stevens was responsible for standing-up and executing-on all facilities, resource fulfillment & IT infrastructure requirements in support of program objectives.
Prior to her PIT role, Stevens was responsible for multiple game-changing development programs on both the E2D Advanced Hawkeye and the B-2 Bomber. Stevens was responsible for a portfolio of capability upgrades that expand the E2D Advanced Hawkeye’s Battle Management Command and Control mission for the United States Navy. Prior to working on the E2D Hawkeye program, Stevens was the Defensive Management System (DMS) Modernization program manager for the B-2. Stevens conceptualized the ACAT-1D program, initiated the successful creation of the effort as a rapid acquisition new start, and helped secure Department of Defense (DoD) support of the program. Her success leading the B-2 DMS modernization program earned her team the 2011 Northrop Grumman Corporate Council Team of the Year award. The B-2 DMS Modernization program was also nominated for the David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award in 2012.
Since joining the company in 1998, Stevens has distinguished herself as a strong leader in program management, profit and loss, program acquisition, program execution, functional leadership and employee engagement. This has been demonstrated through her role as Vice President /Director of major programs, her leadership and development of senior program management staff, her role as the executive sponsor of One Adelante Melbourne Chapter and Rancho Benardo Gen-to-Gen Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and her commitment to employee assimilation, engagement and inclusion.
Stevens received her Bachelor of Arts in Politcal Science from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and her Master of Business Administration from the University of LaVerne at LaVerne, California. She also holds a Systems Engineering certification from Cal Tech at Pasadena, California.
Randy Stillinger, LTC, USAR
Manager of Military and Veterans Initiatives, American Airlines
Randy Stillinger serves as the Manager of Military and Veterans Initiatives for American Airlines with the primary responsibility of supporting military non-profit organizations and coordinating special events. Some of the organizations supported through his program include the Armed Services YMCA, Gary Sinise Foundation, USO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the Medal of Honor Foundation.
Mr. Stillinger utilizes the American Airlines fleet of aircraft to serve the military community through annual charter flights and historic missions. Among the unique charter flights he coordinates are Snowball Express, Soaring Valor, Salute to the Troops, and special missions taking veterans to our nation’s capital, Normandy and Honolulu for the 80th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Other responsibilities include the coordination of packing/delivering care packages to deployed service members, providing compassionate and emergency travel, military-related customer service and organizing veteran hiring initiatives. He works in conjunction with both internal and external communications to ensure that employees, customers and members of the communities American Airlines serves is aware of the many volunteer and support opportunities available. Most recently, Mr. Stillinger completed an 18-month project to design, paint and wrap Flagship Valor, a flying tribute to those who have received the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest award for valor in combat.
Mr. Stillinger has over 27 total years of full and part-time military service and still serves in the U.S. Army Reserve at the rank of Lt. Colonel. He’s an Army Aviator having flown both the AH-64 “Apache” and UH-60 “Blackhawk” helicopters but is now a Public Affairs Officer who currently works for the Army’s Chief of Public Affairs at the Pentagon. His overseas deployments include Bosnia, Kuwait and a yearlong combat deployment to Iraq. Other missions took him to Afghanistan, Germany, Korea, Guatemala, Honduras, Egypt and several U.S. Navy ships in the Persian Gulf.
While serving in the Texas Army National Guard, Mr. Stillinger was mobilized during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Harvey and deployed to Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Other missions include the TexasMexico border, wildfires, and the recovery of Space Shuttle Columbia, which broke apart over Texas.
Mr. Stillinger is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where he received a B.A. in Political Science and an Army commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. He lives in Keller, Texas with his wife, Sharon and two teenage daughters.
Joel Vargas, Lieutenant Commander, USN, Ret.
Branch Representative | Board Chair, Armed Services YMCA Hampton Roads
Joel joined USAA in May 2013. He is currently the Southern Virginia Senior Military Affairs Representative for the North Region. He directly supports USAA's vision for Military Affairs by directly working with major military installations, veterans, State National Guard, and associated professional organizations to support military members and families through Morale Welfare and Recreation activity events and sponsorship support for pre-deployment and reintegration events. Additionally, he delivers financial readiness training to University ROTC units and local organizations during Indoctrination, annual training, or leadership development schools. Joel also serves as Chairman on the Armed Services YMCA Board of Management, USO of Hampton Roads/Central VA Board of Directors, and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce Armed Services Committee.
Joel Vargas was born in Bronx, New York, and enlisted in the Navy under the Delayed Entry Program in November 1981. Upon graduation from Aviation High School in Queens, New York, he reported to Recruit Training Center San Diego, California in September 1982. After graduating from Basic Training, he attended AMS “A” School in Millington, Tennessee, and was designated an Aviation Structural Mechanic in March 1983. Lieutenant Commander Vargas was commissioned as a Chief Warrant Officer in October 1996 and achieved the rank of CWO3 before being selected for promotion under the Limited Duty Officer program in October 2000.
Lieutenant Commander Vargas’ tours include Fleet Composite Squadron Eight (VC-8) REDTAILS in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, working on the SH-3G Sea King and the TA-4J Sky Hawk. VF-84 JOLLY ROGERS as the Corrosion Control and Airframes shops, where he made two deployments onboard USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) during Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Provide Comfort. He then reported to VF-43 CHALLENGERS in NAS Oceana, where he was the Airframes Leading Petty Officer and Night Shift Maintenance Control Petty Officer. Lieutenant Commander Vargas then reported to VF-142 GHOST RIDERS in April 1994, deploying onboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73). He served as a Quality Assurance Representative and was handpicked as a Night Shift Flight Deck Coordinator. He was selected to Chief Petty Officer in September 1994 and served as Night Shift Maintenance Control Chief. Upon decommissioning VF-142, he reported to VF-143 PUKIN' DOGS in May 1995, deploying again onboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) and served as Night Shift FDC and Night Shift Maintenance Control Chief. In February 1996 he was selected for a commission as a Chief Warrant Officer under the Active Duty LDO/CWO Program. He was commissioned in October 1996 and upon graduation from Mustang University in Pensacola, he reported to VF-154 BLACK KNIGHTS on December 1996, forward deployed out of NAF Atsugi, Japan deploying onboard USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62) and USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63); serving as the Material Control Officer and Maintenance Material Control Officer. Under his leadership, VF-154 was awarded the Battle “E”, Maintenance Golden Wrench, Safety “S”, BOOLA-BOOLA Award for missile excellence and CLIFTON Award for best Fighter Squadron in the Navy.
Lieutenant Commander Vargas reported to Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD), Naval Station Puerto Rico in December 1999, where he served as Quality Assurance Officer. He was selected to CWO3 and LTJG in October 2000 and promoted to Lieutenant in October 2002. He also served as Maintenance Material Control Officer and Assistant Maintenance Officer before decommissioning AIMD in October 2003. While in AIMD, he earned his Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airframes and Power Plants Certification. He was assigned to USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) homeported in Norfolk, VA on October 2003 where served as the IM-4 Officer, IM-2 Officer, and IM-1 Quality Assurance Officer during an extensive RCOH period and ship's overhaul. Additionally, he served as Bridge Team member and qualified as a Helm Safety and After Steering Officer, performing underway duties of the Bridge Team during numerous pre-deployment cycles. He reported to Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU), Oceana on September 2006 where he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and served as Training Department Head for a staff of 197 Sailors and Marine Corps “A” and F/A-18 A thru F “C” School instructors in support of CNATT’s mission, Revolution in Training, and Total Force readiness in the Naval Aviation Enterprise.
LCDR Vargas reported to his major Department Head tour on USS IWO JIMA (LHD 7) homeported in Norfolk, VA from August 2009 to August 2011 serving as the AIMD Maintenance Officer, making several deployments including Operation CONTINUING PROMISE to South America. He was awarded the Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Navy and Marine Corps Leadership Award for CY 2010; nominated by his peers for inspirational leadership.
Joel capped his 31-year career as the Force Aviation Maintenance Officer for COMNAVSURFLANT and COMNAVSURFPAC, a position overseeing aviation maintenance activities and 72 Air Capable ships in both Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. He has served on the NAVAIR Process Improvement and AIRSpeed Implementation Teams, Boots on Deck Coordinator, and the LHA/R Fleet Integration Team responsible for the design of aviation spaces on “next generation” Amphibious Assault Ships, focusing on architecture of hangar and maintenance space configuration for the Joint Strike Fighter and MV-22 aircraft.
Joel earned a Bachelor’s Degree (BS) in Admin/Management Studies and Sociology from Excelsior College and is currently working on his Master’s Degree in Sociology. His personal military awards include the Professional Aviation Maintenance Officer and Enlisted Aviation Warfare Breast Insignias, Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (7 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (6 awards), and numerous service, campaign awards and citations.
He and his wife Jan Sears Vargas reside in Virginia Beach and they have three adult children and three grandchildren.
Mitch Waldman
Former Executive VP for Government & Customer Relations, Huntington Ingalls Industries
Mitchell “Mitch” Waldman is Principal of MBarnet Advisors, LLC, where he provides strategic and advisory services to clients in the aerospace and defense sector. He retired in the fall of 2021 from Huntington Ingalls Industries where he served for over a decade as executive vice president of government and customer relations and was a member of the corporation’s management team. In that capacity, Waldman was responsible for helping to formulate corporate strategy and leading engagement with the Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, business and trade associations, policy thinktanks and academic institutions. From 2008 to 2011, Waldman was an executive with Northrop Grumman Corporation, including service as vice president of business development, advanced programs and technology, for Northrop Grumman’s aerospace systems sector.
Before joining Northrop Grumman, Waldman served as national security advisor for Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and as a national security consultant to the office of the Senate Majority Leader. Previously, Waldman served in several executive positions for the U.S. Navy, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (SHIPS), director of cost engineering and industrial analysis, and deputy program manager for amphibious warfare programs.
Waldman earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor degree from Catholic University. He is also a graduate of Yale University’s Executive Management Program and the Defense Systems Management College Program Manager’s course. Waldman has also been honored with the U.S. Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the State of Mississippi Distinguished Civilian Service Award, and the D.C. City Council of Engineering Societies Architect of the Year award.
He is a member of the Naval War College Foundation’s board of trustees where he serves as board secretary and chairman of the compensation subcommittee. Additionally, Waldman chairs the University of Florida’s mechanical and aerospace engineering External Advisory Board. He also serves on the board of directors for the Armed Services YMCA, Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, and the National Bureau of Asian Research. Previously, Waldman served as a director on the board of BMT Designers and Planners.
Boyd Williams
President & CEO, YMCA Pikes Peak Region
A 25-year veteran of the YMCA, Williams provides and oversees the vision and leadership for more than 1,200 staff and volunteers at nine YMCA Family Centers, 31 before-and-after school sites, four outdoor aquatic centers, Senior Center, three metro district recreation centers and a year-round resident camp and conference center, serving more than 125,000 people annually throughout the Pikes Peak Region.
Prior to joining the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, Williams served in the U.S. Army from 1986–1989.
Williams began his YMCA career in 1994 and has served in five other associations prior to coming to Colorado Springs.
His passion for community and service extends beyond the YMCA, serving on several local boards, Honorary Commander of the United States Air Force Academy, Chair of the Southwest Alliance of YMCAs and as Chair of the YMCA Mid Major CEO Network.
Williams holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Kennesaw State University in Georgia.
Heather Wilson
Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Defense and Civilian Sector, SAIC
DOWNLOAD AS PDF Heather T. Wilson is senior vice president, Human Resources (HR) for SAIC’s Defense and Civilian Sector. Wilson joined SAIC in 2021 and is responsible for bringing a business-centric approach to the entire employee life cycle — from the early stages of recruiting and onboarding through career development, training, and performance management. A key focus for Wilson is helping to nurture a high-performance culture paired with a positive, accountability-based work environment designed to help drive growth and the overall business strategy. Prior to her role with SAIC, Wilson held progressively responsible leadership roles at Northrop Grumman over her 17-year tenure, where she obtained extensive experience in all aspects of HR. Most recently, she was the vice president of human resources for that company’s Defense Systems sector where she led workforce strategy, workforce development, talent acquisition, compensation, employee relations, and organization change and effectiveness. Wilson was also a member of Northrop Grumman’s Human Resources Policy Council. Wilson has a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Capella University, and she is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Certified Compensation Professional (CCP). She is also a veteran of the United States Navy. Wilson currently serves on the board of directors for the Armed Services YMCA, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that serves active duty military members and their families, through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. In addition, she is a member of the WashingtonExec HR Council.
Jesse Wilson, Rear Admiral, USN, Ret.
Director, Navy Maritime Team Lead, Raytheon Intelligence & Space
Jesse Wilson is Director, Navy Maritime Lead in Business Creation & Customer Solutions (BC&CS) of the Requirements & Capabilities (R&C) Organization for Raytheon Intelligence & Space (RI&S). RI&S is one of the four businesses of Raytheon Technologies.
Jesse supports all Raytheon Intelligence & Space leaders and Naval product lines, their capability generation, and capability gap closure, and is responsible for the company’s strategic relationships and messaging with Naval Senior Leadership. He works closely with Naval, Joint, and International Partners in defining operational requirements, identifying emerging technologies, and providing integrated solutions for the maritime naval domain.
Jesse also works closely in developing strategic goals, synchronizing efforts across the four Raytheon businesses, and developing objectives for business growth in both core and adjacent markets.
Prior to joining Raytheon, Jesse was Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, responsible for the manning, training, and equipping of the 70+ ships of the Atlantic Fleet and Aegis Ashore sites in Romania and Poland.
Jesse retired from the U.S. Navy after 33 years of service. His foundational jobs in the operating forces were, as a naval surface warfare officer, where he commanded Carrier Strike Group Ten/USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER CVN-69 Carrier Strike Group during a combat deployment, Destroyer Squadron Two-Three, and USS HIGGINS DDG-76.
Ashore Jesse also served as Director, Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization – Joint Staff J8, and was the Director of the Navy Assessment Division, N81 on the OPNAV Staff.
Jesse is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy (Math), U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA (Ops Research), and U.S. Naval War College (National Security and Strategic Studies). He is also a graduate of the Navy Corporate Business School, UVA Darden, and a MIT Seminar XXI Fellow.
William Zemp, Colonel, USA, Ret.
President & CEO, Project Kitty Hawk
Wil Zemp is the chief executive officer of Project Kitty Hawk, a nonprofit ed-tech startup that will partner with UNC System institutions to serve adult learners. A strategist, team builder, and coach, Zemp brings together leaders in industry and education to build a stronger, more prolific workforce.
Zemp comes to Project Kitty Hawk from Amazon Web Services, where he served as the global director for Amazon’s Education Workforce Initiative since 2020. He and his team worked with industry leaders, educators, and entrepreneurs, building programs that helped public education systems meet workforce demands.
Prior to joining Amazon, Zemp spent seven years at Southern New Hampshire University, a nonprofit institution serving 170,000 online students, where he held multiple roles, including executive vice president and chief strategy and innovation officer for SNHU’s Innovation Center.
Zemp served 25 years in the U.S. Armed Forces, achieving the rank of colonel, and commanded MultiNational, Joint and Army combat formations. He was deployed to stability and peace operations around the globe, and served combat tours in Africa, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
During his career, he has held high-level security clearances and diplomatic credentials, serving in senior policy roles in the State Department and the National Security staff. He was director of the Joint and Army Future Concepts Division, creating strategies, systems, technologies, and training programs.
Zemp received his undergraduate degree from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, and master’s degrees from The Catholic University of America and the U.S. Army War College. He completed his postgraduate studies as a fellow to the Foreign Service Institute through the U.S. Naval War College and the Postgraduate School.
William French, Vice Admiral, USN, Ret.
President & CEO
A graduate of Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Vice Admiral William French was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Program in May 1979. He earned a Master of Science degree from Naval Postgraduate School in 1986 and a Master of Arts from the Naval War College in 1999.
A submarine officer and graduate of the Navy’s Nuclear Power Training, French has served at sea in USS Spadefish (SSN 668); as operations officer in USS Sea Devil (SSN 664); and engineer in USS Tecumseh (SSBN 628). He served as executive officer of USS Helena (SSN 725) and commanded USS Salt Lake City (SSN 716).
Ashore, French served as Submarine Officer Community manager at the Bureau of Naval Personnel; as deputy commander of Submarine Squadron 11; as Chief of the Strategy and Policy Division at United States Strategic Command in Omaha, Nebraska; as director, Submarine Officer Distribution and Nuclear Propulsion Program manager at the Bureau of Naval Personnel; and commanded Submarine Squadron 3 at Pearl Harbor. French’s first flag officer assignment was serving as Commander, Navy Region Northwest, followed by command of Joint Region Marianas while concurrently serving as U.S. Defense Representative to Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Palau. French subsequently served as commander, Navy Region Southwest. His last assignment in the Navy was as the Commander, Navy Installations Command.
In addition to various campaign and service decorations, French has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, five awards of the Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, and two Navy Achievement Medals.
Chris Haley
Chief of Staff & Chief Information Officer
William Zamagni
Chief Financial Officer
As the Chief Financial Officer, Bill Zamagni is responsible for directing the Armed Services YMCA financial operations and making strategic decisions based on the organization's financial stability. Bill has more than 20 years of executive, financial, and operational leadership experience managing global multi-million-dollar programs. Bill served over 26 years in the Marine Corps and retired as a Colonel in 2017. He began his Marine Corps career as a helicopter pilot flying AH-lW Super Cobras followed by diverse operational and staff assignments around the world to include the command of a Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron and a tour in the United Kingdom with the British Royal Marines.
Since transitioning from the Marine Corps, Bill has served as the Chief Financial Officer for two distinct non-profit organizations. As the CFO, Treasurer, and Vice President of the NavyMarine Corps Relief Society, he managed over $200 million in funds for a non-profit military aid society dedicated to assisting Sailors, Marines, and their families in financial need. Prior to joining ASYMCA, Bill was the CFO for CAF America Group, a large donor advised fund and global grant making organization with annual contributions in excess of $510 Million and a $110 annual operating budget.
Bill earned a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Boston University, and graduated from Tufts University with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations. In his leisure time, he is an avid baseball fan, hiker, bicyclist and a certified baseball umpire.
Dorene Ocamb
Chief Development Officer
A proud daughter of a World War II veteran, Dorene Ocamb is honored to serve military families as the Chief Development & Marketing Officer for the Armed Services YMCA. Before joining Armed Services YMCA, Dorene fundraised for some of the largest, most well-known charity brands in the nation, including Indiana University, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the National Center for Policy Analysis.
A sought-after presenter, Dorene has been invited to speak on webinars and at conferences for the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), Association of National Advertisers (ANA), The Nonprofit Alliance (TNPA), Nonprofit Pro, and the Chronicle of Philanthropy about a variety of topics, including digital marketing, direct mail, and social media. She serves alongside industry leaders from some of the largest nonprofits in the world, including Feeding America and St. Jude/ALSAC, on the ANA’S Nonprofit Advisory Council and as a member of the Education Committee for The Nonprofit Alliance.
Dorene graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University, a Juris Doctor from Texas A&M School of Law in Fort Worth, and is a licensed attorney in the state of Texas.
Charles F. Williams, Rear Admiral, USN, Ret.
Chief Officer of Operations & Programs
As the Operations and Programs Officer of Armed Services YMCA, Charlie is responsible for ASYMCA’s programmatic growth, standardization, and measurement across each of its thirteen branches. He develops professional relationships with myriad Military and Volunteer Service Organizations to align ASYMCA’s operations and programs with the needs of active duty service members and their families. He actively engages our Board of Directors and key stakeholders to ensure ASYMCA delivers a return on investment and remains a "charity of choice" for corporate, organization, and foundation donations across the country.
Prior to his service with ASYMCA, Charlie spent over 30 years as an active duty naval officer, culminating in promotion to the rank of rear admiral and commanding ships, squadrons, and task forces. He served in a variety of duty stations in the United States, and also overseas in Japan and Singapore. Charlie holds a BA in history from the University of Virginia, an MS in systems technology from Naval Postgraduate School, and an MA in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College.
Born in Falls Church, Virginia, Charlie is the son and son-in-law of enlisted Sailors from World War II and the Korean War. He is a proud husband and father who enjoys rooting for his hometown Washington Nationals and Capitals, traveling to see where historic events took place, and finding a great meal from a local vendor. Service to his country, his family, and others form the basis of his values.
Melissa Kelley
Chief of Human Resources