Our Leaders

STEPHEN PECK, M.S.W.

Stephen J. Peck, who served as a Marine officer in Vietnam, heads the nation’s largest nonprofit devoted to providing housing and other essential services to at-risk veterans.

United States Veterans Initiative (U.S.VETS), which opened its first facility in Los Angeles in 1993, has grown to 11 sites in five states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 5,000 veterans a day. Yearly, U.S.VETS helps 8,000 veterans find housing and more than 1,500 veterans gain full-time jobs.

Mr. Peck says he learned in the Marine Corps, “If you don’t go where the trouble is, you can’t solve the problem.”

As the U.S. continues to send troops to the Middle East, the issues of veteran unemployment, homelessness, Post-Traumatic Stress, and other reintegration issues have reached critical levels. Twenty veterans a day commit suicide in the United States.

“Our job at U.S.VETS is to engage the enemy at home — the enemy of homelessness, disillusionment and disappointment — to let these men and women know there is a path forward,” says Mr. Peck. U.S.VETS strives to empower each veteran to take responsibility for his or her success, guiding them towards independence in the community, developing their workforce skills and supporting recovery.

Mr. Peck graduated from Northwestern University in 1968 and entered the Marine Corps that same year. In Vietnam, he was a first lieutenant in the 1st Marine Division, serving as a forward observer outside of Danang in 1969, receiving the Navy Commendation Medal.

After his service Mr. Peck became a documentary filmmaker. Eventually, a series of films on homelessness and veteran’s issues compelled him to change careers. Peck went to work helping the Veterans Administration place homeless veterans into housing and in 1996 joined the organization that became U.S.VETS as Director of Community Development, where he was involved with program design and funding, developing partnerships, and advocating on a State and National level to bring attention to possible solutions for homeless veterans. He was also the inaugural Director of U.S.VETS’ largest site in Long Beach. He was appointed president and CEO in August 2010. Mr. Peck earned his Master’s Degree in Social Work from USC in 1997. He is also the President of the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies (CAVSA) a consortium of seven nonprofit veteran service providers working in partnership to address the needs of California’s veterans.

He has been honored by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, the USC School of Social Work, Northwestern University, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the City of Long Beach. He was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters, honoris causa, by the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2012.

Mr. Peck and his wife, Kristine Kidd, a food writer and culinary consultant, and the former Food Editor of Bon Appetit magazine, live with their Labrador retriever, Atticus, in the Los Angeles community of Topanga Canyon. He has a grown son, Ethan, an actor; and a grown step-daughter, Marisa, a writer.

DARRYL VINCENT, M.S.W, CASC

As chief operating officer of U.S.VETS, Darryl J. Vincent implements policy and supervises executive directors and programs across the organization’s 11 service areas that help veterans find housing, jobs and support.

As a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Vincent has a longstanding commitment and sincere compassion for the veteran community. He believes veterans who sleep on the same streets they were once asked to defend represents a dishonor to us all. Our job at U.S.VETS, he says, is to work ourselves out of a job.

Early in his career at U.S.VETS, Vincent led the expansion of U.S.VETS-Barber’s Point and opened U.S.VETS-Waianae, sites that offer transitional, long-term and permanent housing to homeless and at-risk Veterans helping them achieve stability and a greater level of self-determination. As the head of U.S.VETS programs nationally, his attention to quality and measurable outcomes led the organization to achieve CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accreditation, a designation that recognizes an organization has met the highest standards of care, and recognition as a national leader in service delivery to homeless veterans.

Vincent has been recognized among the Honolulu Star-Bulletin’s “10 Who Made a Difference in Hawaii” and has received the “Unsung Hero” award from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans for his advocacy on behalf of Hawaii’s veterans and their families. He has also been honored by Helping Hands Hawaii for nearly two decades in the social service field. In 2013, Vincent received the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation AIM for Excellence Award. He has been featured in local and national media including Hawaii Magazine, Honolulu Star Advertiser, ABC, CBS and Fox News, and has provided testimony at state and federal levels of government, community coalitions and Veterans Administration leadership, advocating for the needs of America’s veterans.

In addition to his professional community involvement, Vincent is a Weinberg Fellow and proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He earned a bachelor’s degree in human services and a master’s degree in social work from the University of New England and is a certified substance abuse counselor.

Vincent is the proud father of two sons, the eldest of whom graduated from West Point in 2020 and is currently attending U.S. Army Flight School at Fort Rucker in Alabama.

DAN WARZENSKI

Dan Warzenski joined U.S.VETS in October 2015 after more than three decades in retail, bringing with him a wealth of big company experience. Twenty of those years in the for-profit world were spent in the Los Angeles-based Robinsons-May, where he held leadership roles from 1986-2006.

Among his accomplishments at Robinsons-May was the 1993 merger of Robinson’s financial systems into May Co. systems. In 2002, he also helped fold Meier & Frank stores into Robinsons-May.

A U.S. veteran, Mr. Warzenski served in the United States Marine Corps from 1969-71. After an honorable discharge, he would go on to attain an MBA from Seton Hall University in New Jersey, graduating in 1976.

Beyond work, Mr. Warzenski resides in Mt. Washington, is an avid runner and soccer fan, and enjoys spending time with his two grown children and three grandchildren

JEFFREY W. COLEMAN

Jeff Coleman is the Vice President of Fiscal Evaluation and Compliance. The primary responsibility of this position is to evaluate the financial performance of the organization as it relates to its budgets, sites, programs, and grants. This position also provides oversight of organization wide regulations and procedures to ensure fiscal compliance.

Mr. Coleman is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach, where he earned a B.A. degree in Economics. Mr. Coleman began working with U.S.VETS in June 1994 as Program Officer of the Corporation for National Service AmeriCorps Program. As the organization expanded, the position of Program Officer also expanded to include financial reporting and accounting. Mr. Coleman has worked in all aspects of accounting for the organization and has years of experience in financial grant management. He was then promoted into the position of Senior Financial Analyst for U.S. VETS and experienced the growth of the organization to 14 sites in 7 states. He has worked closely with each of those sites and corporate accounting in providing financial assistance and oversight.

LANEY KAPGAN

Laney Kapgan is the Vice President, Development & Communications for U.S.VETS, overseeing national and regional fundraising, communications and marketing strategy for U.S.VETS operating and capital projects, and leading a team of regional and national staff in growing philanthropic engagement and increasing brand visibility across the country.

She has focused much of her career on expanding public and private funding, visibility and partnerships for key safety-net programs supporting homeless and low-income individuals and families across Los Angeles. Prior to joining U.S.VETS, Kapgan served as Chief Development Officer for Venice Family Clinic, a UCLA Health System-affiliated community health center. In addition to significantly increasing both government and private operational funding, Kapgan led capital efforts to build and renovate two new health centers and expand signature homeless and women’s health programs. She also held fundraising and leadership positions at Chrysalis, a social enterprise and nonprofit that helps low-income and homeless individuals secure employment, as well as GLAAD, Race to Erase MS and Break the Cycle. In total, Kapgan has raised more than $250 million to provide housing, health care, employment and other vital direct services for at-risk and underserved members of our community.

Kapgan received her B.A. in Legal Studies from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a certificate from the UCLA Anderson School of Management’s Clinic Leadership Institute. In her spare time, she is hard at work perfecting her recipe for homemade bagels and taste testing the competition.

JESSICA A. ROHAC M.S.W.

Jessica Rohac is the Vice President of Operations & Compliance, and provides operations and grants management support to all locations nationwide.

Ms. Rohac earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology at Michigan State University and her Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She completed the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling Core Counselor Training program and served two terms representing veteran services in a governor-appointed seat on the State of Nevada Advisory Committee for Problem Gambling.

Ms. Rohac joined U.S.VETS in September 2001 as a Case Manager at the Las Vegas site. In 2011, she received national recognition as the recipient of U.S.VETS Manager of the Year Award. The following year she joined the executive team at U.S.VETS – National office.

Ms. Rohac is a Field Instructor for the University of Southern California Military Social Work Program and formerly for the University of Nevada Las Vegas Social Work and Counseling Programs. She has also served as a member of Veteran Stand Down Committees as Co-Chair and Treasurer, the National Association of Social Workers Student Member, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals, and the VA Mental Health Consumer Council.

CARLA A. FORD

Carla A. Ford is the General Counsel for US VETS.  She is responsible for providing legal advice to officers and directors in the organization, assisting in the management of company risks, and overseeing the company’s legal matters, including contract formation, litigation, dispute resolution, and protection of the company’s property rights.

Ms. Ford served for 16 years as an Assistant United States (“AUSA”) in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office (“USAO”) in Los Angeles, where she represented the government in a varied civil litigation practice.  In 2010, Ms. Ford left the USAO to join Walmart Stores, Inc. as a senior member of their field-based Environmental Compliance & Ethics Team, which helped the Fortune One’s 300+ California facilities stay in compliance with State and Federal environmental laws.  During her legal career in Atlanta, she served as an AUSA and, later, she was appointed chief executive officer of Georgia’s Commission on Equal Opportunity, the agency that investigated claims of discrimination in housing and in state employment. Ms. Ford has also been in private practice at law firms in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Pasadena.

Involved in her community, Ms. Ford serves on the board of Being Alive!, a nonprofit organization that helps those affected by HIV/AIDS and she is a life member of the Black Women Lawyers  Association of Los Angeles.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Ms. Ford is a graduate of Boston University, where she earned a B.A. in English, cum laude, and Georgetown University Law Center.  She and her husband have one adult son and reside in Mid-City L.A.

LARRY WILLIAMS, MBA

Larry D. Williams is the Vice President of Programs. Mr. Williams completed a four year enlistment in the United States Army; he was discharged honorably in 1989.

Mr. Williams graduated from the University of Phoenix in 2009 with a Bachelors Degree in Human Services and obtained his Masters of Business Administration in 2011. Mr. Williams has been serving veterans for 10 years, and has received several awards for his service to the homeless population – including two senatorial commendations, and 2 congressional recognitions and a Congressional Record from the House of Representatives, signed by Congressman Jon C. Porter. Mr. Williams has a long history of receiving accolades from veteran clients for his remarkable contribution in assisting them with acquiring food, housing, clothing, and employment services.

His proudest accomplishments are his marriage, four children and four grandchildren. Mr. Williams considers them his greatest sense of motivation and his greatest sense of support.

LORI ALLGOOD

Lori Allgood joined U.S.VETS in April 2017, as Vice President and Director of Housing Development after working extensively in real estate development and nonprofit operations.

As VP of Housing Development, she oversees U.S.VETS portfolio of properties and manages affordable housing development, including property acquisition and development, financial structuring and acquisition, compliance and partnerships.

Ms. Allgood’s past accomplishments include implementation and direction of a $350 million dollar product philanthropy program, as well as over 20 years of real estate development.

DR. KIM COOK

Dr. Kim Cook is Vice President, Clinical Services for U.S.VETS.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, and completed the Masters and Psy.D. Clinical Psychology programs at Argosy University Hawaii in 2006 and 2008, respectively. After working many years in the non-profit sector with children with autism, adults with severe mental illnesses, and in the field of Chemical Dependency, Dr. Cook joined U.S.VETS in 2009 as Clinical Director. She transitioned in to the role of Executive Director in 2012.

Dr. Cook was born and raised on the island of Oahu and is involved in a number of community groups, including the West Oahu Professional Network (WOPN).

DONALD GRADY

Donald J. Grady, Sr. was born in Los Angeles and moved back to Memphis, his parent’s hometown, when he was 5 years old. His mother and father were high school sweethearts, and in the early 60’s his father joined the U.S. Army, serving in the Special Forces as a Green Beret during the Vietnam War. His father’s military service made a lasting impression on Grady, influencing him to also serve his country as his father and multiple uncles had. Grady’s military journey started in high school, where he completed three years of Army Junior ROTC, rising to the highest cadet level of battalion commander.

He studied civil engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and joined its Air Force ROTC program. Grady then joined the Air Force Reserves before going on active duty as a civil engineer at Beale Air Force Base (Strategic Air Command) in the Civil Engineering Squadron located in Marysville, Calif. In addition to being a member of the Base Honor Guard, he served on the Base Engineering Emergency Force (PRIME BEEF) prior to the start of Desert Storm.

Grady has over 30 years of human resources management and leadership experience gained at a variety of Fortune 500 companies, non-profit organizations and higher education institutions. As vice president of human resources and information technology, he provides guidance and direction on compliance, policy development, employment law, recruitment and retention, employee relations, compensation and benefits administration. He also oversees diversity, equity and inclusion and manages the information technology services contract.

Grady has served on a number of community organizations and board of directors, including the Sacramento Urban League, United Way of Fresno County, Society of Human Resources Management, Sacramento Area Human Resources Association and 100 Black Men of Sacramento. He is a life member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.

A strong advocate for higher education, Grady has been an adjunct faculty member at Chapman University, Brandman University, University of Phoenix and the California Institute of Technology. He earned bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering and industrial management, a Master of Science degree in human resources management and is a doctoral candidate in organizational leadership at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Global.

Grady enjoys traveling, playing golf, attending concerts and sporting events, and entertaining family and friends. He has two adult sons, Donald II, who is a sports agent for the Phoenix Suns, and Justin, who is an animation designer for Google.

CAROLE BENEDICT

Carole Benedict is the Executive Director for U.S.VETS — Prescott.

Benedict spent the greater part of the last two decades working with the community-based Verde Valley Sanctuary.

Based in Sedona, the Sanctuary provides intervention and prevention services for at-risk youth across 14 schools and serves an average of 1100 students annually.

Benedict is also a licensed child, adult and family therapist with experience facilitating anger management groups for high school and middle school students. She holds a master’s degree in education from Northern Arizona University.

SHALIMAR CABRERA

Shalimar Cabrera is the Executive Director for U.S.VETS — Las Vegas.

Ms. Cabrera earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, and Masters Degree in Social Work, with a concentration on Management & Community Practice, from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She began working with U.S.VETS in 2003 as an Outreach Specialist, then continued on as AmeriCorps Program Director then National AmeriCorps Director prior to assuming the role of Executive Director of U.S.VETS Las Vegas in 2008.

Ms. Cabrera is the Chairperson of the Las Vegas Veterans Stand Down, coordinating outcome-driven services to meet the needs of hundreds of veterans each year.

NICOLE STARKS-MURRAY

Nicole Starks-Murray, a proven visionary and strategic leader, has over 33 years executive and senior management experience working for nonprofit, government, profit and public entities. She has an extensive background in Business Management, Finance, Contract/Program Administration and Continuous Quality Improvement processes.

Before joining U.S.VETS — Inland Empire, Ms. Starks-Murray was the Program Director for Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino, where they focused on programs geared towards assisting families impacted by the drivers of poverty. She worked with former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as Treasurer for the Greater Los Angeles Vendor engagement project, where they helped to ensure small businesses had the opportunities to compete and work with larger metropolitan businesses. Ms. Starks-Murray was the Executive Director of Assistance League of So California, leading the efforts of reunifying parents with their children in the court system while providing compressive support services that included mental health services, childcare, case management, housing and referrals. Nicole also launched her own consulting firm which provides services to entrepreneurs, grass root organizations, and individuals looking to start a business.

She graduated in 2001 from California State Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Business Management and then went on to receive her Master of Business Administration in 2006 from University of Phoenix. Both disciplines had focus on non-profit management/administration.

Ms. Starks-Murray is passionate about people and has enjoyed working with organizations with missions outlining their commitment to serving people in need and having a social impact that results in tangible outcomes.

CLIFTON LEWIS

Raised by a single mother in extreme poverty, Clifton Lewis has worked his entire life to assist marginalized communities. He graduated from Morgan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Tele-Communications.

Clifton’s prominent career spans 16 years across various fields within nonprofits and social services. His previous roles include Coordinator for the Young Fathers Responsible Fathers Program, Housing Coordinator for the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, and Clinical Director for the Healthy Families Program. In 2014, Clifton came to the U.S.VETS — Washington D.C. as the Program Director and was instrumental in the opening of our flagship temporary housing facility. He became Executive Director of the Washington D.C. site in 2015 and prides himself on a culture of fairness, diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2021, Clifton won the U.S.VETS National Executive Director of the Year Award.

JENNIFER GEWARGES

Jennifer Gewarges, executive director for U.S.VETS — Phoenix,  joined the nonprofit provider of housing and supportive services for homeless and at-risk veterans and their families in 2022.

Previously, she worked at Southwest Key Programs, a national nonprofit dedicated to reunifying and sheltering immigrant children and families escaping dangerous conditions in their homeland by providing safe shelter, alternatives to incarceration, career development and quality education. Gewarges has also interned as a victim’s advocate for the Phoenix Fire Department, helping victims escape domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking and child abuse, and with the behavioral health executive team for Terros Health. She has a bachelor’s degree in design with a minor in Spanish and a master’s degree in social work from Arizona State University and is pursuing her doctorate degree in behavioral health management.

ROBERT K. STOHR M.S., L.M.F.T.

Robert Stohr is the Executive Director at U.S.VETS — Patriotic Hall in downtown Los Angeles.

Mr. Stohr earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from California State University. Following a 20 year career as a psychotherapist, Mr. Stohr acted as Division Director for the Suicide Prevention Center at Didi Hirsch, where he managed the operation of The Suicide Prevention hotline, as well as supervised education, outreach, and training. In this position Mr. Stohr trained FBI and SWAT teams on crisis negotiation for suicide prevention, and met nationally at SAMHSA to discuss partnerships with local emergency departments. He has presented at national conferences on a manual that he co-authored about working with suicide attempt survivors.

Mr. Stohr joined U.S.VETS in January 2016.

JESSICA GHOLSON

TANYA BROWN

Tanya Brown is an experienced leader in non-profit management, strategic planning and building cross-functional teams. Driven by her own family’s experience with homelessness, she takes pride in providing the best resources and services possible. As an executive director, her goals include implementing a therapeutic milieu in support of U.S.VETS’ mission and philosophy, and ensuring the overall integrity of the site by following regulations at all levels of government. In addition to her primary job functions, Brown is a member of multiple community organizations and has been recognized as Citizen of the Year by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for her extraordinary commitment to her community. Brown holds a master’s degree in public administration from Chaminade University and is currently working on mastering being a mom to a sticky-fingered toddler and his dog.

DAVID TRAXLER

Marine veteran David Traxler is the executive director for U.S. VETS — Houston. During his 20-year career in the Marine Corps that included tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan, he served across multiple levels of leadership and as the lead investigator for the Marine Corps Inspector General’s Office. He has a background in command and control, operations, recruitment and project management.

TESS BANKO

Tess Barragan Banko, MSW/MPA, a Marine Corps veteran, serves as the U.S.VETS West Los Angeles project director and The Veterans Collective community development director. She is part of the team leading the billion-dollar transformation of the 80+ acre West Los Angeles Veterans Administration North Campus that will result in the largest permanent supportive housing and services community in the nation for homeless and at-risk veterans, families and caretakers.

A survivor of post-traumatic stress disorder and military sexual trauma, Banko deeply identifies with fellow veterans and families on their paths to recovery, wellness and empowerment, and is honored to serve the community on behalf of her military and veteran sisters, brothers and their families. With a diverse background in nonprofits, organizational leadership and management, public administration, community organizing, human services and behavioral health that includes the impacts of trauma, resilience and post-traumatic growth, Banko has a holistic and unique perspective regarding veterans, their families and the community.

STEPHEN PECK, M.S.W

Stephen J. Peck, who served as a Marine officer in Vietnam, heads the nation’s largest nonprofit fighting on the frontlines to help veterans and their families transition from homelessness to independence.

Founded in Los Angeles in 1993, U.S.VETS has grown to 32 residential and services locations across the country, serving 5,500+ veterans and families each day. Each year U.S.VETS helps more than 9,000 veterans find housing or get the services they need, and over 1,000 veterans gain full-time jobs.

Peck says he learned in the Marine Corps, “If you don’t go where the trouble is, you can’t solve the problem.”

As the issues of veteran unemployment, homelessness, post-traumatic stress, and other reintegration issues have reached critical levels, twenty veterans a day commit suicide in the United States.

“Our job at U.S.VETS is to engage the enemy at home — the enemy of homelessness, disillusionment and disappointment — to let these men and women know there is a path forward,” says Peck. U.S.VETS strives to empower each veteran to take responsibility for his or her success, guiding them towards independence in the community, developing their workforce skills and supporting recovery.

Peck graduated from Northwestern University in 1968 and entered the Marine Corps that same year. In Vietnam, he was a first lieutenant in the 1st Marine Division, serving as a forward observer outside of Danang in 1969, receiving the Navy Commendation Medal.

After his service Mr. Peck became a documentary filmmaker, but a series of films on homelessness and veteran’s issues compelled him to change careers. Peck went to work helping the Veterans Administration place homeless veterans into housing, and in 1996 joined U.S.VETS as Director of Community Development. His job focus was program design and funding, developing partnerships, and advocating on a state and national level to bring attention to solutions for homeless veterans. He was also the inaugural Director of U.S.VETS’ largest site in Long Beach and was eventually appointed president and CEO in August 2010.  Peck earned his Master’s Degree in Social Work from USC in 1997.

Mr. Peck is proud to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans and he is also the President of the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies (CAVSA) a consortium of seven nonprofit veteran service providers working in partnership to address the needs of California’s veterans.

He has been honored by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, the USC School of Social Work, Northwestern University, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the City of Long Beach. He was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters, honoris causa, by the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2012.

Peck and his wife, Kristine Kidd, a food writer and culinary consultant, and the former Food Editor of Bon Appetit magazine, live with their Labrador retriever, Atticus, in the Los Angeles community of Topanga Canyon. He has a grown son, Ethan, an actor; and a grown step-daughter, Marisa, a writer.

MIKE ROOS

Mike Roos is Founder and Chief Consultant of Mike Roos and Company, a public affairs management company founded in 1999. Mike Roos and Company specializes in government relations, corporate issues management, media relations and ballot measure campaigns.

Born in Memphis, TN, Mr. Roos received a Bachelors degree in political science from Tulane University in New Orleans. He then received a National Institute of Child Health Fellowship at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with a Masters degree in public administration.

A political strategist and legislative leader in California for over 14 years, Mr. Roos served as a member of the California State Assembly from 1977 to 1991. In his second legislative term, he was chosen by his caucus as Majority Floor Leader. He served in that position for six years until he was elected by the 80-member body as Speaker Pro Tempore of the State Assembly.

Mr. Roos recently served as chairman of the Fraternity of Friends of the Music Center. He served on the Queenscare Board of Directors, a nonprofit Healthcare Foundation, and is a Co-Chair of the Los Angeles Children’s Museum. He has also served as president of the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission. Prior to founding Mike Roos and Company, Mr. Roos served as president and CEO of LEARN, a coalition to implement systemic reform and restructuring within the Los Angeles Unified School District.

He was elected to the U.S.VETS Board of Directors in 2015.

CARLOS CONTRERAS

Carlos Contreras is currently the Vice President – Commercial Marketing for California Resources Corporation (CRC), the largest oil and natural gas producer in California and a spinoff from Occidental Petroleum Corporation (Oxy). Prior to joining CRC, Carlos has had a distinguished fourteen year career as an Oil and Gas executive with Occidental Petroleum. While at Oxy, Carlos assumed successive management positions of increasing responsibility encompassing business development, acquisitions and divestitures, marketing and operations.

In addition, Carlos has held positions of increasing responsibility with Arthur D. Little and Enron where he managed or worked on large scale projects, throughout the Americas, in oil, gas and power. He has also served in varying roles within the Field Artillery Branch of the United States Army.

Carlos holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Economics and Systems Engineering from The United States Military Academy and a Master’s of Business Administration degree from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Carlos serves on the Board of Advisors to the USC MBA for Veterans Program.

DAVID KIRMAN

Mr. Kirman is a trial lawyer who draws on his experience as a former federal prosecutor to represent clients in government investigations, prosecutions, and business disputes.

With extensive experience in healthcare, he represents clients in civil and criminal trials, white collar criminal defense, False Claims Act cases, business litigation, and internal investigations. In addition to understanding the complex regulatory and compliance issues unique to healthcare, Mr. Kirman focuses his practice on clients in the financial services and defense industries.

Before rejoining O’Melveny as a partner, he spent seven years as a federal prosecutor at the United States Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California, where he was a member of the Major Frauds Section and served as the Criminal Healthcare Fraud Coordinator. As a federal prosecutor, he served as lead or co-lead trial counsel in jury trials, argued appeals before the Ninth Circuit, and directed complex grand jury and wiretap investigations.

He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army from 1996 to 2001.

He was elected to the U.S.VETS board in January 2018.

STERLING BEAIR

Sterling Beair is a Hawaiian native, born and raised in the islands. He joined the U.S. Army shortly after high school, having served for the next ten years as a combat medic. Staff Sergeant Beair served in the Iraq war on numerous combat missions.

Upon returning home he had difficulties assimilating back to civilian life and eventually found himself a homeless veteran in 2011. Sterling is an alumni of the U.S.VETS program, having attended the program in 2012. He was able to acquire permanent housing, rebuild his life and further his education. He has since earned an associate degree in liberal arts, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. He is also trained in traditional Hawaiian approaches to conflict resolution and family therapy. He has worked in the field of substance abuse treatment for years as a counselor, cultural director, and clinical supervisor.

His current work is in providing family therapy and grief counseling for native Hawaiian orphans, destitute children, and their families in rural Hawaii. He has served on the Veterans Advisory council since 2016 and is dedicated to his fellow veterans. Sterling Beair is a family man now, he loves his children and is an advocate for positive change.

VADM JODY BRECKINRIDGE (RET.)

Vice Admiral Jody Breckenridge retired after serving 34 years in the Coast Guard and now gives back to veterans, military members and their families, and the community. She is active in Mission Readiness – Leaders for Kids supporting evidence based public policy and smart investments in youth. Appointed by the Governor, she currently serves as Board Chair for the San Francisco Water Emergency Transportation Authority, a regional ferry transportation service and emergency response organization. Additional Boards include: San Francisco Fleet Week Association, Oakland Military Institute, Marines Memorial Association, Marines Memorial Foundation, the Association for Rescue at Sea, and First Command Financial Services. She is Vice Chair for the Governor’s Military Council and was recently appointed to the Board of Visitors for the National Defense University.

Vice Admiral Breckenridge’s last assignment in the Coast Guard was Commander, Pacific Area and Defense Forces West with responsibility for all operations across 73 million square miles of the Pacific, Arctic, and Antarctic Oceans. Her flag assignments included Director of Strategic Transformation guiding the largest business practice and organizational change in the modern history of the Service; Assistant Commandant for Human Resources; Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District (covering California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, along with the West Coast of Central and South America); and Commander, Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific (all logistic and support services.)

Vice Admiral Breckenridge holds a BS in biology from Virginia Tech, a Master in Public Policy from University of Maryland (graduated with honors), and a Master in National Resource Strategy from the Dwight D Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy of the National Defense University.

JAMES CADET

James Cadet is a market executive at Merrill Lynch in charge of the branches in Freehold, Manasquan and Toms River, New Jersey. He has two decades of experience leading businesses and directing sales initiatives at numerous levels within the wealth management industry.

Cadet is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Following five years as a military intelligence officer at Fort Hood, he began his brokerage career as a financial advisor and regional vice president at Morgan Stanley. Moving on to UBS Wealth Management, he held branch manager and complex director positions in Albany, New York, New Orleans, Louisiana and Fort Worth, as well as regional sales manager for the firm’s southeast region. Cadet was also a business development coach, introducing the top tier of UBS advisors in Tennessee to innovative practice management and client service models.

Cadet has four children and resides in Mahwah, New Jersey. In his spare time, he enjoys mentoring veterans who are planning a transition into corporate America, bingeing a great TV series and spending time with family and friends.

WILFRED N. COOPER, SR.

Wilfred N. Cooper, Sr., is the founder, chairman of the board, and a director of WNC & Associates, Inc. The company’s core business is sponsoring investments in affordable rental housing tax credits. In this capacity, WNC and its affiliates serve as a general partner with expertise in structuring investment funds. This includes raising investment capital from individuals and corporations, selecting qualified properties for each fund, negotiating acquisition terms and actively monitoring the financial performance and compliance of each property.

Mr. Cooper is a U.S. Navy veteran with two years of active duty during the Korean war era (1951-1953) serving as a Hospital Corpsman.

Mr. Cooper is a recognized leader in the affordable housing industry. He was a panel participant in tax reform hearings before a committee of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. In 2001, he received the Limited Income Communities (LINC) Housing Honors award. Mr. Cooper was elected as Life Trustee in 2006 of the National Housing Conference (NHC) and is a co-founder and director emeritus of the California Housing Consortium (an affiliate of the NHC). In 2011, he was inducted into the Affordable Housing Hall of Fame of the Affordable Housing Finance Magazine. In June 2012, he was inducted into the California Homebuilding Foundation’s (CHF) Hall of Fame. He is a senior life director of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a national trustee for NAHB’s Political Action Committee, a past chairman of NAHB’s Multifamily Council, and in 2012, NAHB honored him with the Robert J. Corletta award for Affordable Housing. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Building Industry Association of Orange County (BIA/OC) and Southern California Building Industry Association (BIA/SC).

Mr. Cooper volunteers his time with several nonprofit organizations and serves on the Board of Advisors for Jamboree Housing (a non-profit developer of affordable housing) and the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance. In 2013, the California Housing Consortium gave Mr. Cooper the California Housing Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2016, The Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (AHTCC) honored him the David Reznick Lifetime Achievement Award. In June 2019, Mr. Cooper received the Carl A.S. Coan, Sr., Public Service Award from the NHC, in recognition of his outstanding commitment and leadership in the effort to provide decent, safe and affordable housing.

As a prior Board of Director for Volunteers of America National Services (VOANS), Mr. Cooper awarded U.S.VETS a VOANS grant to help support homeless and at-risk veterans. Over the past decade, Mr. Cooper has also participated in and sponsored several U.S.VETS Salute Gala’s.

Mr. Cooper graduated from Pomona College in 1956 with a B.A. degree and completed graduate studies at the University of Southern California.

He was elected to the U.S.VETS board in May 2018.

JOSEPH A. CZYZYK

A longtime aviation industry executive, Mr. Czyzyk is chairman of Los Angeles-based Mercury Air Group Inc.

He was born in Poland, the son of Holocaust survivors, and grew up in Canada. At the age of 16, he moved to the U.S with his parents and soon became a citizen. A graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, he served two tours of duty with the U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalions (Seabees) in Vietnam. He is a board member of the CEC/Seabee Historical Foundation.

Mr. Czyzyk serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce where he was Chairman in 2011, and also serves as treasurer of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC). He is a member of the Board of Pepperdine University and the Chairman of its Board of Advisors for the Graduate School of Public Policy.

He is a past president of the City of Los Angeles Board of Taxicab Commissioners, having served on the commission since its inception in 1998 until his retirement in 2008. Mr. Czyzyk has the distinction of having served as a city commissioner under three mayors of Los Angeles.

In 2013, he was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown of California to serve on the Governor’s Military Council, which reviews and facilitates California’s commitment to its military infrastructure.

He was elected to the U.S.VETS board in March 2012 and elected Chairman in February 2016.

BOB FOSTER

Robert (Bob) G. Foster served as Mayor of the City of Long Beach, the sixth largest city in California, from July 2006 to July 2014.  He is a proven executive with keen ability to visualize an enhanced future path to further an organization, motivate personnel and structure fiscal resources with purpose and enthusiasm. His 21 years with Southern California Edison, culminating in the office of President for four years, demonstrated his strong and thoughtful executive leadership skills.

Foster serves or has served on a number of governing bodies for civic, cultural and governmental organizations and non-profit agencies including the board of directors of the Alliance of Save Energy, the California Foundation on the Environment and Economy and the Long Beach Aquarium, and the Advisory Board for Long Beach Memorial Hospital.  He also served for over eight years as a trustee of the California State University system and is currently on the California State University-Foundation Board.

AMY GRAVITT

Amy Gravitt is executive vice president, HBO Programming, for Home Box Office, responsible for developing and overseeing the production of original comedy series. She was named to this position in May 2016.

She currently oversees “Barry,” “Insecure,” “The Righteous Gemstones,” “Avenue 5,” “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Betty,” “Los Espookys,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and “How To With John Wilson” from Executive Producer Nathan Fielder. She also oversaw the hit series “I May Destroy You,” “VEEP,” “Silicon Valley,” “RUN,” “Mrs. Fletcher,” “Vice Principals,” “Eastbound and Down,” “Sally4Ever,” “Ballers,” “Entourage,” “Extras,” and “Flight of the Conchords”. Her upcoming projects include “The Baby” from Sian Robins-Grace and a new series starring Bridget Everett.

Gravitt joined HBO in 2004. Prior to HBO, she spent several years in the U.S. Navy, serving onboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) rising to the rank of Lieutenant. She deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1997, in support of Operation Southern Watch. She began her career in entertainment at Section Eight, George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh’s production company. She graduated from Duke University with a BA in Political Science.

RENÉ JONES

René Jones is a Partner and Chief of Social Impact at United Talent Agency. In 2004 she launched the UTA Foundation, where she guides UTA’s high-profile clients on their social impact strategies, as well as oversees corporate social responsibility for the agency. UTA has been involved with U.S.VETS for many years, volunteering at the Inglewood site and launching The Veterans Fund Leadership Council for the West LA VA veteran housing campus. Jones was appointed to the California Volunteer Commission, which is tasked with engaging Californians in service, volunteering and civic action. She is also on the Board of Directors for the International Women’s Media Foundation, The Impact Guild, and a senior fellow for the Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab at the University of Southern California.

PAUL LARKIN

PaulPaulPaul Larkin is Vice President of Supply Chain. He joined the company in 2014 and is responsible for all aspects of Home Depot’s supply chain, including 55 distribution centers and 15,000 associates across 25 states, supplying Home Depot products to all U.S.-based stores.

Prior to joining the company, Paul held roles of increasing responsibility in sales, business development and supply chain with AutoNation USA, Office Depot and Casella Waste Systems.

Paul earned a bachelor’s degree from Clark University in Massachusetts. A veteran of the United States Army, Paul served 10 years on numerous domestic and international assignments.

JEROLD B. NEUMAN

Mr. Neuman is a partner at Liner, LLP in the Real Estate, Land Use and Government Relations department, and is one of California’s preeminent land-use, environmental and government law attorneys.

He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and graduated from Columbia University School of Law. He has acted as lead negotiator and project coordinator for many of Southern California’s real estate, green energy, infrastructure and governmental procurement projects.

Mr. Neuman has worked on the Mixed-Income Housing Technical Advisory Committee in Los Angeles and has served on the Fresno General Plan Implementation & Infill Development Task Force. He has been awarded the Crystal Eagle Award for outstanding leadership in public affairs, and a was named one of California’s Top 50 Development Lawyers by the Los Angeles Daily Journal. He is also a founding director of Mission Valley Bank and is on the executive boards of many Los Angeles commercial and charitable organizations.

He was elected to the U.S.VETS Board of Directors in October, 2016.

MAJ. GEN. PETER S. PAWLING (RET.)

Major General Peter S. Pawling was born in Palm Springs, CA and spent his teenage years living in Palm Springs and Kingsburg. In 1967, his family sailed to Hawaii, where he lives today. He attended the University of Hawaii where he earned a degree in psychology.

General Pawling was commissioned in 1972 through the Officer Preparatory Academy at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Tennessee. While assigned as the 154th Operations Group Commander, he served as Detachment Commander for the Wing’s first F-15 combat deployment to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey in 1994, and Detachment Commander for the KC-135 squadron deployment to Istres, France, during the Kosovo campaign in 1999. He was Commander of the 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard from 2003 to 2009. General Pawling also served as past chair of the F-15 Weapon System Council and the Fighter Task Force chair for National Guard Association of the United States.

General Pawling assumed duties as Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, United States Pacific Command in June 2009 to 2012. He was the principal advisor to the Commander regarding reserve component readiness and operations and facilitates Homeland Security activities between State, National Guard, active military and Federal agencies.

He was elected to the U.S.VETS board in 2015.

ANDREA PLATE

Andrea Plate is a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker who served for almost 15 years at the West Los Angeles branch of the Department of Veterans affairs. There, she ran a residential substance abuse program for veterans who are also homeless and suffering mental health problems. She is the author of the internationally published nonfiction book Madness: In the Trenches of America’s Troubled Department of Veterans Affairs, published by Marshall Cavendish International.

Ms. Plate is a Lecturer at Loyola Marymount University (“Introduction to Social Work,” “Gender and the Military”) and is a Senior Editor of the LMU web magazine, Asia Media International.

She was a keynote presenter recently for the National Association of Social Workers and has published two other nonfiction books, including one about her days as a child actress in the entertainment industry.

B. TAYLOR

Renowned musician B. Taylor has been deemed the “Stevie Wonder of Hip Hop” for his musicianship and ability to play four instruments—piano, drums, guitar and organ. Discovered by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles’ Pete Moore, he has been endorsed by The Miracles, The Supremes, The Temptations, The Marvelettes, The Vandellas, The Four Tops, The Gordy Family and the iconic Cash Family of country music for his unique talents as a hip-hop artist, producer and songwriter with consummate musicality.

As a No. 1 Billboard-charted musician, writer, producer and performer, the Peoria, Illinois native was a University of Missouri football and basketball student athlete and later became a decorated sailor in the U.S. Navy, as well as a standout player of the All Navy and Military Team USA basketball team. During the war, he was awarded special duty and a honorary discharge by the Secretary of the Navy in order to pursue the NFL and his entertainment career professionally. Taylor maintains an active presence as a global ambassador of music and entertainment for the U.S. military, veterans, first responders and their families, and has been supported by many top ranking officials from all four branches of the U.S. military, as well as Department of Defense officials.

He earned two Grammy nominations in 2012 for his single, “Fire In Your Eyes,” featuring NCIS star Pauley Perrette, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles sales chart. Taylor has also performed for three presidents and opened for Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Ray J and many other notable entertainers.

With increasing Facebook fans, Instagram and Twitter followers and more than 1 million views on YouTube, he has also garnered national presence on ESPN, Extra, The Insider/Entertainment Tonight, Fox, CBS, NBC and ABC, as well as features in Billboard Magazine, BRE (Black Radio Exclusive) Magazine, Yo! Raps Magazine, Respect the Grind, The A&R Chronicles, El Diario and allhiphop.com.

This rising young mogul has received over 60 endorsement letters and testimonials from top government officials, military officials, Fortune 500 executives, educators, legendary entertainers, and continues to redefine the music industry with his impeccable brand. Taylor has changed the culture and is the first artist to bridge the gap between hip hop urban/pop culture, Classic Motown, the U.S. military and motorsports. His “1 Life” movement is a positive, powerful force, as he is helping, changing and saving lives all through the universal power of music.

MARJORIE WILLIAMS

Marjorie Williams is an entertainment attorney at Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole LLP (JSSK) where she represents actors, showrunners, writers, directors, producers, production companies and rights holders in film, television and new media. Prior to joining JSSK, Williams was a senior business affairs executive at Amazon Studios where she negotiated above-the-line scripted television deals for Prime Video original programming. She has also served as a business affairs executive at United Talent Agency, where she negotiated UTA client deals across the agency’s various departments; vice president, business and legal affairs at Endemol Shine, where she handled development and production matters for Endemol’s US and LATAM teams; and in business and legal affairs at Viacom (Comedy Central and BET Networks).

Williams also serves on the board of directors for the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association and the John M. Langston Bar Association. She is a frequent panelist and has received numerous awards/honors including being recognized by the National Bar Association as a Top 40 Lawyer Under 40 and a Woman of Influence by the LA Business Journal.

Williams is a Los Angeles native who holds a B.A. from Howard University, M.A. from the University of Oklahoma, J.D. from Loyola Law School, and an executive M.B.A. from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

She is also a major in the Air Force Reserves with 20+ years of combined active duty and reserve service, where she has worked out of embassies abroad and supported Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.