Bush Institute Announces 2025 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program Class
37 scholars serving our nation’s veterans selected to begin next month
DALLAS – Today, the George W. Bush Institute announced the scholars chosen to participate in the 2025 Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program. Stand-To targets dynamic leaders, including civilians, veterans, and active military members, from various sectors nationwide who are dedicated to supporting our nation’s veterans and their families.
The 37 scholars hail from across the country and will gather at the George W. Bush Presidential Center next month for the opening session. Over the course of the five modules, scholars will hear from a variety of distinguished professionals, educators, and experts in veteran transition and leadership development such as JoAnne Bass, 19th Chief Master Sergeant, United States Air Force, and retired United States Air Force General Alfred Flowers, among others.
Each participant brings a personal leadership project to the program, enabling them to immediately apply what they learn during the program towards making a positive impact for veterans and military families across the United States.
Scholars were carefully chosen following a comprehensive application and review process. They become part of a dynamic network comprising over 200 alumni from six earlier classes, focused on enhancing veteran outcomes across a range of issues. Many alumni occupy leadership positions in business, community initiatives, nonprofits aiding veterans, government, and academia; numerous members are also actively serving or reserve military personnel.
The program is part of the Bush Institute’s commitment to developing and supporting effective leaders. It builds on the organization’s extensive policy work relating to veterans and military families.
The 2025 class of the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program includes:
- Sara Jane Arnett, State of South Carolina Coordinator, Military Child Education Coalition, Camden, South Carolina
- Tammy Barlet, Vice President of Government Affairs, Student Veterans of America, Crownsville, Maryland
- Heather Campbell, Subject Matter Expert, Military Food Insecurity & Family Readiness, Pike Road, Alabama
- Keith “KC” Castille, Co-Founder, C2H LLC (Connecting Heads to Hearts), Manassas, Virginia
- George Chewning, Executive Director, US-Ukraine Veterans Bridge, Washington, D.C.
- Jon Collette, President, Operation Recovery, Winter Haven, Florida
- Damian Cook, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, K9s For Warriors, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
- Katie Eksten Gomez, Founder and Coach, Oakstone Coaching & Consulting, LLC, Blaine, Minnesota
- Julie Eshelman, Founder, CEO, and President, Building Military Families Network, Rockingham, Virginia
- Patrick Flood, Founder and CEO, Owners in Honor, Houston, Texas
- Qwynn Galloway-Salazar, Senior Vice President of Engagement and Transformation, PsychArmor; Founder and CEO, In Their Honor, Snellville, Georgia
- Alice Garcia, Director of People, +More Perfect Union, Shavano Park, Texas
- Ryan Guina, Director of Military Benefits Education, Three Creeks Media, Thompsons Station, Tennessee
- Victoria Kelly, Published Author; Producer, Blue Chalk Media, Bethesda, Maryland
- Lloyd Knight, Veteran Talent Acquisition Manager, UPS; President, VETLANTA, Sandy Springs, Georgia
- Kate Kuzminski, Director of Studies, Center for a New American Security, Alexandria, Virginia
- Michelle Lang, Executive Director, Operation Honor: Rural Salute, Stedman, North Carolina
- Ben Loper, Senior Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, Hilton Grand Vacations, Windermere, Florida
- JoHanna Martinez, Lead Talent Acquisition, AT&T, Plano, Texas
- Juliana Mercer, Executive Director, Healing Breakthrough, San Diego, California
- Jacob Mousseau, Senior Career Transition Specialist, Wounded Warrior Project, Palmyra, Tennessee
- Josh Norman, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois
- Lydiah Owiti-Otienoh, Founder and CEO, Foreign Born Military Spouse Network, Southbury, Connecticut
- Matt Parrish, Executive Director, Task Force Dagger Special Ops Foundation, Temple Terrace, Florida
- Mark Reilly, President and CEO, The Washington Tattoo, Leesburg, Virginia
- Bill Rielly, Justice Involved Veterans Fellow, Syracuse University College of Law, Santa Cruz, California
- Erick Saks, Founder and Executive Director, Operation Lifeline Inc., Saint Johns, Florida
- Patty Sandoval, 2024-2025 Ombudsman, Naval Supply Systems Command, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
- Brian “Shef” Sheffield, Senior Advisor to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force, United States Space Force, Stafford, Virginia
- Eric Sibley, Operations and Logistics Consultant, Sibley Solutions LLC, Leander, Texas
- Kendra Simpkins Walsh, Founder and CEO, Operation Warrior Resolution, Sarasota, Florida
- Jason Smith, Founder, CIGRIE, LLC., Kennesaw, Georgia
- Angelina “Strike” Stephens, Director, Victory Strategies; Founder, Veteran Connection Project, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho
- Katherine Torres-Pummill, General Manager, Recurrent Military & Defense, Recurrent Ventures, Studio City, California
- Janice Walton, Director of Programs, Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN), Ashburn, Virginia
- Brandon Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM), Waynesville, North Carolina
- Dan Wrightsman, Deputy Director of Operations, South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Blythewood, South Carolina
The Bush Center gratefully acknowledges the support of The Boeing Company as the founding program underwriter.
To learn more about the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program, please visit bushcenter.org/veteranleadership.
