Military Life Cycle and Transition Summit 2025

Clyde J. “Butch” Tate retired as a Major General from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps in 2014. He last served as the Deputy Judge Advocate General, one of the top two military attorneys in the Army. He is now the chief counsel of All Rise and an advisor and advocate for national, state, and local initiatives addressing the legal needs of military personnel, veterans, and families.  General Tate’s Army career included service as liaison to Congress, ethics official, nearly a decade as legal advisor to special operations and airborne units, senior legal advisor for the Multinational Corps in Iraq, commandant of the army judge advocate general’s legal center and school, and chief judge of the Army’s Court of Criminal Appeals. In 2013, General Tate was awarded the prestigious Hispanic National Bar Association’s Presidential Award for leadership, advocacy, and service.

Judge Michael Hood took the bench in May of 2014.  He serves in Cook County’s Second Municipal District in Skokie, Illinois, where he is assigned to the Criminal Division and presides over a Chicago felony courtroom.  Judge Hood also presides over the 2nd Municipal District Veterans Treatment Court. 

Prior to the bench Judge Hood served as the Chief of Investigations and Intelligence at the Illinois Department of Corrections and as the Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice to the Illinois Attorney General.  There he led the Attorney General's Criminal Enforcement, Crime Victims Services and Investigations Divisions in the coordination of the Office's statewide crime-fighting activities with federal, state, county and local authorities.

Judge Hood also served as an Assistant State’s Attorney for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office where he held a variety of positions to include, Supervisor of the 2nd Municipal District and as an Assistant in the Cold Case Homicide Unit.

Judge Hood served on active duty through the rank of Major in the United States Marine Corps.   In the Marine Corps he served as both a trial and defense counsel.  He deployed with both the 15th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Units.  Judge Hood received a B.A. from the University of Illinois, Champaign, and a J.D. from DePaul College of Law, Chicago and an LL.M from the Judge Advocate General’s School of the Army, Charlottesville, Virginia.

LaKendric Williams is a Senior Community Investor for the Boeing Global Engagement Great Lakes team. He has been employed with the Boeing Company for 5 years. LaKendric has worked within the Aerospace/Defense industry for 9 years; previously employed with the Northrop Grumman Corporation in Rolling Meadows, IL. He and his wife, Michel, have a home in the South suburbs. 

LaKendric holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Business Administration from Rust College located in Holly Springs, Mississippi. 

In addition, he graduated with an MBA from Claflin University, an HBCU located near Charleston, South Carolina. He was awarded the United States Department of Transportation Dwight D. Eisenhower Fellowship for two consecutive years and studied in the United Kingdom. 

Dr. Terrell Odom is a U.S. Navy veteran responsible for developing and coordinating efforts and specialized programs for the University’s military-affiliated communities, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, alumni, faculty, staff, and all their respective families. The Office for Military-Affiliated Communities (OMAC) serves as the University’s central hub of resources, programming, and support for those affiliated with military service. During his tenure at University of Chicago, he has grown the military-affiliated population, helped to bring Army Medicine to University of Chicago Medical Center, created several new programs and initiatives to raise awareness for veterans and their families, established a flourishing Department of Defense Skillbridge Program, participated in research efforts around the country to support our heroes, and established a holistic support system for service members, veterans and their families transitioning into academic and professional careers.

Terrell has continuously pursued his passion for higher learning, earning a Master of Business Administration from American Military University, a Master of Public Administration from Keller Graduate School, a Master of Online Teaching and Certification for Online Learning Administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield, a Master of Instructional Design and Technology from Western Illinois University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Chicago State University. He is currently pursuing a MA in Public Policy at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy to explore solutions and recognize gun violence as a health concern in poverty-stricken communities. The Chicago Caregiver Course is one of many projects that his research and ideas has brought to the national stage.

Over the past 20 years, Terrell has served in roles of administration (public and private), student services and faculty roles, at trade and technical schools and, two and four-year universities, and at public and private institutions. He currently serves as Chairman for the City of Chicago’s Advisory Council for Veterans Affairs, a Commissioner for the City of Chicago’s Commission on Human Relations, a board member for the Prizker Military Museum and Library, an ambassador for the American Legion’s Military Credential Advancement Initiative, and a member of the USS Illinois 786 Club.

Greg Sanchez is a U.S. Navy veteran specializing in creating impactful programs for military-affiliated students and veterans writ large. 

Currently serving as the Assistant Director for the Office for Military-Affiliated Communities at the University of Chicago, Greg leads comprehensive initiatives to empower underserved populations. He is the lead for UChicago's Veterans Restorative Justice Project, collaborating with the Circuit Court of Cook County, community organizations, and UChicago’s professional schools to provide rehabilitation and support for veterans involved in the justice system.

Dr. Erin K. McFee is the Founder and President of the Corioli Institute, a global “think and do tank” focused on the reintegration of formerly armed actors (FAAs) and the promotion of security, resilience, and social cohesion in violence-affected communities. A political anthropologist by training, Dr. McFee has conducted extensive fieldwork in over a dozen countries since 2010—working with military veterans, ex-guerrillas, former insurgents, and reintegrating gang members across Latin America, Africa, the Arab region, and Eurasia. Her work spans from the frontlines of conflict to regional policy dialogues, supporting initiatives on the nexus of climate, human, and hard security.

Dr. McFee is also a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and a recognized expert in Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR), serving on the International Organization for Migration’s roster of specialists. Her research has informed international and national strategies on veteran reintegration in Ukraine, security sector reform in the Horn of Africa, and stabilization programs in the Middle East and North Africa. A UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Fulbright-Hays awardee, she holds a PhD and MA from the University of Chicago, an MBA from Simmons University, and executive certificates from the Harvard Kennedy School and the Geneva Graduate Institute.

Tyler Jackson is an assistant director of admissions at the University of Chicago where he works with students transitioning out of the military and those coming from Virginia and West Virginia. He served in the Marine Corps for seven years before studying history at the University of Chicago. In addition to his work, he enjoys hiking, sailing, and running.

James Allbright is veteran currently working as a commercial banker with J.P. Morgan in Chicago, IL. He retired from the Army in March 2024 as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 after 21 years of service. James was a career intelligence professional, enlisting in the Army as an interrogator in 2002 after September 11th, and later transitioning to be an area intelligence officer. He served overseas for 33 months during two combat deployments to Afghanistan and one to Iraq. James joined J.P. Morgan through their Military Pathways Development Program in 2024, and he now works in their Multinational Corporations banking team. He participated in the Commit Foundation and the Honor Foundation transition programs. James graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Economics and the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California with a Master of Science in Security Studies. James is married to the former Andrea Marie Kenny of Madison, WI. They have a daughter, Madison, a junior at the University of South Carolina, majoring in biological sciences.

Dallas Atkinson serves as the Director of Programs at the HillVets Foundation, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans, service members, and military spouses transition into meaningful careers in public service. In this role, she oversees HillVets’ flagship initiative, the Congressional Fellowship Program and HillVets LEAD, both designed to provide leadership development, legislative experience, and community support. Through her leadership, HillVets provides housing on Capitol Hill, hosts dynamic monthly networking events, and continues to grow a strong pipeline of military-connected professionals entering the policy arena. 

Before joining HillVets, Dallas was Manager of Operations at American Corporate Partners (ACP), where she optimized mentorship programs that served more than 4,000 veterans and military spouses each year. She also held leadership roles at Haulible and Lululemon, where she focused on organizational growth, building inclusive teams, and fostering values-driven cultures. 

Advocacy for the military community is both Dallas’s profession and her personal passion. As an Army spouse, she brings firsthand insight into the experiences of military families. Her ability to build authentic relationships, combine innovative strategies with storytelling, and forge collaborative partnerships has made her a trusted leader in expanding opportunities for those who have served. 

Connor Christensen is an economic policy advisor for the State of Wyoming, where he focuses on creating jobs and economic opportunities. His approach to domestic policy is shaped by a unique and extensive background in international affairs and security.

Connor began his career in the U.S. Navy, serving five years on active duty as a Hospital Corpsman. Stationed primarily in Rota, Spain, he supported forward-deployed Naval destroyers and Expeditionary Marine Corps units. This overseas experience sparked a deeper interest in global dynamics, leading him to pursue a degree in History from Saint Louis University's Madrid campus.

His academic and professional pursuits became increasingly global. He was awarded a U.S. State Department Critical Language Scholarship to study in Baku, Azerbaijan, and later served as a Fulbright Scholar teaching English in Turkey. Connor then earned a dual master's degree in Public Policy and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Chicago. During his graduate studies, he conducted challenging fieldwork as a researcher for the Corioli Institute, working with former non-state armed actors in Colombia, Ukraine, and Sierra Leone.

Now residing in Laramie, WY, Connor applies his global perspective to local challenges, actively contributing to Wyoming's economic development and supporting the local veteran community

Joy Craig is a retired Marine Corps chief warrant officer with a 23-year career specializing in aviation ordnance, that included a tour as a drill instructor at Parris Island. Her journey from the Arizona foster care system to the Marine Corps shaped a lifelong commitment to serving others. After retiring in 2014, she earned a political science degree from the University of California, Riverside, and turned her focus to advocacy and public policy. Joy served as a HillVets Fellow and later as a Military Legislative Assistant in the U.S. Senate. There, she focused on National Security, Foreign Affairs and Defense legislation including three National Defense Authorization Acts. In 2024, she joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) as Associate Director of Service Member Affairs, leading efforts on legislation related to military quality of life, foreign affairs, and transition. Joy’s passion remains rooted in taking care of service members, just as she did throughout her time in uniform. She lives in the Washington, D.C. Metro area.

Kwame K. Crawford is the Chairman of Windsor, Banahene, Consilium & Holdings Co., a boutique government consulting and management firm, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Chicago Black Policy Review at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. He most recently served as the third Deputy Director of the Cook County Department of Veterans Affairs.

Kwame’s decade-long public service career spans the federal, state, and local levels—reflecting a deep and enduring commitment to advancing good governance and equitable access to public institutions. His service began in Washington, D.C., as a Non-Commissioned Petty Officer in the United States Navy, where he provided operational support to commands both afloat and ashore, domestically and abroad. He later managed key defense programs, including the U.S. Army’s Safe Helpline Program at the Pentagon.

Upon transitioning to civilian service, Kwame served as Defense and Veterans Outreach Manager for U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois. He then developed and led a volunteer corps of veterans who provided peer support to justice-involved veterans in the Veterans Treatment Courts of the Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County, under the Office of the Chief Judge.

Guided by principles of cultural intelligence, innovation, and servant leadership, Kwame embraces a people-first approach. His unwavering dedication to veterans, civilians, and service members reflects his broader mission: to help build more inclusive, accessible, and responsive government institutions.

A leading advocate for veterans charting new chapters of service, Jonathan “JD” Due currently serves as the Executive Director of the Center of Military Transition at the Mason School of Business at William & Mary. A 20-year veteran of the US Army, JD has served extensively in the non-profit space in both volunteer & advisory positions as well as the Director of Programs & Scholarships at the Pat Tillman Foundation.

In 2024, JD was named as one of 10 Veteran Fellows currently serving at Stanford University's Hoover Institute, where he researches and develops solutions to empower veterans and transitioning service members in their search for productivity, fulfillment, and resilience as they enter the civilian workforce.

Mario Ferenczak is a United States Marine Corps Veteran and Rising Second Year at the University of Chicago. Born and raised in Illinois, Mario spent much of his life in and around Chicago. He enlisted in the Marine Corps during his senior year of high school and went to boot camp shortly after graduating in May of 2019. During his service, he traveled to northern Europe while deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. After completing his active duty contract in 2023, Mario returned home to Illinois, where he prepared to utilize his education benefits to go to school. He applied and got accepted to the University of Chicago, where he is currently planning to study Public Policy, with an interest in government affairs. Mario enjoys history, traveling, politics, and meeting new people.

Tristan Flannery is a Managing Partner at Presage Global, an intelligence-driven risk and business advisory firm, where he leads the security risk management and strategic operations practice. A recognized expert in enterprise security strategy and operational resilience, he advises C-suites, boards, family offices, and strategic investors on global protective programs, risk mitigation strategies, and complex security transformations.

Tristan brings over 25 years of professional experience across military, government, and private sector operations. A former US Army Ranger, he spent a decade in the US Government managing protective operations in sensitive environments, developing expertise in threat assessment, crisis management, and strategic security planning.

Prior to joining Presage Global, Tristan held senior security leadership roles across multiple sectors, where he specialized in building resilient security frameworks that protect assets, personnel, and operations while supporting business growth. His approach emphasizes practical, scalable solutions tailored to each client's unique risk profile and operational requirements.

Tristan's work focuses on helping organizations navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape through intelligence-driven security strategies that address cyber, physical, financial, and reputational risks. He regularly speaks on topics related to executive protection, enterprise security transformation, and operational resilience at industry conferences and client events.

He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor's degree in Intelligence Studies from American Military University.

Manuel Gomez is the founder of Vet Phoenix, a pioneering nonprofit led by formerly incarcerated veterans who are also scholars and social workers. A U.S. Navy veteran who spent five years incarcerated in the California Department of Corrections, Gomez has transformed his lived expertise into a national platform for systemic reform. He has secured tens of millions of dollars to design and scale diversion systems, build barrier-free housing, and implement support structures grounded in evidence-based practices and research frameworks. 

Gomez has received national awards, multiple congressional recognitions, and was recently recommended for a gubernatorial pardon by the California Board of Parole. His unique power comes from combining his military service, carceral background, and academic training to craft solutions that no single lens could create. As an Associate Clinical Social Worker and Certified Peer Specialist, he embodies the “wounded healer” ethic, proving that those closest to the problem are also closest to the solution. 

A proud father of five, Gomez grounds his vision in family and community, while showing that leadership from the margins can redefine entire systems and reimagine what justice can look like in America. 

Corrine E. Hinton, PhD, is a veteran studies scholar, qualitative researcher, and President of the Veterans Studies Association (2025–2027). She serves as the Dean of Humanities, Arts, Communication, and English at Lincoln Land Community College (Springfield, Illinois). In the field of veteran studies, her areas of expertise include teaching, learning, and writing about the transitional experiences of student veterans in higher education, as well as the experiences of military caregivers. Her research has been published in Generation Vet: Composition, Student-Veterans, and the Post-9/11 University, The Journal of Veterans Studies, and Composition Forum.

Dr. Hinton is an Alumni Fellow with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation for military caregivers (2017–2019) and serves on the Executive Board of the SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society. She is also a military caregiver to her husband, Tyron, a retired infantry Marine who served multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan during his nearly 20-year career. Additionally, she is the daughter of two retired Air Force veterans and an exhausted mom-in-academia to a rambunctious 11-year-old.

Ricky Holder was born and raised in abject poverty in the city of San Bernardino, California. At age nine, he was placed in the foster care system. He spent ten years in foster care and moved over half a dozen times. Upon emancipating from the system, he enlisted in the United States Navy as an Information Systems Technician. He served in the Navy for six years and was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, and Yokosuka, Japan, the latter of which was aboard the USS Chancellorsville (now the USS Robert Smalls). 

After separating from active duty in 2017, he enrolled at Foothill College, where he studied Economics. While at Foothill, he was involved in a range of activities. He founded the Student Veterans of Foothill College and served as its first president. He served as the school's representative in the Student Senate of California Community Colleges. He helped organize the Summit on Student Homelessness. He worked with various partners on campus to launch a statewide advocacy campaign to expand the California Chafee Grant, a key financial aid tool for current and former foster youth. 

He transferred to the University of Chicago in 2019 and studied Public Policy, specifically focusing on Inequality. During his four years at UChicago, he was highly involved in the school's Institute of Politics (IOP). His engagement at the IOP was marked by a number of formative experiences, including moderating a conversation with former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, discussing child welfare policy and public service with former Congressman Beto O’Rourke, and serving as Co-Chair of the Institute’s Student Advisory Board. He also organized the IOP’s first-ever panel on the child welfare system, visited the 2020 Iowa Caucuses, interned with the Office of Illinois Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, and took part in numerous other initiatives that deepened his commitment to public service and policy. 

He graduated from UChicago in 2023 as the inaugural recipient of the Hugo F. Sonnenschein Medal of Excellence, the university’s highest undergraduate honor. As one of the Class Speakers, he addressed his peers and their families during Class Day, where he reflected on the importance of public service and the enduring responsibility of UChicago graduates to serve as engines of human enrichment. Having earned the Marshall Scholarship in 2023, he earned an MPhil in Comparative Social Policy at the University of Oxford in June 2025, where he studied how advanced countries prevent families from being dismantled. 

Now, he’s a Senior Program Associate, KIN Accelerator with Think of Us, where he’s working to develop kin-first policies in his beloved home estate of California 

He intends on dedicating his life to eradicating child poverty, reforming the child welfare system, and strengthening working families. His biggest accomplishment is marrying his high school sweetheart, Leslie. 

Brenden Jones served in the U.S. Army as an Infantryman and later as a Team Leader at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where he trained and mentored soldiers and represented the Army in multinational exercises with Indian forces. After completing his service, he brought the same discipline and leadership to the University of Chicago, where he is pursuing a degree in Economics.

At UChicago, Brenden was elected President of the Veteran Scholar Association, where he has worked to rebuild the community of veteran students. Under his leadership, the organization has expanded programming, fostered stronger connections across class years, and partnered with university offices to strengthen resources for veterans on campus.

Modie Lavin is the Senior Outreach Coordinator at the Road Home Program: The Center of Excellence for Veterans and Their Families at Rush University Medical Center. A passionate advocate, Gold Star Mother, and community leader, Modie is deeply committed to supporting veterans, military families, and mental health awareness. In her role, she connects veterans, service members, and their loved ones to transformative, evidence-based mental health care. As Modie often shares, “We honor the fallen by taking care of the living.”

A proud lifelong Chicagoan, Modie’s life changed forever in 2012 when her son, Corporal Conner T. Lowry, was killed in action while serving with the United States Marine Corps in Afghanistan. Since that day, she has devoted her life to lifting up the military community, turning her grief into purpose and action.

At the Road Home Program, Modie plays a vital role in outreach, education, and engagement—helping break the stigma surrounding PTSD, trauma, and suicide, and ensuring that veterans and their families know they are not alone. Her efforts have helped hundreds access life-saving treatment and support.

Modie is widely respected for her authenticity, compassion, and unshakable commitment to those who serve. She has represented the veteran and family communities on local and national platforms, and continues to speak out about the invisible wounds of war and the power of healing.

Outside of her professional work, Modie remains deeply engaged in the Chicago community. She spends time with her family and friends and nurtures her love of making art—a creative outlet that continues to bring her joy, connection, and healing.

Jessica Lopez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the Road Home Program and was a 2024 Lecturer at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, teaching Social Work with Veterans. She earned her master’s degree with a concentration in military social work from Dominican University and interned at the Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee.

Prior to joining the Road Home Program in 2022, Jessica’s work has been dedicated to assisting and empowering the military community in mental health settings across Chicagoland. Her journey led to Road Home after referring veterans to the program and seeing the benefits of accelerated treatment. She is a United States Marine Corps veteran and comes from a military family. She is a proud spouse of a current active duty Marine as well as a niece, granddaughter, and sister-in-law of multiple Army and Marine Corps veterans.

Nick Macius is a US Marine veteran and spent four years as an infantry officer. Beyond service, he’s a Chicago native and alumnus of the University of Chicago (BA '18, MA '25). This summer, after finishing graduate school he started a writing program for incarcerated veterans at the Cook County Jail. He teaches creative writing, every week in the Jail, in all genres: poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. As a class, they workshop each other’s creative pieces, learn about craft, and discuss readings from a wide range of authors.

Outside of his work with OMAC and in the Jail, he’s working on his own creative projects in fiction, exploring coffee roasters throughout the city, and walking around the South Side with his German Shepherd, Rosa.  

Luke Magyar served in the U.S. Marine Corps for five years from 2017-2022. During his time in active service, he deployed three times before choosing to pursue higher education. Luke applied and was accepted to the University of Chicago in 2021 and is currently in his fourth year, simultaneously earning a BA in Political Science and an MA in International Relations. Luke is also a recipient of the 2025 Truman Scholarship and plans to pursue an additional graduate degree after a few years back in the workforce. For the past three years, Luke has worked with the Corioli Institute, a think-and-do-tank focused on veteran reintegration, as a researcher, writer, and as their Director of Advocacy and Outreach. Additionally, Luke started the Corioli Institute’s Summer Fellows Program and has been the director of the program for the past two years. After graduating in the summer of 2026, Luke plans to pursue a public service career focused on political strategy and policy advocacy. In his free time, Luke enjoys spending time with friends and family and his partner, another graduate of the University of Chicago veteran-scholar program who earned her MA in 2025, as well as taking up new hobbies like fly-fishing and ultrarunning that take him to interesting outdoor places.

Quinton McNair, a retired U.S. Army Master Helicopter Mechanic, turned his personal journey of healing into a mission to uplift others through Strugglebeard Bakery. After serving 24 years in the military, Quinton faced the difficult transition back to civilian life, carrying the invisible weight of PTSD, depression, and the search for purpose. 

The name Strugglebeard itself is a reflection of this journey. It represents not only his battle with mental health but also the challenges of adjusting to life after the military — from struggling to grow a beard as a visible symbol of change, to grappling with 

the early trials of baking itself. What started as a coping mechanism in his kitchen during the pandemic quickly evolved into a therapeutic practice, giving Quinton a new way to channel his energy, discipline, and creativity. Baking became a lifeline. The precision and focus it demanded echoed the meticulous work he once performed maintaining military helicopters. But beyond technique, it offered something deeper: a way to find peace, purpose, and connection in every batch. Each cookie at Strugglebeard Bakery is not just a treat, but a testament to resilience — proof that from struggle comes strength. Today, Strugglebeard Bakery is more than a bakery. It is a safe, welcoming space where mental health is acknowledged and celebrated. Through his work, Quinton uses baking to break down stigma, spark conversations about healing, and create community. The bakery regularly supports local initiatives, offers student and veteran discounts, and is developing mentorship programs that combine baking with life skills and emotional wellness. From life came the struggle. From the struggle came hope and the Strugglebeard Bakery motto, "Life is a struggle but You make it better".

Kaedy grew up in Huntsville, AL and worked in the luxury beauty industry for 7 years as a makeup artist before joining the United States Navy in 2009. From 2009 – 2019 she served in the Navy as a cryptologic technician Arabic linguist and Aircrewman. Upon her graduation from an intensive 64-week Arabic program at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA, she deployed to Afghanistan and the Mediterranean before serving as a training instructor and International Military Student Officer at Naval Station Great Lakes.

In 2017, while still on active duty, Kaedy attended a Warrior-Scholar Project humanities bootcamp at Syracuse University, a one-week program that equips service members and veterans for success in higher education. Upon completion of the program, she enrolled in Oakton Community College, completing her AA degree in Arabic studies from the Defense Language Institute.

In 2019 Kaedy matriculated at the University of Chicago as 1 of 14 student veterans admitted to the university as the inaugural cohort of undergraduate veterans in the College. She graduated in 2023 with a degree in Comparative Human Development, making the Dean’s List and receiving the Harper Award for outstanding performance in a course. Post graduation she worked for a New York-based private equity firm called Pretium before joining Warrior-Scholar Project’s central staff full-time in 2024 as the Manager of Individual Philanthropy.

Passionate about authentic human connection and social impact, Kaedy also dedicates much of her time outside of work to community engagement, serving as the Vice Commander of her American Legion post and a member of the Military Affairs Subcommittee at the Union League Club of Chicago.

Jon Murphy is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, board certified in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology. He currently serves as the manager of virtual accelerated treatment programs at the Road Home Program.

Jon completed his doctoral training at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL in 2018. As a doctoral student, he was awarded a scholarship through the U.S. Navy’s Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), which paved a pathway for him to serve as an active-duty clinician. He completed his clinical internship and post-doctoral training at Navy Medical Center Portsmouth in Virginia. As a Navy psychologist, he delivered psychological services for active-duty service members from all branches in a variety of clinical settings, including traditional outpatient clinics and a partial hospitalization program. In 2022, Jon separated from active-duty and joined the Road Home Program.

Jon’s military service began in the U.S. Air Force as a Personnel Officer after he completed the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Detachment 380, Michigan State University in 2007. In the Air Force, he served on active duty from 2007 to 2012 and in the reserves from 2012 to 2014. In 2014, he completed an interservice transfer to the Navy as part of the HPSP. Currently, he serves in the Illinois Army National Guard as a Behavioral Health Officer assigned to the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at the Normal Readiness Center, Normal IL.

Ryan Pavel serves as Warrior-Scholar Project’s chief executive officer, channeling a deeplyheld conviction that enlisted veterans have unlimited potential to leverage military service into enormous impact in higher education and beyond.

At the age of 17, Ryan enlisted in the Marine Corps, culminating in two non-combat deployments to Iraq. Ryan then earned his B.A. from the University of Michigan and J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. His teaching experience includes working as a Teach For America corps member at an inner-city Detroit high school and as an adjunct instructor at Virginia Military Institute. Ryan has also worked for a variety of legal institutions, including legal aid organizations and a large national law firm.

Ryan is committed to bridging divides through action-oriented civic engagement. He currently serves on the Board of the Union League Club of Chicago, an institution committed to community and country. He has previously served as a fellow in the Obama Foundation Leaders USA program and a working group lead of the George W. Bush Institute’s Veteran Higher Education Task Force.

Ryan loves spending time with his beautiful family, escaping to the outdoors to conquer swing sets or climb mountains.

Adam Peters is a veteran, entrepreneur, and builder whose work spans technology, transformation, and truth. He is the founder of The Strategic Veteran, a podcast and platform dedicated to helping veterans navigate the hardest parts of transition and reinvention. With over 150 conversations recorded, the show has become a trusted resource for veterans and their families, surfacing the raw realities of leaving the military and the strategies for building a meaningful life beyond it. 

As Co-Founder and Chief AI Officer of Alset Technologies, Adam leads the company’s mission to bring organizations into an AI-first future. His work focuses on designing automation systems that help entrepreneurs and businesses reclaim time, optimize workflows, and scale with intention. Alset is building the infrastructure for companies to not just adopt AI, but to embed it into the core of their operations for long-term advantage. 

Adam is also a partner at Amakaya, a plant medicine retreat in the Peruvian Amazon serving veterans, first responders, and their families. Working alongside Shipibo healers, he helps bridge traditional wisdom with modern struggles, offering participants a path of deep healing, clarity, and renewal. 

Across all of his ventures, Adam’s mission is clear: to help people reclaim their time, identity, and freedom in the face of systems that often fail them. His approach is direct, no-nonsense, and grounded in lived experience. Whether speaking to veterans, entrepreneurs, or disruptors, Adam challenges audiences to confront hard truths, reject mediocrity, and design a life that is both sovereign and intentional. 

Shankar Peterson holds an undergraduate degree from Concordia University and a Master of Social Work from UIC Jane Addams College of Social Work. With eight years of service in the Army Reserves, reaching the rank of Sergeant (E-5), Shankar has a deep understanding of the challenges veterans face. Previously, he dedicated his efforts to housing homeless veterans and providing ongoing case management. Currently, he now works with the Veterans Integration to Academic to Leadership (VITAL) program and has been instrumental in its growth in the Chicagoland area. VITAL is aimed at empowering student veterans by connecting them with vital resources to navigate their academic journey successfully. VITAL’s mission is to remove barriers to graduation by ensuring veterans have access to the resources they rightfully deserve.

Kevin Shupe is a U.S. Navy veteran and a 30-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, where he dedicated his career to public safety, leadership, and community service. Throughout his time with LASD, he developed a strong commitment to supporting those who have served in the Armed Forces, recognizing both the strengths and challenges veterans face when transitioning back into civilian life.

He is the co-founder of the Justice Involved Veteran Initiative, created alongside Commander John Gannon (Ret.), which is dedicated to helping veterans navigate the intersection of military service, community reintegration, and the justice system. Through this work, Kevin has been instrumental in building programs that address the unique needs of justice-involved veterans, with a focus on mentorship, opportunity, and second chances.

Kevin continues to advocate for innovative approaches that honor veterans’ service while ensuring they receive the resources, respect, and opportunities they deserve.

Eric M. Sowers, MSW, is a PhD candidate at The Ohio State University College of Social Work, a 2024 Tillman Scholar, and a decorated Army combat veteran. He is the founder and principal consultant of Coyote Consulting, a firm focused on structural coordination, reintegration strategy, and veteran-centered program evaluation. Sowers brings over a decade of lived and applied experience to his work, including grassroots community organizing, peer mentorship for returning veterans, and cross-sector collaboration with public and nonprofit institutions. His research critically examines criminogenic and carceral veterans through the lens of Veteran Critical Theory, with particular attention to the structural functions and limitations of Veterans Treatment Courts. His work interrogates how militarism, trauma, and institutional abandonment shape the criminalization of veterans. He contributed significantly to the development of the STRONG Veterans Act of 2022, co-authoring provisions that expanded the Veterans Justice Outreach Program and enhanced legal and support services for veterans who have been impacted by the justice system.

His dissertation, a pioneering study, explores the lived experiences of veterans currently incarcerated in Los Angeles County, focusing on their navigation of Veterans Treatment Courts and the structural barriers to reintegration and recognition. In partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, he serves as a consultant and investigator on a countywide systems evaluation of veteran justice services, helping to generate trauma-informed, community-driven policy recommendations that are shaping the future of veteran justice services.

He has presented nationally on criminogenic and carceral veterans, including at the Student Veterans of America National Conference and the Pat Tillman Foundation’s Leadership Summit. His research has been featured in Stillman Magazine, Ohio State News, The Columbus Dispatch, and various broadcast media. He is currently co-authoring a book chapter on Veteran Critical Theory that advances structural critiques and community-informed reform strategies. Sowers has also received numerous academic leadership accolades, including the 2025 Outstanding Veteran Student Award, the 2025 Outstanding Graduate and Professional Student Award, and the 2024 Graduate Associate Leadership Award. He has independently taught both undergraduate and graduate courses on social welfare policy, macro practice, and social justice. He is well-prepared to teach across qualitative methods, community organizing, and structural policy reform. He is expected to graduate in Spring 2026.

Danny Wilson is a 26-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, where he has dedicated his career to serving the community with integrity and compassion. The son of an Army veteran and proud father of an Army Reservist and a Navy veteran, Danny’s life has been shaped by a deep connection to military service and the values it instills.

As a key member of the Justice Involved Veteran Initiative, Danny brings both his extensive law enforcement experience and his unwavering passion for supporting veterans to the forefront. He is committed to ensuring that those who have served our nation receive the understanding, resources, and opportunities they deserve when facing challenges within the justice system. Through his work, Danny has become a strong advocate for creating pathways that honor the service of veterans while helping them successfully navigate transitions and overcome obstacles.

His dedication to bridging the gap between law enforcement and the veteran community reflects not only his professional expertise but also his personal mission: to stand by veterans with the same loyalty and respect with which they have served.

Jill Hinton Wolfe is the author of Mission, Tribe & Grace: How Veterans Can Act to Lead Change and founder of Outdoor Book Club, a community that helps women rediscover courage through nature and storytelling. A legally blind Army veteran, Jill blends personal narrative with leadership insight to help veterans navigate transition with clarity, connection, and grace. Her work explores how veterans can lead change in their communities—not despite their lived experiences, but because of them.

Joseph Zolper is a leader, veteran, and advocate dedicated to serving the military community. He is the Manager of Veteran Outreach & Networking at the Road Home Program at Rush University Medical Center, where he builds strategic partnerships and connects veterans, service members, and their families with life-changing mental health resources. As he shares, “I found my road home and now I am helping others find theirs.”

Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Joseph earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and History from Illinois State University. While in college, he completed the U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program, commissioning as a U.S. Army Infantry Officer in 2015.

He served majority of his service with the 4th Infantry Division, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1-38 Infantry Regiment at Fort Carson, CO, and deployed to Afghanistan under Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (2018–2019) as an Infantry Platoon Leader. His awards include the Bronze Star, two Army Commendation Medals, the Combat Infantryman Badge, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, NATO Medal, and the Expert Infantryman Badge. He also served as a Company Executive Officer and Training Officer, focusing on leadership development and operational readiness, before transitioning from the Army at the rank of Captain.

Following military service, Joseph became an Operations Manager at Amazon, where he led large-scale teams, across multiple service-lines and facilities. He built one of the company’s largest Military Employee Resource Groups (ERG), supporting veterans and military families. His commitment to service brought him back home to Chicago and to the Road Home Program.

Joseph is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and an Executive MBA Student (Class of 2027) at Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business.

Outside of work, Joseph is a devoted husband to his wife Alyssa and father to their sons, Joseph VI “JJ” and Jaxon. Whether with family, fellow veterans, or community partners, Joseph’s top priority is taking care of people and helping the military community thrive.