OUR COLLABORATIVE TEAM

kalea lehman

KaLea Lehman

KaLea Lehman

KaLea Lehman is the Founder, Executive Director, and President of the Board of Directors at the Military Special Operations Family Collaborative. She has a broad range of experience working in healthcare advocacy, communications, and education. KaLea completed her undergraduate education at The George Washington University in 2007 and earned her Master of Education in 2018 from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. Her work and interests are policy research, analysis, and development. Her research interests include organizational behavior in matrix and high reliability organizations and their intersection with well-being. KaLea and her husband have been part of the Special Operations community for over 10 years and have six beautiful children. In their free time, they enjoy running adventures and traveling to new places. 

Nikole Schmidt

Nikole Schmidt serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors at the Military Special Operations Family Collaborative. She is a proud military spouse of an active-duty Air Force Special Operations officer with fourteen years of experience advocating for the military community. She is known for her work in the military spouse employment arena, having helped shape the movement to revolutionize the way military spouse professionals transition and use their rich experiences to successfully navigate their careers. She served as the Executive Director and Secretary of the Board for The Paradigm Switch, now a program at Columbia University’s Center for Veteran Transition and Integration. Nikole devotes her time to the health of high operational tempo Special Operations communities.

 

Nikole has worked across many sectors facilitating the growth of hundreds of individuals on topics ranging from psychological safety to appreciative inquiry as the Chief of Client Evolution for Take Back Work. She’s passionate about cultivating purpose-driven communities and is a master at crafting tools and systems that support personal and professional growth. Nikole brings over a decade of experience in organizational management and development, sculpting program curriculum from scratch, unleashing talent in teams, and building relationships with customers and businesses alike. Her current work capitalizes on her breadth of experience by blending the worlds of workplace culture and mind-body wellness to help communities thrive.

 

Nikole holds a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Michigan, a M.A.T. in Earth and Space Science from UMGC, and is pursuing a MScGH from NUNM. She is the mother of two children and is currently stationed with her family in Germany. In their free time, they enjoy hiking as a family and traveling through Europe. 

Nikole is the Founder and Owner of The Future Forge, a consultancy specializing in science-based approaches that redefine foundational wellness for the future.

Steve Denelsbeck

Steve Denelsbeck served the Special Operations Command under the 75th Ranger Regiment. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts – Boston with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pre-Law. Steve also graduated from the United States Army Ranger Course, Combat Diver Qualification Course (SCUBA), Waterborne Infiltration Course, Pathfinder Course, and several others. Steve supports the Three Rangers Foundation as a Mentor, the Combat Diver Foundation - Board of Advisors and is a Lifetime Member of Joint Special Operations Association and Global SOF Foundation. He is currently supporting the U.S. & International Special Operations communities.

Kerry Irvin

Kerry Irvin

Kerry Irvin

As the daughter, wife, and mother of U.S. Army soldiers, Kerry Irvin has an authentic voice to lend to the issues facing military families. She serves as the Director of Development for Operation Healing Forces, a national non-profit supporting special operations service members and their families. Kerry is a longtime advocate of military families and has appeared as a guest on national television, syndicated radio shows, webinars, and podcasts, sharing the trials and tribulations of military family life. Her bi-weekly column, The Home Front, featured in the Military Times, shines a light on challenges military families face, as well as resources available to help them thrive. She is a certified Master Resilience Trainer, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) facilitator, and a Transition Assistance Program facilitator, providing workshops and support to military service members, spouses, and caregivers throughout their careers and during transition. She has held numerous leadership positions in military-related organizations and her efforts to forge together impactful collaborations in support of military and veteran communities have been recognized at the highest level. Her honors include: The President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, U.S. Secretary of the Army’s Superior Public Service Medal, North Carolina Military Spouse of the Year (2020 & 2021), US FORSCOM Well-Being Award, U.S. Army War College Military Spouse of the Year, and Fort Bragg Iron Mike Gold Star Award. Kerry and her husband have four children and currently call Tampa, Florida, “home.”

Lauren Manley

Lauren Manley has worked in the nonprofit sector since 2005 and was lucky enough to combine her passion for giving back with the Special Operations community, in her role as the Director of Operations for the Special Operators Transition Foundation. Lauren is a passionate SOF advocate and aims to educate and connect Operators and families to great resources while simultaneously aiming to effect change where there are gaps.  She is the spouse of an active duty Green Beret and mother of two great kids.

Barbara Nagata

Barbara Nagata is an attorney and former adjunct law professor at the University of Georgia and George Mason University. Barbara is married to a retired 37-year Army Special Forces officer. Having served as a volunteer and board member of many charitable organizations, Barbara has had the opportunity to improve effectiveness and expansion of organizations charitable mission. Whether working as a senior advisor of military family support groups, president of high school parent groups, or member of interfaith charitable organizations, Barbara’s focus is on providing the best support while effectively using all available resources. 

Dr. Jeffrey Tiede

Jeffrey Tiede, M.SS, M.D., D.ABA-PM, is a pain management physician who serves as Director of the Center for the Intrepid, Brooke Army Medical Center, JBSA - Ft. Sam Houston, TX. After completing his doctorate from Saint Louis University, he completed residency and fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. He has a broad practice and research experience in academic, industry, and military settings. The Center for the Intrepid is one of three DHA Advanced Rehabilitation Centers mandated to care for and rehabilitate Service Members with catastrophic limb injuries. The CFI also executes the Special Operator Performance and Recovery (SPaR) program which addresses human performance, MSKIs and comorbid conditions such as PTS and post-concussive symptoms.

COL Tiede commands 5th BDE (HS), 94th Training DIV, and is responsible for NCO professional development and combat medic recertification in the USAR. He is a distinguished graduate of the Army War College, and his operational experience includes service as 7th MSC Command Surgeon and BTN SGN, 2-502 IN BTN, 101st AA.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
lisa harmon

Dr. Lisa Harmon

Dr. Lisa harmon

Dr. Lisa Harmon has over 13 years of clinical experience working in various government agencies: all-encompassing the mental health needs of adults, children, and families. Dr. Harmon completed her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina, Pembroke and earned her Master of Social Work in 2005 from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. In 2014, she completed her Doctorate Degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Harmon worked as an embedded mental health provider at 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Ft. Campbell, KY and was a member of the Preservation of Force and Family program at US Special Operations Command at MacDill, AFB. She currently works at the Department of Veterans Affairs, assisting homeless Veterans and the community to effectively end Veteran homelessness. Dr. Harmon has numerous trainings and certifications in multiple evidence-based practices such as Cognitive Processing Therapy, Mindfulness, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy for depression, and group therapies. Her research interests include the role of cultural and personality influence in PTSD’s symptomology, factors influencing risk and resilience in trauma, application of behavioral models to suicidal behaviors, family support services, trauma and attachment, and the application of evidence-based practice within social work organizations. Dr. Harmon published in the Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment (2016), “A review of the effectiveness of military suicide prevention programs in reducing rates of military suicides.” Lisa and her husband have been part of the Special Operations community for over 18 years. They have three sons.

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Dr. Brian Hite

Dr. Brian hite

Dr. Brian Hite has over 12 years of professional experience, developing and teaching skills and strategies for performance enhancement with both military and non-military populations, spanning diverse areas of performance expertise. He has over 6 years of experience as a Master Resilience Trainer and Performance Expert working with the military force and family. Dr. Hite received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Rutgers University in 2004, Master of Science in Sport Psychology from Capella University in 2006, and his Doctorate in Organizational Psychology from Walden University in 2015. He currently serves as a Senior Dissertation Chair at the Grand Canyon University. His numerous publication and presentation topics include: maintaining motivation, performance enhancement training protocols, utilizing mental imagery, goal-setting, mental skills and toughness training, and consulting in unfamiliar cultural environments. Dr. Hite has over 20 years of experience as a stuntman and stunt coordinator, where he actively tests and utilizes the performance and resiliency skills he continues to teach and research. He resides in Tennessee with his family, where he also continues to teach resilience and performance enhancement to both conventional and unconventional military populations.

carly hunt

Dr. Carly Hunt

Dr. Carly Hunt

Carly Hunt completed her BA in psychology from Georgetown University and dual master’s degrees in psychology and kinesiology from the University of Maryland, College Park. Carly completed her doctorate in counseling psychology, and is currently a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Her research explores the psychological factors that support physical health and best performance under stress. Clinically, she has provided sport psychology consulting and general counseling services to NCAA Division I athletes, Navy Seal aspirants, and ROTC candidates. Carly takes an integrative approach to counseling and is particularly passionate about helping clients develop mindfulness skills to support resiliency and overall wellness. She also prioritizes helping clients effectively communicate their needs in relationships in order to grow meaningful connections with others.

amy sturm

Amy Sturm

Amy Sturm

Amy Sturm grew up in Franklin, TN and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Master’s in Social Work. In her current position as a therapist with Catholic Charities of Tennessee, she serves children, adults and families. After working in the mental health field for over 15 years, Amy has had the opportunity to serve various client populations. She has been involved in numerous civic organizations including, the Refugee Resettlement Mentoring Program, Flourishing Families, Clarksville, TN VA Clinic, Habitat for Humanity and Head Start. Amy believes deeply in the power of social connection, and she looks forward to supporting families as they navigate their unique life situations and transitions.Married for over 22 years, Amy and her husband live in Clarksville, TN with their two teenage sons. She counts yoga, hiking and reading among her myriad of interests.  

KEY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
andrew marr

Andrew Marr

Warriors Angels

Andrew Marr

Andrew Marr is a husband, father, Retired Special Forces Green Beret, Co-Founder of Warrior Angels Foundation, Special Operations Association of America board member, MSOF advisory board chair, TEDx Speaker, and best-selling co-author of TALES FROM THE BLAST FACTORY: A Brain Injured Special Forces Green Beret’s Journey Back from the Brink. His book has been turned into an award-winning full feature documentary film under the direction of EMMY and Academy Award winners and is titled Quiet Explosions: Healing the Brain.

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Shawn Alderman

Magnus Veterans Foundation
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Ty Bathurst

SEAL Future Foundation

Ty Bathurst

Ty joined the SEAL Future Foundation in July of 2020 to lead the SFF’s external engagement efforts and recently moved into the CEO role. He served nearly 21 years in the SEAL Teams and deployed multiple times across the globe and he retired from SOCOM as the Chief of Human Performance in February of 2020. Ty received a MS in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School and a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota where he was an Academic and Athletic All-American. Of all the accolades, his most prized accomplishment is his marriage and three beautiful children.

chris frueh

Dr. Chris Frueh

Lead author of “Operator Syndrome” paper

Dr. Chris Frueh

Christopher Frueh, PhD is a clinical psychologist, Professor of Psychology at the University of Hawaii; and Adjunct Professor, Psychiatry in Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Academic Institute. He has thirty years of professional experience working with military veterans and active-duty personnel, including clinical work, research, and consultation to individuals and groups. He has co-authored over 300 scientific publications (h-Index = 84; total scientific citations > 21,000), including a current graduate textbook on adult psychopathology. He has testified before US Congress, and served as a paid contractor for the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs, US State Department, and the National Board of Medical Examiners. He has also published commentaries in the National Review, New York Times, Time; and has been quoted or cited in the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Washington Post, Scientific American, and many others.

jeff hudson

Jeff Hudson

Operation Healing Forces

Jeff Hudson

Jeff Hudson is the Executive Director of Operation Healing Forces, a nonprofit dedicated to aiding wounded, ill, and injured special operations forces (SOF) and their families. Jeff is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, Naval Postgraduate School, and Harvard Kennedy School for Nonprofit Executive Leadership. Serving 21-years in the US Army, Jeff spent the majority of his time in SOF and has eight deployments to the Middle East. As SOF and their families experience some of the "best and worst of times" associated with service, Jeff is dedicated to serving his SOF brothers and sisters and their families.

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Dr. Dan Irizarry

Global SOF/SOF for Life

Dr. Dan Irizarry

Dr. Dan Irizarry earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and doctorate from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. A board-certified family physician, he is the TacMed Solutions medical advisor and Kanan Medical, LLC medical director in Orlando, Florida, where he practices family medicine. Dan served in the active-duty Army for 26 years retiring in 2018 at the rank of Colonel. During his military career, he held medical leadership positions in the 82D Airborne Division, the 3rd Special Forces Group, and the NATO Special Operations Headquarters (NSHQ) in Mons, Belgium where he helped establish a schoolhouse to build international special operations medical capabilities through immersive simulation. He volunteers as a medical advisor to the Global SOF Foundation and the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida and has special interest in holistic health approaches, complementary therapy and the use of essential oils in therapeutic care. When not working, he can be found at Disney World with his seven children and amazing wife.

tom & jen satterly

Tom & Jen Satterly

All Secure Foundation and Virago

Tom & Jen Satterly

Tom Satterly is a highly decorated combat veteran, having served in the Army 25 years, the last 20 in the US military’s most elite tier one unit, Delta Force. He has been involved in, and led, some of our nation’s most important military campaigns. Beyond Tom’s proven experiences of leadership and critical decision making skills in high-risk environments, he continues to fight and win his own “silent war” off the battlefield after coming within seconds of taking his own life and becoming a veteran suicide statistic. Today, Tom is on his most important mission to date with his wife and partner, Jen. Together they are the co-founders and co-CEOs of All Secure Foundation, a non-profit organization serving Special Operations warriors and their families reconnect and heal on the homefront.

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Thomas Spooner

Warriors Heart
Service Member & Veterans Wellness Advisory Board
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Alexis Moore

Special Forces Shield Maidens
jenn byrne

Dr. Jenn Byrne

5by5 Performance

Jenn Byrne

Jenn is a doctor of occupational therapy, an Air Force Veteran, a Mom and the wife of a special operator. She is the owner of 5by5 Performance Therapy, a telehealth platform serving Veterans and their families, and the co-founder of Shields and Stripes, a non-profit organization serving Veterans and First Responders. Jenn calls Groton, Connecticut home, and thoroughly enjoys frequent visits home to see her family. She earned her bachelor's degree at the University of New Hampshire in 2012, where she also received her commission into the United States Air Force through UNH's Reserve Officers Training Corps. During her summers, Jenn travelled to Kenya with Project Global Officer to learn Swahili, East African history, geography and more. She completed her master's degree in 2013 and entered active duty in January of 2014. While in the Air Force, Jenn developed the Air Force's first special operations trainee sports medicine program at Medina Annex, TX, and continued to embed with multiple different teams to teach overall wellness and treat/prevent mental and physical injuries. This provided Jenn a unique perspective into the strengths and challenges of the special operator. Now a spouse of a special operator, she is able to view health and wellness from both a provider standpoint, and a family standpoint. Jenn's dedication to Veterans and the special operations community is apparent in everything she does.

Richelle Futch

Her Ruck

Richelle Futch

Richelle Futch is a Marine Corps Veteran and Military Spouse for the last 9 years to an Army Special Forces NCO. She has over 15 years of clinical experience working with government agencies as well as in private practice. She received her undergraduate degree from Washington State University and her Masters in Social Work from the University of Washington. Before starting her private practice in 2013, she worked in the juvenile justice system as a counselor and treatment coordinator, and at the Warrior Transition Battalion counseling Soldiers and their families. Richelle specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and created a program for parents called Solution Focused Parenting. She has assisted in creating and implementing a program to train government and private employees working with disabled clients, and has run skills groups for parents of children with disabilities. She is the author of Her Ruck: Inside the Emotional Backpack of Military Wives and leads workshops for military and veteran families under the same name. She is currently volunteering with the Green Beret Foundation Steel Mags program while also serving on the Military Spouse Behavioral Health Clinicians survey team. She also volunteers with multiple other organizations including the Girl Scouts of America, and multiple other organizations supporting military families. Richelle was recently awarded Armed Forces Insurance Fort Bragg Military Spouse of the Year for 2019.

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Desiree Holley

Operations Healing Forces
jen satterly

jen satterly

All Secure Foundation and Virago

Jen Satterly

Jen Satterly was an award-winning filmmaker and photographer for 15 years, spending the last three years and Director of Film and Photography of an elite Special Operations training company fully embedded with Navy SEALs, Green Berets, and Army Rangers in large-scale realistic training missions. During her time embedded with Special Operations warriors, Jen began to see a pattern with the soldiers, sailors, and airmen she worked alongside - some of the very same issues her husband, retired  Command Sgt. Major Tom Satterly, was also facing with complex Post-Traumatic Stress. Passionate about helping warriors and their families heal, Jen stepped out from behind the camera and became a certified health and wellness coach to better understand the biology of PTS. Jen and Tom co-founded All Secure Foundation to help warriors and their families reconnect and heal on the homefront from the trauma of war. Additionally, Jen is the founder of Virago, a platform for educating and empowering women who are facing the challenges of PTS on the homefront. 

nikole schmidt

Nikole Schmidt

AFSOC Spouse

Nikole Schmidt

Nikole is a proud active duty Special Operations Air Force spouse with over a decade of experience advocating for the community. She devotes her time to the health of high-ops tempo communities, as well as revolutionizing the way military spouse volunteers work and use their vast experiences to positively impact base communities and professional organizations. Nikole has helped in the community through spouse organizations, volunteering as a peer counselor with Preservation of the Force and Family Program and the Red Cross, and has been a Key Spouse for several units. She has a BA from the University of Michigan and an MAT in Secondary Earth and Space Science from UMGC. Nikole has over a decade of experience in organizational management and development, sculpting program curriculum from scratch, cultivating talent in teams, and building relationships with customers and businesses alike. She has served as the Executive Director and Director of the Board for The Paradigm Switch, a CVTI Program, and continues to impact military culture through her work with Take Back Work.

Corie Weathers

Lifegiver

Corie Weathers

Corie Weathers, licensed professional counselor (LPC), is a sought-after speaker, consultant, and author of the award- winning book Sacred Spaces: My Journey to the Heart of Military Marriage. Corie has focused her career for the last 20 years as a clinician specializing in marriage, military and first responders, the service culture, and its impact on families. She has traveled to Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf to visit troops and report on deployment conditions with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and has taught service families across the globe, including Japan. Nicknamed “#Coriespondent”, Corie consults on military and first responder culture, produces content through interviews and videos, emcees events as well as facilitates meaningful and productive sessions and retreats for families on how to live, lead, find purpose, and build relationships using their natural talents. Her Lifegiver Podcast provides encouraging content and inspirational interviews to service families and marriages.

FAMILY WELLNESS ADVISORY BOARD
kalea lehman

KaLea Lehman

Executive Director

KaLea Lehman

KaLea Lehman is the Founder, Executive Director, and President of the Board of Directors at the Military Special Operations Family Collaborative. She has a broad range of experience working in healthcare advocacy, communications, and education. KaLea completed her undergraduate education at The George Washington University in 2007 and earned her Master of Education in 2018 from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. Her work and interests are policy research, analysis, and development. Her research interests include organizational behavior in matrix and high reliability organizations and their intersection with well-being. KaLea and her husband have been part of the special operations community for over 10 years and have six beautiful children. In their free time, they enjoy running adventures and traveling to new places. 

Lynnsy Snook is an Air Force veteran and 18-year Special Operations spouse with a passion for supporting military families and connecting them with resources across all levels to meet their diverse needs. An advocate of continuous learning, she earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus. Lynnsy brings experience in leadership, analysis, training, and volunteer management to achieve the MSOF mission. In her personal time, she enjoys exploring new locales, sampling her husband’s cooking, and leisurely bike rides with her two sons.

Lynnsy Snook

Operations Director

Lynnsy Snook

Lynnsy Snook is an Air Force veteran and 19-year Special Operations spouse with a passion for supporting military families and connecting them with resources across all levels to meet their diverse needs. An advocate of continuous learning, she earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus. Lynnsy brings experience in leadership, analysis, training, and volunteer management to achieve the MSOF mission. In her personal time, she enjoys exploring new locales, sampling her husband’s cooking, and leisurely bike rides with her two sons.

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Erick Miyares

Service Member & Veteran Program Fellow

Erick Miyares

Sergeant Major (Ret.) Erick Miyares is an accomplished special operations and intelligence professional with 29 years’ combined experience in the United States Army and United States Marine Corps. Erick served within the United States Special Operations Command and Intelligence Community for 23 years in a variety of leadership positions and operational assignments.

A native of Hialeah, Florida, Erick enlisted the Marine Corps in 1991. Since retiring in October 2022 from the military, he focuses on preventing Veteran suicide and sharing his experiences, journey, struggles, and healing process.

Erick has numerous combat deployments supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and highly sensitive missions and tasks of national significance. He has deployed numerous times throughout his career supporting operations and training across SOUTHCOM, CENTCOM, AFRICOM, and EUCOM.

While on active duty, Erick earned his Associates of Art in Foreign Languages, Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security, Master of Science in Cyber Security, and is currently focused on a Doctor of Philosophy in Cyberpsychology (expected 2026).

Erick and his spouse have one child and currently reside in the National Capital Region.

Dr. Christi Luby

Dr. Christi Luby

Research Volunteer

Dr. Christi D. Luby

Dr. Luby is the daughter of a lifelong Law Enforcement Officer, and wife of a B-52 combat Veteran and Homeland Security federal civilian servant. She strives to understand the issues that affect US Service members (active and Veteran), First Responders, their spouses, and their families. She provides a voice in support of their biopsychosocial well-being, resiliency, and post-traumatic growth. As a published author, she offers guidance to civilian community leaders and providers to promote and improve military and First Responder culturally competent care. Christi received her Bachelor’s degree with Distinction in Psychology, Biology, and Sociology and her Masters of Public Health at the University of Oklahoma. As Top Graduate, she received the Outstanding Student Award from both the College of Public Health and Dept of Health Promotion Sciences, as well as, the Joan K. Leavitt Commissioner of Health Award. She is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist and Compassion Fatigue Educator. She received her PhD in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Her dissertation, Health Assessment for Loved Ones: Development and validation of a new instrument to measure well-being in military spouses, focused on the effects of indirect exposure to trauma, and received the Outstanding Dissertation Award.

Mary-Catherine LaBossiere

Mary-Catherine LaBossiere

Social Media Coordinator

Mary-Catherine LaBossiere

Mary-Catherine LaBossiere, MPH, RD, LDN is a registered dietitian, army wife, dog mom, and the owner of Defy Nutrition. She started her career in obesity and diabetes clinical research, while earning her Master of Public Health. Mary-Catherine then transitioned to working in behavioral health, where she learned the role of nutrition in mental health. Mary-Catherine is now a full-time entrepreneur who helps busy individuals learn how to eat like human beings and develop healthier relationships with food. Mary-Catherine has presented on a variety of topics, including Nutrition for Performance, Managing Stress Eating for Optimal Digestion, Emotional Eating for the Busy Entrepreneur, Incorporating Intuitive Eating Principles into Macro Tracking and Calorie Counting, and more. She enjoys educating others and facilitating both in-person and virtual workshops to make nutrition fun, easy and sustainable. In her free time, Mary-Catherine loves being active and exploring the outdoors with her husband and their dogs.

Bridget Orr

Bridget Orr

Program Assistant

Bridget Orr

Bridget Orr is currently finishing her undergraduate education at Creighton University, double majoring in Criminal Justice and Medical Anthropology with focuses in public health and forensic anthropology. She plans to continue her higher education through the acquisition of a MD and masters in forensic anthropology. Bridget currently works with veterans facing dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other psychiatric diagnoses. 
 
Her interests include studying non-western medicine and the intersection of societal and cultural structures on medicine and the human experience of health. She is currently doing research in suicide and suicide prevention and caring for Alzheimer’s and dementia. Previous research has included the attributing factors to recidivism and the attainment and implementation of knowledge of nutrition, diet, and exercise in undergraduate students. When not working at the VA, studying, or working on MSOFC projects, she enjoys hiking, reading, and watching Bones.
STAFF

Our PARTNERS

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OUR SHIELD

MSOF enables families to achieve and sustain their maximum potential. This requires efforts as diverse and meaningful as the symbolic capacity of the poppy flower. The red poppy is broadly used to recognize fallen service members – the most paramount tradition in our community. It became the symbol for Remembrance Day because it flourished on battlefields following WWI. Poppy flowers also signify sentiments of rest, recovery, imagination, beauty, success, consolation, and hope. Poppies are beautiful flowers that thrive in tough conditions – just as the men, women, and children who make-up the Special Operations community. 

The blues and teal of the primary MSOF color palette evoke comfort, possibility, and the energy of members of our community. They work together to create an identity that feels modern and inspiring. The secondary palette of mint and gold brings warmth and groundedness, as we add certainty to the SOF journey for families.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is MSOF a collaborative effort?

MSOF believes sharing our perspective, challenges, and experiences leads to better resources, support, balance, achievement, and family well-being. Inherent and fundamental in collaboration is respect, authenticity, humility, and listening. To meet the needs of our families, we need to know their experience. Our goal is to meet the needs of our community, securely expressed and compassionately heard, through the Collaborative. Then, further work with partnering organizations and experts to provide resources capable of adding certainty to the Special Operations family journey.

Who is MSOF designed to support?

MSOF believes family and community are connected and essential for family and service member support. We value all voices, in all Special Operations Forces (SOF), from all family members, friends, and the broader American community. We are an organization supporting SOF families as they first enter our community, serve, and experience retirement. Uniting our community enhances support for our force and families. 

How does MSOF help Special Operations Families connect?

Our focus is connecting individuals and families to resources and social outlets that align with their own health and achievement goals. If families meet other Special Operations families in those spaces, it is a double win! MSOF believes knowing other families in Special Operations is important. 

What type of organization is MSOF?

MSOF incorporated as a nonprofit organization in Florida in December 2018. It was founded by a diverse group of Special Operations families. We are the only Special Operations-wide, family-focused, and all virtual organization serving our community. MSOF became a tax exempt, nonprofit organization in 2019.

What actions does MSOF take to secure the identity of collaborating Special Operations families, entities, and individuals?

Privacy and security of our families, our collaborators, and our force is a paramount concern. We take several precautions to secure our efforts. We collaborate in a manner that collects minimal personal or identifying information, and we collaborate with cyber security experts routinely. If you still have a concern, or know of a precaution we should be taking, please reach out and let us know. Trust is critical to our community and our mission.

How is MSOF different than a mentorship program?

MSOF seeks to enhance and inform any effort that contributes to Special Operations family balance, success, and support. We develop resources that could be used within a mentorship program, but we are a completely separate entity than the military unit-sponsored mentorship programs. The common intent of command sponsored, mentorship programs is to create relationships, build connections, and promote individual development in order to fill the gaps in current Family Programs. These programs are often intended to contribute to the United States Special Operations Command’s Preservation of the Force and Family (USSOCOM’s POTFF) initiatives. 

How is MSOF different than military family organizations such as a Family Readiness Group (FRG) affiliated with the military unit?

MSOF seeks to enhance and inform any effort that contributes to Special Operations family balance, success, and support. The Collaborative is not affiliated with any Command, FRG, or similar readiness group. However, these groups to utilize MSOF resources. A Family Readiness Group (FRG) is a Commander’s Program supported by volunteers. Most family groups seek to support the military mission with family support and outreach connecting people. We are uniquely different because we seek to broadly connect our families virtually.

How is MSOF different than other military family resources, located on military bases and posts?

MSOF seeks to enhance and inform any effort that contributes to Special Operations family balance, success, and support. We are an organization independent from any military branch and the Department of Defense. We specialize in developing resources, based in best practices, but designed specifically for the Special Operations community. The Collaborative strategically connects our broad community to improve well-being through virtual means and by supporting existing organizations that are already enhancing and supporting families. 

Is MSOF related to other Special Operations nonprofit organizations?

The Collaborative is a virtual organization that seeks to partner and collaborate with other organizations to enhance their mission as it relates to the well-being and achievement of the broad Special Operations community. We believe we are a force multiplier for other organizations already doing great things. 

How is MSOF different than other military-related resources or websites such as Blue Star Families, The National Military Family Association, or other efforts designed for the military family?

MSOF is a separate nonprofit organization. MSOF believes it is necessary to apply precise and particular experience to meet complex problems. Everything we do relates to improving family well-being and achievement in the broad Special Operations community. We hope to collaborate with other military-related organizations.