Bush Institute Announces 2026 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 2026 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, including Major General Jeannie M. Leavitt; and Alex Gorsky, U.S. Army veteran, April and Jay Graham Fellow at the George W. Bush Institute, and former Chairman and CEO of Johnson and Johnson; among others.
Each participant brings a personal leadership project to the program, enabling them to immediately apply what they learn to making a positive impact on 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 250 alumni from seven earlier classes, focused on enhancing veteran outcomes across a range of issues. Many alumni occupy leadership positions in business, community initiatives, nonprofits that aid veterans, government, and academia; numerous members are also active or reserve military personnel.
The program is one of many ways the Bush Institute supports our country’s veterans and military families and builds on the organization’s extensive policy work in veteran transition.
The 2026 class of the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program includes:
- Jorge Avalos, Executive Director, Adaptive Velo Warriors, San Antonio, Texas
- Olivia Burley, Washington State Military Spouse Liaison, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, Snohomish, Washington
- Dan Carey, Executive Vice President and Co-Owner, RBP Chemical Technology Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Emily Emmons, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Ho`ōla Farms, Hilo, Hawaii
- Taylor Ferguson, Enterprise Business Development Lead, DoorDash, Washington, D.C.
- Zach Federico, Director, Veterans and Military Affairs Task Force, American Legislative Exchange Council, Arlington, Virginia
- Caroline P. Fermin, Director, Beaufort County Veterans Affairs, Beaufort County Government, Beaufort, South Carolina
- Lachanda Garrison, Co-Owner, Principal Consultant, L&J Global Solutions, San Antonio, Texas
- Fidel GomezTorres, Founder and Executive Director, American Veteran Arts Collective (AVAC), Washington, D.C.
- Ebonnie Goodfield, Founder, Women Veterans of Columbia University (WVCU), Columbia University, New York, New York
- Lacy Gunnoe, Director of Wellbeing, Camp Southern Ground, Fayetteville, Georgia
- Ryan Hendrickson, Founder and CEO, Tip of the Spear Landmine Removal Inc., Pace, Florida
- Andrew Holbert, Executive Director, Courtney Place Veterans Housing, Salem, Oregon
- Caroline Ketzler Hunter, Chief of Staff, Robert Irvine Foundation, Arlington, Virginia
- Carrie Kagawa, Founder and Principal, Keystone Strategies, Burke, Virginia
- Jeff Krilla, Co-Founder, Krilla Kaleiwahea Foundation, Washington, D.C.
- Charlie Lauersdorf, Councilman, City of Fort Worth; 1st Sgt., USMC, Fort Worth, Texas
- Charlotte La Belle, Global Head of Military Affairs, Amazon, Akron, Ohio
- Danielle Lankford, Corporate Impact Director, USAA, San Antonio, Texas
- Theresa Larson, CEO and Founder of Movement Rx, Durango, Colorado
- Liz Marion, Director of Education and Fellowship Programs, Marque Ventures, Frederick, Maryland
- Scot McCosh, Senior Director, Military & Veterans Programs, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville, North Carolina
- Sarah Melick, Naval Air Training Command Human Performance Team Director of Research and Analytics, U.S. Navy, Pensacola, Florida
- Terry Mickens, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commandant, The Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School, Montgomery, Alabama
- Kailah Murry, Founder and CEO, Guardians Lighthouse, LLC, Kansas City, Kansas
- Seth M. Owens, Attorney/LSV-H Program Manager, Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, Syracuse University College of Law, Syracuse, New York
- Anisa Palmer, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, I Will Survive, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia
- Jeffrey Paris, Senior Business Intelligence Analyst, Frontier Technology Incorporated, Dayton, Ohio
- Ted Painter, Chief Operating Officer, CareSource Military & Veterans, Tampa, Florida
- Vicky Perkins, Vice President of Programs, Blue Star Families, St. Johns, Florida
- Christian Price, Global Payroll Project Manager, HP Inc., Houston, Texas
- Merissa K. Schmidt, CMSgt, USAF; Senior Enlisted Leader, 19th Mission Support Group, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas
- Robert “Bobby” Shelton, President, Alphacat Consulting, Alexandria, Virginia
- Samantha Arrington Sliney, Founder, White Lace & Combat Boots, Whispering Pines, North Carolina
- Julie Tomáška, Chief Scientific Officer, Burn Pits 360, Woodbury, Minnesota
- Timothy Usset, State Chaplain, Minnesota National Guard, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Kyle Yepsen, Deputy Director, CreatiVets, Nashville, Tennessee
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.
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About the George W. Bush Institute
The George W. Bush Institute is a solution-oriented nonpartisan policy organization focused on ensuring opportunity for all, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies. Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the Bush Institute is rooted in compassionate conservative values and committed to creating positive, meaningful, and lasting change at home and abroad. We utilize our unique platform and convening power to advance solutions to national and global issues of the day. Learn more at www.bushcenter.org.
