1 Degree of Separation is a groundbreaking suicide-prevention training program that uses comedy to address serious issues. Since January 2019, it has been presented at 200-plus events across 15 states, impacting audiences from middle schoolers to senior military officers. The program recently signed a contract with the Navy for 125 days of global events over the next 18 months.

1 Degree has performed at numerous military bases and veterans events, including a keynote at the VA/DOD Suicide Prevention Conference. With a documentary in progress and a book deal signed, 1 Degree continues to save lives by teaching people how to talk about depression and suicide through laughter and conversation.

Lt. Col. Nick Barringer, USA (Ret), Ph.D., is an expert in kinesiology, nutrition, and performance optimization. He holds a doctorate from Texas A&M University with advanced degrees in exercise science and dietetics. As a registered dietitian, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, and a certified specialist in sports dietetics, he has led military nutrition research, serving as program director for the joint Army-Baylor University graduate program in nutrition and as an assistant professor at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. His military background includes service with the 75th Ranger Regiment, deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and extensive research in performance nutrition, supplementation, human performance, tactical athlete resilience, and warfighter readiness strategies.

Scott Blackburn is a senior partner at McKinsey & Co. and chairman of the firm’s U.S. government-focused team. For more than 20 years, he has led performance and culture transformations in the government and private sector. A fourth-generation U.S. Army veteran, Scott served in several roles at the VA from 2014 to 2018, including as chief transformation officer, interim deputy secretary, and chief information officer. He remains active in the veteran community, supporting over two dozen nonprofits pro bono. He sits on the boards of Student Veterans of America, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, VETSports, the Concussion Legacy Foundation, and The Golden Heart Fund.

Trying to marry his passion for cars and cameras, AJ Bleyer began shooting automotive videos with his high school friends. His work caught the attention of local dealerships, and at 22 he left Apple to pursue filmmaking full time. He founded Advent Films and became a trusted shooter for the likes of Ferrari, McLaren F1, Aston Martin, Red Bull, Riot Games, Amazon, and more. Despite rejection from every film school, AJ was accepted into the Directors Guild of America as one of its youngest directors at 27. Known for dynamic angles and unforgiving attention to detail, he specializes in action-packed commercials with vehicle stunts, pyrotechnics, skydiving, and low-flying helicopters — pretty much anything that freaks out his parents.

Nate Boyer, a Bronze Star recipient, served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the U.S. Army Special Forces. While in combat zones, he trained himself to become a walk-on with an NCAA Division 1 football team. He started in 38 of 39 games and was the No. 1 long snapper for the last three seasons of his five-year career with the Texas Longhorns. In 2015, Boyer joined the Seattle Seahawks as the oldest rookie in NFL history at age 34. As a veteran and professional athlete, Boyer saw an opportunity to team up both populations to tackle shared transition struggles through Merging Vets & Players (MVP), an organization he co-founded with NFL insider Jay Glazer. In 2020, he co-wrote, produced, directed, and starred in the film “MVP,” which premiered on Veterans Day 2022.

Sharene Brown has dedicated her life to supporting military families. As the spouse of the 22nd Air Force chief of staff and 21st chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, she has championed access to resources that help military families thrive. She helped launch Five & Thrive to tackle top quality-of-life issues, driven by her passion for military child education, the Exceptional Family Member Program, and military spouse employment. With a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and a Master of Arts from Webster University, she has worked in advertising, trade associations, and education. Her journey has taken her across the globe, enriching her perspective on military life. 

Kayla Corbitt, founder and CEO of Operation Child Care Project, is a trusted authority and leading advocate for military child care. With expertise in crisis counseling and victim advocacy, she brings a unique perspective to addressing challenges faced by military families. Her data-driven approach and authentic storytelling have paved the way for groundbreaking resources, ensuring servicemembers and their spouses receive critical child care support. A dedicated voice in policy and reform, Kayla continues to champion lasting change for military families. She is an active duty Army wife, currently residing near Colorado Springs.

Christine Erspamer is a senior vice president and the chief of growth for product and strategy at Optum Serve, the federal-facing business within UnitedHealth Group that is responsible for providing health care delivery, services, technology, and consulting expertise to agencies. Prior to assuming this position, Christine was the chief operating officer for Optum Serve’s health services unit and vice president of program integration for the company’s community care services. She has worked there for the past 12 years, previously with the company’s advisory services team. Prior to that, Christine worked at Accenture in health management consulting.

Jen Goodale is MOAA's director of Government Relations for military family and survivor policy. She advocates for programs and policies that support uniformed service families. She develops relationships with leaders in DoD, Congress, and other military and veterans service organizations. Jen serves as the advisor to MOAA’s Surviving Spouse Advisory Council and the Currently Serving Spouse Advisory Council. With more than 10 years of experience in nonprofit support and program development, Jen is a passionate, highly organized project manager with proven leadership and communication skills. She is a Marine Corps veteran and the spouse of an active duty Marine.

Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), a New Jersey native, earned an aerospace engineering degree from the University of Notre Dame and holds master’s degrees from the National Defense University and the Air University. He joined the Air Force in 1989 via ROTC and served 33 years in key leadership roles across multiple commands. His career culminated in his role as deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel, and services with Headquarters U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon, overseeing critical personnel policies and operations. Kelly retired in 2022 and became president and CEO of MOAA in January 2023.

Christi Kruse has more than 25 years of experience in health care, working with some of the industry’s most prominent companies. She is the senior vice president of product at Optum Serve, where she leads the team that develops and manages products and capabilities that serve a broad range of federal customers.

A proud wife to a U.S. Army aviator, Crystal DeVoss Mahany has served the military community in many capacities over the last 22-plus years and is committed to doing so beyond her husband’s retirement. She currently works as an adjunct faculty member in George Washington University’s College of Professional Studies, where she teaches legal research and writing as well as family law under the graduate program. She also serves as the policy research and legal analyst for Partners in PROMISE, a nonprofit focused on research, policy, and legislative advocacy for military children with disabilities. She advocates on behalf of individuals with disabilities on multiple government levels and is committed to increasing equitable outcomes.

Col. Kendra Mathews, USAF (Ret), is a corporate responsibility director with seven years of experience at USAA and served more than 24 years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. She is a national military strategy lead in USAA’s Corporate Responsibility division, directing the philanthropic giving of both USAA and The USAA Foundation Inc. She oversees the mental health and well-being philanthropic portfolio focused on nonprofit programs supporting active servicemembers, veterans, and their families. She also manages the Face the Fight Coalition through USAA, which aims to reduce veteran suicide. Coming from military service, Kendra is a 1992 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Daniel May leads procurement talent development at the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), strengthening long-term talent pipelines for public procurement nationwide. He drives efforts to attract and cultivate professionals by creating clear pathways for students and career changers to excel in the field. Through strategic talent initiatives and nationwide stakeholder engagement, he ensures procurement remains innovative and impactful for the future.

Lt. Col. Rob Riggle, USMC (Ret), is an actor, comedian, writer, producer, and director with more than 15 years in comedy. Known for roles in “The Hangover” and “Step Brothers,” he also starred on “Saturday Night Live” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” He recently hosted the hit ABC series “Holey Moley.” Film credits include “The Other Guys,” “21 Jump Street,” “22 Jump Street,” “Dumb and Dumber To,” and “Night School.” Rob earned acclaim for his dramatic roles in “12 Strong” and “Midnight Sun.” He served 23 years in the Marine Corps, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in theater and film from the University of Kansas as well as a Master of Public Administration from Webster University.

Chuck Rotenberry is a former U.S. Marine Corps dog handler/trainer, and he is currently a canine training specialist with the U.S. Secret Service. He has handled patrol/explosive detection K-9s on numerous stateside and overseas missions, directly supporting the highest levels of leadership including the president of the United States. After multiple deployments, he sustained a serious combat injury and was awarded the Purple Heart. His leadership and commitment to the K-9 community are evident in his efforts to strengthen programs that ensure the well-being of active and retired military working dogs. He is passionate about making a difference in the lives of these canine heroes and serves as the vice president of the U.S. War Dogs Association.

Liz Rotenberry is a caregiver for her husband, a wounded warrior who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and participated in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. As the director of caregiver engagement at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Liz works to advocate not only for herself and her family, but for all 5.5 million military and veteran caregivers nationwide. She regularly presents on the hidden challenges that caregivers face and has been featured in The New York Times Magazine. She is passionate about supporting caregivers for active duty servicemembers, as well as the impacts of caregiving on children. She serves as both a teacher and mentor to military and veteran caregivers across the country.

Lt. Col. Kevin Schmiegel, USMC (Ret), is CEO and co-founder of ZeroMils — a service-disabled veteran-owned business connecting stakeholders to change the narrative and highlight positive service outcomes, elevating brands from “military friendly” to “military thriving.” Kevin served at the highest levels of DoD, deploying to 50-plus countries. After retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2009, he led Hiring Our Heroes, growing it into the nation’s largest veteran employment-focused nonprofit. His leadership has raised $100 million, impacting 10 million Americans. A proud husband and father of five, he continues bridging the civilian-military divide.

B. Taylor is a decorated Navy veteran and an internationally acclaimed artist, producer, and songwriter who has won multiple awards, with six No. 1 songs featured on the Billboard and iTunes charts. He is also the first-ever artist and producer to have bridged the gap between hip-hop/urban music and the genre of Motown legends such as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. He has worked with NCIS actress Pauley Perrette as well as music artists Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg, Ray J, Flo Rida, and more. He is a best-selling author, speaker, and philanthropist, and holds the title of “A Goodwill Global Ambassador and Advocate of Entertainment for the U.S. Military, Veterans, First Responders, and Their Families.”

Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, USMC (Ret), was commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. A graduate of Bemidji State University and the National War College, he holds a master’s degree in national security strategies. Over his 43-year career, he participated in operations including Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, and held leadership roles such as chief of staff for U.S. Special Operations Command and commander for U.S. Africa Command. Since retiring in 2019, he has served in advisory roles, including positions with Girl Security, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, and Jones Group International. He currently chairs MOAA’s board of directors.