About Us
We the Veterans and Military Families is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization created by veterans and military family members.
Our Mission
Empower the veteran and military family community to strengthen America
Our Vision
A more perfect Union
Our Team
To best serve and represent our dual community, We the Veterans Foundation’s bylaws require that at least one of the Executive Director and the Executive Chairman is a veteran and at least one is a military family member.
Ellen Gustafson
Navy Spouse
Co-Founder and Executive Director
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Ellen is a proud Navy Spouse and Navy and Coast Guard Granddaughter. She is a Co-Founder and the Executive Director of We the Veterans & Military Families, a non-partisan, non-profit organization that empowers the veteran and military family community to showcase patriotic citizenship and strengthen democracy and is the organizer of the Vet the Vote Coalition. She is also the Co-Founder of the Military Family Building Coalition, the first non-profit supporting active duty military in building their families.
She previously co-founded FEED, Food Tank and co-directed the Summit Institute. Before becoming an entrepreneur, she worked at the Council on Foreign Relations, the United Nations World Food Program and ABC News. Ellen is the author of "We the Eaters: If We Change Dinner, We Can Change the World," has been a Fortune Most Powerful Women Entrepreneur and has given four TEDxTalks. She lives with her husband and three young children in Virginia.
Ben Keiser
Marine Corps Veteran
Co-Founder and Executive Chairman
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Ben joined the Marine Corps while in college, serving in the reserves into law school, and deploying to theater for OIF. After graduating, Ben practiced at a large law firm in Washington, D.C. and New York where he focused on sustainability. He currently serves as the Chief Risk Officer of Elutions, a multinational AI company. Ben is the son of a Vietnam era Navy surface warfare officer and grandson of a WWII Army medic. He lives with his wife and rescue dog in Phoenix, AZ.
Ben is a member of the board of the We the Veterans Society for American Democracy and Executive Chairman of the We the Veterans Foundation. As Executive Chairman, Ben co-chairs the Board, advises the executive team, and works with the Executive Director to set strategic direction and operational priorities.
Ingrid Sundlee
Army Daughter
Chief of Staff
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Ingrid is the daughter of an Army veteran. She has nearly 15 years of communications and project management experience with the federal government, including extensive work on humanitarian disaster relief in Iraq, Nigeria, and the Caribbean. She has an MA in International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
Ingrid was our first staff member and was instrumental in the launch of the Vet the Vote Campaign in her previous role as the Director of Civic Engagement for the We the Veterans.
Julie Hendricks
Navy Veteran
Director of Operations
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Julie is a Navy veteran, serving as a rotary-wing aviator for 12 years. She served on the USS Enterprise for two deployments in support of Operations OEF and OIF. Her final deployment was to Baghdad Iraq, where she represented the U.S. government to develop program management plans in support of increased security cooperation. After her time in the Navy, Julie spent eight years as a consultant in the defense industry, successfully managing large and small teams to run proposal and capture activities for large federal contracts.
Julie is passionate about engaging in her local community, and has served as a volunteer for varied organizations throughout her life, including the Girl Scouts, Meals on Wheels, veteran nonprofit The Mission Continues, and the Fairfax County Continuum of Care Committee to fight homelessness. She holds a B.A. in English from the U.S. Naval Academy and an M.A. in Rhetoric and Writing Studies with a Graduate Certificate in Public Policy from San Diego State University. Julie lives in Falls Church with her husband and two children and is also a proud Navy spouse. Her favorite day is election day.
Jermaine Clark
Army Veteran
Senior Marketing Consultant
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Jermaine is an Army veteran. He just wants to create content that commands your attention and causes self-reflection with emotional messaging. He spends most of his time daydreaming about the subconscious psychology of an image’s composition and how to wield that power to his own, aforementioned, ends. Unfortunately, he hasn’t mastered this universal language but, in its pursuit, this scrappy military-brat has traveled to more than 70 countries, dove more than 300 dives, had 7 near death experiences, swam with sharks, deployed to Iraq, started a boutique marketing agency and an IT Joint-Venture, and convinced a perfectly healthy and sane woman to co-create a son named Odysseus.
Jermaine is a member of the board of the We the Veterans Society for American Democracy.
Madison Hale
Army Spouse
Associate Director of Marketing & Operations
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Madison has been with We the Veterans and Military Families since 2023 and is an Army spouse who comes from a military family. She has nearly 10 years of project management and operational experience, having transitioned from the legal field to marketing.
For the past decade, she has actively volunteered with organizations that support underserved youth and civic engagement. These experiences have deepened her understanding of how meaningful serving others is. In her current role as Associate Director of Marketing & Operations, she aims to expand community impact while maintaining program authenticity.
Madison holds a B.S. in Business Administration & Marketing from the University of Central Missouri and is currently completing her MBA.
Abbie Estes
Coast Guard Daughter
Deputy Director of Operations & Development
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AbbieEstes is the proud daughter of a Coast Guard veteran and grandaughter of an Army veteran. She most recently served as Operations Director at 51 Vets. Abbie spent five years with Veterans for Responsible Leadership, beginning in Operations before advancing to Executive Director. Her work has consistently focused on building sustainable organizations that effectively serve veterans and military-connected communities.
Abbie holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Public Relations from Jacksonville State University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver, where her graduate studies emphasized veteran and environmental policy. Earlier in her career, she served as Public Affairs Coordinator at the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce and contributed to the military affairs task force.
She lives in South Alabama with her husband, Bryant, their son, and two dogs.
Roxine Amon
Navy Spouse
Creative Design Manager
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Roxine Amon is a Navy spouse and marketing professional with over eight years of experience in social media management, digital strategy, and brand storytelling. She has partnered with nonprofits, education organizations, and lifestyle brands to grow community engagement, strengthen brand identity, and deliver meaningful results.
Her career has included leading digital campaigns, developing websites, and creating content strategies that improved visibility, retention, and user experience. She is passionate about using digital platforms to share authentic stories and build connections that inspire trust and community.
Roxine holds a B.A. in Communication from Woodbury University and an MBA with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Arizona, Eller College of Management.
Camellia Jackson
Navy Veteran
Program Coordinator, Houston
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Camellia Jackson is the Program Coordinator - Houston, for We The Veterans, where she leads local outreach, partnerships, and programming that empowers veterans and strengthens civic engagement. As a U.S. Navy veteran, military spouse to a retired Navy veteran, mother of two sons currently serving in the U.S. Navy, and daughter of two Army veterans, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work - which means she’s spent a lifetime navigating the Army-Navy rivalry from both sides (and has learned when to keep her opinions to herself at family gatherings).
A licensed clinical social worker known for her collaborative, people-first approach and just enough humor to keep things grounded, Camellia is passionate about building authentic connections, creating welcoming spaces, and helping veterans stay informed, engaged, and connected throughout the Houston community.
Aaron Thacker
Army Veteran
State Lead, Arizona
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Aaron Thacker is a communications strategist and retired U.S. Army officer with over 20 years of experience across the military, government, and media sectors. As the Arizona Statewide Representative for Vet the Vote, he recruits veterans and their families to serve as poll workers, framing the role as a vital act of continued service to the nation.
Aaron’s career began with a decade as an enlisted public affairs specialist and photojournalist, followed by 12 years as a Military Police officer with significant operations experience. His leadership was forged through deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Sinai, Egypt, and later refined in high-stakes domestic roles. He previously served as Director of Communications for the Arizona Secretary of State and led crisis communications for the National Guard Bureau following the January 6 Capitol attack.
Combining his deep expertise in election transparency with his operational military background, Aaron now mobilizes the veteran community to protect the democratic process. He is dedicated to ensuring Arizona’s elections are powered by those who have sworn an oath to defend the Constitution.
Matthew DeFalco
Army Veteran
State Lead, Nevada
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Matthew DeFalco is a U.S. Army veteran who served as a Patriot Missile Operator and Maintainer during Operation Enduring Freedom. Stationed at Fort Bragg, he deployed in support of the War in Afghanistan, operating and maintaining advanced air and missile defense systems. His service earned him the Army Commendation Medal, multiple Army Achievement Medals, and additional campaign and service honors. Following his military service, Matthew continued serving others as a firefighter with the Bureau of Land Management, protecting communities and natural resources across the American West. He remains actively engaged in his community, serving as Vice President of Government Affairs for the Las Vegas Area Council of Scouting America and as a board member of Leaders in Training. Through his service, advocacy, and leadership, Matthew continues to make a meaningful impact in Southern Nevada.
Tim Benyo
Army Veteran
State Lead, Pennsylvania
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Tim Benyo joins Vet the Vote with 20+ years of Election Administration experience, most recently as the Chief Clerk of Elections for Lehigh County. For the last 11 years, he has served as the Chairman of the Eastern Association of County Election Personnel, as a member of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission Local Leadership Council, many Department of State Committees, the Joint State Government Commission on Voting System Technology and the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Elections Reform Committee; often being called to testify in Pennsylvania House and Senate State Governance Committee Hearings on Election procedures.
Tim started his career in the United States Army as an Intelligence Analyst Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division & 7th Special Operations Support Command. After his military service, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue Global University.
Outside of work Tim owns a small brewery in his hometown of Jim Thorpe in the Pocono Mountains and has been playing Bass in a band since college.
Teena Barna
Marine Corps Veteran
State Lead, Florida
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Teena Barna is a Marine Corps combat veteran, veteran advocate, and community leader dedicated to serving those who have served. With 18 years of honorable service in the United States Marine Corps.
In 2024, Teena served as the Director of Nevada for Vet The Vote, where she was instrumental in advancing the organization’s mission to empower veterans through civic engagement and increase voter participation. Her leadership played a key role in strengthening outreach efforts and mobilizing the veteran community across Nevada.
A passionate advocate for veterans, Teena has served on multiple Boards of Directors, including the Kline Veterans Fund and the Veterans Social Club of Las Vegas. She remains actively involved in several veteran service organizations, including the Greater Las Vegas Detachment 186 of the Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 12198, and American Legion Post 149.
Beyond her advocacy work, Teena is a respected Real Estate professional with a strong focus on serving veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. She is committed to helping others achieve homeownership, build stability, and create long-term wealth.
Teena and her family have recently relocated to Sarasota, Florida, where she continues her mission of service—supporting the veteran community and strengthening connections among those who serve.
Natalie Watson
Army Veteran & Spouse
Associate Director of Patriotic Programs
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Natalie Watson is an Army spouse currently based in Kentucky. Natalie brings more than a decade of U.S. Army leadership experience to her role as Associate Director of Patriotic Participation Programs at We the Veterans & Military Families. She previously led teams of up to 3,000 personnel, managed portfolios exceeding $40 million, and directed operations from Iraq to the COVID-19 national response, most recently as an S3 Operations Officer building data-driven readiness systems for senior leadership. Natalie holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Utah and is completing an Executive MPA at Cornell. She now brings that same operational rigor to empowering veterans and military families in civic life.
Madeleine Parris
Army Spouse
Chief Executive Assistant
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Madeleine is an Army spouse, currently based in Texas. She has been with We the Veterans since 2024 and has been actively engaged in working with fellow military spouses in both professional and volunteer roles since 2022. With a strong foundation in administration and communications, she brings a unique blend of organizational insight and executive support. Madeleine holds a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from Wichita State University, where she developed a passion for clear messaging, strategy, and organizational efficiency. Her career reflects a dedication to supporting both mission-driven teams and community-focused initiatives, with a focus on adaptability, collaboration, and purpose-driven work.
Board Members
Ben Keiser
Marine Corps Veteran
Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Board
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Ben joined the Marine Corps while in college, serving in the reserves into law school, and deploying to theater for OIF. After graduating, Ben practiced at a large law firm in Washington, D.C. and New York where he focused on sustainability. He currently serves as the Chief Risk Officer of Elutions, a multinational AI company. Ben is the son of a Vietnam era Navy surface warfare officer and grandson of a WWII Army medic. He lives with his wife and rescue dog in Phoenix, AZ.
Ben is a member of the board of the We the Veterans Society for American Democracy and Executive Chairman of the We the Veterans Foundation. As Executive Chairman, Ben co-chairs the Board, advises the executive team, and works with the Executive Director to set strategic direction and operational priorities.
Anil Nathan
Air Force Veteran
Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Board
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Anil is a first-generation American and second-generation Air Force veteran, following his father who was drafted during the Vietnam War after emigrating from India. Anil works in management consulting, bringing his experience as a product and operations leader in tech to clients looking to launch new products and services with speed. Anil was previously the General Manager for Aviation at Uber, where he led the company's near-term aviation products. Anil, his wife, and his son live outside of New York City.
Anil is a member of the Board of We the Veterans Society for American Democracy and is the Co-Chairman of the Board of We the Veterans Foundation. As Co-Chairman, Anil advises the Executive Director and Executive Chairman on matters of strategic importance and Co-Chairs the Board.
Ellen Gustafson
Navy Spouse
Co-Founder and Board Member
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Ellen is a proud Navy Spouse and Navy and Coast Guard Granddaughter. She is a Co-Founder and the Executive Director of We the Veterans & Military Families, a non-partisan, non-profit organization that empowers the veteran and military family community to showcase patriotic citizenship and strengthen democracy and is the organizer of the Vet the Vote Coalition. She is also the Co-Founder of the Military Family Building Coalition, the first non-profit supporting active duty military in building their families.
She previously co-founded FEED, Food Tank and co-directed the Summit Institute. Before becoming an entrepreneur, she worked at the Council on Foreign Relations, the United Nations World Food Program and ABC News. Ellen is the author of "We the Eaters: If We Change Dinner, We Can Change the World," has been a Fortune Most Powerful Women Entrepreneur and has given four TEDxTalks. She lives with her husband and three young children in Virginia.
Jeremy Butler
Navy Reservist
Board Member
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Jeremy is a Board Member and the Chairman of the Vet the Vote Coalition. He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) for four years but joined thestaff of IAVA in 2015 where he worked in various capacities with the fundraising team. In 2018 he transitioned to Chief Operating Officer and in 2019 took over as CEO. He currently serves as a member of the board of directors of both IAVA and Veterans for Political Innovation.
Jeremy served on active duty in the Navy from 1999 – 2005 as a Surface Warfare Officer. He transitioned to the Reserves and has remained there since. He holds the rank of Captain (O-6) and is assigned to the staff of Commander, Naval Surface Forces, US Pacific Fleet.
Coming off active duty, he began working for a DC-based government contractor and served in a variety of roles to include work for the Department of Homeland Security, the Joint Staff, and the Department of the Navy. Throughout, he spent several years back on active duty both overseas and in the US.
He attended Knox College in Galesburg, IL and graduated with an International Relations major. He later received his M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
Jeremy is a member of the board of We the Veterans Foundation and chairs the Vet the Vote Coalition.
James Patrick
Army Veteran
Board Member
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James is a 20+ year technology leader whose professional experience spans his own software startup and executive positions in fintech, cryptocurrency, financial services, and sustainability. James is Chairman of the Board of Sound Off (a non-profit telemedicine app connecting veterans and service members with mental health resources) and was a Green Beret team leader in the US Army.
James is a member of the Board of We the Veterans Foundation.
Scott Pioli
Navy Son
Board Member
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Scott is an accomplished NFL executive with over 30 years of experience and a passionate supporter of veteran and military family causes. Throughout his career, he has held key positions with the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, and Atlanta Falcons. Pioli's exceptional talent identification and mentoring skills have shaped both athlete careers and guided entry-level employees to executive positions.
His achievements include five Super Bowl appearances, three championships, and multiple AFC/NFC titles. Named NFL Executive of the Year five times and Executive of the Decade by major sports media, Pioli remains the youngest recipient of the George Young NFL Executive of the Year Award.
Pioli currently serves as an NFL Network analyst and consultant to the NFL League Office. He also consults for FBS football programs and athletic departments. Pioli's dedication to social justice includes serving as the founding chair of the John Lewis Institute for Social Justice at Central Connecticut State University. His board affiliations include the Women's Sports Foundation, RISE (co-founding RISE to Vote), the National Advisory Council for Women Leaders in Sports, and the Black College Football Hall of Fame. In 2024, he received the Black College Football HOF Founders Award.
Pioli holds a master's degree from Syracuse University and a bachelor's from Central Connecticut State University. He and his wife are investors in the NWSL's Boston franchise launching in 2026. Pioli is the son of an early Cold War era Navy Gunners Mate.
Joe Plenzler
Marine Corps Veteran
Board Member
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Joe is a combat decorated Marine Corps veteran. He served 20 years on active duty as an infantry officer and as a public affairs officer. During his time in uniform, Joe planned and executed the largest media embed program in Marine Corps history during the invasion of Iraq, served as the senior U.S. military spokesperson in Indonesia during the international disaster relief mission in the wake of the Boxing Day tsunami, and served in the Pentagon as the spokesman, press secretary, and staff group director for the 34th, 35th, and 36th Commandants of the Marine Corps. Retiring in 2015, he has served as an EVP of marketing and membership, a national director of media relations, and a director of communication for large nationally recognized veteran service organizations. Today, he is a co-founder of Cassandra Helenus Partners - a leadership coaching and human communication firm.
Joe is a member of the Boards of We the Veterans Society for American Democracy and We the Veterans Foundation. Joe also advises We the Veterans Foundation on public relations, media, and communications strategy.
Glenn Schatz
Navy Veteran
Co-Founder and Board Member
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Glenn is Vice President of Community Partnerships at Care Access, a company accelerating public access to new therapies and making clinical trials a care option for every patient. At Care Access, he leads the team focused on increasing trial participation by improving the way the industry works with physicians, patients, and organizations in traditionally underserved communities.
He has also held senior-level positions at BlocPower, Link Labs, and the U.S. Department of Energy. Earlier, he co-founded Energy Conversion Research (ECoRE) Ventures and was an adjunct professor at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Glenn started his career as an officer in the Navy, where he worked as an engineer-qualified nuclear submarine officer on a guided missile submarine. Glenn received his master’s degree in national security policy from Georgetown University and his bachelor’s degree from The United States Naval Academy. Glenn resides in Baltimore with his spouse and two young children.
Glenn is a member of the board of the We the Veterans Foundation and the We the Veterans Society for American Democracy.
Shawn Turner
Marine Corps Veteran
Board Member
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Shawn is the General Manager of WKAR Public Media and a Professor of Strategic Communication at Michigan State University.
He previously served in several federal government positions including Deputy White House Press Secretary for National Security, Director of Communication for U.S. National Intelligence, and Deputy Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs for the National Security Council.
He is currently a member of the board of directors for National Public Radio (NPR), the board of trustees for the German Marshall fund (GMF), and the executive board of advisors for Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) at the University of Pennsylvania.
In 2015, Shawn was awarded the Intelligence Community Leadership Award, and in 2016, he was awarded the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award for outstanding career accomplishments and exemplary service to the nation.
Prior to his civilian career, Shawn served 21 years in the United States Marine Corps. He received his B.A. degree in communication studies from Texas State University and an M.A. degree in communication from George Mason University.
We the Veterans Society for American Democracy is a 501(c)(19) veterans organization.
We the Veterans Foundation is recognized by the IRS as tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Support our work.
We the Veterans and Military Families believes that the veteran and military family community is uniquely positioned to lead in strengthening our nation, and we are building programs to empower them to do that in new and meaningful ways.
Your donation helps us build patriotic engagement programs, including our flagship program Vet the Vote, which is recruiting members of the veteran and military family community to serve as poll workers in the 2024 elections and beyond. We also convene organizations and leaders to work together on key issues affecting our community.