Veterans SITREP

We welcome Anne Hall, Program Manager and John Blakely, Transition Patient Advocate, for the VA’s Post 9/11 Military2VA Case Management Program to Veterans SITREP.  This program assists veterans, their families and caregivers in navigating the VA health care system and supports them in achieving their health and wellness goals. Often when service members leave the military, they find difficulty wi...

Joining me today on Veterans SITREP is Captain Sean Gobin, Board Member with Warrior Expeditions, a veteran nonprofit outdoor therapy program that helps veterans transition from their wartime experiences through long distance outdoor expeditions. Today, we’re going to learn more about this program and what the Warrior Expeditions organization offers veterans recognizing the therapeutic value of lo...

Joining me today on Veterans SITREP is Yolanda Rayford, Executive Director for the Baltimore/ Chesapeake Region of Blue Star Families.  Most people have heard of Gold Star families, but Blue Star Families may not be as familiar.   This is our second time sitting down with Yolanda and we’re going to explore some updates on what they have been doing serving all military members, veterans and their f...

Joining me today on Veterans SITREP is Heather Geraldes, Executive Director of the Department of Veterans and Military Families, Veterans Trust Fund.  Heather joined the Department in July 2024 and has been tasked with leading the expansion of the services to increase the impact of the Veterans Trust Fund.  The Trust Fund was created to provide once-in-a-lifetime temporary financial assistance and...

Diane Sancilio, Director of Counseling and Support at Gilchrist Hospice Services is our guest today on Veterans SITREP.  For many Vietnam veterans, the long-overdue recognition of their service has been a powerful and healing experience. Unlike veterans of other wars, many who returned home from Vietnam were met with silence—or worse, hostility—rather than gratitude.   To change that narrative, ou...

Joining me today on Veterans SITREP is Colonel Retired Ivan Montanez, a retired Army Colonel, combat and disabled veteran. who recently through hiked the Appalachian Trail.  Ivan retired in 2018 after over 28 years of service.  He continued to serve as an JROTC Senior Army Instructor at Mount Pleasant High School in Delaware.  Today we’re going to hear his story of navigating and completing the Ap...

Our guest today on Veterans SITREP is Denise Nooe, Deputy Director, Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy, Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families.  Her primary responsibilities are outreach to veterans, benefits briefings to organizations and writing the DVMF e-newsletter.  Today she is going to share her observations and resources she has seen through her role in Communications, O...

Today on Veterans SITREP, we continue our conversation with the Secretary, Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families, Tony Woods.  Secretary Woods and I sat down in May of 2023 during the premiere episode of Veterans SITREP and again last January to recap his first full year in the position.  This is our third interview, as we are back in his Annapolis Office to catch up on the ambitio...

Joining me today on Veterans SITREP is the Secretary, Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families, Tony Woods.  Secretary Woods and I sat down in May of 2023 during the premiere episode of Veterans SITREP and again last January to recap his first full year in the position.  This is our third interview, as we are back in his Annapolis Office to catch up on the ambitious 2024 year of suppo...

Joining me today on Veterans SITREP is Kevin Frey, a US Air Force veteran, who is North Region Director of the Veteran Golfers Association, the first golfer’s association dedicated to promoting the game to all veterans and their family members.   The mission of the VGA is to enrich the lives of veterans and their families through the game of golf.  Annually, the VGA hosts more than 250 local tourn...

Today, we continue our discussion with Audri Beugelsdijk, Vice President, Survivor Services, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS, an organization that provides support to the families of fallen service members.  As a Navy veteran and widow of Seaman Jason Springer, U.S. Navy., Audri's dedication is deeply personal and profoundly inspiring.  We going to explore TAPS’ mission and how t...

Veterans SITREP welcomes Audri Beugelsdijk, Vice President, Survivor Services, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS, an organization that provides support to the families of fallen service members.  As a Navy veteran and widow of Seaman Jason Springer, U.S. Navy., Audri's dedication is deeply personal and profoundly inspiring.  We going to explore TAPS’ mission and how they provide co...

On this edition of Veterans SITREP, we welcome Francisco Leija, an Army Veteran, son of immigrants, who joined the U.S. Army as a Private and retired as a Colonel after 27 years of Active Duty.  He now works in higher education, corporate governance, and as an advisor for technology companies. He volunteers his time for youth intervention in entrepreneurship, Veteran affairs. We are going to explo...

Joining me today on Veterans SITREP is Delegate Mike Rogers, House Chair of the Maryland General Assembly Veterans Caucus.   Delegate Rogers is an Army combat disabled veteran who has served in the Maryland legislature since 2018.  He serves on the Economic Matters committee and various sub committees.  We’re going to explore what the Maryland General Assembly Veterans Caucus is, its mission, and...

Joining me today on Veterans SITREP are members from the non-profit organization CHEP, Communities Helping Empower Patriots, People, & Professionals.  Jack Berkeridge, CEO of CHEP Jennifer Travers, Director of Operations and Elvado Smith, Peer Specialist.  Their mission is to support and empower veterans with a goal to restore hope and dignity to the veterans so they can live independently, ma...

Today on Veterans SITREP, we are joined by Dr. Catherine Starapoli, Women’s Health Medical Director and Dr. Siobhan Kirksey, Women Veterans Program Manager for the VA Maryland Health Care System.   The VA Maryland Health Care system supports the health, welfare, and dignity of female Veterans by ensuring equal access to timely, sensitive, and quality care.   We’re going to explore how female veter...

Joining me today on Veterans SITREP are Jay Ellenby and Tim Farmer, members of the Capt'n James V. McMahon Harford County Veterans Commission.  The commission advocates for veterans and their families and connects them to resources through outreach and education.   Their vision is to foster a community that is responsive to the needs of veterans and their families.  We’re going to explore the comm...

Joining me today on Veterans SITREP is Rick Yount, the Executive Director / Founder of Warrior Canine Connection, a pioneering organization that utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) model to help recovering Warriors reconnect with life, their families, their communities, and each other.   Warrior Canine Connection enlists recovering Warriors in a therapeutic mission of learning to train...

Joining us today on Veterans SITREP is David Heredia Jr., who just began service as the American Legion Department of Maryland Commander.  He’s a retired Army combat veteran with over 22 years of service.   A member of the American Legion since 2008, he has served as post commander, Northern Central District Commander, and Department of Maryland Vice Commander.    The American Legion was chartered...

Sylvia Moore joins us today on Veterans SITREP. She is a US Army combat veteran who is a leader in the Veterans Foreign Wars in a local community and serving in a unique way to honor veterans.   Sylvia served on active duty in the 1990s and experienced several deployments.  When she transitioned, she found a unique way to connect with veterans and serve her VFW post.  We’re going to explore her jo...

Joining us today on Veterans SITREP is John Eckman, Director. VA Maryland Health Care System.  A US Army Veteran, he was appointed to this position in December 2020 and is responsible for the management and oversite of three medical centers and five community-based outpatient centers located throughout the State.  Many of our guests on this program have represented various offices and services of...

Joining us today on Veterans SITREP is Jim Thorton and Roxann Red-Wallace who are members of SGT Alfred B. Hilton Memorial Fund Committee. The mission of the Sergeant Alfred B. Hilton Memorial Fund, Inc., is to preserve his memory, establish a memorial in his honor, educate the public about Harford County’s only native Medal of Honor recipient, and highlight the impact of the nearly 185,000 United...

We welcome Kim Callari, the Executive Director of The Baltimore Station, a non-profit organization that provides individuals, primarily veterans, who suffer from homelessness and substance abuse with residential treatment programs.  We’re going to explore the services and resources of The Baltimore Station and how they support veterans who are overcoming obstacles to regain self-sufficiency.

Today, we continue our discussion with Chana Hurvitz, the Visual Impairment Services Team Coordinator, and Bill Lange, the Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist, supporting the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System.  If you’re a Veteran or active-duty service member who is blind or has low vision, you may be able to get advanced vision care and rehabilitation services through VA to hel...

Today, we welcome Chana Hurvitz, the Visual Impairment Services Team Coordinator, and Bill Lange, the Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist, supporting the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System.  If you’re a Veteran or active-duty service member who is blind or has low vision, you may be able to get advanced vision care and rehabilitation services through VA to help you live an indepen...