Colonel Gordon Sumner, PhD, MBA (Chair)

Dr. Sumner brings decades of leadership and advocacy for the Veteran community. During his distinguished military career, he held Infantry and Aviation command positions worldwide, earning honors including the Bronze Star Medal (V), Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, Army Master Aviator badge, Master Parachutist badge, and Ranger Tab. A member of the Santee Tribe and a member of the Senior Executive Service (Tier 3), Dr. Sumner served as National Director for the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), providing executive leadership to over 5,000 personnel. Dr. Sumner currently serves as a member of the Auburn University Graduate School Advisory Council, a Senior Fellow at George Mason University and a Scholar at Harvard’s Kennedy School. As Chair of the Veteran Advisory Board, Dr. Sumner will guide the project’s alignment with the diverse cultural and logistical needs of Veterans, provide strategic insights to enhance outreach and partner engagement, and draw on his extensive professional network to support the team’s outreach efforts.