Veteran Advisory Board Chair: Gordon Sumner, PhD, MBA
Colonel (Ret.) - US Army
Dr. Sumner brings decades of leadership and advocacy for the Veteran community. During his distinguished military career, he held Infantry and Aviation commandand staff 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), Department of Defense, 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.
John R. Allen, MS
General (Ret.) - US Marine Corp
General John Allen, USMC, Rtd. General Allen had a long and distinguished career in the US Marine Corps serving in a variety of leadership positions and commands all over the globe. Prior to retirement, Gen. Allen served as the 14th Commander, International Security Assistance Force – Afghanistan and United States Forces – Afghanistan from July 2011 to February 2013. On 13 September 2014, president Barack Obama appointed Allen as special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). He holds a master of arts degree in national security studies from Georgetown University, a master of science degree in strategic intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College, and a master of science degree in national security strategy from the National War College. Personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit with three Gold Stars in lieu of four awards. Foreign awards include the Mongolian Meritorious Service Medal, First Class; the Gold Medal of the Polish Armed Forces; and the Taiwan Order of the Resplendent Banner with Special Cravat. General Allen was president of the Brookings Institution from October 2017 until his resignation on 12 June 2022.
James (Jay) D. Byrum
Chief Warrant Officer 4, (Ret.) - US Army
Jay Bryum is a retired Army CW4. A combat veteran, his deployments include 1st Gulf War, Kosovo, 3 tours to Afghanistan and one tour in Iraq. Today Jay works in the Pentagon with the US Army Criminal Investigations Command (as a civilian analyst) as the Insider Threat Liaison to the US Army’s Insider Threat Hub. Jay is very active with the military community in the Springfield, VA area, especially with the American Legion Post 176.
Robert Estes
US Army
Robert Estes was a Human Intelligence (HUMINT) specialist in the Army and learned Chinese at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Monterey, CA before being stationed in South Korea. Robert is a student subscriber to Early Alert through his medical school at Florida State University. His service on the Early Alert Advisory Board also supports his professional interest in mental health access after experiencing a Veteran friend taking her own life.
Jason Randall Flores
US Army
Jason Flores is an Army veteran having served on active duty for 10 years as an enlisted flight paramedic. Today, he is enrolled in the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), which funds medical school in exchange for a service obligation. He plans to return to active after medical school. This unique perspective from NCO to Officer will provide a broader understanding of how Early Alert can impact and influence service members and Veterans. Jason has been a student subscriber to Early Alert through his medical school for 1.5 years. As someone who was originally skeptical of the Early Alert system, he now wants to help others change their perspective.
Emily Hawthorne, MPH, MEd
Veteran Spouse, VA/DoD Consultant
Emily Hawthorne is a Military Spouse, currently living in San Diego, where her husband is stationed with the Navy. Since 2019, she has worked as a contractor for several federal agencies, primarily for VA and DoD. Some of her favorite works have involved leading the creative concept development for national outreach campaigns with the VA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, VA Homeless Programs Office, and ChooseVA. This work is deeply personal to her. Emily studied Peace Studies and Fine Arts at The George Washington University, followed by a Master’s of Education at Boston University while serving as a Teach For America corps member. She earned an MPH at GW and is now pursuing a doctorate in Public Health at Claremont Graduate University.
Alison Mock
Military Spouse
Alison Mock has been a military spouse for over 18 years supporting her husband during his US Air Force Active Duty and South Carolina Air National Guard service as an F-16 pilot. Alison was the “key spouse” for the 13th Fighter Squadron in Japan from 2010-2012 including during the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami, during which the squadron was deployed. Alison also worked as a civilian for the US Air Force at both the Pentagon and Aviano Air Base. She brings the perspective of a long term Air Force spouse who believes in fully supporting veterans and their families, through all stages of their military service.
Isabel Rubio
Master Sergeant (Ret.) - US Air Force
Isabel Rubio is a retired US Air Force Master Sergeant with over 25 years of experience in high-level roles within the Department of Defense (DoD), Federal Aviation Administration, and various government agencies. She specializes in Program Management and Operations Support at the Senior Executive Service (SES) level. For the past 10 years, she has worked in the DoD/VA Collaboration Office (DVCO). Isabel was also a Spanish instructor at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, Monterey, CA.
Gary R Sporer
Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) - US Army
Gary Sporer is a retired Army Command Sergeant Major with over 30 years of service who has served in a variety of assignments all around the world. He has been an Early Alert Subscriber for over a year through VA’s Iron Mountain in Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center (Iron Mountain) which serves 25 counties in Michigan and Wisconsin. He also worked for a number of years in a crisis/suicide prevention call center as phone-worker and phone-worker resource worker for suicide prevention.
Todd Weiler
Former Asst. Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for M&RA - US Army
Todd Weiler is a decorated combat veteran, Army Aviator who served during Desert Storm / Desert Shield. Todd recognizes the importance of personnel programs that support our Service Members and their families. As a former Asst. Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserves, he has championed transition assistance, wounded warrior, and a variety of PTSD support and suicide prevention programs and in his role leading his current company, Blue Rose Consulting Group.
Quana Wright, MBA
Lieutenant Colonel - US Army
Quana Wright is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, and soon to retire! Quana is the Senior Human Resources Manager at the United States Army Reserve with over 15 years of experience in leadership development, workforce planning, and operational readiness. Manages partnerships with over 350 employment partners to align industry needs with skilled military personnel, enhancing recruitment and retention efforts. She also works with those Soldiers who are separating from the military.
Don Yegge
Veteran Advocate, E4-Navy
Don Yegge served two duty tours as a gunners mate in Vietnam. In civilian life, Don worked as a deputy sheriff and later as a substance abuse counselor for his county HHS. Since his retirement, he has been a self-appointed "Veterans Advocate" in rural Sierra County, CA. He provides direct support to many Veterans as he travels between small California towns to answer Veteran resource questions and connect them to VA benefits and services. He is an active member of the Chickasaw Nation.