2022 National LATINA Symposium

MAJ Garcia began her career on August 13, 1998 as a 75H, Personnel Service Specialist. She completed basic and advanced individual training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

As one of the few Latinas, she served in the 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in a variety of human resource positions. She deployed with 1-25 Aviation Regiment, to Taji, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Upon redeployment, MAJ Garcia was inducted into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. She was, then, selected to be a Drill Sergeant and reassigned to the 165th Infantry Brigade, Fort Jackson, South Carolina.In 2009, MAJ Garcia was accepted into the Green to Gold Active-Duty Option Program to become a U.S. Army Officer. She attended Chaminade University of Honolulu; and completed ROTC at the Warrior Battalion, University of Hawaii-Monoa. She commissioned into the Medical Service Corps and serves as a Health Services Human Resources Manager (70F).

MAJ Garcia currently serves as an instructor in the department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the United States Military Academy. Her career encompasses both enlisted and officer ranks, which displays her critical assignments in support of national defense.

With dedication and commitment to duty, MAJ Garcia served in key assignments such as the 27th BSB, 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, where she served as a Treatment Platoon Leader, Rear Detachment OIC. Additionally, she served as the Executive Officer. She was, then, assigned to Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center, Fort Meade, Maryland, where she served as a Group Practice Manager, and lead the unit as the Company Commander. Upon completion of Command, MAJ Garcia was assigned to HQ, USAREC, Fort Knox, Kentucky. She served as the Medical Service Corps Program Manager in support of direct accessions across all components influencing military succession planning.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Counseling from Chaminade University of Honolulu. Her military education includes the AMEDD Officer Basic Course, AMEDD Captain Career Course, Health Services Human Resource Manager Course, Combatives Level 1 & 2, Combat Operational Stress Control Course, Combat Lifesaver Course, Rear Detachment Commander Course, Master Resilience Training, Basic Healthcare Administration Course, Yellow and Green Belt Lean Six Sigma Course, and Drill Sergeant School.

MAJ Garcia’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (7 OLC), Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Good Conduct Medal (3 OLC), and Drill Sergeant Identification Badge.

MAJ Garcia is a native of Silver Spring, Maryland. As a dual-military family, she is married to SFC (R) Joe A. Garcia. Together they have two sons, Isaac (6) and Peter (4).

Her motto is: – we are valiant and we can.

Col Yadira C. Greeson currently serves as Chief, Americas-Africa Division, Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs. She is charged as the liaison to foreign government officials, Washington agency counterparts, and representatives of the aerospace industry to implement Air Force security cooperation programs for the sale of Air Force military equipment to foreign governments spanning across the Western Hemisphere and Africa. Most recently, she was Chief, Command and Control (C2) Programming Branch, C2 Global Integrated Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans, Headquarters United States Air Force. She was responsible for planning, programing, oversight, guidance, and advocacy for Air Force programs, including Joint All-Domain C2.

Col Greeson was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of South Alabama in 2000 and earned her Air Battle Manager rating at Tinker Air Force Base (AFB), Okla. Her previous staff assignments include Executive Officer to the Twelfth Air Force (12 AF) (Air Forces Southern [AFSOUTH]) Commander. She also served as the Commander, Detachment 2, 12 AF (AFSOUTH). In this capacity, Col Greeson drove employment and integration of all joint air power at Joint Interagency Task Force-South to counter Transnational Criminal Organizations.

Col Greeson is a Master Air Battle Manager with over 3,750 flight hours in the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) B/C/G, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) E-3A AWACS, and the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS).

EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Ala. 2000 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Masters of Arts Degree in International Relations, University of Okla. 2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence 2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2000 – December 2002, Introductory Flight Training Program Manager, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2. December 2002 – February 2004, Student, E-3 Air Weapons Officer Training, Tinker AFB, Okla.
3. February 2004 – June 2005, E-3 Air Weapons Officer, Tinker AFB, Okla.
4. June 2005 – August 2006, Assistant Flight Commander, 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron (963 AACS), Tinker AFB, Okla.
5. August 2006 – November 2007, E-3A Air Weapons Officer, NATO AWACS E-3A Component, Geilenkerchen Air Base (AB), Germany
6. November 2007 – October 2008, Flight Commander, NATO AWACS E-3A Component, Geilenkerchen AB, Germany
7. October 2008 – April 2009, Senior Director, NATO AWACS E-3A Component, Geilenkerchen AB, Germany
8. April 2009 – July 2010, Chief, Formal Training Unit, NATO AWACS E-3A Component, Geilenkerchen AB, Germany
9. July 2010 – April 2011, Student, E-8C Mission Crew Commander, 330th Combat Training Squadron (330 CTS), Robins AFB, Ga.
10. April 2011 – November 2012, Chief of Staff, 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, Robins AFB, Ga.
11. November 2012 – November 2013, Chief, Wing Commander’s Action Group, Robins AFB, Ga.
12. November 2013 – June 2014, Assistant Director of Operations, 330 CTS, Robins AFB, Ga.
13. June 2014 – April 2015, Deputy Chief, Current Operations, 12 AF (AFSOUTH), Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
14. April 2015 – May 2016, Executive Officer, 12 AF (AFSOUTH) Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
15. May 2016 – April 2017, Assistant Director of Operations, 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron (965 AACS), Tinker AFB, Okla.
16. April 2017 – August 2017, Director of Operations, 965 AACS, Tinker AFB, Okla.
17. August 2017 – June 2019, Commander, Detachment 2, 12 AF (AFSOUTH), Naval Air Station Key West, Fla.
18. June 2019 – July 2021, Chief, C2 Programming Branch, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
19. July 2021 – Present, Chief, Americas-Africa Division; Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Pentagon, Washington, DC

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Air Battle Manager
Flight Hours: 3,750 with over 1,100 combat hours
Aircraft Flown: E-3 AWACS B/C/G, E-3A AWACS, E-8C JSTARS

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
NATO Medal with one oak leaf cluster

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 7, 2000
First Lieutenant June 7, 2002
Captain June 7, 2004
Major April 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel September 1, 2015
Colonel March 1, 2022

Rear Adm. Lore Aguayo is a native of Arizona, and received her commission in 1993 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Program. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Stanford University. She is also a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Executive Development Program.

Aguayo’s operational tours include company commander/officer in charge, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5, Port Hueneme; executive officer for NMCB 5, Port Hueneme; commanding officer of NMCB 11, Gulfport; and commander of 22nd Naval Construction Regiment/deputy commander Naval Construction Group 2, Gulfport.

Her shore assignments include assistant resident officer in charge of construction at Naval Station Rota; CEC Accessions Officer, Norfolk; director of Facilities West for Commander, Navy Surface Reserve Force, San Diego; deputy public works officer, Public Works Center, San Diego; Energy and Utility Privatization action officer for OPNAV N46 and commander, Navy Installations Command; legislative fellow for Senator Jim Talent; legislative liaison for Navy Base Realignment and Closure Office; military aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Installations and Environment; public works officer at Naval Station Pearl Harbor https://www.navy.mil/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Print.aspx?PortalId=1&ModuleId=692&Article=2681528 2/2 and assistant Regional Engineer for Navy Region Hawaii; and operations officer for Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville.

Aguayo served as commanding officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia and regional engineer for Navy Region EURAFSWA. Aguayo most recently completed a tour as the Chief of Staff for NAVFAC Headquarters.

Aguayo is currently serving as commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Atlantic as well as Fleet Civil Engineer and director, Fleet Installations and Environment, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Aguayo is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Arizona, a member of the Acquisition Professional Community, and qualified as a Seabee Combat Warfare officer.

Her decorations include the Legion of Merit (three awards), Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Navy Commendation Medal (six awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and other unit and service awards.

Maria McMillen is a career logistician and operational planner currently serving as the Force Design Officer at Marine Corps Installations Command – Pacific, where she coordinates and shapes the realignment of Marine Corps Logistics forces in the Pacific.

Col Maria McMillen is from Craig, Colorado. In 1993 she graduated from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned a Marine Corps Officer.

She commanded a Marine Air Ground Task Force during Exercise COBRA GOLD, stood up and commanded a Transportation Support Battalion, and commanded a Support Company.

Her combat deployments include Operation VIGILANT WARRIOR in Kuwait, and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan. She most recently served as the NATO U.S. Military Delegation Land Planner. Other assignments include the Marine Corps’ Strategic Initiatives Group and the U.S. Naval Academy.

She is a graduate of Amphibious Warfare School, School of Advanced Warfighting, Naval War College, and Air War College. And spent a year as a Commandant of the Marine Corps National Fellow at ExxonMobil.

She is married to a former Marine Officer and has three school aged children.

Lieutenant Commander Lauren Perea Gonzales currently serves in the Policy Division of the Office of Search and Rescue at Coast Guard Headquarters. She is responsible for management, oversight, training, and analysis of the Search and Rescue programs and policies.

Lieutenant Commander Gonzales graduated from the University of North Georgia in 2005 with a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice. Upon graduation, she started her career in public service working as a Sheriff’s Deputy at the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office. She then sought to further her education by pursuing her Master’s in Criminal Justice at Georgia State University. Seeking to expand her career in public service, she enlisted in the Coast Guard after graduating with her Master’s in 2010. Her first assignment was to the USCGC Morgenthau in Alameda, California.

In 2012, she was selected for Officer Candidate School and upon earning her commission was assigned to the Enforcement Division at Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach in San Pedro, California where she was the Assistant Enforcement Chief and Patrol Boat Manager. In 2015, she received orders to the Intelligence Division at Sector North Carolina where she was the Assistant Intelligence Chief. In 2018, she was assigned to the Contingency Planning and Force Readiness Division at Sector Key West where she was the Assistant Chief and the RFO Supervisor.

Individual military awards include two Coast Guard Commendation Medals with the Operational Distinguishing Device, a Coast Guard Achievement Medal with the Operational Distinguishing Device, the Advanced Boat Forces Insignia, and numerous unit and service awards.

Lieutenant Commander Gonzales is a native of Cumming, Georgia and has one daughter, Isabella (8).

Bio Coming Soon

Major Lynmarie Rivera is the Brigade Judge Advocate, 82d Airborne Division Artillery (DIVARTY). MAJ Rivera is responsible for directing and managing the Brigade Legal Team supporting over 1,000 Paratroopers. She is the primary legal advisor on a wide array of legal areas to include national security law, fiscal and contract law, military justice, and administrative law issues. She has held this role since July 2020.

Major Rivera is from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is currently stationed at Fort Bragg with her husband, Sergio Rosario, who works as a marketing specialist for Third Path Institute, and is the founder of Soy Super Papa, a non-profit focused on parenthood strategies for fathers. Together they have one child, Stella who is five years old. They are the founders of Proyecto Piquete a non-profit focused on the education of folkloric Afro-Puerto Rican music and using music as a tool to help PTSD.

MAJ Rivera enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2004, and later Commissioned through University of Puerto Rico ROTC in 2010 as a JAG Corps Educational Delay. MAJ Rivera deployed to Iraq in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III, Camp Fallujah Iraq where she provided support as a logistics specialist. MAJ Rivera earned her Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cumb Laude, from University of Puerto Rico in 2010, and a Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude from the University Of Puerto Rico School Of Law in 2013. She was recognized as the ROTC University of Puerto Rico, Distinguished Military Graduate in 2010. As a Judge Advocate, MAJ Rivera has served as Legal Assistance Attorney, Fort Myer Virginia; Trial Counsel for the Military District of Washington; Regimental Judge Advocate, 3d US Infantry Regiment “The Old Guard”; Trial Defense Counsel, Fort Myer Virginia; Chief of Contract and Fiscal Law, 82d Airborne Division; and is currently serving as the Brigade Judge Advocate, 82d Airborne Division Artillery. She is scheduled to attend the Judge Advocate’s Graduate Course at The Judge Advocate Legal Center and School, Charlottesville, Virginia, later this summer.

On February 2022, MAJ Rivera deployed in support of Joint Task Force-82d Airborne Division to Jasionka, Poland, where she provided invaluable legal advice on international, and national security law issues during the deter and assurance mission in support of the effort to manage the consequences of the Ukraine-Russia crisis.

Some of MAJ Rivera’s awards and recognitions include the Army Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Judge Advocate Legal Services Award in 2019. MAJ Rivera was recently selected as one of the 40 Top Hispanic Lawyers Under 40 2022 by the Hispanic Bar Association. She is an active member of the Judge Advocate General Hispanic Mentorship Group, Educational Delay Mentorship Group, Diversity and Inclusion Field Board, JAG Corps Women Group, and Hispanic Bar Association. MAJ Rivera is serves as a co-chair for the Military/Veteran’s Law Section of the Hispanic National Bar Association, and volunteer for the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina and Lawyers for Good Government.

Master Sergeant (MSG) Thelma C. Barrios was born in Laredo, TX and raised in the Chicago land area. She enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in January of 1999. She attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, SC, where she was awarded the MOS 71L, Administrative Specialist. She was promoted to the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Corp 2007 as a 42A2O, Human Resources NCO. MSG Barrios attended Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas and was awarded the MOS of 68J, Medical Logistics in 2008.

MSG Barrios is currently assigned as the Senior Human Resources NCO for the 108th Sustainment Brigade, Chicago, IL. MSG Barrios’ enlisted assignments include Specialty Action Branch NCOIC for JFHQ-IL, State Personnel Security Manager for JFHQ-IL, Senior Human Resources NCO the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Senior Human Resources NCO for the 108th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, Personnel Service Direct Redesign NCO for the 108th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, Medical Logistics NCO for the 108th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, Acting Readiness NCO for HHD 108th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, and Human Resources NCO for the 108th Multifunctional Medical Battalion.

MSG Barrios’ military education includes, Battle Staff NCO Course, Equal Opportunity Leaders Course, ARNG Battalion Career Counselor Course, Advanced NCO Course, Basic NCO Course, and Warrior Leader Course. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Management from Robert Morris University.

Her awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (5th Award), Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award), Army Good Conduct Medal (4th Award), Army Components Achievement Medal (3rd Award), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hour Glass device, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (3rd Award), Army Service Ribbon, Illinois Military Long and Honorable Service Medal (4th Award), Illinois Military Attendance Ribbon (11th Award), and the Illinois State Active Duty Ribbon.

MSG Barrios is a Lifetime member of the National Guard Association of Illinois (NGAI), Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), Guardian Angels Community Services (GACS), Groundwork Domestic Violence Program (Safe Haven and Mentorship Program), Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children (CASA Volunteer), and Illinois Foster Adoptive Parent Association (ILFAPA)

MSG Barrios currently resides in Manhattan, IL and is married to Jake Poor; she has five adult Children, Martha, Miguel, Ricardo, Cecilia, and Mario, and 4 grandchildren Ari, Jade, Mariah, and Jaylin.

Raised in a large, Cuban-American family in Miami, FL, LT Hailey Guerra, JAGC, USN, attended the University of North Florida in 2012. There, she became actively involved on campus and served as Student Body President and a member of the University's Board of Trustees. LT Guerra graduated cum laude in 2016 with a bachelor of arts in Political Science and Criminal Justice. During her gap year, she worked as a Domestic Violence Pretrial Officer and served in the county's omestic violence high risk task force. In 2017, she began law school at William & Mary, where she applied for the Navy JAGC's Student Program. While in law school, LT Guerra served in a merit-based fellowship with the Center for Legal and Court Technology and most enjoyed working with on-campus clinics, including the Domestic Violence and Immigration Clinics.

In 2020, LT Guerra earned her juris doctor and became licensed to practice law in North Carolina. Following Officer Development School and Naval Justice School, LT Guerra served at Region Legal Service Office Southwest in San Diego, California as a command services attorney and legal assistance attorney. In December 2021, LT Guerra reported to Defense Service Office West and currently serves as Defense counsel.

Bio Coming Soon

Lieutenant McElhaney assumed the role of Executive Officer, Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Cleveland in June 2021. She is responsible for executing the Coast Guard’s Port Safety and Security, Marine Environmental Protection, and Commercial Vessel Safety missions from the Ohio/Pennsylvania border to Vermillion, OH.

Prior to MSU Cleveland, LT McElhaney was assigned to the Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound Investigations Division in Seattle, WA. As an Investigating Officer, she conducted marine casualty and personnel action investigations in one of the most politically complex and environmentally sensitive ports in the nation. She also completed a tour as an Apprentice Marine Inspector at Sector Mobile, AL where she conducted vessel, facility, and container inspections across five deep draft ports to ensure compliance with international conventions and U.S. laws and regulations.

LT McElhaney immigrated to the United States from Spain in 2007 and enlisted in the Coast Guard in 2008, completing a non-rate assignment at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, MD. As a Storekeeper Third Class she completed consecutive assignments at Surface Forces Logistics Center in Baltimore, MD in support of the Small Boat Product Line and the Contracting and Procurement Division, attaining the rank of Storekeeper First Class prior to attending Officer Candidate School in 2015.

She has staunchly supported diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives throughout her career, to include Chair positions at SFLC, Sector Mobile, and Sector Puget Sound Leadership and Diversity Advisory Councils. She was a member of the Mobile and Seattle ANSO Chapters, and supported WLI in Seattle and Cleveland. LT McElhaney received an honorable mention for the 2021 “Captain Edward R. Williams in Diversity” award.

A native of Barcelona, she graduated from the Universidad of Alcala in Alcala de Henares, Madrid in 2003 with a degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management. LT McElhaney holds Master degrees in Labor Relations from Universidad de Alcala (2006) and Business Administration from Liberty University (2019). She is fluent in 5 languages and has leveraged her foreign language skills to support Hurricane Maria recovery operations in Puerto Rico, host foreign delegations from Uruguay, Kenya, and Haiti during International Port Security visits, and facilitate the Coast Guard’s participation in four U. S. Navy International Anti-Terrorism and Piracy courses attended by military officers from across the globe.

Her personal awards include: Three (3) Coast Guard Commendation Medals, two (2) Coast Guard Achievement Medals, One (1) Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, One (1) Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and Two (2) Good Conduct Awards.

Jeyben Castro serves as Deputy Director for the House Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the U.S. House of Representatives. Created by law during the 116th Congress, the office works to develop and promote best practices for diversity and inclusion in areas such as personnel recruitment, retention, promotion and performance reviews. Mr. Castro leads outreach and engagement strategies to Republican members, committees and other House offices.

Mr. Castro’s prior experience on the Hill includes serving as Outreach Director for the United States Senate Republican Task Force on Hispanic Affairs under Senator Orrin Hatch. In this capacity, he worked with Senate Republican offices to forge strategic alliances with community-based organizations and leaders across the country to address, educate and create solutions to issues impacting the Hispanic community.

In the private sector, Mr. Castro’s experience includes developing community based initiatives and strengthening Hispanic engagement as a Senior Community Engagement Manager for a public utilities company and promoting corporate citizenship as a Public Affairs Manager for a Fortune 500 company.

A strong believer in public service and civic engagement, Mr. Castro proudly served ten years in the U.S. Navy and in 2012 joined the Republican National Committee as one of six Hispanic Outreach Directors in charge of the Hispanic Vote for the Presidential election. In 2013, Mr. Castro joined the team at Leadership Institute (LI), one of the nation’s premier organizations responsible for training activists, students and leaders.

Mr. Castro was born in El Sauce, Nicaragua and migrated to Miami, Florida when he was ten years old. He serves as a board member of the American Latino Veterans Association ALVA, the Latino Student Fund and the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute at George Washington University. He currently lives in Virginia and is a graduate of George Mason University.

Bio Coming Soon

Kirsten Frey is a senior Human Resources strategist with 20 years of experience in Fortune 500 retail, manufacturing and government sectors. Currently acting as the Regional People Sr. Director for Walmart, Kirsten oversees the HR strategy for 175 locations and 50,000 employees across the Washington DC area.

In addition to serving on the Boards for multiple local non-profit organizations, Kirsten is also an army veteran, a former military spouse and is the Chair for Walmart’s military-focused Employee Resource Group, Walmart SERVES.

Kirsten holds an MBA in human resources and is an Affiliate Faculty Professor of Human Resources at Antioch University. In her free time, Kirsten is and avid reader and loves hiking and traveling with her daughter.

Mike leads a Home Lending Product Strategy and Delivery team supporting the implementation of initiatives for business improvement, compliance and/or innovation in the Home Lending Servicing area.

Mike has been in the financial services industry for over 20 years mostly in the Risk/Receivable Management industry at Wachovia, Capital One, and Chase. Mike has led teams in operations management, strategy & planning, and product/project management. He spent 4 years working in Business Development for a Catholic non-profit. Mike is a Retired Colonel from the US Army Reserves, where he served for 34 years in the Infantry and Logistic branches. He has over 2 years of deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mike joined Wells Fargo Home Lending Servicing Change Delivery 10 years ago and has held various product/project management roles supporting different business units.

Mike enjoys spending time with family especially his dog Nigel. Mike enjoys CrossFit, reading many different genres of books, and listening to music (mostly alternative rock and Salsa). Mike is an avid sports fan of many different sports.

Tonee Bell has worked in the airline industry for 35 years. Which nearly 20 of those years has been with American Airlines. Mr. Bell’s experiences within American Airlines have been in the customer service and fleet service operations. He served on many of American Airlines Employees Business Resource Groups executive boards.

Tonee Bell is the first African-American with his own brand of computers in major retail. As CEO and founder of A Unity System, Inc. (AUS), Tonee developed and operates as supplier and distributor of a complete line of tablets, smart watches, heart rate bands, cellphones, virtual reality glasses, laptops, desktops, headsets, ear buds, servers and fully rugged field PCs. Bell has overcome incredible odds to compete in an industry dominated by major corporations. His story and the story of AUS have been described as that of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Prior to starting AUS in 1999, Tonee had an 16-year U.S. Coast Guard career in telecommunication and computer system. These experiences helped to provide the foundation for A Unity System’s business model.

AUS entered major retailers with Staples (2001), Kmart (2002), GM Advantage Program (2002), Office Depot (2005) and currently, online with Walmart (2017), Verizon (2020) and vendor business relationship with Toshiba. In December 2009, Bell signed a landmark agreement with CBS to showcase AUS computers on their network with the popular game show, The Price is Right.

It is not all sales and profit AUS. Bell quest is for AUS to be seen as a neighborhood company that “pays it forward” and “gives back” through programs and alliances with schools and community-based organizations. A passionate mentor and sought-after speaker and guest, Mr. Bell loves sharing his business and technology expertise along with lessons learned on his journey. Many people have been inspired to pursue their dreams…and learned what it takes to beat the odds. Bell was recently featured in Forbes magazine on February 12, 2021.

Jennifer has been with Walmart for 15 years, holding various positions across the organization. She has been in Corporate Affairs for the past eight years, first focused on event coordination and influencer engagement with external partners and providing support for campaigns like Fight Hunger, Spark Change and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Jennifer currently works as a Senior Manager supporting both Walmart’s US Manufacturing and Military Programs initiatives. In her free time Jennifer is working towards a degree in Data Analytics and enjoys spending time with her family. Her son is active-duty Army.

Mariah Webb has been with Walmart for 11 years and started her career as a part-time cashier where she then worked her way up through multiple positions from operations to loss prevention to now HR in the Market People Operations Lead position. Mariah Webb is a success-driven and transformative Senior Manager with an advanced understanding in operations management, and strategic planning. She is dedicated to optimizing workflows, increasing revenue, and enhancing product visibility with top-tier merchandising. A natural leader, she helps recruit, hire, and onboard new talent, and she provides comprehensive training plans to position them for success.

Personally, Mariah has been married to her husband, Anthony, for 8 years and they are expecting their first child, a baby girl, in December. They are originally from Pennsylvania and moved to the DMV when her husband was stationed at Joint Base Andrews. Lastly, Mariah and her husband volunteer to serve their community in Northern Virginia as the Youth Directors at their local church where they lead middle and high school aged students.

Vanessa Avelar served in the U.S. Air Force for 8 years as a Health Safety Engineer and has transitioned from the government to corporate sector. She is now changing careers into the Corporate Technology industry and was recently hired on with JPMorgan Chase & CO. through the Military Pathways Rotational Program. Vanessa’s first year long rotation under the Military Pathways program will be split between Machine Learning (ML) Engineering and Architecture Special Projects.

Vanessa, a native of Arizona, resides in Phoenix and loves the hot, dry desert. She is a strong believer of health is wealth, so she strives to live a holistic, well-balanced lifestyle.

Why I chose to work at JPMorgan Chase & CO.
I wanted to work for a company who values their employees and views them as people, operates based on morality and ethics, and who holds high standards for their work force while supporting and allowing them to grow professionally.

Hobbies
Visiting beaches in other countries, eating foods from different cultures, crossfitting, hiking, being outdoors, and learning about plants as medicine.

University
New Mexico State University (MSE in Industrial Engineering ‘13) Arizona State University (BSE in Industrial Engineering ‘09) Arizona State University (BS in Biology ‘09)

Meredith leads the strategic direction of the firm’s Military & Veteran Affairs’ Community Development & Government Relations pillar. Working inside the firm and across the public and private sectors, her team helps create economic opportunity and for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses through coalition leadership, advocacy, and strategic partnerships.

An active duty Marine Corps spouse, military child, and leader in the military affairs field, Meredith uses her experience to promote various military spouse and veteran initiatives and serves as a subject matter expert on issues impacting the military community.

Meredith also serves as the Past-President of the Board of Directors for the Association for Financial Counseling, Planning and Education (AFCPE) and is a member of the Board of Directors for Child Care Aware of America. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Purdue University and the University of Oklahoma from which she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Human Relations, respectively. An active volunteer for both the USMC and Daughters of the American Revolution, Meredith currently resides in Northern Virginia with her husband Nick and their daughter Clara.

Bio Coming Soon