Hon. Patrick J. Murphy

Chairman

Patrick is committed to being an ambassador for veterans. In 2007, Patrick became the nation’s first Iraq War Veteran elected to Congress, representing Pennsylvania’s 1st congressional district. He authored several groundbreaking pieces of legislation into law including the 21st Century GI Bill, the Repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and the raising of the federal minimum wage. Continuing public service today, he was appointed to the National US Cyberspace Solarium Commission, as well as Distinguished Chair of Innovation at West Point, and supports fellow veterans entering political public service through Kennedy Democrats and Taking the Hill. Patrick led the U.S. Army – a Fortune 2-sized workforce of 1.3 million, with a $148 billion budget, and the nation’s largest employer of millennials. He led the expansion of the Soldier for Life initiative, was instrumental in achieving recruitment goals for the first time in five years, and generated over $250 million in public-private partnerships. He initiated opening up over 2,500 AAFES retail stores for the first-ever, tax-free online shopping which has increased annual sales to over $6.7 billion. Patrick was born into a family of veterans. His father Jack served in the Navy, his uncles Joe and Bill served in Vietnam, and his brother J.J. served in the Air Force, with two post-9/11 overseas deployments.

Patrick continued this tradition, enlisting in the United States Army ROTC program at age 19. He would serve two deployments following September 11th—the first to Bosnia in 2002 and the second to Iraq from 2003 through 2004 as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. He received a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq, which included leading a Brigade Operational Law Team and successfully prosecuting two high-level terrorists in the Supreme Court of Iraq.

Dan Kunze

Vice-Chairman

Dan Kunze is a leading voice in developing enterprise strategy and policy, enterprise technology, talent management, and policy efforts that support our future workforce and warfighting demands. He currently works in support of the Department of Defense involving Enterprise Software and Digital Transformation driving enterprise modernization. His prior experience includes working with Fortune 500 organizations across industries, enabling them to drive and deliver outcomes in enterprise technology, Pivotal Software working with Defense Agencies to deliver modern software practices, and has worked closely with Federal and State policy makers to shape policy related to modern enterprise technology and talent management demands. Kunze serves on the Board of USO Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is a member of the Association of the US Army Board Philadelphia and is a Board Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters in both Middle Tennessee and Philadelphia’s Independence Region.

He currently serves as an Officer in the United States Army Reserve. As a Soldier, Kunze’s work has focused on workforce and talent management innovation. Dan graduated from Montgomery County Community College, Temple University, Widener University – Delaware Law School. He has also earned a certificate at MIT’s Sloan School of Management for Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business course. Dan is married to his high school sweetheart, Kerrin, and they have 3 kids under 5.

Elizabeth Murray-Belcaster

Executive Director

Elizabeth Murray-Belcaster is the President of EMB Consultants, Inc. Leading initiatives for Veterans’ and military families, Belcaster is an expert in strategic development of training to placement efforts across the country and an advisor for leadership and coalition building. She is responsible for networking with employers, military partners, and legislators as well as building independent partnerships with labor affiliates and with veteran’s service organizations across the country. She served as Task Force Committee member and lead panelist for the American Legion National Licensing and Credentialing Summits and continues to drive industry stakeholders, governing agencies, labor unions and military affiliations in collective spaces to further advance programming and policy for service members across the globe. Belcaster specializes in development of Military Training to Placement efforts with military leadership, industry, labor, academia and regulatory agencies and stakeholders across the country.

She’s had concurrent experience directing political campaign initiatives for the offices of Governor, State and National Congress, Senate, Aldermanic, and regional judicial positions. She has presented at the Clinton Global Initiative and has served as a board member on the Women For Wounded Warriors Foundation since 2016, and is a past recipient of United States Field Artillery Associations, The Order of Saint Barbara award.

Dean Thomas

Senior Advisor of Government Affairs and Strategic Development & Planning

Dean Thomas is a Managing Director at Ankura, based in Washington, DC. He brings trusted expertise to the corporate world and all levels of government with over 15 years of experience in both the public and private sector, as well as nearly a decade on Wall Street. Thomas has an unparalleled track record of delivering results in his current position as well as past positions including Director of Government Relations at FisherBroyles, SVP of Government Affairs and Business Development responsible for strategy, sales, and revenue for both the corporate and government business lines at the Bank of London (TBOL), Managing Director at leading institutional securities firm JNK Securities, Director of Congressional Affairs for the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA), and Political Director and Senior Appropriations Assistant for Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan. Thomas holds an M.S. from George Mason University and is a member of the Board of Trustees with The Bronx Charter School for Better Learning in New York City.

Colonel (Ret.) Sam Whitehurst

Recording Secretary

Colonel (Ret.) Sam Whitehurst is the Vice President for Programs & Services at Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services. Since 2012, Dixon Center’s collaboration and capacity building has impacted nearly 2.1 million individuals and organizations. Colonel Whitehurst joined the Dixon Center team in 2019 and drawing upon his 29 years in the United States Army as an infantry officer, including multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, is now focused on ensuring that service members, military veterans, and their families reach their full potential and successfully integrate back into their communities. He finished his military career as the National Director for the Army’s Soldier for Life program.

His civilian and military education includes UNC-Chapel Hill, Louisiana State University, U.S. Army Airborne and Ranger School, Command & General Staff College, School of Advanced Military Studies, and National War College.

Dr. Jack Dever, JD, LLM, SJD

Dr. Jack Dever leads global cyber risk management for diverse clients including publicly traded companies, world-class universities, government agencies, financial institutions, medical centers, and research facilities.

Jack started his career as a United States Army Officer. He was a National Security Law Judge Advocate and deployed extensively, including to Iraq, Afghanistan, Cuba, Nigeria, Oman, Kuwait, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Bosnia, the Horn of Africa, Yemen, South Korea, Mali, Australia, and Micronesia. Wounded in combat, he received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals.

After leaving active-duty service, Jack was appointed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as Assistant General Counsel in the National Security Law Bureau. He advised on global Tier 1 operations against terrorist organizations and cyber operations against nation state actors and cyber criminals. He led Council on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviews for the FBI. He was later appointed as a Federal Prosecutor, an Assistant United States Attorney, for the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago) where he prosecuted a wide array of cases, including foreign cyber espionage and data exfiltration.

After government service, Jack was a Senior Executive at General Electric (GE) where he served as Global Crisis Management Leader and developed the Cyber Intelligence Unit. He went on to be a Senior Executive at several of the world’s largest financial institutions, including GE Capital, Wells Fargo, and UBS.

Jack holds leadership positions in two White House initiatives. He is Chairman of Task Force Movement- Cybersecurity initiative to improve the nation’s cybersecurity while enhancing technology employment for Veterans. He is on the Financial Services Committee of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission 2.0, the preeminent organization to promote national cybersecurity resilience.

Jack is Co-Founder and Director at the Center for National Security and Human Rights Law in Chicago. He is a nationally recognized expert in Cyber Law and National Security Law. He has published peer-reviewed scholarly articles on Cyber Law, National Security Law, and Banking Law. He lectures extensively at universities, law schools, government agencies, and private institutions. He recently provided an address, “Preservation of Evidence in Combat Zones and the Prosecution of War Crimes”, to Ukrainian & Polish Judges and Prosecutors. He provides cybersecurity education to the United Nations and speaks fluent Spanish and conversational Korean.

Jack remains active in community service and in support of Disabled Veterans. Select service includes the Concussion Legacy Foundation, Albert Schweitzer Institute, and Project Safe Neighborhoods. He was recognized by Senator Duckworth of Illinois for providing pro bono cybersecurity and privacy education to Chicago public school children.

Jack holds a doctorate in Cyber Law and is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and The Georgetown University Law Center.

Brandon McPherson

Brandon McPherson grew up in Stone Mountain, GA, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Business Administration from Cornell University. He started his professional career serving as an officer in the United States Navy eventually earning the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He later transitioned to Wall Street and served as a strategy executive at Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and JP Morgan. Today, he serves as a Senior Vice President at Warner Music Group where he head the Global Biz Ops team.  Brandon also currently serves as Treasurer for Task Force Movement (TFM).  He and his wife, Sherrie McPherson, reside in New Jersey and support several non-profits and community initiatives.

Emily Haas

Emily Haas is the Chairwoman and Senior Policy Advisor for Health Care to Task Force Movement.   Ms. Haas brings a wealth of expertise in the U.S. and global health systems, often focusing on veteran and military care delivery. She has over a decade of experience in government relations, public affairs, and public policy development.

Ms. Haas’s career has revolved around helping healthcare organizations craft policy agendas while navigating complex regulatory environments. Before becoming a management consultant, she spent several years advising Congressional leaders on Capitol Hill. As Senior Policy Advisor to U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb (PA-17) and aide to U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (PA-13), she played a key role in developing and implementing bipartisan healthcare initiatives. This work includes the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicare payment reform, and addressing the opioid crisis.  She also helped create the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, which oversees a multi-billion-dollar electronic health record (EHR) project. Ms. Haas’s private sector experience includes advocacy in the medical technology industry and policy communications for a trade association.

Ms. Haas’s professional journey extends beyond domestic policy. She has also gained valuable international experience at the World Health Organization (WHO), where she worked closely with European Ministries of Health. Her role involved crafting comprehensive policy frameworks and ensuring that the WHO European policy platforms were in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This international experience showcases her adaptability and global perspective.

Ms. Haas holds an M.P.H. from Dartmouth College and an undergraduate degree in political science from Penn State University.

Ed Lewis

Edward Lewis served as a Machinery Technician and retired from the Coast Guard with 32 years of service, 16 as a Master Chief. His shipboard assignments included the USCGC MIDGETT, USCGC POINT DORAN, USCGC POINT SPENCER and the USCGC MANOWAR. Command Master Chief tours included Sector Guam in the Northern Mariana Islands, the Fourteenth District in Hawaii, the Deputy Commandant for Mission Support in Washington D.C., and Force Readiness Command in Norfolk, Va. He also served as the School Chief of the Chief Petty Officer’s Academy and led the Coast Guard’s largest engineering career field as the Machinery Technician Rating Force Master Chief.

In addition to assigned duties, Edward served on the Commandant’s Leadership Advisory Council, as an analyst on the Outlook Vision Team (10-year Strategy), Royal Navy and US Coast Guard future technical support study, and the core team for the Evergreen Project (25- year Strategy). He is currently a member of Green Advantage INC’s Education and Credentialing Board and is a member of Arizona State University’s Senior Enlisted Advisory Council. Edward is a graduate of the Army Sergeant’s Major Academy, Class 57, and holds a master’s degree in human service counseling / military resilience with distinction from Liberty University.

As Vice President for Business Development at the Maritime Institute, he focuses on staff recruiting, creating strategic business partnerships, and expanding Maritime Institute’s customer base. Edward has extensive experience with the Military-to-Mariner Initiative and is passionate about veteran and spouse employment. Edward has personal experience on Pacific Islands and saw firsthand the impact of plastics on wildlife, the culture of indigenous Oceana Peoples, and the environment. He spends his free time with his wife, Michelle, enjoying the outdoors and advocating for the maritime workforce.