Rolly Alvarado
Outreach Program Specialist, Honolulu VetCenter
Rolly Alvarado served in the United States Marine Corps from 2003 to 2010. He served two deployments to Iraq. Shortly after his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Rolly relocated to Honolulu Hawaii. He pursued his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, which he completed in 2014. Rolly continued his education pursuing his master’s degree in business administration. Rolly earned his MBA in 2016.
Rolly joined Team Red White & Blue Honolulu Chapter in 2015, where he quickly gained a sense of community and camaraderie with Veterans and Service members with the chapter. A year after he joined Team RWB, Rolly volunteered as the Chapter’s Veterans Engagement Director. And in 2018 Rolly was nominated and selected as Chapter Captain.
Rolly Alvarado is currently employed with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Vet Center program.
“There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.” ~Ronald Reagan
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Erik Castaldo
Platoon Leader, The Mission Continues, Oahu Platoon
I found a love for civil service at an early age. As a member of the 9th Suffolk Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, aiding folks after natural disasters and emergencies in the Tri-state area sparked a deep-seeded desire for me to help those in need. This discovery of purpose led me down the path to become a Firefighter and First-responder, and later, to join the Army with the goal of becoming an Airborne Ranger.
I enlisted in my mid-twenties, making me an “old man” by any standard as new recruits in the service. Being older, comfortable with the concept of chain of command, and experienced with emergencies, I quickly found myself fulfilling rolls in leadership, even when I thought I was too new. I was fortunate to have excellent leaders who fostered me to be an effective and successful leader in the Infantry, and I largely owe my success to that mentorship and their sacrifices. Their lessons and empowerment live on in me, and I feel that it’s my duty to pass it on to others in our community. Stepping up to being a leader in The Mission Continues has empowered me to do exactly that.
As Veterans, we’re essentially purpose-built with intrinsic motivators. Voluntary service comes natural to us and we’re good at it. It fulfills us. This drive often makes us natural leaders in our communities outside of the military just as it had pushed us to succeed in our service careers. Sometimes all it takes is a little push, just like we’re used to from our time in the military, and we’re back on track, leading from the front.
As our society grows, we face more and more internal challenges, from socio-economic constraints to limits of infrastructure. We need leaders in our communities. Fortunately as Veterans, we are leaders, and we can help.
Tony Dias
Branch Manager, Aligned Mortgage
Tony is from Waianae, Hawaii. His father joined the Marine Corps when he was 2 years old and he retired after serving 25 years. Tony’s father’s service shaped his life and in 1985, after changing schools 11 times in 13 years, he joined the Marines Corps as a Communication Electronic Technician.
It is because of these experiences that Tony truly understands the sacrifices that both services members and their dependents face on a day-to-day basis.
Tony was stationed in Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Stations when he left the Marine Corps. It was then that he decided to stay in Hawaii. In 2001, he and his wife purchased their first property in Mililani. Having no idea the VA Loan was an option, he placed 20% down on his home.
He has been in the mortgage industry since 2003, learned about the VA home loan benefit and vowed to not have another veteran go through his experience. Tony specializes in VA Home Loans. In 2006, he was asked to speak at a brown bag luncheon for approximately 75 Air National Guardsman at the Mamala Bay dining facility. After 2 hours of providing information and answering questions he realized how little veterans knew about the VA home loan benefit. Recognizing the need for a place veteran’s could go and learn about the benefit as well as the market with no pressure to do anything except learn, FOR FREE, he created VA Loans Hawaii (currently registered in Hawaii as an educational company).
Tony’s main goal is to educate as many veterans as possible about this tremendous benefit and serving those that have served our country. It is an honor and a privilege to help his fellow veterans use their entitlement to purchase a piece of the country they defended or currently defend.
Tony is also certified by the State of Hawaii to teach Real Estate agents about “The New VA Home Loan Benefit for the Real Estate Licensee.” As well as certified by the National Association of Realtors to conduct the Military Relocation Professionals designation. He believes as a Real Estate community we could all do a better job of serving those who have served our country!
Josh Green, M.D.
Lieutenant Governor, State of Hawaii
Josh Green is a local doctor, husband, and father of two who has spent his life caring for Hawaii families.
After completing his medical training, Josh joined the National Health Corps and started his life’s work as a family physician and ER doctor in rural hospitals and clinics on the Big Island.
Josh served in the Hawaii State House of Representatives from 2004 to 2008 and in the Hawaii State Senate from 2008 to 2018 where he chaired the Health Committee and Human Services Committee.
In 2005, Josh met his wife Jaime Ushiroda, a local girl from Kaneohe, and they were married in 2006.
Together they are the proud parents of 12-year-old daughter Maia and 8-year-old son Sam.
In 2009 he was named “Hawaii Physician of the Year”.
The hopes, challenges, and values of the families he cares for inspire Josh to do more to make life better for the people of Hawaii and he is honored to serve as their Lieutenant Governor.
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Jennifer Gutowski, MHA, FACHE, CSSGB, VHA-CM
Director, VA Pacific Island Health Care System
Jennifer S. Gutowski was appointed Director, VA Pacific Island Health Care System (VAPIHCS) on May 14, 2017. Prior to this assignment, Ms. Gutowski served as the Interim Director for the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System from January 4, 2016 through March 4, 2017. Ms. Gutowski served as Associate Director from July 2012 through January 3, 2016 and March 5, 2017 through May 13, 2017. Ms. Gutowski was at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital as the Acting Associate Director from February 2012 through July 2012, and Assistant Director from December 2007 through February 2012. Prior to the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, Ms. Gutowski held various positions at the VA Long Beach Health Care System.
Ms. Gutowski served as the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System Interim Director from January 4, 2016 to March 4, 2017. As Acting Director, she was responsible for overseeing operations, clinical programs and finances of the health care system which had an annual operating budget of $450 million and over 2,500 employees, a 277-bed health care system serving over 171,000 Veterans with seven Community Based Outpatient Clinics.
As the SAVAHCS Associate Director, Ms. Gutowski served as the Chief of the Resources Management Service Line and provided oversight for Finance, Human Resources, Logistics, Business Operations, and Voluntary Services. In addition, she provided supervision to the Facilities Management Service Line, Pharmacy Service Line, the Privacy Officer, and the Emergency Manager. Ms. Gutowski started her career in 1999 as a Graduate Health Administration Trainee and then moved into Health System Specialist positions.
Ms. Gutowski carries several certifications as a Certified Healthcare Executive, a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), as well as a graduate of the VA Executive Career Field. Most recently in 2011, Ms. Gutowski achieved fellow status as a certified mentor (VHA-CM), and earned her Green Belt certification in Six Sigma (CSSGM) in 2009.
Ms. Gutowski has been active with local ACHE chapters during her career including Health Care Executives of Southern California, Chicago Health Care Executives Forum, and Arizona Health Care Executives. As a result of her leadership and roles with increasing responsibility in the VA, she received in 2005 the Early Careerist VA/ACHE Regent's Award, and the ACHE Regent?s Award. She was recognized for her efforts in serving on the Regent's Advisory Council and for her leadership position held in the Health Care Executives of Southern California and her active role in the Women in Health Administration.
Ms. Gutowski graduated with honors and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Public Health Administration from The Richard Stockton College in Pomona, NJ. She also holds a Master's Degree in Health Administration from Tulane University, School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, LA.
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Col. Ronald P. Han Jr. (USAF, Ret.)
Director, Hawaii Office of Veterans Services
Colonel Ronald P. Han Jr. retired from the United States Air Force on 1 July 2011. In his last duty assignment, he served as the commander of the 154th Maintenance Group in the 154th Wing located at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii. He was responsible for over 850 maintainers under one classic and two active associate constructs. His Group partnered with active duty maintainers in the 15th Maintenance Group in managing all aircraft maintenance support valued at over $2.6 billion for the following weapon systems: F-22 Raptors, C-17 Globe Master III Airlifters, and KC-135 Stratotankers. One of the largest and most diverse Groups in the entire Air National Guard, his maintainers supported both combat and mobility air force missions, enroute tanker maintenance, and alert air sovereignty taskings.
Colonel Han graduated from Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Hawaii.
He received his commission as a second lieutenant through the AF Reserve Officers Training Program at the University of Hawaii and served on active duty for over eight years, entering the Air National Guard in 1992. Col Han has attended Squadron Officer School in-residence and completed Air Command and Staff College and Air War College. He has also attended the Advanced Officers Logistics Course and has deployed with the tanker task force in support of Operation Allied Force. Col Han has commanded two squadrons, a group, and has held major command level positions. He advanced to the rank of colonel on 17 March 2005.
Col Han’s career spans more than 28 years and is characterized by his awards and decorations that include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Korean Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Hour Glass, the Hawaii National Guard Medal of Merit, and the Hawaii National Guard Commendation Medal.
He also earned distinction as the 5th Air Forces and Pacific Air Forces Supply Junior Manager of the Year in 1986, selected as the 1989 Air Force Hawaii Military Officer of the Year, and was the 1993 Hawaii National Guard Association Officer of the Year.
Re-appointed by the Governor of the State of Hawaii, the Honorable David Y. Ige, on July 1, 2015 as the Director of the State Office of Veterans Services under the Hawaii State Department of Defense, he’s also a member of the State Advisory Board on Veterans Services, Board Trustee and the Vice Chair for the Finance Committee for the Hawaii Veterans Memorial Fund, and a member of the University of Hawaii Task Force for Student Veterans.
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Anthony M. Hassan, Ed.D., LCSW
President and CEO, Cohen Veterans Network
Anthony Hassan is the inaugural President and CEO of the Cohen Veterans Network
(CVN). Dr. Hassan leads and executes the strategic, operational, and financial
direction for the $275M Network which is tasked with carrying out the establishment
of 25 mental health clinics nationwide. In addition, he leads CVN’s efforts to advance
the field as a learning mental health system through funded research initiatives and
training programs that improve care within the Network and set CVN up to serve as a
model for others.
Hassan is a veteran of the United States Army enlisted and Air Force officer with 30 years of experience in military behavioral health, serving as a military social work officer, leader, clinician, and academic. He served during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 on the first-ever Air Force combat stress control and prevention team embedded with the Army. Hassan’s last military assignment was at the U.S. Air Force Academy where he served as the Deputy Department Head, Leadership Directorate, and led the only graduate-level degree program at the Air Force Academy for top-tier Air Force Commanders.
Prior to CVN, Hassan served as the inaugural Director and Clinical Professor of the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families at the University of Southern California
School of Social Work.
Dr. Hassan’s former military and academic roles have positioned him to develop strong relationships with the most senior levels of leadership in the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Washington, D.C. Hassan holds a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of South Florida. He loves playing golf but isn’t that good!
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Andrew Hervieux
Supervisor, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Office, Honolulu Regional Office
Andrew (Andy) Hervieux is a supervisor with the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Office in Honolulu, HI. He assists the Vocational Rehabilitation Officer in supervising 30 professional counselors and program support specialists in supporting the VR&E program.
Mr. Hervieux served in the United States Army from 1975 to 1996 as an Infantry Scout and served in combat with the 3rd Armored Division in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990-1991.
Mr. Hervieux has a BS in Business Management from Columbia College, and a MA in Rehabilitation Counseling from Assumption College in Worcester Massachusetts.
He has worked with the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind in Boston, MA. as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and was able to assist his clients in finding employment.
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Col. James C. Horton (USAF, Ret.)
Director, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP)
James C. Horton was named Director of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP) in Honolulu, effective February 2014. As Director, he is responsible for all burials and maintenance operations at the cemetery, which is located in Punchbowl Crater, the remnant of a long extinct volcano. NMCP is one of the state of Hawaii’s most popular tourist attractions and millions of people visit the site annually.
Prior to joining the National Cemetery Administration, Mr. Horton served as the Deputy Inspector General for the Air, Education and Training Command located in Randolph Air Force Base in Texas. There he was responsible for inspecting more than 320 training organizations, the Air University, ROTC and more than 1, 500 aircrafts and 23 models. He was also responsible for the Congressional Inspector General Complaints and Waste, Fraud and Abuse programs.
Mr. Horton is a U.S. Air Force Veteran and completed more than 27 years of service, retiring at the rank of Colonel. He has more than 4200 flying hours and 285 combat flying hours. During the course of his service Mr. Horton earned several Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service and Air Medals.
Mr. Horton earned a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1983. He earned a Master of Arts in Business Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco in 1991. Mr. Horton also attended several military schools including the Air Command and Staff College, completing the course as a distinguished graduate in 1997, and the Air War College in 2004.
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David Y. Ige
Governor, State of Hawaii
Governor David Y. Ige was sworn in as the eighth governor of the State of Hawai‘i on December 1, 2014.
Governor Ige is focused on improving the lives of Hawaiʻi’s people and making the islands a place future generations choose to call home.
His priorities include increasing affordable housing, reducing homelessness, moving toward the state’s 100% renewable energy goal, and remodeling public education to prepare students for the innovation economy of the 21st century.
Under his leadership, the state has aggressively moved to ensure financial sustainability and enable future growth. He believes that we can achieve our shared goals because we have always been better together than alone.
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T.J. Joseph
Operations Manager, Honolulu Habitat for Humanity
Born and raised in Waimanalo, T.J. Joseph is a Kamehameha school graduate, professional hula dancer for Halau Hawaii Aloha, wife, and a mother. She joined Honolulu Habitat for Humanity in 2015 and serves as the Operations Manager. T.J.’s knowledge of the home building process comes first hand, as she, her husband, and their four children were a Habitat for Humanity partner family building their own house on a Hawaiian Homelands lot in Waimanalo several years ago.
Having been a recipient of Habitat’s program, T.J. believes in Habitat’s vision and mission. “A Hawai’i where everyone has a decent place to live; bringing people together to build homes, communities, & hope.” Her knowledge of programs and processes as well as her organizational and leadership skills have helped Honolulu Habitat increase capacity and efficiency over the past four years. Her focus has always been and always will be to serve and strengthen our communities.
Andrea M. Lapinski
Assistant Director, San Diego Regional Office Veterans Benefits Administration
Ms. Andrea M. Lapinski was appointed Assistant Director – Area II of the San Diego VA Regional Office on July 12, 2015. San Diego is home to the largest military complex in the United States and the office has jurisdiction over one of the largest concentrations of Veterans in the country. Ms. Lapinski leads a dedicated workforce of 630 full-time employees, of which 85 percent are Veterans. She is responsible for administering approximately $1.4 billion in annual federal benefits to 510,000 Veterans and their dependents in San Diego.
Ms. Lapinski previously served as Deputy Director to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) as a strategist on military health, benefits, and personnel portfolio delivering policy formulation and analysis. In this role, she served as the Navy Secretary’s representative on the Join Executive Council, Benefits Executive Council, and the Interagency Care Coordination Committee in pursuit of optimal performance and priorities established by the Secretary. Ms. Lapinski has extensive experience in directing coordination, control, and supervision on the establishment and implementation of 20 multi-divisional personnel and benefit policies related to DOD-VA interagency collaboration.
Ms. Lapinski began her career with the Naval Medical Center, San Diego in 1998 where she held various positions including Medical Social Worker, Lead Pediatric Clinical Social Worker, Patient Relations Department Head. She served as the Special Assistant for Healthcare Resolutions at Navy Medicine West from 2010 to 2012. She reported to the Commanding Officer for Navy Medicine’s West Coast and South Pacific 10 tertiary care academic medical centers and community hospitals with direct oversight of 15,000 staff members at a distance.
Ms. Lapinski has a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Family Studies from Syracuse University, a Master of Social Work in Clinical Social Work from New York University, and a Master of Public Health in Healthcare Administration from San Diego State University. She is a licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
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Major General (HI) Arthur J. Logan
Adjutant General, Hawaii
Major General Arthur “Joe” Logan was appointed as the Adjutant General, Hawaii on 1 January 2015. As Adjutant General, he oversees the training and readiness of 5,500 Soldiers and Airmen of the Hawaii National Guard. He also serves as the Director, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, provides direct support to the Office of Veterans Services, and is the Homeland Security Advisor to the Governor.
General Logan received his commission in 1984 from the Hawaii Army National Guard Officer Candidate School, Hawaii Military Academy. With more than 36 years of service, he has served in significant positions of authority and responsibility to include: Commander, 227th Engineer Company; Brigade Engineer Officer, 29th Separate Infantry Brigade; Commander, 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery; Counterdrug Coordinator, Hawaii Army National Guard; Commander, Regional Police Advisory Command, Operation Enduring Freedom, Kabul, Afghanistan; Chief of Staff, Hawaii Army National Guard, and Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Hawaii National Guard. Before assuming his current position, he served as the G3, Hawaii Army National Guard.
Jared Lyon
President and CEO, Student Veterans of America
As the National President and CEO of Student Veterans of America (SVA), Jared Lyon leads the organization’s efforts to empower student veterans to, through, and beyond higher education.
Since his appointment in January 2016, Lyon has overseen SVA’s growth to now include a network of more than 1,500 chapters on campuses in all 50 states and four countries representing more than 750,000 student veterans. During his tenure, he co-authored the National Veteran Education Success Tracker (NVEST) research, a comprehensive study of the first 854,000 student veterans to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and in 2017 led SVA’s commitment to pass the “Forever GI Bill,” the largest expansion of college aid for military veterans in a decade.
Prior to becoming CEO, Lyon was SVA's Chief Development Officer and Executive Vice President of Operations where he implemented plans to ensure organizational sustainability.
A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Lyon served as a submariner and diver, taking part in multiple deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Upon separating from the military with an honorable discharge in 2005, he became an electronic-systems administrator at Northrop Grumman, and went on to manage Florida operations for the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team while working on an Associate of Arts degree at night from Eastern Florida State College.
After five years in the private sector, Lyon returned to higher education full-time, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University. As an undergraduate he served as president of the school’s SVA chapter and was recognized as the National Student Veteran of the Year by SVA in 2011. Lyon then served as National Program Manager for the Institute for Veterans and Military Family’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans and the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans’ Families programs.
Lyon holds a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, where he is an adjunct professor at the Whitman School of Management. In addition to serving on the SVA national board of directors, Lyon is the Vice Chair for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran’s Advisory Committee on Education, a commissioner for the American Council on Education’s Commission for Education Attainment and Innovation and sits on the Florida State University Veteran Advisory Board. Lyon is a 2018 Presidential Leadership Scholar, a bi-partisan effort to cultivate high-impact leaders applying the lessons in leadership learned from the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
He is married to Chayla Lyon, and they live in Alexandria, VA.
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Command Sergeant Major Abuoh E. Neufville
Hospital Command Sergeant Major, Tripler Army Medical Center
Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Abuoh E. Neufville enlisted the U.S. Army Reserve on September 30 1993 from Browns Mills, NJ. He was awarded MOS 91Q (Pharmacy Specialist) upon completing AIT May 1994. He returned to active duty in April 1995 and re-classed to MOS 91B (Combat Medic).
CSM Neufville's military education includes all levels of the NCOPDS, the Basic Airborne Course, Basic Recruiter Course, Healthcare Recruiter Course, Battle Staff NCO Course, Comptroller and Fiscal Law Course, the Master Resiliency Trainer Course, and the AMEDD Executive Skills Course. He holds a Master Degree in Management from Austin Peay State University, and is a graduate of Class 65 (Commandant's List) United States Army Sergeants Major Academy.
CSM Neufville's assignments include 2nd BN 504th P.I.R. (Company Medic/Evacuation NCO) Ft Bragg, NC; USAMRIID (Aeromedical Isolation Team NCOIC) Fort Detrick, MD; 1-36th INF BN (Treatment Sqd. Ldr, Medical Platoon Sergeant) Ray Barracks, Germany; Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (ICU Wardmaster; Clinic NCOIC) Ft Campbell, KY; Boston Healthcare Recruiting Co. (AMEDD Recruiter), Boston, MA; 173rd Airborne Brigade (C-MED First Sergeant) Warner Barracks, Germany; 84th Civil Affairs BN (Special Functions Team NCOIC), Madigan Army Medical Center (Department of Family Medicine NCOIC) JBLM, WA; 6th Medical Logistics Management Center (Center SGM), Fort Detrick MD and the 4-410th BSB (BN CSM) Ft Knox, KY.
CSM Neufville's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (1-OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (3-OLC), Army Commendation Medal (2 Silver, 1 Bronze OLC), Army Achievement Medal (Silver OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), National Defense Service Medal (1-BSS), Iraq Campaign Medal (2-Campaign Stars), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3-Campaign Stars), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Combat Action Badge, Recruiter Badge (Gold), Recruiter Ring, German Fitness Excellence Badge, Foreign military parachutist badges: United Arab Emirates, Germany, Italy; and Czech Ministry of Defense Medal for Service Abroad. He is a recipient of the prestigious Order of Military Medical Merit.
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Scott Tirocchi
Director, Justice for Vets
Justice For Vets is dedicated to transforming the way the justice system identifies, assesses and treats our veterans, leading the national effort to put a veterans treatment court in reach of every veteran in need. We are committed to ensuring that no veteran is left behind by providing training and technical assistance to help communities bring together local, state, and federal resources to directly serve veterans involved in the justice system due to mental health disorders, trauma, and substance use. In doing so, we keep veterans out of jail and prison—preventing the loss of one of our nation’s greatest assets to our families and communities—and connect them with the benefits and treatment they have earned, all while saving tax dollars for the American public.
Justice For Vets has helped establish over 200 veterans treatment courts and trained over 3,000 court staff. In addition, Justice For Vets has conducted 16 volunteer veteran mentor boot camp training, serving 1,000 veteran mentors representing 125 communities across 30 states.
Established in 2010, Justice For Vets is a division of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Alexandria, Virginia.
Note: Justice For Vets does not and cannot offer legal advice or substance use/mental health services. If you are seeking legal or clinical assistance, please visit our resource page.
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Major General Suzanne P. Vares-Lum , USA
Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
Major General Suzanne P. Vares-Lum is the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) at Camp Smith, Hawaii.
Prior to her current assignment, she served as the Mobilization Assistant to the J5, Director of Strategic Plans and Policy, U.S. Pacific Command from October 2015 to May 2018.
Major General Vares-Lum was commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate in the Military Intelligence Corps on May 15, 1988 through the ROTC program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Her previous assignments include: Trailblazer Platoon Leader, 103rd (CEWI) Military Intelligence Battalion; Company Executive Officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Support, 103rd MI BN; Division Artillery Fire Support Intelligence Officer, 3rd Infantry Division, Wurzburg, Germany; Battalion S-2, 29th Support BN; Commander, 229th Military Intelligence Company; G-2, 29th Separate Infantry Brigade; Commander, 2nd Battalion, 298th Multifunctional Training Unit, Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG); J2, Joint Forces Headquarters, Hawaii National Guard; Commander, 298th Regiment, Multifunctional Training Unit (RTI), Hawaii Army National Guard; Vice Chief of the Joint Staff; and Chief of the Joint Staff, Hawaii National Guard (Army and Air National Guard).
MG Vares-Lum was mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III from August 2004 to March 2006. As the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Intelligence Officer, she established and led the Joint Intelligence Center in Balad, Iraq.
Her military schools include the Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course, Military Intelligence Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Command and General Staff Officer's Course, the U.S. Army War College (DDE), Airborne School, and Air Assault School.
MG Vares-Lum received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism in 1989 and her Master of Education in Teaching in 1996 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She is also a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and earned a Master of Strategic Studies degree in 2011.
Her awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Iraqi Campaign Medal.
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Ronald Wuestefeld
Outreach Specialist, Wounded Warrior Project
Ronald Wuestefeld empowers Warriors all over The State of Hawaii to adapt to change and create a new Identity.
His story is proof that success is adapting using the resources available, being creative, and allowing people in your life. It’s about the finding what you want in your life and what you do to make your future possible.
Ronald Is a medically retired Army veteran with 3 combat deployments. But most people know him as an ordinary man with a powerful message that can change the way you view transitioning.
His message is simple: “Adapt & Create a New Identity!” It’s about embracing change, reinvention, perseverance, and the renewing of minds.
“Adapting is easy Change is hard.” Says Ronald.
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