Veterans Organizing Mini-Bootcamp
Did you know that the Harvard Center for Public Leadership’s annual survey on public trust regularly finds the military to be, by far, the most trusted sector in the country, well ahead of teachers, doctors and non-profits? Our young troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are far more progressive than those from the Vietnam era, and we have a major opportunity to engage them and expand our big tent even further. But do you know the difference between an officer, an NCO and enlisted? Do you know why you shouldn’t call a Marine a soldier? We’ll fill you in on how the military works, how you can connect with veterans and military families based on shared values, pitfalls to avoid and how progressives can reclaim patriotism.
Jon Powers, Chief Operating Officer of the Truman National Security Project, was previously the Veterans Program Director for The Eleison Group, LLC, where he worked on developing the outreach efforts of the progressive community to the veterans and military families. Prior to joining The Eleison Group, he served for four years as an Officer in the U.S. Army, including a 15 month tour in Iraq as part of Operation Iraq Freedom I. In 2005, Jon founded War Kids Relief after returning to Iraq as a civilian to develop programs to engage Iraq’s youth and minimize recruitment by radicalized elements. The youth and counterterrorism research and program development efforts led to War Kids Relief becoming a leading advocacy organization working to create a bridge between American and Iraqi youth to build a foundation for peace. In 2008, Jon was a Democratic candidate for New York’s 26th Congressional District.
Brandon Friedman is a Fellow with the Truman National Security Project and author of the combat memoir The War I Always Wanted. He currently works as the Director of New Media for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C.
Before joining VA, Brandon served as the Vice Chairman of VoteVets.org--an organization dedicated to getting Veterans elected to public office. While at VoteVets, he worked throughout the media to communicate defense, foreign policy, and veterans issues. Prior to his work in government and politics, Brandon served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army--during which time he was awarded two Bronze Stars for his service in Afghanistan and Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division.
Along with Daily Kos, Brandon has had pieces regularly featured throughout the blogosphere--from The Huffington Post to Military.com and the White House Blog. He has been interviewed and quoted by ABC News, the Associated Press, Fox News, the Washington Post, New York Daily News, Stars and Stripes, Roll Call, Politico, and many other media outlets. He has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, and C-SPAN, as well as on dozens of radio programs across the country. Brandon holds an MPA from the University of Texas at Dallas and a BA from LSU in Shreveport.
Rep. Alex Cornell du Houx currently serves the people of Brunswick (District 66) in Maine’s House of Representatives. He serves on the Legal and Veterans Committee, is chair of the Veterans Caucus, and is vice-chair of the National Council of State Legislatures’ Energy and Agriculture Committee and sits on the Criminal Justice Committee. Alex serves on the task force on substance abuse and is a member of the National Council of Environmental Legislatures and Coalition of Legislators for Energy Action Now. He is also a vice-chair of the DNC's Veterans Council and member of the DNC's Youth Council.
Alex grew up in the small town of Solon and attended Bowdoin College as a George Mitchell Scholar. He joined the Marine Reserves in 2002 and was deployed to Iraq with the Marines’ Alpha Company in 2006 – where he spent a year patrolling the streets in and around Fallujah. After his return, Alex continued his work serving Maine’s communities through community and public service.
Alex led a service trip to Guatemala with the program Safe Passage, to help kids move from working in the city dump to gaining an education. He also worked in Peru to help build playgrounds for children in Lima’s poorest areas. At home in Maine, Alex volunteers and serves on the board of Maine’s Habitat for Humanity and volunteered in local schools for the past six years. He coaches lacrosse and soccer at Brunswick Junior High School and conducted a year of service with AmeriCorps. Alex also chairs the Mitchell Institute's Alumni Council, which works to provide opportunity and access to higher education.
Prior to elected office, Alex worked for the Governors’ Office of Health Policy and Finance. He currently works to promote clean energy and jobs in Brunswick and across Maine and is working to improve veterans’ issues both in Maine and nationwide, including access to higher education and health care. He currently works with the Truman National Security Project on national security and energy issues.
Robert Diamond is a Senior Vice President at Realty Capital International LLC—a global real estate investment banking and advisory firm. Prior to joining Realty Capital International, Robert was a Vice President at Bear Stearns & Co, Inc., in the Structured Equity Products/Equity Finance group.
Before his career in finance, Robert served for seven years as an officer in the United States Navy. A Surface Warfare Officer by training, he was stationed onboard the guided missile destroyer USS BULKELEY (DDG-84) and completed deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
He served as the aide to the Navy's Chief of Legislative Affairs in the Pentagon, and as a naval liaison officer to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Robert serves as a Vice-Chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Veterans and Military Families Council, where he is responsible for promoting the President’s agenda across the national Veterans community. He was the New York State Chair of Veterans for Obama during the 2008 Presidential campaign.
Robert is a Security Fellow and Member of the Board of Principals with
the Truman National Security Project, the progressive national security leadership institute. He serves as the Regional Director of the Truman Project’s New York City chapter.
An active member of numerous Veterans organizations, Robert speaks and publishes regularly on veterans, military and national security issues. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC.com, The Huffington Post, Politico, Defense News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The New York Daily News. Robert also appears routinely on television and radio.
Robert serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Achilles International—the global charity that provides disabled athletes the opportunity to compete in mainstream athletic events. He focuses on Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans.
A native of New York City, he holds a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy. He is married to the former Victoria Jennings, also of New York City.
