The Mission Continues | Fellows | Fellowship Alumni

Robert Wake

Malden, Missouri

Robert was awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to continue his service by working with his local chapter of the Red Cross. Through his service work, Robert supported the Armed Forces and Fire Response programs with the Red Cross. While deployed in support of OIF, Robert sustained injuries from a mortar blast and has shrapnel throughout his body as a result. He also suffers from PTSD, headaches associated with TBI and hearing loss.

Shawn Billiot

Bethesda, Maryland

Shawn was awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to continue his service by working with military members under the care of Navy Safe Harbor at Bethesda National Naval Medical Center. Shawn served in a peer mentoring capacity for convalescing marines and sailors there. Shawn suffered PTSD and TBI as a result of his deployment in support of OIF, where he served as a sergeant in the USMC.

Amanda Heidenreiter

Washington, DC

Amanda was awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to continue her service by working with the Paws for Purple Hearts program. Amanda served in a mentoring capacity for new wounded warriors in transition, particularly those affected by PTSD and/or TBI. Amanda served as a captain in the U.S. Army and deployed in support of OIF.

Michael Paul

Los Angeles, California

Michael Paul was awarded a full-time Mission Continues Fellowship to continue service at the Paralyzed Veterans of America office in Los Angeles, CA. He served as a mentor and source of encouragement to wounded and disabled veterans. Michael is a former Army Airborne Ranger who suffered a spinal chord injury following a parachuting accident.

Brandon Garrison

San Antonio, Texas

Brandon Garrison was awarded a full-time Mission Continues Fellowship to continue his service as a ground-breaking Fellow in the San Antonio area. Brandon worked to unite veterans in his community while working with others to establish several Mission Continues programs. Brandon was formerly enlisted in the US Army where he sustained injuries from a fall while deployed to Afghanistan.

Curtis Johnson

Fresno, California

Curtis Johnson used The Mission Continues Fellowship to assist local veterans through the regional Veterans Affairs hospital in applying and pursuing claims and other benefits. Injured while serving in Iraq, Curtis is determined to reach out to as many wounded and disabled vets as he can.

Ash Woolson

Columbus, Ohio

Ash Woolson used The Mission Continues Fellowship to work on the veteran's projects currently in progress and incorporating these projects in Columbus, Ohio where he moved in September.

Eric Parry

Baltimore, Maryland

Eric Parry was awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to volunteer with the Metropolitan Police Boys & Girls Club in Baltimore, Maryland. He also served as a mentor to the youths in the Washington, DC area. Eric served in the Army on active duty, and was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. During his deployment,Eric received knee and joint injuries and has since suffered from PTSD.

Vince Garcia

Fresno, California

Vince Garcia was awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship to volunteer with San Joaquin Valley Veterans in Fresno, California. He insituted a program called Brothers Forever. Vince Garcia served in the Marine Corps during the initial operations in Iraq. He suffers from PTSD.

David Pickens

Baltimore, Maryland

David Pickens was awarded a full Mission Continues Fellowship to serve as a mentor and head coach of a non-profit, semi-pro football team named the Baltimore Broncos. David is a Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom veteran who suffered a back injury during a driving mission over rough terrain.

Michael Smith

Baltimore, Maryland

Michael Smith was awarded a full Mission Continues Fellowship to serve at the Madison East End Association in Baltimore, MD. He worked to improve his community and dealt with poverty, gangs, and other social issues. Michael was involved in a vehicle accident in Iraq in 2006. He was medically retired from the military after serving for 24 years in the National Guard.

Justin Clark

Denver, Colorado

Justin Clark was awarded a full Mission Continues Fellowship to volunteer with Veteran Green Jobs in Denver, Colorado. Justin was an Army infantryman who was medically retired as a result of injuries sustained while serving in Iraq.

Mike Pereira

Bellingham, Washington

Mike Pereira was awarded a Fellowship with The Mission Continues to volunteer at the Whatcom County Volunteer Center in Bellingham, Washington. He organized volunteer events and engaged veterans in the community. Mike served in the Army and has deployed to combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

David Vidal

Savannah, Georgia

David Vidal was awarded an Active Duty Mission Continues Fellowship to continue running welding seminars for wounded soldiers and youth in Savannah, Georgia. He was also awarded an impact grant that allowed him to double the size of his seminars through the purchase of new welding equipment. David suffered a severe spinal injury in Iraq.

Phillip Sturgeon

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Phillip Sturgeon was awarded a full Mission Continues Fellowship to work with Support Dogs in southern Missouri. Phillip trained future service dogs to work with the disabled. Phillip is an Air Force and Army Reserve veteran who was severely wounded by a rocket propelled grenade in Iraq.

Perry Green

Augusta, Georgia

As a Mission Continues Fellow, Perry worked with the Veteran Affairs Hospital and the Red Cross in Augusta, Georgia. Perry's fellowship was made possible through the sponsorship of the Travis Manion Foundation. Perry was deployed to Iraq twice while serving with the Army National Guard. He was medically discharged due to chronic back pain and was later diagonsed with degenerative disc disease.

Dionisios Nicholas

Honolulu, Hawai'i

As a Mission Continues Fellow, Dionisios worked as a National Park Service Ranger at the USS Arizonia Memorial. Dionisios' fellowship was made possible through the sponsorship of the Travis Manion Foundation. Dionisios suffered a serious injury while serving as a Marine and was medically discharged from duty.

Shakeya Calloway

St. Louis, Missouri

Shakeya Calloway was awarded a Mission Continues grant to help with start up cost for the organization she founded, Stand United for Veterans. Shakeya served in the Army and deployed to Iraq. She suffers from PTSD. Shakeya is also a MSW candidate at Washington University in St. Louis. Through SUV she hopes to create greater awareness for veterans' issues.

Troy Crawford

Rockville, Maryland

Troy Crawford was awarded a full Mission Continues Fellowship volunteering at Team River Runner in Rockville, Maryland. Troy deployed twice to Iraq, once in the Marine Corps and once in the Army. He was wounded by an improvised explosive device (IED) in 2006. As part of his recovery, he took up white water kayaking. He now helps other wounded service members learn to kayak as part of their recoveries.

Nicholas Iorio

Honolulu, Hawai'i

Nicholas Iorio was awarded an active duty Fellowship from The Mission Continues to volunteer at Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawai'i. At the Museum, Nic volunteered part-time in the Development Department, serving as a liaison to the military, amongst other duties. Nic was an Army Infantry Officer who was wouned in Iraq. He completed his Fellowship while still in the midst of his recovery.

Alicia Pribadi

Honolulu, Hawai'i

Alicia Pribadi was awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship grant to help her start a fibromyalgia support group in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Alicia served in the Marine Corps for five years, including emergency duty at the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001 and for the following year and a half. She was medically retired from the Marines in 2005 due to chronic back injuries and asthma. She now suffers from fibromyalgia.

Ryan Job

Scottsdale, Arizona

In 2008, Ryan Job was awarded The Mission Continues Leadership Award for his inspiring work at Camp Patriot, a non-profit organization that engages wounded veterans in outdoor activities. Ryan has used his award to allow more wounded veterans the opportunity to experience the program. Ryan served as a Navy SEAL in Iraq where he sustained a gun shot wound that left him completely blind.

In late 2009, Ryan Job passed away from complications related to his combat injuries. Ryan will be missed throughout the nation. We will continue to honor his service and sacrifice by challenging ourselves to live as he did - finding the ability, through our own struggles, to inspire and encourage others.

Michael Boyd

St. Louis, Missouri

Michael Boyd was awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship in September 2008. He volunteered at the VA Medical Center and with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in St. Louis, Missouri. Among other duties, he worked in the prosthetics lab.

Sonia Meneses

Clarksville, Tennessee

Sonia Meneses was awarded a Fellowship from The Mission Continues to serve as a volunteer and mentor at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clarksville, Tennessee. Sonia was diagnosed with Ménière's Disease during her second tour in Iraq. The disease, caused by aural trauma in combat, has left her totally deaf in one ear and with 60% hearing loss in the other.

Tim Smith

St. Louis, Missouri

Tim Smith was the first St. Louis-based Mission Continues Fellow. During his Fellowship, Tim volunteered at the VA and served as a Veteran's Outreach Coordinator for TMC. Tim served in Iraq with the US Army. He was diagnosed with a severe eye condition and post traumatic stress as a result of his service.

Joe Kashnow

Washington, District of Colombia

Joe was awarded a Mission Continues Fellowship in March of 2008 to provide outreach to veterans in the Washington, D.C. area, focusing on Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Joe's right leg was amputated after being badly injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Iraq in 2006.

Readen Clavier

Honolulu, Hawai'i

Through The Mission Continues, Readen served as a Fellow at Archinoetics, LLC in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Readen assisted in the Electronics Lab and served as a subject matter expert as part of a federally-funded study on traumatic brain injury (TBI). Readen suffered comprehensive traumatic injuries while on a vehicle patrol in Iraq.

Michael Paul

Winter Park, Colorado

As a Mission Continues Fellow, Michael earned a certification as a professional adaptive alpine skiing instructor and worked with the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) and Wounded Warrior Clinics, teaching other wounded veterans to ski. Michael is a former Army Airborne Ranger who suffered a spinal chord injury a parachuting accident.

Mathew Trotter

Pipe Creek, Texas

As a Mission Continues Fellow, Mathew worked with the Triple H Equitherapy Center in Pipe Creek, Texas. He worked closely with Brooke Army Medical Center to develop an equine therapy program for wounded service members. Mathew suffered a serious injury while serving in Navy and was medically discharged from duty.

Chris Marvin

Honolulu, Hawai'i

Chris Marvin was awarded the first Mission Continues Fellowship. He volunteered for TMC to install the project in Hawai'i. Chris was wounded in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2004. He went on to become the National Director of The Mission Continues.

Our Mission:

To build an America where every returning veteran can serve again as a citizen leader, and where together we honor the fallen by living their values through service.