NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL:
 Justin Brown
Ann H. Duff, Rear Admiral (Ret.)
Lisiane M.Y. Valentine, LTC (Ret.)

JUSTIN BROWN
Founder and CEO, The Nimitz Group

Prior to launching his own business, he was the Democratic Staff Director for the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. He has nearly a decade of veterans’ focused experience and advocacy, fighting on behalf of veterans and their families to increase educational and employment opportunities, to expand access to benefits and healthcare, and to eliminate homelessness.

Justin is a Navy veteran, University of Utah graduate, and U.S. Naval War College graduate. He has worked for: The House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congressman and former Admiral Joe Sestak, the VFW, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

As a veterans’ advocate, Justin pushed for passage of the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill and raised the issue of veteran unemployment during the economic recession. He has testified  before numerous Congressional Committees and has participated in round tables, press conferences, documentaries, and media interviews regarding veterans’ economic and benefits issues.

In 2015, he ran a passionate but unsuccessful race in the Democratic Primary for the Virginia House of Delegates. He currently serves as an appointee to Fairfax County’s Economic Advisory Commission.

 
ANN H. DUFF, REAR ADMIRAL (Ret.)
Assistant Director, Office of Survivor Assistance, Pension and Fiduciary Service
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

OSA was established by the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, P.L. 110- 389, Title II, Section 222. OSA serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary on all policies, programs, legislative issues and other initiatives affecting surviving family members of deceased Service members and Veterans. OSA serves as a resource regarding all benefits and services furnished by the Department to survivors of deceased Veterans. Additionally, the office builds and maintains collaborative partnerships with local, state, tribal and federal agencies, as well as Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), faith-based and community organizations and other stakeholder groups to increase awareness of benefits and services available to surviving family members; advocates for the needs of survivors in VA’s policy and programmatic decisions; and makes appropriate referrals to VA administrations and staff offices to ensure survivors receive eligible benefits and services.

Ms. Duff is a graduate of the University of Maine and Western Governors University where she earned degrees in Political Science (BA) and Instructional Systems Design (M, Ed). A recently retired Rear Admiral, she is a certified Strategic Human Resources Professional and has completed certificate programs in Business, Planning, Strategic HR Management, Strategic Communications and National and International Security from Naval War College, Cornell University, Harvard University and the University of Virginia. A self-proclaimed Army brat, Ann served for over 35 years in both the US Air Force and the US Navy. She is currently married to a retired Coast Guardsman, and has three children.

TED SCALLET, ESQ.
EascoLaw, PLLC

Ted Scallet has been providing legal advice to clients for almost fifty years.  His Washington, DC practice has included advocating for clients before Congress and the Executive branch.  He has represented numerous tax-exempt organizations on governance and tax qualification issues.  He is also an expert in the legal standards governing decision making by fiduciaries and Board members that are appointed or elected to represent the interests of others.

Ted worked for eight years at the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U. S. Department of Labor before going into private practice.  He has been a member of the bar of the Supreme Court, nine United States Courts of Appeal, and many United States District Courts.  Ted has been named as a top lawyer in Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers USA, Who’s Who Lawyers, and many other publications.  In 2016, Ted resigned from his law firm and became a sole practitioner advising clients on a pro bono basis.

 
LISIANE M.Y. VALENTINE, LTC (Ret.)
Program Manager, Casualty, Mortuary Affairs, and Military Funeral Honors
U.S. Department of Defense

Lisiane is the Program Manager for the Office of Casualty, Mortuary Affairs, and Military Funeral Honors for the Department of Defense.  The office has oversight of DoD and Service policies pertaining to casualty, mortuary, and military funeral honors programs to provide authorized and necessary assistance to eligible family members of deceased, missing, ill, or injured personnel.  Assistance may include, but is not limited to:  transportation assistance; applying for and receiving benefits and entitlements; obtaining copies of records, reports and investigations; legal assistance; receipt of personal effects; mortuary, burial, and funeral honors assistance; relocation assistance, including shipment of household goods; liaison with other Federal agencies; information and referral, including emotional and spiritual support, and other assistance as requested.  The office is also responsible for personnel accountability and evacuation policy for natural and man-made disasters.  Before coming to DoD, Lisa worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, working in the casualty and mortuary affairs arena.

Retired from the US Army in 2011 as a Lieutenant Colonel, her last seven years of active duty were spent at the Pentagon where she served as the Assistant Deputy for Casualty, Mortuary, Affairs, and POW/MIA Policy.  Earlier assignments include Commander, 64th Replacement Company at Rhein Main Air Force Base in Germany; Deputy Director Personnel Services Support, 1st Personnel Command in Schwetzingen, Germany; Marketing and Missioning for 5th Recruiting Brigade at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and other leadership positions in the Adjutant General Corps.