Board of Directors
Brittney Hamilton
Executive Director
Brittney Hamilton has spent the last 12 years working for the Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital in Seattle, WA as a researcher in mental health and addictions. She earned her Master Degree in Psychology in 2003 from Seattle University. She is also a proud Army wife, married to SSG Christian Hamilton serving the 606th FSC, 17th Fires Brigade at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Brittney joined Operation Ward 57 in 2007 as a volunteer Administrator before stepping up as Executive Director in 2011. She finds it extremely rewarding to work & volunteer her time for those who have served and those actively serving.
Jason Perry
President
Jason Perry is an Attorney and advocate for disabled military Service members and Veterans. His military service as a Captain in the US Army JAG Corps included representing hundreds of Soldiers at the Physical Evaluation Board in San Antonio, TX. His service began in 1992, when he enlisted as an infantryman in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. He was later commissioned through Officer Candidate School and served in a variety of positions, including as a Platoon Leader, Motor Officer, Executive Officer, and Company Commander. He was mobilized from February 2002 through May 2003, and served at Ft. Bragg, NC, as Commander of the 1166th Transportation Company, 7th Trans Bn, 507th Corps Support Group. In June 2003, he accepted a direct commission in the JAG Corps. After leaving the Army in 2007, he established the Physical Evaluation Board Forum, www.pebforum.com to help educate members on the laws, regulations, and policies governing the military disability evaluation system.
Doug Cox
Vice President
Doug Cox is the owner/operator of posterGIANT, a guerrilla marketing firm based out of Seattle. He was responsible for the creation, dissemination and sales of the silk-screened posters for Suburban Noize Records, 2007 & 2008 “Strange Noize” summer tours that benefited Operation Ward 57, which came about as a natural outgrowth of his time in the music industry, appreciation of poster art and — most importantly — his respect for the selflessness of the men and women who put themselves in harm’s way for their country.
Erick Schmidt
Treasurer
Erick Schmidt joined the US Army in 1993 at the age of 19. He served overseas and throughout the US. On a deployment to the Middle East in 1998 he broke his back protecting a Soldier from being crushed during a sand storm, which led to his early exit of the Military in Dec 1999. Since moving to WA State, he started working at the Veterans Hospital and has received a Commendation from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for deploying to aid in Hurricane relief.
Edmund Murphy
Secretary
Edmund Murphy, CEO, is the CEO of Perfect By Perfect Dry, LLC. As CEO, Edmund believes people are the most valuable resource within the military and civilian industries. Edmund received his commission through ROTC at the University of West Fla., where upon he entered service as a Naval Flight Officer. Edmund received his Master Degrees from USC and the Medical University of South Carolina. As a senior manager for such companies as Phoenix Technologies Limited, AOL/Tegic, and Microsoft, Edmund has successfully brought a facet of skills and talents to dynamic environments. Edmund has served in the United States Navy and has held various positions to include Chief Staff Officer of several commands. Edmund is an advisory board member of CIGA, a performance silk shoe company. As a new member of the Operation Ward 57 Board, Edmund is looking forward to working with his colleagues in serving our men and women of the US Armed forces.
Traci Williams
Master Sergeant Traci Williams joined the Army in 1990 and has been deployed 4 times to include Iraq and Afghanistan and has been both active duty and a Reservist. After missing her favorite football team (the Seattle Seahawks) during a deployment to Kosovo, she helped start a fan club to reach out to those military members deployed and living abroad that are also hard core Seahawk fans. She currently is assigned to the 364th MSE, Ft. Lawton, Washington, and still assists the Seattle Seahawks as their Military Liaison.
Jason Ely
Jason Ely is a well-rounded professional with a background in business strategy, financial analysis, fraud examination, law, and human behavior. He holds professional designations as a Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, and Certified DOD Auditor. Jason is a founding member of Task Force Awesome, a small group that participates in various events to raise funds and awareness for the needs of wounded veterans. Earlier this year, Jason completed a 12-hour, 20-mile military simulation with a backpack filled with bricks, each marked with the name of a lost or wounded veteran. It has been said that “Jason Ely is the epitome of a supporter of our Military Community.”
Amanda Sullivan
Serving Military and Veterans for the past 6 years, Amanda is the founder and operator of the highly recognized outreach Operation Christmas Cards (OCC). Since its inception, 3 years ago, over 500,000 cards from the US and multiple countries have been sent to troops serving overseas during the Christmas holiday to lift their spirits. OCC is a program of the multifaceted non-profit organization the New England Dream Center (NEDC) based out of Worcester, MA. Now with OCC, Amanda is responsible for establishing Valiant Veterans, the NEDC Veterans initiatives, which will encompass programs for work force training in culinary arts, hospitality and property management, PTSD support and a resource center for veterans and families.
Board of Advisors
Staff Sergeant (Ret) Scott Cameron
Co-Founder Operation Ward 57
Scott Cameron is a medically retired Army veteran. He served two tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Combat Medic where he was injured and received the combat medic award twice for caring for wounded under fire. Upon his return to the US, he was stationed at Ft. Lewis where he became a licensed vocational nurse LVN and spent his last active years in the Army working directly with wounded OIF/OEF soldiers on Ward 57 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Scott is currently attending the University of Texas – Austin finishing his Bachelor of Science in Nursing to further the level of medical care he is able to provide soldiers and their loved ones in all branches of services. Eventual end goal will be Nurse Practitioner.
Nick Firth
Nick Firth is a life long musician playing the drums, bass and guitar. He started school at the University of North Carolina and joined the National Guard in 2003 as a way to pay for his education. He then went active duty with the famed 10th Mountain Division. After a year in Iraq, his unit was patrolling a street in Samarra when a 155 lb artillery shell went off directly beneath his armored security vehicle. Lucky to be alive, Nick spent the next three years at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The first 18 months was mostly spent in bed. He underwent more than 20 surgeries. Now with a leg prosthesis, he continues his musical career in his band “Writing Home.”In 2009, thanks to CAMMO he participated in VH1/Mark Burnett productions “Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp” and through Operation Ward 57 was a guest drummer with America’s #1 Celtic band, the Rogues in Las Vegas for St. Patrick’s Day.
Sergeant First Class (ret) Steven Johnson
Steven Johnson has been in the Army 20 years and is looking forward to retiring in 2009. He served at Dewitt Army Hospital in Ft. Belvoir, VA for five years as Wardmaster of the mother/baby unit and labor & delivery; Wardmaster of the ICU; pediatric NCOIC; reenlistment NCO and finally, operations NCO in the S3 shop. Currently he serves as Wardmaster of Ward 57, a 24-bed Orthopedic Ward at Walter Reed Army Hospital. He is honored to care for OIF/OEF Warriors and is proud to work at the “Home of Warrior Care!”
Deborah Semer
Co-Founder Operation Ward 57
Former Executive Director
An experienced leader who creates change through vision and successful bridge building between corporate and non-profit business communities. Over 15 years of business management experience within the entertainment, non-profit, arts and culture and social service industries. Demonstrated success resolving complex issues emphasizing a collaborative, yet decisive style. Public speaker, invited advocate in civic and corporate initiatives, providing innovation, insight, expertise and energy. Named one of Seattle’s most powerful people in 2008, she owns Atmosphere Artist Management & Consulting, does photography and DJ’s for the troops as DJ Hooah! Is the Co-Founder & former Executive Director of Operation Ward 57.
