Board of Directors
Brittney HamiltonExecutive Director
Brittney Hamilton has spent the last 11 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 and volunteer her time for those who have served and those actively serving in the US Military.
Mike Moore
President
Mike Moore is a Major in the Army Medical Specialist Corps. He has served as an Army Physician Assistant for 10 years in a wide range of positions including Acting Brigade Surgeon, Senior PA, and Medical Company Commander and has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A veteran of 27 years of Army Service, he previously served as an Infantryman, Infantry Officer, and Cavalry Officer, and commanded a Cavalry Troop during Operation Desert Shield/Storm in the 82nd Airborne Division. He will be returning to medical school for the Army in August 2009 and looks forward to rejoining the Army as a physician.
Jason Perry
Vice-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
Treasurer
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.
Staff Sergeant (Ret) Scott Cameron
Secretary
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.
Board of Advisors
Nick FirthNick 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!”
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.
Shauna Verra
Shauna Verra is an Army Spouse of Sgt. Anthony Verra, a Ward 57 patient and Purple Heart Recipient. Anthony was severely injured by an IED while on an Army patrol in Afghanistan in September 2010. Anthony lost his entire right leg and his left leg above his knee, while sustaining major trauma to his arms and other parts of this body. Just days before Anthony’s deployment, Shauna gave birth to their first child together, Scarlett.
Shauna graduated from East Carolina University in 2006 with Bachelor’s in Dance Education K-12. She was a prominent member of the Pure Gold Dance Team at ECU from 2001-2004. Prior to her husbands injury she was assisting at New Providence Middle School in a Special Education Math Class. Her goal is to complete a lateral entry program into the Special Education field as well as continuing to advocate for her husband by bringing awareness of their and others life changing experiences.
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.
