A CAREER TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR WOUNDED MARINES AND NAVY CORPSMEN

Transcription

1 A CAREER TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR WOUNDED MARINES AND NAVY CORPSMEN DEFENSELINK GEN James T. Conway, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, and COL Gregory Boyle, Commander of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, have granted approval to proceed with a first-of-its-kind career training and job placement program for our nation s wounded Marines and Navy Corpsmen.

2 The disabled serviceman is asking for nothing more than a fair chance to make his own way in the world. He doesn t particularly want tears, and he is not demanding huge appropriations from the public treasury. What he does want is the kind of sympathetic understanding and the active support that will make it easier for him to resume his place, in spite of his physical handicap, as a regular member of society. That is not too much to ask, and it is assuredly the very least that we can give. Bruce Catton, Pulitzer Prize winning American historian CORBIS

3 More than 8,000 wounded Marines have returned from battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan. They now face daunting challenges in their recovery from battle wounds; some have been in military hospitals for more than two years. Having entered the Marine Corps with patriotism and a desire to improve themselves, many young Wounded Warriors lack professional skills and have no alternative career to turn to upon leaving the hospital. The Forget Me Not: The Wounded Warrior Foundation for Careers in Media program consists of a specialized training center, the mission of which is to help heal through learning the art and skill of visual storytelling. More than 30 film industry professionals will share their video and photojournalism expertise with participating wounded Marines. The Foundation has created a pilot program, the Center for Careers in Media, which will train two classes of 25 or more wounded Marines per year in media, filmmaking, sound design, editing, graphics and photojournalism. The program will assist wounded Marines in transitioning to new careers while creating Marineproduced documentary and/or training films and help them develop professional skills, on-thejob experience, and confidence in an environment mentored by leading media industry leaders. Graduating Marines will acquire professional certification in specific skills and also receive Union membership in the International Alliance of Theatre Stage Employees (IATSE) and job placement if and when they need to be medically retired. DEFENSELINK It s not what you lost that counts, it s what you do with what s left... I m a member of a unique group. It could be the end of the world for me, or it could be the beginning of a whole new life. There is an almost unbreakable camaraderie among service men who ve shared combat conditions. Wounds bond them together more firmly. For the handicapped veteran, however, war and dismemberment may be the turning point of his whole life. Harold Russell, double amputee veteran and two-time Academy Award winning actor,

4 For Marines especially, there is a stigma against saying I hurt, and so they tend not to say anything. Yet sharing their experiences and emotional journey is an important part of the healing process. Using cameras and computers, young disabled Marines can more readily connect with others and greatly aid in their own recuperative process. I wanted to do it..for the Marine Corps, for my country, and so my desire was to be there. I would have been disappointed had I not gone. Yes, I wished things would have worked out a little better for me but I did come home alive and I am always proud of my service. A blinding explosion threw me backwards. The blast jammed my eyeballs back into my skull, temporarily blinding me. My ears rang with a deafening reverberation as if I were standing in an echo chamber. When my eyes cleared, I looked at my right hand. It was gone. Nausea flooded me. I was injured in Ramadi, Iraq. I close my eyes and I can still see the blast. As bad as I m hurt, and as much as it pains me to be in the hospital, really the biggest grief is missing my Marines who are still overseas. And that s actually harder on me than the actual injuries, as severe as they are. I guess I was in danger of death because the priest gave me the last rites. The doctor came to me and said, Sergeant...the chances are we re gonna have to amputate your leg. So, of course, you know that s a tough thing to accept and you know I did my crying and my depression time for a while...but then it seemed again that whatever specific reason, whether it was my faith, my family, Marine Corps, all those combined said I was going to overcome it. I went into the operation and then, of course, woke up and my leg was gone and again, of course in a sense the disappointment. But again I was able to somehow gather the strength to say that I m gonna overcome this thing and do well. DEFENSELINK Not a day goes by without me struggling to make sense over why I survived and those other people did not. Gritting my teeth, I pushed against his hand again and again. As I continued this exercise day after day, I realized that, amazingly, I was getting strong at these broken places. The muscles that were left began developing and compensating for muscles that had been lost. Slowly, ever so slowly, my body was beginning to adjust to its new shape and the new demands placed upon it. Hope began to grow in me again. When you re young, you re invincible. You re immortal. I thought I d come back. Perhaps I wouldn t...but I had this feeling that I would come back. Underneath that feeling, there was another...that maybe I wouldn t be quite the same. It was kind of like in a movie. There s a little white flash and then you open your eyes and you re lying on the ground. It s so painful you can t even breathe. DEFENSELINK I had an angel watching over me that night...and for some reason I m still here today. You learn that your absolute limit is not, in fact, your absolute limit. I absolutely refuse to allow what has happened to me that afternoon of July 21st to be the lens through which everything in my life should be viewed. The Marine captain in our ward was always saying: If any of you is looking for sympathy, you ll find it just below syphilis in the dictionary. I don t think he could alphabetize very well...but point taken. One minute I would be utterly grateful that I was still able to see, breathe, feel and think. The next minute I would sink into despair knowing that I would never again walk on my own legs, that I would never again be the man I once was, that I would never again be like other people. I fought it as long as I can but I am faced with admitting that I am disabled. I found myself repeatedly returning to my past, languishing over what I d lost, becoming angry over what I couldn t do, struggling to come to grips with the idea that I wasn t whole anymore.

5 As the wounded Marines undergo rehabilitation, they are confronted with new important choices to make coming to understand the meaning of their injuries, managing their pain and independence, and discovering how they will create their futures. This critical period of time will have a great impact on what kind of lives these Marines will lead. DEFENSELINK I was meant to do something. That s why I survived. You can t let things stop you from what you want to do, and this isn t going to stop me at all. Just something I ve got to overcome, and I m going to. I think one of the things that drove me to strive to become a Marine was hearing about this camaraderie, and this bond and this brotherhood. And, it seems unreal. A lot of us are infantry that get hurt. And the best career path after being in the infantry is usually law enforcement. And with our injuries it looks like we can t even do that anymore. I think the wounded Marine s worst enemy might be himself...holding himself back. Transitioning out has become difficult for me...because the Marine Corps has become such a large part of my life. When they re constantly giving you morphine, I ll never know how much I m hurting, so I ll never know how much I m healing and I ll never know what I have to do to get better. The Marine Corps can definitely take credit for instilling a number of virtues in young men...and courage is right up there with them. To feel a basketball or shoot the perfect shot, I miss that. All I want to do is touch something with my missing hand. I ve still got a lot to offer... I m not done. I m a long way from done. There are still things I can do, still things I can contribute. I m trying to get better little by little. I know it s going to take a while. People don t know that it is so painful to discuss. First you have to grow up suddenly. Then you have to figure out what you believe in. FORGET ME NOT FOUNDATION I didn t tell my family everything. I just told them what they needed to hear. If my injuries continue to be a problem, the military will retire me. And if that happens, I ll have to find something outside the military. There s any number of things I can do, I guess. But I never really thought about it before. FORGET ME NOT FOUNDATION The Marine Corps is really good at teaching you to adapt and overcome, no matter what the situation is. I can definitely see everything I learned in the Marine Corps...the work ethic, that never quit attitude, kind of shrug this off and find something else to do and put myself in that direction. I love my scars. Why I love them is that they will never allow me to forget. It s all about bringing each other home.

6 The Forget Me Not Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that is launching a unique job training program for wounded Marines. The Center for Careers in Media will help young Marines wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan heal through learning the art and skill of visual storytelling. More than 30 film industry professionals will share their video and photojournalism expertise with participating wounded Marines. As a pilot program, the Center for Careers in Media enlists a professional Civilian Corps to serve the Wounded Warrior Regiment as instructors and mentors in order to develop new careers for transitioning Marines. General James T. Conway, Commandant of the US Marine Corps, and Colonel Gregory Boyle, Commander of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, have granted approval to proceed with a first-of-its-kind career training and job placement program for our nation s wounded Marines and Navy Corpsmen. Slated for an October opening, the Center will host its first class of wounded Marines selected from the Wounded Warrior Regiment. Award-winning professionals have developed a curriculum of classroom and field instruction, as well as personal mentorship, to equip these young Marines to pursue careers in the media, arts and entertainment fields. Collaboration and Leadership Learning new skills from our assembled film team, wounded Marines will train among each other while transitioning to new careers. A Marine never faces battle alone, nor should he or she in recuperation. Even bed-ridden Marines can learn how to connect through computers and cameras with other Marines, family members, friends and/or job opportunities. Healing Through the Art of Storytelling Sharing experiences with fellow service members and the American public will reinforce the brotherhood and spirit of the Marine Corps team. Learning how to document these stories can serve as an occupational and therapeutic healing tool on many levels, from TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) patients to those suffering from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), to those Marines requiring long-term physical rehabilitation. FORGET ME NOT FOUNDATION

7 With permission from the Marine Corps, any Wounded Warrior who expresses an interest in learning filmmaking/ video journalism skills will be eligible for training, despite physical capability. Our partners, staff and faculty will adapt any and all equipment to accommodate each Marine s specific needs and capabilities. Award-Winning Faculty The Forget Me Not Foundation has assembled a rotating visiting faculty comprised of filmmakers, directors of photography, writers, editors, cameramen, soundmen, photographers, graphic designers and other technicians leading the industry. Collectively, the growing faculty roster currently holds 3 Academy Awards, 27 Emmys, 8 Cine Eagles and numerous other national and international entertainment industry awards. The faculty roster will also include former combat-wounded Marines and other physically challenged professionals who currently work in the film industry so the student Marines will be mentored by those with similar life experiences. Professional Certification Apple, Panasonic, Adobe, Canon and AbelCineTech will each provide comprehensive training that will result in certification for the Marine participants. Further, each of our sponsors has committed to offer to assist Marine graduates with 100% job placement in the various fields of the industry. FORGET ME NOT FOUNDATION Union Membership and Job Placement The International Alliance of Theatre Stage Employees (IATSE) is fully allied with the Wounded Warrior Center for Careers in Media. IATSE is the major labor union representing motion picture technicians, artists and allied crafts. IATSE has agreed to accept into the Union and offer full accreditation to combat-wounded Marines who have successfully completed and graduated from the Careers in Media Training Center. It has also committed to waiving entry/initiation fees for participating Marines and is counting all days that the students are enrolled in the Center towards their industry experience roster, thereby giving graduating Marines the ability to work as professional crew within the entertainment industry. Dan Carlson and Rod Walsh, Marines and authors of Semper Fi: Business Leadership the Marine Corps Way, have joined the faculty of the Center as Career Transition Counselors. The Foundation will work with each graduating Marine to find the job of their choice... and a firm place to land if and when they need to be medically retired.

8 Administration Office Theatre / Classroom / Studio 20 x 20 Equipment & Training Main Classroom / Projection Studio 25 x 40 Edit Suite / Classroom Edit Suite / Classroom Edit Suite / Classroom Edit Suite / Classroom The location selected for the Center for Careers in Media is the 11-acre campus of Stu Segall Productions in San Diego County, California. 10 miles north of San Diego along the Pacific Coast, 46 miles south of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (home of Wounded Warrior Battalion West, 1 Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Recruit Depot and the Naval Hospital), 4 miles south of Miramar Marine Corps Air Station (3d Marine Aircraft Wing), 10 miles north of Balboa Naval Regional Medical Center 120 miles south of Hollywood The studio contains 6 sound stages covering over 70,000 square feet and over 20,000 square feet of offices. It has complete production support services (wardrobe, props, set dressing, construction mill and staff, paint and metal shops, scenic art and sign shops, grip and lighting equipment, picture car fleet and ADR studio). The innovative Strategic Operations Marine training facility is located on the studio s grounds a 20-acre force-on-force training facility using the magic of Hollywood to create Hyper-Realistic training scenarios and combat immersion with a simulated Afghanistan/Iraq village. Special effects artists create realistic effects, wounds, scenarios and explosions, and professionally trained actors serve as opposing forces, wounded troops and civilians in the MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) and Tactical Training facilities to replicate urban environments in which military units find themselves when they deploy in support of the Global War on Terrorism. In addition, the San Diego SWAT Team does training on the site, and will assist the Wounded Warriors program for film and forensics training purposes.

9 Curriculum Outline At the beginning of each semester, every student will be issued the full filmmaker s package: HVX 200 Video Camera Mac Pro G5 Computer and Monitor with Turnkey Final Cut Mac Book Pro Laptop Computer 3 Terrabyte Hard Drive Storage Audio Package Lighting & Grip Package Miscellaneous Software Canon Rebel Digital Stills Camera Package 4 Gigabyte Compact Flash Card Miscellaneous Still Photography Equipment Curriculum Supplies Software Licenses Digital Photography Mastery of the (Canon Rebel) camera, composition and lighting techniques. Instructor: Phil Caruso Camera Functions Exposure Composition Lighting Techniques Flash Photography Techniques Low Light Photography Lenses and Specialized Equipment Adobe Photoshop/Apple Aperture Digital Photo Printers Photojournalism: Magazines and/or Newspapers Set Etiquette and Media Ethics Specialized Course: Forensic Photography and Crime Scene Support A two-week course which will provide additional training to Marines seeking Law Enforcement billets. This course will expand upon digital camera techniques taught by the Faculty. Marine students will learn to integrate their equipment with their Marine training to work within crime units and make court presentations that are legally accepted. FBI Supervisory Special Agent Timothy J. Healy has offered to mentor students toward careers in the FBI, i.e., Criminal Analysis, Intelligence Analysis. This represents an opportunity to serve, to stay in the fight against terrorism, illegal drugs and public corruption. Digital Cinematography Mastery of the (Panasonic HVX200) camera, composition, lighting techniques and camera movement. Camera Functions Exposure Composition Lighting Techniques Lenses and Specialized Equipment Camera Support: Dollies, Cranes and Jibs Videojournalism: Television and/or Documentaries Set Etiquette and Media Ethics Specialized Courses: Assistant Cameraman for Film Work Camera Maintenance/Repair Editing Learning post-production techniques as they apply to picture and sound editing, visual/audio storytelling, certification in Final Cut Pro on Apple Macbook Pro. Instructors: Noah Kadner, Monica Reina, Final Cut Pro Trainers Instructor: Norman Smith, Storyteller/Director Picture Editing Sound Editing Music Editing Color Correction Storytelling Specialized Course: Special Effects Audio Mastery of field and studio recording techniques using boom and wireless mikes. Instructor: Chad Gunther Sound Recording (dialogue, music, wild track and sound effects) Mixing (multiple microphones) Set Etiquette FORGET ME NOT FOUNDATION Entry Level Job Training Mentors/Instructors: Dan Carrison, Rod Walsh, Semper Fi: Ammunition for the Transitioning Marine Marine Corps Association: MG Les Palm Marine Corps Executive Association: COL Steve Abel (USMC Ret.) Cinematography Cameraman Grip Lighting Equipment Maintenance/Repair Still Photography Assistant to Head Photographer Equipment Maintenance Audio Cable Wrangler Organizer Equipment Maintenance

10 CAMERA ALWAYS MOVING WOUNDED WARRIOR WEST COAST TRAINING CENTER SHOWING RELATIONSHIP OF STUDENT TO INSTRUCTOR ECU HANDS ON FOCUS 1 ECU HANDS ON FLAG ECU HANDS ON MIXER CU FACES 2 CU ON FACES 3 SHOT # SHOT # SHOT # ECU HANDS ON CAMERAS CU ON FACES INT. CLASSROOM - DAY Instructor explains camera operation and adjusts the camera s french flag. INT. CLASSROOM - DAY Instructor shows a student how to use a sound mixer. INT. CLASSROOM - DAY Instructor points out the settings on a digital still camera. ECU HANDS ON KEYBOARD CU FACES OF STUDENTS ECU SCREEN CU INSTRUCTOR 4 CU ON FACES 5 COVER INTERACTION 6 SHOT # SHOT # SHOT # MS SCREEN + INSTRUCTOR CU FACES OF STUDENTS INT. HOSPITAL - DAY Instructor helps a student with an editing assignment. INT. CLASSROOM - DAY Camera pulls back to reveal a student with a question. INT. THEATER Camera moves across an audience of students as instructor teaches.

11 CAMERA ALWAYS MOVING MS INSTRUCTOR 7 JIB MS STUDENTS MS STUDENTS CU FACES 8 MS STUDENT + LIGHT 9 JIB SHOT # SHOT # SHOT # CRANE UP TO STUDENT + 10K LIGHT ECU HANDS CU FACES INT. CLASSROOM - DAY Instructor teaches a class on film production as students take notes. INT. CLASSROOM Instructor acts as stand-in while a student adjusts the key light. INT. CLASSROOM - DAY A student adjusts a 10K as another student raises a gel in front of it. CRANE DOWN TO OS SHOT 10 JIB CU HANDS + EQUIPMENT CU ON SCREEN ECU FACES 11 JIB CU ON FACES 12 JIB SHOT # SHOT # SHOT # CU FACES CU SLATE CRANE UP AT END EXT. CAPITOL STEPS - DAY Camera pulls back to reveal two students shooting an interview without assistance. INT. EDITING STUDIO - DAY Instructor supervises two students editing. INT. CLASSROOM - DAY That s a wrap!

12 Major Gift Opportunities $5,000,000 Exclusive Naming Rights Endowment Name on Wounded Warrior Center for Careers in Media training center building Press release announcing gift and mutually agreed-upon public relations initiative Single-Card credit on inaugural film documentary and all subsequent productions (five seconds) Invitation for 20 to attend premiere and pre-premiere Reception and dinner with honorary chairs Donor recognition package $1,500,000 Pilot Program Endowment Exclusive naming gift to endow the pilot program for the Center for Careers in Media Press release announcing gift and mutually agreed-upon public relations initiative Single-Card credit on inaugural film documentary (five seconds) and credit roll on subsequent productions Invitation for 15 to attend premiere and pre-premiere Reception and dinner with honorary chairs Donor recognition package $100,000 Film Studio / Theatre Spaces Endowment Naming gift for film studio / theatre space (5 gifts available) Edit Suite, Still Photography Studio, Graphic Design Studio, Central Administration, Research Library Shared Half-Card credit on inaugural film documentary (five seconds) and credit roll on subsequent productions Invitation for 6 to attend premiere and pre-premiere Donor recognition package $100,000 Film School Faculty Support Provides funding for faculty members (including transportation, housing and equipment) in the following disciplines (9 gifts available) Camera Instructor (2), Audio Instructor, Editing Instructor (2), Graphic Design Instructor, Apple Computer Instructor, Still Photography Instructor, Film Directing Instructor Shared Half-Card credit on inaugural film documentary (five seconds) and credit roll on subsequent productions Invitation for 6 to attend premiere and pre-premiere Donor recognition package $50,000 Student Filmmakers Education Package Provides funding for individual Marines education equipment package (cameras, audio, software, computers, etc.), which will be issued at the beginning of each semester and returned to the Center upon completion of the program for future training (25 gifts available). Shared One-Third-Card credit on inaugural film documentary (two-three seconds) and credit roll on subsequent productions Invitation for 4 to attend premiere and pre-premiere Donor recognition package Donor Recognition Package Photo opportunity with USMC participants Honor Roll listing at Wounded Warrior Regiment East & West headquarters and special recognition from the USMC Wounded Warriors Regiment Recognition on website. Scholarship Opportunities At completion of the course, students will receive membership in IATSE with dues waived, professional certification and job placement. $500,000 Total Scholarship Package Provides scholarships for all 50 Wounded Warrior students in a two-semester yearly program (available annually). Press release announcing gift and mutually agreed-upon public relations initiative Single-Card credit on productions during year of gift (five seconds) Invitation for 10 to attend premiere and pre-premiere Reception and dinner with honorary chairs Donor recognition package $250,000 Semester Scholarship Program Provides scholarships for all 25 Wounded Warrior students in a semester program. Press release announcing gift and mutually agreed-upon public relations initiative Single-Card credit on productions during semester (five seconds) Invitation for 8 to attend premiere and pre-premiere Reception and dinner with honorary chairs Donor recognition package $50,000 Wounded Warrior Squad Scholarship Provides scholarships for 5 Wounded Warrior students in the same squad per semester. Shared One-Third-Card credit roll on semester productions Invitation for 4 to attend premiere and pre-premiere Donor recognition package $10,000 Individual Wounded Warrior Scholarship Provides scholarship for a single student per semester. Credit roll on semester productions Invitation for 2 to attend premiere and pre-premiere Donor recognition package

13 Board of Directors Pete Abel founding owner of AbelCineTech, one of the nation s leading professional film and video sales, rental and service companies. AbelCineTech will supply all film and video equipment for the documentary and film training center. LCDR Cliff B. Carnes III, US Navy Reserve Senior Vice President, Operations at Johnson Capital, the largest privately held real estate investment bank in the U.S. Prior to joining Johnson Capital, Cliff served as the senior watch officer for 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company in Iraq. Cliff had a followon assignment for eighteen months as the Director of Public Affairs for the First Marine Expeditionary Force/ Lt. Gen. Mattis at Camp Pendleton, California. Phillip V. Caruso award-winning veteran of stills photography for major motion pictures as well as a film professor, Phillip also serves as Dean of the Center for Careers in Media. CAPT Francis T. Coleman (USMC Ret.) partner in the Washington, DC office of Williams Mullen, specializing in labor and employment law. After graduating from Georgetown Law School, he served as a Marine JAG officer in Vietnam. He has spent his entire career in private practice, where he has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America in his field. LuAnne Costello a tireless volunteer within the Wounded Warrior Barracks at the Naval Hospital/Balboa and the Wounded Warrior Center, Camp Pendleton, LuAnne will serve as the Wounded Warrior Student Advocate for the Foundation. VADM Barry Costello (USN Ret.) recently commanded the Navy s THIRD Fleet. Prior to that he was the Chief of Legislative Affairs for the Navy, commanded the CONSTELLATION Strike Group during wartime, and was the Deputy Director for Strategy and Policy on the Joint Staff. VADM Costello serves as Military Liaison between the Foundation Board and the Armed Services. James Egan professor at the prestigious USC Graduate School of Cinema in Los Angeles and an award-winning producer of feature and documentary films, James is the CEO of Wild At Heart Films, just completed the documentary film Angels In The Dust for Participant Productions ( An Inconvenient Truth ) and has recently won a Special Jury Prize at the Seattle Film Festival. Angels In The Dust will premier in NYC and Los Angeles this Fall to qualify for Oscar consideration. Sarah Farnsworth works with former USMC Commandant GEN Jim Jones (USMC Ret.) as his Executive Director for Strategy and Programs on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce s Institute for the 21st Century. She served as Vice President and Chief of Staff of the USO World Headquarters, working closely with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, members of Congress, the White House and the Pentagon to develop programs and support for America s military personnel and their families. Amy Garcia, RN, MSN a Registered Nurse with expertise in occupation health and return to work issues, she is Executive Director of the National Association of School Nurses, leading more than 700 personnel and managing programs for multiple hospital departments at distant locations. As the wife of a combat-injured Marine, she understands the challenges of military medicine and rehabilitation. Mark Jonathan Harris an award-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist, novelist, and Distinguished Professor at the School of Cinematic Arts at USC, where he has taught since Among the many documentaries he has written, produced and/or directed are The Redwoods (Oscar for Best Short Documentary, 1968) and The Long Way Home and Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport, Oscars for Best Feature Length Documentary in 1997 and GEN Paul X. Kelley (USMC Ret.) served as the 28th Commandant of the Marine Corps and Member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1983 until his retirement in Subsequently, he served under three Presidents as Chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission. In this position he was responsible for the design and construction of the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the legislation, construction and dedication of the National World War II Memorial. General Kelley currently serves as Vice Chairman Emeritus for the public policy firm, Cassidy and Associates. CPL Philip Levine (USMC Ret.) Wanting wounded Marine representation, Marine Corporal Philip Levine of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines has agreed to serve. Corporal Levine participated in Operation Phantom Fury and was shot in a close-range firefight during the battle for Fallujah and was subsequently medically discharged. Phil attended NY University Film School and immediately after 9/11 enlisted in the Marines. Kevin A. Lombard co-founder of the Wounded Warrior Foundation for Careers in Media and documentary filmmaker with more than 35 years in the entertainment industry. He holds three Emmys and several industry awards as a director and for his work behind the camera, including the Reading Rainbow series, Sesame Street and fashion/corporate commercials. Kevin s father was a Marine aviator in World War II, who went on to win four Emmys at NBC. Judith Ann Paixao married to Kevin Lombard, she is cofounder of the Wounded Warrior Foundation for Careers in Media. A real estate developer for 25 years, specializing in urban waterfront mixed-use developments, she started a second career as a noted jewelry designer. David K. Storrs graduated from Yale University and Harvard Business School and then managed the Yale University endowment. He currently manages a fund of hedge funds in Southport, Connecticut. Landon T. Storrs previously a professional pilot and flight instructor, she is currently a civic leader and fundraiser in Southport, Connecticut. SGT Matthew Zbiec (USMC Ret.) enlisted in the USMC ten days after graduation from high school in At the age of eighteen SGT Zbiec was given leadership of a Squad of 20 men. He was severely injured by an IED in Fallujah and has been medically retired as of August While in the USMC SGT Zbiec received three Meritorious Promotions in one year, one of the highest honors granted to deserving Marines. SGT Austin K. Wolf (USMC Ret.) Of Counsel to the Board, Austin received degrees from Yale University and Harvard Law School, thanks to his service in the Marine Corps and the GI Bill. He is co-founder of Cohen and Wolf, P.C. and is listed in the Best Lawyers in America since He was recently honored with the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award by the Connecticut Bar Association s Planning & Zoning Section. Forget Me Not: Wounded Warrior Foundation for Careers in Media is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are fully tax-deductible according to provisions of the law.