Antoinette Watson
REGION 1 and 3 - North Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic 
Regional Coordinator (Contractor)

Antoinette is a retired Army First Sergeant with over 23 years of service in the Medical Corps. She serves as an Education and Employment Initiative (E2I) and Operation Warfighter (OWF) Regional Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic. Her experience in the Military and as a Recovery Care Coordinator will be beneficial in assisting Servicemembers with their educational, training, or employment goals. Antoinette is dedicated to the success of Servicemembers achieving their goals as they transition from Military Service. 

James West
REGION 1 - Northeast
E2I/OWF Regional Coordinator (Contractor)

James West is a retired Army Sergeant Major with over 22 years of military service. He serves as an Education and Employment Initiative (E2I) and Operation Warfighter (OWF) Regional Coordinator for Region 1. James' military background and experience working with Soldiers and their families enable him to assist transitioning wounded, ill, or injured Soldiers. Also, from personal experience going through a medical retirement, he knows how overwhelming it can be to transition out of the military while maintaining medical requirements. James is committed to leveraging his knowledge of medical transitioning service members and his ties to the community to ensure every service member successfully transitions from the military.
 

Martin Del Rio
REGION 2 - Fort Belvoir and Northeast
Regional Coordinator (Contractor)

Martin is a Veteran of the United States Army National Guard, serving a tour in Iraq as an infantryman with the 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Since being honorably discharged in 2013, Martin has served in various Veteran support and Wounded Warrior Advocacy roles assisting Service Members, Veterans, and their families through recovery, transition, education, employment, and most recently as the Soldier and Family Readiness Specialist for the Indiana Army National Guard. Martin’s ability to quickly build rapport with Service Members has allowed him to better assist in situations where building trust is necessary to better achieve a favorable outcome. His passion stems from his own experiences being a homeless Veteran shortly after returning from his tour of duty and has since committed himself to assisting our Service Members in pursuing their goals and simultaneously avoid the same pitfalls he has endured. Martin’s previous roles as Career Coordinator, AW2 Advocate, and Soldier and Family Readiness Specialist have allowed him to better assist those seeking to further their education, obtain gainful employment, or further develop their current skill sets. Additionally, Martin currently serves as the Education and Employment Initiative (E2I) and Operation Warfighter (OWF) Regional Coordinator for the National Capitol Region.

Natali Esteves
REGION 2 - Fort Belvoir and Northeast
E2I/OWF Regional Coordinator (Contractor)

Natali Esteves has worked and lived around diverse military communities for almost 20 years, during that time she has dedicated herself to outreach roles within federal, private, and non-profit agencies and programs supporting thousands of military community members worldwide. She is driven by compassion and a diligent dedication to provide supportive resources, guidance for transitioning service members and inspiration of academic and professional pursuits. Apart from dedicating herself to round the clock outreach efforts for communities at home and abroad, she was pursuing graduate degrees and certificates that would expand her knowledge and experience. Natali often reminds service members to focus on new the possibilities beyond the uniform and encourages upskilling opportunities that will open more pathways. Natali is a regional coordinator for the National Capital Region’s Education and Employment Initiative (E2I) and Operation Warfighter (OWF) programs.
 

Marq McLeod
REGION 3 - Mid-Atlantic 
Regional Coordinator (Contractor)

Marquadealsandro “Marq” McLeod is a retired 1SG with the United States Army. Marq is from MossPoint, MS, and is married with two children (10 and 3). Marq retired from the United States Army after 24 years of Active-Duty service. Marq has held a myriad of positions, but none were more rewarding and influential than serving as 1SG. “I’m looking forward to providing purpose, direction, and guidance for our Warriors as they transition into the civilian sector.”

Lisa Goenen
REGION 4 - Southeast
Regional Coordinator (Contractor)

Lisa Goenen served 24 years in the US Army and continues to serve as a Master Sergeant in the Army Reserves. Lisa is an Employment and Education Initiative (E2I) and Operation Warfighter (OWF) Regional Coordinator for Fort Stewart, GA, as well as installations located in Georgia, Florida and Puerto Rico. Over the past two years, serving as the First Sergeant of the Warrior Transition Battalion Community Care Unit she was instrumental in transitioning more than 200 Soldiers into the civilian sector. Lisa has developed relationships throughout communities in Georgia, Florida, and Puerto Rico and possesses the knowledge and experience to assist Service members during their transition.

Mayo "Biff" Hadden III
REGION 4 - Southeast
Regional Coordinator (Contractor)

Biff Hadden, is a retired Army Colonel and served almost 31 years in a variety of Infantry and Special Forces assignments. He recently joined the team as the Education and Employment Initiative (E2I) and Operation Warfighter (OWF) Regional Coordinator for Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and installations located in the Florida panhandle. Over the past eight years, he has assisted a large number of soldiers matching them with employment or education opportunities as a volunteer adviser. Biff has forged relationships with a large number of employers both locally and throughout his region. With his economic development background, he has the experience to discuss the economic landscape in the Southeast Region, and provide the assistance and guidance necessary to ensure a seamless transition for wounded, ill and injured Service members.

Eric Gehring
REGION 5 - South Central
Regional Coordinator (Contractor)

Eric Gehring is a retired Army Master Sergeant. Eric has personally assisted numerous wounded, ill, and injured Service members by assisting with achieving their career goals through federal internships. Eric is committed to leveraging his knowledge, experience, and the relationships he has developed with federal agencies in the region to shape the transition and recovery goals of each Service member to achieve success.

Erasmos Valles
REGION 6 - Southern
Regional Coordinator (Contractor)

Erasmo Valles is a retired Marine officer and has worked as the Operation Warfighter (OWF) Southern Regional Coordinator for over four years. He also has experience assisting wounded, ill and injured Service members and their families as a Recovery Care Coordinator. Erasmo has worked to assist hundreds of wounded, ill and injured Service members recover and transition into new careers. He has built solid working relationships with federal agencies and employers in the region that have led to successful internships and potential employment opportunities that positively impact the reintegration process.

Ned Hall 
REGION 7 - Mid-West
Regional Coordinator (Contractor)

Ned Hall is a retired Army Sergeant Major. He is the Operation Warfighter (OWF) Regional Coordinator for the Mid-West. Ned has assisted more than 250 wounded, ill, and injured Service members matching them to internship opportunities, while developing a solid relationship with more than 50 federal agencies in the region. He is uniquely qualified to discuss the specifics of the economic landscape in the region having been born, raised, and currently residing there. Ned can assist the wounded, ill, and injured Service member seek new skills and opportunities for a confident and successful transition.

James Gibson
REGION 7 - Mid-West
Regional Coordinator (Contractor)

James Gibson is a retired Army First Sergeant with over 24 years of service in Special Operations. He recently joined the team as the Operation Warfighter (OWF) Regional Coordinator for the Mid-West. Driven by achievement, he takes pride in providing the best service possible. As a Regional Coordinator his goal is to grow the network and deliver on commitments. He recognizes the existing necessity for an effortless transition for wounded, ill and injured Service members.

Amber Hargrave
Region 8 - Great Plains/Rocky Mountain
Coordinator (Contractor)

Amber Hargrave is a Career Coach and military spouse with over 8 years’ experience working the military community. Throughout her career, Amber has established local and national coalitions with over 150 non-profit/ profit organizations and countless corporations focused on advocating and assisting transitioning service members with employment and education opportunities. Currently, Amber sits on the Board of Directors with the El Paso County Homeless Veterans Coalition focusing on ending Veterans homelessness in the state of Colorado. Since 2018, Amber joined the Education and Employment Initiative to continue her passion to support wounded and ill transitioning service members continue to thrive in their careers after their military transition.

Tristen Wendland
Region 8 - Great Plains/Rocky Mountain
Regional Coordinator (Contractor)

Tristen is a 25-year military spouse. She has worked throughout her spouses Army career within the federal government. She worked the last 18 years with Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Readiness and Employment program. As a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors, she assisted service members and veterans in overcoming barriers to employment and provided education benefits to help them retrain for other careers. Prior to that Tristen worked for the Department of the Army as a Army Substance Abuse Counselor for about 4 years. In this role she assisted service members maintain force readiness. Throughout her spouse’s career she also took on volunteer roles as Family Support Senior Advisor at both the Battalion and Brigade Levels. Currently she serves as the Colorado West Point Parents Club Vice President, and the Chairman for the Colorado All Service Academy Ball for the Colorado and Wyoming region. Tristen also sponsors Air Force Academy Cadets through their 4-year journey at the Academy. Currently, Tristen serves as the Operation Warfighter (OWF) Regional Coordinator for Region 8 Rocky Mountain and Great Plains Region which covers ND, SD, NE, KS, WY, UT, and CO.

Ramon Ubaldo
REGION 9 - Northwest
OWF Regional Coordinator (Contractor)

Ramon is a retired 1SG after 20 years of Active-Duty service in the United States Army in the Armor and Cavalry community. He recently joined Operation Warfighter (OWF) Regional Coordinator for the Northwest Region. His dedication to the overall success of transitioning service members plays a vital role in building rapport and trust to achieve their goals. His goal is to build solid relationships with federal agencies in the region which will enhance the ability to provide successful support and transition for our wounded, ill and injured service members. In his previous role with the Work for Warriors program he has served and assisted numerous service members, veterans, and families enhancing their well-being by mitigating unemployment and under employment that negatively impacted their lives. 
 

Sandra Ambotaite
Region 10 - Southwest
Coordinator (Contractor)

Sandra Ambotaite is an Army veteran who spent her military career working as a medical administration and operations specialist. Her experience working in the medical field as well as participating in the OWF program in 2012 uniquely prepared her and inspired her to help other recovering Service members to ensure they have a seamless and successful transition. Since separating from the military, Sandra has been deeply involved in the military and veteran community within the San Diego area. Sandra has been an active volunteer and an intern with different veteran/military organization as well as federal agencies such as Homeland Security and Department of State. Sandra’s education includes a Masters in Peace and Justice, B.S. in International Security and Conflict Resolution and Advanced Mediation Training.