STRONG FOR VETERANS, Creating a New Normal

Presentation Speakers

• Command Sergeant Major Brunk W. Conley – Served as the 10th Command Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard. His immediate previous assignment was as State Command Sergeant Major for the Oregon National Guard. He began his military career in December 1981 and he completed One Station Unit Training (OSUT) at Ft. Benning, Georgia in the fall of 1982, where he was awarded the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 11B, Infantryman. He completed Airborne School and was assigned to Company A, 3rd Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Ft. Lewis, Washington. He held positions as a rifleman, grenadier, automatic rifleman, senior rifleman and team leader. Upon completion of his initial enlistment, Command Sergeant Major Conley joined the Oregon Army National Guard.
• Dawson Officer – Owner and craft distiller of 4 Spirits Distillery. Dawson served a full tour in Baghdad, Iraq with the 2-162 Infantry Battalion. Dawson dedicated the distillery to the casualties of four combat soldiers he served with in the Oregon National Guard 2 Battalion, 162 Infantry Brigade. Lt. Erik McCrae, Sgt. Justin Linden, Sgt. Justin Eyerly and Sgt. David Roustum lost their lives in 2004 serving in Baghdad, Iraq.
• Alison Perry, MS, LPC – SISTER & Founder, Central Oregon Veterans Ranch. Perry will share the great work COVR is doing to restore purpose and spirit to Veterans of all ages.
• Beach Pace – CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Columbia Northwest. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in Latin American Studies, Pace led and managed an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company (Bomb Squad), which provided nuclear, biological, chemical, and terrorist device support to the Mediterranean, Africa, and Southwest Asia regions. Pace will share her reflections on continuing to serve after the military, and how strong and enduring relationships change lives for the better, forever.