EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Genevieve Chase

Genevieve Chase is the founder and executive director of American Women Veterans and a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom VII. After enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserve in 2003, Chase volunteered to serve with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). While deployed to Afghanistan as a Sergeant in 2006, her vehicle was attacked by a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. The passengers survived the attack, but suffered varying degrees of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post traumatic stress. To counter various symptoms of TBI and PTS, Chase dedicated herself to veterans advocacy.

Since returning from active duty service, Chase has worked tirelessly to bring to light the issues faced by today’s veterans. While advocating on their behalf, she discovered a need for a focus on women veterans and their families from all eras and branches of service. From that void, Chase created American Women Veterans and began, in earnest, the 21st century women veterans’ movement.

A recipient of the Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge, Chase has testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee about her experiences in Afghanistan as well as the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee concerning women’s health care. In addition to her role as executive director of AWV, she serves as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve. For her outstanding work both in and out of uniform, the U.S. Army selected her as a 2010 All American Soldier Hero. Recognized as an advocate for female veterans and for her knowledge and experiences in Afghanistan, Chase acts as a media consultant to major media outlets and publications.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Virginia  ”Joyce”  Irwin

Virginia Joyce Irwin is a Co-founder and the Director of Operations for American Women Veterans.  After enlisting into the regular Army in 2003, Virginia completed two rotations to Korea as a Military Intelligence professional.  While stationed at Army bases in Seoul and later Pyongtaek, Virginia volunteered her time with the Red Cross in Emergency Medical Care units.  Upon completing five years of active duty service, she felt the pull to continue her service by being part of an organization that would serve to empower her fellow servicewomen, veterans and supporting community as well as provide opportunities to take part in philanthropic projects.

Virginia has a Bachelors Degree in Sociology, with an emphasis in Criminal Justice from the University of Tennessee and while in active service, she completed a graduate level certificate in Conflict Resolution from Kansas State University.

She currently serves as a Sergeant with the U.S. Army Reserve and resides in Virginia.

VETERANS’ ADVOCATES

Matthew Collins

Matt was commissioned into the Marine Corps in 1998 and served as the Intelligence Officer for 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion.  After September 11th, he deployed to the Middle East in the Operations section of 2nd Battalion/ 6th Marines as part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit. In 2003, he deployed with the British Army to Sierra Leone as part of the International Military Advisory and Training team, on the Liberian border near the end of the civil war. He deployed again to Bahrain as part of Marine Corps Central Command (MARCENT), traveling to half the countries in the Middle East and serving as the Deputy Commander of MARCENT’s Intelligence briefer during the Marine Corps takeover of the Anbar Province in Iraq. Matt currently assist AWV with grant research and business development.

WEB & NEW MEDIA MANAGER

Alicia D. Large

The granddaughter of a WWII veteran and daughter of a Vietnam veteran, Alicia’s involvement with American Women Veterans began as a volunteer with a strong desire to give back to those who have given so much to our country. Alicia is a graduate of Arcadia University with a BA magna cum laude in English and Secondary Education. She also spent a year studying literature and creative writing at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom.

Alicia has worked in the corporate world as an executive assistant to the Vice President of a large property acquisitions group, in the small business world as a veterinary technician and has spent the last few years as a per diem teacher in eight elementary schools that span the socioeconomic spectrum. Alicia has worked in the field of web and graphic design for various nonprofit and for profit clients and is a freelance writer that has produced opinion pieces on politics, society and culture encompassing a wide range of media sources, many of which have been featured in literary journals, popular online venues and local publications.

Alicia is currently working toward a graduate degree in counseling and resides just outside of Philadelphia with her husband and three sons.

FUNDRAISING TEAM

Kelley Lubovich

BOARD OF ADVISORS

Patricia Driscoll

Patricia served 9.5 years in the active Army as a Military Intelligence Officer with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), 66th Military Intelligence Group and 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.  During that time, she served as a Cavalry Squadron Assistant Intelligence Officer, Division Rear Intelligence Officer (S2/G2), Document Exploitation Team Leader, Tactics Instructor and Company Commander. In 2006, Patricia embarked upon a new career as a civilian where she worked as a defense contractor and federal senior law enforcement intelligence research specialist within the Department of Homeland Security.  Her focus areas included counterterrorism, maritime counterdrug and counter-proliferation intelligence analysis.  Patricia graduated from Norwich University in 1997 with a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies.  She possesses a Masters Degree in Management and Leadership and an M.B.A from Webster University.  Patricia is currently a volunteer advisor to American Women Veterans.

Adrianne Dicker Kadzinski

Ms. Dicker Kadzinski is a senior executive management advisor to the US Department of State. Prior to working with the State Department, she spent 15 years in institutional finance, including 10 years at Morgan Stanley, where she was an Executive Director in the Investment Banking, Fixed Income and Prime Brokerage Divisions. Throughout her career in finance, she directly managed financings for transactions totaling tens of billions of dollars (US). Ms. Dicker Kadzinski builds businesses and platforms, both de novo as well as expands and improves existing lines of business and platforms. She is also an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, currently assigned to the Department of State’s Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism. She is Board Advisor for American Women Veterans, an Officer Sister and Audit Committee Member of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, a Board Advisor for the Rebuilding Afghanistan Foundation and is active in other charitable endeavors.

Will Felder

Will Felder was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2004. He served in the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) and the Ranger Training Brigade (Airborne). He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as a rifle platoon leader, during which time he experienced first hand the contributions of heroic American women in combat. In 2009, Will left active duty to become a student at Emory University pursuing a Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration, as well as continuing to serve as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve. He has been awarded, among others, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star, and the Ranger Tab. Will is currently a volunteer advisor to American Women Veterans.

LEGAL ADVISORS – ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE

Stephen C. Lessard

Mr. Lessard is an associate in Orrick’s New York office, is a member of the Tax Group.  Mr. Lessard focuses his practice on the taxation of debt and equity offerings, collateralizations, reorganizations, cross-border transactions and municipal finance.  Mr. Lessard also has experience counseling nonprofit organizations on federal tax law and corporate governance. Prior to joining Orrick, Mr. Lessard was a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy. Publications: Co-author, “IRS Proposes New Regulations on Contract Manufacturing and Subpart F Income,” Practical U.S./International Tax Strategies, Mar. 21, 2008 Giving Life to LIFO: Adoption of the LIFO Method of Inventory Valuation by the Income Tax Code,” The Tax Lawyer, Spring 2007 “Playing the Economic Substance Trump Card: Black & Decker v. United States,” The Tax Lawyer, Summer 2005.  Related Practice Areas, Corporate Transactions (Tax), International Tax, Nonprofit Organizations (Tax), Public Finance Tax.

Tonio D. DeSorrento

Tonio is an associate in the Washington, D.C., office, and is a member of the Financial Markets Group. Before joining Orrick, Tonio was a law clerk at Sallie Mae. Prior to law school, Tonio served for six years as an artillery officer in the United States Marine Corps. Admitted in District of Columbia New York Memberships Advisory Board, The Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics Advisory Board, Charter for Veterans, Inc. Related Practice Areas, Banking and Finance, Asset-Backed Securities, Higher Education and Student Loan Financing, Formation and Early-Stage Financings.