BOARD ADVISORS
Brigadier General Bridges was appointed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders as the Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Military and the 55th Adjutant General of Arkansas on August 5th, 2024. He enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard in August 1991 and commissioned in August 1998 as a graduate of the Arkansas Military Academy Officer Candidate School, Class 41. Brigadier General Bridges assumed command of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in September 2021, leading a 2023-2024 deployment to Grafenwoehr, Germany to train Armed Forces of Ukraine Soldiers. His unit, as the Joint-Multinational Training Group – Ukraine (JMTG-U), partnered with over 107 different U.S. and international organizations to train 7,500 Ukrainians involving 26 different U.S. platforms totaling 80 different training iterations. His other two operational deployments include commanding an infantry company during a 2004-2005 tour to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II and as a platoon leader during a 2001-2002 deployment to Sinai, Egypt in support of the Multinational Force and Observers Mission after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. Brigadier General Bridges served multiple tours in the Pentagon. He was the Chief of the National Guard Bureau’s representative on the 2022 National Defense Strategy Core Development Team. Before that, he served as the Director of Integration and Army National Guard Programs for the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and as the Military Assistant for Readiness and Integration for the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Brigadier General Bridges served in various other assignments at the tactical, state, and national levels. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, U.S. Army Command and Staff College, U.S. Air Force Command and Staff College, U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Joint Forces Staff College. In 2017, he completed the United States Army War College as a distinguished graduate obtaining a Master of Strategic Studies degree. He is an MIT Seminar XXI fellow, a Harvard Kennedy School fellow for Leadership in Homeland Security, and a Syracuse University Maxwell School National Security Studies fellow. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Defense Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, Combat and Expert Infantryman Badges, and various other awards and badges.
O. Chad Bridges
The Adjutant General
Arkansas National Guard
Senior Military Advisor
Colonel (Ret) Robert A. Ator II was appointed as the 3rd Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs effective January 1, 2025. He previously served as the Director of Military Affairs for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission of the Arkansas Department of Commerce since 2018. Prior to assuming his role in state government, Colonel Ator served as the Commander of the 189th Airlift Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard, the largest Air National Guard C-130 Wing in the United States. As Commander, Col. Ator was responsible for leading the Wing’s 14 subordinate units with over a thousand members, assets valued more than $2 billion, and an annual operating budget of $70 million. During his command, the 189th expanded to include the new Cyber Skills Validation School to meet the growing demand for cyber warrior training. During Col. Ator’s term of leadership, the Wing twice earned the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Col. Ator is a 1989 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. After completing his degree, he attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi. His first assignment was in the 61st Airlift Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, which was followed by an assignment to the 62nd Airlift Squadron. He served 11 years on active duty in the United States Air Force before joining the Arkansas Air National Guard as a full-time guardsman. Col. Ator is a veteran of several major combat operations, including Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait; Operation Provide Comfort in Somalia; Operation Provide Promise in Haiti; Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia; and Operation Noble Eagle in support of homeland defense. He has received multiple military awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. In addition, Col. Ator has been honored with the Air Mobility and Air Education and Training Commands’ prestigious McKay Trophy and Jabra Awards. Rob and Michelle, his wife of more than 35 years, live in Little Rock, AR. Michelle is a partner in the law firm Friday, Eldredge and Clark, LLP. Their daughter, Lauren, practices law at Wright, Lindsey, & Jennings, LLP. Their son, Capt. Robert Ator, a C-17 pilot, and his wife, Lt. Sophia Ator, are serving the nation as Air Force officers at Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska. Wayne Ruthven is the Deputy Secretary/Chief of Staff for ADVA. He is a retired US Army Colonel with 30 years of active-duty service. A military police officer, Wayne’s assignments included command of a 1200-person MP Battalion (1800 during Desert Shield/Desert Storm), as well as commanding the same unit in northern Iraq for Operation Provide Comfort. Wayne’s brigade level command was of the Fort Myer Military Community, including three separate installations in northern Virginia/Washington, DC, where he was responsible for the safety and security of more than 25 general and flag officers/families, including the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and other temporarily assigned four-star officers. Wayne’s final assignments while on active duty were as the Inspector General and Senior Army Advisor to the Arkansas National Guard. Since his service in the Army, Wayne has worked in numerous homeland security, emergency management, public safety, and military affairs roles at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. Public sector positions in AR have included Director, AR Department of Emergency Management/State Homeland Security Advisor; Chief Investigator, Professional Licensure Standards Board, AR Department of Education; and Chief of Police, Jacksonville. Wayne has also served as either a Senior Advisor, Subject Matter Expert, Consultant, Vice President, or Senior Program Manager to/for the US Department of Homeland Security; Department of Defense; FEMA; IA Department of Education; National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; and private companies SAIC, Leidos, Readiness Resource Group, L-3 Communications, Armada, and ABS Consulting. Wayne is an Arkansas Tech University distinguished military graduate and member of the ROTC Hall of Honor. He is also a graduate of Webster University, the US Army Command and General Staff College, the US Air Force War College, and over 50 additional US and international military and civilian training courses/schools. Wayne was born and raised in Mountain Home. He is married to the former Beverly Morgan. They have five daughters: Mary Frances, Melissa, Angela, Morgan, and Emily. They have also been blessed with 20 grandchildren, 11 boys and 9 girls.
Kevin D. Steele currently serves as the Executive Director for the Arkansas Homefurnishings Association (ARHFA). In his role at ARHFA, he serves more than 500 members in the furniture industry; including manufacturers, trade representatives and retailers. Kevin also represents members in government affairs on local, state, and national levels as well as provide solutions and resources that allow them to deliver better service to their employees, customers and communities. Previously he served as the Military & Veterans Liaison for the Office of the Arkansas Secretary of State. During his time at the Secretary of State’s office, he worked as a conduit working with veterans’ organizations, individual veterans and their families throughout the state. Kevin was also instrumental in bringing government, military and veteran leaders together to enhance the livelihood of the military/veteran communities in the State of Arkansas. Kevin is a United States Navy Veteran and received his Bachelors of Science in Journalism/Public Relations from Arkansas State University. He has been a member/board member of numerous professional, veteran and civic organizations. Currently he is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Arkansas Society of Professional Lobbyists and serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Arkansas Society of Association Executives. Kevin lives in Little Rock with his wife Lydia and twin children Harrison and Savannah.
Secretary, Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs
Colonel (Ret) Robert A. Ator II
Executive Director of the Arkansas Homefurnishings Association
Kevin D. Steele
Navy Veteran
BOARD MEMBERS
Bobby Willis · President
Army Reserve Officer | Global Sales Director Nike Inc.
Bobby is a global sales director of Nike Inc, accountable for the growth and stewardship of the Jordan Brand within North America. In his role he is responsible for innovation, collaboration, and marketplace management of Nike’s most coveted products. He began is career at Mars Inc in 2006 as a Finance Manager. His first significant leadership role for the company was guiding the largest Mars Confectionary site in Waco, TX as at the financial controller. After multiple roles in finance, he became an Account Executive managing the Sam’s (Walmart) business. In 2014, he joined WALMART as a Merchant, responsible for multiple categories, each over $1.5BN in annual sales. He had full profit and loss ownership, ensured risk management, compliance, and business controls across Walmarts North America region. Currently, Bobby is a sales leader with Nike Inc and an Army Reserve Detachment Commander within the 362nd PysOp Company in Bentonville, AR. He holds a corporate finance bachelors and MBA from Lehigh University. Today he resides in Centerton, Ar.
David Faulkner · Treasurer
Former Sr. General Manager, Pinnacle Hills Promenade Rogers
David Faulkner recently held the senior general manager position of Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers, Arkansas. Faulkner started his career in shopping center management in 1990 and has been with Brookfield Properties since 2002. During that time David Faulkner served as senior general manager at The Maine Mall in South Portland, Maine, and Natick Mall in Natick, Massachusetts, and now Pinnacle Hills Promenade since 2006. Both previous centers were owned and managed by General Growth Properties. While overseeing Natick Mall, Faulkner played a critical role in the center’s ongoing 550,000 square foot expansion that included a Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. Faulkner received his bachelor’s degree in economics and public policy from Indiana University Southeast. He holds a Certified Shopping Center Manager designation from the International Council of Shopping Centers. Faulkner and his wife, Melinda, are the parents of four children Nicholas, Lauren, Jared and Jake. David and his family enjoy landscaping, golfing, fishing and vacationing on the beach.
Lisa Parmeter · Secretary
Military Spouse Entrepreneur & Business Owner
Lisa Parmeter has over twenty years of experience in a variety of business roles to include marketing, sales, operations, human resources, finance & accounting, e-commerce, and information technology. In 2017, she blended this diverse background into the creation of Call Sign Coffee Company, a bootstrapped venture that has grown from a simple idea into a scaling operation with a dozen products and a variety of customer segments. In addition to meeting the needs of our individual consumers with great coffee, we strive to provide financial and in-kind support to a range of non-profits that support veterans and military families. As a result, in 2019, the company gained national recognition and Lisa received the first of its kind Military Spouse Entrepreneur Impact Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Hiring Our Heroes program. Prior to co-founding Call Sign Coffee, Lisa ran day to day operations and human resources functions for a Silicon Valley start-up for several years and was the chief financial officer for the launch of a national non-profit focused on connecting graduate students to military related technology challenges across the country. She was also an administrator for several programs at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. In addition to coffee, Lisa utilizes her background in Human Resources to assist military members transitioning out of the service and is a staunch military spouse employment advocate. An accomplished artist with artwork in two museums, Lisa also runs an art and design business through both print and on-line platforms. She and her husband reside in Bentonville, Arkansas. Their daughter is an active duty Soldier in the US Army and their son is an ROTC Cadet at the University of Tennessee.
LeAnne Burch
Retired Brigadier General
LeAnne Pittman Burch A native of DeWitt, AR, LeAnne started her legal career in the U.S. Army, where she served on active duty for 12 years with her husband Dr. Robert (Bobby) Burch, Jr., an Army dentist. They were stationed in Baumholder, Germany, Fort Hood, TX and Fort Bragg, NC, before they returned to his hometown of Monticello in 1998, when both went into private practice. LeAnne remained active in the Army Reserve, where she served for the next 18 years, before retiring in May 2016. LeAnne joined the Office of Chief Counsel with the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) in 2002, where she worked as a child and adult welfare legal specialist for more than 12 years, working with families and children throughout southeast Arkansas. Following the sudden death of the sitting State Representative from District 9, she left DHS to run for that office in August 2016. Representative Burch was elected in November 2016, and currently represents parts of Drew and Ashley Counties in the Arkansas House of Representatives in the 91st General Assembly. Brigadier General Burch last served as the Commander of the Army Reserve’s Legal Command, a 1,700+ Soldier unit headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD with 28 subordinate commands that serve the legal needs of Soldiers and their families across the U.S. and in countries around the world. She was the first woman to serve in that Command position and the second female Army Reservist selected to serve as General Officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. As a General Officer, she also served a tour of duty as the Reserve Component Chief Judge, U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals. LeAnne’s military deployments include tours as the Senior Legal Advisor to Afghan National Army and Afghan Ministry of Defense legal leaders, and Legal Advisor on NATO issues as part of Operation Joint Guard in Bosnia-Herzegovina. She has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star, among other awards. A graduate of Hendrix College in Conway, AR, LeAnne also holds a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from Memphis University in TN, a Master of Strategic Studies (MSS) degree from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA, and a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, VA. LeAnne and her late husband Bobby have two children, Dr. (CPT[P]) R. H. (Trey) Burch, III (wife Ashley), currently serving in TX in the Army's Medical Corps, and Katelyn Busby (husband William), a practicing attorney in Monticello, AR, and two grandchildren.
Stephen Chapman
Naval Reserve Officer | Dannon Company
CDR Chapman received his commission in 2000 via Officer Candidate School. He served his first 4 years (2000-2004) in the Pacific as 1st LT and Weapons Officer onboard USS Frederick (LST1184) and onboard USS CHOSIN (CG65) as Main Propulsion Assistant (MPA) where he deployed ISO OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. He then served at Joint Interagency Task Force West (JIATF West) (2004-2006) as the Training Liaison Officer (LNO) to the Philippines working closely with U.S. State Department, Philippine Military, and Philippine Law Enforcement. CDR Chapman was selected for his first command as the Officer-In-Charge of the JIATF West, Small Craft Maintenance Training Team (SCMTT) (2006-2010) where he led the proof of concept and gained long term approval for the program. His first Ready Reserve assignment was as the Operations and Training Officer at MCS EPU 115 (2010-2011) where he implemented the adoption of metrics-based readiness improvements initiatives. After completing Joint Planning Military Education Phase 1 in 2011 he immediately served as a J5 Future Operation Joint Planner at United States Army Africa (USARAF) for NATO OPERATION ODYSSEY GUARD at the end of 2011. CDR Chapman mobilized as J35 Current Operations Planner at NATO Special Forces Component Command-Afghanistan (2012) supporting the Joint Operations Center as part of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. Upon return, he served as a Ready Reserve J35 Future Operations Joint Planner (2013-2015) at United States European Command (USEUCOM) where he attended Joint Planners Orientation Course (JPOC), Joint Enabling Capabilities Command Planners Course (JECCPC), and Joint Exercise Korea United 2015 before providing support as a Central Command Joint Operational Planner during AUSTERE CHALLENGE 2015. He was selected for a second command as Officer-In-Charge (2016-2017) for Military Sealift Command, Cargo Handling Afloat Team 1 Detachment A where he increased and effectively maintained near 100% readiness, supported RIMPAC 2016, and real-world operations. CDR Chapman then served on the Chief of Naval Operations N3 Staff (2018) at the Pentagon Naval Operations Center, supporting global Naval operations. Most recently, he was selected for a third command as Commanding Officer (2019-2020) Military Sealift Command-Expeditionary Port Unit 111 (MSC EPU 111) where he leads a diverse group of men and women including 6 Officers executing overseas operations while ensuring all personnel uphold the Navy's Core Values! As a civilian, CDR Chapman has worked in Supply Chain for Unilever NA and Danone NA. CDR Chapman currently resides in Bentonville, AR. He is married to Meredith and has one son, Ethan. He is an Eagle Scout and in his spare time he serves as a member of the NWA Veterans Coalition, a Den Leader for BSA Pack 525 in Bentonville and monthly Watchdog Dad Volunteer at Arkansas Arts Academy in Rogers.
Justin Sparks
Army Veteran | Chief Executive Officer at Assembled Products Corporation
Justin is a former Cavalry Officer and served in the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, CO from 2009 to 2013 after his graduation from the United States Military Academy. During his time in Colorado, Justin served as a Platoon Leader, Troop Executive Officer, Squadron Logistics Officer, and Troop Commander. While stationed at Fort Carson, he deployed to Iraq in 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn and operated on the Iraq/Iran border. After his time in the Army, Justin transitioned to work for Tyson Foods in 2013 on the Tyson Branded Retail Business. He Recently served as a Director for Tyson Foods. Currently Justin the CEO of Assembled Products Corporation and lives in Rogers with his wife Laura and three children: Levi, Aaron, and Hope.
Kevin Eastep
Physician Assistant-Certified at US Army
Kevin joined the U.S. Army in 1988 after graduating high school. He initially joined as a combat medic and remained in a medical specialty throughout his career. He was enlisted, a non-commissioned officer, and retired as a field grade officer. He was selected to the Interservice Physician Assistant Program and was one of 10 applicants across the nation to be accepted from a National Guard unit. Once he completed the multi-year active duty program, he returned to the Arkansas National Guard in 1998. In 2003, he was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Battalion Surgeon and assigned to the 2d Battalion 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division out of Ft. Hood, TX. His unit was extended in Iraq and remained there until the Spring of 2005 when he was redeployed to Ft. Sill, Ok. In 2017, he transferred to the US Army Reserves. In 2021, he was mobilized one last time in support of Operation Enduring Freedom & Operation Inherent Resolve war on terror and ISIS. In December 2021, he retired at the rank of Major. His awards include the Combat Medic Badge, Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas training ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and other state awards from assisting in recovery operations from hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Harvey. He currently works in an emergency room as a physician assistant in Northwest Arkansas. He serves as an evaluator and mentor for disabled veterans.