The Veterans for Equality Mission: Upholding Our Oath, Defending Our Neighbors
We are veterans who have borne the weight of an oath. We understood it in foreign lands, and we carry its meaning home. That oath compels us to fight for the rights of every American, especially those whose freedom and safety are most precarious. "Veterans for Equality" is the manifestation of that perpetual pledge.
Our organization exists because a gap persists between the promise of equality and the reality for many. When communities face marginalization and persecution, and when traditional systems are slow to respond or insufficient, we mobilize. We are not a substitute for justice or social services; we are a protective intermediary. Our presence is designed to keep violent agitators and aggressive provocateurs at bay, to absorb and deflect hatred so that communities can gather, mourn, organize, and celebrate in peace.
We operate on a doctrine of peaceful engagement and strategic deterrence. Our uniforms and presence signal order and capability, discouraging bad actors. Our trained personnel are experts in communication and de-escalation, taught to resolve conflict without force. And we work in concert, whenever possible, with the good-faith elements of law enforcement, sharing intelligence and coordinating efforts to ensure comprehensive safety for all parties.
Ultimately, our mission is to help build a society strong enough to embrace its own diversity. We fight for the day when our specific role is obsolete—when equality, equity, and inclusion are so woven into the fabric of our nation that no community requires a specialized defense force to simply be seen and safe. Until that day arrives, we stand watch.
Meet the Board
The President of the Board serves as the principal leader and strategic guide for Veterans for Equality, ensuring the organization remains steadfast in its mission to protect marginalized communities and uphold the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Charged with steering the board’s governance, the President oversees organizational strategy, fiduciary integrity, and veteran-led advocacy efforts. They represent the organization publicly, strengthen partnerships with community and law-enforcement allies, and embody the foundational oath to defend against all threats—foreign and domestic. By fostering unity, accountability, and decisive action, the President ensures Veterans for Equality operates with the discipline, clarity, and courage required to safeguard those we serve.
Guy “lil Herc” (Army)
Chair, Executive Director
The Director of Public Affairs serves as the trusted voice and strategic communicator for Veterans for Equality, shaping and safeguarding the organization’s narrative in alignment with our mission. Tasked with managing media relations, public messaging, and external outreach, the Director ensures our commitment to protecting marginalized communities and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion is conveyed with clarity, integrity, and impact. By cultivating relationships with press, partners, and the public, they amplify our story of veteran-led service, de-escalation, and community defense—turning our actions into advocacy and our values into public understanding. Through proactive communication and responsive engagement, the Director strengthens our visibility, credibility, and influence in the ongoing fight for a safer, more just society.
Meghan “Bombshell” (Army)
Vice Chair, Public Affairs Director
The Director of Tactical Operations is responsible for the planning, execution, and oversight of all field operations undertaken by Veterans for Equality. This role translates the organization's protective mission into safe, effective, and disciplined action on the ground. The Director designs operational protocols, leads training in de-escalation and security tactics, and commands the veteran-led teams deployed to safeguard events and communities. By conducting rigorous risk assessments, coordinating directly with community organizers, and managing real-time communications with partner agencies, they ensure every operation upholds our core principles: to protect, to deter violence, and to ensure a secure environment where the rights of marginalized communities can be exercised without fear. The Director ensures our presence is a stabilizing force, executed with the highest standards of professionalism, restraint, and tactical integrity.
Sam “Tiger Balm” (Navy)
Secretary, Operations Director
The Director of Recruiting and Retention is the architect of our most vital resource: our people. This role is responsible for building and sustaining the veteran-led force that powers our mission. By developing and executing strategic outreach, the Director attracts skilled veterans who are not only seeking continued service but are deeply aligned with our values of protecting marginalized communities and fostering a more equitable society.
Beyond recruitment, this role is the steward of our organizational culture and member experience. The Director implements comprehensive onboarding, mentorship, and professional development programs to ensure every member is integrated, trained, and supported. By actively fostering a culture of purpose, camaraderie, and clear growth pathways, they are essential to retaining our dedicated personnel for the long term. Their work ensures Veterans for Equality remains a resilient, capable, and mission-focused organization, powered by committed veterans who answer the call to serve once again.
Eric “Hot Mic” (Army)
Recruiting and Retention Director
The Director of Information Security and Treasurer serves as the guardian of our organizational integrity and operational continuity. This dual-focused role is responsible for the strategic stewardship of all financial resources and the robust defense of our digital infrastructure and sensitive data.
In their financial capacity, the Director ensures fiscal responsibility, transparency, and sustainability—managing budgets, overseeing donations, and implementing controls that allow us to fund our mission effectively and maintain the trust of our supporters.
Concurrently, as the leader of information security, the Director protects our operational backbone. They develop and enforce comprehensive cybersecurity protocols to safeguard member data, confidential communications, and tactical information from internal and external threats. By implementing secure systems and training our personnel in digital best practices, they ensure our ability to plan and communicate with absolute confidence.
This role is fundamental to our resilience, enabling Veterans for Equality to operate with both financial accountability and digital security—fortifying the foundation so our teams can focus on their vital protective work in the field.
Jynx “Gender Fairy” (Air Force / Army)
Treasurer, Information Security DirectorOur Methodology
The Operational & Methodological Statement
Veterans for Equality transforms military ethos into civic protection. Our mission is threefold: to Protect, De-escalate, and Partner in service of a more just and inclusive America.
1. Protect the Vulnerable: We interpret our oath to defend against "domestic" threats as a mandate to confront hatred, intimidation, and violence targeting marginalized groups. We serve as a disciplined, trained defense force that communities can rely on to safely assemble, protest, and exist without fear of targeted aggression. We secure perimeters and events not as a militia, but as a professional security detail dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights and physical safety for all.
2. De-escalate Conflict: Our core competency is the prevention of violence. Leveraging veteran training in situational awareness, mediation, and calm under pressure, we intervene in tense situations to lower temperatures and prevent flashpoints. We interpose ourselves as a stabilizing presence, using dialogue and strategic positioning to dissuade violent actors and protect all individuals involved, including counter-protestors, from harm.
3. Partner for Safety: We believe sustainable safety is built on collaboration. We establish proactive relationships with local community organizations, event organizers, and sympathetic law enforcement agencies. By serving as a communication bridge and a force-multiplier for lawful, equitable policing, we help ensure that public safety strategies protect everyone equally. We fill a critical gap, allowing traditional systems to function more effectively and communities to feel genuinely served.
Our mission is to be the shield that allows the work for justice to proceed, ensuring the fight for equality is fought with voices, not violence.