
“Change happens at the speed of trust”
Mission
The White Oak Collaborative (WOC) seeks to address the challenges faced by military- and Veteran-connected communities through data-driven, cross-sector partnerships among its members for direct service and/or policy-level solutions—while applying a whole-of-family lens.
About the Collaborative
The White Oak Collaborative is a cross-sector coalition of organizations committed to supporting service members, Veterans, wounded warriors, caregivers, survivors, and their families.
Blue Star Families is the convening authority and secretariat for the collaborative, with more than 150 members representing military and Veteran support organizations, other nonprofits, and private, philanthropic, government, and community sectors. The work of the White Oak Collaborative is non-partisan.
Led by a board of oversight and rotating steering committee of member organizations, the collaborative holds off-the-record partners’ calls approximately every two weeks, where members hear updates, share relevant data, and learn about government and military priorities for the purpose of better serving our constituencies.
Participation is by nomination and invitation. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Board of Oversight
- Eric Eversole, President, Hiring Our Heroes, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
- Donna Hoffmeier, Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications and Advocacy, TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Pete Jeffries, National Director, Integrated Campaigns Field Management, AARP
- Dr. Michael Jordan, Senior Vice President, Service to The Armed Forces, American Red Cross
- BG Michael J. Meese, USA, Ret., PhD, President, American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA)
- Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO, Blue Star Families
- Jose Ramos, Vice President, Government & Community Relations, Wounded Warrior Project
- Steve Schwab, CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Steering Committee
The steering committee rotates its membership every six months. Current members include:
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Mike Meese, AAFMAA
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Austin Carrigg, Exceptional Military Families
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Mark Barrett, VFW
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Heather Ehle, Project Sanctuary
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Ken Greenberg, Jewish War Veterans
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Jamela Davis, Veteran Spouse Network (UT-Austin)
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Penney Letrud-Samons, United Through Reading
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Phyllis Wilson, Military Women’s Memorial
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Won Palisoul, Women Veterans and Families Network
Partner Organizations






























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White Oak Collaborative Webinars
Military and Veteran Communities:
Next Steps to Support Our Afghan Allies
Veterans and Military Families:
How To Welcome Our Afghan Allies
White Oak Collaborative Practitioners Forum:
Military Community Afghan Allies Response
Looking for information about the White Oak Retreat? Click here.