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2012 MOAA/NDIA Warrior-Family Symposium

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Event Coverage from MOAA's Legislative Update

Additional Information - Speakers and Agenda

Warrior-Family Symposium Transcript (514 kb)

Watch video from the event:

Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL), House Committee on Veterans Affairs
Panel: "The Early Years — How Wounded Warriors-Families Are Doing Today"
Fireside Chat: "Transitions & New Beginnings — Linking Alliances To Evolving Needs"
Honorable Eric Shinseki, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs
Wounded Heroes Recognition Reception Program

MOAA and the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) cohosted the Warrior-Family Symposium Sept. 13 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. This year’s program, “Saluting Their Sacrifice: A Decade of Challenges and Triumphs for Our Wounded Heroes and Their Families,” aimed at expanding on the collective efforts of government and nongovernmental organizations, over the past decade, to improve the physical, psychological, and overall well-being of wounded warriors and their families.

MOAA President Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr., USN-Ret., and NDIA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Lawrence Farrell, USAF-Ret., welcomed attendees, whom they hope will build awareness of wounded-warrior issues while recognizing those who serve.

Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), chair of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, kicked off the event as the morning keynote speaker. Since being elected to Congress in 2001, Miller has established himself as a strong advocate for veterans’ issues.

“The oversight with the House Committee on Veterans Affairs will not cease,” Miller said, “until those who have devoted their lives to the care of a veteran family member are given the support they need to continue their good work.”

Alex Quade, a freelance war reporter, moderated the first panel, “The Early Years: How Wounded Warriors/Families Are Doing Today,” featuring Petty Officer Second Class Derek McGinnis, USN-Ret., Community-Based Outpatient Clinic, Department of Veterans Affairs; Capt. Alvin Shell Jr., USA-Ret., Force Protection Branch Chief, Department of Homeland Security; and Danielle Shell, spouse caregiver.

Derek Donovan, vice president, Fisher House Foundation, and Master Sgt. William “Spanky” Gibson, USMC-Ret., moderated the second panel, “Transitions and New Beginnings: Linking Alliances to Evolving Needs,” featuring John Campbell, deputy assistant secretary of defense, Warrior Care Policy, DoD; Dr. Tara Dixon, trauma and critical care surgeon; Petty Officer Third Class Benjamin Host, USN-Ret., student veteran; Col. Karen T. Malebranche, USA-Ret., executive director, Office of the Veterans Health Administration Interagency Health Affairs; Annette Slaydon, spouse caregiver; and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Slaydon, USAF-Ret.

Lunch keynote speaker VA Secretary Eric Shinseki addressed struggles like substance abuse, mental-health issues, homelessness, and post-traumatic stress returning servicemembers face and explained what the VA is doing about these issues.

“Seamlessly transitioning departing servicemembers is crucial to increasing their access to VA benefits and services and eliminating the [claims] backlog and ending veteran homelessness,” Shinseki said. “Warm hand-offs between the [VA and DoD] and servicemembers require a synergy of both departments.”

A Wounded Heroes Recognition Reception, led by master of ceremonies Maj. Justin Constantine, USMCR, honored Cpl. Jon Albrecht, USA; Staff Sgt. Dale Beatty, ARNG-Ret., cofounder, Purple Heart Homes; Shannon Maxwell, spouse caregiver, cofounder, SemperMax Support Fund and Hope for the Warriors; Lt. Col. Tim Maxwell, USMC-Ret., SemperMax Support Fund; Master Sgt. Juanita Milligan, USA-Ret.; Lt. Brian Naughton, USCG, Maritime Security Response Team.

Reception keynote speaker Lt. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho, USA, surgeon general and commanding general, U.S. Army Medical Command, spoke about role of the command.

“Right now, we’re on an extraordinary path to overcoming adversity,” said Horoho, “and it’s going to take each and every one of us as we focus on prevention, focus on the responsibility of shaping, and focus on the responsibility of winning. … Together, I believe we can increase the health of not just our military and the family members who support them, but I think we can be active drivers of change for our nation in increasing the health of our nation.

Reception guest speaker Sen. Elizabeth Dole introduced a new initiative, Caring for Military Families: The Elizabeth Dole Foundation. When her husband, Sen. Bob Dole, was treated at the then-Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Elizabeth Dole saw firsthand the importance of supporting caregivers of injured servicemembers. The initiative will fund research on the topic and bring together organizations that already are working to resolve issues involving injured servicemembers and their caretakers.

“I believe America has not fulfilled her promise to care for our wounded and their caregivers who have sacrificed so much,” Dole said. “The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is committed to hope and healing for every single individual who has risked his or her life for our nation. … Let us take the problems you face into the opportunities you deserve. Only then will it be morning in America again for all of us.

Sponsors for the 2012 Warrior-Family Symposium include executive sponsor USAA; patron sponsors Health Net, Lockheed Martin Corp., and TriWest Healthcare Alliance; gold sponsors EADS North America, Express Scripts, Humana, Northrop Grumman, and U.S. Family Health Plan; silver sponsor Cubic Corp.; champion sponsor Oshkosh Defense, continental breakfast sponsor American Physical Therapy Association; lunch sponsor Strategic Resources Inc.; exhibitor sponsor Delta Dental; and media sponsor Military.com.