Executive Director

Growing up in Virginia, Ben developed a passion for whitewater and climbing early in life. After attending college at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Ben enlisted in the Navy serving in the SEAL teams. During his service he completed 3 deployments and an MBA from William and Mary. Ben has achieved and volunteered in numerous successful climbing and mountaineering endeavors in the later years of his service. During this time he witnessed firsthand the powerful benefits of outdoor therapy. Currently residing in Denver, Ben is a dedicated advocate of VOAG’s mission and remains passionate about exposing his fellow veterans to the power of the outdoors.

President and Founder

Josh grew up in the countryside of Pennsylvania skiing on the east coast’s icy slopes before joining the Navy and serving 6 years as a SEAL deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, Josh is a world record holder, mountain guide, professional athlete, and is a strong advocate for veterans in the outdoors. Josh has been taking veterans into the outdoors since he separated from the military and has built out numerous expeditions to different ranges throughout the country. He personally witnessed the power of nature to facilitate and provide healing. Josh is the first person to climb and ski/ride all 54 of Colorado’s mountains over 14,000 feet in a single ski season, breaking the previous record of 361 days and accomplishing his feat in only 138. Josh took this goal on in an attempt to show his fellow veterans that they have the power to chase their dreams and find a fulfilling life post service.

Operations Director

Ian grew up in Virginia with miles of singletrack not far from his house. Ian attended the United States Naval Academy where he played lacrosse. He served nine years in the Navy completing deployments to the Pacific and Iraq, and earning his MBA from University of Virginia. Ian has a passion for mountain biking and skiing. He currently resides in Arlington, Virginia but you can find him hauling out to the mountains of Shenandoah on the weekends. Ian values the clarity and simplicity of nature and wants to ensure that other Veterans have the opportunity to experience what he loves here.

Coalition Director

As part of an Air Force family, Kassandra grew up all over the world, skiing mountains in Japan and Italy at a young age and developing an early appreciation for diverse natural landscapes. She attended Stanford University and earned her commission through Air Force ROTC prior to joining the military as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. For 12 years of combined Active Duty and National Guard service, Kassandra led maintenance teams in the US and on overseas deployments to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft, equipment, and personnel – including a tour as the maintenance officer for the Air Force Thunderbirds. Kassandra eventually found her way back to California where she feels lucky that the healing powers of water, mountains, and forests are all within reach. Whether on a paddleboard or in hiking boots, she looks forward to sharing these experiences with her veteran community.

Director of Development and Strategy

Growing up in California Bryan spent much of his free time exploring the mountains of Sonoma County, camping and fishing in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and white water rafting up and down the west coast. Bryan enlisted in the US Navy as an electronics technician where he was deployed with the Enterprise Battle Group when the attacks of September 11th occurred. He deployed an additional time to the Pacific theatre with the USS Carl Vinson Battle Group. Bryan attended Washington State University after the completion of his military service and has worked as a leader in the technology, manufacturing and industrial space. When not traveling globally Bryan spends his time hiking, fishing and camping across the West Coast.

Chief Legal Officer

Byron grew up exploring the woods of Eastern Oklahoma and mesas of SW Colorado and NW New Mexico. He picked up climbing and skiing early on in life, pretty much to the neglect of any other pursuits. Byron enlisted in the Army, which eventually led to a commission and multiple jobs and assignments. He currently calls Park City, UT home, and enjoys alpine climbing in the nearby Uintas and ice and rock climbing in the Cottonwoods. Byron has personally experienced the healing power of the outdoors, and believes wholeheartedly in the mission of VOAG to promote and advocate for outdoor therapy for veterans.

Steve Otero is a Certified Workplace Mindfulness Facilitator, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) outdoor educator, and holds bachelor's degrees in Exercise Science, Experimental Psychology, and Recreation and Outdoor education from Western Colorado University (WCU). His passion is connecting others with the power of the natural world. He serves as a Veteran Services Officer in Gunnison County, CO and supports VOAG as part of the federal "Task Force on Outdoor Recreation for Veterans", which is investigating the use of outdoor recreation for the health and wellness of veterans.

Steve is pursuing his MS in Behavioral Science at WCU and is a fellow with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Prevention Technology Transfer Center at the University of Utah. Steve is a US Air Force military veteran with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as a combat cameraman and forensic investigator.

Dustin grew up in Wyoming active in the outdoors. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and spent 6 years in the U.S. Navy as a SEAL. Dustin has done multiple international trips to include a 16 day 100% human powered trip from Normandy Beach to the summit of Mont Blanc and then to Mediterranean Sea. He has biked from the Black Sea to Mount Elbrus, summited Mount Elbrus and ran a marathon in St Petersburg. His travels include riding a train from Moscow to Ulaanbaatar Mongolia and attempting a summit of Tavan Bogd before spending a month trekking through Nepal. Dustin has also done various ski and mountaineering trips in the United States. Dustin has experienced first hand the therapeutic benefits of the outdoors and is passionate about ensuring other veterans have access to the mental health benefits found through outdoor endeavors.

Born in the mountains of Wyoming but having lived and worked in some of the biggest cities in the world, Ret has always been drawn to natural spaces. A decade ago he embarked on a journey to truly understand the science behind the improvement he felt when he spent time in these spaces. That pursuit lead Ret to discover his purpose, which is to help people feel better and live better through a deeper connection to the natural world. Today, he has turned that purpose into the business he co-founded, Ned & Co, which creates natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals and encourages people to reconnect with nature and her processes. Ret's favorite outdoor pursuit is fly fishing, which requires a whole lot of the two things he holds most precious, time and The Great Outdoors.

Graham Williams is the founder of CiloGear, a leading manufacturer of specialty backpacks. Born and raised in New York City, he found at an early age that he was happiest outdoors. Now based in Portland, Oregon, Graham looks forward to sharing his love of climbing, snowboarding and all sorts of silly business in the mountains with his daughter. His wife draws the line at climbing, so she's excited for them to go on climbing trips, leaving her to get some peace and quiet in her own way. CiloGear's customers are not all stereotypical alpine climbers or backcountry skiers, and Graham looks forward to giving back to the community.

Wyoming Native Dustin Stetter is a second-generation outfitter who has chosen to spend his life in pursuit of wild things and wild places. Dustin and his wife Laura own and operate Stetter Outfitters in Dubois Wyoming. A major aspect of their operation is their Dinwoody Base Camp twenty miles deep in the Fitzpatrick Wilderness. With their extensive string of horses and mules, they set their camp in late June and essentially live there with their five year old son Griffin for the following four months, bringing clients, gear and supplies into the mountains. During his more than twenty-year career as a professional outfitter and guide and his firsthand experience watching wild places and serene moments heal the damaged, it became clear what his next step in the industry needed to be. Having partnered with other members of VOAG in putting together trips to immerse veterans in the wilderness, and seeing firsthand the nearly miraculous transformation that can occur, he and Laura both knew they had to devote as much time and energy as possible to getting “boots on the Mountain.”

Born and raised in Upstate New York, Matt’s outdoor ethic was shaped by Vermont’s Green Mountains and the wilderness regions of New York’s Adirondacks. Now based in Washington, DC as President & CEO of High Street Strategies, a government affairs and public relations firm, Matt regularly travels west to Wyoming’s Teton Range and Idaho’s Sawtooth Range to deepen his life-long passion for skiing and all winter mountain sports. Matt is an entrepreneur and business executive focused on building companies that work to improve communities and the outdoor and natural resource economy through innovation, business and markets. His career is grounded in the nexus of business and policy that work towards a sustainable outdoor lifestyle, economy and society. Matt is deeply passionate for the importance of connecting to the environment for his soul and works to have that access open to all who seek it.