CONFIRMED: State Veterans Ombudsman and Director of Operation Outreach, Missouri Veterans Commission

In 2003 when the Global War on Terror began, Pat Kerr and her husband, Rev. John Kerr began creating awareness of gaps in the system supporting National Guard and Reservists. She now serves as the State Veterans Ombudsman for the Missouri Veterans Commission and the Director of a program designed to outreach to National Guard, Reserve and their families through a program called “Operation Outreach.” She is the mother of a Reservist deployed to Iraq for her second tour of duty. Pat and her husband John care for Capt. Numerick’s 4 year old son while she is serving her country.

INVITED: Colonel Bryan McCoy was the commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion 4th Marine Regiment from May 2002 through July 2004 and led his battalion through two combat tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 3rd Battalion was the first Marine unit to enter Baghdad on April 7, 2003, and it was this unit that pulled down the Saddam statue in Firdos Square on April 9, 2003. In the second tour the 3rd Battalion saw action during Operation Vigilant Resolve in Fallujah in April and May of 2004.

McCoy has served primarily in infantry and light armored reconnaissance units as platoon commander, company commander, and operations officer at the battalion and regimental levels. In 2004, McCoy testified before the United States Congress House Armed Services Committee on the situation in Iraq.

McCoy’s awards include the Legion of Merit with Combat ‘V’, the Bronze Star with Combat ‘V’, and the Combat Action Ribbon with gold star in lieu of second award. He was the winner of the 2003 Navy League General John A. Lejuene Inspirational Leadership Award and has been the subject of articles in Time magazine and New York Times Magazine.

McCoy is a published author on combat leadership (The Passion of Command: The Moral Imperative of Leadership) and is the subject of the book McCoy’s Marines: Darkside to Baghdad by embedded reporter John Koopman. He is currently the Commanding Office of the 7th Marine Regiment, Twentynine Palms, California.

CONFIRMED: Co-Author Down Range: To Iraq and Back, Once a Warrior: Wired for Life, and workbook course entitled, "Turning Your Heart Toward Home"

Dr. Bridget C. Cantrell is a member of the American Psychological Association, Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists, The International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, and National Board Certified Counselor Association. She has specialized in trauma for several years, and her primary work now encompasses counseling war veterans and their families.

With a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology she is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Washington, and is Nationally Board Certified Mental Health Counselor.

The authors of best-selling, Down Range: To Iraq and Back, Dr. Bridget Cantrell and Vietnam Veteran Chuck Dean, have teamed up once again to take you on the next step in the process of coming home when your tour of duty is over. Their new book, Once a Warrior: Wired For Life, comes out just prior to the conference.

Once a Warrior: Wired For Life illustrates how to turn negatives into positives and assists our highly trained military personnel in utilizing their tremendous potential in achieving success and happiness after they are released from military service. This book highlights the path along the way to transitioning from warrior to civilian. It is not a book to read just once, but one to study over and over again.

Dr. Cantrell will be presenting the General Session "Returning from Combat" on Saturday as well as being available in the Authors' Hall both Friday and Saturday.