The Story of Our Veteran Foundation
I returned from Afghanistan in 2016 after a much-needed break from losing friends in Torque62 crash, a C-130J. Within 3 weeks of being home, I was a passenger in a vehicle accident. I was severely injured on top of the injuries I already had during my time in the Army. I couldn’t continue to deploy due to I had several years of different surgeries and therapy. I fell into a depression, and I couldn’t sit idly.
I felt my skills were needed to save lives, and I had to return overseas. I started volunteering, teaching, and consulting, realizing that the skills developed were required to serve the communities at home and not just in a war zone, and I gained the mental calmness that came with it. Not only to teach, train, and respond. But to showcase and sell products that we’ve tested and used in the field.
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Vision
We envision a future where every transitioning veteran, first responder, and public servant finds renewed purpose through meaningful work, where their unique skills are valued in disaster response, and where no veteran faces the transition journey alone.
We envision communities strengthened by our teams' expertise in emergency technology and coordination, creating resilient support networks during crises.
Core Values
Purpose Through Service
We believe in the healing power of continued service and mission driven work.
Veteran Leadership
Our programs are created by Veterans, Public Safety and Emergency Management personnel for First Responders, Veterans and the Community.
Lifesaving Impact
We address the crisis of veteran and first responder suicide by providing community, purpose, and opportunity while delivering critical emergency services that save lives in disaster zones.
Specialized Expertise
We transform military and first responder experience into valuable disaster relief skills, including drone operations for search and rescue, donation logistics, and emergency power system deployment.
Community Resilience
We strengthen communities by deploying trained professionals during their greatest time of need.
OUR TEAM
Experienced Responders
JOSH COOKE
Josh served in the U.S. Army as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team Leader in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His background includes Anti-Terrorism, forensics and the render safe of conventional military ordnance in foreign and domestic environments, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDDs), and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). Trained as a first responder, Josh is proficient in Force Protection and First Aid operations, to include Biological and Nuclear Hazard Emergency Personnel Decontamination Station (EPDS) procedures. Josh is an Engineer working in the Medical Device field while also serving Everything LifeSaving.
AISLING KRUEGER
Aisling is our eyes in the sky. She functions as our pilot liaison. Aviation and education are her strong suits. As a college professor, pilot and EMT her unique perspective and diverse background keep her comfortable no matter the situation. When not flying, you can find her hiking, traveling, horseback riding, or curled up with her cats drawing or reading. Though new to the ELS team she is making her mark getting us involved with the aviation industry. We look forward to seeing her more in our educational and social media aspects soon!
OUR BOARD
Trusted Leaders
Paul Herrera
Paul Herrera is a former U.S. Army soldier and now a disabled veteran. During his military service and then as a government contractor, he spent nearly a decade protecting his brothers and sisters in arms. As part of Army surveillance and intelligence operations, he worked with manned aircraft and piloted UAS/drones, served as part of an IED Task Force, and with surveillance reconnaissance operations. Paul has always felt the need to help those at risk, and as soldier or civilian, works to assure sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers, and mothers return home safely, a mission Everything LifeSaving strives to help veterans and communities with every day.
Lorraine Churchill
Board Member and Volunteer Dedicated Emergency Management & Homeland Security professional with unique blend of leadership and management sense, collaborative business development aptitude and relationship-building experience delivering results vital in diverse, dynamic, domestic and international environments. Master Public Information Officer National Incident Management System [NIMS] instructor with heavy focus in practical Incident Command System [ICS] education delivery Incident-experienced Planning Section Chief, Logistics Section Chief, Continuity Planner and Public Information Officer Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program [HSEEP] professional experienced in development-through-delivery of audience- and function-specific training and exercise Critical Infrastructure Protection Master with special focus in Local Emergency Planning Committee empowerment Proven Project Manager delivering complex, integrated, successful portfolios
Brandon Whorton
Board Member and Team Medic/instructor Brandon Whorton is currently a Combat Medic for the U.S. Army, as well as a tactical medical consultant supporting Everything Lifesaving. With close to two decades of service in the military in various medical roles, Brandon continuously searches for avenues to apply his knowledge to benefit others. Having been deployed in combat and humanitarian missions, Brandon’s critical thinking of lifesaving measures has helped others in the military, and, especially important to Brandon, during the 2017 Hurricane Harvey rescue efforts along the Texas coastline. Lead instructor for the Stop the Bleed Program. Brandon harnesses life skills gained outside the military too, and includes experiences as an automotive technician for Chevy, drilling monitoring system technician, HVAC technician, and experience with residential construction. His knowledge, skills, and experiences helped train Soldiers and served to advise civilian counterparts on lessons learned during operations. Brandon is currently pursuing a degree in medicine as a physician’s assistant and is looking forward to continuing his ethos of giving back to his community.
Lifesaving Partners
