Team: noun |tēm| : 1: a number of persons associated together in a group or activity 2: emphasizes the organization’s focus on small, cohesive units
Rubicon: proper noun |rü-bi-ķän| : a bounding or limiting line; especially: one that when crossed commits someone irrevocably. Origin: River in Northern Italy marking the border of Gaul and Rome; crossed by Julius Caesar in 49 B.C., considered by the Senate an act of war
TEAM RUBICON: proper noun | tēm rü-bi-ķän| : 1: a group of military veterans and medical professionals irrevocably committed to changing veteran reintegration and disaster response 2: the “Nation” of supporters who make this mission possible
graduated from the University of Wisconsin, where he played football, with a double major in Business and Political Science. He honorably served four years in the United States Marine Corps, deploying to Iraq in 2007 as an infantry squad leader and to Afghanistan in 2008 as a Scout-Sniper. He graduated Scout-Sniper School at the top of his class and was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “V” for valor in the face of the enemy while in Iraq. Jake serves on numerous veteran committees and speaks about veteran issues and social entrepreneurism.
is a Marine who served in both the infantry and intelligence. He has worked in support of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Council’s Iraq Threat Finance Cell. He holds a B.A. in Economics and Communication Studies from the University of Kansas and an M.A. in Government from The Johns Hopkins University.
is a certified public accountant, originally from the Washington, DC area. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a BS in Commerce with concentrations in accounting and management information systems. She has over 18 years of accounting experience in both public and corporate accounting.
oversees the operational tempo and scope of work for all field missions. With a background and education in emergency/disaster management, Andrew worked for the State of Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management as the state planner for critical infrastructure protection and community emergency planner. A former U.S. Marine, he acted as an Assistant Operation Chief and react team leader for Tango 5/11 during the initial assault on Iraq in 2003. Andrew has traveled to nearly 40 countries, including two TR missions to the Thai-Burma border and Mozambique.
is currently working as a Firefighter/Paramedic in Poughkeepsie, NY and has over 13 years experience in EMS and technical rescue. He has worked in a multitude of environments from busy urban systems, to rural, to third world. Matt has over 12 years of Army service as an infantryman and forward observer and is currently serving in the National Guard in NY. Matt deployed to Iraq with the Army in 2004 and also worked as an overseas contractor with the US State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service. He deployed to Pakistan with Team Rubicon following the massive 2010 floods.
is responsible for the development, implementation and management of Team Rubicon’s veteran programs. Originally from Akron, Ohio, Matt is a graduate of the USC’s Leventhal School of Accounting (Fight On!). He is an 8 year Army veteran, deploying with the 56th Military Police Co. in support of Police Transition Team operations from 2007-2008. Matt joined TR full-time after working in varying corporate finance and contract negotiation roles for Raytheon Company. In his spare time, Matt keeps a positive and hopeful attitude while enduring the unending pain of being a Cleveland sports fan.
graduated from the Air Force Academy with a BS in Political Science. She served as an intelligence officer in Iraq in 2003. Nicole holds an MA in Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution from Norwich University and has worked as an English teacher in Russia, Critical Thinking instructor for the Army, and Strategy and Operations consultant for Deloitte and Touche. She is a passionate advocate for the strengths veterans offer their communities and the corporate world.
is a board certified family practitioner who, when not traveling, lives in New York City. He splits his professional duties between volunteering with Team Rubicon, and working intermittent shifts in rural Alaska where he provides full spectrum family medicine care to native Yupik populations. He received his B.A. in international relations from the University of Virginia, where he also served as a volunteer firefighter. During medical school at George Washington University, and during residency at UCSD, he volunteered for medical relief trips to Tibet, Malawi, South Sudan, and the Philippines.
Originally from the Houston area, Kirk attended NYU, followed by a 7 year master’s degree from the NYC School of Hard Knocks where he learned more than he cared to about the film and television industry. While working in the documentary and nonprofit realm, Kirk began producing and managing digital media for Team Rubicon in late 2010. In addition to being a connoisseur of chocolate chip cookies, he loves to sit on the porch with his wife and children to watch dueling hummingbirds while sipping a season-appropriate cocktail.
a native of Chicago, graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in Creative Writing. At LMU, Mike developed international and domestic volunteer trips and served as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Student Veterans Organization. Mike’s professional background is in advertising and marketing, and has experience in executing large print and digital campaigns for non-profit and tourism clients. He lives in Los Angeles where he thinks a lot about dogs, bourbon, and the Chicago Bears.
joins us from the University of Virginia and the world of wilderness rescue. There, he merged an education in planning methods and emergency management with experiences in remote emergency operations. Evan has served as Chairman of the Appalachian Search and Rescue Conference, interned with the Homeland Security Institute and Red Cross, and provided training in wilderness SAR and lost person behavior. Free time is dedicated to providing TR an accent of kilt and highland bagpipe.
is currently pursuing his B.A. in Human Resource Management and previously served 8 years in the United States Navy as a Personnel Specialist. While serving in the Navy, he had been on four deployments, visiting five of the seven continents. Maurice is currently volunteering for the Navy Recruiting District of Los Angeles as an ombudsman. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and bambino where they enjoy walks on the beach and being wonderful parents.
also known as “The Brit,” is British by birth and Welsh by choice. An Iraq conflict veteran, firefighter, and hazardous materials technician, Chris also responded to the earthquake/tsunami in Japan in 2011. Following his time in Japan, Chris determined that the best way to save lives was educate people before a disaster strikes, rather than try to rescue them afterwards. A life-long adventurer and outdoorsman, when Chris is not helping train TR volunteers in operational excellence, he can be found dangling under the love of his life: his para-glider.
is currently an Army Officer stationed in Vicenza, Italy. He recently spent 8 years as an Air Force Pararescueman “PJ” for the 131st Rescue Squadron in Mountain View, California. He previously served as an Army Ranger Team Leader at 2/75th Ranger Battalion and was released honorably after two combat tours in Afghanistan. He is a registered Paramedic and holds a B.A. in History from UCLA.