Leadership Team
President: Stephen Peters is originally from a small town outside of St. Louis, MO. Growing up in a conservative home and church as a pastor’s grandson, and graduating from a fundamentalist Christian school and two of the nation’s most conservative Christian colleges, he gained a clear understanding of the religious perspectives used to deny LGBT people equality.
After college, Stephen enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served for four years. Honorably discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Stephen began to diversify his interests in his graduate studies and look for ways to productively continue to serve our country. While volunteering with Servicemembers United in the successful effort to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Stephen developed a passion for equality for all military families.
Drawing upon the experiences of nearly 4,000 members, Stephen is in contact daily with LGBT military partners, spouses, and their families across the country and around the world who are proud to serve our nation. He regularly speaks to the public and is sought after in the media on the issues and policies impacting LGBT military spouses and their families.
A Marine veteran himself, Stephen currently lives and works in the Washington, DC, area with his husband, a Marine Corps officer currently stationed at the Pentagon. Having just moved from their last duty station at Camp Pendleton, CA, he stays in regular contact with LGBT military spouses around the country and knows well the issues and challenges impacting their lives outside of the DC beltway. He also serves on the 2013-2014 Military Spouse Advisory Council of the Military Officers Association of America.
Stephen has a BA from Pensacola Christian College, an MBA in International Business from Liberty University, and an MS in International Relations from Troy University. To contact him directly, email him at Stephen@militarypartners.org.
Director of Family Affairs: Ashley Broadway was born in Montgomery, Alabama, but as a child she moved all over the South. After settling in Columbus, Georgia, she attended Columbus State University for her undergraduate studies and then completed her masters degree at Troy University. During this time, Ashley met her spouse, Heather, who was stationed at Fort Benning. In late 1997, Ashley and Heather began their life together and spent the next 14 years under the threat of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
After 13 years in the classroom, Ashley walked away from teaching to be a stay-at-home mom. It was during this time that Ashley found the American Military Partner Association (AMPA) and later became more actively involved in 2011. It was through AMPA that Ashley found her new passion in assisting other LGBT families in working through the existing inequalities we face. Ashley feels that through her 15 years as a military spouse, she is able to combine the traditions of the Army, while moving towards its vision of tomorrow. She is honored to serve as the Director of Family Affairs where she can share her knowledge and experience while continuing the fight for full equality. Ashley also serves on the AMPA Board of Directors.
Ashley lives near Fort Bragg, NC, where Heather is currently stationed. Besides being “Momma” to their two children, she is the 2013 Fort Bragg Spouse of the Year, volunteers with Equality NC, and serves as family readiness group treasurer for Heather’s unit. To contact her directly, email her at Ashley@militarypartners.org.
Director of Communications: Lauren Lamoly has lived in Tucson since May of this year. In addition to her work with AMPA, Lauren currently serves as the development associate for Wingpan, Southern Arizona’s LGBT community center. Lauren has a BA in English from Lynchburg College and an MA in American Literature from San Diego State University where she taught both literature and composition classes. Lauren has over 10 years of experience in business management and education, and she was a full-time communications and development intern for Equality Virginia in 2010.
Originally from the Boston area, Lauren is a dedicated Boston sports fan (especially the Red Sox!). She misses mittens, hot chai lattes on the Charles, fluffernutters, her mom’s Sunday gravy, Fenway Park, and touring the Sam Adams brewery whenever she pleases, but loves the beautiful mountains, the idea of tepid winters, year round golf, the Tucson food, and vibrant culture. She loves the military partner life, and can’t wait to see where mother Air Force sends their little family next. Lauren lives with her partner, Christie, an Air Force JAG, and their dogs, Varitek and Jacoby.
Lauren joined the AMPA team with a child-like patriotism. She believes all of our troops deserve the utmost respect for their service to the United States, and she is excited to continue moving service members and families toward full equality. To contact her directly, email her at Lauren@militarypartners.org.
Director of Educational Affairs: Lori Hensic is originally from Sonoma, California. After completing her undergraduate studies at UC Santa Barbara, she earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD) with an emphasis in Health Policy & Management from UC San Francisco. Lori has specialty clinical training in Ambulatory Care, HIV/AIDS Clinical Care, Designing Clinical Research, and provided direct patient care for several years in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Shortly after the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (DADT), Lori relocated to be with her partner, stationed in San Diego. She found the American Military Partner Association (AMPA) after her move when struggling to figure out how to “survive military life,” and since then has been determined to give back to the organization that helped her so wholeheartedly.
Lori has over 5 years of teaching experience at medical and pharmacy schools, and currently works as a Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor at UC San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. There she designs and instructs the Health Policy curriculum and serves as a research advisor for doctoral candidates. She is also the Safe Medication Practice Pharmacy Specialist for Sharp HealthCare’s Mesa Vista Hospital and Memorial Hospital locations. Lori’s wife, Shaina, is an active duty U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot and squadron department head, as well as player on the USA Women’s Eagles (USA Women’s National Rugby Team). They currently live in San Diego, California, with their energetic dog, Toby.
Lori is dedicated to critical educational efforts aimed at strengthening LGBT military families’ representation and engagement in policy changes. She is working to expand AMPA’s research platform and designing a database of vital information and statistics about our LGBT military families to ensure they are well represented within the larger military community. Lori has appeared in media interviews on local and national broadcasts, and has been invited to speak at several conferences on behalf of our LGBT military families. Her educational outreach campaigns and collaborations with other national advocacy organizations help inform LGBT military families, elected officials, and the general public about disparities in our families’ access to services and benefits – as well as how to assist with means to change them. To contact her directly, email her at Lori@militarypartners.org.
Director of Organizational Development: Jim Cassidy is originally from Westerly, Rhode Island. After graduating from Westerly High School, Jim enlisted in the United States Navy. Serving within the confines of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Jim had a successful career and retired as a Chief Hospital Corpsmen and settled in Southern California.
Jim’s partner, John, is active duty in the Navy. They have been together 5 years, during of which the last 2 years John has been stationed overseas in Japan. Looking for support during the separation, Jim found the American Military Partner Association (then called the Campaign for Military Partners). Starting out first as a member of its National Steering Committee and now a member of the Board of Directors, Jim has grown progressively more involved in the work of AMPA.
In addition to his commitment to AMPA, he has worked in non-profit management and is currently the Director of Programs and Community Resources with the largest HIV/AIDS Service Provider in San Diego. Jim was glad to see the repeal of DADT and is happy for today’s servicemembers, however, until the spouses of LGBT members receive full benefits, support, and recognition, he will continue to fight. To contact Jim directly, email him at Jim@militarypartners.org.
Organizational Advocate: Bianca Strzalkowski is the Senior Editor at Elva Resa Publishing. Proud Marine Corps wife of 13 years, she was named the 2011 Military Spouse of the Year by Military Spouse magazine. As a mother of three, Bianca has spent her time volunteering with various organizations, such as the National Military Family Association and the Marine Corps’ Family Readiness program. Because of her volunteerism, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James Amos, awarded her with a Certificate of Commendation.
In July 2011, utilizing her own student experience as a reference, Bianca became an advocate for the Military Spouse Education Initiative. She believes that it is possible for spouses to achieve their own goals around the diverse obstacles of military life. To date, she has worked with officials from the Departments of Defense and Labor, Congressional leadership, and the Joining Forces Initiative to work on the increasing need of educational opportunities for her peers.
In addition to advancing programming for spouses, Bianca has appeared in media interviews, such as Fox & Friends, CNN Newsroom, and Oprah, and is a guest writer for The Huffington Post, SpouseBuzz, and Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). Currently, she is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River, Jacksonville, NC where she is a Consultant for Lifetime Television.
Bianca is honored to join forces with the American Military Partner Association to advocate for universal support programs for all military families who give so much in the name of freedom for this country. United we stand as a community of one! To contact Bianca directly, email her at Bianca@militarypartners.org.
Spokesperson for National Guard Affairs: Chris Rowzee - Bio Coming Soon.
AMPA Interns
Veterans Affairs Coordinator: Mindy Bodhi is a Florida native currently residing in the Washington, DC area. Medically retired from the United States Army in 2010, Mindy has extensive experience navigating medical claims and educational benefits within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system. Mindy, as well as her wife, Stephanie, a civilian and graduate student, are both active members of the AMPA Veteran/Family community. They are raising an active and curious toddler, Olivia, while navigating the legal transitions and implications following the demise of the Defense of Marriage Act.
Mindy is in her final semesters of study at American University under the Vocational Rehabilitation program offered by the VA. Her current focus is on American Studies and she intends to continue her research in Interdisciplinary Studies at the graduate level, upon completion of her Bachelor of Arts program in the Spring of 2014. With a particular interest in LGBT military culture, Mindy’s research is aided by her service to LGBT military families. To reach Mindy, email us at partners@militarypartners.org.
Events Coordinator: Verita Richardson, daughter of a retired Marine & Navy nurse, has traveled all over the country while growing up in a military family. While she currently attends Bradley University in Peoria, IL, during the summer months, Verita lives in Portland, OR, near her partner, Christina, who is in the Army Reserves.
During her studies in marketing and sales, she has grown to enjoy event planning, and hopes to pursue the field upon graduation in 2015. AMPA has provided support for Verita during her partner’s service to our nation, and she hopes to be able to give back by helping connect LGBT military families, while building experience as an AMPA event coordinator. To reach Verita, email her at events@militarypartners.org.
Research Associate: Corrine Eaves is a native of Southern California and believes her biggest accomplishment is being a mother to two wonderful teenage boys, Justin and Tyler. As part of a military family for the last twenty years, she has worked for the Department of the Army in numerous roles. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and plans on pursuing a Master of Science degree in Health Administration immediately after graduation next fall.
Corrine resides with her wife, Rhonda, an active duty U.S. Army Captain, in Chula Vista, California. Together they continue to raise their teenagers in an environment that reinforces unconditional love. Having experienced military life prior to the repeal of ”Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the demise of the Defense of Marriage Act, Corrine is committed to ensuring equality and support for all military families. To reach Corrine, email us at partners@militarypartners.org.
Military Advisory Council
- Lieutenant Colonel Heather Mack, U.S. Army
- Major Alasdair Mackay, U.S. Marine Corps
- Major Romm Gatongay, U.S. Marine Corps
- Captain Christie Jones, U.S. Air Force
- Senior Chief Petty Officer Elny McKinney, U.S. Navy
Board of Directors
- Stephen Peters, President
- Jim Cassidy
- Ashley Broadway
