Leadership Team
Executive Director: 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 unique 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 Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal fight, Stephen developed a passion for equality for all military families. He is married to a Marine Corps field grade officer who is currently deployed to Afghanistan. Together they live in southern California near Camp Pendleton where his husband is stationed.
Stephen has a BA from Pensacola Christian College, a MBA in International Business from Liberty University, and a MS in International Relations from Troy University. He is dedicated to AMPA’s mission in connecting, supporting, honoring, and serving the partners and spouses of LGBT servicemembers and veterans. Stephen is also the president of the AMPA Board of Directors. To contact him directly, email him at stephen@militarypartners.org.
Director of Family Affairs: Ashley Broadway was born in Montgomery, Alabama, and spent a vast majority of her early life traveling the south, finally settling in Clearwater, Florida where she graduated high school. She received her undergraduate degree from Columbus State University, just outside of Fort Benning, Georgia. It was here that she met her spouse, Heather, a 2nd Lieutenant at the time.
In late 1997, Ashley and Heather began their life together and spent the next 14 years under the helm of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Miraculously, Ashley was still able to attend every promotion ceremony for Heather from 1LT through LTC, she watched with pride as Heather took her guideon and began company command, and was the shoulder Heather cried on when she had to give it up. Like many military spouses, Ashley endured deployments and several TDYs, knowing full well when she decided to dedicate herself to Heather; she was dedicating herself to the Army as well. This is a role that Ashley took to heart, even under the shadow of DADT.
Early on in their relationship, Ashley began volunteering to assist military families. As an educator, she would often tutor “Army Brats” in reading and brief inbound families on the different school districts assisting in housing location decisions. When the US went to war in Iraq, Ashley worked with local Humane Societies to help deployed Soldiers find temporary homes for their pets while they deploy. In 2010, Ashley walked away from the education field to become a stay-at-home mom to their son Carson. It was during this time that Ashley found the American Military Partner Association (AMPA) but was not actively involved until 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 and overjoyed to serve as an AMPA Board Member and as the Director of Family Affairs where she can share her knowledge and experience while continuing the fight for full equality. To contact her directly, email her at ashley@militarypartners.org.
Director of Communications: Lauren Lamoly lives in San Diego, CA. She is the partner of an Air Force JAG officer currently serving in Afghanistan. Lauren is currently completing an MA in American Literature at San Diego State University. She has a background in business management and education and was a full-time communications summer intern for Equality Virginia.
While finishing her MA, she teaches at San Diego State University and continues to sling coffee every once in a while. Originally from the Boston area, she is a dedicated (and heart broken) Red Sox fan. She misses scarves, 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 appreciates the year-round kayaking, weekly fresh farmer’s market flowers, and her hammock on the porch. She looks forward to her partner’s safe return from Afghanistan, when they’ll be stationed in Tucson, AZ, for another two years.
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 an Assistant Professor and teaches Health Policy for UC San Diego’s medical programs. She is also the Regulatory Pharmacist for Ambulatory Care services at UC San Diego Health System. Lori has a Doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD) with an emphasis in Health Policy & Management from UC San Francisco, and holds specialty clinical training in both Ambulatory and HIV/AIDS Clinical Care.
Her partner, Shaina, is an active duty U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot and squadron department head. 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 political and legislative activity. Her educational outreach campaigns and collaborations with other national advocacy organizations help inform LGBT military families, the public, and the electorate about disparities in our families’ access to military 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.
Organizational Advocate: Bianca Strzalkowski is a proud Marine Corps wife of 11 years, and in May 2011 she was named the Military Spouse of the Year (MSOY) by Military Spouse magazine (MSM). As a military wife and mother of three, Bianca has spent her time volunteering with various organizations, such as the U.S. Veteran Corps, National Military Family Association and the Marine Corps’ Family Readiness program. As a LINKS mentor, she traveled the East Coast to educate spouses on the various aspects of military life. Because of her volunteerism, the Commandant of the Marine Corps awarded her with a Certificate of Commendation.
Since being named the 2011 MSOY, she created the Military Spouse Education Initiative to expand educational opportunities for her peers. With her own student experience as a reference, she believes it is possible for spouses to achieve their own goals around the obstacles of military life.
In addition to increasing programming for spouses, Bianca has appeared in media interviews, such as Fox & Friends and CNN Newsroom, and is a guest writer for The Huffington Post. Currently, she is the Deputy Director of Membership & Volunteer Outreach at Blue Star Families, a non-profit military service organization that serves all military families, regardless of branch, rank, or duty location. She is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River, Jacksonville, NC, where she serves on the Onslow County Civic Affairs Committee.
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.Strzalkowski@gmail.com.
Publications Team Lead: Brian Hulsey currently lives in Hinesville, Georgia, near Fort Stewart with his partner, who is an Army Armor Officer, and their American Bulldog mix “Sherman the Tank.” Before moving to Hinesville, Brian held positions in Electronic Resources and Serials at the Simon Schwob Memorial Library of Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia, and Reference at the Columbus Public Library of the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries.
Brian has given professional presentations at the state, regional, and national level within his field on a myriad of topics ranging from accessible services, online community ontologies, and innovative technologies. In the past, he has held the position of Public Relations Chair for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association, and was a contributing writer for the Salem Press award wining Libraries and Transliteracy blog – a national, cross discipline, multi-author blog focusing on all literacies for all libraries.
While at Fort Stewart he has attained all Army Community Services Mobilization and Deployment certifications, which allow him to hold Battalion and Company level Family Readiness Group positions. You can contact him directly at hulsey.brian@gmail.com or @Strng_Dichotomy via Twitter.
National Leadership Council
Currently in development
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
- Cathy Cooper
