members & officers

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John took over as the CEO of US Veterans Foundation December, 2018. He served in the United States Marine Corps as an Ammunition Technician from April 2003 until November 2012. He also got the opportunity to become a Combat Marksmanship Instructor and enjoyed teaching Marines to become better marksmen. John is an avid outdoorsman and takes every chance to get outside to hunt or fish. He has taken his love for the outdoors even further and has begun a career with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. John has also always had a love for martial arts and can often be found at his local gym training Jiu Jitsu. If his career and hobbies aren’t enough, he also gets to come home to his wife Caitlin and their 5 children.

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My name is Caitlin Kadell and I served honorably in the Marine Corps for 4 years as an ammunition technician. I grew up in Pennsylvania where the majority of my family still lives and now live in the St. Louis area on the Illinois side. I spent my 2008 to 2012 enlistment at Camp Lejeune, NC, which is where I met my now husband, John, who is also the CEO! Most of my enlistment was spent as the training NCO for both CLB-8 and 2nd Supply BN, with the ASP in between those two. I was selected as part of a group of four Marines to go to Germany to train the Georgian Army on a mortar range. I was the only woman, not only from our unit that got to go, but also in all the other units once we got to Germany. I left the service in 2012 to pursue other paths, but I am so happy to be able to be a part of this foundation and help other veterans find that sense of camaraderie again!

Jonathan Ward is the acting Chairman of the Board of Directors for the US Veterans Foundation. He has been the acting Chairman and the assistant to the Chief Financial Officer since January of 2019. Jonathan is and 8 year active duty veteran of the United States Marine Corps. After attending the School of Architecture at Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. Jonathan reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, CA. and the attended Marine Combat Training aboard Camp Pendleton, CA. Upon completion of Military Occupational Specialty school in Virginia, he reported to his first duty station at Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 in Iwakuni, Japan. Upon returning stateside, Jonathan reported to 8th Engineer Support Battalion on Camp, Lejuene.

During his time in service he was attached to multiple units and multiple deployments to include the Middle East, Central America, and multiple countries throughout the Asian Pacific. Jonathan finished his active duty contract at the rank of Sergeant and several different training certificates from multiple schools and training programs to include Marine Advisor Course, Marine Corps Machine Gunners Course and Instructors Course. Since his time in service Jonathan has returned to Jerseyville, Illinois where he resides with his wife and two children and works with for the State of Illinois in the Department of Transportation.

Andy joined the US Veterans Foundation in the summer of 2019. He is a U.S. Army Veteran commissioned to active duty in 2011 and is still presently serving. He is a logistics officer by trade and is extremely proud of his time spent at Fort Campbell with the 101st Airborne Division. He might be one of the only Soldiers in the U.S. Army who loves Fort Polk, Louisiana and he will tell you all about it. Andy achieved his bachelor’s degree and commission from the University of Northwestern Ohio where he majored in business management and diesel mechanics. He is passionate about leading and helping veterans both past and present succeed in life and achieve their goals. Living life outdoors and helping Soldiers is in his blood.

Greg Love is one of the Co-Founders of US Veterans Foundation. He served on behalf of US Veterans Foundation as the original Chairman of the Board of Directors and the original Chief Financial Officer. Greg is a retired United States Air Force NCO, with service years that covered the last decade of the Cold War, Desert Storm and most of the decade that followed. After enlisting at 17 years old while still in high school, Greg served 8 years active duty in the US Air Force, followed by 12 years in the Ohio Air National Guard and retirement from military service in 1998. In addition to various military training schools, Greg also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Ohio State after leaving active duty.

Military and civilian defense contractor experience includes aerial reconnaissance systems, gun cameras and PAVE targeting systems, aircraft electrics and power systems, life support systems, flight data systems and automated equipment test systems. Service locations include multiple bases stateside, Europe and Middle East. Greg is currently employed as a Principal Process Control Engineer at Air Products PRISM Membranes in St. Louis and serves as a member of the US Veterans Foundation Board of Directors. “Military service is a lifelong commitment to Country and our Military Brothers and Sisters, regardless of generation or branch of service.”

Jason Beilsmith has led a career of over 28 years in the Fire Service. He has had a career as a firefighter with the Fosterburg Fire Protection District for 24 years attaining the rank of Captain. Jason Beilsmith is a veteran of the U.S. Army. Jason Beilsmith is a Master Mason of the Elizabethtown Lodge and Sir Knight of Patton Commandry of Knights Templar. He is a 1990 graduate of Southwestern High School in Piasa, IL. He is married and has three children and a grandchild. Jason Beilsmith is an avid hunter and motorcycle rider. Jason Beilsmith has served with USVF since 2015 and is a Board member.