Improving Transition Support for Those Leaving the Military

Dr. Whitney Livingston is an associate behavioral scientist at RAND and a licensed clinical psychologist. Her research focuses on sexual violence, intimate partner violence, suicide risk, women's health, and PTSD among service members and veterans.

She uses quantitative methodologies to research clinical and non-clinical populations and is currently expanding her skill set to include qualitative data collection methods.

Dr. Livingston previously provided evidence-based treatments and clinical assessments to veterans seeking care from the Veterans Health Administration. She earned her Ph.D. in clinical/counseling psychology from Utah State University and attended the National Center for PTSD at VA Boston for her postdoctoral research fellowship.

Daniel Ginsberg is the associate director of the Personnel, Readiness, and Health Program (PRH) of the RAND National Security Research Division, and a senior international and defense researcher at RAND. His research centers on organizational management, military reserves, and civilian and military personnel policy.

Before joining RAND, Ginsberg was a senior advisor and project director at the National Academy of Public Administration, served as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, and was a senior defense policy advisor for a decade. He coordinated the bipartisan U.S. Senate National Guard Caucus and received the Department of the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service and the Distinguished Service Award from the National Guard Bureau.

Ginsberg has an M.A. in strategic studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a B.A. in political science from the University of Michigan.

Eric Eversole is President of Hiring Our Heroes, a nationwide effort to develop and promote military talent in the United States. Working with a broad array of private and public sector partners, his team helps to create and connect transitioning service members, veterans, and their families with meaningful employment opportunities.

A recognized authority on workforce solutions and military talent development, Eversole also serves on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, Training, and Employer Outreach (ACVETEO) and frequently provides testimony before Congress on issues related to veteran and military spouse employment.

Eversole proudly served for over 24 years in the military. He began his service in 1994 as an enlisted airman with the Indiana Air National Guard before transitioning to the Navy’s Judge Advocate General Corps, where he retired with the rank of Navy Captain. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis, and lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, Amanda, and their daughters, Ellie and Lizzie.

COL Jarrett A. Thomas II is the director of Soldier for Life, an Army program that connects soldiers, veterans, and their families with education, employment, health and wellness, and U.S. Army retirement resources and information.

COL Thomas’ more recent assignments include Garrison Commander for the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, Director of Human Resources Management for the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, and Chief of the Strategic Initiatives Group and the Executive Officer for the Army G-9. He most recently served as the Executive Officer for the Army G-1. His awards and decorations are many, and include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Services Campaign Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and others.

COL Thomas is a graduate of the United States Army War College, the Command General Staff College, the Combined Arms Services and Staff School, and Adjutant General Officer Basic and Advanced Courses.

Tammy Barlet is Vice President of Government Affairs for Student Veterans of America, a network of nearly 1,600 on-campus chapters that ensure student veterans and military-connected students achieve their greatest potential.

Previously, Barlet served eight years in the United States Coast Guard as an Operation Specialist Third Class Petty Officer. She holds a master’s degree in public health from George Washington University, and a bachelor’s degree in public health from Temple University in Philadelphia.

To recognize Barlet’s contribution to enhancing the lives of other veterans, service members, families, and caregivers, she has been named one of VA’s Center for Women Veterans 2023 Women Veteran Trailblazers.

After 24 years in the Army, Retired COL Walter M. Herd continues his service as the Army transition division director at the Human Resources Command Center of Excellence in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

In August 2010, COL Herd accepted the position and immediately faced the challenge of re-engineering the Army's Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Under COL Herd’s leadership, TAP was transformed into a robust, fully comprehensive transition program offering counseling, education, and employment assistance to soldiers, DA civilians, and retirees. Now mandated, TAP has transitioned over 500,000 soldiers, with an additional average of 100,000 eligible soldiers transitioning annually over the next five years.

COL Herd has a BA in history from Centre College of Kentucky and three master's degrees, including one in human resource development from Marymount University. He is also the author of the book, Unconventional Warrior, published in 2013 by McFarland Press.