Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation Appoints New Board Members from Air Force, Marine Corps

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation based in Fredericksburg, Va., announced today the appointment of the Hon. Sue C. Payton, former assistant secretary of the U.S. Air Force; retired U.S. Marine Corps Captain Frank Skinner; and retired U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Adam Popp to its board of directors. The board oversees and supports the charitable organization’s mission to provide financial assistance to wounded explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) veterans and their families.

“I am humbled and honored to add Sue, Frank and Adam to our board of directors. As our foundation looks ahead at the long-term care required for our wounded, it’s important that we grow both our board and our endowment,” said Sherri Beck, president of the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation.

Payton was first introduced to the EOD community in 2001 in her role with the Pentagon and has been a friend and supporter ever since. During her tenure as assistant secretary, she formulated and executed a $210 billion Air Force investment strategy to acquire systems and support services to provide combat capability to joint warfighting commanders. Payton has extensive experience leading government and industry partnerships focused on maturing and applying technology, operations concepts, tactics, techniques and procedures to solve national security problems worldwide.

“Sue’s dedicated support to the EOD community, high regard for ethical oversight and, most important, her friendship make for a great addition to our board,” said Ken Falke, founder and chairman of the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation and chairman of A-T Solutions Inc.

“I am honored to be a part of this board and look forward to continuing the fundraising efforts required for the support of our wounded and their families, with the highest of ethical standards,” said Payton.

Skinner is a 23-year retired Marine Corps officer and combat veteran who served in Beirut and Vietnam. He has a diverse EOD background and currently works as a government contractor. Skinner is well-respected in the EOD community and has a compassionate desire to help our wounded and their families.

Popp is a 12-year retired Air Force combat veteran of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom as an EOD team leader. Popp is certified by the Amputee Coalition of America as a peer visitor for amputees and other severely wounded. He currently leads a very active life, working full time, attending school and participating in several outdoor activities.

EOD is a joint service military occupational skill, which means that EOD technicians serve within the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. The program is strictly manned by volunteer candidates. On average, there are more than 4,000 brave men and women serving as EOD technicians within the four services. The technicians are responsible for disarming, rendering safe and disposing of a variety of unexploded military ordnance and terrorist devices, normally called improvised explosive devices (IEDs). On today’s battlefields, IEDs are responsible for the majority of fatalities and severe injuries to our troops. Personnel that choose this field are specially trained at the EOD School located at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

About The Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation

The Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides assistance to our wounded EOD warriors and their families in the form of financial relief. The resources provided by the foundation to the wounded and their families are above and beyond the budgetary constraints of the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. We believe that families are an integral part of the healing and rehabilitation process and strive to keep them together during the most difficult of times. For more information, please visit www.woundedeodwarrior.org.