Alison Lighthall, RN, MS, Founder: Alison has been a registered nurse for 25 years, having received her Bachelors in Nursing in 1983 from Eastern Michigan University. After working in cardiology and geriatrics, she earned a Masters in Psychiatric Nursing in 1993 from the University of Illinois-Chicago, with a specialization in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She spent several years in private practice, writing numerous articles, and teaching nursing students as a psychiatric clinical instructor at two different schools of nursing. She joined the US Army Reserves Nurse Corps at 46 years old, where her work focused on training Soldiers in mental resiliency, post-traumatic stress disorder, combat stress, and psychological first aid, for which she was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. She is also trained in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, and critical incident debriefing. She currently splits her time between being the Clinical Coordinator for Easter Seals' Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Pilot Project and speaking to military, civilian, and professional groups nationwide.
COL Kathy Platoni, Psy.D.: COL Platoni has been a practicing clinical psychologist for 25 years. During a six month tour of duty in Operation Desert Storm, COL Platoni created combat stress debriefings and crisis management programs which have been utilized throughout the U.S. Army. In response to 9/11, she voluntarily deployed to New York City on two occasions in order to provide disaster mental health and critical incident stress debriefing to members of the New York City Police Department. She served as commander of the 1972nd Medical Detachment (Combat Stress Control) at Guantanamo Bay Cuba from 2003-2004. COL Platoni volunteered to return to active duty within weeks of her return, and deployed to Iraq in support of OIF, holding the position of Deputy Commander of Clinical Services for the 55th Medical Company (CSC) in Baghdad and seven other locations. She became Officer in Charge of Team Ar Ramadi. After her return from Iraq, COL Platoni reported to Fort Benning, GA, at the commander's request, for an additional six month mission in order to provide reintegration assistance. COL Platoni holds appointments as Assistant Clinical Professor with the School of Professional Psychology and Wright State University. She is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievment Award from her alma mater, Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY.As a graduate of the Army's Command and General Staff College, she is presently assigned to the 307th Medical Group, based in Blacklick, OH.
MAJ Cynthia Rasmussen, RN, MSN, CANP: MAJ Rasmussen is the full-time Combat and Operational Stress Control Officer and Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for the 88th Regional Readiness Command Surgeon General's Office, in Minneapolis, MN. She conducts both military and civilian training, debriefings, seminars, and community presentations nationwide.
Michael Beairsto: Michael is currently the Americas Region Security and Terrorism Risk Management Leader and New York Risk and Security Group Leader, for Arup, an international consulting company in New York City. As a Marine, Michael mentored and provided instruction to multiple military personnel in matters regarding operational security and military doctrine. He was also assigned to the Marine Corps Reactionary Force. He interfaced with US Secret Service and US State Dept to ensure the protection of US government and foreign dignitary personnel including the President of the United States and Vice President, 25 foreign heads of state, 100 ambassadors and dignitaries, numerous celebrities, high profile persons and other VIPs. Among his many accomplishments, he advised and supported Massachusetts Port Authority's Post 9/11 Disaster Recovery Efforts and Programs and was a team leader of an assessment task force that conducted security surveys of 1,479 federal facilities in the aftermath of the Murrah Federal Building bombing.
