Alison Lighthall, RN, BSN, MSN, Founder:  Alison works for the Department of the Army as the Deployment Mental Health Consultant at Fort Carson, CO.  She's 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.  In 2008, she served as the Clinical Coordinator for Easter Seals' Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Pilot Project.  She is a popular national speaker.  To reach Alison directly, email her at alison.lighthall@us.army.mil.

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 307^th Medical Group, based in Blacklick, OH. To reach COL Platoni directly, email her at katherine.platoni@us.army.mil.

LTC Cynthia Rasmussen, RN, MSN, CANP: LTC 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. To reach LTC Rasmussed, email her at cynthia.rasmussen@us.army.mil.