The Mva Board of Directors is known as the Management COuncil
all mva positions are unpaId vounteers
Chairman of the Board - John B. Wells
(also serves as Director of Litigation and Treasurer) Attorney John B. Wells is a retired Navy Commander (Surface Warfare) and a disabled veteran, who served from 1972 until 1994. He was assigned to six ships and several shore commands. He is qualified in all aspects of surface warfare including command at sea. He is a graduate of the Surface Warfare Officers School Department Head and PXO schools. Mr. Wells served as a Special-Court Martial convening authority, member, senior member and witness before administrative boards and courts-martial. He has administered non-judicial punishment under Art. 15 of the UCMJ. Mr. Wells attended law school at night while still on active duty. He was a member of the Law Review Staff and contributed to several law school publications. Upon retirement from the military, Mr. Wells settled in Slidell Louisiana and opened a general law practice that emphasized military and veterans law. Mr. Wells has represented military members and veterans throughout the country. He is at home in both state and federal courts and travels often to Washington, D.C. for cases there. Commander Wells was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in November of 1994, the Supreme Court of Louisiana in October of 1995 and the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in April of 1996. He is also admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. In addition, Mr. Wells is admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Federal and District of Columbia Circuits. He is also a member of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and all service courts. He is admitted to practice before the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the United States Court of Federal Claims. Mr. Wells is also admitted to many federal district courts including the District of Columbia. Mr. Wells is married to Janice Burton Wells of Perth Australia and has two daughters, five grand-children and one great-grand son. He has spoken before numerous groups on militaty and veterans issues. He is also a frequent guest on the Fox News Channel. |
Vice-Chairman Sgt. Major Jim Kuiken, USMC - Retired
Jim Kuiken is a highly successful former business executive, political candidate and international diplomat, law enforcement officer/agent, Director with Homeland Security, and retired multi-war combat wounded Marine. His long and distinguished career in national service and private industry exemplifies his commitment to this country, it's security and the free-market economic engine it was founded on. Now, as an Author and Public Speaker, his experiences as a young combat ‘grunt’ who moved up the ladder to become one of the most senior enlisted leaders in the Marine Corps, as a state and local law enforcement officer, a firefighter/EMT, a Border Patrol Agent, a federal Special Agent and ultimately a Director with the Department of Homeland Security give him the ‘boots on the ground’ real-world perspective. As an internationally recognized authority in law enforcement/first responder, homeland security, military and intelligence operations, Jim’s first-hand subject matter expertise is evident as an author with his knowledgeable down-to-earth writing; as well as making him a highly sought after speaker with his relaxed, personable but effective public speaking style. 
Susie Belanger - Legislative Director
Susie Belanger is the wife of a Navy veteran who has been active in veterans affairs. She has served as the Special Projects Director for the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Aeterans Association and acts as Legislative Director for Military-Veterans Advocacy, She and her husband Ernie, a disabled veteran, reside in Gansevoort New York and travel to Florida in the winter time. Gary Garvin
Gary is a 100% disabled retired Air Force veteran who served on Guam and is the Director for Central Pacific Islands. He is Section Chief of the Agent Orange Survivors of Guam section. Tom Walden
Tom is a 100% disabled former Navy sailor and a retired Merchant Marine Captain. He is the MVA Director of Social Media Outreach. Michael Kvintus, Sr.
Mike is a disabled former Navy Petty Officer and serves as membership director and Secretary to the Board. He is vice-Chief of the BWN section. Brian O'Callaghan
Brian is a disabled former Marine and government employee who acts as the MVA Director of At Risk veterans. 
William Rhodes - Director of Veterans of Southeast Asia
Bill joined the United States Marine Corps in 1968. He served at various locations in the United States, Japan, and Thailand attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6). He is the Director of the Veterans of Southeast Asia Section. Upon leaving the Marines, Bill worked industrial maintenance for various companies until he was forced to retire for medical reasons. He stumbled upon information that pointed out the health issues that caused his forced retirement were caused from Toxins in herbicides used by the Military. After filing a claim with the Veterans Administration for service-connected disability, and being denied multiple times, he began researching the use of herbicides by the Military. Bill obtained multiple official government documents, read the law and regulations governing the Veterans Administration, and discovered multiple discrepancies that needed to be addressed. He realized these discrepencies affected hundreds of thousands of Veterans. Bill was able to get Senator John Boozman (AR) and Representative Bruce Westerman (AR) to introduce legislation to correct the discrepancies. Bill, along with 5 other veterans from all branches of service participated in a television interview that drew national recognition to these discrepancies. In January of 2020, Bill became a member of Military-Veterans Advocacy and the Director of Veterans of Southeast Asia. 
Donna Tornoe
Donna is a former resident of the Panama Canal Zone and is the Director of the Panama Canal Zone Veterans Section. She served as a DOD civilian in Panama. Her husband Gene is a disabled veteran. 
Jerry Balmes
Jerry is a former Marine who served on Okinawa in 1971. He is the Director of the Veterans of Okinawa section. Jerry has been married to his wife, Vivian, since 1975 and they have 3 children. He lives in a Military Veterans Community in Northern Michigan called Camp Curnalia. He spends his winters near Port Charlotte, Florida. 
Jay Cole
Jay is former Air Force and an at large member of the Board of Directors |
