Gary Sinise - Executive Producer
Gary Sinise is a multiple award-winning artist, author, and humanitarian. He has been Executive Producer since 2008, and the Gary Sinise Foundation has been our sponsor since 2019.
Nathan Graeser, MDiv, LCSW, DSW - Resiliency Trainer
LTC Nathan Graeser is the State Chaplain for the California National Guard who recently returned from a deployment to the Middle East. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Nate sits on numerous boards and is an expert on policies and programs for supporting Service Members transitioning out of the military.
Dr. Noël Lipana, DSW - Resiliency Trainer
LTC Noël Lipana (ret.) is a combat veteran who deployed three times to Afghanistan. After his service, he earned his Doctor of Social Work from USC. Noël uses performing arts to educate communities about moral injury and trauma. Noel is a graduate of the Air Force Academy with a Masters from the Naval Post Graduate School. The California DAV named him Veteran of the Year three years in a row.
Chase Millsap - Resiliency Trainer
Chase Millsap served three combat tours to Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps and deployed with Army Special Forces to Southwest Asia. He has written, directed, and produced numerous television shows and documentaries. A Naval Academy Grad, he holds a Masters in Policy from USC.
Ben Fischer - Resiliency Trainer
Ben Fischer is a former U.S. Army Sergeant, a construction executive, and entrepreneur. After four years of military service including two deployments supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, Ben led high-end residential construction teams in Southern California and in the Hamptons New York. Guiding complex projects through completion, he developed a reputation for calm leadership and accountability. Today, he uses those same principles focusing on transition, purpose, and building a strong path forward after service.
David Paluck - Content Creator
David has worked consistently in theatre, voiceover, television, and film for 30 years. After hundreds of projects around the country as an actor, narrator, writer, and producer; he finds great meaning in his work with Metanoia Films and in its efforts to help our nation’s military heroes.
Nick Faciane - Event Coordinator
Nick oversees the setup and execution of our workshops and seminars across the globe. A lifelong musician with decades of experience in AV and technical operations, he ensures every event is mission-ready. Driven by a passion to serve those who serve, he strives to build meaningful experiences and a strong sense of community for veterans, service members, and their families.
Alex Andersen - Outreach Coordinator
Alex serves as outreach coordinator for the Brothers At War and Brothers After War Workshop, leading national outreach efforts to build audiences, secure tour locations, and strengthen community engagement across the country. Collaborating with veteran organizations, theaters, and local leaders, his work is motivated by helping as many people as possible access the workshop and experience the meaningful dialogue it inspires.
Emily Henderson - Assistant to Producer
Emily supports the President with communications, logistics, and daily operations. She coordinates travel for workshops across the country.
Emily has administrative experience working in TV and film production, as well as live entertainment venues. Now a director-level volunteer, Emily has organized events with a community-based non-profit since 2019. She is committed to serving the military community.
Gary Sinise - Executive Producer
For over 40 years, Gary Sinise has advocated on behalf of America’s Service Members. He began telling their story in 1984, when he directed Tracers at the Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago, IL. A company he founded. His support for local Vietnam Veterans’ groups grew after his portrayal of Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump. He formed an enduring connection with Service Members throughout the military community, and began working on behalf of the Disabled American Veterans organization, a relationship that continues today. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, his dedication to our nation’s active-duty defenders, veterans, first responders, and their families has become a tireless crusade of support, service, and gratitude for all those who protect our freedom and serve our nation.
In November of 2008, after a day of shooting CSI New York, Gary sat with Jake Rademacher and Norman Powell in a screening room at CBS to watch Brothers At War. Afterwards he sat quietly for many moments. Finally, he said, “Jake, it’s a very important film.” Gary became Executive Producer and the film’s champion. He traveled with Jake to military towns during its opening week, spoke about it on national television, and helped raise over $250,000 for veteran causes with the film.
In 2010, Gary saw the Brothers At War Companion Journal and said, “Let’s get it out there!” He organized a five base military tour which took place in 2011. The Workshop was so well received that it has now been conducted for more than 60,000 Service Members and their Families. In 2019, the Gary Sinise Foundation became the sole sponsor of the Brothers At War Workshops.
In 2016, Jake expressed a deep desire to revisit and reconnect with his friends from Iraq. Out of that conversation grew the idea for a sequel. The Gary Sinise Foundation funded the creation of Brothers After War. Production began in 2019, with Gary once again serving as Executive Producer. His four decades of incredible award-winning story telling – including an Oscar Nomination, multiple Emmys, and Tonys – proved invaluable, both in his mentorship of Jake, and his contribution to the final film.
Gary’s passion extended to the creation of the new Brothers After War Seminar. The seminar is the latest addition to the portfolio of programs offered by the Gary Sinise Foundation to support our Defenders and their Families.
In recognition for his humanitarian work, Gary Sinise has received numerous awards including: the Presidential Citizens Medal, Spirit of the USO Award, Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Spirit of Hope Award by the Department of Defense, and Sylvanus Thayer Award from the West Point Association of Graduates.
Nathan Graeser, MDiv, LCSW, DSW - Resiliency Trainer
LTC Nathan Graeser is the State Chaplain for the California National Guard. He recently returned from a deployment to the Middle East where he was the Division Chaplain for the 40th Infantry Division.
He serves on numerous local and national boards, and is a national expert on policies and programs for supporting Service Members transitioning out of the military. He has led multiple Veteran initiatives including Warrior Bards, the Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative, and most recently, with Southern California Grantmakers to build the first county-wide Veteran Peer Access Network.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, he has worked tirelessly to counsel hundreds of veterans and their families who return home from war. He obtained a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California. He lives in Highland Park with his three children.
Dr. Noël Lipana, DSW - Resiliency Trainer
LTC Noël Lipana (ret.) is a Regional Prevention Coordinator performing community-level social work to prevent targeted violence and terrorism for US Department of Homeland Security. Noel is a combat veteran, who deployed three times serving as a Counter Improvised Explosive Device Officer in Afghanistan.
After twenty years of service, he earned his Doctor of Social Work at the University of Southern California, where he did work-study at their Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families. Noël uses performing arts to educate communities about moral injury and trauma among veterans and marginalized populations. He is a founding board member and current president of the DJD Art Foundation.
An Air Force Academy Graduate, Noel holds a Masters from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School. The California DAV named him Veteran of the Year three years in a row. Noël is an adjunct instructor for the University of Kentucky’s College of Social Work doctoral program.
Chase Millsap - Resiliency Trainer
Chase Millsap is a 10-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army Special Forces. He served three combat tours with the 1st Marine Division in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. He then served five years as a U.S. Army Green Beret leading counter-terrorism missions to Southwest Asia. Following the military, he continued to support veterans’ issues as a community liaison for the USC Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families (CIR). He also served as Chairman of LA Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Military / Veterans Advisory Council.
Millsap held the founding role of Chief Content Officer at We are the Mighty, a media and production company for the military and veteran community. He produced the short film, The Captain’s Story in collaboration with National Geographic, is an Executive Producer on Ten Weeks for The Roku Channel, and most recently directed the documentary film Small Town Strong. Currently, he is a consultant and writer on United States of Al on CBS. Chase’s last project for CBS New York, Songs of Service, received a NY Emmy award in 2022. He received a Bachelors in History from the U.S. Naval Academy and Masters in Policy from the University of Southern California.
Ben Fischer - Resiliency Trainer
Ben Fischer is a former U.S. Army Sergeant with two combat tours supporting Operation Iraqi freedom within Fox Company 51st Infantry LRS (Long Range Surveillance). He is also a business leader and entrepreneur who brings a consistent, real-world perspective to conversations around leadership, transition, and life after service.
Following his time in the Army, Ben transitioned into the private sector, spending nearly two decades overseeing high-stakes projects in the luxury residential construction industry. Rising to executive leadership, Ben became known for his ability to navigate complex coordination, manage competing priorities, and lead diverse teams with integrity.
Like many veterans, Ben understands that the transition from military to civilian life is rarely linear. His professional journey included moments of growth, recalibration, and hard-earned lessons about identity, responsibility, and purpose beyond the uniform. These experiences shaped his belief that leadership is less about control and more about alignment, accountability, and trust.