Together We Move Forward
About MCF
Supporting veterans by addressing moral injury and fostering community empowerment
Serving Those Who Served Our Country
Meet the MCF Team











Travis Peterson, Founder and President
Travis Peterson, a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant, served 21 years specializing in Nuclear Weapons, Combat Search and Rescue, and Special Operations. He advised partner nations on aviation tactics with the 6th Special Operations Squadron, flying missions on Mi-17 and Huey helicopters. Assigned to Afghanistan's Special Mission Wing, he helped shape the unit into an elite counterterror and counter-drug force. After retirement, Peterson returned as a contractor, training Afghan personnel. He founded the Moral Compass Federation to support Afghan allies and serves on boards for Healing Hoof-steps and We Fight Monsters, advocating for veterans and trauma survivors.
Timothy “Tito" Torres, Vice President & Chief Executive Officer
Timothy “Tito” Torres, a Tillman Scholar and Georgetown graduate in International Business and Policy, served 18 years in the Army, including with elite units and Special Mission Units. He completed 11 combat deployments, earning two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, and multiple valor awards. Leveraging his combat and diplomatic experience, Tito focuses on policy development for conflict resolution and economic stability. As founder of Arena Advantage Group and Chief Executive Officer of Moral Compass Federation, he leads initiatives supporting servicemembers, veterans, and families, and collaborates with 25+ nonprofits to address moral injury and fulfill commitments to allies.
Sean McQuade, Director, Health Initiatives Program
Sean is a seasoned U.S. Army officer with 20+ years of experience, including multiple deployments to Afghanistan and roles in Colombia and Hungary. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees from Northeastern University and a master’s from the Naval Postgraduate School. With extensive diplomatic experience, Sean supports veterans and their families through volunteer work. As Director of Family Programs, he leads initiatives providing tailored support for military and veteran families, collaborating with the Moral Compass Federation to ensure accessible, effective services addressing their unique challenges.
Amy Marden, Senior Advisor, Strategy and Operations
Amy Marden is a dynamic leader with over 14 years of experience in national security, immigration, and humanitarian operations. As Humanitarian Operations Practice Area Lead at SOS International, she drives strategic initiatives for DHS, HHS, and DOJ, optimizing programs such as USBP processing, unaccompanied child sponsorship, and DOJ EOIR linguist services. As founder of REACT DC, she scaled the nonprofit from $0 to $3M in two years, supporting thousands of Afghan and Ukrainian evacuees. A skilled attorney and advocate, Amy has championed veteran causes, advanced moral injury solutions, and authored influential policy papers. She is a 2024 Presidential Leadership Scholar.
Dr. Brandon Temple, Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Brandon Temple, a transitioning Air Force Special Warfare Officer, currently serves as an Air Force Liaison to Congress. A combat-tested leader and advisor, he has deployed overseas ten times and advised senior military and congressional leaders. Dr. Temple holds a PhD in International Development from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he also taught political science. A community leader, he chairs the Calvert County Veterans Affairs Commission, serves on the boards of Surf Brigade and Hospice of the Chesapeake Foundation, and volunteers with veterans’ services. He also supports Cardinal Hickey Academy’s Finance Committee.
Donald Franklin, Director of Government Relations, Veteran Affairs
Donald Franklin is the Director of Government Relations on Veterans Affairs for the Moral Compass Federation. Donald also heads up Legislative Affairs for the Special Operations Association of America, and works with VA Community Care Network partners on Substance Use Disorders, Post Traumatic Stress, and Suicide-Prevention programs. Donald works and lives in Washington, D.C., and has provided numerous Testimony and Statements for the Record to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs regarding mental health and suicide prevention regulation, including participating and supporting numerous legislative efforts to provide research funding and legal pathways for veterans to participate in psychedelic-assisted therapies for major depressive disorders, substance use disorders, and post traumatic stress.
Joseph Swartz, Director of Government Relations, Afghanistan Initiatives
Joey grew up a farm kid in Minnesota, went to law school, and later became an army officer with the 82nd Airborne Division. He deployed to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012. He worked with a number of Afghan officers in a fusion cell and even learned to read and speak Dari. He has been working to bring his former colleagues to the US for nearly 3 years. He joined MCF to help make the Afghan refugee process more efficient, because he knows that helping Afghans helps veterans.
Sean O'Leary, Secretary, & Treasurer Board of Directors
Sean O’Leary, Vice President at Susan Davis International, is a seasoned communications professional with 20 years in journalism, marketing, and public relations. His career began in journalism, earning honors in Connecticut, and later shifted to communications, where he helped clients create impactful messages. At SDI, he leads accounts for technology firms, nonprofits, and government agencies. Previously, he directed technology-focused PR at Merritt Group, and held roles with the National MS Society, NAA, and Metalogix Software, overseeing global communications. A George Washington University graduate, O’Leary combines his diverse experience to shape compelling narratives for targeted audiences.
Kelsey Haberly, Board of Directors
Kelsey Haberly, Director of Operations for Rep. Michael Waltz (FL-06), supports his work on multiple congressional committees, including the Strategic Forces, Readiness, Oversight, and Intelligence subcommittees. A defense consultant before joining Capitol Hill, Kelsey holds dual degrees in Criminal Justice and Clinical Psychology from Indiana University, where she led the Student Alliance for National Security. She has coordinated efforts to assist U.S. personnel and allies, including evacuation missions in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Sudan, Israel, Gaza, and Haiti. An Indiana native, Kelsey lives in Washington, DC.
Gen. David Hicks, Board of Directors
Dave Hicks, retired Air Force Brigadier General and former fighter pilot, has 30 years of leadership experience, including roles at the Pentagon as Director of Strategy. He founded TBolt2 Strategic Consulting to provide leadership and strategy guidance, and he teaches crisis leadership at UNLV Medical School. Dave has commanded at multiple levels, including two combat tours, and serves on the boards of several nonprofits. An Air Force Academy and Systems Engineering graduate, he continues his passion for aviation as a Bombardier Global 6000 pilot, mentoring future leaders and teams through his experiences.
Carlos Williams, Board of Directors
Captain Carlos D. Williams, a naval officer and Director of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, has led global health initiatives for the Navy, including the creation of the Global Health Specialist Program and Integrated Trauma Readiness Exchange. He served as Health Attaché to the Pacific Islands, supporting U.S. missions in health emergencies, tuberculosis, and non-communicable diseases. Williams, a Morehouse-trained MD with advanced degrees from Johns Hopkins, has worked extensively on international health, disaster response, and pandemic preparedness. Recognized with awards like the Presidential Leadership Scholar, he is also certified in wilderness search and rescue.