FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2020
CONTACT: press@IAVA.org

IAVA’s Jeremy Butler & Sean Ullman Discuss VA Response and Re-Launch of Quick Reaction Force to Help Veterans Amid Crisis

New York, NY – Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America will host a press conference call on Tuesday, April 14th at 1:00 PM ET to discuss the re-launch of their Quick Reaction Force (QRF), which will help veterans navigate the resources provided by the VA, state and local providers, and non-governmental organizations in this time of crisis and beyond as they deal with the effects of COVID-19 and the response from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

IAVA CEO Jeremy Butler and IAVA COO Sean Ullman will discuss the challenges for the veteran community, how it is contributing to the fight against the outbreak and what IAVA is doing to serve the veteran community.

Featuring:

Jeremy Butler, CEO, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America	Sean Ullman, COO, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

WHO: Jeremy Butler, CEO, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Sean Ullman, COO, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

WHAT: IAVA Press Conference Call to Launch Program Addressing Veteran Needs as COVID-19 Cases, Deaths Rise

WHEN: Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 1:00 PM ET

RSVP: Members of the press are invited to participate. Please email press@IAVA.org to RSVP and receive dial-in information.

The discussion will include a briefing on the re-launch of IAVA’s Quick Reaction Force, a free program that provides 24/7 confidential peer-to-peer support, comprehensive care management and resource connections for any assistance a veteran needs.

In light of skyrocketing unemployment, severe reduction of in-person health care options and a general increase in mental health concerns for all Americans amid this crisis, IAVA’s newly expanded peer-to-peer assistance program ensures that all veterans, regardless of service era, discharge status or geographic location will have access to important information and resources during these uncertain times.

Additionally, participants will discuss the number of COVID-19 infections and deaths that continue to rise across the country and reports of equipment shortages at VA facilities increase while the number of activations of VA’s Fourth Mission increases and address why the country should be hearing more from VA leadership.

As the head of the largest integrated health care system in the country, one that is not only responsible for the healthcare of millions of veterans but also increasingly for civilian health care during the ongoing pandemic, IAVA is calling on the Administration to routinely include Secretary Wilkie and other VA leaders in President Trump’s daily coronavirus press briefing, and for Secretary Wilkie himself to hold regular press briefings at VA as the Department of Defense appropriately does.

Jeremy Butler serves as IAVA’s Chief Executive Officer. Jeremy joined IAVA with 15+ years of experience providing substantive and strategic counsel to leaders in high-profile government and private sector offices, to include the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. He is a graduate of Knox College and the U.S. Naval War College where he received a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. He is a Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy Reserve. Butler has recently contributed to Fox News, C-SPAN, Bold TV, Sirius XM, NY1 and other veteran and military media outlets. Butler is also a Commander in the Navy Reserves with nearly 20 years of uniformed service.

Sean Ullman joined IAVA in January 2017 as a member of the IAVA leadership team. As Chief Operations Officer, Sean is responsible for the strategic direction of IAVA’s overall organization strategy, including: development and fundraising efforts, all marketing and event execution, and data management. Prior to COO, in a combined CFO and CDO hybrid role, Sean oversaw the largest single year fundraising turnaround in IAVA history, helping the nation’s largest post-9/11 veterans organization minimize expenses and grow revenue, increasing the effective return for IAVA’s generous donors and investors. Under Sean’s leadership, IAVA has improved the financial position of the nonprofit, improving overall health in all aspects of the business.