IAVA’s Cavalry

Leaders of Change

Our premier leadership development program, IAVA’s Cavalry are chosen through a competitive application and interview process to help be the force that the post-9/11 generation needs to represent us on the national stage. When IAVA calls in our Cavalry, our leaders listen and real change happens.

Who is the Cavalry?

What began as a few scrappy veterans engaging with Congress has grown into a leadership development program and pipeline that fuels #VetsRising. Members of IAVA’s Cavalry are chosen through a competitive application and interview process, and once selected, get opportunities to meet with policymakers and members of the media to share their story, and help create change on behalf of the newest generation of America’s veterans. 

IAVA’s Cavalry are the voice of the Post-9/11 Generation of Veterans.

Meet the Cavalry

Devin McClain Wozniak

2025 Leadership Fellow

John Eugene Witt

2025 Leadership Fellow

Melissa Walther

2024 Leadership Fellow

Meredith Burns

2024 Leadership Fellow

Alan Torres

Cavalry Member

Connor Elliott

Cavalry Member

Jonathan Tennis

Cavalry Member

Joshua Barnett

Cavalry Member

Kelly Hein

Cavalry Member

Mac Verdi

Cavalry Member

Manuel Gomez

Cavalry Member

Nick Radke

Cavalry Member

Robert Fecteau

Cavalry Member

Ryan Gilfillan

Cavalry Member

Ryan McKibben

Cavalry Member

Shawn Murray

Cavalry Member

Tiffany McKeaney

Cavalry Member

Join the Cavalry

Once you’re a part of IAVA’s Cavalry, you’ll forever be.

IAVA’s Cavalry training programs are conducted both virtually and in-person, and at least once each year, select Member Advocates have the opportunity to meet with policy makers face-to-face during IAVA’s Cavalry Week in Washington, DC.

IAVA welcomes veterans and military-connected family members of all backgrounds to apply to be a member of IAVA’s Cavalry. We ask all applicants to be familiar with our policy priorities as those selected will engage decision makers on critical issues affecting post-9/11 veterans.

Participation in our Leadership Fellows program – an effort to double-down on the leadership of some of IAVA’s Cavalry –  is by invitation only and will be offered to stand-out members of IAVA’s Cavalry.

Interested in applying? The application period for Spring 2026 is now closed. Please stay tuned for future opportunities. 

We need the Cavalry

Put simply – we can’t do our work without IAVA’s Cavalry. Our staff alone can’t advocate on behalf of the more than 3 million post-9/11 veterans alone. We need our best members to be the face of our generation of veterans. We need them to tell their stories, and convince policy makers and those in power to act. And IAVA staff are standing ready to train you to be able to do so, in Washington, and back at home in your communities.

We lean on trained Cavalry Members to be voices in the media and leaders in their local community. As well, select Cavalry Members will be invited to receive additional training as an IAVA Leadership Fellow to prepare themselves to take on additional leadership within our Cavalry.

Hear From Our Members

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Upcoming Events

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There are no upcoming events. Check out our annual events below.

Cavalry Events

Cavalry Week

IAVA’s Cavalry Week gives Member Advocates the opportunity to meet with policy makers face-to-face, to share their stories, and to discuss the issues that matter most to post-9/11 veterans.

Veteran Leader Fellowship Program

IAVA’s Veteran Leader Fellowship Program strives to create a network of empowered veteran leaders who are driven by values, authenticity, and a shared purpose.

The Latest

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From Service to C-Suite: My Journey in Advocacy and Personal Safety

IAVA’s CEO Gives Compelling Testimony before a Joint Hearing of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committees

Read: Building Partners in our Veteran Community

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