The Advisory Council was formed in August 2010 to provide direction and support for the development of the Benefits4ArmedForces.info online Resource Directory. The Advisory Council is comprised of State Departments, former and current military members and private organizations to support the implementation and dissemination of project findings.

CHRIS MILLER
Chris Miller is a retired Air Force Master Sergeant having spent nearly 26 years in the service. He is the Assistant to the Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’  Affairs and has been in that position since his retirement from active duty in 2008. He works closely with Veteran Organizations and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for events and activities. He plans, coordinates and executes various events throughout the year to include Veteran of the Month, Veterans Day at the two State Fairs, Desert Storm Remembrance Ceremony and the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Working with Sergio on the Governor’s Discharged Servicemember Task Force, Chris is currently gathering information on veteran homelessness in Illinois. His agency also tackles other issues Illinois veterans are faced with after leaving the military.


IAN HARDIE
Born and educated in Aberdeen Scotland, Ian joined the Royal Navy on graduating High School entering the Naval School of Maritime Operations training as a Radar Operator. Passing top of his class he was later selected for Air Traffic Control training. Over a 33 year naval career he served in 15 ships, visiting 96 countries including the Falklands, Bosnia/Kosovo wars and in joint UK/US Task Forces in Operation Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan.  He was also fortunate to have 3 exchange posts with the US Navy onboard the USS NIMITZ and USS PHILLIPINE SEA and at NAS MAYPORT, FL.

After 8 years as a Naval Recruiter he moved to the US in 2008, taking a Veterans Employment Specialist position at Albany Park Community Center. He advanced to Veterans Program Coordinator in 2009 and took over as the Director of Workforce in March 2010. He remains passionate about Military and Veteran affairs and in helping his fellow Veterans find gainful employment and in any other way he can.


ANDRA MEDEA
Andra Medea created the Virtual Tranquilizer ®, a rapid calming technique used for violence prevention, driving & industrial safety or client management. The Virtual Tranquilizer® was developed into a program for returning veterans with the Illinois National Guard, for Prevention First. The model has also been adapted for judges, lawyers and organizational leaders.

Medea has presented on the Virtual Tranquilizer® for Prevention Coordinators under the National Guard Counter Drug Program, at the U.S. Joint Services Addictions Prevention Annual Training. Her book, Conflict Unraveled, won silver for Book of the Year from ForeWord Magazine, and was short-listed as a core book by the Library Journal.


ANGELA BOWMAN HALVORSON
Angela Bowman Halvorson is an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, the wife of an active Army soldier, and the owner/president of TopLine Professional Strategies, LLC, a behavioral healthcare consulting firm based in Dupont, Washington. As a consultant, she has written training manuals, policy papers and other materials on veteran’s issues, military families, substance abuse, ATR, SBIRT, and other topics. She also provides organizational management and administrative support to behavioral healthcare agencies around the country. She has served in the National Guard for 18 years and currently serves as a major in the Washington Army National Guard.

She has a bachelor’s degree in media and mass communication from the former Northeast Missouri State University (Truman University) in Kirksville, Missouri, and is completing a Master’s in Public Affairs at Park University, Parkville, Missouri.