Board of Directors
Ryl Anderson(photo unavailable) Ryl is a health care provider and advocate, and also a military veteran. Susan Avila-Smith
Today, 14 years, and more than 2000 clients later, as the director of VetWow she has senator and congressional representatives’ offices calling her weekly for information and help for their constituents. Media requests from national and international sources arrive several times a week. Susan continues to educate the public, politicians and media, while at the same time providing various individuals, veteran’s organizations, international media, and documentary producers reliable information on the state of care for victims and VA benefits for survivors of MST. Susan and her husband, Steve, spend six months a year traveling the world together. She keeps in touch by the internet with the various on-line support groups offered by VetWow, as well as more than fulfilling her other roles. Her passion is training providers and new advocates. Stan Gunno
Some of Stan’s military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster; the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. He holds two Associate Degrees from the Community College of the Air Force, one of which is in Criminal Justice and the other in Information Management. Stan is currently self-employed as Super Stan Handyman and is “Saving Customers All Over Washington.” He is the Commander for Disabled American Veterans, Department of Washington; and an active member of DAV Eastlake Chapter 43, Redmond, Washington. He is on the King County Veterans' Program Advisory Board where he serves as the Chairman, and is the District 3 representative on the King County Veterans Citizens Levy Oversight Board where he is the Chairman of Communications and Resource Management and Evaluation Committees. Kira Mountjoy-Pepka
Kira now lives happily in Seattle, Washington, and as the director of Pack Parachute Charity spends her time trying to finagle other people into giving money to survivors of MST. She successfully brings together the two very disparate groups of veterans and feminists when coordinating with other local, state and national organizations to help the clients of Pack Parachute Charity; is helping to start a co-counseling organization for veterans; and blogs incessantly. Laura Watterson
Since Laura has PTSD herself, it is a difficult line to walk to keep herself “safe and sane” while at the same time supporting people who have not yet been diagnosed and are in very stressful positions (homeless, impoverished and recently assaulted). Through VetWow, Laura has begun to see more and more returning OIF/OEF soldiers, and their needs are much more timely than her clients in the past. She helps keep them focused on what their needs are and what they need to do to change their lives. |
Susan Avila-Smith served for four years as a Chinese linguist in the U.S. Army, experienced multiple traumas, and found the military’s system of holding accountable those who commit crimes to be broken. She became a volunteer advocate, whose tireless focus was and is helping military victims of rape or trauma by seeking discharges from active duty, obtaining needed medical and psychological care, and eventually VA benefits. 
Stan Gunno has spent a lifetime in service to others. He was raised in Florida and obtained the rank of Eagle Scout. This started him off fulfilling his lifetime obligation to provide cheerful service to others. After graduating high school in 1977, he joined the United States Air Force where he served with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) and as an Information Manager. During his time in service he served, among other places, in Kuwait City for Operations Southern Watch and Intrinsic Action, and retired in 1996. 
Kira Mountjoy-Pepka is a Navy Sea Cadet-trained FAA licensed private pilot who resigned in protest from United States Air Force Academy in 2003 for the way in which the military persecutes victims of sexual assault. She spent several years working as a full-time MST victims’ advocate to try and persuade Congress to order the DoD to hold accountable members of the military who persecute MST victims for reporting. Kira was responsible for focusing the issue on the victims’ First Amendment right to a redress of grievances. Her public relations efforts and lobbying with U.S. Congress and personal interviews with all major news outlets led to the dismissal of three Air Force Academy generals and as many colonels who were involved in denying their victims’ Constitutional rights. She and several other former Air Force Academy cadets were also responsible for persuading Congress to order the DoD to create and implement a $200 million “Agenda for Change.” 
Laura Watterson is the assistant director of VetWow. She attends veterans’ conferences and other public speaking engagements to educate people about MST, but her main focus is on one-to-one advocacy with veterans with both combat and MST PTSD. Her job responsibilities include case management, active duty assistance for rape victims in all services, veteran assistance for rape victims, networking with veterans' organizations and placing individuals with appropriate care providers, supporting them with funding, and running online support groups for both men and women with MST. She is an expert in VA claims and benefits, VA medical treatment, and recently testified in Congress regarding the SARC/SAPRO issues in the military. Her liaison work with caregivers, care providers, and veterans takes place at the local, county, state and federal levels. 