OUR TEAM

Richard “Rick” Ecker

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Rick Ecker is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Vets on Track Foundation, a nationally emerging nonprofit organization dedicated to ending homelessness among military veterans and first responders and strengthening the communities in which they live.

With more than 38 years of distinguished public service, Rick has worked at every level within the Department of Defense, serving in senior leadership roles where he advised decision-makers, built strategic partnerships, and helped bring national attention to critical issues impacting service members, veterans, and military families.

Rick spent over 22 years in the United States Marine Corps, where he built a career in Public Affairs, Community Engagement, and Media Relations. Throughout his military service, he worked closely with Marines and veterans from all branches of the armed forces, gaining a deep understanding of the personal, professional, and transitional challenges they face.

Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, Rick served as Executive Director of the United States Marines Youth Foundation, a nationally recognized, military-focused youth fitness and leadership organization. In this role, he led national programming, corporate partnerships, and community outreach efforts focused on building resilience, character, and service among military-connected youth.

Rick later continued his federal service as a government contractor, managing a major Air Force Public Affairs contract supporting Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, as well as the Public Affairs Office at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. He ultimately retired as the Director of Community Outreach for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after more than 13 years in that role, where he served as a senior advisor and liaison to nonprofit, corporate, and civic organizations nationwide.

Throughout his career, Rick has been a leading national advocate for veterans and military families. His work placed him at the intersection of government, nonprofit, and corporate sectors, where he gained firsthand insight into the systemic barriers veterans face — particularly in housing stability, reintegration, mental health, and long-term support.

Motivated by what he witnessed over decades of service, Rick founded the Vets on Track Foundation with a singular mission: to end homelessness among military veterans and first responders and restore dignity, purpose, and stability to those who have served.

Alongside his wife, Lesley, and daughters, Brittany and Rileigh, Rick built the Foundation to deliver practical, mission-driven solutions — including housing stabilization, home furnishings through the Beyond the Streets initiative, community reintegration programs, and partnerships that directly address the root causes of homelessness.

As Founder and CEO, Rick leads the organization’s strategic vision, national partnerships, and program development. Under his leadership, the Vets on Track Foundation is growing into a nationally recognized force for change — one focused not on temporary relief, but on sustainable outcomes that help veterans and first responders move from crisis to stability, from survival to self-sufficiency, and from homelessness to home.

ALLEN GEORGE

DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Allen George Jr. serves as Director of Business Development for the Vets on Track Foundation, leading strategic partnerships, corporate engagement, and revenue development initiatives that support the Foundation’s mission to end veteran and first responder homelessness.

With over 31 years of experience as a Retail Store Director, Allen has a proven track record in leadership, operations, and people development. He is passionate about helping individuals succeed professionally and personally and is known for his belief that 90% of life’s success is determined by one’s attitude.

Allen’s love for motorsports began when his son, Devin George, took up racing. Over the past two years, Allen has played a key role in building Devin George Racing into a competitive NASCAR Legend Series team. Through this journey, he has gained valuable insight into the racing industry and the power of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance—values that align closely with the mission of the Vets on Track Foundation.

Outside his professional work, Allen enjoys golfing and serves as a drummer at Southside Church, where he has been actively involved for more than 14 years. He is deeply committed to faith, family, and service, and he brings that same dedication to advancing the impact of the Vets on Track Foundation.

BRIAN CASEY

DIRECTOR, Virginians Give Back

VACANT

DIRECTOR, MEDIA RELATIONS

Ryan Riegel

DIRECTOR, BEYOND THE STREETS

 Ryan Riegel is a U.S. Navy veteran and nonprofit program leader serving as the Director of Beyond the Streets for the Vets on Track Foundation, where he leads one of the Foundation’s flagship initiatives focused on ending veteran and first responder homelessness.

With over 28 years of leadership experience across military, federal, and nonprofit environments, Ryan brings a deep commitment to service, operational excellence, and people-first leadership. His role with Beyond the Streets centers on building partnerships with homeless service agencies, coordinating volunteer and donor efforts, and ensuring veterans and first responders transitioning into permanent housing receive the basic comforts of home—restoring dignity, stability, and hope.

Ryan currently resides in Stafford, Virginia and has proudly called Virginia home since 2015. He was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan, and graduated from Pennfield High School in 1997 as a member of the National Honor Society. That same year, he entered the U.S. Navy through the Delayed Entry Program.

In 1998, Ryan began active duty in the United States Navy, serving for 14 years in highly demanding operational roles. He served aboard the USS Wyoming and USS La Jolla, and later with Naval Special Warfare at SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One in Hawaii. These experiences shaped his leadership philosophy around accountability, teamwork, resilience, and caring for those who serve.

Following his honorable discharge in 2012, Ryan continued his commitment to public service as a Department of Defense contractor and later as a DOD Civilian. Since 2015, he has worked at NAVAL SEA SYSTEMS COMMAND (NAVSEA) in Washington, D.C., where he serves in a senior leadership role supporting complex national security programs.
In his role with Vets on Track Foundation, Ryan now applies this leadership experience to the nonprofit sector, overseeing the planning, execution, and growth of the Beyond the Streets program. His focus includes expanding community partnerships, developing sustainable funding strategies, leading volunteers, and ensuring every veteran and first responder served receives meaningful, personalized support.

Ryan holds an Associate of Science degree from Excelsior College and maintains professional certifications in leadership, quality management, and process improvement, including ISO 9001 Lead Auditor and LEAN/Six Sigma Green Belt.

As Director of Beyond the Streets, Ryan is driven by a simple but powerful mission: to ensure no veteran or first responder is left to rebuild their life alone—and that every person who secures housing also gains a true sense of home, dignity, and belonging.

Jason Mueller

Director, Resiliency Among Warriors (R.A.W.)

Jason Mueller serves as the Director of Resiliency Among Warriors (R.A.W.), bringing a lifetime of service, faith, and leadership to the mission of supporting military members, veterans, and their families.

As a former active-duty Marine, Jason felt a profound calling to serve his country and protect the freedoms we hold dear. Like so many who answer that call, his service came with significant personal and family sacrifices. During a deployment in the late 1990s, Jason sustained a lower back injury and a traumatic brain injury, ultimately preventing him from continuing his military career. He was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps in May of 2001.

While deployed in Kuwait in 1998, Jason experienced a second calling—this time to ministry. Following his discharge, he pursued that calling and became a pastor, dedicating his life to serving communities and sharing God’s Word. Although his passion for ministry was strong, his deepest desire remained rooted in serving those who have worn the uniform and the families who stand beside them.

In 2021, Jason’s path intersected with Steve Wingfield, evangelist and CEO of Wingfield Ministries, Inc., who challenged him to step out in faith and fully embrace his calling to support active-duty and Reserve service members, veterans, and their families—collectively referred to as “our warriors.”

Today, through Resiliency Among Warriors, Jason leads with a mission centered on hope, healing, and purpose. Drawing from his personal experiences in both military service and pastoral leadership, he is committed to helping warriors navigate life’s challenges, strengthen their resilience, and rediscover their God-given purpose. His leadership of R.A.W. reflects his lifelong belief that no warrior should ever fight alone.

Jesse Settle

Director, Fallen Heroes Initiative

SONIA MIZELL

Director, Resiliency Among Warriors

 From the Land of 10,000 Lakes to the decks of the USS Iwo Jima, Sonia has always been up for an adventure—and usually has a good story to show for it.

A proud Navy veteran (2012-2016) who navigated the worlds of electronics and Middle Eastern deployments, she caught the travel bug early, thanks to her mom’s travel agency. Deciding the Navy’s offer to “see the world” was too good to pass up, especially as it followed a proud family tradition of service spanning four generations, it felt like a natural next step.

When not charting courses, you might have found her on the ice; a hockey player since the age of three, she played through college and even spent years volunteer-coaching, demonstrating her knowledge of teamwork, hard work, how to check someone, and the power of a well-placed slapshot. Her journey has been more of an exciting slalom course of developing new skills rather than a straight line.

Before her military service, she was initially set on a medical career—earning a CNA through the Mayo Clinic during high school and completing two years of pre-med studies at the University of North Dakota—before deciding to switch from a future in scrubs to one involving circuits by becoming an Electronics Technician when she joined the Navy.

She has also effectively managed retail operations as a supervisor, handling everything from administration and customer service to merchandising. Beyond that, she energizes diverse groups as a NASM-certified group fitness instructor, leading dynamic classes such as boot camps, kickboxing, Zumba, and barbell strength.

This varied background isn’t just a list of roles; it shows Sonia’s ability to connect with people from all walks of life, think creatively under pressure, and bring a refreshingly multifaceted perspective to any challenge. She’s quick on her feet—whether in combat boots, go-fasters, skates, or stilettos—to step up and find a way to make things happen. Add to that her role as a resourceful single parent to two bright girls, one of whom navigates the world with autism. Her problem-solving skills are not just theoretical but a daily, lived experience that has profoundly shaped her outlook and strengthened her resilience, bringing empathy and innovative thinking to every situation.

BRANDI TAYLOR

Director, Community Connection Project

Brandi is a proud United States Army Veteran and serves as the Director of the Community Connection Project for the Vets on Track Foundation. During her military service, she worked as a 93P Aviation Operations Specialist and was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Wheeler Army Airfield in Hawaii. She also deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina with the 18th Airborne Corps.

Brandi has remained deeply committed to serving the veteran community long after leaving the military. She is an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and the DAV Auxiliary. From 2020 to 2025, she served as Treasurer for DAV Chapter 50 and currently continues her service as a Chapter Service Officer, providing vital claims assistance to fellow veterans.

In her professional career, Brandi works as a Registered Nurse at the Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where she advocates daily for the health and well-being of veterans. Her dedication to service was recognized in 2023 when she received the Community Hero Award from the Vets on Track Foundation.

Brandi is also a lifelong learner, holding an Associate’s Degree in Finance from Hawaii Pacific University, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Through her leadership of the Community Connection Project, Brandi is passionate about strengthening the bond between veterans, first responders, and the communities they serve—ensuring no hero feels alone after their service ends.

CHARLIE CRENSHAW

Director, ARMED FORCES MOTORSPORTS

Charles Crenshaw is a proud Air Force Veteran who served as a General-Purpose Vehicle Mechanic. He is a Desert Storm Veteran and served in multiple countries and bases, both in the Middle East and stateside.

After leaving the military he continued his career as a Master Automotive Technician continuing his love for cars and racing.

Charlie is also a life member of the DAV and a Freemason.