In 2023, A-G launched a new initiative aimed at improving the lives of military personnel, Veterans, and their families (MVF). The A-G Military, Veteran, and Family Center of Excellence (MVF-COE) is designed to identify gaps, provide solutions, and drive impact in collaboration with stakeholders with various capabilities. To improve MVF lives through this multifaceted approach, the MVF-COE will partner with government agencies, non-profits, private businesses, Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), higher education partners, and general audiences for projects of all sizes.

Since 2009, A-G Associates (A-G) has supported public health in the federal government by ensuring that policies and grants at the federal level are translated into programs that are impactful to communities across the U.S. We have done this by improving programs, engaging various stakeholder groups, and using data to drive decision-making. This work has allowed A-G to develop unique areas of expertise in substance use, mental health, suicide prevention, post-traumatic stress, opioid overdose, community health, and nutrition.

A-G has also worked with many community-based organizations that have received grants from federal agencies. Our work at the community level complements our federal work as we support our partners by developing, scaling, and evaluating programs, all of which face unique challenges.

The A-G MVF-COE offers services in project management, program evaluation, capacity building, education and training, and stakeholder engagement. Our team of experts works closely with organizations to:

• Offer full lifecycle project management services utilizing the AGILE approach within our proprietary platform technology to ensure a high-impact delivery.

• Design, implement, and evaluate programs and services that support the unique needs of military and veteran populations.

• Provide in-person, digital delivery, and train-the-trainer services for suicide prevention, substance abuse/overdose prevention, PTSD treatment, and other MVF-specific behavioral health concerns.

• Develop and manage communication strategies to engage stakeholders in the military, VSOs, government agencies, and the “MVF space.”

These services include the use of A-G’s innovative Focus Platform. Focus provides a platform where stakeholders, both internal and external, can collaborate to develop the roadmap for change and measure the desired impact to evaluate its success.

Extensive personal and professional experiences have led the leadership of the MVF-COE to be an asset to the MVF community at large.

MVF-COE Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Ted Bonar, Psy.D., is a nationally recognized trainer and speaker at conferences and universities and is known as a subject matter expert in suicide prevention, lethal means safety, military and Veteran mental health concerns, and post-traumatic stress disorder. He currently serves on the Healthcare Advisory Committee for PsychArmor Institute. Before joining A-G, he was the Director of End Family Fire at Brady, as well as the Chief of Continuing Education Programs at the Center for Deployment Psychology.

Mackenzie Wolf is a Marine Corps Veteran and stakeholder engagement expert with over 15 years of experience serving and working in military and Veteran communities. As a Marine, she served as a cryptologic linguist. Since her time in service, Mackenzie spent several years working in the Veteran Service Organization non-profit sector, where she has written about Veterans’ affairs; public policy; legislative, Congressional, and government affairs; military and reserve operations; and international affairs. She was part of the initial efforts to see the PACT Act introduced in Congress. After the bill was signed into law, she published dozens of articles detailing explanations and breakdowns of the complex claims process for applying for PACT Act benefits for Veterans, tracked and published resources for Veterans on PACT Act eligibility and the rollout of PACT Act benefits.

A-G’s President, Chris Gonzalez, has done significant work for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As a Marine, he has served honorably with deployments to Iraq, Panama and Afghanistan. Chris was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal for his efforts. He is also the Associate Producer of Bastards’ Road, a full-length film about a Marine Corps Veteran who conquers post-traumatic stress by walking across the country. Chris has served on the Board of Directors for the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Health Care Access Maryland, Mentoring Mentors, and Strength in Numbers/American Warrior Festival.

The A-G Military, Veteran, and Family Center of Excellence is excited to support organizations doing great work to better the lives of servicemembers, veterans, and their families through collaborations, partnerships, and mission-driven projects designed to amplify MVF experiences, communities, and personal lives.