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THE SQUAD
Being a team leader with Montana Vet Program isn’t about rank or résumé—it’s about responsibility. Some of us saw combat, some didn’t, but all of us have chosen to carry weight that matters. Out here, what counts isn’t the uniform you wore but the discipline you bring, the courage to step forward when things get hard, and the willingness to guide others through chaos into order. We lead by example, not title—proving that meaning is found in struggle, and strength is forged where comfort ends.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
LUKE URICK
USMC 2003-2012
U.S. Marine Corps – 8.5 years – Scout Sniper.
Summer & Winter Mountain Leader; Mountain Scout Sniper & Survival Instructor.
BA Psychology; MS Org. Management; Fitness & Sports Director (Malmstrom AFB); MVP Executive Director 9 yrs.
Notable: Husband to my "ride or die" wife for over 21 years Father of three incredible Monsters (one Marine so far) Graduated from College with Honors Civilian of the Year (Malmstrom AFB, 2021); Scheels Hometown Hero (2023); Navy Commendation Medal with “V” for valor (Fallujah); combat meritorious promotion to Corporal; Navy Achievement Medal; Purple Heart. Outdoor: lifelong hunter, outdoorsman, and human performance enthusiast. Why: to change the world. Motto: “Shine wild and suffer well.”
Founder of MVP whose combat-tested leadership and survival expertise form the backbone of the program; he teaches the majority of classes and, during breathwork, makes faces no one forgets.
Deputy Director
BRYON GUSTAFSON
ARMY INFANTRY 2003-2007
U.S. Army – Infantry Squad Leader – Bronze Star (OIF III); E‑6 in under 4 years.
Mini Sniper Course grad (listed on Wikipedia under “Squad Designated Marksmen”); Combat Lifesaver; BNCOC/ANCOC.
Avid hunter/fisherman—150+ days/year outdoors.
Former pastor (10 years) and nonprofit strategist—helped grow annual donations from $2M to $5M; nonprofit social media since 2011 (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook); producer of two podcasts. Education: BS in Religion; partial degree in Graphic Design. Why: a lifetime of helping people led to serving brothers and sisters in arms outdoors—MVP does things differently, and I had to be part of it.
Vision, leadership, and relentless drive connect veterans with the healing power of Montana’s backcountry — usually with a camera in hand to capture the story.
WELLNESS COORDINATOR
JOE MILLER
USMC 2003-2011
U.S. Marine Corps – 8 years; 3 tours to Iraq; later Mountain Scout Sniper & Survival Instructor.
Training: Scout Sniper, Mountain Scout Sniper, Team Leader, Summer & Winter Mountain Leader, Military Ski Instructor.
Additional training: High Risk Personnel, Man Tracking, Ron Hood Survival Course. Post-military: licensed plumber/pipefitter; CrossFit L2; Burgener WL L1; Power Monkey Fitness Camp; pursuing BS in Integrative Physiology (minor: Nonprofit Admin). Outdoor: leadership, advanced survival skills, big-game hunting, technical rope systems, rafting, fitness/nutrition coaching. Why: camaraderie, wilderness immersion, and hard work help veterans find their path.
Founder of MVP combining combat experience, sniper instruction, and fitness coaching to mentor veterans in the wilderness — and the guy who will always carry extra weight when others can’t.
OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
SCOTT MOSS
USMC 1997-2001, 2003-2011
U.S. Marine Corps – 12 years – Infantry, Scout Sniper, Mountain Survival Instructor.
Training: Summer Mountain Leader, Winter Mountain Leader, Scout Sniper Course, Mountain Sniper, Survival Training.
Post-military: Co-founder of Montana Vet Program, continuing to pursue outdoor challenges and leadership.
Outdoor expertise includes rafting, fishing, gear preparation, and multi-day backcountry treks. Brings deep survival knowledge and practical skills that help guide MVP’s toughest expeditions. Why: “I personally find time spent in nature to be therapeutic, and MVP provides the opportunity to share that with other veterans.”
Founder of MVP whose experience and perspective strengthen the program’s ability to guide veterans through shared challenge; the resident gear nerd who makes sure every detail is dialed in.
ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST
KAITLYN STEVENSON
AIR FORCE 2013-2019
U.S. Air Force – 6 years – Security Forces.
MVP Team Leader; BA Social Psychology; pursuing MSW focused on veteran mental health/trauma.
Notable: PsychArmor certified for veteran support/education. Outdoor: homesteading skills (animal husbandry, food growing, plant ID); lifelong outdoor lifestyle; continuous learning in wilderness and mental health. Why: healing is found in nature, shared challenge, and community—creating space for connection, growth, and resilience. Motto: “Strength doesn’t come overnight—it’s built by overcoming the very things meant to break us… grace to stumble and the grit to keep moving forward.”
Military service and mental health expertise foster connection, growth, and resilience for veterans on every trip; MVP’s first female team leader who makes sure no one slips through the cracks.
TEAM LEADER/MEDIC+
CHRIS WHITLEY
AIR FORCE 2005-2025
U.S. Air Force – 20 years – Vehicle Maintenance & Facility Management.
Training: Army Land Navigation, Combat Lifesaver, Wilderness First Responder.
Graduate of Airman Leadership School and NCO Academy.
Outdoor expertise: backcountry navigation, big game hunting and tracking, trapping, and backcountry fishing. Post-military: newly transitioned veteran preparing for his next chapter. Why: “Since the first time I met Scott and Luke and they told me about this I have loved it. There is something that happens miles from the truck with a group of like-minded people regardless of their background, and it is magical.”
Two decades of Air Force service and deep backcountry skills embody the grit and camaraderie MVP is built on; he’s often leading the pack down the trail and cooking some of the best freeze-dried food you’ll ever eat.
TEAM LEADER/MEDIC+
AARON PETERS
US ARMY 1997-2004
U.S. Army – 7 years – Infantry & Special Forces.
Physician Assistant; Search & Rescue volunteer.
Outdoor: big‑game hunting and fly fishing. Why: peace through intentional hardship and honoring the warrior mindset; MVP lets me share that path with others. Motto: “He who fears he shall suffer, already suffers what he fears.” – Michel de Montaigne.
Medical expertise and a warrior mindset ensure MVP can push limits while keeping veterans safe; a badass the rest of the team looks up to.
TEAM LEADER/MEDIC+
CARSON DAVIS
USAF 2014-2025
U.S. Air Force – 11 years – Pararescueman (PJ).
Training: NREMT Paramedic; Advanced Austere Emergency Care; Swiftwater Rescue; MFF Jumpmaster; SOCOM Dive Supervisor; NAUI Master Diver; Senior Mountaineer; AIARE Avalanche Rescue; PJ Team Leader.
Post-military: instructor at the Special Operations Combat Medic course; natural-disaster SAR volunteer; veteran advocacy. Outdoor: mountain rescue/guiding, prolonged wilderness medical, high‑angle rope rescue, team building, fitness/wellness. Why: veterans thrive when connected—MVP is the best conduit, and I want to help others on that journey. Motto: “Better Habits, Brighter Days.”
Pararescue experience and advanced rescue skills anchor MVP’s resilience in the backcountry; our newest team leader and already a certified badass.
TEAM LEADER
CAMERON MARTINEZ
USMC 2007-2014
U.S. Marine Corps – 8 years – Motor Transport Platoon Sergeant.
Combat Lifesaver Course; 8 MVP expeditions as participant and leader.
Outdoor: backcountry travel, hands‑on field leadership, veteran mentorship. Why: a good life requires service to others—MVP helped me through a dark period; I’m giving back to help other veterans.
Marine Corps leadership and a personal journey of resilience inspire veterans to overcome hardship; a workhorse who hasn’t missed a trip since 2024.
TEAM LEADER
JAMES GALLAHER
USMC
U.S. Marine Corps – 4 years – Infantry Rifleman.
Wildland firefighter and sawyer business owner.
Training: wildland fire operations, chainsaw/sawyer skills. Outdoor: backcountry travel, technical tree removal, team cohesion under demanding conditions. Post-military: professional wildland firefighter and sawyer—critical to MVP trail‑clearing and conservation projects. Why: I’m better for being part of this group—like a working knife, we’re sharpened through challenge and shared purpose
Sawyer skills and firefighting experience directly power MVP’s conservation work and trail access; the definition of Montana and a riot around the campfire.
TEAM LEADER/MEDIC+
BEN "BENNY" LaBARGE
USAF 2000-2009
U.S. Air Force – 9 years – Firefighter.
Paramedic (FP‑C); professional firefighter/paramedic.
Outdoor: skilled boatman; ensures participants eat well beyond backpacking meals. Notable: known for making kale taste good. Why: to help others find inner peace in the only church I believe in—the wilderness. Motto: “The idea of wilderness needs no defense, it only needs defenders.” — Edward Abbey.
Medical training, firefighting service, and steady presence keep MVP strong in the wilderness; river rat and camp cook who makes sure no one eats just backpacking meals.
TEAM LEADER
SHAD PEPION
USMC
U.S. Marine Corps – 8 years – Amphibious Reconnaissance.
Training: Basic Reconnaissance Course, Airborne, Combatant Diver, Survival/Climbing/Mountaineering.
Post-military: Master’s in Forensic Accounting and nonprofit organization management.
Outdoor expertise includes river navigation, whitewater experience, and backcountry big game hunting. Brings crucial financial management skills that support MVP’s long-term mission. Why: “Through first-hand experience, MVP uses our natural environment to help veterans rebuild purpose and connection.”
Unique perspective and story that add depth to MVP’s mission of serving all veterans; a quiet badass who also keeps our finances on point.
HONORARY TEAM LEADER
LAURA ZERRA
Wilderness Skills Expert · 2001–Present
Primitive Skills & Survival Expert; 20+ years living/teaching wilderness skills worldwide.
Known for Discovery’s “Naked and Afraid” / “Naked and Afraid XL.”
Co‑creator/instructor for MVP’s Backcountry Immersion.
Expertise: shelter building, firecraft, foraging, tracking, primitive tool‑making, remote navigation. Contributions to MVP: instruction, morale, mentorship, and elevating skill standards in the field. Why: helping veterans reconnect with resilience and purpose through raw lessons of the wilderness. Quote: “The wild is the ultimate teacher—it strips away everything but who you truly are.”
World-class survival knowledge and passion for veterans elevate every MVP expedition; possibly the most mentally tough of us all, and she carries her weight every step of the way.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Board of Directors provides oversight, accountability, and long-term direction for Montana Vet Program—ensuring the mission stays disciplined, sustainable, and effective.
The board brings a rare mix of experience: special operations and veteran advocacy, nonprofit and corporate giving insight, financial stewardship and audit readiness, and Montana small-business leadership. Several members also serve in the field with MVP, keeping governance grounded in what actually works for veterans and in the wild places we operate in.
BOARD PRESIDENT
TREVOR DAER
17 years in employee benefits and a nationally recognized leader in pharmacy benefit strategy, plus experience as a business owner/entrepreneur.
Leads the board with a focus on business strategy, marketing, governance, and fundraising to help MVP scale its impact.
Trevor serves because he has a deep passion for helping veterans and believes MVP offers a unique, effective approach rooted in Montana. He brings practical leadership in business, marketing, nonprofit board work, and fundraising—helping strengthen the organization for long-term growth. Raised in the Montana wilderness, Trevor has experienced the therapeutic power of hunting, fishing, and time outdoors, and he intentionally shares that legacy with his four kids. He’s even named his company after Granite Peak—an indicator of how deeply Montana and its wild places have shaped him.
“If you can’t give time, give money. If you can’t give money, give time. If you’re blessed to give both, do that.”
BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
CHASE YERGER
Nearly 20 years practicing dentistry in Eastern Montana, with the long-view perspective of a business owner.
Serves because MVP reflects his personal philosophy: you don’t win without losses—stay sharp, stay motivated, and grind forward.
Chase brings steady leadership shaped by years of building and running a practice through every season—good and hard. He supports MVP because the program’s vision aligns with his belief that hardship forms strength and momentum. The outdoors is also personal for Chase: it’s where he resets, finds “neutral,” and reconnects with something pure that he can’t replicate anywhere else.
“The outdoors is where I find neutral.”
BOARD TREASURER
SHAD PEPION
10+ years in military and private operations in high-threat environments, plus 12+ years in public accounting, nonprofit organization, and auditing.
Supports MVP with government accounting and audit readiness, while also serving as a Team Leader and plank holder.
Shad brings a rare blend of operational and financial leadership to Montana Vet Program. His expertise includes government accounting, nonprofit organization, and audit support, along with river and backcountry expedition experience, land navigation, and survival skills. He serves because he’s seen firsthand how MVP uses Montana’s natural resources and holistic practices to help veterans heal mentally, physically, and emotionally. For Shad, the outdoors isn’t just recreation—it’s a foundational resource worth protecting and living by.
“We belong to the land and the land belongs to us.”
BOARD SECRETARY
KAITLYN STEVENSON
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BOARD MEMBER
TYR SYMANK
30-year Army veteran (25 in special operations) and, as a civilian, a published writer, marketing consultant, and outspoken advocate for military and veteran mental health.
Former corporate giving manager who’s vetted thousands of nonprofits—he serves because MVP puts mission ahead of brand and delivers real outcomes.
Tyr brings a lifetime of service and a high bar for operational integrity. His experience spans special operations, armor, and horsemanship, and he’s served as a Special Forces medic, nonprofit executive director, corporate giving manager, and public speaker. He has been recognized professionally and militarily, including earning the Combat Medic Badge and recognition for providing care under fire. Tyr serves with MVP because he’s seen the organization execute with selflessness and discipline, and because he believes the outdoors, physical challenge, and camaraderie are strong medicine—helping him, his family, and the men he’s served with. In the wilderness, he finds a kind of peace that’s hard to reach anywhere else.
“A good veteran nonprofit puts the mission ahead of its brand.”
BOARD MEMBER
CHRIS EDWARDS
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