William Brim, Psy.D., is the executive director of the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. He joined CDP in 2007, initially as a deployment behavioral health psychologist at Malcolm Grow Medical Center and served as deputy director until 2017. Prior to joining CDP, Dr. Brim served on active duty as a psychologist in the United States Air Force from 1997 to 2007.

Dr. Brim received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Tennessee and his master’s and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is a graduate of the Wilford Hall Medical Center Psychology Residency Program and the Wilford Hall Clinical Health Psychology Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program.

Dr. Brim is a recognized and post-doctoral fellowship trained behavioral sleep medicine specialist. Clinically he focuses on the assessment and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder, insomnia and nightmares. Dr. Brim has over 100 publications and presentations on a range of topics including military culture, insomnia and insomnia and nightmare treatments and trauma. He is frequently called on to consult in courts martial and discharge boards as a forensic psychology expert with a specific focus on trauma and memory. Dr. Brim is an APA Fellow and Past-President of the APA's Military Psychology Division.

Erin Frick, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist and an Associate Director at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP), located at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. At CDP, Dr. Frick leads the DoD Child Collaboratory, a team dedicated to researching and implementing training and best practices for utilizing telehealth and digital tools to enhance healthcare and support for military youth and families with mental health, emotional, developmental, and/or behavioral needs. She also leads the VA-Safeguard Suicide Prevention Project, where her team works to identify and implement best practices for suicide prevention among special veteran populations by leveraging evidence-based psychotherapies and VA standards of care.

Dr. Frick leads trainings in Evidence-Based Psychotherapies (EBPs) for CDP and her clinical expertise centers on the dissemination of EBPs and the development of group therapy services. Prior to her role at the CDP, she worked as a contract psychologist at Travis Air Force Base, providing care to active-duty service members. Her career also includes experience in university counseling and community mental health centers.

Dr. Frick earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Manchester (College) University, her master’s degree in mental health counseling from Purdue University, and her doctorate in clinical psychology from Wright State University.

Jennifer Phillips, Ph.D., is the Associate Director of Program Evaluation for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. She first joined the CDP as the Program Evaluator in 2013.

Dr. Phillips holds an undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Biology and Psychology and Masters and Doctoral degrees in Medical Psychology from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU). Following a two-year postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, she served on the psychology faculty of a small liberal arts university for five years. Before coming to CDP, Dr. Phillips worked for a government consulting firm where she contributed subject matter expertise to program evaluation activities for several DoD behavioral health programs. She is an Assistant Professor in the Medical and Clinical Psychology department at USU and continues to contribute to undergraduate, graduate, and professional psychology courses.

In addition to her training and teaching at USU, Dr. Phillips' experience as a military family member and spouse has helped her to cultivate an understanding and appreciation of the unique challenges and benefits of being part of a military family. Dr. Phillips’ professional interests include research and evaluation, the roles of learning and biology in determining behavior, and health psychology.

Dr. Libby Parins, MA, Psy.D., is the Chief of Staff at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP). With extensive experience in military psychology, her clinical expertise focuses on suicide prevention and the treatment of PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders among service members and their families.

After beginning her career as a Navy psychologist, Dr. Parins has been with the CDP since 2007, serving in various roles. This includes work as a faculty member for APA-accredited psychology internship programs at Navy Medical Center San Diego and Madigan Army Medical Center. Her experience also extends to being a project developer and trainer for both military and civilian programs, as well as an Assistant Director of Training and Education.

As a CDP faculty member, Dr. Parins has traveled across the United States, Europe, and Asia to provide continuing education to behavioral health providers. Her widely recognized training includes topics such as Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD, Cognitive Therapy for Suicide Prevention, ethics, military culture, and the deployment cycle. Dr. Parins is passionate about working with graduate students and adult learners dedicated to supporting military populations. She is currently based in North Carolina.

Timothy Rogers, Ph.D., is currently employed by the Henry Jackson Foundation as an Associate Director at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Center for Deployment Psychology. He is responsible for managing the development, delivery, and evaluation of a range of clinical training and research programs and serves as a subject matter expert/trainer on evidence-based psychotherapies for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Insomnia.

Dr. Rogers received his Ph.D. in 2009 in Counseling Psychology at the University of Akron. He completed his Clinical Psychology Residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center and served over six years as an active-duty Air Force psychologist and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Dr. Rogers also served for six years as the Associate Program Director for the USAF Clinical Psychology Internship at Wilford Hall in San Antonio Texas. Research interests include help-seeking behaviors, PTSD and insomnia treatment, dissemination and implementation of evidence based treatments, and training in health service psychology. Dr. Rogers currently serves as an APA accreditation site visitor team chair for psychology internships.

Adria J. Williams, Ph.D., is a Military Behavioral Health Psychologist at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Williams is a suicide prevention subject matter expert and trainer.

Dr. Williams earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from University of Maryland College Park, and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Baltimore VA Medical Center, where she focused on delivering evidence-based treatments to Veterans with PTSD, depression, and substance use disorders. She has also served at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where she spent six years in the Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic providing comprehensive psychological assessments, individual and group therapy, and psychoeducational services to active duty service members and their families as well as retirees.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Williams has contributed to the education and training of future mental health professionals by developing a didactic course syllabus and teaching Psychiatry Residents at Walter Reed. Her approach emphasizes evidence-based treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.

Alessandra Grillo, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Deployment Psychology. Dr. Grillo earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Boston VA Healthcare System where she provided brief and full-model evidence-based treatments for a wide range of mental and physical health concerns in primary care and outpatient clinics serving Veterans.

Dr. Grillo has extensive research experience at the National Center for PTSD across the Women’s Health Sciences Division and Behavioral Science Division, focusing on intimate partner violence, traumatic brain injury, intervention development, and epigenetic risk factors of PTSD. Across her work, Dr. Grillo has been interested in exploring how stress exposure gets “under the skin” to influence risk for internalizing psychopathology. Her research interests center on the interplay between stress exposure and key biological processes in shaping risk for PTSD and depression and identifying biological and psychological risk factors that confer heightened stress sensitivity.

At CDP, she is extending this line of work to examine sleep variability as a biological risk factor for suicide risk among active-duty military personnel with the goal of informing prevention and intervention strategies.

Alli Standlea is an Online Training Support Specialist for the Center of Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). With a strong background in both customer support roles and supervision, Alli provides technical and logistic support to participants in CDP's online training events.

In addition to her professional expertise, Alli is passionate about cooking and baking, often finding joy in creating new recipes and sharing meals with loved ones. She works remotely out of Southern Arizona.

Allison Hannah, MSW, LCSW, is a Military Behavioral Health Social Worker for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. She assists in the implementation and expansion of Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP). SBHP trains civilian behavioral health providers to work with service members, veterans, and their families. The mission is to expand the availability of high-quality behavioral health services, especially for those in the reserve components.

Allison is a veteran of the United States Army and United States Army Reserves. During Allison’s time in the military from 2003 through 2016, she served in various occupation specialties as a bridgecrew member, chaplain assistant, and most recently as a Human Resources Officer. While serving in the active duty component, Allison deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 09-11. She also held additional duties during her tenure training service members in suicide prevention and as a victim advocate with the Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program.

Allison received her Bachelor of Social Work from University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN in 2007 and her Master of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago in 2015. Allison is currently pursuing her Doctor of Social Work from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN.

Allison’s previous clinical work includes positions in community mental health, the Iowa City Health Care System in the Homeless Veteran Program and with the Defense Health Agency within the Child and Family Behavioral Health Services section at an active-duty Army base. Allison is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and is a Registered Play Therapist ™ specializing in using evidence-based approaches to address trauma, adjustment and attachment related disorders.

Amanda McCabe, Psy.D., is a Military Behavioral Health Psychologist with the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. In this capacity, she develops and presents trainings on a variety of evidence based therapies. Prior to the CDP, Dr. McCabe served as a clinical psychologist in the Army from 2013 to 2024.

Dr. McCabe received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas A&M University and her masters and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from Pacific University in Portland, Oregon. She graduated from the clinical psychology internship and residency program at Tripler Army Medical Center. Later, she completed a fellowship at Brooke Army Medical Center’s Trauma and Health Care Administration Fellowship Program.

The focus of Dr. McCabe’s clinical work, supervision, and training is on trauma, whether military related or generalized. Dr. McCabe also focuses on treating anxiety disorders and sleep disorders. Due to her 11 years in the Army, Dr. McCabe has extensive experience in how these diagnoses can impact one’s military profession and the complexities of treatment while active duty.

Amanda Stanley-Hulsey is the Curriculum Developer for the Center for Deployment Psychology, providing instructional design guidance for current and future curriculum development. Prior to joining CDP, Amanda has managed instructional design projects for Intuit, Harvard Business School, Arizona State University, Colorado State University Global, and various nonprofit organizations. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and Business Administration with an emphasis on Healthcare Management from the University of Alabama.

Amanda is a lifelong learner and has extensive graduate credits in the fields of Social Work, Education, and Instructional Design. As a military spouse for 20 years, Amanda has been dedicated to serving military families in any capacity to enrich the lives of service members, spouses, and their children through support programs and education.

Annie Layden, LICSW, is a licensed clinical social worker working as a Military Behavioral Health Social Worker for the Center for Deployment Psychology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Ms. Layden received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of New Hampshire and her master’s of social work degree from Florida State University.

Her subject matter expertise focuses on advocacy, trauma, suicide prevention, and prevention of intimate partner violence, child abuse, and sexual assault. At the Center for Deployment Psychology, Ms. Layden utilizes her expertise to facilitate train-the-trainer workshops and develop a multi-day, online encounter skills curriculum for the DoD’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (DoD SAPRO) to improve advocacy services for military sexual trauma victims.

For over ten years, Ms. Layden has specialized in clinical work with individuals, families, couples, groups, and military populations. She has eight years of experience in developing training for adult learners. She is passionate about facilitating interactive learning and creating safe spaces for others to grow personally and professionally.

Ariana Bazzi is a Research Assistant for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP). She received her Bachelors of Science and a minor in Sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University. As an undergraduate, Ariana conducted an independent study in the La Esperanza Research Program, contributing to research on immigration policy and mental health outcomes in Latinx adolescents.

Postgrad, she volunteered at the VCU REPEAT Lab, where she worked on projects regarding reward processes, emotion regulation, and anorexia nervosa treatment. Her primary research interest and passion is in eating disorders, particularly restrictive eating. She is especially drawn to how social media influences disordered eating and the role of emotion dysregulation, both in the development of eating pathology and in response to social media exposure.

Ariana is planning to apply to Clinical Psychology Ph.D. programs next fall for the 2027 cycle.

Aric Bowie is a Project Manager with the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. In his role at the CDP, he has helped to leverage and popularize various technologies in order to bring CDP’s online training portfolios to new levels.

Including his time working with the CDP, Mr. Bowie has twelve years of experience in education technology and training. He has served on research teams, marketing departments, retail leadership, and software development. Mr. Bowie received his bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland. While there, he specialized in critical theory, typography, and book design.

His hobbies include creating fine art, music, sociology, and anthropology.

Ayan Deria Deria is a Data Manager working for the Henry Jackson Foundation, in collaboration with the Center for Deployment Psychology. She joined CDP in May 2024 and works on the Program Evaluation Team. She received her Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a minor in Sociology from University at Buffalo (SUNY) in 2022.

Prior to working for the CDP,  Ayan worked as a Laboratory Technician in coordinating the processing of samples for pharmaceutical purposes in Rockville, Maryland. Interests include Behavioral Health and Epidemiology.

Brandon Carpenter is a Project Manager at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. He brings over a decade of distinguished service in the U.S. Air Force, coupled with a robust educational background. Brandon holds a PMP certification from PMI and an MBA in Emergency Management from Park University, providing a solid foundation in strategic planning, training, and operational oversight.

Previously, Brandon served as the Training & Education Program Manager at Aviano Air Base in Italy, where he led a team of 12 personnel, managed critical training programs, and oversaw Air Force Training Records.

Breayna Mercer is the administrative assistant, Online Telehealth, Technology and Training (OT3) Directorate at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD.

She received her Masters of Arts in Human Services from Regent University.

Brian Ludden, Ed.D., LMHC, LPC, is a Military Behavioral Health Counselor at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) within the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. In this role, he supports the implementation and expansion of Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP), which trains civilian behavioral health providers to effectively support service members, veterans, and their families. This initiative aims to increase the availability of high-quality behavioral health services, particularly for those in the National Guard and Reserve.

A veteran of the United States Army, Brian transitioned from military service after a medical discharge in 2009 and dedicated his career to mental health support for the armed forces and their families. While serving as the Military Connected Student Support Specialist with the School District of Clay County under a Department of Defense Education Activities (DoDEA) grant, he facilitated the placement of Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLC) in local schools to support military-connected students.

Brian earned his Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Florida in 2012, followed by a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the same institution in 2017. His extensive clinical experience encompasses community mental health, substance abuse treatment, school-based therapy, specialized therapeutic foster care, pediatric and family-based treatment, and private practice. He specializes in treating anxiety, PTSD, and grief, with a focus over the past 12 years on providing care to military service members and their families.

Identifying as a Humanist Therapist, Brian is dedicated to creating a therapeutic environment where clients feel seen, heard, and empowered. He believes in the inherent potential within everyone to grow, heal, and find meaning in their lives.

Carin M. Lefkowitz, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist and Senior Military Behavioral Health Psychologist at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Lefkowitz earned her M.A. and Psy.D. in clinical psychology at Widener University, with a concentration in cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Prior to joining the CDP, she served as a psychologist at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. In this capacity she provided individual and group psychotherapy with a focus on evidence-based treatments for PTSD and insomnia. She also served as a clinical supervisor to Vet Center clinicians, and psychology interns and practicum students at the Medical Center. Dr. Lefkowitz was a therapist on studies of evidence-based treatments for insomnia and traumatic nightmares, and coordinated the Medical Center's Cognitive Processing Therapy program.

Dr. Lefkowitz has published peer reviewed articles on prolonged exposure treatment for PTSD and innovative training options in sleep disorders. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology at USUHS and maintains an adjunct instructor appointment with the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology at Widener University. She was previously an adjunct instructor in Chestnut Hill College's graduate psychology program and a Clinical Associate of the University of Pennsylvania's department of psychiatry.

Cassandra Burrell, PMP, is a Project Manager at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. With extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, Cassandra has built and nurtured strategic partnerships, overseen diverse projects, and collaborated with businesses to design and implement strategies that optimize internal processes for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Cassandra combines her technical expertise and leadership skills to drive organizational success, ensuring that projects are delivered on time and within scope. Her commitment to excellence and passion for fostering innovation have consistently contributed to impactful outcomes in her professional endeavors.

Cherdorise Keen is the Administrative Assistant II for EBP/ESP and SPRIRC Programs at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. In this capacity, she provides a variety of administrative support for the development and management of EBPs such as CBT-Insomnia, CBT-Suicide Prevention, CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy) and PE (Prolonged Exposure Therapy) in-person and webinar training events.

Ms. Keen received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix. Prior to joining CDP, she worked as an Administrative Coordinator for Urban Land Institute (ULI) in Bethesda, MD, and as an Education Coordinator for the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) in Reston, VA.

Chris A. Adams is the Program Manager/Project Management Office Lead for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP). In this role, he oversees the project management needs of the Center and assigning PMs to new projects or existing projects

He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Arizona State University.

Before joining the CDP in 2011, he worked for the newspaper industry in the Phoenix-area for 10 years as a writer, editor, blogger and web content coordinator.

Christina Myers is a Project Manager at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland.

She manages more than 90 continuing education trainings for the Star Behavioral Health Providers program (SBHP), a training and referral program that is expanding access to community-based mental health care for service members, veterans, and families. Ms. Myers has been with CDP since 2008 and previously worked in the Office of External Affairs at USUHS.

Claire Hoag is a Program Manager at the Center for Deployment Psychology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. She works on the Star Behavioral Health Providers program.

Ms. Hoag received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Doane College and her Master of Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Danielle Snider is the Executive Assistant supporting four senior leaders at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Capella University and is a Certified Professional Project Manager.

With over 12 years of experience supporting executives, non-profit boards, and strategic initiatives, Danielle brings both operational precision and systems-thinking to CDP's mission of providing evidence-based behavioral health resources to the military community. Her work spans executive coordination, organizational process improvement, and cross-functional project leadership.

She believes deeply that healing happens when we understand root causes and recognize each person's inherent resilience - values that drive her commitment to supporting CDP's mission of ensuring service members, veterans, and their families receive culturally competent, high-quality care.

David Obergfell, DSW, MSW, MA, LCSW, is a Military Behavioral Health Social Worker and Subject Matter Expert with the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. In this capacity, he supports military behavioral health faculty on assignments and bandwidth across the center, providing professional development and performance management. He also assists in the implementation and expansion of the Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP) program, where he trains civilian behavioral health providers to work with service members, veterans, and their families.

David is a Major in the Air Force Reserve, serving on the 452 AMW (Knights!) Wing Staff, with SAPR, as the Disaster Mental Health team Chief, Suicide Prevention POC, and in support of the IPPW programs. David previously served on extended active duty as a suicide prevention and interpersonal violence subject matter expert with Headquarters Air Force A1Z – Integrated Resilience and was a prior Active-Duty Air Force as a Social Worker, serving in the 779th Medical Operations Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, and the 633 Medical Operations Squadron at Joint Base Langley-Eustis.

Before joining CDP, David worked as a Clinical Director and Clinical Supervisor for a Private Practice in Arizona and recently served as the Associate Vice President for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Network Engagement with Vibrant Emotional Health; just prior, he was the Executive Director of Student Well-being and Violence Prevention/Senior Prevention Strategy Officer at UNC-Chapel Hill, and has served as the Sr. Director for mobile crisis response services across Arizona.

David received his Doctor of Social Work from the University of Southern California and holds a Master of Social Work from Arizona State University, as well as a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University.

David is currently serving on the Board of Directors of NOVA – The National Organization for Victim Advocacy, as an advisory board member for Victim-Witness for Northern Arizona, and as a member of the City of Phoenix Mental Health and Public Safety Task Force. He has previously served on the Peace Corps' Sexual Assault Advisory Council and as a volunteer with GLSEN, the Red Cross, and NCJC.

As a trauma therapist, David is certified in multiple evidence-based interventions and practices. Over the past 25 years, David has worked in response and prevention, committed to intentional design, addressing the intersections of health, access to care, violence prevention, and well- being, as well as systemic interventions. David specializes in addressing the unique needs of service members and veterans using evidence-based approaches.

Debra Nofziger, Psy.D., is a Senior Military Behavioral Health Psychologist and Cognitive Processing Therapy Trainer with the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. She develops, maintains, and conducts virtual and in-person training related to military deployments, culture, posttraumatic stress, and other psychological and medical conditions Service members and Veterans experience. She also supports research and other CDP programs aimed at enhancing military behavioral science and supporting providers. From 2007 to mid-2020, Dr. Nofziger served as the CDP Military Internship Behavioral Health Psychologist at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, TX. She assisted with managing multiple behavioral health training programs, including the Clinical Psychology Internship Program, Psychology Residency, Social Work Internship Program, and multiple post-doctoral psychology fellowships.

Dr. Nofziger was an active duty Army psychologist with assignments at BAMC and the U.S. Army School of Aviation Medicine. She was also deployed for a year to Iraq as a Brigade Psychologist with the 4th Infantry Division. Her variety of Active Duty assignments included positions as a staff psychologist in medical settings, at a community behavioral health clinic for soldiers in training, and in an aviation school environment where she was the training director for the Army’s Aeromedical Psychology Training Course.

Dr. Nofziger earned her masters and doctorate degrees from Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield, Missouri. Her interests continue to be providing support to Service members, Veterans and their families through the training of military and civilian medical and behavioral health providers. Her particular interest areas are in the treatment of trauma and moral injury.

Eddie Black serves as a Project Coordinator for the Star Behavioral Health Providers program (SBHP) at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP). He is a retired military veteran with 24 years of combined service in the Marines and the Oregon Army National Guard. His career included roles as an avionics technician on F/A-18 Hornets with deployment to Desert Storm and a Platoon Sergeant in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and missions in Somalia.

After military service, Eddie obtained a B.S. in Psychology and Philosophy from Portland State University. He has worked as a military culture consultant at OHSU, co-facilitated a veteran domestic violence intervention program, assisted in veteran reintegration, and coordinated resilience programs. Eddie has also contributed to training on PTSD, military culture, resilience, and crisis intervention trainings around the state of Oregon for over ten years.

Elizabeth Burgin, Ph.D., is a Licensed Professional Counselor serving as a Military Behavioral Health Child Counselor at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. In this role, she supports the DoD Child Collaboration Study to identify best practices for enhancing and expanding accessibility to care for military-connected children and adolescents. Dr. Burgin completed her doctoral degree in counseling at the University of North Texas and her master’s in clinical mental health counseling at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Marist College.

Prior to joining CDP, Dr. Burgin served as an Assistant Professor of Counseling, leading the Military & Veterans Counseling Program at William & Mary. Dr. Burgin’s research has focused on evidence-based practices for military populations across the lifespan, including moral injury, adverse childhood experiences, and bereavement. Dr. Burgin has also worked across diverse clinical settings, including university counseling, home-based and community agency, and public-school settings. She has counseled individuals with addictions, serious and persistent mental health concerns, adults and children within the military community, and in foster and adoption systems of care. Dr. Burgin is a Certified Child-Centered Play Therapy Supervisor and is trained in Child-Parent Relationship Therapy, Internal Family Systems, and EMDR.

As a military spouse and mental health practitioner, Dr. Burgin experiences military life and navigates military systems of care daily, informing her work at CDP.

Elizabeth Rose currently serves as a Project Coordinator for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. She joined the Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP) program in 2022. SBHP trains civilian behavioral health providers to work with service members, veterans, and their families. The mission is to expand the availability of high-quality behavioral health services, especially for those in the National Guard and Reserve Components.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice from Towson University. Her background in customer service and operations management in the fields of corporate law and finance provides a focused, solution- oriented perspective to identify issues before they arise and problem-solve in highly regulated environments. 

Emily Masri, MPH, is a Project Coordinator at the Center for Deployment Psychology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. She works on the Star Behavioral Health Providers program.

Ms. Masri received her Bachelor of Science in Scientific and Technical Communication from Michigan Technological University and her Master of Public Health from Oregon Health and Science University. She served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Zambia as a Health Extension Officer and has worked in various public health and education positions.

She is the wife of a retired Coast Guardsman and has direct experience with the challenges faced by service members and their families.

Erin Drake is an online Training Support Specialist for the Center for Deployment Psychology, providing technical and logistic support to participants in CDP's online training events. Before joining the CDP in 2021, she worked primarily in customer service and call center environments as an instructor and supervisor.

She works remotely out of Northern Arizona. .

Hakimah Campbell is an Administrative Assistant at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD.   Prior to joining CDP, Ms. Campbell worked for the Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine at Walter Reed National Medical Military Center. 

Heather C. Tompkins, Ph.D., MS-ATR, LCMHC, is a Military Behavioral Health Psychologist with the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. In this role, she provides oversight and fosters collaboration for creative arts related research projects in partnership with the Defense Intrepid Network.

Dr. Tompkins received her BS in comprehensive psychology and art from Troy University, MS in Art Therapy at Florida State University, and post-graduate certification in Substance Abuse Counseling from East Carolina University. She completed a MA and Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a concentration in neuropsychology from Fielding Graduate University. She is a licensed clinical mental health counselor and registered art therapist.

Prior to joining CDP, Dr. Tompkins served as a psychologist at the Department of Veteran Affairs providing assessment and treatment to Veterans with co-occurring substance abuse, mental health, and medical conditions. She has worked across diverse settings in both clinical and non-clinical capacities, including outpatient/community agencies, state hospitals, and military installations providing counseling, training development and facilitation, and consultation. She is trained in EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Written Exposure Therapy and Art Therapy. Her education and training have allowed her to work with individuals and groups ranging the lifespan to treat, manage, and cope with persistent and severe mental illness, substance abuse, brain injury, PTSD/trauma, and co-occurring disorders, within and outside of the military community.

Complimentary to her professional roles, being a military spouse has provided a unique perspective to the culture, day-to-day life, and stressors of the military family that further informs her work at CDP. Professional interests include moral injury, biopsychosocialspiritual impacts of military life/culture on military spouses, creative arts therapies, mindfulness, and integrative treatment approaches for co-occurring disorders.

Jaime Rodden is a Clinical Research Manager for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP). In her role she works to advance the center's research portfolio, providing management for clinical studies through supervision, administrative oversight, and coordination of research protocols.

Jaime holds an M.S. in Exercise Physiology from California State University, Fullerton, and a B.S. in Exercise Science from Linfield University.

Before joining the CDP in January 2024, she worked at Pennsylvania State University as a Laboratory Manager. There she managed day-to-day lab operations and contributed to research initiatives exploring the interrelationship between psychological, reproductive and metabolic health.

Jeff Dimon is the Communications Manager for the Center for Deployment Psychology, where he helps develop the center-wide communications strategy and oversees external communications. He works on many projects such as the External Annual Report, the MED, PAO approvals, as well as identifying and implementing new strategies and ideas. He creates social media, digital, and print outreach tools, while developing ways to connect online with a variety of audiences.

Mr. Dimon has more than 10 years of marketing, communications, operations, and management experience. Mr. Dimon is a proud University of Maryland graduate where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 4.00 GPA, completing his education with two separate degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. His professional interests include e-mail marketing, marketing automation, website management, graphic design, analytics, business intelligence, and customer experience.

Jeffrey Mann, Psy.D., is a Senior Military Behavioral Health Psychologist at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Mann provides support Navy mental health training programs and is a Veteran of the United States Air Force (USAF) where he served as a psychologist from 2009 to 2013. In 2013, he deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Dr. Mann received his bachelor’s degree in computer science from DePauw University and his master’s and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, with a specialization in primary care psychology. He is a 2010 graduate of the Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center Psychology Residency Program.

Dr. Mann’s clinical work has focused on the assessment and treatment of trauma- related mental health conditions, anxiety disorders, insomnia and the use of Telebehavioral Health. He is currently a National Trainer in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and also conducts training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP). Dr. Mann participates in multiple research studies partnering with the VA and Military Treatment Faclities.

Jennifer Nevers, MSW, LCSW, is the Subject Matter Expert Office Lead for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. In this role, she provides strategic oversight of military behavioral health faculty utilization, assignments, and workload management across the Center, ensuring alignment between faculty expertise, training priorities, and organizational needs. She also assists in implementing and expanding the Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP) program, where she trains and consults with civilian behavioral health providers to enhance their clinical competence in working with service members, veterans, and their families.

Jennifer is a Major in the Indiana Army National Guard, serving as an embedded Behavioral Health Officer (BHO). In this role, she supports Soldiers across Indiana by providing consultation, coordination, and linkage to behavioral health services, with an emphasis on readiness, resilience, and access to care. She also has extensive experience supporting Indiana’s State Partnership Program, where she has collaborated with partner nations to strengthen behavioral health systems of care.

Before joining CDP, Jennifer worked with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in the Veterans Justice Outreach Program. Jennifer has over 10 years of experience providing clinical services to veterans with co-morbid mental health and substance use disorders. She worked as a liaison with problem-solving courts with the goal of increasing access to care for justice-involved veterans.

Jennifer received her Bachelor of Social Work from Indiana University in 2008 and her Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis in 2009. Jennifer later received a postgraduate Certificate in Program Evaluation from Washington University in St. Louis in 2021. Jennifer specializes in addressing the unique needs of service members and veterans using evidence-based treatments such as Cognitive Processing Therapy, EMDR, and Written Exposure Therapy.

Jeremy N. Karp, PMP, is a Project Manager at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. He currently coordinates CDP’s monthly CDP Presenters webinar project, organizes CDP’s annual Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Conference, and facilitates a VA contract to provide training on Assessment of PTSD and Suicide Risk Management in Veterans.

He received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park and is a certified Project Management Profession (PMP). Prior to joining CDP he worked as a Program Coordinator at the STRONG STAR Consortium in Fort Hood Texas and as a Research Assistant at the Center for Study of Traumatic Stress.

Jessica Strong, Ph.D., is a military family researcher specializing in the well-being of military and veteran families, serving as a Military Behavioral Health Child Social Worker at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. In this role, she supports the DoD Child Collaboration Study to identify best practices for enhancing and expanding accessibility to care for military-connected children and adolescents. Dr. Strong earned her doctoral degree in Social Work from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, her master’s in Social Work at Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, NC, and her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN.

Dr. Strong’s work has focused on military families, spanning academic, nonprofit, and government sectors, underscoring her commitment to evidence-based practice and meaningful policy change. She has led and contributed to numerous publications addressing topics such as family resilience, the impacts of deployment, and the unique challenges faced by military-connected children.

Prior to joining CDP, Dr. Strong led the Applied Research team at Blue Star Families, designing, executing, and disseminating an extensive research portfolio on military and veteran families that advanced policy and programmatic support for military and veteran spaces, from Congressional legislation to local school board policies. She also brings clinical experience in crisis counseling for youth as well as teaching and research experience as an Assistant Professor in Social Work at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

As a military spouse and parent to military children, Dr. Strong brings both personal insight and professional expertise to her work, ensuring her research and advocacy are grounded in the lived experiences of the communities she serves..

Julie Williams, MBA, is a Project Manager with the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP), where she supports the Military Child & Family Collaboratory, an initiative focused on advancing best practices to improve access to high-quality behavioral health care for military-connected children and families, including telehealth and capacity-building strategies.

Previously, Ms. Williams worked with the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University on the Star Behavioral Health Providers program, supporting efforts to expand access to culturally competent care for military-connected individuals and increase the adoption of evidence-based practices. Her earlier experience includes leadership roles in community mental health, program coordination, and higher education, where she supported service delivery, workforce development, and systems-level collaboration for children, families, and providers.

In addition to her professional experience, Ms. Williams brings a personal perspective as a veteran spouse and the parent of an active-duty Marine, offering lived insight into military family life. This perspective strengthens her commitment to advancing practical, family-centered solutions that reflect the needs of military-connected children and families.

Ms. Williams earned her bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and her Master of Business Administration from Purdue University Global.

Justin Tash is the Project Lead/Instructor for SPARX at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Mr. Tash completed their Bachelor of Arts in Communications at Texas A&M University and is currently working toward a Masters of Social Work at the University of South Florida with the goal of becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

Prior to joining CDP, Mr. Tash was an Officer in the U.S. Air Force where they served as a Combat Systems Officer and Navigator on the EC-130 Compass Call. During his military career, they also served as a Volunteer Victim’s Advocate for the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office where they supported individuals who suffered through sexual assaults and suicidal ideations/attempts. Mr. Tash continues their work in these areas at CDP and hopes to throughout their career in the mental health field.

As a military veteran, Mr. Tash understands the military lifestyle and has a deep knowledge of the systems and realities of service which informs their work at CDP.

KaDijah Jones is an Online Training Support Specialist for the Center for Deployment Psychology, providing technical and logistic support to participants in CDP's online training events.

She works remotely out of North Carolina. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Political Science from East Carolina University in 2020. She is currently receiving her Master's in Mental Health Counseling.

Kathryn E Monsey, LCSW, LCDC is a Military Behavioral Health Social Worker for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. She assists in the implementation and expansion of the Star Behavioral Health Providers Program (SBHP). SBHP trains civilian behavioral health providers to work with service members, veterans, and their families. The mission is to expand the availability of high-quality behavioral health services, especially for those in the National Guard and Reserve Component.

Kathryn holds over ten years of experience providing clinical services treating PTSD and substance use disorders within civilian, military and veteran populations. She has worked in inpatient, outpatient and residential treatment settings, including clinical research settings at the University of Indiana Bio Behavioral Alcohol Research Laboratory and University of Hawaii MRI/Neurology research program. Kathryn went on to work in the SATP program at the Veterans Administration in Washington State and subsequently as a Behavioral Health Provider for the Army. Kathryn worked as an embedded behavioral health provider at Ft. Hood, 1st Cavalry Division (Infantry) in 2018 as a Substance Use Disorder Clinical Care (SUDCC) provider and subsequently at USAG Wiesbaden (Germany) for 66th MI (Military Intelligence) and USAG Miami Health Clinic, providing co-occurring treatment for PTSD and substance use disorders.

Kathryn received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychological and Brain Sciences from Indiana University in 2011 and her Master of Social Work from University of Southern California, with a specialization on Military and Veteran Populations (MVP) in 2015. Kathryn further went on to specialize in PTSD and Substance Use disorders working in clinical and translational research through her bachelors and masters programs. She later received post graduate training in EMDR and trauma narrative therapies in addition to specialization licensure to treat substance use disorders. Kathryn has focused on addressing the unique needs of service members and veterans using evidence-based approaches, fitness for duty evaluations and harm reduction and abstinence based treatment models.

Katie Medina, B.A., is a Project Manager for the Center for Deployment Psychology. She joined CDP in December 2019 and is based out of Wilton, Maine. Ms. Medina received her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and has worked in a variety of fields. As a member of the Air Force, she served in Okinawa, Saudi Arabia, and various other locations as an Airborne Cryptologic Linguist.

After separating from the Air Force, Ms. Medina went to work for the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington D.C. Subsequently, she was an elementary and middle school teacher in North Carolina and Virginia. Ms. Medina has run her own business and has been an advisor to a business startup as well. Her experiences in the military, working with the military as well as military families, and being a military spouse have given her a unique and thorough base for her current position as a Project Manager.

Katrice Byrd, DSW, LCSW, currently serves as a Military Behavioral Health Social Worker for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. She joined CDP in 2021 after completing her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) Degree at the University of Southern California (USC). She focused on social determinants of health, explicitly eradicating social isolation and suicide of Veterans through evidence-based storytelling.

Dr. Byrd has extensive training and experience in trauma-focused interventions, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), EMDR, Suicide Prevention, and Brainspotting. She also gives back to the profession by mentoring and serving as an adjunct faculty member in clinical social work interventions with MSW students.

As a veteran and former Dual-Military spouse, she understands the intricate nuances of Military culture and stressors. Her previous clinical work includes Active Duty, Veterans, Youth, Families, and Law Enforcement. Dr. Byrd is retired from the US Army and is also a US Marine Corps Veteran.

Khristine Heflin, MSW, LCSW-C is a licensed Clinical Social Worker currently serving as a Military Behavioral Health Child Social Worker with the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences located in Bethesda, MD. In this role, Ms. Heflin works on the Department of Defense Child Collaboration Study and is responsible for identifying best practices for expanding and disseminating telehealth services to military children with mental health, emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs. Ms. Heflin also develops curriculum and facilitates evidenced based training to behavioral health clinicians and community providers caring for military children and families.

Prior to joining CDP, Ms. Heflin's clinical work has included working with children, adolescents, and adults providing individual and group therapy, care management and outreach services. Clinical work settings include psychiatric emergency departments, inpatient hospitals, outpatient mental health clinics, forensic and school settings. Her educational background includes a Master’s degree in Social Work with a clinical concentration in mental health, families and children from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. She is tri-licensed as an Independent Clinical Social Worker in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Kristian Krslovic joined the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) as a Research Assistant in October 2025. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Bard College in 2023. At Bard, Kristian was an undergraduate research assistant in the Affective Science Lab identifying factors that contribute to mood disorders.

Before joining CDP he worked as a Research Fellow at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research conducting biomedical research to analyze the effects of sleep loss and circadian misalignment on the readiness and resilience of U.S. Army soldiers.

Kristian’s research interests include sleep, learning, memory, cognitive psychological disorders, and sports psychology.

Kristin E. Hannah, PMP,  is a Program Manager for the Center for Deployment Psychology’s Executive Office. She joined the CDP in 2010 and managed the Military EBP Program for over 10 years. Prior to that, she worked for over 10 years at National Geographic Magazine.

She received her BA in Geography from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and is a certified Project Management Professional.

Kristyn Heins, Ph.D., is a Licensed Professional Counselor serving as a Military Behavioral Health Counselor for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. In this role, she supports the CDP’s efforts of training clinicians in evidenced-based practice focused on suicide prevention. Dr. Heins completed her doctoral degree at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi where her dissertation focused on treatment of moral injury. She received a Master’s degree from Western Michigan University, and a Bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University.

Prior to joining the CDP, Dr. Heins worked at the Department of Veteran Affairs in various roles including primary care mental health, and suicide prevention telehealth. Dr. Heins is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- Suicide Prevention, and Problem Solving Therapy- Suicide Prevention. She also has worked in a Federally Qualified Health Center and in a non-profit setting. Dr. Heins has extensive experience working with presenting problems including insomnia, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder. Along with suicide prevention, Dr. Heins has a professional interest in integrated mental health services, employee wellness, and education of future clinicians.

Linda Grill Grill is the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of the Center for Deployment of Psychology (CDP). Ms. Grill joined the CDP in September 2009 and previously worked with the Neuropsychology Group at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health.

Linda Thompson, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Center for Deployment Psychology. Dr. Thompson earned her doctorate in Behavioral Science, Psychology from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree in Psychology from San Diego State University. 

Her primary research interests include exploring the intricate connections between trauma and sleep disturbances, with a focus on understanding their interrelationships and impact on health outcomes. She is also dedicated to leveraging technology both to enhance research efforts and to develop and implement evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies.

Maegan M. Paxton Willing, Ph.D., MPH, is a Research Psychologist (HJF) with the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Willing’s research broadly examines mental health in military populations. Her primary research interests include the development, correlates, and treatment of sleep and posttraumatic stress disorder in service members, with a particular emphasis on posttraumatic nightmares. She currently manages a research portfolio of approximately $7.5m.

Dr. Willing earned her doctorate in Medical Psychology and Masters of Public Health in Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Following her graduate work, Dr. Willing completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Deployment Psychology managing the Second Life Island for Preventing Suicide project, which developed an asynchronous, interactive learning environment to train mental health providers in evidence-based suicide prevention strategies. She has been with USU since 2014 and began working with the CDP in 2018.

Melissa Mistretta is the Senior Program Manager for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland. She previously worked as the program manager for research and a project manager throughout her time at the Center.

Ms. Mistretta earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining CDP, she worked at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation’s corporate headquarters and at the Uniformed Services University’s Injury Prevention Research Laboratory.

Micah Salas is a Program Manager at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP). In this role, he leverages his extensive background to drive programs that support military personnel and their families. Mr. Salas excels in strategic planning, team leadership, and project management, ensuring the effective implementation of CDP's mission. Mr. Salas earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix Online.

Prior to joining CDP, Mr. Salas was an active-duty U.S. Marine infantryman and infantry unit leader, serving twelve years before being honorably discharged. His distinguished service includes three deployments to Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, 2004, and 2005, demonstrating his commitment and proven leadership throughout his military career.

Phuong (Lina) Nguyen, BS, MBA, is a Project Manager for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Ms. Nguyen is a seasoned Project Manager with a decade of experience driving successful projects across diverse industries. Her exceptional ability to foster collaboration among interdisciplinary teams, coupled with her talent for building strong stakeholder relationships, has consistently driven successful project outcomes. Her strategic problem-solving and organizational skills are instrumental in delivering all projects on time and within budget.

Prior to joining CDP in 2020, Ms. Nguyen worked as a Program Manager at the Ohio State University Medical Center, where she specialized in clinical trials research. She brings a deep understanding of the research landscape and excelled at translating complex scientific concepts into actionable project plans. With a strong background in business administration and biomedical sciences, she offers a unique blend of scientific understanding and project management expertise to drive critical research initiatives to successful completion.

Raul Gordon is an Administrative Manager at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of The Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD.

Prior to joining CDP, Mr. Gordon has worked for the Defense & Veterans Center for Integrative Pain Management and for the Regulatory Affairs department at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation as an administrative assistant in Bethesda, MD.

Safiya Fatima Ahmed, MHA, is a Project Coordinator at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP), a Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) center in Bethesda, Maryland. She works on the Star Behavioral Health Providers program (SBHP).

Ms. Ahmed received a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration with a concentration in Health Systems Management in 2020. She also recently received her Master’s in Health Administration through a Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) program from George Mason University in 2023.

Prior to joining the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Safiya worked in the Patient Access department at Inova Health System for 4 years and 6 months. Throughout her time at Inova, Safiya enjoyed assisting patients with their concerns, learned the importance of empathy, and aimed to provide high-quality care.

Sebastian Preilipper is a Research Assistant for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). He received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, and Master of Professional Studies in Clinical Psychological Science from the University of Maryland, College Park.

His research interests focus on transdiagnostic factors in adult psychopathology, with an emphasis on understanding shared mechanisms that underlie anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders. Sebastian plans to apply to Ph.D. programs in Clinical Psychology for the 2027 cycle, with the goal of contributing to evidence-based clinical practice and conducting research that advances mental health care.

Shantel Fernandez Lopez, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist serving as a Military Behavioral Health Child Psychologist at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. In this role, she supports a study focused on the identification and enhancement of evidence-based treatment delivery to youth with neurodevelopmental and behavioral health needs via telehealth and tele-education. Dr. Fernandez Lopez also provides Evidence-Based Psychotherapy training. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her doctoral degree in clinical psychology was earned from the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dr. Fernandez Lopez completed her internship at the Medical University of South Carolina Consortium and postdoctoral fellowship at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC).

Prior to joining CDP, Dr. Fernandez Lopez worked at TAMC for 14 years serving in various positions such as the Director of Clinical Training of the Child Psychology Fellowship Program and the Clinical Director of the Early Behavioral Health Team. She also engaged in direct clinical care in private practice, community clinics, and taught university students. Dr. Fernandez Lopez specializes in conduct problems, sleep, and trauma in children. She is a credentialed trainer in Parent Child Interaction Therapy and a trainer/consultant for PracticeWise. Additionally, Dr. Fernandez Lopez is one of the developers of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares in Children.

Sharon Birman, Psy.D., is a Senior Military Behavioral Health Psychologist working with the Military Training Programs at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. In this capacity, she develops and presents trainings on a variety of EBPs and deployment-related topics, as well as providing consultation services. She has traveled widely across the United States and OCONUS providing continuing education to civilian and military behavioral health providers teaching a variety of courses including Cognitive Therapy for Suicide Prevention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain, Assessment and Management of Opioids in Military Connected Populations, Assessment of PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Assault and Military Family Resilience.

She joined the CDP in 2014 after completing her postdoctoral fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where she was actively involved in CBT and DBT intervention, supervision and education. She completed her predoctoral internship at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Center, focusing her training suicide prevention and evidence-based interventions for the treatment of individuals with severe, chronic mental illness. Dr. Birman received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Southern California and her master’s and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University.

Stephanie Velarde Connet is a project manager with the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda. Stephanie has experience in both public and private sectors, specializing in contracts with government agencies. In their current role, they drive the successful completion of projects for the CDP, focusing on training mental health professionals to support military personnel and their families.

Stephanie excels in managing online and in-person training workshops, overseeing logistics, materials, and non-training deliverables while ensuring projects stay on track and within budget. Her unique background collaborating effectively with diverse stakeholders allows teams to meet strategic goals and deliver exceptional results.

Wilfried Rumingan, MPH, is a Project Coordinator at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland.Rumingan. He received a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BHS) from James Madison University, and his Master’s in Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Health Policy from George Mason University.

In his free time he enjoys weightlifting, working on cars, and traveling. As a son of a retired Army Captain and whose grandfather served in the U.S. Army in World War II, he has firsthand experience with the needs and demands of military service members and their families.

William Tiwari, CAPM, is a Project Manager at the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. William received his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the George Washington University and holds a CAPM certification from PMI.

Prior to joining CDP, he worked as an Administrative Assistant for the APG Department at the Uniformed Services University, an Operations Manager for a Silver Spring Village Inc., and as a Research Assistant for the Insect Transformation Facility.

Zuri A. Akinbinu Akinbinu is an Online Training Support Specialist for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) providing technical and logistic support to participants in CDP's online training events.

She received her Bachelors of Science in Psychology in 2016 from Towson University. Before joining CDP, she had extensive experience in customer service and financial banking. She enjoys traveling in her spare time and experiencing diverse cultures in different countries.