A nine-member Board of Directors, all of who are “Global War on Terror” military veterans and members of IVAW, governs the organization. The Board is elected annually by the national membership and serves two-year staggered terms. The role of the board is to set policy, and ensure that the organization is meeting its mission. Because many of the board members are new to serving in a governance capacity, they receive ongoing board development training. In Fall 2007, IVAW established an Advisory Board to support our own Board of Directors.
The IVAW Board of Directors 2008-2009
Camilo Mejia, Chair
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
A child of Sandinista revolutionaries, Camilo grew up in Nicaragua and Costa Rica before moving to the United States in 1994. He joined the military at age nineteen, serving as an infantryman in the active-duty Army for three years before transferring to the Florida National Guard. After five months of frontline combat in Iraq, he became the first combat soldier to refuse further participation in the war and served a nine-month jail sentence for his refusal to return to Iraq. Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience during his imprisonment. Camilo was a member of IVAW's interim Board of Directors in 2005 and recently published a memoir, Road from ar Ramadi chronicling his journey from soldier to warrior for peace. Camilo currently lives in Miami with his 7-year-old daughter Samantha.
Liam Madden, Co-Chair
Boston, MA
Liam served as a Communications Electronics Specialist in the Marine Corps from January 2003 to January 2007. While enlisted he was deployed to Iraq, Kuwait, Thailand, Okinawa, Japan, and Korea. During his last year in the Marines, Sergeant Madden co- founded the Appeal for Redress, a campaign of service members appealing to Congress members to halt the war in Iraq. After being discharged, the Marine Corps threatened to change Liam's discharge from honorable to dishonorable because of his outspoken opposition to the occupation of Iraq. After fighting for his rights to free speech, the Marine Corps abandoned its claims against Liam. He is currently the President of the Boston IVAW chapter.
Margaret Stevens, Treasurer
Margaret served 7 years in the New Jersey Army National Guard from 1997-2004. As a medic, Margaret performed post-9/11 relief in New Jersey and Staten Island. In addition to her role in IVAW, Margaret is a member of S.W.A.N., Service Women's Action Network, a new organization dedicated to addressing and correcting issues of sexism and violence against women in the military. Margaret is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in African American studies at Brown University.
Adrienne Kinne, Secretary
Sharon, VT
Adrienne served in the US Army and Army Reserves from 1994-2004 as an Arabic linguist in military intelligence. Following September 11th, Adrienne was activated in the Reserves and stationed stateside where she served in direct support of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Currently she works to improve vet's care through the VA. Since joining IVAW in January 2007, Adrienne has helped form the Vermont Chapter of IVAW, served as Northeast Regional Coordinator, and was on the Winter Soldier Organizing Team.
Phil Alif
Atlanta, GA
Phil deployed to Iraq from August 2005 to July 2006 as an infantryman with the 10th Mountain Division. While still on active duty, Phil helped form the first IVAW chapter on an active-duty military base, and while presiding as its president built the membership from three to twenty in a few short months. Since that time, Phil has earned his honorable discharge from the military and moved back to his hometown of Atlanta, GA, where he has been working with members and allies to conduct outreach and help build the Atlanta Chapter of IVAW.
Adam Kokesh
Washington D.C.
After graduating high school in 2000, Adam enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves. In 2003 he volunteered to deploy to Iraq as an active-duty Marine, and February thru September 2004, he patrolled a large area west of Baghdad, including Abu Ghraib and Al Fallujah as part of a Civil Affairs team. Adam took part in the April 2004 siege of Fallujah, enduring combat for 18 days straight. Adam is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Political Management at George Washington University and is an active member of IVAW’s Washington, D.C. chapter. Adam made headlines in 2007 when the Marine Corps threatened to downgrade his honorable discharge to dishonorable after he exercised his rights to free speech at several anti-war events while wearing portions of his uniform.
Wes Davey
St. Paul, MN
Wes served 28 years in the Army, National Guard, and Reserves, from 1968-'70 & 1977-2005, including a tour in Iraq in 2003. Just prior to his retirement in 2005, Wes joined IVAW because of his opposition to the war and because he saw returning veterans not receiving the benefits they need and deserve. He co-founded the Minnesota Chapter of IVAW in 2007 and most recently worked with members to conduct IVAW's action during the RNC in an attempt to brief Sen. McCain on veteran's issues.
Aaron Hughes
Chicago, IL
Aaron served in the Illinois National Guard from 2000 to 2006. In January 2003, Aaron was mobilized and deployed to Kuwait and then Iraq from April 2003 to July 2004 as an 88M truck driver. On Aaron's return to the states he dedicated his life to making art that will deconstruct the culture of dehumanization and hate that was so prevalent during his deployment. He is currently an organizer of Warrior Writers and has served as the Chicago Chapter president and Great Lakes co-Regional Coordinator.
Geoff Millard
Washington D.C.
Geoff served in the military for nine years including a 13-month mobilization during OIF. Upon returning from Iraq, Geoff decided to speak out against the war rather than return to his unit for the last 9 months of his military career. Since joining IVAW three years ago, he has spent countless hours conducting outreach on the streets, in the halls of Congress, and on military bases. Geoff helped organize Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan, Winter Soldier on the Hill, Home Front Battle Buddies, and has served as the President of the Washington D.C. Chapter.
