Disabled Veterans National Foundation
Who We Are
DVNF LEADERSHIP
Joseph E. VanFonda, Chief Executive Officer
Disabled Veterans National FoundationDelese Harvey, Executive Director
Delese Harvey serves as the Executive Director of the Disabled Veterans National Foundation, bringing more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and a lifelong commitment to serving low-income and underserved populations. With deep expertise in change management, program development, and nonprofit service delivery, she leads with a mission-driven approach that centers equity, access, and impact.
Throughout her career, Ms. Harvey has successfully designed and implemented innovative programs that address the unique needs of vulnerable communities. At DVNF, she is focused on strengthening the organization’s service delivery model by leading strategic efforts to enhance and expand its programming. Under her leadership, the team continues to improve outreach, responsiveness, and the quality of services provided to disabled veterans and their families.
Ms. Harvey holds a Master of Science in Nonprofit and Association Management and serves on the board of two additional nonprofit organizations, further demonstrating her commitment to civic engagement and sector-wide advancement. Her leadership philosophy is rooted in collaboration, accountability, and results, ensuring that every initiative is aligned with the broader mission of empowering those most in need.
Mildred Mesembe, Chief Financial Officer
Mildred Mesembe is the Chief Financial Officer at the Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF), where she leads financial strategy, compliance, and stewardship to ensure resources are managed responsibly in support of the organization’s mission to serve veterans and their families.
Ms. Mesembe graduated from Staffordshire University with a Certificate in International Strategic Management and earned her MBA from the University of Wales in the United Kingdom. She also holds an MSc in Financial Management and Information Systems from the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC). Currently, she is pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) with a research focus on the banking industry in Cameroon, examining competitive strategies, regulatory challenges, and the role of financial inclusion.
With extensive experience in nonprofit finance and organizational leadership, Ms. Mesembe is passionate about bridging the gap between financial strategy and program impact. She is committed to transparency, accountability, and building systems that foster long-term sustainability while empowering teams to succeed.
Leander Brereton, Director of Operations and Programs
Leander Brereton is the Director of Operations and Programs for DVNF. She graduated in May 2010 from Bowie State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. In 2016, she obtained her Master of Science degree in Business Management with a focus in Interdisciplinary Studies from University of Maryland, University College. She also completed two graduate level certificates; one in Human Resources & another in Leadership & Management. Ms. Brereton has a twelve-year career in managing business operations and a ten-year career in Human Resources.
Ms. Brereton currently oversees the HR, Operations, and Program Departments and has been instrumental in the organizational development of DVNF. In HR, Ms. Brereton focuses on Talent Acquisition and Development, HR & Organizational Policy and Compliance, Performance Management, Succession Planning, People Management, Org Charting, and Employee Care.
In Programs and Operations, Ms. Brereton focuses on Program Development and Management, Strategic Planning, Health & Safety, Continuity Planning, Process management, and Event Planning. Alongside other key members of the DVNF team, they ensure the DVNF mission is met by serving Veterans through the VFAP, H2H, GPS, & Health & Comfort programs and the annual Veterans Resource Fair.
Patrick Heron, Direct Mail Director
Completed his studies at SUNY – College at Old Westbury, Long Island University – C.W. Post Campus and University of Cambridge – Judge Business School in Information Systems, Project Management and Business Analytics. Patrick uses a mixture of his years of education and experience gained in Direct Marketing and Analytics from AccuData Integrated Marketing and JPMorganChase to do his job as Direct Mail Director.
John Paruch, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
After honorably serving in the United States Navy, John has spent the past decade leading development initiatives to support disabled and at-risk Veterans. He has worked closely with partners like the American Dental Association to launch Give Veterans a Smile, and helped co-create impactful programs such as Mission: Possible, by leading a team of Veterans in biking up Pikes Peak. He’s effective in combining purpose-driven leadership with a passion for service. Prior to this mission-focused work, John spent 20 years in television advertising and earned his degree from Michigan State University.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Scott Carson, President
Scott Carson is a Marine veteran, with a history of impeccable leadership in all his professional endeavors. After leaving the Marine Corps, he went to work for Humana, where, among other duties, he was also asked to help create Humana’s optimal staffing level metrics used throughout the country today. He moved on to be a Key Account Executive with United Healthcare, winning multiple sales awards. He now works as a consultant in Maryland, and is very active in several community outreach efforts.
Greg Smith, Vice President
Greg is a veteran of both the United States Navy (Chief Petty Officer Coastal/Riverine Warfare) and Connecticut Army National Guard (Staff Sergeant 242nd Combat Engineers). Greg had many duties over his 22-year military career, but he is most proud of serving as the Operations Officer of Inshore Boat Unit Two Two, where he was also Patrol Leader and Chief weapons instructor. He currently serves as a member of Connecticut’s 3rd Congressional District, Veterans Affairs Committee. For more than 25 years Greg has been a volunteer working to ensure that the needs of disabled veterans and our wounded warriors are not forgotten. For these efforts and others, in 2015 the Governor of Connecticut recognized Greg as the 115th member of the State of Connecticut Veterans Hall of Fame.
Barry Walter, Program Committee Chair
Barry Walter is an Army veteran, being drafted after a year in college. He served 47 months in combat in various field artillery position with the 4th Infantry. Since his service, he has been an active member of the VFW, serving in many different roles in the state of Michigan.
Tashawnya “Tish” Di Leo, Board Treasurer
Ms. Di Leo is a Project Associate with SAMHSA’s Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Technical Assistance (SMVF TA) Center at Policy Research Associates, Inc. (PRA). In this capacity, she provides technical assistance to states, territories, and local communities working to strengthen their behavioral health systems for SMVF. Ms. Di Leo is a retired Army Combat Veteran. After retirement and due to her own personal experiences she has dedicated herself to supporting her brothers and sisters in arms and their families. Some of her previous roles included serving as Director of the Veterans Mental Health Department (VMHD) at Texas Veterans Commission, Manager of VMHD, VMHD Military Veteran Peer Network Peer (MVPN) Coordinator, MVPN Statewide Training Manager, MVPN Peer Service Coordinator, and Grace After Fire Outreach Coordinator. Over the past 10 years she has trained hundreds of peers, mental health professionals, and law enforcement with the emphasis on suicide prevention, de-escalation and peer support. Ms. Di Leo holds a Bachelor of Science in Justice Administration. She is a mother of two amazing Army Brats who as a family volunteer and support the SMVF Community.
MAJ Adam Street, Secretary
MAJ Street was commissioned as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in 2012. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2012. He has served as a Flight Surgeon with the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, in Ansbach, Germany and completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He is currently completing a Sports Medicine fellowship at Emory University. MAJ Street’s military awards include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Joint Service Achievement Medal and Overseas Service Ribbon
General Kenneth Merchant, U.S Air Force (Ret)
Ken Merchant is President, Life Cycle Solutions, Inc., an Aerospace and Defense consulting firm. Prior to his current role, Ken spent seven years with Lockheed Martin as Vice President, F-22 Programs and Vice President, F-35 Sustainment. On F-22, Ken’s overall responsibility was to ensure the F-22 program achieved financial, schedule and quality performance targets to support our U.S. Air Force customer and warfighters. Before joining Lockheed Martin, Major General Merchant completed a distinguished 34-year career in the Air Force with multiple experiences in program management and logistics including service as Program Executive Officer for Weapons, Commander, Air Armament Center and Director of Logistics for Air Mobility Command. Ken has a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Management from Grove City College and master’s degrees in Management and National Resource Management from Troy State University and National Defense University. He is also certified as a Level III Program Manager in DoD’s Acquisition Professional Development Program and completed the Defense Systems Management College’s Program Managers Course in 1986. He served on the congressionally-directed Section 809 Panel charged with recommending improvements to the Defense Acquisition System.
Guillermo Tejeda “TJ”, GySgt USMC (Ret)
On 11 November 2010 GySgt Tejada was on a Recon patrol in the Southern Green zone scouting landing zones to extract any casualties sustained in that area. Once GySgt Tejada had identified the possible landing zone the patrol began to head back to the Forward Operating Base. GySgt Tejada was seriously injured by an Improvised Explosive Device, even though the evacuation took more than an hour, GySgt Tejada critically wounded stayed conscious and kept fighting for his life. On 16 November 2010 he was transferred to Bethesda Medical Center where he underwent multiple surgeries. After recovering from his surgeries GySgt Tejada was transferred to Naval Medical Center San Diego California where he continued rehabilitation. GySgt Tejada’s knowledge of the inner works of the Veterans Integrated Service Net-work (VISN) makes him an ideal board members to help guide and provide oversight on DVNF’s Programs and Services. Decorations and Awards include: Combat Action Ribbon, Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and many more...