Kevin attended the United States Military Academy at West Point where he was a member of the varsity ice hockey team and earned Dean’s List honors. Kevin served his country as a Field Artillery Officer in Korea, Germany, and Iraq. During his service, Kevin received multiple awards including the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Action Badge.
Kevin’s civilian career has spanned several industries to include counterterrorism, strategy, politics, and athletics. Kevin’s civilian career began as Special Advisor to Congressman Patrick Murphy where he consulted on Foreign Policy and Armed Forces issues, including the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy.
Following his time on Congressman Murphy’s staff, Kevin was appointed Director of Strategy and Operations at the Hedayah Center for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) in Abu Dhabi, where he helped coordinate participation between twenty-nine countries and the EU to establish the World’s first center focused on non-coercive counterterrorism practices.
After returning to the US, Kevin earned a Master’s Degree in Nonproliferation (Weapons of Mass Destruction) and Terrorism Studies from Middlebury, but his post-grad school career has focused on underserved communities. As a security advisor for the Resettlement Support Center in Nairobi, Kenya, Kevin assisted the U.S. Department of State in the processing and resettlement of refugees and as a Presidential Appointee in the Obama administration, developed public/private sector partnerships on behalf of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Kevin is an accomplished athlete, playing professional ice hockey in Germany and Australia following his career in the military. Kevin currently serves on the Boards of the Philadelphia Flyers Warriors veterans hockey program and the Chef Ann Foundation. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, working out, and playing sports…more golf than hockey now as age tends to dictate.
Dr. Chris Andrew Cate serves as MilitaryConnected.org’s Director of the Data and Research Center of Excellence (DARCOE) where he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of DARCOE’s operations, research initiatives, data analysis, and collaboration with stakeholders.
Throughout his academic and professional career, Dr. Cate has over 15 years of experience in veteran studies research through the University of California at Santa Barbara, Student Veterans of America, The Million Records Project, National Veteran Education Success Tracker, and now at MilitaryConnected.org.
Dr. Cate’s research has been used at the federal, state, and local levels to bring about change that benefits the student veteran and wider veteran communities.
Jonathan Fermin-Robbins is the former Interim Executive Director of MilitaryConnected.org, a nonprofit organization that empowers veterans and their families through employer education, talent engagement, and data-driven research.
Before helping launch MilitaryConnected.org, Jonathan served more than 10 years in the U.S. Army, worked at the Department of Defense, and was Chief of Staff at Aliro, Inc.
Jonathan lives with his husband in Denver, Colo.
Michael Hansen serves as the Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnerships and Engagement with MilitaryConnected.org, leveraging a distinguished career that spans military service, corporate leadership, and veteran advocacy. With a history of turning insights into action, Michael is celebrated for his innovative approach to enhancing the transition experience for veterans and military spouses.
A Marine, Michael’s commitment to service didn’t end with his four deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. It evolved into a mission to redefine the integration of veterans into America’s business landscape. As the founder of Alpha 13, he has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to leveraging military skills in the corporate and entrepreneurial sectors.
Michael’s efforts have not only helped shape policies but have also cultivated environments where veterans thrive as invaluable assets. His work extends beyond the office, with a passion for mentoring that has impacted many in the startup ecosystem.
With an education in International Security and Conflict Resolution at San Diego State University, with further studies at the Institute of World Politics, Michael blends academic insight with real-world experience. His recognition as a thought leader in the veteran community underscores his commitment to building bridges between military service and corporate success.
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