COVO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Anne N. Philiben LTC US Army (ret.)  President. Anne served in the Army as a surgical nurse and a nurse administrator from 1969-1988, when she retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She served in Vietnam. Anne's awards include the Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Campaign and Service Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Army Service Ribbon. Anne has a diploma in Nursing from Presbyterian-St. Luke' Hospital, a BS in Nursing from the Medical College of Georgia and a Masters in Nursing Administration from the University of Washington. She is the Past Commander of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 14.

Richard W. Gehweiler, Treasurer and Media Spokesman -- Rick served in the US Marine Corps in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. His awards include numerous Marine and Navy commendations and citations, and 23 awards of the air medal for flying during combat operations. He has a BA in economics from the University of North Carolina. He is a successful real estate broker, builder and contractor and small business owner.

Rev. Craig  N. Jorgensen, M.Div., M.Ed. Craig is the associate pastor of the Zion Lutheran Church, Redmond, Oregon.  He has been an interim, associate pastor and pastoral counselor at Lutheran Churches in Central Oregon and Western Washington since his ordination at the Ministry of the American Lutheran Church, North Hollywood, California in 1976. He is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War. Craig has an A.A. from  Los Angeles Valley College;  a B.A. from California State University, Fullerton; M. Div., Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota; and an M. Ed. in Pastoral Psychotherapy, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington.

Susan Steves, Esq., Secretary/General Counsel. Susan holds a BA in Psychology and the Administration of Justice from Portland State University and received her law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1995. She has focused her law practice on advocacy for children and is considered an expert in domestic violence issues. Her work has included stints as a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney. Susan had served on nonprofit boards for more than twenty years and she is an original founder of the Alzheimer's Disease Association. She is a single mother and her son is an Army Ranger, who recently returned from Iraq.

Stu Steinberg

Jim Gunn

COVO STAFF

Dr. Clarence Carnahan, M.D, Case Manager, COVO Transitional Housing Program. Dr. Carnahan is psychiatrist with many years of experience in the VA health care system. Dr. Carnahan served during World War II as a hospital corpsman aboard ship. He received his M.D. from Loma University, California, in 1954. He has been a psychiatrist with the VA for more fifteen years and volunteers at Volunteers in Medicine and Hospice of Bend.

James W. Gunn, Outreach Coordinator. Jim was just named Oregon Senior Volunteer of 2007. Jim served in the US Marine Corps in Vietnam and was evacuated for wounds received in action. He was awarded the Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. Jim is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and has recently been working with Native American Vietnam veterans from the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, helping them in understanding the VA benefits process, and assisting them in getting the maximum benefits they are entitled to from the VA. Jim is the President, Past Vice President and Trustee of Chapter 820, Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.  Jim is a talented artist and has done the artwork for COVO.

Stuart A. Steinberg, Director of Operations. Stu is an Army Vietnam veteran who served with explosive ordnance disposal teams during his two tours in Vietnam. He was decorated for heroism and wounds received in action. He has a B.A. from Goddard College, Plainfield, Vermont a J.D from Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, New Hampshire and an L.L.M. from the Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C.  Stu retired in 2003 after thirty years as a public defender and a criminal defense investigator specializing in capital murder cases. He is one of the first members of Vietnam Veterans of America. Stu is certified by Vietnam Veterans of America, the United Spinal Association and the US Department of Veterans Affairs to represent veterans in VA claims. Stu runs COVO's day-to-day operation

COVO Board members, supporters and  volunteers cut the  COVO ribbon at the Chamber of Commerce Ceremony

From L.to R. Row 1 Stu Steinberg, COL Dave Fairclo, Rev. Craig Jorgensen, Jeff White, Rick Gehweiler, Jim Gunn, Anne Philiben  Row 2  Lance Mousel, Rick Silver

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