Master Trainer

RANGER JOHNSON

Terry "Ranger" Johnson enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 10, 1980 and retired from the military in  June 2000 with 20 years of service. Terry developed his unique leadership style while serving in some of the most elite units in the Army. He spent the last 11 years of his career serving in the Special Forces. As a Special Forces soldier (Green Beret), he conducted nation building operations in South and Central America.

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As a retired, service-disabled veteran Terry’s “mission mind-set”remains intact:

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To Help Every Veteran Receive The Benefits They Have Earned And Deserve From Having Served Our Great Nation!

CEO

GINO JOHNSON

Gino Johnson started Champions For Veterans with the dream to change the lives of veterans and their families by helping them to get the benefits they deserve from the VA. He knows from experience that the lack of this valuable information can lead to families not receiving the benefits they've earned as a result of the military service their family members gave to our country.

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Prior to starting Champions For Veterans, Gino spent 9 years in corporate America working for large and small organizations performing accounting and auditing functions. He received his bachelor and master degrees in accounting from the University of Mississippi.

Veteran Coach

Josh Allen

I’m Josh, I’m a Father of 3, a husband and a Youth Minister. I’m a Product of South-Central Los Angeles. As a Navy Veteran who served 7 years combined Active and Reserved, I had a great time serving.  Went to a great college (UW), got a great job in corporate America working with Boeing and Lockheed Martin. From the outside looking in, life was good for me.  When the door closed, I was a mess. I deal with PTSD on a daily basis. I shut myself off to friends and family so I could recharge and cope with the next day's façade.  Triggers are a real thing….; I built my relationship with my kids off of toys and clothes. Our relationship was shallow and I found myself unhappy with “Success”.   

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Then I found out about benefits that I didn’t know I had with The Veterans Administration (V.A).  I asked for help. I followed a process/blueprint. I’m now a rated Vet with the V.A and things are way different in my life. I’m not fixed, but I’m better, A LOT better! 

    This is my why?

I work with Champions For Veterans because their purpose is my purpose. To bring Veterans the Support they need financially, physically, and mentally.   As a team, WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS!! 

IN THE WORDS OF RANGER JOHNSON “STAY IN THE FIGHT ”

Veteran Coach

Derrick Smith

Derrick H. Smith is an Executive Coach for Champions for Veterans.  Mr. Smith is a former Veteran Service Officer and former Program Analyst for the United States Department of Vereran Affairs, with a strong background in business finance and governmental oversight of projects and programs.

Mr. Smith is a medically retired noncommissioned officer from the US Army after receiving wounds in battle during his last deployment to Iraq in 2005.  He continues to serve as a commissioned officer in the Louisiana State Guard in the role of Adjutant to the Commanding Officer of the 5^th Area Command.  After his retirement from the Army, Mr. Smith pursued his education at Louisiana State University at Shreveport and Northwestern State University – Shreveport Campus. During his undergraduate work, Mr. Smith worked as a student employee at the Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs Office in Shreveport and upon graduation, accepted a position as a Veteran Assistance Counselor. From that position, Mr. Smith learned the inner workings of federal programs and eventually was accepted to Federal Service with the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, being promoted quickly as his knowledge base increased.  His last position with the VA was as the Program Analyst/Administrative Officer for the HCHV (Healthcare for Homeless Veterans) Program.  Mr. Smith was recruited to General Dynamics IT as the Project Manager for the VA Systems Integration Project and ended his federal service career with them in 2021.

Mr. Smith is married and the father of 3 children and a grandfather of 1.  His interests outside of work revolve around his family and the restoration of antiques, to include heirloom firearms, tractors, and vehicles.  His most prized restoration projects are his 1945 Farmall Tractor and his grandfather’s 1965 Ford truck.

Education & Credentials

CAPM (PMI), Project Management Institute, 2021

LNO, (FEMA), All Hazards Liaison Officer, MEMS-LNO Certification, 2021

A.S., (firearms engineering technology), Sonoran Desert Institute, 2020

MEMS-Master, (FEMA), Military Emergency Management Certification, 2018

Master of Business Administration: Louisiana State University at Shreveport, 2017

A.A., (criminology), Northwestern State University, 2015  

B.G.S., (computer science), Louisiana State University at Shreveport, 2012

Veteran Coach

Katie Rogers

I’m Katie. I did seven years in the California Army National Guard. During my time I served one tour in Afghanistan, got my E5 rank, and got all the bumps and bruises that go with serving. When I got out, I was awarded 60% service-connected disability and then spent the next seven years working to get my 100%.  I signed up with Champions For Veterans, and within six months I had my 100%.  Motivated by my own journey, I embraced the opportunity to join the Champions For Veterans team when offered a position. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and experience with fellow veterans because I firmly believe that every single veteran deserves these benefits, as they were earned during service. I hope I can help you to receive the recognition, resources, and opportunities you deserve!  

Executive Coach

Maurey Williams

Maurey “Ranger” Williams enlisted in the U.S. Army on October 6, 1982 and retired with over 23 years and 10 months of service in July 2006. Maurey developed his leadership skills early while serving as an infantry team leader, Drill Sergeant, and attended the Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, Advanced Noncommissioned Officer’s Course, First Sergeants Course and culminating at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in Fort Bliss, Texas. As a Special Forces Soldier (Green Beret), Maurey served the last 18 years conducting nation-building operations in the Southwest Asia Area of Operations while assigned to the 5^th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Maurey graduated with honors as Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arizona Global Campus with the degree Bachelor of Arts in Business Leadership.

As a service-connected disabled veteran and Executive Coach, I am committed to helping veterans earn the benefits they deserve for their service to the country.

Executive Coach

Eric Smith

Eric Smith was commissioned in the U.S. Navy on May 25, 1994, upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy, and retired from the military in August 2019 with 25 years of service. Eric developed his welcoming leadership style by including senior enlisted perspectives throughout his varied deployments in submarines, surface ships, and aviation units. He often surprises people with his nontraditional approaches and thoroughly researched solutions, well-honed after 9 years in Washington, DC studying Western Pacific Counter-Intelligence techniques. He concluded his career with a final tour of duty at Pacific Fleet Headquarters in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, providing direct consulting services to the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense.

As a retired, service-disabled veteran, Eric’s desire to “make it better for the next veteran” is his way of paying it forward and serving others as gratitude for being born in the greatest nation on Earth.