Gary Sinise Foundation Enlists Four Star General Robin Rand (RET) As CEO

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Oct. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Gary Sinise Foundation announced today that USAF General Robin Rand (RET) has been named as the organization's Chief Executive Officer. Established in 2011 by actor/humanitarian Gary Sinise, the Foundation is devoted to serving our nations defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities.  

Sinise has been leading the Foundation since its inception, growing it exponentially and consistently exceeding its annual goals.  As the Foundation's Chairman, Sinise enlisted General Rand given his deep understanding of the needs of the military and veterans community and his passionate desire to give back, which Sinise felt was crucial to elevate the Foundation further in its mission.  Rand, a four-star General, retired from the United States Air Force this past September, will report directly to Sinise and the Board of Directors. Executive Director Judith Otter, who has been instrumental in forming and growing the Foundation since 2011, will remain in a leadership position, stepping into the role of Chief Operating Officer.

"I am thrilled to welcome my good friend General Robin Rand to our foundation," said Sinise. "With Judith Otter as our great Executive Director, a wonderfully supportive board of directors, and our hardworking team, the Gary Sinise Foundation has grown quickly these past seven and a half years, expanding our programs, staff, and outreach. Robin is a tremendous leader and, after 40 years of service to our country, we are honored by his passionate commitment to continue to serve by bringing his leadership skills to support the next stages of our growth, and helping us to carry on the Gary Sinise Foundation's mission to honor the needs of our defenders and their families well into the future."

Rand will oversee the day-to-day operations with Otter as he supports the growth of the Foundation, bringing an intimate understanding of both the military and veteran community, and Gary Sinise's long history of serving this community.

"It has been my honor and privilege to work alongside Gary since 2009 to help him achieve his mission to build the Gary Sinise Foundation into a resource for our nation's defenders and their families," said Otter. "I'm now honored to work alongside two great Americans, Gary Sinise and General Robin Rand, to ensure that in the years ahead we continue to build the foundation into a long-term sustainable veteran service organization, available to support even more of our nation's heroes."

Sinise has spent the last four decades supporting those who serve and sacrifice for our country ? a commitment he's carried with him throughout his career since his early days as an actor in Chicago. Following the events on September 11, 2001, he created the Lt Dan Band, named after his iconic character in Forrest Gump, to tour military bases, performing concerts and lifting spirits.  It was during his first USO band tour in 2004 to Kunsan Air Force Base in South Korea that he met Rand who was a Colonel at the time.  Their friendship grew over the years, and whenever Rand was assigned to a new base, he made sure to ask Sinise and his band to perform for the troops stationed there. Over the years, Rand continued to rise through the ranks moving from a one star General to four, a distinction held by less than a few dozen in the armed forces at any given time. He was deployed for a year to Iraq where he flew over 100 combat missions in the F-16, and throughout Sinise and Rand's friendship continued.  With General Rand's recent retirement, he wanted to continue helping the men and women who serve our country. Joining the Gary Sinise Foundation will allow him to do that in a multitude of ways.

"It is a distinct honor, and with a tremendous sense of humility, that I join the Gary Sinise Foundation team," said Rand.  "My wife, Kim, and I look forward serving in this new capacity and I am deeply committed to doing all I can to help carry out the Foundation mission of honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need."

In addition to Rand, the Foundation has also named Linda Bammann and John Heubusch as its newest members of the Board of Directors. Bammann is currently on the Board of Directors for JPMorgan Chase and is the Chair of the Directors Risk Policy Committee; Heubusch is currently the Executive Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.  Both have been long time supporters of the Foundation's mission.

About the Gary Sinise Foundation: 

The Foundation honors America's defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need. Through its R.I.S.E. program (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment), specially adapted smart homes are being constructed for severely wounded veterans and first responders nationwide. Each one-of-a-kind home is customized to ease the everyday burdens of a wounded hero, their family, and caregivers. Other programs include Relief & Resiliency Outreach, Invincible Spirit Festivals, Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band, Arts & Entertainment Outreach, Serving Heroes, First Responders Outreach, and Soaring Valor. Its latest program, Snowball Express, serves the children of our fallen military heroes, surviving spouses, and Gold Star families. For more information, please visit GarySiniseFoundation.org.

About General Robin Rand (RET):

General Robin Rand (RET) entered the Air Force in 1974 and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1979. He's had multiple flying assignments; air liaison officer duty with the U.S. Army; and staff tours on the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Air Staff. His previous commands include the 36th Fighter Squadron, USAF Weapons School, 8th Fighter Wing, 56th Fighter Wing, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), and Air Education and Training Command. General Rand is a command pilot with over 5,100 flying hours, including more than 480 combat hours. Prior to retiring in September 2018, he was Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command and Commander, Air Forces Strategic - Air, U.S. Strategic Command, Barksdale Air Force Base. Rand is a highly decorated four star General and has received many awards and decorations including the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (with two bronze oak leaf clusters), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (with two bronze oak leaf cluster), Bronze Star Medal, and many more.

About Linda Bammann

Linda B. Bammann is currently on the Board of Directors for JPMorgan Chase and is the Chair of the Directors Risk Policy Committee. She was Deputy Head of Risk Management at JPMorgan Chase from 2004 until her retirement in 2005. Previously she was Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Management Officer at Bank One Corporation ("Bank One") from 2001 to 2004 and, before then, Senior Managing Director of Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. She was also a member of Bank One's executive planning group. From 1992 to 2000 she was a Managing Director with UBS Warburg LLC and predecessor firms. Ms. Bammann served as a director of The Federal Home Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac") from 2008 until 2013, during which time she was a member of its Compensation Committee. She served as a member of Freddie Mac's Audit Committee from 2008 until 2010 and as Chair of its Business and Risk Committee from 2010 until 2013. Ms. Bammann also served as a director of Manulife Financial Corporation from 2009 until 2012. Ms. Bammann was formerly a board member of the Risk Management Association and Chair of the Loan Syndications and Trading Association. Ms. Bammann graduated from Stanford University and received an M.A. degree in public policy from the University of Michigan.

About John Heubusch

John Heubusch is the Executive Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, the sole nonprofit organization founded by President Reagan to preserve and promote his legacy.  Prior to his role as Executive Director, John served as the COO of Avalon Capital Group, Inc., a wholly owned private investment company with over $1 billion in assets and diverse interests in technology, energy, finance and entertainment. Before joining Avalon, John was the Chief Administrative Officer of Gateway, Inc., the Fortune 500 computer icon. Previous to his work with Gateway, John was the Executive Director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) during the 1995-1996 election. Under John's leadership, two more seats were added to the Republican column in the Senate, bringing the number to 55.  Prior to his appointment to the NRSC, he served Elizabeth Dole as the Vice President of Communications for the American Red Cross, as well as her Chief of Staff when she was Secretary of Labor from 1989 to 1991. John also worked on Capitol Hill and was on the staff of Representative Denny Smith (R-OR) from 1981-1988.

SOURCE Gary Sinise Foundation