Board of Advisors

Advisor

Senior Master Sergeant, USAFR (Ret.)

Beaverton, OR

David's life is a testament to unwavering dedication both in service to others and in his love for the great outdoors. Having served in the USAFR 304th Rescue Squadron as a Pararescueman for an impressive 25 years, alongside a concurrent 25-year tenure as a full-time Firefighter Paramedic with the Portland Airport Fire and Rescue, David has embodied a commitment to aiding those in need.

Throughout his career, David's deployments spanned across the globe, from Kuwait and Turkey for Southern and Northern Watch, to Kosovo for Operation Allied Force, and to Iraq for OIF. He also played pivotal roles in disaster relief efforts during Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, in addition to numerous mountain rescues in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. His acts of service and compassion have impacted countless lives in times of crisis.

David's passion for service and the outdoors was sparked during his formative years in the Boy Scouts, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and later served as an Explorer Scout and camp counselor. This early exposure laid the foundation for his lifelong commitment to helping others and exploring the natural world.

In recent years, David has embarked on transformative journeys with Cross The Divide, leading veteran llama packing trips in the rugged landscapes of the Cascade Mountains of Washington state. Alongside our volunteer "llama wrangler", Charley Rosenberry, David has facilitated unforgettable experiences for both active duty personnel and veterans, blending his extensive medical, military, and outdoor expertise with a genuine love for people and faith in God.

Outside of his adventures and service, David found love and companionship with his wife, Virginia, whom he married in 2021. Though both are widowed, together they embrace a blended family dynamic, cherishing the bond they share with their two adult sons and one adult daughter. Their shared faith is a cornerstone of their lives, as they actively participate in their local Baptist church in Beaverton, Oregon. Through their collective journey, David and Virginia embody the spirit of resilience, compassion, and unwavering devotion to both each other and their community.

Advisor

Sergeant Major , USMC (Ret.)

Bluffton, SC

After retiring as a Sergeant Major from the Marine Corps, John transitioned into civilian life, embracing new roles that continue to reflect his passion for leadership and mentorship. Currently serving as a Junior ROTC instructor at Hilton Head Island High School in South Carolina, he imparts his wealth of knowledge and instills the core values of the Marine Corps into the next generation of leaders.

In addition to his commitment to education, John extends his influence through his role as an auxiliary network missionary for Tun Tavern Fellowship, a Marine Corps centric Christian ministry. Specializing in men's discipleship, he passionately facilitates the Every Man a Warrior program, guiding individuals on their spiritual journeys and fostering a sense of camaraderie and support within the community.

A devoted family man, John has been happily married for 27 years and is the proud father of three daughters. His dedication to both his family and the larger community exemplifies his unwavering commitment to service, leadership, and the well-being of others.

As a Board of Advisory member for Cross The Divide, John brings a blend of military expertise, educational insight, and a heart for mentorship. His involvement underscores the organization's mission to provide transformative outdoor retreats for veterans, fostering healing, camaraderie, and a renewed sense of purpose.

In honoring his past service, John continues to shape a brighter future for veterans and their families through his multifaceted contributions to both education and spiritual mentorship.

Advisor

CDR, USN (Ret.), SEAL

Wallowa, OR

Having served in the U.S. Navy for 35 years, both as enlisted and an officer, Commander James can relate to veterans from many eras. His skills lend well to administrative organization, team building, non-profit fundraising, speaking to community organizations and schools, and working with other veterans’ services organizations to build up networking relationships. Commander James continues to serve the community by doing volunteer work with Enterprise Christian Church, the local Veterans of Foreign Wars, Nez Perez Homeland project, and is a qualified Veterans Service Officer for the Disabled American Veterans organization, where he assists fellow Veterans in navigating the Veterans Administration Disability Program. As a “Legacy Recruiter” for the Navy Challenge Programs, he works with youth who are interested in learning about the Navy as a job/career. He has also led many team-building exercises called “Act of Valor Challenges.”

Advisor

LtCol, USAF (Ret.)

Wallowa, OR

Lt. Col. James retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserves in 2011 after 32 years of service. She identifies with female veterans and civilians, volunteering for over ten years to provide advocacy on behalf of victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. She participated in curriculum development of psycho-educational programs and provided delivery and oversight of said programs. As the Director of Kitsap County (WA) Veterans Program, she developed and coordinated veteran's assistance programs and facilitated community efforts to establish and maintain quality service delivery systems for veterans. Lt. Col. James served as the staff representative to the Veterans Advisory Board, which advised County Commissioners on matters impacting local veterans. She coordinated the Veteran Stand Down events twice a year, and the annual "The Unforgotten, Run to Tahoma" ceremony on Memorial Day weekend honoring the unclaimed remains of deceased veterans. She resides with her husband, Jack James (CD, USN retired), and pets Daisy, Budd, Buttercup, and Bluebonnet in Wallowa, OR. She and Jack facilitated Christian-based marriage enrichment retreats and group studies for ten years.

Advisor

Commander, USN (Ret.)

Washington D.C.

Jake Wadsley retired in 2022 after 22 years in the Submarine Force. Jake was born in Iowa, where he grew up with his parents and two siblings. In college Jake was called to ministry in the submarine force, where God does not maintain a professional clergy presence. Jake was commissioned into the Navy and served on four submarines, culminating in command of USS NEBRASKA.

Jake met Mo and Rhonda in 2004 in Italy, and they have been friends ever since. When Jake was compelled through strange circumstances to teach himself bow hunting, Mo was gracious to lend sage advice in 2013-2014. When blessed to be stationed together again from 2016-2019, Jake was able to spend a week hunting elk in Washington with Mo, getting to observe firsthand Mo’s exceptional skills at elk calling, playing both ‘Romeo’ and ‘Julliette’ in rapid succession.

Jake currently serves at a Christian non-profit SIL International (Bible translation teammates with Wycliffe, Biblica, and JAARS) as the Director for Capability Innovation. In this role, Jake is responsible for leading the effort to develop and incubate new capabilities in support of SIL’s mission. He helps manage scouting for new capabilities, internal stakeholder engagement, designing new capabilities and integrating capabilities into the organization. His portfolio includes helping SIL develop capabilities such as Artificial Intelligence, Program Management, and Field Testing.

Jake moved to the Washington, D.C. area in 2019, where he now lives with his wife and four daughters. In his free time, he enjoys worshiping God outdoors, hunting, gardening, building and fixing things with his daughters, smoking savory delicacies, brewing melomel, and playing as much Mario Kart and cribbage as he can.