White House Appoints 2020-2021 Class of White House Fellows | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Travis Thul is from Winona, Minnesota, and is placed at the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Travis is a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Coast Guard, an educator, an engineer, and an entrepreneur. He has led national level security operations and disaster response, including maritime Deputy Incident Commander for the 2020 Democratic National Convention, infrastructure reconstitution in Puerto Rico post Hurricane Maria, and Hurricane Florence triage operations. Travis served as Dean of Trades and Technology at Minnesota State College Southeast. He and his team of 35 faculty reimagined vocational-technical education. This included the Rural Advanced Manufacturing Education Hub, deploying tech-college education to regional high schools; the Advanced Manufacturing Infrastructure Initiative, raising over $1M to build rapid prototyping labs; and the world's first Bicycle Design and Fabrication degree, providing vocational training to Generation Z. Travis has chaired the American National Standards Institute Working Group for Wireless Power. Travis is a licensed Professional Engineer and holder of multiple patents. He earned an Associate of Applied Science from Fox Valley Technical College, a Bachelor of Science from the Milwaukee School of Engineering, a Master of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Doctor of Engineering from George Washington University.

    Leah Tunnell is from Cedaredge, Colorado, and is placed at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Leah has served around the globe in the United States Navy, first as a MH-60S "Knighthawk" helicopter pilot and now as a Foreign Area Officer. She flew in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and served with Special Operations Task Force South-East in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. She flew numerous mountain rescue missions in the Pacific Northwest as a Search and Rescue (SAR) Mission Commander and was awarded the Chief of Naval Operations SAR Model Manager Aircrew of the Year (Inland) in 2011. Leah served at the Pentagon and worked International Engagements for the Chief of Naval Operations, supporting implementation of the National Security and National Defense Strategies. She served as the Pol-Mil Advisor for Commander, United States SECOND Fleet and NATO Joint Force Command Norfolk. Leah studied Portuguese at the Defense Language Institute, graduating with Highest Honors and earned a Master's Degree in Naval Sciences at the Brazilian Naval War College in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    Jonathon Westbrook is from Kansas City, Kansas, and is placed at the White House Office of American Innovation. He is a police officer for the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department (KCKPD). Jonathon was awarded the "Stanley Fisher Award" for dedication to the field beyond the classroom. He volunteered as a mentor at Leavenworth Penitentiary through the Life Connections program and served as Youth Director and mentor at Bread of Life Outreach Ministries. In 2016, Jonathon was selected to lead the KCKPD OK mentoring program, empowering black men and boys to lead their community. Jonathon was selected to the Professional Standards Unit, where he wrote policy, operational standards, and addressed the local and national media on behalf of the KCKPD. He was appointed by Governor Sam Brownback to the Kansas Human Rights Commission and appointed by Ron Ryckman, Kansas Speaker of the House, to the Kansas African American Affairs Commission. Jonathon earned both an Associate Degree in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Donnelly College, as well as a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas.

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    Cathryn Yerage is from Goldsboro, North Carolina, and is placed at the United States Department of State. She is a Major in the United States Air Force and most recently, served as the Chief Executive Officer to the 437th Airlift Wing Commander at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, Air Mobility Command's largest and busiest strategic airlift wing. She was a direct representative of the Commander for all staff matters and led the front office through Hurricane Dorian evacuation and COVID-19 response. A C-17A pilot, she deployed as the Director of Operations for the only C-17A combat squadron, leading more than 26 aircrews in executing sorties resulting in the movement of 34.7 million pounds of cargo throughout the Middle East, Southwest Asia, and North Africa regions. With over 2,300 flight hours, 600 in combat, CJ has deployed four times in support of contingency operations and has extensive international exercise experience. She is commissioned through the United States Air Force Officer Training School in Montgomery, Alabama. CJ earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of International Relations and Conflict Resolution from the American Military University.

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