Founder / interim president: Conrad jeffries

cONRAD IS A 13-YEAR MILITARY VETERAN. HE SPENT NINE YEARS IN THE IDAHO ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AS A COMBAT ENGINEER (07-16). cONRAD DEPLOYED (oif) WITH THE 116TH COMBAT BRIGADE AND ATTACHED TO JOINT SPECIAL OPERATIONS WHERE HE CONDUCTED PERSONAL SECURITY DETACHMENT MISSIONS AS A CONVOY COMMANDER. IN 2013, HE COMPETED ON FOUR LEVELS TO WIN THE IDAHO NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD. cONRAD SPENT FOUR YEARS IN THE US. COAST GUARD(01-05) AS PART OF THE INTERN (PROTOTYPE ACTIVE DUTY) MARINE SECURITY STRIKE TEAM (WEST cOAST) POST 9/11 COUNTER TERRORISM UNIT. cONRAD WAS THEN SENT TO COAST GUARD STATION BRUNSWICK GEORGIA, AND IN 2003 ATTENDED AND GRADUATED THE US. COAST GUARD PRESTIGIOUS FEDERAL BOARDING OFFICER COURSE. DURING HIS TIME AT COAST GUARD STATION BRUNSWICK CONRAD PARTICIPATED IN HUNDREDS OF SEARCH AND RESCUE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CASES. MOST NOTABLY WAS THE BOARDING OFFICER IN CHARGE OF ONE OF THE LARGEST ILLEGAL CAUGHT FISHERY CASES TO DATE ON THE EAST COAST DURING OPERATION SHELL BACK.

cONRAD WAS RAISED IN AMERICAN FALLS, IDAHO AND PRIDES HIMSELF IN COMING FROM A SMALL FARM TOWN THAT HELPED DEVELOP HIS BLUE COLLAR WORK ETHIC. tHROUGHOUT HIS LIFE CONRAD HAS COMPETED IN ATHLETICS AND STRIVES TO BE THE BEST, HOWEVER, HE HAS HAD MANY FAILURES. tHE BIGGEST FACTOR IMPACTING CONRAD’S LIFE IN A NEGATIVE WAY WAS ALCOHOL AND HIS INABILITY TO OVERCOME IT AND BE ACCOUNTABLE TO IT. cONRAD SELF-SABOTAGED HIS CAREERS, OPPORTUNITIES, AMONG OTHER THINGS TO THE POINT WHERE HE SAW NO HOPE. JUST A COUPLE YEARS AFTER WINNING SOLDIER OF THE YEAR CONRAD DECIDED TO END HIS OWN LIFE. FORTUNATELY AT THE TIME HE DECIDE TO DO THIS HE HAD BEEN SOBER FROM ALCOHOL. cONRAD’S LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY AND ULTIMATELY HIMSELF COMBINED WITH THE LAYER OF ALCOHOL BEING REMOVED, SAVED HIS LIFE. cONRAD REALIZED IN THAT MOMENT, THE IMPACT SOBRIETY HAD ON THE DECISION TO LIVE. tHIS WAS WHEN THE SHOT AT DAWN PROJECT WAS BORN AND hE MADE THE CHOICE TO DEDICATE HIS LIFE TO SOLVING VETERAN SUICIDE.

TODAY CONRAD LIVES WITH HIS CHILDREN AND HIS FIANCE. SOBER FROM ALCOHOL OVER FOUR YEARS HE WORKS TIRELESSLY TO HELP OTHERS WHO STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. cONRAD HAS OPENED UP HIS LIFE THROUGH PERSONAL GROWTH AND OWNING HIS FAILURES KNOWING IT WILL HELP HIM BECOME A BETTER MAN AND TO INSPIRE OTHERS. cONRAD BELIEVES MENTAL HEALTH CLARITY CAN BE ACHIEVED BY BEING ACTIVE, DIET AND EXERCISE ALONG WITH GOOD NUTRITION, AN ACCOUNTABLE TRIBE, AND STRIVING TOWARD REMOVING CHEMICALS AND SUBSTANCES THAT AID TO OUR FAILURES. cONRAD IS A LICENced REAL ESTATE AGENT IN IDAHO and HOLDS X2 DEGREES FROM AMERICAN MILITARY UNIVERSITY.

Executive director: Andrew Coussens

Andrew graduated Loyola University of Chicago in 1995 with a BA in Communications / Journalism. Shortly after graduation, Andrew was hired by US Customs for BORTAC search and rescue duties along the US/Mexico border.  In 2002 Andrew was assigned to the National Security Special Events Task Force for the US Winter Olympics where he helped conduct aerial reconnaissance, communications and security duties. 

In 2008 Andrew was retained as a contractor for a classified program working a US Government contract in numerous high threat areas overseas conducting intelligence gathering and security.  He simultaneously worked for the US State Department’s Global Anti-Terrorism Assistance program training partner nations a course entitled First Response to Terrorism Incidents including SWAT I and Technical Rescue skills. 

In 2014 Andrew became a consultant, business development director and trainer for the Boise company, the Activity Group, which provides military and law enforcement assets field trauma solutions training and equipment.

In 2018 Andrew authored his first novel entitled “A Failed State” which sells copies on Amazon, Barnes and Noble,  iTunes, Sony and Google Books. In 2019 Andrew authored his 2nd novel “Relapse”.

ADVOCACY director :

MONTY HEATH

Monty has led high-performance, results focused teams in all three realms of business; Government, Private Sector, and Non-profits.  He is currently involved with two non-profit veteran service organizations; Director of Military Programs for Higher Ground, and Executive Director of VetToCEO.  

Monty served in the US Navy SEAL teams for over a decade; he honorably discharged and was twice awarded the Bronze Star with combat valor designation.  He then started a family and dove into the civilian markets.  In his first private sector venture, he worked alongside Gas and Oil industry executives delivering critical security input used to inform billion-dollar expansion plans.   In the defense contracting space, he has managed the SEAL Mentorship program, a national initiative serving hundreds of candidates daily. Additionally, he managed the SEAL Preparatory Program utilizing a team-of-teams approach.  His staff consisted of Olympic & Professional athletes as well as retired SEALs- delivering content to hundreds of enlisted personnel per quarter who were entering NSW pipeline.  In the Executive Protection space, he led, then managed, international protection details for Forbes 40 families.  During his free time, Monty enjoys time outside with his wife and two sons.