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 (OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM) 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 IN BRUNSWICK GEORGIA. IN 2003 HE ATTENDED AND GRADUATED THE US. COAST GUARD PRESTIGIOUS FEDERAL BOARDING OFFICER COURSE. DURING HIS TIME AT THE COAST GUARD STATION IN BRUNSWICK, CONRAD PARTICIPATED IN HUNDREDS OF SEARCH AND RESCUE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CASES. MOST NOTABLY, HE WAS THE BOARDING OFFICER IN CHARGE OF ONE OF THE LARGEST ILLEGAL FISHERY CASES CAUGHT TO DATE ON THE EAST COAST DURING OPERATION SHELL BACK.

CONRAD WAS RAISED IN AMERICAN FALLS, IDAHO, A SMALL FARM TOWN WHERE HE DEVELOPED A BLUE COLLAR WORK ETHIC. CONRAD HAS ALWAYS BEEN COMPETITIVE IN ATHLETICS STRIVING TO BE HIS BEST. HOWEVER, ALCOHOL HELD HIM BACK FROM REACHING HIS BEST IN ALL ASPECTS OF HIS LIFE THROUGH SELF SABOTAGING HIS CAREERS, FAMILY, OPPORTUNITIES, AMONG OTHER THINGS WHERE HE LOST ALL FAITH AND HAD NO HOPE. A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER WINNING SOLDIER OF THE YEAR, CONRAD MADE THE DECISION TO END HIS OWN LIFE. AT THIS TIME, HE HAD BEEN SOBER AND STRONGLY BELIEVES HAVING REMOVED ALCHOL COMBINED WITH THE LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY IS WHAT ULTIMATELY SAVED HIS LIFE. CONRAD REALIZED IN ONE OF HIS DARKEST MOMENTS, THE IMPACT SOBRIETY HAD ON THE DECISION TO LIVE. THIS WAS WHEN THE SHOT AT DAWN PROJECT WAS BORN AND HE FELT CALLED TO DEDICATE HIS LIFE TO SOLVING VETERAN SUICIDE.

TODAY CONRAD LIVES IN IDAHO WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN. HE HAS CONTINUED TO REMAIN ALCOHOL FREE FOR OVER NINE YEARS. HE WORKS TIRELESSLY TO HELP OTHERS WHO STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE. CONRAD CONTINUES DOWN THE PATH OF SELV DEVELOPMENT DRAWING INSPIRATION THROUGH MANY PEOPLE HE CONSIDERS MENTORS WHICH ENCOURAGES HIM TO PURSUE HIS CALLING WORKING ON VETERAN SUICIDE SOLUTIONS. HE BELIEVES THE SHOT AT DAWN PROJECTS HOLDS SOLUTIONS TO ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS AND WILL CONTINUE TO GET THESE SOULTIONS IMPLEMENTED. THE SHOT AT DAWN PROJECT BELIEVES IT CAN AND WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE OUR VETERAN SUICIDE NUMBERS WITH IMMEDIATE ACTIONS IN ACTIVE DUTY, GUARD AND RESERVE.

CONRAD IS A LICENCED REAL ESTATE AGENT IN IDAHO AT MOUNTAIN REALTY BOISE 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.