305-206-0550 chris@ushf.net

Our Team

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

Who We Are

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

Dr. Mary Myers, PhD

Executive Board of Directors Director of Finance
Dr. Myers currently works for Snowflake. She is a Senior Technical Trainer, teaching AI and Data Science. Her background includes working for several data warehousing and energy companies, and well as several colleges and universities in the Houston area. She has taught in both business and academia environments. She has taught databases, operating systems, data analysis, data science, and AI. Pretty much anything to do with Information Technology. Mary holds over 30 certifications and a doctorate in Educational Leadership. She is a native Texan, currently living in East Texas.

Angela Tsuida

Cornerstone Board of Directors Regional Security Officer, Union Bank
Angela retired from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, CA after serving 28 years. Angela spent over 20 years with their Honor Guard traveling throughout the country to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Randy Dunton

Executive Board of Directors Executive Director, Legacy Education Center
Randy works in all facets of Commercial Real Estate and is the Founder/Executive Director of Legacy Education Center. LEC is an educational non-profit assisting individuals in breaking the cycle of poverty to attain gainful careers.

Alvaro Zabaleeta

Cornerstone Board of Directors Detective, Miami-Dade Police Department, FL
Police Officer with 29 years in law enforcement, dedicated and practice safe security measures and conflict resolution techniques to handle crisis and emergency situations. Served as a Public Information Officer (PIO) for 20 years for the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. Began my current position in May of 2024 as an Executive Officer with the City of Sweetwater Police Department. Throughout my 20 years as a Public Information Officer, I have had the responsibility to handle Crisis Communications, Scene Management and National Events. Upon my retirement to the Miami-Dade Police Department, I know established a Communications Consulting company to assist organizations with crisis communications.

5. Martina Ryan

Board Member
Ryan is a veteran law enforcement officer with over 20 years of service in the State of Florida. He currently serves as a Captain with the Florida Highway Patrol, where he commands the agency’s Immigration Enforcement Section, leading statewide efforts focused on criminal alien apprehension in coordination with federal law enforcement partners. He previously served as the Honor Guard Commander for the Florida Highway Patrol for 11 years, overseeing ceremonial operations and representing the agency with distinction at state and national events.

David Sambrano

Executive Board of Directors Captain, United Airlines
David brings 36 years of experience in the transportation and travel industry. David is an entrepreneur as the Principal at The Syatt Group, focusing on strategic sourcing by helping businesses change the culture and find efficiencies in processes to help drive profitability. David volunteers his time with youth to help influence and direct the next generation of leaders.

Cody Cross

Mr. Cross is the CEO of HVMC Transportation, a Salt Lake City, UT-based interstate trucking company that is highly respected within the industry and has been featured in numerous nationwide publications. Mr. Cross has invested thousands of dollars to establish an Honor Fleet of Semi Trucks that provide a visual reminder of the sacrifices our first responders and military personnel have made for our country. He has three sons, Tyler – Us Army veteran, Noah – Us Army Veteran and now serving in the Utah National Guard and Charles active-duty United States Airforce. A stepson - Caleb, and his daughter Hailey, the namesake of HVMC Trucking. Mr. Cross served in the United States Airforce as a Law Enforcement officer. Mr. Cross has also served in the Fire Service in both Montana and Colorado. Following the death of Officer Cody Brotherson in West Valley City, UT Mr. Cross founded the Fallen Hero Network with the assistance of his partner of 15 years, Hope. Since 2017 the Fallen Here Network has served numerous agencies during Line of Duty Deaths, supported the families of those heroes, and coordinated multiple times with the Honor Network to ensure the seamless integration of the United States Honor Flag in ceremonies to honor and remember fallen Heroes. Mr. Cross is dedicated to “Ensuring the legacies of our heroes are never forgotten” and he has demonstrated that for nearly a decade through his tireless efforts with the Fallen Hero Network and his coordinated efforts with The Honor Network and countless other first responder and veteran focused organizations.

Robert Valenzuela

Board Member
Trooper Specialist Robert Valenzuela, a 23-year-old Florida native born and raised in the Florida Keys. Growing up in such a close-knit community instilled in me a deep sense of pride and a strong calling to serve. From a young age, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement and dedicate myself to protecting the people and places that shaped who I am. My journey into public service began in high school as a Sheriff’s Explorer, where I assisted in organizing a countywide Explorer Honor Guard team. In 2020, I was officially hired by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, serving as a dispatcher while also volunteering my time as a Public Information Officer, Honor Guard member, and reserve. I consistently sought opportunities beyond my primary role to give back to the community and support agency operations. In 2022, I joined the Florida Highway Patrol to further my commitment to public service as a State Trooper. Since joining the Highway Patrol, I have been selected for specialized assignments including the Quick Response Force (QRF) and the Statewide Honor Guard. Most recently, I was selected as an investigator within the newly created Immigration Enforcement Section of the Investigations Bureau. In my current role, I investigate and apprehend criminal illegal aliens involved in serious offenses such as sex crimes, cartel and terrorist activity, foreign fugitive investigations, drug trafficking and smuggling, as well as human trafficking and smuggling operations. My area of responsibility spans 24 counties, from Daytona Beach south to Key West and west to Fort Myers. I take pride in targeting the most dangerous offenders—those who pose a significant threat to public safety and have no place in our communities. I remain deeply committed to serving with integrity, professionalism, and dedication, and I am honored to continue protecting the communities that raised me and the state I call home.

Darin Hoover

Board Member
Mr. Darin Hoover is a Gold Star father and the father of Staff Sergeant Taylor Hoover, United States Marine Corps, who was killed in action during the Afghanistan withdrawal in August 2021. Staff Sergeant Hoover was one of the 13 American service members who made the ultimate sacrifice while securing Hamid Karzai International Airport during the final days of the evacuation. His death, and the deaths of his fellow service members, became a defining moment for a nation and for countless military families who understand the cost of freedom not as an abstraction, but as a permanent reality. Since the loss of his son, Mr. Hoover has emerged as a respected and courageous advocate for accountability, remembrance, and the enduring responsibility owed to Gold Star families. He brings a voice shaped by both profound loss and steadfast resolve, speaking not only for his own family, but for those whose loved ones never came home. Mr. Hoover’s involvement reflects a deep alignment with the mission to honor service, preserve legacy, and ensure that the sacrifices of America’s fallen are never minimized or forgotten. His perspective adds gravity, authenticity, and moral clarity to the board’s work, grounding decisions in the lived reality of those most affected by service and sacrifice.

Anthony Coker

Board Member
Anthony Coker serves as the Executive Director of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, bringing more than a decade of federal service and a distinguished background in military and law enforcement leadership to his role. A Marine Corps veteran, former Florida law enforcement officer, and seasoned Department of Homeland Security professional, Mr. Coker has built a career defined by strategic oversight, operational excellence, and effective federal–state collaboration. During his ten years with the Department of Homeland Security, Mr. Coker was detailed to DHS Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he oversaw the national ICE 287(g) Task Force Program, a cornerstone initiative of President Trump, supporting local–federal immigration enforcement partnerships. His leadership and operational expertise later led to his selection as the first DHS/ICE Liaison in the State of Florida, where he established new communication frameworks and strengthened interagency cooperation across multiple jurisdictions. Throughout his career, Mr. Coker has been recognized for his strong capabilities in strategic response, high-level networking and communication, and the development of robust federal–state partnerships. His work has helped align agencies, enhance mission readiness, and advance coordinated national immigration enforcement efforts. Mr. Coker’s academic background further supports his executive leadership. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and a master’s degree in strategic management, providing a strong foundation in organizational leadership, strategic planning, and operational management. Today, as the Florida’s Immigration Czar, Mr. Coker continues to engage with DHS HQ, while guiding statewide policy implementation, interagency collaboration, and strategic operational planning, ensuring that immigration enforcement efforts remain effective, accountable, and mission focused, on behalf of Governor DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet.

Brad S. Akin

Director, General Council
Brad S. Akin is a business and commercial litigation attorney with Caldwell Clark Fanucchi & Finlayson PLLC in San Antonio, Texas. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate formation, finance, and contract negotiation, representing primarily family-owned businesses across industries including heavy equipment, recycling, staffing, real estate, and food production. He has extensive experience advising manufacturers and dealers on acquisitions, financing, fleet management, and credit matters. Mr. Akin also maintains a niche equine law practice, advising horse owners on transactions, partnerships, taxation, insurance, and valuation, and previously managed an equine mortality insurance brokerage. From 2003 to 2013, he served as CEO of a community bank, overseeing lending, compliance, and investment operations. He remains active in the banking sector, advising financial institutions on regulatory and transactional matters. A Baylor University graduate with a degree in Economics, Mr. Akin later earned his law degree magna cum laude from St. Mary’s University School of Law. He became a partner early in his career and joined his current firm as a partner in 2022. Active in his community, Mr. Akin has served in leadership roles across education, youth programs, and civic organizations, and continues to assist in funeral services through his family’s longstanding ties to the profession. Outside of his practice, he enjoys hunting, horse racing, film, and travel. He and his wife Leslie have been married since 1988 and have two children.

Christopher Heisler

President & Founder
As The Honor Network President and Founder, Chris is responsible for upholding the organization’s mission to Honor, Educate, and Inspire Americans. In April 2003, Chris put his oil and energy career on hold and enlisted in the U.S. Army. As part of the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq, Chris was instrumental in providing invaluable communication tools. After serving in the U.S. Army, Chris served as a federal energy compliance and regulations manager for SunGard. In 2009, Chris received a congressional nomination to sit on the NERC standards board.

The Honor Network In Action

Chris Heisler of the Honor Network talks about his mission to honor and pay respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. He travels around the country to present the official Honor Flag to grieving families.

Every Hero Has A Story Worth Telling

Donate Today

How to Donate to The United States Honor Flag?

To donate to the United States Honor Flag, which honors the fallen heroes of 9/11 and continues to recognize America's first responders, you can use the PayPal button provided on the right. The flag has a rich history, beginning just after the September 11th attacks, when Chris Heisler received it as a token of gratitude for leading the largest convoy of first responders to Ground Zero. Heisler carried this flag throughout his service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Texas National Guard, reinforcing a lifelong commitment to ensuring that America's heroes are never forgotten.