Melissa is a philanthropic champion, successful attorney, and military spouse. She brings a much-needed civilian's perspective to a veteran-heavy board and acts as a litmus test to identify topics that need to be referred to the CGO Foundation's General Counsel.

Outside of her work with the CGO Foundation, Melissa is a General Partner of R & R Elite Investments, LLP, a passionate crusader for social causes, and an invited guest speaker at women's leadership symposiums all over the world.

Melissa has practiced law for 25 years and been licensed in 10 jurisdictions. Her legal career began as a criminal prosecutor in Special Victims Units and focused on combating child sex trafficking at home and abroad. She was a Special Prosecutor in the Hawaii Attorney General's Office, a Legislative Attorney for the Hawaii State Legislature, and served on Hawaii's Ho'Ola Na Pua Executive Board of Directors for three terms. She recently became a Founding Partner of Holon Law Partners, LLP, where she channels that same advocacy through her clients — mostly women entrepreneurs — with a desire to make the world a better place.

Samantha Weeks is a results-driven leader with over two decades of experience in both the military and commercial sectors. A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and seasoned fighter pilot, she logged more than 2,000 flight hours in the F-15C and F-16, including over 100 in combat. In 2007, she made history as the Air Force Thunderbirds' first female solo demonstration pilot. Her career culminated as a Wing Commander, where she led the Air Force's largest and most diverse pilot training base, managing a $150 million annual budget and $2.3 billion in assets.

After retiring from military service, Samantha transitioned into the private sector as Shift4 Payments' first Chief Transformation Officer, where she helped the $7B fintech company nearly double its revenue and workforce within three years. She excels in leading complex organizations, cultivating culture, and aligning individual strengths with institutional goals.

With a Ph.D. in Military Strategy, a passion for leadership development, and recognition ranging from serving on the Department of Defense's DACOWITS to being named an International Women's Forum Fellow, Samantha is dedicated to shaping the next generation of leaders and high-performing teams.

Bruce is a retired senior Air Force officer and seasoned nonprofit leader. He uses his years of leadership and organizational experience to guide the CGO Foundation through its launch and initial growth.

During his time in the military, Bruce served multiple tours as an A-10 pilot and test pilot, studied at the School for Advanced Airpower Studies, and was a White House Fellow. He joined RAND in 2016 after retiring from the Air Force and served as an officer for two nonprofits: the Colorado Mountain Club and United Charitable.

Outside of his work with the CGO Foundation, Bruce leads the RAND Space Enterprise Initiative, a senior policy researcher, and professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He also founded and leads Hike for Life, a social impact outdoor safety and education company based in Colorado Springs.

During his Army career, Thomas made significant contributions to military space education and operational leadership. A graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School, he was instrumental in establishing the Small Satellite Research Center at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he championed a rigorous space science curriculum to better align Army training with joint-service standards. His career also included a pivotal role as the commander of the U.S. Army Garrison-Kwajalein Atoll, where he oversaw complex logistical operations and infrastructure transitions.

In his post-military life, Thomas continues to leverage his engineering expertise and deep understanding of space systems to support professional development and technological advancement within the defense sector.