The U.S. World War One Centennial Commission
The Commission was established by the World War One Centennial Commission Act, part of Public Law 112-272 passed by the 112th Congress and signed by President Obama on January 16, 2013, and further refined by Public Law 113-291, Subtitle J, Section 3091. The Commission is responsible for planning, developing, and executing programs, projects, and activities to commemorate the centennial of World War One; encouraging private organizations and State and local governments to organize and participate in activities commemorating the centennial of World War I; facilitating and coordinating activities throughout the United States relating to the centennial of World War One; serving as a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of information about events and plans for the centennial of World War One; and developing recommendations for Congress and the President for commemorating the centennial of World War One. The Commission is building the national World War One Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington, DC with private donations.
The U.S. World War One Centennial Commission
The Honorary Chairs
Edwin Fountain of Arlington, Virginia has served as General Counsel of the American Battle Monuments Commission since March 2015. He was previously a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of the international law firm Jones Day, where he practiced for 24 years. He is the grandson of two World War I veterans.
Jerry L. Hester. Graduate Mechanical Engineer, North Carolina State University, 1953. Former U.S. Air Force Officer, 429th Fighter Bomber Squadron. Served in the Defense Industry for over 25 years engaged in such leading edge technologies as electronic reconnaissance, electronic warfare, tactical & strategic weapons development, laser guided weapons, aerial gunships, night vision both ground and air operations. President of his own firm, Interdyne Corporation, for 35 years in Prime Contractor support operations world wide in U.S. Military logistic, construction and facilities support in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Ecuador & the United States.
Colonel Thomas Moe recently concluded a chapter in his nearly 50 years of military and public service, retiring from the cabinet of Governor John Kasich as Director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services. Moe enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1961 and also enrolled in college. He graduated in 1965 from Capital University as a Distinguished Military Graduate earning a regular commission in the U.S. Air Force. He later graduated from the University of Notre Dame where he eventually served as Chair of the Department of Aerospace Studies.
Ambassador Tod Sedgwick of Virginia is a Fellow at the Transatlantic Center at The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Study and a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, positions he has held since 2015. He previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the Slovak Republic from 2010 to 2015.
Libby H. O’Connell is currently the Chief Historian Emeritus at History Channel, where she worked for 23 years in education and corporate social responsibility. She has appeared as a commentator on History and A&E Network, as well as on CNN, the Today Show, and other news channels. Libby O’Connell’s work in television and education has received four national “Emmy” awards, White House recognition, and numerous other honors.
Monique Seefried, during the past decade as president of the Croix Rouge Farm Memorial Foundation, purchased the historic land, commissioned one of the best sculptors in England and totally funded with private money a memorial statue to the US 42nd (Rainbow Division) on a WWI battlefield in France where the division fought with distinction. She also served from May 2003 until April 2009 as chairman of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Board of Governors. Prior to that, she founded and served as Executive Director of the Center for the Advancement and Study of International Education (CASIE) in Atlanta, whose board she now chairs. She also serves on the board of the United World College in New Mexico.
Major General Freddie Valenzuela served thirty-three years in the US Army and was highly decorated for heroism and valor. He served in three Combat Corps and six Infantry Divisions all over the world including Peru, Korea, Colombia, Turkey, Haiti, Kuwait, Grenada, Panama, Germany, El Salvador and Somalia, not to mention numerous years in interagency assignments. He commanded in the Cold War and Gulf War eras, and was awarded the two highest peace time awards upon retirement, the Defense & Army Distinguished Service Medals. He was commissioned from St. Mary’s University as a Distinguished Military Graduate and awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government. He holds a Master of Arts in Political Science, with emphasis on Latin American Studies and National Security Affairs. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Inter-American Defense College, Command and General Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, and the Air War College. His last Assignment was as Commander, United States Army South from July 2000 until October 2003. He retired from active duty on 1 May, 2004.
Zoe Dunning was appointed to the San Francisco Library Commission by Mayor Ed Lee in July 2014. She currently serves as Director of Change Management for Future State consulting, helping her clients lead their organization and its stakeholders through large-scale operational transformation. A retired U.S. Navy officer, Commander Dunning was a leader in the successful campaign to repeal the military’s discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law. She is a Senior Fellow at the Truman National Security Project and serves on the board of Stanford Pride, a network of alumni, students, faculty, and staff connected to the LGBTQQI community. She holds an M.B.A. from Stanford University and a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy.
Debra Anderson is the Quartermaster General of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) organization National Headquarters in Kansas City, MO. Anderson graduated from the University of Missouri Columbia. She served for 13 years in the U.S. Army, which included deployment to Operation Desert Storm. She has been awarded the Bronze Star medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Southeast Asia Service Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, and the Parachutist Badge.
John D. Monahan is retired Administrator of the Connecticut Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Fund. The Fund, an enduring legacy of the World War One generation, has provided financial assistance to needy wartime veterans, in partnership with the American Legion, since 1919.
Matthew Naylor is the President and CEO of the National World War I Museum and Memorial. A native of Australia, he began his tenure at the Museum in June 2013 and possesses more than 20 years of leadership in the non-profit arena. Previously, he served as the Director of Advancement at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, MO. Dr. Naylor was a member of the institution’s executive leadership team and was responsible for development, marketing and donor services, among other duties. Prior to his tenure at the Nelson-Atkins Museum, he spent more than nine years as president of Outreach International, an international humanitarian organization that specializes in sustainable and participatory community development with a presence in 15 developing nations across the world. He earned his Ph.D. from Curtin University in Perth, Australia.
