Jesse Reising graduated from Yale University in 2011 as a double-major in Economics and Political Science and is currently a student at Harvard Law School. A starting linebacker for Yale, during the 2010 Yale-Harvard football game, Jesse was involved in a devastating collision that paralyzed part of his right arm and left him unable to pursue his dream of becoming a Marine. Upon receiving a nationwide outpouring of support in response to his injury, Jesse and Yale classmates Nick Rugoff and Chris Howell founded Operation Opportunity in order to redirect that support toward those now serving in Jesse's place.

Prior to matriculating at Yale, Chris spent just under a decade serving in the Australian Army. Seven of those years were spent in Special Operations Command, predominately with the 2nd Commando Regiment. During that period Chris fulfilled a number of roles. He served in Afghanistan in 2006 with the Special Operations Task Group and subsequently in the Tactical Assault Group (East), Australia's domestic counterterrorism and hostage rescue capability. In 2008 Chris transferred to the reserve special operations unit while he prepared for and later matriculated at the University of Sydney. After a successful year, Chris applied for and was admitted to Yale University through the Eli Whitney Students Program - an admissions program for non-traditional students with unique or extraordinary backgrounds.

Nick Rugoff graduated from Yale University in 2011. He has four years of experience as a college admissions mentor and tutor, and has helped create a variety of successful startup non-profits including Eli Africa and New Haven Host Families. His leadership experience includes time as the Co-Editor in Chief and National Editor of Yale's undergraduate political journal The Politic, President of leading student investment group Globalfund, Founder and Head of Cincinnatus Capital Partners, and President of New Haven Host Families.

Born in the United States and educated in Australia, David graduated from the University of Sydney with First-Class Honours and the University Medal. A PhD candidate through the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, David is concurrently a Predoctoral Fellow in International Security Studies at Yale University.

As the Director of Studies of Operation Opportunity's Warrior-Scholar Project, David coordinates the course curriculum in collaboration with the Yale Writing Center. As part of his role, David established the intensive WSP study method involving structured, academic, speed-reading and jocularly referred to as Ninja Reading. In collaboration with the other directors, he provides ongoing support for the continued education of all Warrior-Scholar graduates.

A Mandarin speaker, David's research interests lie in the foreign and security policies of his three home countries: China, Australia, and the United States. He is writing his doctoral dissertation on China's contemporary diplomacy and its role in the U.S.-led global order.

Zachary Fuhrer graduated from Yale University in 2011 with a Bachelor's degree in History. In college, Zachary served as an Arts & Living editor for the Yale Daily News and President of Chabad at Yale, while playwriting and fronting the band Suitcase of Keys. Outside of school, Fuhrer has worked in media and communications for Forbes, Universal Republic Records, the Public Theater and Susan Blond, Inc., and tutored high school students for New York State Regents exams and the SAT. He will spend the next year pursuing research on mental health care policy in Brazil, funded by Yale's Gordon Grand Fellowship.

Kallie Parchman is a junior at Yale from Baltimore, MD and is double majoring in economics and psychology. She is a member of the Yale lacrosse team and started as a freshman. On campus she is also a mentor for ReadySetLaunch and is involved in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, the Kiphuth Leadership Academy, and Athletes in Action. Her oldest brother, a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and First Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, has inspired her to support our military heroes and their families.