SOUTHERN PINES, N.C., Mar. 15, 2021 / — Special Forces Charitable Trust announced that it appointed Lisa Marie Riggins, President & CEO of the USO, Christine Antal, Senior Counsel at Sure Fire North America and LTG(R) Darsie Rogers, Jr., to its board of directors effective February 17, 2021.

“We are so pleased to welcome Lisa Marie, Christine and Darsie as new members to the SFCT board”, said Jodi Burns, the new Executive Director of the Special Forces Charitable Trust.  “Each bring their own distinct experiences and knowledge to our organization and they are joining us at such an interesting time”.  Burns went on to explain that the organization will be celebrating their ten-year anniversary as an organization and have just recently relocated their headquarters from Connecticut to North Carolina to be closer to Fort Bragg, the epicenter of the Green Beret Community.

About Lisa Marie-Riggins

Lisa Marie Riggins is an Army brat born in Bremerhaven, Germany, and has made her way back to her family roots as President and Chief Executive Officer of the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore. Her career path spans that of an actress in New York City; a criminal defense attorney, a state prosecutor, a personal injury attorney, and founding President of the non-profit Fairness for Athletes In Retirement (FAIR). She is now serving her unsung heroes in the military community. Working to bring support and dignity to those who perform great things in quiet ways, is what motivates her.

Lisa Marie started FAIR to advocate for better pensions for over 4,000 former NFL players who retired before 1993 and had been left behind and mistreated. FAIR was the public voice for these forgotten players – coordinating a national PR campaign and presenting the NFL and the NFLPA with a six-figure actuarial solution to the crippled pension plan. In March 2020, the NFL and NFLPA voted to commit over $1 Billion to raise the pension for the retirees, giving pre 93 players a 53% increase, the largest they’ve ever received.

She received her B.A. in History and Literature from American University, an Associate’s degree from American Academy of Dramatic Arts NYC, and her Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law. She is admitted to the Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. bar. Lisa Marie’s best friend is her husband John, and her favorite people are her two daughters, Hannah and Coco.

About Christine Antal

Christine is the Senior Counsel to Surefox North America, a veteran owned private security firm filled with like-minded, mission driven veterans.  Prior to assuming this role, Christine served as National Security Law Advisor at US Army Europe.

Christine is no stranger to the demands on the Special Forces families and Soldiers–seeing and living it as both an Army attorney and as a Green Beret spouse. Christine was born in New York, raised in Connecticut and lived between New York and Northern Ireland before commissioning as an Army JAG Officer in 2007.  From 2001-2006 Christine worked at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in New York City as the program manager for the prestigious Military Fellow Program.  It was while at CFR, that Christine was introduced to her future husband, Mark, who served 26 years as an Infantry and Special Forces Soldier.

Through years of relentless deployments and training cycles, the catastrophic loss of friends, combat injuries and managing family life Christine stood alongside (and has been held together) by her band of warrior spouses. Christine also served in key leadership roles in their Special Mission Unit family support group.  Christine and Mark also pulled off having “3 children in a 14 months,” all born on Fort Bragg and who are affectionately referred to as the KinderKommandos.

The Antal family’s transition into Army retirement has surfaced the silent injuries of TBI and medical care and support has proven tough to navigate.  As a result, Christine is focusing some of her fierce advocacy for active duty Special Operations families and Soldiers, towards advocating for our Quiet Professional retirees and their family care-givers.

About Darsie Rogers

LTG(R) Darsie D. Rogers, Jr. served in our Nation’s Army for over 34 years leading adaptable and high-performing teams in solving challenging problems in uncertain environments. As a Special Forces Soldier, Darsie served in the Pentagon and around the world, rising to the rank of three-star general.  Darsie’s military service saw combat through the dynamic and ambiguous environments of the Gulf War, Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn and numerous contingency operations. Later he was responsible for leading US Special Operations in the Middle East where he routinely engaged with US Ambassadors, Government Agencies, regional partner nations, and senior foreign government dignitaries and officials to protect US national interest.  He culminated his career at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency tasked with countering threats posed by weapons of mass destruction and improvised devices.  He has a BA from Auburn University, a MA from Louisiana State University and a MS from the United States Air War College.  Darsie retired from active duty in August of 2020 and joined the University of Maryland faculty as a professor of practice as part of its University Assisted Research Center.  He also advises a number of non-profit and private-sector organizations.

About Special Force’s Charitable Trust

Special Forces Charitable Trust is a 501(c)3 charity organization that provides meaningful and sustainable support to the Families of our Green Berets.  The SFCT supports timely, innovative, and comprehensive programs and services designed to enhance the well-being and health of both the Special Forces Soldier and his Family.

Special Forces Charitable Trust

PO Box 53

Southern Pines, NC  28388

(910)725-7034