Board of Directors Names Air Force Spouse Noeleen Tillman as Executive Director
Long-time Blue Star Families leader will helm the organization into new phase of program and membership growth
Washington, DC (July 31, 2014)—Blue Star Families, the country’s largest chapter-based military families non-profit organization, today announced that long-time managing director Noeleen Tillman has been appointed executive director, effective on August 1, 2014. The Blue Star Families Board of Directors, led by Sheila Casey, selected Ms. Tillman to succeed Mark Smith, following her years of work with the organization and on behalf of military families everywhere.
“Over the last few years, Noeleen Tillman has shown tremendous leadership within Blue Star Families and the military family community, serving the organization during a time of tremendous growth. We’re excited to see BSF expand to reach even more military families under Ms. Tillman’s management,” said Sheila Casey, Chairman of the Board for Blue Star Families.
“Mark Smith played an integral part in Blue Star Families’ emergence on the national stage over the last four years, with BSF growing to more than 90,000 members and chapters all around the world. We are pleased that Mark will continue working with BSF as a senior advisor.”
As Managing Director for Blue Star Families, Ms. Tillman led the organization’s fundraising and development efforts. Ms. Tillman also sits on the Defense Department’s top-level Family Readiness Council, formed by congressional mandate to address military family issues. Ms. Tillman has been asked to present to Congress on issues impacting military families including suicide prevention, PTS, TBI and combat stress; and employment/transition issues. She has interviewed with CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN, local news affiliates, and newspapers as the organization’s spokesperson and served as keynote speaker at a congressional event on suicide prevention in the military community.
“Being a part of Blue Star Families is extremely rewarding, as we work every day to support military families. I am honored to lead Blue Star Families into our next phase, with the help of an incredible team of military-connected individuals,” said Ms. Tillman.
Prior to joining BSF in 2010, Ms. Tillman was Executive Vice President of the Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF), a non-profit devoted to promoting sustainable approaches for government and businesses. While at GETF, Ms. Tillman managed a portfolio in excess of $60M and founded the International Institute for Sustainable Seaports (I2S2), a non-profit that provides technical support to the global maritime industry. Early in her career, Ms. Tillman served as Chief of Environmental Compliance for the 21st Space Wing; US Space Command where she managed civilian and military personnel responsible for environmental activities at 32 geographically separated units located around the world. Ms. Tillman has a degree in Environmental Engineering, magna cum laude from Temple University. She is married to Lt. Col. Antonio W. Tillman, USAF (ret.) and has two children.
More information about Blue Star Families programs is available at BlueStarFam.org.
About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families is a national, nonprofit network of military families from all ranks and services, including guard and reserve, dedicated to supporting, connecting and empowering military families. With our partners, Blue Star Families hosts a robust array of morale and empowerment programs, including Books on Bases, Blue Star Museums, Operation Honor Corps, Blue Star Careers and Operation Appreciation. Blue Star Families also works directly with the Department of Defense and senior members of local, State and Federal government to bring the most important military family issues to light. Working in concert with fellow nonprofits, community advocates, and public officials, Blue Star Families raises awareness of the challenges and strengths of military family life and works to make military life more sustainable. Our worldwide membership includes military spouses, children, parents, and friends, as well as service members, veterans and civilians.
To learn more about Blue Star Families, visit http://www.bluestarfam.org. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
