Our Site Coordinators and Facilitators
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Southwest Site Coordinator
Dr. Jaisen Fuson
301-400-4801
Dr. Jaisen Fuson is the South West Site Coordinator for the Get Better Together Study at the Suicide CPR Initiative. He served 22 years as a Navy Chaplain retiring in January 2025. Prior to that Jaisen served as a pastor for 8 years. He earned his Doctorate in Ministry in May 2013 at Talbot School of Theology, BIOLA University where he designed a Cognitive Behavioral counseling model to help combatants heal Spiritual Injury associated with traumatic stress. His dissertation titled, “A Pastoral Counseling Model For Post-Combat Christian Soldiers Experiencing Spiritual Injury,” focused on the significance that evil, pain, abandonment, and forgiveness play in the therapeutic response to Christians facing irreconcilable theological beliefs in traumatic life experiences. Jaisen also serves as a pastoral counselor and spiritual director.
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Northwest Site Coordinator
Mr. Brandon Harding
301-400-4802
Brandon is the Site Coordinator for Get Better Together in the Pacific Northwest. Recently retired after 35 years of military service, he has held multiple CREDO tours and facilitated hundreds of retreats and workshops. As a wilderness guide and a leadership and relationship coach, he specializes in blending adaptive coaching with wilderness expeditions to inspire transformation in individuals, couples, and leaders. Married for 28 years, he and his wife are proud parents of seven children.
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Midwest Site Coordinator
Ms. Alexa DeMarco
301-295-9160
Alexa De Marco, a U.S. Air Force veteran, serves as the Logistic Site Coordinator for the Get Better Together Study with the Suicide CPR Initiative. Alexa proudly served 8 years in the Air Force, with two years as a Religious Affairs Airman (Chaplain Assistance) and six years in Security Forces. She is currently continuing her education, working toward a degree in psychology. In her role, Alexa supports the recruitment of military couples, providing logistical coordination and support for retreats. She also acts as a liaison between the research study and local military communities, ensuring strong relationships with leadership and facilitating access to participant populations.
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Southeast Site Coordinator
Dr. Dan Stallard
301-400-4800
Dan Stallard is the Lead Site Coordinator for the Get Better Together RCT Study and southeast region coordinator and retreat facilitator. He served 36 years in the Marine Corps (enlisted) and Navy (Chaplain) retiring in May 2020. Dan was hired by the Navy as a Civil Servant in February 2021 to be the first Navy Culture and Force Resilience office Resilience Program Manager and to help develop the Navy’s Inaugural Integrated Primary Prevention program. In this position Dan was one of DoD’s first credentialed Level 5-Prevention Program Managers. He earned his PhD in Health Psychology in May 2014 with Walden University where he conducted a mixed-method study with combat Marines entitled “Resilient Warrior: Coping Positively with Combat Stress Exposure.”
Research Team
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Natalie Todd
Research Coordinator
Natalie Todd is an experienced Research Coordinator with over 8 years of experience in behavioral health and military-affiliated research. She holds a Juris Doctor and is passionate about advancing evidence-based practices that support service members and their families. As a military spouse, Natalie brings a unique understanding to her work, managing complex, multi-site studies, coordinating IRB submissions, and ensuring regulatory compliance. She has contributed to several funded research projects focusing on military couples, families, and service member care.
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Madison Walker
Research Assistant
Madison Walker, a U.S. Army veteran with years of experience assisting Soldiers in navigating Army regulations and policies, is leveraging her military experience as a Research Assistant. She contributes subject matter expertise, assists with study development, and contributes to participant-facing materials.
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Dr. Sarah Carter
Principal Investigator
Dr. Sarah Carter is a clinical psychologist and research assistant professor at the Uniformed Services University. For over a decade, she has worked with military Service Members, veterans, and their families to improve relationships and mental health. Dr. Carter led the program development and oversees the research study.
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Dr. David Bynum
Deputy Investigator
Dr. David Bynum, a retired U.S. Navy Chaplain with 28 years of service, leads the community-based participatory research component of this study. He chairs the Stakeholder Advisory Board and provides invaluable subject matter expertise.