Our Story

Monica serves as Commander, bringing a steadfast commitment to service rooted in her background as a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma citizen. As a dedicated advocate for the Native veteran community, Monica founded Red Road Rising, an organization focused on providing essential resources and support to Native veterans across all tribal affiliations.

Beyond her organizational leadership, Monica is a pioneering educator in law enforcement training. She has developed specialized curriculum designed to train law enforcement officers on how to effectively and safely handle situations involving female and Native American veterans. Her training emphasizes critical de-escalation techniques, cultural sensitivity, and resource navigation, challenging the harmful misconceptions that often categorize women veterans as aggressive, non-compliant, or emotional. By educating officers on how service-related factors—such as how a uniform itself can act as a PTSD trigger—her work bridges the gap between law enforcement and the veteran community.

Monica’s broader advocacy platform investigates the critical intersections of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and its subsequent links to the risks faced by Native women after their service. Her research addresses a significant gap in current public information, focusing on the correlation between military experiences and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) epidemic. Through her leadership, curriculum development, research, and active involvement in veteran outreach, she strives to bring visibility and systemic change to these overlooked issues. 

 Stephanie serves as a vital pillar of support and direct operations partner to the Commander. A proud Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen and U.S. Army veteran, Stephanie served with distinction as a combat medic until her medical retirement. Rather than stepping back from service when her active-duty career concluded, she redirected her dedication toward empowering and uplifting her fellow service members, combining her frontline experience with a compassionate, hands-on approach to community advocacy.

In her essential role supporting the Commander, Stephanie acts as a key strategist and connector for the organization. She excels at researching, locating, and vetting community events, partnerships, and external organizations, actively opening doors for TOA to expand its footprint and deepen its involvement. Whether she is serving as a trusted mentor and ambassador for multiple Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) or working closely behind the scenes to align outreach opportunities with the alliance's mission, Stephanie's proactive initiative ensures that the leadership remains connected to the broader veteran community.

Outside of her organizational leadership, Stephanie finds strength and grounding in the outdoors and remains a steadfast, reliable advocate for veterans navigating life after service.

 Martina, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, serves as the Secretary and Treasurer, utilizing the exceptional precision, discipline, and administrative excellence developed during her service in the United States Air Force. As the central administrative hub for the organization's daily operations, she ensures that the Officer Corps remains highly organized, transparent, and seamlessly aligned with its long-term strategic goals.

In her vital role, Martina manages the critical flow of information, finances, and documentation across the board. From maintaining meticulous official records, detailed meeting minutes, and financial ledgers to tracking the continuous progress of various community initiatives, programs, and events, she keeps every moving part synchronized. Furthermore, she plays an indispensable role in the organization’s long-term sustainability by overseeing financial management, budgeting, monitoring grant milestones, and ensuring strict compliance with all reporting requirements and operational standards.

Beyond her internal administrative and financial duties, Martina facilitates transparent communication and manages official organizational correspondence. By serving as an efficient and reliable bridge between leadership and the members they serve, she ensures that the community stays informed, connected, and fully supported in all TOA endeavors.