THE
TEAM
REACT DC began as a motivated group of professional military spouses and veterans with backgrounds in law, intelligence operations, military service, education, and non-profit work. With a strong desire to assist in the Afghan refugee crises, and using our collective knowledge and specialized skills, REACT DC was founded in September 2021.
Board of Directors
AMY MARDEN
Founder | CEO | Board of Directors
Amy is a military spouse and member of the Florida Bar. She previously worked as an attorney at a legal aid organization solving complex problems for low-income Americans. She left legal aid to accept a federal clerkship, where she was the first person in the Northern District of Florida to be dual-hatted as both law clerk and judicial assistant. She has since dedicated her time to pro bono assistance in criminal and civil matters, and has served as a resource and referral liaison for US Navy commands in the US and abroad. Amy believes ingenuity and grit can solve any problem, and she has plenty of both.
JOSH BURGESS
Founding Member | Board of Directors
Josh is a social entrepreneur passionate about creating regenerative solutions to the Earth's most pressing challenges. He previously served 25 years in the United States Air Force as a special operations advisor, pilot, and international affairs expert. Through his deployment experiences in Afghanistan, Josh is deeply immersed in Afghan culture and committed to empowering our Afghan allies to build successful futures in America.
KELLY ROSE
Founding Member | Board of Directors
After working nearly a decade with the Department of Defense, including six overseas tours, Kelly transitioned to the fight against human trafficking five years ago. She currently consults for an international NGO working to eradicate modern slavery. Kelly's passion to assist at risk populations combined with her personal connection with Afghanistan drives her dedicated work to resettle Afghan refugees.
SUNIL VARGHESE
Board of Directors
Sunil is the Policy Director, supervising IRAP’s policy team and facilitating the advancement of IRAP’s systemic advocacy positions to ensure and improve pathways to safety, with dignity and due process, for refugees and highly vulnerable individuals.
He previously served as Counsel to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein where he focused on immigration matters for the Senate Judiciary Committee. He also spent over seven years in various management, training, policy, and adjudication positions with the Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, including as the Deputy Director of the Newark Asylum Office. He was the Asylum Program Attorney at the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas and an Associate at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP.
Sunil received his J.D. and Certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies from Georgetown University and is a member of the New York Bar.
Directors
MOLLY SEPULVADO
COO | Family Services Director
Molly is a military spouse, mom, and social worker. She has spent the last 7 years working in various social work roles including child welfare advocacy, benefits assistance, community well-being support, refugee and asylum seeker support, and family services. She earned a Master of Social Work from Arizona State University in December 2021. Molly's understanding, experience, and sheer tenacity coalesce into an unmatched commitment to support refugee resettlement.
ABDUL SAMI AHMADI
REACTsurge Programs Director
Sami is a development practitioner with over 16 years of project management experience. His skills include supervising and managing staff, project implementation, advocacy and lobbying, developing strategic and management goals and work plans, and grants oversight. He previously held positions under USAID and USAID funded programs, including Provincial Implementation Manager, Project Manager, Provincial Coordinator, Activity Development Office and Operation Manager, where he implemented programs focused on child protection, reintegration and demobilization, women in the peace process, women’s political participation, women’s empowerment, gender-based violence, education, and good governance. Sami holds a B.A. from Takhar University, Afghanistan, faculty of agronomy – Department of Agriculture.
ERIN HOWE
REACTsponsors Program Director
Erin has lived and worked in every corner of the continental US, Hawaii, and abroad. Her professional record includes time working to employ at risk populations by matching employer needs with eligible candidates seeking reentry into the workplace, a testament to her belief in the power of opportunity. As a military spouse, she has volunteered to serve in multiple family support organizations in leadership roles, providing vital insight and help for people far from home. In addition to her role at REACT DC, she currently serves as Patrol Squadron Four’s Command Ombudsman, providing support to active duty families in such ways as accessing resources and disseminating important information. A staunch advocate of direct, effective communication, Erin is a bastion of honest feedback at a critical connection point between volunteers and evacuees.
DEVON McCUAN
Communications Director
Devon is a former Army Signal Officer and current Army wife, Navy daughter, Air Force sister and mom to three wonderful sons. Since leaving active duty in 2010, she's continued to serve the military and wider community, volunteering for multiple army units, mothering groups, and spouses clubs throughout the US and Europe. She greatly values community and adventure, loves travel and reading, and brings her glass half full enthusiasm to our team. Devon has a B.A. in Government and International Politics from George Mason University.