Scott Swinehart

Scott serves as the founder and President of Patriot Farm A Warrior Respite and Retreat. Scott served 6 years in the Marine Corps as an infantryman. After 9/11 he entered service in the Army despite a 10 year break. Scott was retired after 18 years in the military serving on both active duty and in the reserves. He has deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

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Scott is currently a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Newaygo. Prior to this he was a teacher in Newaygo for over 10 years. He loves the outdoors and enjoys sharing the outdoors with veterans and their family members. He has two kids, Sarah (also a veteran) and Jacob. His grandson Elijah is chief syrup taster, master rock collector and tractor engineer at the farm.

Brett Allen

Brett Allen is a graduate of Michigan State University and a former U.S. Army officer. Brett served as a cavalry officer with 3-71 Cavalry, 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division and deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Brett left the Army in 2010 at the rank of Captain.

Brett now works as a Case Analyst at a Grand Rapids based law firm and writes in his spare time. He is the author of two novels, Kilroy Was Here and Sly Fox Hollow. He resides in Ada, Michigan with his wife, two kids, and two dogs, Gatsby & Fitzgerald. 

Troy Kalbach

I enlisted into the United States Coast Guard (USCG) July 28, 1986. Following Basic Training in Cape May, N.J., I was assigned to an Ice Breaker, the USCG Cutter Northwind (WAGB 282) in Wilmington North Carolina. During my three years aboard the Northwind, we deployed to the Arctic two times for scientific research and also to ensure the shipping lanes were open to allow for resupply of Thule Air Force Base in Greenland. Following my tour on the Northwind, I received orders to attend Aviation Machinist Mate school in Elizabeth City, N.C. Following my training, I was assigned to USCG Air Station Cape May, N.J. to work and fly on the HH65 Dolphin Helicopter. During my eight-year tour in Cape May, I married my wife Patti of 30 plus years and have been blessed with three wonderful
daughters! I was also involved in numerous life saving missions throughout my tour.

In 1997, we received orders to USCG Alaskan Patrol (ALPAT) in Kodiak Alaska. Along with Search and Rescue (SAR), our main mission was to deploy our helicopters aboard USCG Cutters in the Bearing Sea to ensure no foreign fishing vessels encroached upon our 3.9 million square miles of U.S. waters. We also provided Search and Rescue support to the U.S. fishing fleet as well as enforcing all federal maritime laws.

Upon my tour completion in Alaska, I was assigned to recruiting duty in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania until 2007 when I was advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8). I arrived in Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the summer of 2007 and performed the duties of the Leading Chief Petty Officer at USCG Air Station Cape Cod. In 2011, I attained the pay grade of Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9), and was transferred to the USCG Aviation Technical Training Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. I assumed the duties of Command Master Chief. I was responsible for the training and enlisted personnel required to successfully train our men and
women for the duties and responsibilities related to our three Coast Guard Aviation Rates (Jobs). These rates included Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT), Aviation Electrical Technician (AET), and Aviation Survival Technician (AST). All enlisted USCG Aviators are required to work and perform aircrewman duties on their specific fixed wing or rotary wing aircraft. I retired after a little more than 30 years of service on August 1, 2016.

Jason Ross

Jason Ross is a retired Major with the United States Air Force who served on active duty for over 21 years culminating in a 2018 retirement. During the first half of his career, he had roles as an aircraft armament systems specialist, a personal specialist, and a special duty assignment working at an ROTC unit. Jason was commissioned in 2008 and became a psychiatric nurse for the Air Force. Following his clinical time, he took on various leadership roles prior to retirement as the Mental Health Clinic’s Officer in Charge, the Mental Health Flight Commander, and finally as the Medical Group’s Executive Officer.

Currently, Jason is the Northwest Chief Operating Officer for Corewell Health overseeing operations at both Corewell Health Gerber Hospital in Fremont and Corewell Health Ludington Hospital in Ludington. Within his role he has responsibility for advising daily operations across all departments as well as executing the hospital’s long-term goals. Jason and his family currently reside in their hometown of Muskegon and they enjoy all of the outdoor activities that the great state of Michigan provides.

Dawn Ulmen

Dawn Ulmen graduated from White Cloud High School in 1998, obtained her AA degree from Grand Rapids Community College after which she decided to join the active-duty United States Air Force in September 2000. Following completion of basic military training at Lackland AFB, TX, she then started 6 months of technical training at Goodfellow AFB, TX culminating in the successful completion of the Air Force's 1N0X1 Operations Intelligence Air Force Speciality Code (AFSC). Dawn's duty stations included included Mountain Home AFB, ID, Osan AB, South Korea, Barksdale AFB, LA, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC, and ended with her retirement as a Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) in the United States Air Force Reserves in 2020 at Langley AFB, VA.

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Following her successful military career, she continued to serve our great nation as a Contractor working for both the United States Coast Guard and United States Air Force. After moving back to her hometown in 2020, she was hired by the Army National Guard in a Title 5 civilian capacity as a Soldier and Family Readiness Specialist (a.k.a. military equivalent of a caseworker) where she has continued to assist National Guardsmen, Veterans, and Family members in the State of Michigan.

Kenneth E. Humphrey

Col Ken Humphrey is a native of Coldwater, Michigan. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1987 and served as an Infantry Machinegunner (0331) for five years with Co. A, 1 st Bn/ 24 th Marines. During this time, he deployed to Okinawa, Japan and Republic of the Philippines. Col Humphrey commissioned in 1992 upon graduating from Western Michigan University. He began his career as Signals Intelligence Officer (0206) and Expeditionary Ground Reconnaissance Officer (0307) before transitioning to a MAGTF Intelligence Officer (0202). Col Humphrey deployed overseas on ten separate occasions. Units he served with include 2nd Radio Bn, 8th Marines, 1st Force Reconnaissance Co, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), US EUCOM J-2, and NATO. Duty stations include Liberia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, and Romania. Col Humphrey retired in 2022 after 35 years of service. He is married for 29-years to his wife, Amy.

Laura Lamoreaux

My name is Laura Lamoreaux, and my background is a bit different than the others in that I personally did not serve in the military. I do however, have a deep desire and passion to serve others, including veterans, active service members, and kids/families.  It began when my older brother, Patriot Farm founder, Scott Swinehart, joined the USMC right out of high school. I remember having the utmost respect for him and those around him, and it never waivered.  Our family "served" when the local reserve company he was attached to was deployed.  Someone needed to help with Toys for Tots and represent the Marines in parades, and we did just that! Years later, I watched my own son graduate as a Marine and serve his country for four years. I recognize the sacrifices and challenges families go through when a family member serves, and even after, when they become a veteran. It is my passion to help those families see they are not alone and help find ways to support them.

I have always had a heart for helping others, kids in particular, which is why I became an elementary educator.  Some of my best memories involve teaching children about the importance of supporting the military through acts of service. For example, for Veterans Day the students in my class would invite veterans from the community to a special program they presented. It was always very moving, not only for the veterans, but for the students and staff as well. The first year we presented the program, a Vietnam War survivor told me he had never been thanked for his service until that day. I vowed then to continue with the annual program because some things cannot be learned from a textbook. In June of 2023, after teaching third grade for 30 years, I made the difficult decision to retire and find other things to fill my time. I am currently enjoying gardening, walking, biking, and baking. I am honored to be Patriot Farms Event Coordinator, and look forward to meeting new families!   

Christopher Priest

Christopher served in the Navy and Marine Corps for 27 years. He currently works at the Veterans Health Administration for 7 years. Married to Mary Susan Priest for over 35 years with 2 children, Kyle Priest, who served in the Army and owns Gutter Gophers installing and cleaning gutters, and Amanda McKeever, who is married to Mickey, she works for the State of Oregon.