HPRC Team

Dr. Alaina Hansom is HPRC’s social fitness scientist and subject-matter expert for interpersonal relationships, family communication, relational health, and military families. Alaina translates research to create and deliver evidence-based educational resources on topics that relate to relationships and the workplace.

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Arizona State University
• Master of Arts (MA), San Diego State University
• Bachelor of Arts (BA), Miami University

Published articles include:

• Complementary Support from Facilitators and Peers for Promoting mHealth Engagement and Weight Loss
• Face Threats and Additional Reasons for Perceiving Support as Unwanted: A Study of Recently Diagnosed Cancer Patients
• Nonsupport Versus Varying Levels of Person-Centered Emotional Support: A Study of Women with Breast Cancer
• Social Fitness and the Social Domain: A Holistic Approach Based on Total Force Fitness

Andrea Lindsey is the Director of Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS) and Director of Performance Nutrition for CHAMP. Ms. Lindsey oversees all dietary supplement and Nutrition content for CHAMP. A Nutrition Information Specialist, she has extensive experience in the fields of dietary supplements and nutrition. She has considerable knowledge regarding the content, safety, labeling, and marketing of dietary supplement products. Her vast experience in evidence-based content for educational products highlights the Nutrition element of Total Force Fitness.

Education:

• Master of Science (MS) in Nutrition, University of Maryland
• Bachelor of Arts (BA), Simmons University

Relevant accomplishments:

• Presented at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic’s annual conference, FNCE, 2021 for “Issues and Concerns Surrounding Dietary Supplements”
• Member, Collegiate & Professional Sports Dietitians Association
• Member, American Society for Nutrition

Published articles include:

• Essential features of third-party certification programs for dietary supplements: A consensus statement
• The 10 Commandments of nutrition: 2014

Ayanna Shivers is the CHAMP Director of Strategic Communications. Ms. Shivers develops strategic-communication plans and supports internal and external engagement efforts for CHAMP. She has an extensive academic background in health behavior and social psychology. She is experienced in social-media management and strategy, e-mail and event marketing, multimedia production and coordination, user feedback, and digital analytics. A certified focus group moderator, she has conducted focus groups on topics ranging from dietary supplements to sleep.

Education:

• Master of Public Health (MPH), University of Alabama at Birmingham
• Bachelor of Science (BS), Jackson State University

Relevant accomplishments:

• Focus Group Moderator Certificate, RIVA Institute
• Social Media Management for Government Certificate, TH!nk Big
• Federal Communicators Network
• Social Marketing Association of North America

Ben Seims is a subject matter expert in health and human performance. He has more than 20 years of experience in health care, including coaching and education with a focus on tactical performance and resiliency. He was in the Army National Guard for 25 years; 10 years as an infantryman and 15 years in the Nurse Corps. Ben was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His last position was as Holistic Health and Fitness H2F Education Director and Military Health and Performance Optimization Integrator for the National Guard’s Professional Education Center.

Education:

• Master of Science (MS), Sports and Health Sciences with a concentration in Human Performance, American Military University
• Graduate Certificate, Tactical Performance and Resiliency, The Citadel
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Western Governors University
• ADN(RN) degree, Wenatchee Valley College

Certificates and Credentials:

• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
• Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F)
• Certified Personal Trainer

Accomplishments:

• U.S. Army National Guard 1999–2024

Dr. Camila Almeida is HPRC’s mental and social fitness team lead. She is deeply committed to translating evidence-based information into educational resources and providing Service Members with accurate, up-to-date, and relevant content. As a subject matter expert on sleep, Camila has created articles, infographics, guides, worksheets, workbooks, and more—to help Service Members optimize their sleep readiness and manage operational fatigue. Her greatest professional reward is to know that her dedication contributes to enhancing the health, wellness, and performance of Service Members.

Education: 

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University
• Master of Science (MS) in Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biomedicine, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Accomplishments:

• "Sleep Leader Guides: Tools to Optimize Sleep and Manage Fatigue" presenter at the 2024 Georgia Southern University Human Performance Optimization Summit.
•  "Sleep Leader Guides: Tools to Optimize Sleep in the Military” presenter at the 2024 H2F Symposium Sleep Readiness breakout session.
• Sleep Readiness curriculum creator for 2022–23 Military Human Performance Optimization–Integrator (MHPO-I) course and 2024 U.S. Coast Guard Resilience Coordinator and Unit Education (ResCUE) course.

Published articles:

• Sleep Management: Fight Fatigue
• Lead with Better Sleep

Carol Stockton edits educational materials for HPRC and research publications for CHAMP. Carol has more than 40 years of experience as an editor, technical editor, copy editor, and author for professional journals, books, monographs, and other publications. Her editing skills are supported by her professional experience in the fields of anthropology, archeology, architecture, and gemology.

Education: 

• Master of Architecture (MArch), California State Polytechnic Institute, Pomona
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Anthropology, UCLA

Accomplishments:

• Technical editor, Gems & Gemology (professional international gemological journal)
• Editorial assistant, Journal of Gemmology (professional international gemological journal)
• Copy editor, American Book Publishing
• Gold Circle Awards (5 years) in editing for Gems & Gemology

Christiane Minnick is the Senior Graphic Designer for CHAMP. She is a communication arts professional with more than 25 years of experience in print and digital graphic design, corporate identity, marketing, and advertising. Ms. Minnick has been responsible for the visual identity and impact of HPRC and OPSS since their beginnings. She also ensures that all graphic materials comply with 508 requirements for accessibility.

Education:

• Master of Acupuncture (MAc), Maryland University of Integrative Health
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Virginia Commonwealth University

Dr. Dan Abroms is HPRC’s mental fitness scientist. He’s responsible for translating mental fitness-related research and theory into culturally appropriate, evidence-based educational resources and training programs. Dan’s expertise includes sport psychology, mental performance, and leadership development. As a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), he has a passion for assisting individuals and organizations in their pursuit of excellence and meeting their full potential.

Education: 

• Doctor of Education (EdD) in Interdisciplinary Leadership, Creighton University
• Master of Science (MS) in Exercise & Sport Sciences, Ithaca College
• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology, Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Accomplishments:

• Member of the Mental Skills Team in support of player development for the 2018 World Series Champions Boston Red Sox baseball organization.  
• Worked on the U.S. Army Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness’s Master Resilience Training program, teaching resilience skills to Service Members. 
• Worked on the U.S. Army Combat Lifesaver Performance Enhancement Demonstration Project (2011), examining the effects of performance psychology training on indicators of psychological health and performance on Army-relevant medical tasks. Influenced the development and delivery of interventions. 

Research and presentations include:

• “Lived Experiences of Psychological Safety: A Phenomenological Study of Interdisciplinary Work Teams for Sports Programs at a NCAA Division I University” (doctoral dissertation, Creighton University, 2021).
• “Sharpening Your Skills: The Power of Debate in Professional Development,” panelist,  Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) Annual Conference: Orlando, FL, October 2023.
• “Acing Army Schools: Integrating Performance Enhancement Training & Academic Performance Training with an Army Infantry Unit,” poster presentation, AASP Annual Conference: Orlando, FL, October 2017.
• “An Integration of Performance Enhancement & Resilience Skills with an All-Army Combatives Team,” workshop presentation, AASP Annual Conference: Las Vegas, NV, 2014.
• “A Mental Skills Model for Injury Recovery: Helping Soldiers Transition from Injury to Possibility,” workshop presentation, AASP Annual Conference: Salt Lake City, Utah, October 2009.

Dr. Gabriel Paoletti is the Mental Fitness Scientist for CHAMP. Dr. Paoletti is a subject-matter expert in mental skills, positive and performance psychology, resilience, and leadership. He translates basic and clinical research to create culturally appropriate, evidence-based, impactful educational resources and training programs, specializing in positive and performance psychology curriculum development and leadership training. For the past 15 years, Dr. Paoletti has created and led more than 300 distinct positive-psychology and leadership-development programs for audiences worldwide.

Education:

• Doctor of Educational Leadership (EdD), Creighton University
• Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP), University of Pennsylvania
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics and Philosophy, Saint Joseph University

Relevant accomplishments:

• New Investigator Research Presentation Award at the International Positive Psychology Association's 5th World Congress.
• Worked for the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center on the U.S. Army Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness’s Master Resilience Training Program. Trained leaders to teach mental and social fitness skills to Service Members.
• Worked with Wharton’s Executive Education program to conduct a Happiness & Positivity Program for the Private Sector in Dubai for the United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Happiness.
• Awarded General Cornum’s Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Coin for outstanding performance and dedication to our country, 2011. 

Geoffrey Harpster is a U.S. Army Infantry Veteran and an expert in human performance. As CHAMP’s senior advisor for Human Performance Optimization (HPO), he is committed to advancing the well-being and operational readiness of Service Members through evidence-based performance strategies. Geoffrey’s expertise includes optimizing tactical athlete performance, injury prevention, load carriage efficiency, and data-driven human performance integration. His career spans multiple combat and diplomatic deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Education:

• Master of Science (MS), Sports and Health Sciences, concentration in Exercise Science and Human Performance, American Military University
• Bachelor of Science (BS), Sports and Health Sciences, American Military University
• Associate of Science (AS), Accounting, American Military University

Credentials and Certifications:

• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)

Accomplishments:

• Strength & conditioning coach for the 18th Airborne Corps
• H2F program director at Tactical Athlete Performance Center

Gia Torpey is the Editing Team Lead and supervisor for the CHAMP Education editorial team. She edits, rewrites, and proofreads articles, graphics, social media and blog posts, and other multimedia content for the HPRC and HPRC Blog websites. Ms. Torpey also provides editorial support for evidence-based articles, technical program documents, marketing materials, newsletters, reports, and multimedia content for HPRC campaigns and other CHAMP projects. She collaborates with scientists, education specialists, and subject-matter experts to develop educational content that delivers evidence-based information in plain language for Service Members.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Maryland

Ginnefine Jalloh leverages the power of social media to educate and empower audiences at CHAMP and Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS). As the dedicated social media specialist for OPSS, she curates and disseminates content about dietary supplements, performance-enhancing substances (PES), and related areas, to promote informed decision-making in target communities.

 Education:

• Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Publishing, The George Washington University
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Graphic Design, Marymount University

   Accomplishments:

• Award winner, GD USA—American Graphic Design Awards consecutive award winner 2011-2023
• Member, American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)
• Member, Graphic Artist Guild