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Society for Military Psychology Officer Elections |
Voting in 2020 Division Elections is now open!
The Division 19 Elections Committee encourages all those who are eligible to vote. It is important to participate in selecting our leaders and shaping the future of our Society.
What offices are being elected? President-elect and one Member-at-Large are being elected.
Who are the candidates? We have a highly qualified slate of candidates, and their candidate statements may be reviewed below. A townhall with the Presidential candidates can be found here or at the bottom of this page.
The Division 19 Elections Committee encourages all those who are eligible to vote. It is important to participate in selecting our leaders and shaping the future of our Society.
What offices are being elected? President-elect and one Member-at-Large are being elected.
Who are the candidates? We have a highly qualified slate of candidates, and their candidate statements may be reviewed below. A townhall with the Presidential candidates can be found here or at the bottom of this page.
Who can vote? Fellows, members, and associates of the Division as well as dues-paying affiliates (professional, international, student) can vote for President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Member-at-Large. Only APA fellows, members, and associates can vote for APA Council of Representatives.
How long is voting? Voting opens 29 April and closes 12 June. We will be sending reminder messages.
Voting. APA runs the elections process. You should receive an email from APA as voting opens with voting instructions. If you do not receive an email and you believe you should have, please contact a member of the Elections Committee or APA Elections Director, Garnett Coad (gcoad@apa.org).
Division 19 Elections Committee:
Maurice Sipos, Chair, President-elect
Paul Bartone, Member-at-Large
Bruce Crow, Member-at-Large
Scott Johnston, Member-at-Large
===================================================================================================================================================
President-Elect Candidate Statement: Dr. Tatana Olson
I am honored to be nominated to serve as President-Elect of the Society for Military Psychology. Throughout my 16-year career as an Aerospace Experimental Psychologist in the United States Navy, I have had the privilege to work with a diverse community of military psychologists – clinicians, researchers, academics, and advisors – all united by a common mission and the philosophy of service above self. I have seen the tremendous value the members of this Society bring as advocates of service members, veterans, and their families. I have also personally experienced how the policies and programs that impact these populations benefit greatly from empirical research and data, whether it is suicide prevention, personnel selection, veteran transition to the civilian world, or the repeal of the law known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” for which I was one of only two uniformed military psychologists who advised Department of Defense leadership. As a proud member of Division 19, I recently completed a Member-at-Large term, during which I played a critical role in the development of the Division’s strategic plan and revision of our by-laws, advocated for strengthening relationships with other APA divisions, served as a mentor in the Society Leadership Program, and served as the Chair for the Personnel Assessment and Selection Think Tank.
Our Society has benefited from extraordinary leadership over the years and it is on the shoulders of these giants that I would continue to build. My strategic vision is for Division 19 to be recognized as the premiere organization for military psychologists, regardless of individual specialties, where our members feel valued and supported, have opportunities for growth and development, and actively advance the science and evidence-based practice of psychology in the military to enhance the health, well-being, and performance of the populations we serve.
If elected, I would like to focus on three primary initiatives. First, I would like to continue to promote and advocate for military psychology within the broader APA and strengthen our relationships with other Divisions, particularly those with common values and goals, because we are truly stronger together. This includes expanding representation on APA committees, working groups, and task forces to advocate for Division 19 interests. Second, I would like to expand the diversity of specialties represented in our membership in order to recognize the contributions of all military psychologists and leverage this wealth of expertise and experience to better inform policy and support the needs of service members, veterans, and their families. Finally, I would like to continue to explore new ways to promote mentoring and professional development initiatives for our members, especially our student and early career psychologist members. It is our obligation to help them develop as leaders, provide them with opportunities to shape the future of the Society, and ensure their voices and ideas are heard.
I am asking for your vote for President-Elect because I believe in our mission and the value of our members, and I believe I have the ability, experience, and dedication to lead this organization into the future.
President-Elect Candidate Statement: Dr. Joseph E. Troiani,
My interest in becoming President of the division is driven by my passion for the military and veterans which led me to develop the Military Psychology Emphasis in the Psy.D. Program 10 years ago and five years ago the Online M.A. in Military Psychology. I am currently serving as the Founding Director of Military Psychology at Adler University. Along with my experience as a retired Navy Commander (prior enlisted) and my work in the Veterans Administration Hospital along with the management of Behavioral Health Programs, I believe that I can contribute to the profession and specialization in Military Psychology.
Other experience that I bring to the table is that since 2003 I have served on the Executive Committee and Council of the Illinois Psychological Association including the Presidency in 2016/17 which has given me the skill set to function in a leadership role within the association and division.
These are the challenges that I see facing the division going forward?
Member-at-Large Candidate Statement: Dr. Emily A. Grieser
Thank you for considering me as a candidate for the office of Member-at-Large for Division 19. I have been honored to serve as an Air Force Psychologist since 2009; I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Health Psychology in 2014, and am currently serving as an Operational Psychologist within a Special Tactics Squadron. Throughout my career, I have enjoyed opportunities to collaborate with research teams (investigating the realms of sleep, chronic pain, behavior modification, and trauma within military populations), consult to organizational leadership on matters of mental health and morale, and take an interdisciplinary team-focused approach to optimizing the human weapon system. Currently I serve as the President of the Society for Air Force Psychologists, a position in which I find great pleasure through connecting military psychologists with each other, our professional community, and the mission as a whole.
As a Member-at-Large, I would serve as a spokesperson for Division 19 members, and clearly communicate their wants, needs, and interests to the Executive Committee and the President of Division 19. I believe that my strong commitment to the value of partnership and teamwork, paired with experience advocating for behavioral science with leadership and relationship-building with other disciplines, prepares me to enthusiastically support this Division’s members and advocate for their priorities.
Member-at-Large Candidate Statement: Dr. Tim Hoyt
As you read through candidate statements, you may be asking, “What is a member-at-large?” Although they do not have assigned duties when first elected, the member-at-large positions serve on the EXCOM for three years to provide specific expertise as projects arise. The Division 19 president and EXCOM assign specific tasks to the members-at-large based on the fluctuating needs of the Division. Need an expert on military telehealth? There’s a member-at-large for that! Need an expert on how to improve military leader training? There’s a member-at-large for that! Need someone to analyze the utilization metrics from the Division website? There’s a member-at-large for that!
It was an honor to be nominated as a potential member-at-large. I bring to the EXCOM over decade of experience as a clinician and researcher, including time as an active duty behavioral health officer and a DoD civilian psychologist. In these roles, I have served as an outpatient clinic chief, director of an intensive outpatient program, director of the National Center for Telehealth & Technology (T2), and as the senior medical officer for a Brigade Combat Team. I have had several opportunities to help Division 19 with this expertise, including as a student mentor, conference abstract reviewer, strategic objective champion, and editorial board member for the division newsletter.
I’m happy to join the EXCOM as part of the coalition of the willing who are volunteering their time in addition to already hectic schedules. Whether or not you vote for me, be sure that you vote!!
Member-at-Large Candidate Statement: Dr. Joseph Lyons
Hello Division 19, my name is Joseph Lyons and I’m running for the office of Member-at-Large. As the former Editor for Division 19’s publication, The Military Psychologist, and my role as Associate Editor for the journal Military Psychology I have witnessed the breadth of topics within Division 19 and the dedication of its members – you are all awesome! I would like to take my service to this community to the next level and you can help me do that with your vote. As a bit of background about me, I’ve been a research psychologist for the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB for 15 years and I was a member of the Air National Guard for 8 years. From a research standpoint, I think the military offers the best and most challenging domains for research – but these domains are also the most rewarding. My research interests have included topics such as leadership, trust in autonomy, stress, and organizational effectiveness/change. Some of my prior research has been published in outlets such as Leadership Quarterly, Human Factors, Military Psychology, Personality and Individual Differences, Behavioral Research Methods, Journal of Research in Personality, and the Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making. From a military perspective, I have experience working with fighter pilots, intelligence analysts, command centers, logistics professionals, and a number of other military personnel. Recently, I also had the privilege of serving as a grants officer in Washington DC for the Air Force Office of Scientific Research where I got to interact with some of the top social science academics in the world. I learned early on as an Eagle Scout that the value of service is contingent upon capable people raising their hand in support of a mission larger than themselves. As a Member-at-Large, I would serve to meet the needs of the Executive Committee and the President of Division 19, and I would strive to be an advocate for the Division 19 members. To have the greatest impact as a Member-at-Large I would seek to be engaged with the Division 19 membership and its leadership; be informed of current policies, issues, and organizational data to guide my decision making; and actively participate with appropriate stakeholder groups to anchor Division 19 priorities into action. My experience as the Editor for Division 19’s publication, my prior experiences within the Air Force Research Laboratory and collaborations with other service partners, and my prior experiences within the Air National Guard have provided me with a solid foundation from which to continue my support of Division 19. Please help me take the next step to support Division 19. Thank you!
Member-at-Large Candidate Statement: Dr. Michelle Kelley
It is an honor to be invited to serve as Division 19 Member at Large. I have been a member of APA since 1988 and a member of Division 19 for many years. I have been fortunate to have made a number of friends and collaborators through Division 19. Over the past five years, I have been member—then chair—then member of the Division 19 Membership Committee. I was the person who sent you letters thanking you for your membership and encouraging you to invite your colleagues and students to join. And a few of you probably remember may gentle nagging to pay your dues when your membership had lapsed (please don’t hold that against me!). And some of you may remember me as I was part of last year’s Strategic Objective 1, in which, among other things, our team lead the first annual membership drive. I also supported our past president, Stephen Bowles, in developing a List of Leaders which was very helpful to reaching new members. I am happy to say these efforts were fruitful. Membership has steadily increased.
I also had the good fortune to be able to assist two of last year’s Student Leaders, Josh Camins and Jourdin Navarro, with their membership surveys/projects. I am currently, the Division 19 Moral Injury Think Tank Chair. In my day job, I am Professor, Chair of the Department of Psychology, and Eminent Scholar at Old Dominion University. Although I lead a large department, I am also a self-admitted research junkie. Currently my work focuses mainly on moral injury and treatment for moral injury. In summary, I consider Division 19, my tribe. I also would like to think that on good days, I adhere to what Winston Churchill said: “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give”. If elected, I would be delighted to support Division 19 and leadership in any way I can. Thank you for considering me.
How long is voting? Voting opens 29 April and closes 12 June. We will be sending reminder messages.
Voting. APA runs the elections process. You should receive an email from APA as voting opens with voting instructions. If you do not receive an email and you believe you should have, please contact a member of the Elections Committee or APA Elections Director, Garnett Coad (gcoad@apa.org).
Division 19 Elections Committee:
Maurice Sipos, Chair, President-elect
Paul Bartone, Member-at-Large
Bruce Crow, Member-at-Large
Scott Johnston, Member-at-Large
===================================================================================================================================================
President-Elect Candidate Statement: Dr. Tatana Olson
I am honored to be nominated to serve as President-Elect of the Society for Military Psychology. Throughout my 16-year career as an Aerospace Experimental Psychologist in the United States Navy, I have had the privilege to work with a diverse community of military psychologists – clinicians, researchers, academics, and advisors – all united by a common mission and the philosophy of service above self. I have seen the tremendous value the members of this Society bring as advocates of service members, veterans, and their families. I have also personally experienced how the policies and programs that impact these populations benefit greatly from empirical research and data, whether it is suicide prevention, personnel selection, veteran transition to the civilian world, or the repeal of the law known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” for which I was one of only two uniformed military psychologists who advised Department of Defense leadership. As a proud member of Division 19, I recently completed a Member-at-Large term, during which I played a critical role in the development of the Division’s strategic plan and revision of our by-laws, advocated for strengthening relationships with other APA divisions, served as a mentor in the Society Leadership Program, and served as the Chair for the Personnel Assessment and Selection Think Tank.
Our Society has benefited from extraordinary leadership over the years and it is on the shoulders of these giants that I would continue to build. My strategic vision is for Division 19 to be recognized as the premiere organization for military psychologists, regardless of individual specialties, where our members feel valued and supported, have opportunities for growth and development, and actively advance the science and evidence-based practice of psychology in the military to enhance the health, well-being, and performance of the populations we serve.
If elected, I would like to focus on three primary initiatives. First, I would like to continue to promote and advocate for military psychology within the broader APA and strengthen our relationships with other Divisions, particularly those with common values and goals, because we are truly stronger together. This includes expanding representation on APA committees, working groups, and task forces to advocate for Division 19 interests. Second, I would like to expand the diversity of specialties represented in our membership in order to recognize the contributions of all military psychologists and leverage this wealth of expertise and experience to better inform policy and support the needs of service members, veterans, and their families. Finally, I would like to continue to explore new ways to promote mentoring and professional development initiatives for our members, especially our student and early career psychologist members. It is our obligation to help them develop as leaders, provide them with opportunities to shape the future of the Society, and ensure their voices and ideas are heard.
I am asking for your vote for President-Elect because I believe in our mission and the value of our members, and I believe I have the ability, experience, and dedication to lead this organization into the future.
President-Elect Candidate Statement: Dr. Joseph E. Troiani,
My interest in becoming President of the division is driven by my passion for the military and veterans which led me to develop the Military Psychology Emphasis in the Psy.D. Program 10 years ago and five years ago the Online M.A. in Military Psychology. I am currently serving as the Founding Director of Military Psychology at Adler University. Along with my experience as a retired Navy Commander (prior enlisted) and my work in the Veterans Administration Hospital along with the management of Behavioral Health Programs, I believe that I can contribute to the profession and specialization in Military Psychology.
Other experience that I bring to the table is that since 2003 I have served on the Executive Committee and Council of the Illinois Psychological Association including the Presidency in 2016/17 which has given me the skill set to function in a leadership role within the association and division.
These are the challenges that I see facing the division going forward?
- The division defining who we are and what we do in light of the critical voices within the profession of psychology.
- The promotion of a further understanding of Military Psychology.
- Moving forward to get beyond the Hoffman controversy.
- I believe that the Profession of Psychology has moved beyond the controversy but our critics will continue to use the report to question the profession of military psychology.
- Building off the success of the 2019 Regional Research Symposiums (RSS), continue with and further expand them. Continue to explore the use of the virtual RRS and continuing education programs.
- The “think tanks” (e.g. Moral Injury, Academic, etc.) also hold the promise of engaging the membership of the division and contributing to the visibility of Division 19.
- The development of military psychology courses/curriculum at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level.
- The development of a crisis response group within the division that can immediately respond to such events like the COVID-19 virus or the Hoffman Report.
- Further define military cultural competency for the profession and the field of behavioral health.
- Achieve financial sustainability for the division. This would include the development of additional revenue streams.
- Institutionalize the strategic planning process (five year cycle) on an ongoing basis.
- Increase visibility of the division both within the profession of psychology, the behavioral health professions, and the general public.
- Increased visibility would involve the branding and messaging of military psychology.
- Promote the rich history of the division and its contributions.
- If elected I would make a commitment to travel to Washington, D.C. at my own expense every other month to work and advocate for the division.
Member-at-Large Candidate Statement: Dr. Emily A. Grieser
Thank you for considering me as a candidate for the office of Member-at-Large for Division 19. I have been honored to serve as an Air Force Psychologist since 2009; I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Health Psychology in 2014, and am currently serving as an Operational Psychologist within a Special Tactics Squadron. Throughout my career, I have enjoyed opportunities to collaborate with research teams (investigating the realms of sleep, chronic pain, behavior modification, and trauma within military populations), consult to organizational leadership on matters of mental health and morale, and take an interdisciplinary team-focused approach to optimizing the human weapon system. Currently I serve as the President of the Society for Air Force Psychologists, a position in which I find great pleasure through connecting military psychologists with each other, our professional community, and the mission as a whole.
As a Member-at-Large, I would serve as a spokesperson for Division 19 members, and clearly communicate their wants, needs, and interests to the Executive Committee and the President of Division 19. I believe that my strong commitment to the value of partnership and teamwork, paired with experience advocating for behavioral science with leadership and relationship-building with other disciplines, prepares me to enthusiastically support this Division’s members and advocate for their priorities.
Member-at-Large Candidate Statement: Dr. Tim Hoyt
As you read through candidate statements, you may be asking, “What is a member-at-large?” Although they do not have assigned duties when first elected, the member-at-large positions serve on the EXCOM for three years to provide specific expertise as projects arise. The Division 19 president and EXCOM assign specific tasks to the members-at-large based on the fluctuating needs of the Division. Need an expert on military telehealth? There’s a member-at-large for that! Need an expert on how to improve military leader training? There’s a member-at-large for that! Need someone to analyze the utilization metrics from the Division website? There’s a member-at-large for that!
It was an honor to be nominated as a potential member-at-large. I bring to the EXCOM over decade of experience as a clinician and researcher, including time as an active duty behavioral health officer and a DoD civilian psychologist. In these roles, I have served as an outpatient clinic chief, director of an intensive outpatient program, director of the National Center for Telehealth & Technology (T2), and as the senior medical officer for a Brigade Combat Team. I have had several opportunities to help Division 19 with this expertise, including as a student mentor, conference abstract reviewer, strategic objective champion, and editorial board member for the division newsletter.
I’m happy to join the EXCOM as part of the coalition of the willing who are volunteering their time in addition to already hectic schedules. Whether or not you vote for me, be sure that you vote!!
Member-at-Large Candidate Statement: Dr. Joseph Lyons
Hello Division 19, my name is Joseph Lyons and I’m running for the office of Member-at-Large. As the former Editor for Division 19’s publication, The Military Psychologist, and my role as Associate Editor for the journal Military Psychology I have witnessed the breadth of topics within Division 19 and the dedication of its members – you are all awesome! I would like to take my service to this community to the next level and you can help me do that with your vote. As a bit of background about me, I’ve been a research psychologist for the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB for 15 years and I was a member of the Air National Guard for 8 years. From a research standpoint, I think the military offers the best and most challenging domains for research – but these domains are also the most rewarding. My research interests have included topics such as leadership, trust in autonomy, stress, and organizational effectiveness/change. Some of my prior research has been published in outlets such as Leadership Quarterly, Human Factors, Military Psychology, Personality and Individual Differences, Behavioral Research Methods, Journal of Research in Personality, and the Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making. From a military perspective, I have experience working with fighter pilots, intelligence analysts, command centers, logistics professionals, and a number of other military personnel. Recently, I also had the privilege of serving as a grants officer in Washington DC for the Air Force Office of Scientific Research where I got to interact with some of the top social science academics in the world. I learned early on as an Eagle Scout that the value of service is contingent upon capable people raising their hand in support of a mission larger than themselves. As a Member-at-Large, I would serve to meet the needs of the Executive Committee and the President of Division 19, and I would strive to be an advocate for the Division 19 members. To have the greatest impact as a Member-at-Large I would seek to be engaged with the Division 19 membership and its leadership; be informed of current policies, issues, and organizational data to guide my decision making; and actively participate with appropriate stakeholder groups to anchor Division 19 priorities into action. My experience as the Editor for Division 19’s publication, my prior experiences within the Air Force Research Laboratory and collaborations with other service partners, and my prior experiences within the Air National Guard have provided me with a solid foundation from which to continue my support of Division 19. Please help me take the next step to support Division 19. Thank you!
Member-at-Large Candidate Statement: Dr. Michelle Kelley
It is an honor to be invited to serve as Division 19 Member at Large. I have been a member of APA since 1988 and a member of Division 19 for many years. I have been fortunate to have made a number of friends and collaborators through Division 19. Over the past five years, I have been member—then chair—then member of the Division 19 Membership Committee. I was the person who sent you letters thanking you for your membership and encouraging you to invite your colleagues and students to join. And a few of you probably remember may gentle nagging to pay your dues when your membership had lapsed (please don’t hold that against me!). And some of you may remember me as I was part of last year’s Strategic Objective 1, in which, among other things, our team lead the first annual membership drive. I also supported our past president, Stephen Bowles, in developing a List of Leaders which was very helpful to reaching new members. I am happy to say these efforts were fruitful. Membership has steadily increased.
I also had the good fortune to be able to assist two of last year’s Student Leaders, Josh Camins and Jourdin Navarro, with their membership surveys/projects. I am currently, the Division 19 Moral Injury Think Tank Chair. In my day job, I am Professor, Chair of the Department of Psychology, and Eminent Scholar at Old Dominion University. Although I lead a large department, I am also a self-admitted research junkie. Currently my work focuses mainly on moral injury and treatment for moral injury. In summary, I consider Division 19, my tribe. I also would like to think that on good days, I adhere to what Winston Churchill said: “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give”. If elected, I would be delighted to support Division 19 and leadership in any way I can. Thank you for considering me.
Only Fellows and Members of the Society shall be eligible for nomination or election as Officers of the Society.
ARTICLE V - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
- The Officers of the Society shall be elected by the Fellows, Members, and voting Associates of the Society (see Article II, Section 8), voting by mail or electronic ballot according to the preferential voting system employed by the Association.
- A standing Elections Committee shall consist of the President- Elect (Chairperson) and the three Members-at-Large of the EXCOM.
- Prior to the annual Association meeting, in adherence to the Association’s deadlines, the Elections Committee Chairperson (President-elect) shall send a nominations ballot to the Society membership. The ballot shall provide at least two places for each office to be filled. All nominees must submit a personal statement identifying their interest and willingness to serve the Society in the position of their nomination. The nominations ballots, when returned by the membership, shall be forwarded to the Chairperson (President-elect). The Elections Committee shall tally the votes, and, for each office to be filled, shall select at least two nominees willing to serve if elected. The persons thus nominated must be the two willing nominees standing highest in the balloting for the office. If two willing nominees cannot be found on the basis of the nominating ballot, then one nominee may be selected by the Elections Committee on the basis of standing in balloting or other exceptional qualification for office. The persons will be named in alphabetical order to the Secretary without identification as to source of the nominations. The Committee Chairperson shall then transmit the names of the persons nominated for each office to be filled to the Elections Committee of the Association in accordance with the Association's deadlines for inclusion in the election ballot mailed or electronically sent by the Association in accordance with the provisions of the Association's Bylaws.
- Officers shall assume office on the first day of January of the year after their election; they shall hold office until their successors are elected and installed, normal terms of office notwithstanding.
