ABOUT US
About Us
Founded by veterans, Washington Veterans Vote is an advocacy organization tax-exempt under IRC section 501(c)(4) doing outreach to veterans to improve voter turnout, as well as, endorsing local, state, and federal political candidates who support veterans and their families, the Constitution as written and amended, and a strong national security.
Our Vision
Our liberty secured.
Mission
To mobilize the voices of Veterans and their families through research, guidance, and collective action.
Affiliated Organizations
Visit our two other affiliated organizations’ websites, Washington Veterans Vote Foundation, a nonprofit, tax exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3), and Washington Veterans Vote PAC, a Federal political organization registered with the FEC and governed by IRC Section 527..
OUR TEAM
Board of Directors
Jerry Hust
Board Chair
Colonel Jerry Hust retired in 2017 after serving 27 years in the US Air Force and 13 years as a member of the Air Force and Army Senior Executive Service. Jerry is a 1977 graduate of the US Air Force Academy and earned master’s degrees from Troy State University and the Air Force’s School of Advanced Airpower Studies. He is a graduate of Air Force Air Command and Staff College, was a Defense Fellow at the Hoover Institution, and attended several national and international security courses at Harvard University and George Washington University. He was a weapon systems officer in the F-111 fighter aircraft flying 31 combat sorties in Desert Storm. Jerry served in staff positions in Germany, Belgium, and the Pentagon, and commanded three bases—Honduras, Lajes, and Singapore. Jerry believes preserving our Constitution and founding principles and values will ensure America’s best is yet to come.
Fred Duffy
Board Member
Fred is a retired live entertainment professional. His career spans 40 years with The Walt Disney Company Theme Parks including Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disneyland Resort, Euro Disney Resort and Disney Cruise Line. His responsibilities included live entertainment, costuming and theme park operations. He led teams in the development, production, and operation of stage shows, parades, spectaculars, large-scale special events, and grand openings.
Jim Brooks
Board Member
James Brooks is a 1977 Graduate of the USAF Academy, and now retired pilot. He served the Air Force at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where he flew C-141s throughout the world. His second assignment was transporting VIPs in the European Theater as an Instructor Pilot. After his AF career, James worked for 35 years for Alaska Airlines, of which 29 years was as a Captain flying Boeing aircraft. He is a Deacon in a Christian Church, leads Bible Studies and Mentors in Christian drug-rehab ministry. James has lived most of his life in Washington State and feels strongly about the decline of conservative values in this state. As a Veteran and Christian leader, he supports Washington Veterans Vote and their goal of raising awareness of Veterans’ Issues and advocating for Veterans to exercise their duty to vote.
Leadership Team
Jerry Hust
CEO
Jerry Hust is the Chief Executive Officer for Washington Veterans Vote, a veterans-based advocacy group oriented on encouraging veterans to understand and use their collective political voice. Prior to his present position, Jerry was a member of the US Army’s Senior Executive Service holding the position of Director of Policy and Plans, US Mission to NATO, Brussels Belgium. During his 27 years in the Air Force Jerry was a combat aviator in the F111 fighter aircraft flying 31 combat missions in Desert Storm. He served in staff positions at Air Forces European Command, the Pentagon, and European Unified Command. He also commanded three Air Force bases in Honduras, Lajes, and Singapore. Jerry joined the Air Force’s Senior Executive Service in 2004 as the Director of Air Force International Training and Education and then as Director of International Policy. Jerry earned master’s degrees from Troy State University and the Air Force’s School of Advanced Airpower Studies. He was a distinguished graduate of Air Force Air Command and Staff College, a defense fellow at the Hoover Institution (Stanford University) and attended numerous national and international security courses at Harvard University and George Washington University.
Vacant
Vice Chair
This position is currently vacant.
Vacant
Treasurer
Vacant
Secretary
Cheryl Waller
Communications Director
Cheryl Waller served in the Air Force, from 1973 – 1981, as a Personal Affairs Specialist, Postal Clerk and Public Affairs Specialist. Her last military assignment was as the Editor in Chief of 15th Air Force command base newspapers. After her Air Force service, Cheryl worked for TRW Space & Missile Defense Systems at Norton AFB, CA, where she was responsible for ensuring all briefings and schedules were ready for viewing for the Peacekeeper Ballistic Missile Program, Small Missile Program, and the short-lived Rail Garrison Missile Program. Cheryl moved to Lompoc, CA to work for Spaceport Systems International on the project to turn the old SLC6 Space Shuttle Launch Facility at Vandenberg AFB into a commercial spaceport for polar orbit launches. After the company changed hands, Cheryl was hired as the Chief Professional Officer for the United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County in California, a 501(c)(3) organization. She held that position for 7 years until she retired from corporate life and started living her dream as a B&B owner in Uniontown, WA. While there she also served as Post Commander for the American Legion Post 214. She is a Life Member of the Air Force Association, a 501(c)(19), where she served as a National Director, Far West Region Vice President, covering Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, and Nevada. Cheryl has a mission statement of her own, “The world has changed so much since my second retirement that it is time to get involved again!” She lives in Clarkston with her longtime partner Rick Johnson.
Tom Jarms
Field Operations Director
Tom Jarms is a 1983 graduate of Eastern Washington University and it’s US Army ROTC program. Tom served four years on active duty with duty stations at Fort Huachuca, AZ, Korea, and Fort Lewis WA. In 1990 Tom and Charlene married and started working at his parents hardware store in Cheney Washington. In 1999 they bought the hardware store from his parents. In 2013 they bought a new building and moved the hardware store across the street. They have enjoyed significant business success and support from the community.