Gary L. McWhorter has served his country as a Military Police Officer in the U.S. Army for three years.  Upon his discharge he joined the New Jersey State Police in 1967 and served as a Road Trooper at several stations including the N.J. Turnpike.  He was promoted to Detective and was assigned to the Organized Crime Unit, Major Crime Unit, and the Missing Persons Unit, retiring in 1988.

While serving on the N.J. Turnpike Gary was shot and seriously wounded in 1971.  During his tenure he received the American Federation of Police Legion of Valor, Certificate of Merit (3), Certificate of Commendation (3), and was inducted into the New Jersey Honor Legion.

Upon his retirement Gary opened his own Private Detective Agency, which he operates to date. He is also Director of Security for Conair Corporation in East Windsor, N.J.

Gary met and became friends with John Loosen, the Director of the Wounded Warrior Project in 2008. A bond between the two was formed and after a visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center Gary knew he had to do more, and with the assistance of others Troopers Assisting Troops was formed. Troopers Assisting Troops has grown from two men with an idea to a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting wounded military veterans.

Gary presently resides with his wife, Dotti in central New Jersey, and enjoys playing golf in his spare time.

Drew F. Lieb has been an influential Law Enforcement and Homeland Security executive with more than 33 years of relevant experience. He served in progressively broader roles within the New Jersey State Police for several decades (culminating in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel – Deputy Superintendent Homeland Security Branch). He served as a general Road Duty Trooper as well as a Detective in several Criminal Investigative Units. He served as the Commanding Officer of the Arson Unit as well as the Commander of the Bomb Squad which he co-founded in 1982. He has been involved in several high profile Terrorist Investigations while serving in the State Police and US Navy,  to include the Japanese Red Army (Yu Kikumura) thwarted attack in 1988, the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing and follow on Bridge /Tunnel attack investigation involving the blind sheik,  the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Bombing, the USS COLE attack in 2000, the attack on the MV LIMBURG off the coast of Yemen in 2002, the GOPLATS Iraq oil platform capture, the capture of the Iraqi “Deck of 52” and the Fort Dix Six thwarted attack.

Upon retirement from the State Police, Drew went on to serve with the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness as the Principle Deputy Director, Operations Division  responsible for the command and control of daily operations to coordinate emergency response efforts across all levels of government, law enforcement, emergency management, non-profit organizations, the private sector and other jurisdictions to protect the citizens of New Jersey.  Program areas he directed included: investigations, intelligence, training, outreach/special projects, and the Counterterrorism (CT) watch desk at the New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center.  .

Drew recently retired at the rank of CAPTAIN (O-6) from US Navy Reserve having served as an Intelligence Officer in the Information Dominance Warfare Corps. He served in the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), Atlantic Intelligence Command (AIC), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the Navy Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (NEPLO) units during his reserve career. His last assignment was as the NEPLO to the Pentagon’s Policy Office of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs concentrating on complex catastrophic catastrophes and Department of Defense response protocol. For actions during the Iraqi War, in addition to military decorations, he was awarded the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Agent of the Year Award for Counter-Terrorism as well as being selected and awarded the Department of Defense Counter-Intelligence Officer of the Year for National Security Investigations.

Born in Hoboken, NJ. Drew received a BS Degree in Public Safety Administration from William Paterson University as well as an MA degree in Public Administration also from William Paterson University. He also completed additional post-graduate work at the University of Virginia. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, 180th session, as well as the Naval Post Graduate School, Executive Leaders Program, Cohort ELP 1101.

Joe Sarnecky was born in Elizabeth, NJ. He received a BS Degree in Public Administration from Roger Williams University. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1966 and served a 13 month tour of duty in Vietnam in ’67-’68. Upon discharge from the Marine Corps he applied to the New Jersey State Police and graduated with the 80th Class in February, 1970.

He served in uniform as a General Road Duty Trooper in Troops B, C, D and E and as a Station Commander in Troop A making him one of the few Troopers to be assigned to all five road troops. He was also assigned as a detective to the newly formed Casino Gaming Unit when legalized gambling came to New Jersey and conducted investigation throughout the United States, the Caribbean and the United Kingdom.

Ken and his wife Jane have resided in Wall for the past 40 years and have raised four children, Mark, Melissa, Sean, and Sarah, who are all graduates of Wall High School and various colleges or universities Mark and Melissa own homes in the township and have families of their own. Ken retired from the New Jersey State Police as a Troop Commander4 in the New Jersey State Police the rank of Captain in 2000. He completed undergraduate studies at Rutgers University and graduate studies at John Jay College in Manhattan.

He is a combat veteran of the United States Marine Corps and was a forward observer with an infantry company. He continued his military career with the U.S. Army and retired as the Assistant Division Commander of the 42nd Infantry Division. He is currently an investigator for national security background investigations, state background investigations, a firearms instructor, U.S. Military contractor and licensed private investigator. He serves on many veteran’s committees and is an officer on the state Wounded Warriors Committee.

USAF – 1966-70 Staff Sgt. Crew Chief C-141
Over 25-years of experience in Veterans benefits
Served as National Service Director for The Eastern Paralyzed Veteran’s Association, Senior Benefits Liaison for the Wounded Warrior Project covering the Northeast. Conducted Benefit Seminars around the country and at the Military bases in Germany, Italy and the Landstuhl Regional medical Center (first stop for soldiers wounded in the current conflicts).

Joseph Cannatella is a thirty-one year veteran of the New Jersey State Police where he served as the Troop “B” Commander (North Jersey) until his retirement on January 1st, 2004. He was recruited by the Morris County Prosecutors Office in February 2004 and placed in command of the Office’s Homeland Security Division. In this position he served as the County Counter Terrorism Coordinator for more than four years and actively participated in the development of New Jersey’s Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) from its inception.

He served as the Chairman of the Law Enforcement Subcommittee which was responsible for identifying and implementing regional law enforcement initiatives for the law enforcement agencies in a seven county partnership to comply with NIMS and NRF guidelines. He was instrumental in developing the Memorandum of Understanding for the creation of ten Rapid Deployment Teams that formed a Rapid Deployment Force for the region comprised of nearly one thousand specially trained and equipped police officers. He also served as Acting Chief of Investigations for sixteen months.

The VA has employed Mr. Loosen the Chief of Network 3 Prosthetics since 1975. Mr. Loosen was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Prior to his VA employment John served in Vietnam as an Airborne Infantryman with the 101st Airborne Division in 1967 and 1968. During his Vietnam tour he was wounded resulting in the amputation of his left leg above the knee. As a result of his Vietnam service he was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman Badge.

John is a graduate of St. John’s University, Jamaica NY where he earned Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. He is an alumnus of the Federal College for Healthcare Executives. He began his VA career in 1975 as a Veterans Benefits Counselor at the NY Regional Office. Mr. Loosen joined Prosthetics in 1978 as a Prosthetic Representative and since than has been employed as Chief of Prosthetics at the Bronx and Brooklyn VAs and also in the capacity of Acting Chief, Radiology Service at the NY VA Medical Center in 1990-91. He has been Chief, PSAS NY VAMC since 1988 until he assumed his present role of Chief, Network 3 Prosthetics in 1996.

Joshua Altman grew up in East Brunswick, NJ, and graduated from the University of Vermont and Seton Hall University School of Law.  He is now an attorney with the law firm of Benedict and Altman in New Brunswick , where his practice focuses primarily on criminal defense. As trustee of the Middlesex County Bar Association and President of the New Brunswick Bar Association, he has taken an active role in promoting Troopers Assisting Troops and the Wounded Warriors Project to the local legal community. Joshua also serves on the District VIII Ethics Committee in Middlesex County.