AFF Board of Directors

Ready to answer your questions and to serve the Veterans of Arkansas. Contact them below for speaking engagements or presentations.
Chairman Board of Directors
Chairman of the Board
Pat Mulligan

Contact Pat at 501-690-4827
Co-Chairman of the Board
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Tim Sawyer USN Veteran. Tim has experience as jet engine mechanic and a plane captain on the MH-53E helicopter. A Bachelors of Science Degree from Central Baptist College in Conway Arkansas in Leadership and ministry. I also have an associate’s Degree from Pulaski Tech with my major in computer information systems and a minor in Drafting and Design. Tim is also the AFF Information Officer contact him at 501-580-5572 
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​Tiffany Burns from Cabot AR is a US Army Veteran. She was in the Arkansas National Guard assigned and deployed with the 39th Infantry. She brings organization to the group as the new Secretary.

Contact Tiffany at  479-234-2577 
Chief Financial Officer CFO/Treasurer  ​

Chris Diaz , a Sheridan Native, is a Commercial Loan Officer for First Security Bank. He is at the Benton Main branch off of West Carpenter St. He graduated from the University of Central
Arkansas in 2014 with a Bachelor of Business Administration, with an emphasis in Innovation
and Entrepreneurship.
While attending UCA Chris showed great leadership skills. He served on the executive committee for his fraternity, as well as stayed involved with other student clubs on campus. In 2013 Chris was the Captain for First Security Banks Conway Market Relay for Life team. He now currently serves as treasurer for the Saline County Young Professional Network, Vice President for Leadership Saline County, an active board member for the Saline County Kiwanis Club, and now the treasure for the Arkansas Freedom Fund. Chris and his wife Kim will be married two years in May. They have a boxer-lab mixed named Lilly, and an English Springer Spaniel named Charlie. They attend New Life Church in Saline County and Saline County is where they call home. Chris Diaz joined the bank in 2011 while attending the University of Central Arkansas. Following many roles with the bank and graduating college Chris went on full time with First Security as a Commercial Loan Officer.
Member - Tim Sawyer USN Veteran. Working Now at Dassault Falcon Jet Tim has experience as jet engine mechanic and a plane captain on the MH-53E helicopter. A Bachelors of Science Degree from Central Baptist College in Conway Arkansas in Leadership and ministry. I also have an associate’s Degree from Pulaski Tech with my major in computer information systems and a minor in Drafting and Design. Tim is also the AFF Information Officer contact him at 501-580-5572
Member - Terry Dewitt - USAR Ret A professor and chair of the Kinesiology & Leisure Studies department Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He currently serves on the Athletic Training Licensing Board and is a past president of the Arkansas Athletic Trainers’ Association. Dr. DeWitt received his PhD is in Kinesiology from the University of Arkansas in 2003. His research focus is on injury prevention and concussion management (baseline testing). Terry served in the Army Reserve for 32-years before retiring in 2017 at the rank of Colonel. He has two combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2004-2005; 2010-2011). He is an Exercise Physiologist with the ACSM and is a BOC ® certified athletic trainer. He is the founder of the Armed Forces Athletic Trainers’ Society.
Member - Pat Mulligan
Member - Bobby Matlock US Army

Bobby served in the US Army for 3 years during the Vietnam war.  He spent 18 month in Vietnam with the 82nd Airborne, 5/42nd and 2/35th Artillery.  Bobby is very passionate about the AFF.  His hobbies are hunting and fishing.  Bobby enjoys working with Veterans.
Member - Heather Brown resides in Benton, AR with her husband of 12 years, Eric Brown. They have 2 daughters, Abigail (10) and Teagan (4). Heather and her family attend New Life Church of Saline County.
She grew up surrounded by a rich family history of military service from her grandparents to her father.
She is employed at Supreme Fixture Co, Inc., of Little Rock, AR; where she has dedicated 15+ years of service, taking on multiple roles within the organization.
Heather is invested in her career but more importantly she is invested in her family. Three years ago, she became an advocate for her veteran father which lead her to take a more active role in volunteering to help veterans just like him.
When shes not working, volunteering or fighting for change for dad, she can be found at the softball fields cheering for her oldest daughters tournament team, Searcy Swat and attempting to keep up with her youngest daughters wild imagination.
In what little spare time Heather has she enjoys cooking, working out and spending time with her extremely large family.
She loves taking challenges head on, which has earned her the nickname "war machine" amongst her coworkers and she is honored to use her tenacity and dedication to serve the A.F.F organization
Member - Jerome Mitchell US Army

​Co Founder and Board Member Emeritus
Mark Leonard - US Air Force Veteran with Security Police and a C-130 Loadmaster background. Mark has participated in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, Operation ​Deep Freeze Mid Winter Airdrop over Antarctica, Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Has worked with the Wounded Warrior Project in support of Rides in Little Rock, Memphis and Nashville from 2005-2009. He is also a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Mark was a founding member of the Arkansas Freedom Fund and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors from its inception till 2015.
Our reorganization in Oct of 2015 Mark stepped down from the board to take the AFF on a new direction of service to Arkansas Veterans. Mark passed the reigns to Rae in Oct of 2019. But continues to work on the website.

Here is a good article on Mark and the AFF from the Dem Gaz Nov 19, 2017.

Co Founder and Board Member Emeritus
​Don Kennedy - Col USAR Retired.
Don is a Veteran of Operation Desert Storm, Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Has worked with the Wounded Warrior Project in support of Rides in Little Rock, Memphis and Nashville since 2005.Don was a founding father of the AFF and has been a guiding force for the organization. Don served as Vice Chair from our inception until the reorganization of 2015, when Don became the Chairman of our Board of Directors. Don stepped down from the board Dec 2019 but still continues to be a member and helps out when he can.