CEO Steve Schwab Selects Top Leader from GAO to become the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's First Chief Operating Officer

Preparing for a transformative phase of growth, the nation’s leading nonprofit for military caregivers and their families hires Elizabeth Field and other strategic leaders for the critical year ahead.Washington, DC (January 25, 2024)— The Elizabeth Dole Foundation (EDF) is pleased to announce several strategic hires as it embarks on an exciting new year of both pending legislation and landmark research.

Elizabeth Field will join the Elizabeth Dole Foundation in February and serve as its first Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Field most recently served as a Senior Executive Director in the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) Defense Capabilities and Management Team, where she led a broad body of work related to military quality-of-life issues, as well as defense management and reform. A recognized expert on the Department of Defense, she has testified several times before Congress, and her work has been featured by various news outlets, including National Public Radio, CNN, and The New York Times. “Elizabeth is one of those rare leaders that national nonprofits only dream of getting,” said Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “Her depth of strategic and operational experience, in both military and diplomatic arenas, solidifies the Foundation’s unique position as the national voice for military caregivers and their families. Her selection comes at a critical time as we prepare to release a second major landmark study we commissioned by RAND that will lay the groundwork for a new and transformative phase of growth for the Foundation in the years ahead. This will be critical to expanding support for military caregivers, their veterans, and families and having someone with Elizabeth’s expertise will enable us to maximize our impact.” Before joining GAO in September 2017, Ms. Field was Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights. During her tenure at the Department of State, Ms. Field created and managed a new planning unit within the undersecretariat to advance the capacity of bureaus and offices to make data-informed decisions, and effectively assess and demonstrate impact.

In addition to Ms. Field, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation has also selected Mimi Carter to become the first Vice President of Communications & Marketing. Ms. Carter, who has led the communications and marketing offices of several national nonprofits including the Epilepsy Foundation of America and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and College of Art + Design, was most recently the SVP and U.S. General Manager for Proof Strategies, a global public relations and communications agency located in Toronto.

The Foundation rounds off the leadership team with the promotion of Pavel Sullivan to Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration. Mr. Sullivan has been with the Foundation since 2015, and alongside the CEO and Senator Elizabeth Dole, has overseen tremendous organizational and revenue growth. About the Elizabeth Dole Foundation The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the pre-eminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation’s 5.5 million military caregivers — the spouses, parents, family members, and friends — who care for America’s wounded, ill or injured service members and veterans at home. Founded by Dole in 2012, the Foundation adopts a comprehensive approach in its support and advocacy, working with leaders in the public, private, nonprofit and faith communities to recognize military caregivers’ service and promote their well-being. The Foundation’s Hidden Heroes program brings vital attention to the untold stories of military caregivers and provides a network for military caregivers to connect with their peers and access resources. Visit www.ElizabethDoleFoundation.org for more information.

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