Our Team

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Brad Price

President and Chief Executive Officer

Brad Price joined LMSG in 2022 and serves as their first President and CEO. He oversees day-to-day operations as LMSG's key management leader. He collaborates with the Board on strategic planning and implementation of LMSG's programs and initiatives and also focuses on fundraising, marketing, and community outreach. Brad brings leadership experience from corporate and non-profit settings.

Brad joined the Texas Army National Guard in 2004 and served until 2011. He deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in 2005 and was attached to the Strategic Counter-Intelligence Directorate. Brad was assigned to the 136th Regional Training Institute as a Cavalry Scout Instructor following deployment, where he separated as a staff sergeant.

Brad has a MS in Family Life Education from Concordia University Wisconsin, and a BS in Theological Studies from Martin Luther College. He is married to Laura and has two sons, Ben and Will.

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Heather Rovey

Board Chair

Heather Rovey joined LMSG as a Board Director in 2017 and served as the Board Secretary from 2018 – 2021. She now serves as Chairwoman of the Board.  She also served as President of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) Chicago Area Circuit from 2017-2018 and helped plan the 2016 LWMS Convention. Heather served full-time active duty in the Navy Medical Service Corps for 21 years before her retirement at the rank of Commander in November 2021.

Some of Heather’s most rewarding experiences in the Navy include chairing the Navy Pharmacy Advisory Board, a body charged with optimizing and standardizing pharmacy services across the Navy, participating in Pacific Partnership, a Navy humanitarian mission in the South Pacific, and deploying with Fleet Hospital 8 to Rota, Spain at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Heather is a pharmacist. She currently works in managed care as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist for Mayo Clinic and Alluma. Heather has a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Wisconsin and a MS in Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy from the University of Florida. She is married to Jonathan, who currently serves in the Arizona Army National Guard.

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Dwight Johnson

Vice-Chair

Dwight Johnson joined LMSG in 2019 as a Board Director and is currently serving as the Vice-Chairman of the Board. Dwight is a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel, where he was a squadron commander three times and a division chief twice. 

Dwight served as a Services Squadron Commander, which is the CEO of a Resort on an Air Force Base.  He was responsible for Lodging, Food, Child Care, Youth Center, Fitness Center, Library, Mortuary, and many more activities. Due to his experience, he was chosen to be the Department Head of Services at the Air Force Institute of Technology. He also served in civilian life as the Director of Arnold Hall Student Center for the US Air Force Academy. Dwight has written a three-act one-man play about Martin Luther and performs that play for a freewill offering that goes to LMSG.

Dwight has a PhD in Business Administration from Warren National University, with a concentration in Ethics.  He earned a Master of Human Resources Development from Webster University. Dwight and Debbie have been married for over 43 years and have three children and 7 grandchildren.

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Luke Hendricks

Secretary

Lucas (Luke) Hendricks joined LMSG as a Board Director in 2015 and served as the Board Secretary in 2022. Luke is currently serving full-time with the Army National Guard as an US Army Training and Doctrine Command Liaison Noncommissioned Officer at Fort Jackson, SC.

Luke is a senior religious affairs noncommissioned officer and previously was assigned to the National Guard Bureau Joint Chaplain’s Office, Arlington, VA. Luke deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom as a religious affairs specialist with the 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division “Red Bulls” (Minnesota Army National Guard) and served in Iraq from March 2006 until July 2007.  Luke recently graduated with honors from the Army’s Master Leader Course (NCOA).

Luke is a 2008 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, MN, earning a Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication and Religious Studies (minor). Luke is married to the former Regina Langhorst, of Kettle River, MN, and together they have three children. Luke comes from an Army family:  his father is a retired Sergeant Major and his brother currently serves as a warrant officer in the US Army Reserves.

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Dan Butler

Treasurer

Dan Butler joined LMSG as a Board Director in 2018 and currently serves as the Treasurer. Dan served eight years in the United States Marine Corps. He is excited to be involved in helping active duty, veterans, and their families learn about LMSG.  

Dan has worked as the Information Systems Director for Grand Traverse Pavilions for over 20 years. Dan holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Information Systems. Dan has acquired several Microsoft and Ubiquiti certifications over the years. He is currently pursuing a Chief Information Security Officer certification (CISO) in a never-ending battle to protect information systems technology. Outside of the office, he is very involved in his church, serving on the Church Council, in various roles and currently as Head Elder. In addition, Dan is always willing to lend a hand to friends and family. 

Dan has been married to his lovely wife for over 20 years. They have three kids, a daughter and twin boys, who are very active in high school sports and band programs.  Dan is active with his kid's school functions including coaching sports both at their schools as well as through the YMCA and TBAYS program. Dan and his family enjoy camping and spending time together at the lake. He also enjoys an occasional round of golf to relax.

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Pastor Roger Emmons

Board Director

Roger Emmons joined LMSG in 2022 and serves as an ELS minister on the board. He came to the board as a 29-year Army retiree; he brings a mission mindset and his administrative skills as an infantry First Sergeant to the board. As a recently ordained minister (in 2021) Roger serves the board as a spiritual counselor. Outside the board, he works with various Central Oregon Veteran groups.

While in the Army, Roger served in various assignments in both the National Guard and on active duty. He served as a drill sergeant and military observer/trainer during his tenure. Roger also worked in the operations and planning center for an armor battalion. Throughout his time, he was sent on various deployments to Egypt, Japan, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan; he served in multiple roles in administration and training.

Being in the Army allowed Roger to get his college degree. He received his Associate of Arts Degree from Winona State University and Bachelor of Applied Science for Human Resources from Troy State University. Then he completed his Seminary Certification from Martin Luther College and his Master of Divinity from Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary in Mankato, Minnesota. 

Roger’s wife is Tammi, and they have raised five children and nine grandchildren, who they enjoy traveling around the world to see. Two of his children serve or have served in the Army, and his youngest daughter is now married into the Air Force (she is a dependent). Roger is often accompanied by his PTS service dog, Seuss, and he looks for opportunities to train the public about the function of service dogs.

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Tom Kroon

Board Director

Tom Kroon joined LMSG in 2015, served as the Vice President from 2018 to 2020, and is currently serving as a Board Director. Tom served in the Army From Dec 1965 To Dec 1967 and spent 13 months in Vietnam.  Tom was a sergeant and served as a helicopter gunner flying along the Cambodian border. 

Tom had a full career working for major airlines as a Flight Operations Manager; first for Trans World Airlines (TWA) from 1968 to 2000, followed by American Airlines until his well-deserved retirement in 2010. Tom is very active in military and veteran organizations, including the Army Reserve Family Readiness Group Program and the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Tom received a business degree from Penn State University and an Operational Aviation Certificate for international flights from TWA. He was married to Linda for 49 years before she went home to heaven. Tom has three children, nine grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

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Carlo Piraino

Board Director

Dr. Carlo A. Piraino was a founding member of LMSG in 2015 and currently serves as the Board Secretary. Carlo served in the United States Navy from 1981 to 1998. 

Carlo was a Hospital Corpsman and served overseas in combat in Beirut, Lebanon. He later served as a Nurse Corps Officer in Naval Air Station, Lemoore, California and Naval Station Pearl Harbor as the Division Officer of the Naval Medical Clinics.

In 2013 after returning to school for the 4th time, Carlo completed a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from George Washington University. His Doctoral research was completed on a veteran’s perception of a co-veteran’s death. He has presented professionally in both the United States and the Middle East on various subjects.  His expertise in the care of patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries and/or Post Traumatic Stress has allowed him to assist many veterans during his career

Carlo has over 34 years experience as a RN, including over 20 years in senior Nursing Leadership positions around the world.  He currently works overseas in Kuwait in a private hospital. In his spare time, Carlo is an avid photographer and travels the globe in search of his next photography experience. He has traveled to 74 countries to date with a goal of 100.

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John Stedman

Board Director; President Emeritus

Stedman is an original “plankholder” for LMSG and his home congregation - Trinity Lutheran, Woodbridge, VA was the first congregation to join LMSG.  While serving as President, Stedman conceived and instituted the “Ammo Can” fund raising program for LMSG.

John served with the United States Marine Corps from 1967 until 1972, serving one combat tour in Vietnam as a Combat Air crewman door gunner with HML-167 & VMO-2 Huey gunships.  Upon return to the states, John was assigned to HMX-1 the President's helicopter squadron in Quantico, VA.

John and LaVonne have 3 grown daughters and 4 grandchildren. The Stedmans own and operate Commission Express National and reside in Woodbridge, VA.

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Connect with Us

EMAIL: info@lutheranmilitary.org
MAILING ADDRESS:
PO Box 483 New Ulm, MN 56073