Shawn VanDiver
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Shawn VanDiver | |
|---|---|
| Born | Springfield, IL |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | U.S. Navy |
| Rank | Petty Officer First Class (E-6) |
Shawn VanDiver (Born 1983) is an American businessman and activist based in San Diego, CA.
He is the founder and President of the non-profit #AfghanEvac, which helps ensure organizations working to help Afghan allies relocate and resettle following the withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces from Afghanistan in August 2021.[1]
On June 12, 2023 he and U.S. Secretary of State signed a Memorandum of Understanding related to the public-private partnership between #AfghanEvac and the U.S. government[2]. During the event, Secretary Blinken described VanDiver as “kinetic” and “tenacious”, noting that his forceful advocacy had resulted in the most impactful public-private partnership he had ever encountered during his service in government.[3]
Early Life and Education
Mr. VanDiver grew up in Bakersfield, California and attended Bakersfield High School. He joined the Navy in February 2001 at age 17 and served until May 2013.[1] He holds both a GED and a High School Diploma, having attended twice the Grizzly Youth Academy, a National Guard operated program for troubled youth.[4]
While serving in the Navy, he attended Coastline Community College, earning an Associates of Science in Electronics Technology. San Diego’s National University completing both a Bachelors of Science in Domestic Security Management and a Masters of Science in Homeland Security and Safety Engineering[4].
He holds several civilian certifications, including Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Project Management Professional (PMP), and others.
Civic Engagement and Political Activism
Following his Navy career, Mr. VanDiver founded and led the San Diego Chapter of the Truman National Security Project.[1][5] He has written myriad opinion pieces for outlets such as the San Diego Union Tribune[6], the Guardian[7], USA Today[8], and more.
He has participated in or led several advocacy efforts related to national security, veterans, and local government.During the 2016 Mickey Kasparian Sexual Assault Scandal in San Diego, he was the first prominent Democrat to call on Kasparian to step down and is often credited among those responsible for his ouster.[9]
In 2017, he started and operated "Bunny PAC" in an effort to highlight the various political missteps and campaign finance crimes of Representative Duncan D. Hunter.[2]
In 2021, he was appointed by the San Diego city council to serve on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Convention Center.[10][11]
In August 2022, President Biden called him to thank him for his work on AfghanEvac.[12] Several months later (in 2023), he and many volunteers across the AfghanEvac coalition constellation of organizations were honored at the White House for their work.[13] Mr. VanDiver gave remarks at the event, alongside National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough.[12]
Personal Life
Mr. VanDiver is married with two children, Daphne (Born 2020) and Ryan (Born 2008).
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Dyer, Andrew (2022-10-10). "He found his activist voice in the Navy. Now this San Diego veteran is being courted by Washington". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 AFP, Mandel Ngan-pool, Pool (2023-06-12). "Blinken US Afghanistan". Leader-Telegram. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Blinken, Antony (June 12, 2023). "At a Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony with the #AfghanEvac Coalition". State Department Website. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 Passons, Omar (2019-09-23). "Someone San Diego Should Know: Shawn VanDiver". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ↑ "The Daily Aztec - SDSU instructor embarks on San Diego national security project". United States Congressman Scott Peters. 2015-03-09. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ↑ "Shawn VanDiver - The San Diego Union-Tribune". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ↑ VanDiver, Shawn J. (2016-08-10). "Donald Trump doesn't speak for us 'second amendment people'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ↑ VanDiver, Shawn. "Navy vet on Vegas shooting: We need gun laws that make us as safe as our military". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ↑ Bush, Marcus (2017-05-15). "10 San Diego Progressives Who Brought Down Mickey Kasparian". San Diego Free Press. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
- ↑ "Council President Campbell Congratulates Shawn VanDiver | Councilmember Jennifer Campbell (District 2) | City of San Diego Official Website". www.sandiego.gov. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ↑ "Board of Directors". San Diego Convention Center. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Acevedo, Laura (2022-08-30). "President Biden reaches out to San Diego-based #AfghanEvac Coalition". ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Kheel, Rebecca (2023-03-03). "Veterans and Others Who Helped in Afghanistan Evacuation Honored at White House". Military.com. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
External links
This article "Shawn VanDiver" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.