The District of Columbia Psychological Association Presents: 

DCPA Military Psychology Conference 

Friday, April 27, 2018 

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 

Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Washington, DC 

901 15th St NW, Washington DC, 20005

6 Hours Continuing Education Provided for Psychologists 

 Cost: $75 for members, $85 nonmembers, $10 students, free for active duty

**Registration for this event is currently full.  Please email 

amber@reisman-white.com if you would like to be placed on a waitlist. **

Lunch and Reception Sponsored by: 

This workshop is designed for Mental Health Professionals interested in learning more about military psychology and providing psychological services to members of the military (both active duty and veterans). Workshop participants will acquire knowledge in topics related to neuropsychology, women, resilience, suicide, PTSD in the military as well as transitioning into jobs out of the military to include the DC licensure process. They will also learn about the prevalence of PTSD, Depression, TBI, and other psychological issues among veterans. An introduction of military psychology will be provided by Dr. Jerry Krueger to start the conference.

 “Military Suicide Prevention and the Assessment and Treatment of Suicidal Risk" Dr. David Jobes, PhD

Attendees will receive an overview of the problem of suicide in the military, examples of clinical assessment of suicidal risk with service members and examples of clinical treatments of suicidal risk with service members.

"Neuropsychology in the Military" CAPT Carrie Kennedy, PhD

Participants will be able to identify the unique challenges and requirements associated with neuropsychological conditions in military members.

 “Resilience in the Military Community” Paul Bartone, PhD, COL John Via, MAJ Karl Unbrasas, PhD

Attendees will be able to identify various strategies for building and maintaining resilience in grief peer supporters. Additionally, attendees will be able to define general and unit (team) resilience and understand potential unit (team) resilience phases and both individual and team resilience factors. They will learn performance optimization approaches for leaders and operational personnel that may enhance their resilience. They will also learn how decreased resilience leads to forensic issues.

“A Functional Approach to Conceptualizing Cases of PTSD with Comorbid Problems” Dr. Dave Riggs

Participants will be able to identify different PTSD co-morbid conditions and treatment.

 “Working with Service Members Who Are Transitioning to the Civilian Work Force” Nathan Ainspan, PhD, Tony Jiminez, PhD, CAPT Carrie Kennedy, COL John Via, Lt Col Cordry

Attendees will be able describe important concepts of the military culture, recommend resources for the military members/family transitioning from the military and steps to get licensed as a psychologist in DC.

"Charting the course: challenges and success stories for women in the military” CDR Arlene Saitzyk, PhD, Jessica Gallus, PhD, Allison Abbe, PhD, LTC Ingrid Lim, PhD, Maj Catherine Ware, 1Lt Hannah Martinez.

Attendees will learn about current challenges and accomplishments of Military women.

Lunch is Included. Reception to follow at 5:00pm.

Conference Program Chair:  

COL (Ret) Stephen V. Bowles, Ph.D., ABPP, is currently serving as a Visiting Research Fellow in the Institute for National Security Studies at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. and as an Adjunct Faculty at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. He currently serves as President Elect for the Society for Military Psychology and the American Psychology Association Council of Representatives for the District of Columbia Psychology.  He served 27 years in the U. S. Army, is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and is a graduate and Fellow of The Eisenhower School at the National Defense University. He is a Distinguished Practitioner and Fellow of the National Academy of Practice in Psychology, a Fellow in the American Psychological Association (DIV 19) and Board Certified in Clinical Health Psychology.

About the Speaker(s): 

Allison Abbe is a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses, where she conducts research and analyses on military and civilian personnel issues. She previously held positions in intelligence and defense organizations, including in the Chief Human Capital Office of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. As a government employee, she also worked as a research psychologist for the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group and the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. Her research has focused on military training and education and the development of leadership, interpersonal, and intercultural skills in national security personnel. Prior to entering the government, Dr. Abbe was a Visiting Assistant Professor at the George Washington University. She holds a PhD in Social and Personality Psychology from the University of California, Riverside.

Nathan D. Ainspan, Ph.D., is the Research Psychologist with the Transition to Veterans Program Office (TVPO) of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Dr. Ainspan's role is to ensure that DoD’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is based on the latest best practices in behavioral/psychological science.   Throughout his research career, he has also written, taught, and spoken about the psychological issues impacting wounded and transitioning Service members. His research focus has been on improving civilian employment opportunities for transitioning Service members and the psychosocial benefits that employment can have on wounded warriors and injured veterans and people with disabilities. He has edited the following books: The Oxford Handbook of Psychosocial Interventions for Veterans, When the Warrior Returns: Making the Transition at Home, and Returning Wars Wounded, Injured, and Ill:  A Handbook.  He is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and an APA Fellow of Divisions 18 (Psychologists in the Public Service) and 19 (Military Psychology).  Dr. Ainspan was recently awarded the Spirit of Service award by DoD for his work with military-to-civilian transitions, veteran employment, and wounded warriors.

Colonel (Retired) Paul T. Bartone, Ph.D. is Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies, Center for Technology & National Security Policy, National Defense University.  A Fulbright Scholar (Norway, 2006-07), Bartone has taught strategic leadership at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, and at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, where he also served as Director of the West Point Leader Development Research Center.  Trained as an interdisciplinary research psychologist at the University of Chicago, he is a seasoned expert in applying psychological, social, cultural, and biological perspectives to the understanding of human behavior.  Bartone’s research has focused on understanding and measuring resilient or “hardy” responding to stress, identifying underlying biomarkers for resilience, and applying this knowledge to improve selection, training and leader development programs. A U.S. Army Research Psychologist for 25 years, Bartone also served as the Consultant to the Surgeon General for Research Psychology, and as the Assistant Corps Chief for Medical Allied Sciences.  He is a past-President of the American Psychological Association’s Division 19, Society for Military Psychology, a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, and a charter member of the Association for Psychological Science. He holds a U.S. government Secret security clearance.

Lieutenant Colonel David D. Cordry serves as the Deputy Training Director, Psychology Residency Program, Joint Base Andrews.  Additionally, he is the element chief of the Mental Health Clinic, overseeing delivery of over 12,000 mental health encounters per year, and ensuring trusted mental health care for 20,000 beneficiaries in the national capital region. Lt Col Cordry entered the Air Force in 2000 as a psychology resident at Andrews AFB.  He completed an AFIT sponsored post-doctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at the University of Iowa in 2009.  Lt Col Cordry’s previous military duties have included Director of Clinical services at the United States Disciplinary Barracks, Director of the Air Force’s only Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic, and Director of Psychological Health at Keesler AFB. Prior to his current position, the Lt Col Cordry was the Mental Health Flight Commander for Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. Lt Col Cordry deployed to Iraq in 2005.  He deployed in support of OEF/OIF to Al Udied in 2007.  He deployed to Afghanistan as the commander of the Behavioral Science Consultation Team in 2012.

Dr. Jessica Gallus is the Deputy Director of the Air Force’s Integrated Resilience Office, Headquarters U.S. Air Force (Pentagon), Washington, D.C.  She serves as principal assistant to the Director of U.S. Air Force Integrated Resilience and is responsible for ensuring the development of policies and evidence-based programs that address Airmen resilience and violence prevention and response (i.e., suicide, domestic violence, sexual harassment/assault, workplace violence, and child maltreatment). Prior to her current position, Dr. Gallus was the Research Program Manager for the U.S. Army Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program where she was responsible for advising senior leaders on strategic prevention initiatives and overseeing all SHARP-related research. Before SHARP, Dr. Gallus was a Fellow with the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Strategic Studies Group where she led research on the non-cognitive capabilities (e.g., trust, resilience, and professionalism) needed for effective individual and team performance.  She started her Army career at the U.S. Army Research Institute (ARI), where she developed and managed research programs on unit resilience and cross-cultural competence with a focus on the capabilities needed for high performance in Joint, Interagency, and Multinational contexts. Before entering public service, Dr. Gallus was a senior consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, supporting Department of Defense clients with various talent management initiatives to include human capital strategic planning and succession management for the senior executive workforce.  She also worked as an internal consultant in PepsiCo’s Organization and Management Development group, where she supported the Vice President of Talent Management in performance management and organizational health efforts.  

David A. Jobes, Ph.D., ABPP, is a Professor of Psychology, Director of the Suicide Prevention Laboratory, and Associate Director of Clinical Training at The Catholic University of America. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.  He has published six books and numerous peer-reviewed journal articles.  Dr. Jobes is a past President of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) and he is the recipient of various awards for his scientific  work including the 1995 AAS “Shneidman Award” (early career contribution to suicidology), the 2012 AAS “Dublin Award” (for career contributions in suicidology), and the 2016 AAS “Linehan Award” (for suicide treatment research).  He has been a consultant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Defense, and Veterans Affairs.   Dr. Jobes is member of the Scientific Council and the Public Policy Council of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).  He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and is Board certified in clinical psychology (American Board of Professional Psychology).  Dr. Jobes maintains a private clinical, consulting, and forensic practice in Washington DC.

CAPT Carrie Kennedy has a PhD from Drexel University and completed her neuropsychology fellowship at the University of Virginia. During her Navy career, she has been stationed at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth; National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda; U.S. Naval Hospital, Okinawa; Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Pensacola; Marine Corps Embassy Security Group, Quantico; Naval Branch Health Clinic, Bahrain, and has deployed to Cuba and Afghanistan. She currently serves as the Division Chief of DoD's Psychological Health Center of Excellence and is responsible for the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based psychological health practices across the Military Health System. 

Gerald P. Krueger, Ph.D., CPE (COL, US Army retired) served 25 years on Army active duty (1969-94).  As a Medical Service Corps research psychologist, he conducted or directed numerous lab and field experiments examining soldier performance in stressful work environments.  He specialized in studies of sustained solider performance, fatigue, and sleep hygiene; and he was widely acknowledged for his work in human factors engineering assessments of new, high-technology weapon systems. For the past 25 years, he has served as a human factors psychology consultant for numerous federal agencies; and he has served on a myriad of boards and committees examining human performance during stressful work situations.  He continues to publish works in military psychology, transportation operator health, wellness, fitness, and performance.     

1LT Hannah R. Martinez is a third-year clinical psychology doctoral student at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS).  She graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and commissioned into the U.S. Army from the UCLA ROTC program. 1LT Martinez has completed externships at the Adult Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic, the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic, and the Inpatient TBI Ward at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.  She currently externs at the National Intrepid Center for Excellence and the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group. 1LT Martinez is currently conducting research with the Suicide “CPR Initiative” which is focused on military suicide prevention.  Her dissertation research examines the relationship between individual and dyadic factors present in romantic relationships that increase suicide risk. 1LT Martinez is a participating member of the American Psychological Association Division 19, Military Psychology, the Association for Psychological Science, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, the American Association of Suicidology, and the Psi Chi Honor Society - USUHS Chapter.

David Riggs, Ph.D., is Professor and Chair, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology (MPS) at the Hérbert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland and also serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP). As Professor and Chair of MPS, Dr. Riggs leads the Ph.D. program to train active duty psychologists for the military services as well as civilian clinical psychologists who train as scientist-practitioners to deliver outstanding patient care and contribute to clinically-relevant science in psychology. As Executive Director of the CDP, Dr. Riggs oversees the development and delivery of training seminars for behavioral health professionals to prepare them to provide for the needs of warriors and their families. Dr. Riggs earned his doctorate at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and completed a clinical psychology internship at the Medical University of South Carolina. Prior to taking the position to lead CDP, Dr. Riggs held clinical research positions at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania and the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at the Boston Veterans Administration Medical Center. As a clinical and research psychologist, much of Dr. Riggs’ work has focused on trauma, violence and anxiety with a particular interest in the impact of PTSD and other anxiety disorders on the families of those directly affected. He has trained and supervised numerous student and mental health professionals from the United States and other countries in techniques for treating PTSD, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and other anxiety disorders. This included training professionals in ways to address the emotional and psychological needs of survivors of combat, international terror, natural disasters, and sexual and physical assault. Dr. Riggs has published more than 80 articles and book chapters and presented more than 250 papers and workshops on topics including PTSD, domestic violence, and behavioral therapy.

CDR Arlene Saitzyk, Ph.D. currently serves as Department Head, Behavioral Science, and Group Psychologist, Marine Corps Embassy Security Group (MCESG), in Quantico, VA.  In this role, she provides critical guidance on all matters involving personnel behavioral health and counterintelligence vulnerabilities to regional commanders for 2000+ Marines posted at embassies and consulates dispersed across six continents.  Prior to arriving at MCESG, CDR Saitzyk served as the Assistant Officer in Charge at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute (NAMI), in Pensacola, FL, where she led 90 Aeromedical Officers, enlisted Aerospace Medicine Technicians, and civilian support staff, evaluated aviation personnel for psychiatric conditions and flight status, and trained Flight Surgeons and Aerospace Medicine Residents being groomed for leadership assignments as aircraft carrier Senior Medical Officers, Marine Expeditionary Forces surgeons, and Army Brigade surgeons.  During her time at NAMI, she also served as the Subspecialty Leader for Aircraft Carrier Psychology.  CDR Saitzyk has additional tours as the carrier psychologist on the USS Nimitz (CVN-68), Assistant Department Head, Educational and Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS), Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan, Mental Health Clinic Manager, Naval Branch Health Clinic Bahrain, Senior Clinical Manager, Naval Medical Center San Diego, and Staff Psychologist, Naval Hospital Naples, Italy.  CDR Saitzyk is an active leader not only with the Navy Clinical Psychology community, serving as the Assistant Specialty Leader, but also in arenas that impact Department of Defense, other governmental agencies, and the nation’s mental health community.  She has led groups of senior multiservice military and veteran’s affairs psychologists, authoring three chapters on various aspects of military psychology.  She was elected Member at Large for Division 19, Society of Military Psychology, selected as the 2016 Aerospace Human Factors Psychologist of the Year, and voted by her peers as the 2015 Senior Navy Clinical Psychologist of the Year.  Her awards include: Meritorious Service Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy Achievement Medal, Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer (SWMDO), and she was winged as an Aerospace Experimental Psychologist (AEP). CDR Saitzyk completed her undergraduate degree at Cornell University, doctorate at Michigan State University, internship at the University of New Mexico Children's Psychiatric Hospital, and postdoctoral fellowship training in Pediatric Psychology at the Children's Health Council, in Palo Alto, CA. 

Dr. Karl Umbrasas, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist and forensic psychology fellow on active duty at Walter Reed’s Center for Forensic Behavioral Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.  Dr. Umbrasas has a Psy.D. in clinical psychology from Argosy University in Schaumburg, Illinois, and an M.S. in clinical psychopharmacology from Fairleigh Dickinson University.  He completed his predoctoral internship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2010 and his postdoctoral residency at Walter Reed in 2011.  He completed additional training in aeromedical psychology and combat stress control during his postdoctoral residency.  Dr. Umbrasas served as the brigade psychologist for the 4^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (4IBCT) (which reflagged to 2IBCT in 2015) at Fort Stewart, Georgia from January 2012 to June 2016.  In 2013, he deployed to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Shank in Afghanistan with 4^th brigade, and among other awards, received the Bronze Star Medal.   From June 2016 to June 2017, he served as program manager for the Trauma Resolution Intensive Outpatient Program (TRIOP), program manager for tele-behavioral health, and team lead for the 2^nd Embedded Behavioral Health team at Winn Army Community Hospital, Fort Stewart, Georgia.  Dr. Umbrasas became the forensic psychology fellow in July 2017.  

Colonel John Via is National Defense University’s Command Psychologist and an Assistant Professor teaching Strategic Leadership at the Eisenhower School.  He also serves as the Psychology Consultant to the Army Surgeon General, responsible for recruiting, training, assigning, and deploying 260 Army psychologists.  Colonel Via earned his doctorate from Florida Tech.   His other degrees include a Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University, Masters of Science from Georgia College and State University, and Masters of Strategic Studies from the US Army War College.Colonel Via spent 10 years assigned to Special Mission Units where he focused on assessment and selection for high-demand positions, training programs, performance enhancement, and support to intelligence operations.  His other notable assignments include the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Strategic Studies Group, directing the Army Surgeon General’s Commander’s Action Group, and serving as the US Army Medical Command’s Director of Communications.  Colonel Via has also been an instructor at the US Army War College and at the US Army Medical Department Center and School.  He has the very good fortune to be the husband of a Scottish-born LPGA teaching professional, with whom he has two amazing daughters.

Major Catherine M. Ware is a Licensed Clinical Psychological serving as Director of Psychological Health at JB Andrews, MD. As Director of Psychological Health, she consults with installation leadership and helping agencies on initiatives & policies involving psychological health & resilience. In her clinical psychology role, she performs psychological assessment and treatment including acute care services for the National Capital Region. She is also a faculty member for the JB Andrews psychology residency program. Her previous assignment was as a Clinical Psychology Resident at Wright-Patterson AFB Medical Center. Major Ware was commissioned in 1997 upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in Astronautical Engineering. Her career spans two very different career fields and includes time in both the active duty and reserve components. Following graduation from the academy and commissioning, she worked for a short time on a small satellite test program, and then attended pilot training and mission qualification for the MC-130P aircraft. She served for 10 years as a pilot and in other flying-related roles before separating from active duty and joining the AF Reserve in 2007. She spent the next 5 years serving as an Admissions Liaison Officer representing AF commissioning programs to local high schools in California, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. She completed the Clinical Psychology doctoral program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Aug 2017 and obtained licensure as a Clinical Psychologist in Dec 2017.

Register Today at www.dcpsychology.org!

"The District of Columbia Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The District of Columbia Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content."

 There is no corporate support/payment for this workshop.

DCPA Event Cancellation Policy

The DC Psychological Association is unable to provide refunds for events. However, we do allow up to one year to make up a CE session that may have been missed.