STAFF EXPERTS & ADVOCATES
Post Date: January 1, 2018
MISSION
Paralyzed Veterans of America is the only Congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated solely for the benefit and representation of veterans with spinal cord injury or disease. Learn more about Our Mission.
You can find our experts in the nation’s capital, in the field, and across the country, providing services, research and resources to catastrophically disabled veterans, their caregivers, and their families.
Each staff member’s expertise is noted below. You can download individual expert pages by selecting the person’s name.
General Counsel
Linda Blahut
Deputy General Counsel
Veterans Law • Veterans Benefits • U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims • Paralyzed Veterans of America Corporate Governance • Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation • Paralyzed Veterans of America Education Foundation
Government Relations
Heather Ansley
Acting Associate Executive Director
Veterans Health Care • Veterans Service Organizations • Veterans Benefits • The Independent Budget • Federal Budget • Congressional Relations • Disability Civil Rights
Veterans Benefits
Peter Gaytan
Associate Executive Director
Veterans Benefits • Veterans Budget Appropriations • Gulf War Illness • Veterans Homeless Issues
Joseph Badzmierowski
Director of Field Services
Advocacy
Lee Page
Senior Associate Director
ADA Compliance • Transportation Accessibility • Long-Term Care in Medicare/Medicaid • Voting Accessibility
Susan Prokop
Senior Associate Director
Social Security • Fair Housing • Housing Accessibility • State Workforce Development • State Vocational Rehabilitation • Disability Work Incentives
Medical Services
Peter Gaytan
Interim Associate Executive Director
Veterans Benefits • Veterans Budget Appropriations Gulf War Illness • Veterans Homeless Issues
Accessibility
Mark Lichter
Architecture Program • Director of Architecture & Facilities
Accessibility • Design & Construction • ADA Compliance
Adaptive Sports and Recreation
Fabio Villarroel
Director, Sports and Recreation
Adaptive Sports and Recreation • Emergency Medical Procedures •
Spinal Cord Injury • Multiple Sclerosis (MS) • Traumatic Brain Injury
Appellate Services
Jim Fischl
Senior Appellate Services Operations Manager
Veterans Benefits • Veterans Services • Regulatory Compliance
Employment
Prosthetics
Fred Downs, Jr.
Prosthetics Consultant
Prosthetics • Sensory Aids • Spinal Cord Injury • Vietnam War • Veterans Affairs Material Management • Orthotics • POW/MIA Affairs • Veteran Affairs Data Management • Medical/Surgical Standardization
Vocational Rehabilitation
Lauren Lobrano
PAVE Director
Vocational Rehabilitation Assessments and Realistic Plan Development • Job Placement Services • Accomodations Assistance • Ergonomic Evaluations / Referrals • Post – Employment Support
