our leadership team
Bren Harris
Chris Tallent
Chris Tallent
President and CEO
Bren is the founder of Walking with Warriors. As both a military child and spouse, she has served on the home front through more than 10 deployments, including Operation Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq. Bren has actively served the community for more than 20 years. She was recognized for outstanding leadership in su
President and CEO
Bren is the founder of Walking with Warriors. As both a military child and spouse, she has served on the home front through more than 10 deployments, including Operation Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq. Bren has actively served the community for more than 20 years. She was recognized for outstanding leadership in support of military families in 2016 by U.S. Army Special Operations Command. She is a graduate of Campbell University. She and her husband Michael have been married 17 years and are the proud parents of five children.
Chris Tallent
Chris Tallent
Chris Tallent
Board Member
Chris is a firefighter and paramedic with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. He is also a member of Florida Task Force 3, a regionally comprised Urban Search and Rescue Team which deploys to affected areas of disaster, most recently following Hurricane Michael. Chris has been a firefigher for 13 years. Prior to his service as
Board Member
Chris is a firefighter and paramedic with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. He is also a member of Florida Task Force 3, a regionally comprised Urban Search and Rescue Team which deploys to affected areas of disaster, most recently following Hurricane Michael. Chris has been a firefigher for 13 years. Prior to his service as a firefighter, he served in the U.S. Army for 8 years, culminating in service with a Special Operations Detachment. His wife Jana has been at his side through it all. They have two children and have been married 20+ years.
Yolanda Gacio
Chris Tallent
Yolanda Gacio
Board Member
Yolanda has worked for over 30 years as a clinical laboratory specialist in cytogenetics. She graduated from the University of South Florida and has certifications from the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Yolanda is an active member of First Baptist Church of Tampa, where she serves in multiple ministries. Yolanda
Board Member
Yolanda has worked for over 30 years as a clinical laboratory specialist in cytogenetics. She graduated from the University of South Florida and has certifications from the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Yolanda is an active member of First Baptist Church of Tampa, where she serves in multiple ministries. Yolanda and her husband Tomas have been married for more than 30 years and have three children. As an immigrant to the United States from Cuba, Yolanda feels a special pride and gratefulness to be a citizen of such an amazing country and is honored to support our military and first responders.
Michael Harris
Michael Harris
Michael Harris
Operations
Michael has served in U.S. Army Special Operations for more than 20 years, including multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, where he earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge. His education includes nonprofit organizational leadership studies at Columbia University and critical incident management at Nova Southeastern University. Michael and his wife Bren have five children.
Dylan Albergo
Michael Harris
Michael Harris
Board Member
Dylan is a structural engineer from Tampa, Florida, with a specilization in bridge design. Appointed by Governor Rick Scott, he also serves as one of 11 members on the Florida Board of Professional Engineers. Dylan is a dedicated supporter of military, first responders, and their families. As a member of the Walking with Wa
Board Member
Dylan is a structural engineer from Tampa, Florida, with a specilization in bridge design. Appointed by Governor Rick Scott, he also serves as one of 11 members on the Florida Board of Professional Engineers. Dylan is a dedicated supporter of military, first responders, and their families. As a member of the Walking with Warriors team, Dylan aims to bridge the gap between service members, the local community and the church. He and his wife Grace are active members of First Baptist Church of Tampa, where they also assist in leading the Young Married core group.
Mike Thompson
Michael Harris
Mike Thompson
Director, Warrior to Warrior Program
Mike served 30+ in law enforcement and elite military units. He first served in the U.S. Navy as an operator with SEAL Team Two. After a call to ministry, he served in the U.S. Army as a Chaplain with 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force), 7th Special Forces Group, and the 82nd Airborne Division. He also served
Director, Warrior to Warrior Program
Mike served 30+ in law enforcement and elite military units. He first served in the U.S. Navy as an operator with SEAL Team Two. After a call to ministry, he served in the U.S. Army as a Chaplain with 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force), 7th Special Forces Group, and the 82nd Airborne Division. He also served for many years as a hospital Chaplain. His education includes a Master's of Divinity from Southwestern Theological Seminary and Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). His counseling experience comes out of hospital and military settings. He and his wife, Debbie have been married for 49 years and half two adult children and two grandchildren.
Richard Rigdon
Richard Rigdon
Richard Rigdon
Board Member
Richard is a Captain/EMT with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue where he also serves as an ordained chaplain specializing in first responders. Throughout his 25 year career, he served 23 years in special operations and was part of Florida Task Force 3. He is also currently a coordinator with the Florida Baptist Convention For C
Board Member
Richard is a Captain/EMT with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue where he also serves as an ordained chaplain specializing in first responders. Throughout his 25 year career, he served 23 years in special operations and was part of Florida Task Force 3. He is also currently a coordinator with the Florida Baptist Convention For Cuba missions. Rich has been with Walking with Warriors since July of 2019. Richard and his wife Ara have been married for 15 years and have 6 wonderful children.
Jason Hope
Richard Rigdon
Richard Rigdon
Director of Operations, Midwest Region
Jason served 22+ years in U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He currently works for a large Department of Defense contracting company, where he leads several Soldier training programs. His education includes a BS in Criminal Justice with a concentration in homeland security. Jason is married to
Director of Operations, Midwest Region
Jason served 22+ years in U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He currently works for a large Department of Defense contracting company, where he leads several Soldier training programs. His education includes a BS in Criminal Justice with a concentration in homeland security. Jason is married to his high school sweetheart, and they live in central Oklahoma.