About Us

Veterans are trained, equipped, battle-tested problem-solvers. They’ve carried out missions most people will never face, and they got them done.

Convergence is a nonprofit that equips Veterans with personalized, innovative mental health tools, training, and resources so they are ready to take on physical and psychological challenges.

We believe no single agency or organization can solve these complex issues alone. That’s where our name, Convergence, comes from. We work as one team with government agencies, businesses, healthcare providers, and other nonprofits, bringing together their resources, expertise, and community connections around each Veteran we serve.

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Backup For America’s Heroes

Mission

To provide personalized, innovative opportunities that give Veterans the tools, training, and resources to overcome physical and psychological challenges. No one carried out a military mission alone, and no Veteran should make the transition home without backup.

Vision

A world where every Veteran has access to all the resources, tools, benefits, and community they deserve. We honor the sacrifices of those who served by equipping them to lead fulfilling, empowered lives and find their footing again in civilian life.

Our Approach

Founded and run by Veterans, First Responders, and their supporters, we learned that healing comes from peer connection and purpose. So we build a team and a mission into what we offer. Working side by side to help others combats isolation and restores self-worth.

Veterans Already Have What It Takes

Those skills don’t stay behind when the uniform comes off; what changes after service is the terrain. That’s why Convergence isn’t here to rescue anyone. We equip Veterans for the new terrain with three things:

Tools

Proven, practical tools for civilian life, from PTSD dive therapy and service animals to at-home wellness practices and family-preparedness guides.
Training

Veterans train alongside fellow Veterans and licensed professionals, learn to identify and respond to PTSD triggers, and put their skills back to work on real-world mission ops.
Resources

One point of contact for mental health professionals, partner organizations, and our Retreat & Wellness Center, so each Veteran can choose what fits and set their own course.

Veteran’s Mental Health Crisis

The Problem
During over two decades of continuous war, starting in 2001, the United States deployed over 2.7 million voluntary service members to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Among those that returned home, an estimated 1/3 or more suffer from PTSD, depression, or other trauma-related conditions. These conditions have significant negative impacts on Veterans’ health and well-being.

According to the 2022 National Suicide Prevention Annual Report by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, from 2001-2020, suicide rates among Veterans have been from 12.1 to 66.2% higher than those of non-Veterans.

The VA’s 2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report shows just how urgent this remains, using 2023 data:
- The Veteran suicide rate was about twice the non-Veteran adult rate in 2023.
- After adjusting for age, Veteran suicide rates were 49.7% higher for men and 103.1% higher for women than for non-Veterans in 2023.
- 61% of Veterans who died by suicide in 2023 had not received VA health care in the prior year.
- Suicide was the second-leading cause of death among Veterans under age 45 in 2023.
- Veterans ages 18–34 had the highest suicide rate of any age group: 47.9 deaths per 100,000 in 2023.
Veteran suicide is a devastating measure of this crisis — the same VA report counted 6,398 Veteran suicide deaths in 2023, or 17.5 a day — but it isn’t the whole picture. A VA mortality study of Post-9/11 Veterans found accidents, not suicide, were the leading cause of death, followed by suicide, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and homicide.

National CDC data shows the toll goes beyond mental health, too: 22.2% of male Veterans ages 25–64 live with two or more chronic conditions (vs. 17.0% of non-Veteran men), rising to two-thirds of male Veterans 65 and older. Women Veterans face a similar gap at every age, and roughly a third of Veterans report a diagnosed arthritis condition — part of the greater burden of chronic pain and disability Veterans carry relative to non-Veterans.

Although the VA has taken steps to improve Veterans’ access to mental healthcare by allowing Veterans to see non-VA mental health professionals, it simply isn’t enough.

A 2018 study from BMC Health Service found that 77.9% of eligible Veterans lived in rural communities, and of these rural Veterans, 70.2% were in areas with a mental healthcare shortage.

These disheartening statistics clearly show that the current resources for treating PTSD, depression, and other mental health issues for Veterans are insufficient.

We MUST put more tools and resources in the hands of our returning service members – resources that don’t rely on the VA or overwhelmed local mental health providers in the rural areas where many Veterans live.
Our Solution

Convergence is an innovative solution that improves the lives of Veterans by providing them with a single point of contact for a multitude of accessible mental health resources and training to tackle the challenges they face every day.

We strengthen Veterans’ mental health through programs centered on the healing power of animals, nature, and mental health professionals.

Donate to the mission to fight the Veteran's Health Crisis

A Veteran in silhouette, reflecting on the mental health challenges faced after service

Our Therapy Resources

Convergence gives Veterans a single point of contact for mental health tools, training, and resources, built on the healing power of people, animals, nature, and purpose. Explore each resource below, or see all of our programs for Veterans.

Peer Counseling & Mental Health Professionals

Licensed mental health professionals who understand military life, plus peer counseling with people who have walked a similar road.

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Our team of partnered mental health professionals takes the guesswork out of finding the right therapy.
We connect Veterans with licensed providers trained in a range of therapeutic modalities, who have experience working with Veterans or (in some cases) are Veterans themselves.
We also offer peer counseling, so Veterans can talk with someone who understands where they have been.
Service & Support Animal Resources

Resources for finding the right service, emotional support, or companion animal, and the organizations that can make a good match.

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A VA study on the benefits of service and emotional support animals found that Veterans’ mental health was improved “from having a companion animal, likely due to the strong human-animal bond which helped the owners to cope more effectively in times of crisis.”
We equip Veterans with the knowledge and resources to find the right animal for their needs. That starts with understanding the difference between a trained service animal and an emotional support or companion animal, then connecting Veterans with reputable organizations that can make an appropriate match.
Convergence also partners with several animal rescues to pair waiting pets with our Veterans.
Therapy Goats & Animal-Assisted Therapy

Quiet time with Boo and Kat, Panama’s first approved therapy goats, at our Retreat & Wellness Center.

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Boo and Kat, Panama’s first two approved therapy goats, are part of our Retreat & Wellness Center in Bocas del Toro. They walk right up to you for a treat or a back scratch and join you for a walk around the property.
There is nothing to say or explain around a goat. They look to you for food, care, companionship, and safety. Once goats get to know and trust you, you are part of the herd.
Animal-assisted therapy is a complementary part of our programs, offered alongside peer counseling and clinical care, not as a replacement for them.
Meet Boo and Kat, our therapy goats
Equine Therapy

Healing time with horses at Mirror Ranch in Newport, Washington where Convergence got its start.

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Training, riding, and spending time with horses has been shown to promote improved mental well-being, particularly among Veterans who take part alongside their partners.
Convergence began offering equine therapy, together with Dialectical Behavior Therapy, at Mirror Ranch in northeastern Washington.
Interested in taking part? Contact us about equine therapy openings and program details.
SCUBA Diving Therapy

Dive therapy aboard M/V Ceaseless Explorer, where controlled breathing, focus, and teamwork become tools for easing PTSD.

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The underwater diving environment is also known to have a positive impact on mental health, particularly among those with PTSD.
In fact, a study by Johns Hopkins reported an astounding 80% reduction in PTSD symptoms in certain groups of Veterans post-dive. The American Institute of Stress has also written about how SCUBA diving can ease PTSD.
Beyond PTSD, national CDC data shows Veterans also carry a greater burden of arthritis, chronic pain, and disability than non-Veterans — physical conditions the low-impact, buoyant diving environment is uniquely suited to ease.
SCUBA therapy for PTSD draws on controlled breathing, focus, sensory immersion, and the camaraderie of diving as a team, and has been shown to lower stress, improve mood, and support emotional regulation.
Convergence provides dive therapy out of our Retreat & Wellness Center in Bocas del Toro, Panama, aboard M/V Ceaseless Explorer, our long-range service vessel.
Ceaseless Explorer is currently in Rio Dulce, Guatemala, at the halfway point of Operation Caribbean Reach, before returning to her home base in Bocas del Toro.
Veteran-Led Mission Ops

Veteran crews running humanitarian aid deliveries and mobile medical clinics for communities in need.

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Veterans are the mission, and Veterans need a mission. Just because your military service has ended does not mean your mission is over.
For many Veterans, continued commitment to service is a key piece of their post-military life. Your life still has purpose. There are people in this world whose lives you have the ability to improve.
Convergence brings Veterans together as a team to serve remote communities, many reachable only by boat. Our Veteran crews run mobile medical missions, provide volunteer EMS and search and rescue staffing, teach CPR and First Aid, deliver much-needed aid, and offer resilience training.
With partners like YWAM Ships and SAR Panama, our crew and a visiting physician once treated more than 84 people in two days.
Our all-Veteran crews find healing of their own along the way. Helping others combats isolation and restores a sense of worth and purpose. We are Veterans backing Veterans and local communities as they stop surviving and start thriving.
See our recent Veteran-led missions
Retreats

Time away to heal: our Retreat & Wellness Center in Panama, retreats aboard our vessel, and Sullivan Lake in Washington.

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Therapeutic retreat programs give Veterans the opportunity to step away from their everyday environment into a new space where accelerated growth and healing are possible.
That is why we are building our Retreat & Wellness Center in Bocas del Toro, Panama, on the Caribbean coast. Once it opens, eligible Veterans will receive stays and treatments at low to no cost, including PTSD dive therapy, integrative therapies, and peer support.
The center is under construction now. Its future guest stays, along with generous donors, will fund those programs so they do not depend on donations alone.
In the meantime, M/V Ceaseless Explorer doubles as a mobile therapy center, hosting PTSD healing retreats and R&R retreats for Veteran couples.
In the United States, our partnership with the U.S. Forest Service lets us host Veteran retreats and outdoor recreation at Sullivan Lake in northeastern Washington, near Mirror Ranch.
Visit the Retreat & Wellness Center page to see where the project stands today, or learn about low-to-no cost retreats for Veterans.
Veteran-Involved Scientific Programs

Hands-on ocean science with NOAA, plus coral reef restoration and invasive species removal.

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While visiting or crewing aboard the M/V Ceaseless Explorer, Veterans are immersed in a familiar team environment with the camaraderie that many miss from their service days.
Ceaseless Explorer crew give back through hands-on science and conservation work, including NOAA’s Voluntary Observing Ship and Sea Drifter Buoy programs, Veteran-led coral reef restoration, and invasive species eradication.
It is one more way we turn warriors into healers for both oceans and communities.

Partner Highlights

Sullivan Lake

Sullivan Lake, located in the mountains of northeastern Washington, is a stunning example of the beauty of our country's wilderness. It offers world-class recreational opportunities such as fishing, camping, canoeing, and hiking. During winter, it transforms into a winter wonderland, offering unique opportunities such as ice fishing and views of bighorn sheep. With its rich history, this lake serves as a beacon of exploration and rejuvenation, inviting our Veterans to connect with nature and create lasting memories in the great outdoors. Our partnership with the US Forest Service allows us to use Sullivan Lake for Veteran retreats and outdoor recreation. It is just a few miles from Newport, Washington, where we plan to restart our equine therapy program in 2027, so Veterans can do both.

Contact for more information Visit the Sullivan Lake recreation page

Sullivan Lake recreation area map — US Forest Service

Our Leadership Team

Convergence was founded and is run by Veterans, First Responders, and their supporters. Our senior leadership team members bring a combined wealth of personal and professional experience navigating the types of mental health and well-being challenges our Veterans face in their post-military lives.

Daniel Erbling, CEO/Executive Director

Daniel’s professional career includes senior executive roles in Fortune 250 organizations in marketing resource management, IT, and supply chain.

He currently works as a consultant, volunteer firefighter, and rancher in the Inland NW.

Erbling brings a personal perspective to Convergence’s mission as a current TBI patient whose treatments, insurance claims, physiological, and psychological events afford him a firsthand perspective of what Veterans encounter with their disability claims, post-military careers, and adjusting to civilian roles.

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Mark Ford, Co-Founder/COO

Mark is a U.S. military Veteran whose background includes 27 years as a tactical medic, 16 years of which were with DHS counterterrorism operations.
Due to high suicide rates at his agency, Mark became a certified peer counselor, Veterans’ assistance liason, critical incident stress de-briefer, and a trained cognitive hypnotherapist.
Mark is passionate about serving returning Veterans who have physical and/or psychological trauma which is beyond the scope of currently available VA support.
Mark personally leads Convergence service missions/ops, giving participants the chance to serve alongside a trained peer counselor who trains them to identify, understand, and better respond to PTSD triggers in their everyday lives.
Capt. Dave Mucci, Programs Director

Dave is a Pararescue Veteran with a special skill set and a no-fail attitude willing to assist those in need. He is a previous owner/operator of the dive charter business Bluewater Adventures of Pensacola and was the dive safety officer for the Escambia County Marine Resources division and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He holds the Divemaster certification rating through PADI and NAUI and has logged in excess of 2500 dives. Dave is an environmentalist and an “Invasive Species Control Specialist,” focusing on the removal of the highly Invasive lionfish. Dave’s dedication to his fellow Veterans and his love for the environment provide a very unique therapeutic setting and outlet for those Veterans suffering from PTSD.
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Rose (Susan) Ford, Spouse Peer Support Specialist & Director of Operations

Rose has been married to Convergence co-founder, Mark Ford, for over 12 years. She refers to her marriage to her husband as her military service. Military members and Veterans, particularly those in Special Forces, have consistently higher divorce rates than their civilian peers. Rose is passionate about providing peer support for the spouses of Veterans as they navigate their own unique challenges and marriages.
Doug Redmond, Project Manager

Doug Redmond brings more than four decades of leadership in construction, project management, and operational excellence. He has earned a reputation for delivering complex projects on time, within budget, and with an unwavering commitment to quality, safety, and integrity — building trusted relationships and leading diverse teams across Canada and internationally.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Doug's greatest passion is serving people. Through years of hands-on Christian mission work across Belize, Costa Rica, Mexico, Malta, England, and Panama, he has helped build homes and community facilities, trained local tradespeople, supported disaster relief, and mentored youth — experiences that shaped his servant-leadership philosophy.
As Project Manager, Doug is honored to bring that same heart for service to Convergence's mission of empowering Veterans and their families. His guiding principle: when people are cared for, strong communities — and lasting legacies — are built.
Paul Brown, Maintenance Manager / Chief Engineer

Paul serves as Convergence's Maintenance Manager and Chief Engineer, keeping the organization's facilities, vehicles, and equipment mission-ready for every retreat and service operation.
His hands-on approach ensures Veterans and volunteers always have a safe, well-maintained environment to gather and serve.
Nathan Akridge, Director of Public Relations

Nathan Akridge has served 22 years in the United States Army. During that time, he deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and served along the Southwest U.S. border.
Akridge has served as a Public Affairs NCO, a Family Advocacy Specialist, and a Community Relations NCO.
His passions include volunteering and he continues to help out at the Killeen Food Care Center during his spare time.
Akridge’s long-term goals include getting his dog Olivia trained as a service dog and to continue serving the Active Duty and Veteran communities.
Erin Driskill, Director of Mental Health Services

Erin Driskill, LCSW, is the founder and director of Choose Well-Being Psychology Education.
She has her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work and over 15 years of experience working in community mental health at the first worldwide Dialectical Behavior Therapy clinic
Erin has extensive experience with high-risk populations, including suicide substance, trauma, loss, co-morbid disorders, chronic depression, panic, and anxiety.
Howard Breitrose, VP of Creative/Marketing and Communications

Howard is a creative photographer, filmmaker, creative designer, and storyteller with experience in creative direction and operations management. He enhances and streamlines creative workflow processes and technology integration initiatives to deliver valuable client solutions. Howard helps brands connect meaningfully through empathy, emotion, and big ideas. He works collaboratively with other practice leads to create brand and marketing strategies and launch marketing campaigns that drive revenue. Howard is passionate about elevating brands and his team.

Op Highlight

Operation Caribbean Reach

Operation Caribbean Reach is our Veteran-led maritime mission aboard M/V Ceaseless Explorer, a floating lifeline for U.S. Veterans and vulnerable coastal communities in the Caribbean and Central America.

In February 2026, our crew and our buddy boat, S/V Libre, delivered donated aid from Hope Fleet to Casa Guatemala, a 300-child orphanage in Río Dulce, Guatemala, that is reachable only by boat. Ceaseless Explorer is in Río Dulce now, at the halfway point of the mission, before continuing on to her home base in Bocas del Toro, Panama.

Along the way, our Veteran crew is deploying NOAA SeaDrifter buoys that track ocean currents.

Read the Operation Caribbean Reach mission overview Support the mission