NGWRC Board Members & Staff

James Bunker, President of Veteran Information Network and Director of the NGWRC:

Jim has represented veterans as a member of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, and he has testified before Congress promoting legislation and funding that has since been enacted, helping veterans receive better health care and benefits and continues this work.

In September of 2018 Jim finished it last term on the  Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illness or RAC-GWI and help many veterans with the large scale researh in advising veteran and their VSO's on claims.

Jim has been our Executive Director since 2008. He was commissioned as an officer in 1988. Medically discharged in 1992 due to service-connected injuries from the Persian Gulf War. Jim formed the Veterans Information Network in 1993 and worked to help veterans. He was involved in the national veterans movement which created the Gulf War benefits laws in 38 U.S.C 1117 and codified in 38 CFR 3.317. He has remained an active leader of the NGWRC for that entire time, serving on our Board of Directors for many years and helping to start the Veterans of Modern Warfare.

Col. George Webb, US Army Ret, Vice president of NGWRC and the Veteran Information Network and a Member:

Col. Webb served as Executive Director of the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs (KCVA) for many years after he retired from his career in the army. During his tenure, KCVA funded what became known as The Kansas Study, a critically important step forward in achieving official recognition of Gulf War Illness among veterans of Desert Storm, opening the door for VA treatment and benefits which had previously been denied.

Lisa Cornett, Secretary:

Lisa enlisted in the US Air Force in 1985, serving until 1994. She deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990-1991 in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. She has lived with Gulf War Illness since that time, navigating a Veterans Administration health care system which has been learning to adjust to the needs of women veterans, in addition to its initial inability to understand or effectively treat Gulf War Illness. She has put her education (she holds an MBA) and experience to work helping other veterans as our Vice President and media consultant.

Valerie Bunker, Treasurer of the NGWRC and of Veterans Information Network:

Valerie holds degree's in accounting and business administration. As a military spouse during the Desert Storm, Val edited the battalion newsletter along with Elisabeth Baker (Byron Baker, LTC Ret). This news letter connected the troops and their families during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. She is President and CEO of a company in Topeka, KS.