Sea Services Leadership Association

Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and Staff

LCDR Strand Pic

President

Lieutenant Commander Breanna Strand, USN

Hailing from Manhattan Beach, CA, LCDR Strand graduated and was commissioned in 2008 from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a minor in Spanish. She also graduated with Distinction earning a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs (Middle East Studies) and

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B45A4876 scaled

Executive Vice President

Cmdr. Vicky Howe, USN

Commander Vicky Howe is SSLA’s Vice President. She is a lifelong member of SSLA and actively involved in several professional development groups such as “Lean In”, founded by SSLA President Emily Bassett. Vicky is an Information Warfare Officer currently serving as the Executive Officer of Carrier Strike Group 4 Air

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SEA Rekiya M. Jannsen 2

Senior Enlisted Advisor

Master Chief Rekiya Janssen, USCG

Master Chief Rekiya Janssen is a lifelong member of the Sea Services Leadership Association (SSLA) and the Senior Enlisted Advisor on the SSLA Board. Her responsibilities include serving as an active advocate and ambassador for SSLA’s mission as well as providing counsel, encouragement, and insight regarding issues concerning enlisted sea

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LT Rayburn Secretary scaled

SSLA Treasurer

Lieutenant Laura Rayburn, USCG

Lieutenant Laura Rayburn, U.S. Coast Guard, serves as SSLA’s Treasurer.  Laura enlisted in the Coast Guard in 2009, spending six years as a Marine Science Technician before earning a commission via Officer Candidate School in 2015. She is now on a dual-track career path with a primary operational specialty in

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Friedlander SSLA

SSLA Secretary

Lieutenant Commander Cherisa Friedlander, NOAA

Lieutenant Commander Cherisa Friedlander is currently serving on SSLA’s Board as the Secretary and NOAA Corps Service Representative. Her responsibilities include participating in monthly board meetings, assisting with the planning for the annual Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium (JWLS), and representing a unique perspective of the nation’s smallest seagoing uniformed service,

Read More »
IMG 5989

Vice President for Chapters

Vanessa Ybarra

As a reservist in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in sunny San Diego, CA, Vanessa provided administrative and mission support to fellow U.S.C.G. reservists for thirteen years. Seven of those years, she was cross assigned to a Navy reserve supporting both services. As a civilian Vanessa’s passion for learning and

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Mariela Pena headshot

USMC Sea Service Representative

Major Mariela Pena, USMC

Major Mariela Pena is the USMC Representative on the SSLA Board. Her responsibilities include serving as an active advocate and ambassador for SSLA’s mission as well as providing counsel, encouragement, and insight regarding issues concerning the USMC. Mariela has 23 years in the Marine Corps and has served as a

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LCDR Gholson

USCG Sea Service Representative

Lieutenant Commander Allice Gholson

Lieutenant Commander Allice Gholson currently serves as the Commanding Officer of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Benjamin Bottoms homeported in San Pedro, California. Prior to taking command, she served as the Logistics Officer at Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) in Manama, Bahrain. While assigned overseas, she oversaw all homeporting

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LtCol Cullen

JWLS 2024 Chair

LtCol Kyleigh Cullen, USMC

LtCol Kyleigh Cullen, USMC, is the Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium (JWLS) Chair. Along with the Co-Chair, Christina Humphries, she is responsible for leading the JWLS Committee in planning all aspects of SSLA’s annual symposium. Kyleigh in a Marine Ch-53E pilot that has served in the United States Marine Corps for

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cdr humphries

JWLS 2024 Co-Chair

CDR Christina Humphries, USN

Commander Humphries was born and raised in Carlsbad, California. She attended the University of San Diego, earning her commission through Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. Commander Humphries was commissioned in May 2005 and served her first division officer tour as the Strike Officer on aboard the USS CHOSIN (CG 65),

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LCDR Strand Pic

President

Lieutenant Commander Breanna Strand, USN

Hailing from Manhattan Beach, CA, LCDR Strand graduated and was commissioned in 2008 from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a minor in Spanish. She also graduated with Distinction earning a Master of Arts in National Security Affairs (Middle East Studies) and

Read More »
B45A4876 scaled

Executive Vice President

Cmdr. Vicky Howe, USN

Commander Vicky Howe is SSLA’s Vice President. She is a lifelong member of SSLA and actively involved in several professional development groups such as “Lean In”, founded by SSLA President Emily Bassett. Vicky is an Information Warfare Officer currently serving as the Executive Officer of Carrier Strike Group 4 Air

Read More »
SEA Rekiya M. Jannsen 2

Senior Enlisted Advisor

Master Chief Rekiya Janssen, USCG

Master Chief Rekiya Janssen is a lifelong member of the Sea Services Leadership Association (SSLA) and the Senior Enlisted Advisor on the SSLA Board. Her responsibilities include serving as an active advocate and ambassador for SSLA’s mission as well as providing counsel, encouragement, and insight regarding issues concerning enlisted sea

Read More »
LT Rayburn Secretary scaled

SSLA Treasurer

Lieutenant Laura Rayburn, USCG

Lieutenant Laura Rayburn, U.S. Coast Guard, serves as SSLA’s Treasurer.  Laura enlisted in the Coast Guard in 2009, spending six years as a Marine Science Technician before earning a commission via Officer Candidate School in 2015. She is now on a dual-track career path with a primary operational specialty in

Read More »
Friedlander SSLA

SSLA Secretary

Lieutenant Commander Cherisa Friedlander, NOAA

Lieutenant Commander Cherisa Friedlander is currently serving on SSLA’s Board as the Secretary and NOAA Corps Service Representative. Her responsibilities include participating in monthly board meetings, assisting with the planning for the annual Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium (JWLS), and representing a unique perspective of the nation’s smallest seagoing uniformed service,

Read More »
IMG 5989

Vice President for Chapters

Vanessa Ybarra

As a reservist in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in sunny San Diego, CA, Vanessa provided administrative and mission support to fellow U.S.C.G. reservists for thirteen years. Seven of those years, she was cross assigned to a Navy reserve supporting both services. As a civilian Vanessa’s passion for learning and

Read More »
Mariela Pena headshot

USMC Sea Service Representative

Major Mariela Pena, USMC

Major Mariela Pena is the USMC Representative on the SSLA Board. Her responsibilities include serving as an active advocate and ambassador for SSLA’s mission as well as providing counsel, encouragement, and insight regarding issues concerning the USMC. Mariela has 23 years in the Marine Corps and has served as a

Read More »
LCDR Gholson

USCG Sea Service Representative

Lieutenant Commander Allice Gholson

Lieutenant Commander Allice Gholson currently serves as the Commanding Officer of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Benjamin Bottoms homeported in San Pedro, California. Prior to taking command, she served as the Logistics Officer at Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) in Manama, Bahrain. While assigned overseas, she oversaw all homeporting

Read More »
LtCol Cullen

JWLS 2024 Chair

LtCol Kyleigh Cullen, USMC

LtCol Kyleigh Cullen, USMC, is the Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium (JWLS) Chair. Along with the Co-Chair, Christina Humphries, she is responsible for leading the JWLS Committee in planning all aspects of SSLA’s annual symposium. Kyleigh in a Marine Ch-53E pilot that has served in the United States Marine Corps for

Read More »
cdr humphries

JWLS 2024 Co-Chair

CDR Christina Humphries, USN

Commander Humphries was born and raised in Carlsbad, California. She attended the University of San Diego, earning her commission through Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. Commander Humphries was commissioned in May 2005 and served her first division officer tour as the Strike Officer on aboard the USS CHOSIN (CG 65),

Read More »

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