Join us for Radio on the River, the annual fundraising event for Veterans Radio!

Meet our Guest Speakers!

Major (Retired, USArmy) Jonathan Turnbull is a native of Flint, Michigan. MAJ Turnbull graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2010 and commissioned as an Armor Officer in the US Army. Jon’s first assignment was to the 3rd Infantry Division, at Fort Stewart, GA. While a Platoon Leader, Jon deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 12-13. Upon returning to the US, Jon was selected to serve as a Civil Affairs Officer in Special Operations, and was stationed at Fort Bragg for 8 years. Jon deployed to the Kingdom of Jordan in 2015 and again in 2017, and Lebanon in 2016. Jon served as Special Operations Cross Functional Team Leader for Cross-Functional Team Manbij in Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in 2018-2019. While conducting a mission, Jon was severely wounded by a ISIS suicide bomber in Manbij, Syria, on January 16, 2019. The bombing that killed four of Jon’s teammates left Jon totally blind and he received other wounds that took 22 surgeries over 24 months to overcome the possibility of death and begin recovery. Jon continued to serve on active duty until 2021, and has since retired. Jon continues to train, mentor, and inspire others through giving inspiring speeches to groups, and will continue to do so.

Dr. Rebecca Grant is a national security analyst based in Washington, DC. She earned her Ph.D. in International Relations from the London School of Economics at age 25, then worked for RAND and on the staff of the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Since founding IRIS Independent Research, she has specialized in research for government and aerospace industry clients. Dr. Grant has written over 100 articles for Air Force Magazine and regularly appears on the Smithsonian Channel, Fox News, CNN, Veterans Radio and other media outlets discussing airpower and national security. She has flown with the United States Air Force in the T-38, E-3 AWACS, B-52, F-16 Aggressors, F-15 in Exercise Cope North and in the B-2 Spirit bomber.

Jonathan Bernstein is the Curator of Arms & Armor Collection at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Jon joined the NMMC as the Arms & Armor Curator in August 2020 after helming the US Army Air Defense Artillery Museum for eight years prior. With a museum career that spans three decades, he has worked in nearly every type of historical museum.

He has written six books and several articles on military and aviation history, the majority focusing on the applications of tactical airpower in the European Theater during World War 2. His latest book, (and his third on the P-47 Thunderbolt), “Duel: P-47 vs German Light and Medium Flak” was released in October 2021.

Jon holds a Master’s degree in Museum Science from Texas Tech University and took a leave of absence from his Military History PhD program there in 2005 to attend US Army flight school. He logged nearly 600 hours in the AH-64A and AH-64D Apache helicopter as a Pennsylvania National Guard aviator before leaving military service in 2012.

Every veteran has a story to tell.

OUR MISSION since 2003 has been to illuminate the extraordinary actions of ordinary people who have gained and preserved the freedom all Americans enjoy—and the ultimate price that is often paid.

VETERANS RADIO includes our listener’s stories and experiences, not only while in the service, but afterwards as well. Interviews with guest speakers and authors are a weekly feature.

CONTINUING OUR MISSION requires resources beyond what our small volunteer Board can provide. Beyond our weekly LIVE Radio broadcasts, podcasts and website archives are now part of how today's listeners access our content around the world. Creating fresh content requires up-to-date equipment and paid platforms to reach the widest possible audience.

2000+ Stories of Service broadcast and archived since 2003
Top 10 Podcast for US Veterans
Weekly Audience of 1 million listeners

Your support at VRA's Radio on the River and beyond will allow us to reach even more listeners with stories of our greatest national treasure -- our men and women in uniform.

Want to Help Through Sponsorship and Silent Auction Donations?

Please contact lydia@veteransradio.org if you are interested in donating items, services, or experiences to our silent auction. 100% of the proceeds will benefit Veterans Radio.

VETERANS RADIO AMERICA, INC IS TAX-EXEMPT 501(c)3 ORGANIZATION. ALL GIFTS TO VETERANS RADIO ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE AS ALLOWED BY FEDERAL TAX LAWS. FEDERAL TAX ID 84-2746681.

Radio on the River 2023

Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Veterans Radio with our Annual Storytelling Fundraiser!

Team Members