Office of the Director
Who We Are and How We Work
CFW operates as a lean advocacy organization built around systematic documentation, strategic pressure, and coordinated action. We don’t have a building full of staff or elaborate bureaucratic structures. Instead, we have a director who coordinates advocacy efforts, builds partnerships, and maintains relentless focus on bringing abandoned Americans home.
This page outlines both our current operational reality and the organizational framework we’re building toward as resources grow. Transparency matters in advocacy work, so we’re direct about what exists now versus what we’re developing for the future.
About Organizational Structure
CFW is a growing organization. Some divisions listed here represent aspirational structure—operational areas we’re developing as funding and capacity allow. Currently, the Director coordinates most advocacy activities directly, working with volunteers, pro bono professionals, and strategic partners. As we grow, specialized divisions will develop with dedicated leadership.
The Director: Sentinel of the Forgotten
David Burger founded CFW after years advocating for Army veteran Kelvin Blas, who has been stranded in Togo since 2016. Through that experience, he recognized that veteran abandonment overseas isn’t an isolated problem—it’s systematic government failure requiring organized response.
As Director, David coordinates all advocacy operations from what he calls the Desk of Controlled Chaos. This means managing FOIA campaigns, building congressional relationships, coordinating media engagement, and maintaining the systematic documentation that makes accountability possible.
Core Responsibilities
The Director handles several critical functions simultaneously:
- Strategic Direction: Setting organizational priorities and advocacy targets based on documented patterns of abandonment
- Case Management: Overseeing individual veteran cases and coordination with government agencies
- Congressional Relations: Building and maintaining relationships with oversight committee staff
- Legal Advocacy: Coordinating FOIA campaigns and working with pro bono legal experts
- Public Communication: Serving as primary spokesperson for CFW’s mission and cases
- Partnership Development: Building relationships with veteran organizations and advocacy groups
- Resource Management: Ensuring transparent use of donations and maintaining financial accountability
The Sentinel Role
The title “Sentinel of the Forgotten” isn’t ceremonial—it reflects the core mission. When government agencies abandon Americans overseas, someone needs to stand watch, document failures, and refuse to let cases disappear into bureaucratic indifference. That’s what the Director does, day after day, case after case. Furthermore, this role demands constant vigilance because agency stonewalling never stops.
How CFW Actually Operates Now
Effective advocacy doesn’t require massive infrastructure—it requires focused effort, strategic thinking, and systematic documentation. Consequently, here’s how CFW functions in practice:
Direct Advocacy Activities
The Director personally manages these core operations:
- FOIA Campaigns: Filing, tracking, and appealing transparency requests across multiple agencies
- Congressional Outreach: Regular contact with committee staff on veteran abandonment issues
- Documentation Systems: Maintaining comprehensive records of agency failures and case timelines
- Media Relations: Working with journalists on investigative stories about government failures
- Veteran Support: Coordinating with stranded veterans and their families on case advocacy
Partnership and Volunteer Network
CFW leverages expertise through strategic partnerships rather than hiring large staff:
How We Amplify Impact
Rather than building internal capacity for everything, we work with:
- Pro Bono Legal Experts: Attorneys who provide FOIA review and administrative law guidance
- Volunteer Researchers: People who help track FOIA responses and organize documentation
- Veteran Organizations: Established groups that amplify our message and provide veteran connections
- Media Professionals: Journalists investigating government accountability issues
- Congressional Allies: Committee staff members who care about oversight and accountability
This network approach lets us punch above our weight without overhead bloat that diverts donations from advocacy work.
Operational Framework: Building for Growth
As CFW grows, we’re developing specialized operational divisions. Some exist in basic form now; others represent planned development. Moreover, this framework ensures that as resources increase, we maintain coordinated action rather than creating bureaucratic silos.
Legal Affairs
Coordinates FOIA strategy, legal documentation, and administrative law advocacy. Works with pro bono attorneys on transparency campaigns and agency accountability efforts.
Congressional Relations
Manages relationships with congressional offices, provides oversight committee briefings, and coordinates legislative advocacy efforts.
Case Management
Handles individual veteran cases, coordinates with VA and State Department, and maintains comprehensive case documentation and timelines.
Research & Documentation
Maintains FOIA archives, develops case timelines, and supports evidence-based advocacy through systematic documentation following our documentation standards.
Media & Communications
Coordinates journalist relationships, manages public messaging, and amplifies veteran stories through strategic media advocacy.
Public Awareness
Develops transparency campaigns, publishes agency failures, and builds public pressure through our awareness initiatives.
Partnership Development
Builds relationships with veteran organizations, coordinates coalition efforts, and develops strategic advocacy partnerships.
Financial Management
Ensures transparent budgeting, manages donor relations, and maintains accountability for all organizational resources and expenditures.
Operations & Planning
Coordinates cross-divisional activities, develops strategic plans, and maintains operational efficiency across all advocacy efforts.
Accountability & Oversight
Monitors organizational performance, maintains quality standards, and ensures advocacy efforts meet professional and ethical benchmarks.
Development Timeline
Currently, most of these functions are coordinated directly by the Director with volunteer and partner support. As funding grows, we’ll develop dedicated leadership for each operational area. However, we won’t create structure for structure’s sake—divisions develop when they improve advocacy effectiveness, not to look organizational.
How Everything Coordinates
Effective advocacy requires coordination across multiple activities simultaneously. Therefore, even as a lean organization, CFW maintains systematic coordination to ensure all efforts work together toward accountability.
Coordination Mechanisms
These systems keep operations aligned:
- Weekly Planning: Regular review of ongoing cases, FOIA status, and congressional opportunities
- Documentation Standards: Consistent evidence gathering and case management across all advocacy
- Priority Setting: Clear focus on cases and issues where pressure can create change
- Resource Allocation: Transparent decisions about where donations and volunteer time create maximum impact
- Partner Communication: Regular updates with attorneys, journalists, and coalition partners
The Integration Advantage
Small size can be an advantage. Instead of coordinating between separate departments with different priorities, the Director maintains direct oversight of all activities. This ensures that legal documentation supports congressional pressure, media coverage amplifies public awareness, and everything works together toward forcing agency accountability. As we grow, we’ll preserve this integration even as we develop specialized expertise.
Organizational Transparency
We demand transparency from government agencies. Consequently, we maintain the same standard for ourselves. Additionally, supporters deserve to know how their contributions are used and how organizational decisions get made.
What We Publish Publicly
- Financial Information: Where donations come from and how they’re spent
- Case Updates: Progress on veteran abandonment cases we’re advocating for
- FOIA Results: Agency responses and obstruction documentation
- Congressional Engagement: Updates on oversight efforts and agency accountability
- Strategic Priorities: What we’re focusing on and why
Transparency isn’t just about disclosure—it’s about accountability. When we fail to move cases forward or make strategic mistakes, we’ll own those failures publicly. Similarly, when we achieve progress or force agency responses, we’ll document that success with proper attribution to all the partners who made it possible.
Support Leadership That Works
Effective advocacy leadership requires resources—FOIA fees, legal consultations, documentation systems, and sustained effort. Your support helps maintain the systematic pressure needed to force government accountability.
Contact the Director: