Denver, CO – August 14, 2025 – Kindbridge Research Institute (KRI), a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research and solutions in behavioral addiction and mental health challenges, proudly celebrates the success of its Military Research Associate Program (MRAP), which assists veterans transitioning from military service to advanced training in mental health treatment and research.
Since its inception in 2022, KRI’s MRAP has successfully combined the lived experience and unique expertise of military veterans with specialized training opportunities in mental health research. Celebrating the completion of its third year, MRAP has provided foundational support for 10 veterans pursuing advanced education and careers in health and medicine, law, and consulting, while simultaneously bringing invaluable military insights to behavioral health research at KRI. MRAP’s impact can be seen in the diverse accomplishments of its alumni, who continue to advance public mental health solutions both within and beyond military communities.
This program directly addresses a pressing gap in the U.S., where there are very few highly-trained veterans in public health working to improve gambling disorder and mental health outcomes, while wait-times for veterans to receive mental health treatment can last for months. At the same time, many veterans have the interest, skills, and work experience to contribute to this field, but lack guidance and access to specific education, research, and training opportunities.
The objectives of the program include completing the MRAP training curriculum, publishing one academic paper, presenting a poster or talk at one academic conference, and being admitted to one of their top choices for higher education. The program design focuses on skill building (academic writing, literature search and review, study design and execution), resume building (publishing peer-reviewed articles, delivering presentations), and application mechanics (preparing and sitting for the Graduate Record Examination, application essays, interview coaching).
Mark Lucia, the first member of MRAP and current Director of Programming at KRI, emphasized the program’s unique mission and impact, stating:
“MRAP was designed to bridge the gap for veterans transitioning to advanced education and research careers – especially those who, despite their capabilities, might not match the traditional academic profile. The program has provided veterans with meaningful research experiences, giving them concrete achievements to highlight in applications and interviews. Notably, by integrating authentic military perspectives into our research, MRAP has generated insights that truly resonate with military communities – insights that, at times, are missed in broader academic conversations. The work done by our associates has informed our programs, helped refine our military education materials, and helped advance the conversation on mental health and gambling disorder in meaningful, practical ways.”
MRAP has supported a diverse group of military research associates, each achieving notable outcomes:
- Mark Lucia (2022-2024): Mark served as a Special Forces Medic in the 10th Special Forces Group before joining Kindbridge as the pilot participant in MRAP. He led multiple projects, including a groundbreaking study on responsible gambling practices at U.S. military bases overseas. In 2024, he earned dual master’s degrees in Business Administration and Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. Mark now serves as Director of Programming at KRI.
- Galen Jones (2022-2023): Galen joined MRAP in Spring 2022 after transitioning from his role as a Special Forces Medic. He co-authored a publication on telehealth treatment for gambling disorder and completed a capstone comparing DoD gambling policies with industry best practices. After MRAP, he served as a volunteer medic in Ukraine, supporting civilians affected by the Russian invasion. Galen is now pursuing dual master’s degrees in Business Administration and Public Health at Yale, with plans to continue his work in international health.
- Makinna Olmstead (2023-2024): Makinna joined MRAP while serving as a Navy Signals Intelligence specialist and applying to the Enlisted to Medical Degree Program (EMDP2). Her capstone focused on expert perspectives on DoD gambling policies, and she has since represented MRAP at multiple conferences and presentations. During her time with the program, she completed EMDP2, began medical school at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and was commissioned as a Navy officer. Makinna aims to pursue a career in psychiatry or behavioral health.
- Tim Boos (2022-2025): Tim joined MRAP while serving as a Naval Aviation Rescue Swimmer instructor, aiming to pursue EMDP2. Though initially deferred due to command manpower needs, he remained active in MRAP, researching DoD gambling policy shifts following a 2017 Government Accountability Office report. In his second year, Tim helped lead MRAP trainings and submitted a manuscript for publication. He has since been accepted to EMDP and is currently applying to medical schools.
- Graeme Chesnie (2023-2024): Graeme began MRAP with plans to attend medical school but an open mind about the future. A former Navy SEAL medic, his capstone examined how different stakeholders – DoD, affiliated institutions, and external researchers – have studied gambling disorder in the military. During his time in the program, Graeme pivoted toward professional services and now aims to advise startups navigating the DoD procurement process.
- Grae Dewey (2023-2024): Grae serves as a Behavioral Health Specialist in the Colorado National Guard while completing her undergraduate degree at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver). During her time in MRAP, she analyzed gambling prevalence data across research sources and presented her findings at the 2023 International Center for Responsible Gaming conference. Grae plans to pursue a PhD in neuropsychology following graduation.
- Joseph Macarelli (2024-2025): Joseph served as a Special Forces Medic in 3rd Special Forces Group and earned his bachelor’s in Health Science from Campbell University. He joined MRAP while preparing his medical school applications, seeking deeper research experience. At Kindbridge, he analyzed DoD policy and studied how economic factors and VA spending impact suicide risk. Joe was recently named a 2025 Tillman Scholar.
- Mackenzie Rifford (2024-2025): Mackenzie is a U.S. Army veteran who served as an Environmental Science and Engineering Officer in the Medical Service Corps. While in MRAP, she contributed to research on veteran suicide by supporting data analysis on VA expenditures. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Nursing at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
- Gerardo Banuelos (2024-2025): Gerardo served in the Army from 2019 to 2023 as a Targeting NCO and Fire Support Specialist. With degrees in marketing and international relations, he joined MRAP to strengthen his law school application. His work focused on the public health impact of overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and analyzing institutional stigma across military branches.
- Jacob Leask (2024-2025): Jake served in Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance from 1999 to 2014 and has since focused on community-driven work at the intersection of mental health and physical fitness. While studying at MSU Denver, he launched a nonprofit that uses group therapy and combat sports to support youth mental health. Through MRAP, he conducted strategic planning and market research to grow the initiative. Jake is also a recent graduate of the Colorado Firefighter Academy.
“I joined MRAP to gain experience in academic writing, research, and to better understand how mental health research is conducted,” said Tim Boos. “The program provided me with invaluable knowledge and experience. Additionally, the professional relationships I built through MRAP have been foundational to advancing my career; I would not be where I am today without this program. My experience learning about behavioral health disorders has given me a unique perspective that I readily use during my transition into the medical field.”
Kindbridge Research Institute remains deeply committed to supporting veterans and their families by advancing mental health treatment, research, and education tailored to their unique experiences and needs. Through initiatives like MRAP, KRI not only bridges the gap between military service, academic achievement, and transition success, but also stands at the forefront of driving system-wide improvements in military mental health.
For more information about Kindbridge Research Institute and its mission, please visit www.kindbridgeinstitute.org.