LtCol. Dave Greenlees, USMC (Ret.)

Founder and Executive Director

Dave was born in Winfield, Illinois and was raised in Pontiac, Michigan. He graduated from The George Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice in 1992 and was later commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. He is a Life Loyal member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and proud to be an Epsilon man. David remained on active duty as an artillery officer until 1999 when he transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2002. Since that time, his diverse legal career includes service as a San Diego Deputy District Attorney, an intellectual property litigation associate with the law firm Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, and notably as the Chief Senate Legal Counsel to the 7th Olbiil Era Kelulau in the Republic of Palau. In 2008, David opened a solo law practice in Michigan providing defense counsel to indigent clients in his hometown. David is licensed to practice law in California, Michigan, and Washington, D.C.

From 2009 to 2013, he served as the operations officer in the Marine Corps’ Office of Legislative Affairs where he planned and executed the Marine Corps’ legislative strategy in the U.S. Congress and frequently escorted Members of Congress on overseas delegation travel throughout Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. David retired from the Marine Corps in 2016 after 24 years of service.

A raconteur, music lover, and jet-lag addict, David has traveled to 51 countries on 5 continents. His passion is helping others and spending time with his family.

Lydia Greenlees

Board Member, Secretary, and Treasurer

Lydia was born in Jackson, Mississippi and spent most of her childhood in Pascagoula. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Mississippi State University in 1987 and works in the field of biotechnology.

Lydia began her career in science at the National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR), served as a Research Associate with Genetic Therapy, Inc. (GTI) from 1988 to 1993 and spent two years with the Laboratory of Cell Biology in the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). A move to the West Coast took her to the biotechnology firm of Selective Genetics (SGTx), where she utilized her molecular biology expertise in a variety of gene therapy programs, including nerve regeneration, dermal wound healing and musculoskeletal studies.

One of the highlights of Lydia’s career was participating in the Grand Challenges in Global Health program through a grant awarded Neurome, Inc/UC Riverside by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Under the guidance of her principal investigator, she contributed to research aimed at developing a needle-free mucosal vaccine delivery system to be utilized by developing nations. Realizing her research might directly benefit those with extraordinary need and few resources was tremendously fulfilling and instilled within her a desire to work abroad or contribute to research that would benefit others around the globe.

Selected for a six-month Centers for Disease Control (CDC) contract to coordinate the set up and operation of the Palau Food Microbiology Laboratory, Lydia established laboratory tests for foodborne pathogens, developed specimen handling procedures and quality assurance guidelines, prepared a laboratory manual and trained local staff. Lydia’s Palau experience was a monumental opportunity in her career, for which she is extremely grateful.

After returning to the United States, Lydia contributed to new product development for Oxford Biomedical Research in Rochester Hills, MI and is currently employed with MedImmune in Gaithersburg, MD, where she studies the role of microRNA in disease.

Lydia loves spending time with her family working on craft projects, listening to music, attending plays, traveling and spending time outdoors. She enjoys kayaking, cycling, snorkeling, camping and hiking. Lydia looks forward to tackling some of the world’s toughest challenges by helping those in need both at home and abroad.

Kervens Michel

Haiti Country Director

Kervens runs our entire Haiti program and is based in Miami, Florida where he maintains our warehouse of school supplies, medical equipment, clothing, food, and bottled water for shipment to Haiti.