About Operation Child Care Project™

Katherine Torres-Pummill (Kathy) is an Air Force veteran spouse and a dedicated mother. Her husband served in the Air Force and Air National Guard for 11 years, including a deployment to Afghanistan just as they were expecting their son.

 

During his absence, Kathy managed her career, graduate studies, and parenting alone, facing significant child care challenges in New York City.

Kathy is the Chair of the Board of Directors for The Operation Child Care Project (OCCP), a non-profit ensuring military families have access to affordable, high-quality child care. Passionate about OCCP's mission, she advocates for addressing the child care crisis impacting military spouses.

Dana Levin-Robinson, CEO and Founder of Upfront, a software company specializing in early care and education data, is also a dedicated mother of two. Her personal challenges in finding child care inspired her to launch Upfront.

 

As a board member of The Operation Child Care Project (OCCP), Dana champions affordable, high-quality child care for military families. She collaborates closely with OCCP to address the unique needs of military parents, advocating for their inclusion in national child care discussions.

 

Dana's work includes developing a public search portal for Norfolk, Virginia, enhancing access to essential child care information for military families.

Maria Quinn, a dual military family member, serves on The Operation Child Care Project (OCCP) board, championing military family needs.

 

With over 15 years in active duty, first in the U.S. Air Force and now in the U.S. Space Force, Maria and her husband, John, navigate their demanding careers while raising six children.

 

In 2022, she founded Design Your Family Life, assisting military families with child care education. Maria’s 12 years of experience hiring caregivers inform her mission to support military families with quality, flexible child care. She emphasizes that effective child care is vital for service members' readiness and family stability.

Meredith Dost, a mother of two, serves on the board of The Operation Child Care Project (OCCP), dedicated to supporting military families with high-quality, affordable child care.

 

Though not military herself, Meredith's empathy stems from her challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating unreliable child care. A seasoned information systems and data security professional, she leads the Cloud Security Solution Area at Applied Information Sciences (AIS).

 

Meredith's personal experiences and commitment to OCCP's mission drive her involvement, ensuring military families receive the child care support they need. She lives in Washington, DC, with her husband and enjoys family time and audiobooks.

Sara Feges, a military spouse of over 7 years, serves as Board Treasurer for The Operation Child Care Project (OCCP), a nonprofit dedicated to providing military families with affordable, high-quality child care.

 

After moving to Texas with her active-duty Air Force husband, Sara got involved with OCCP, leveraging her expertise in nonprofit finance. Reflecting on her own struggles with child care while living in Hawaii, Sara understands the unique challenges military families face.

 

A mother of two young boys, she balances her role at OCCP with her work as the Director of Finance for Military Veterans in Journalism and as a tax and accounting specialist at Reconciled.

Tiffany Orner, a USAF veteran and military spouse, serves on the Board of The Operation Child Care Project (OCCP). Joining the military just before 9/11, Tiffany served as a War Readiness Technician during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

 

Now, she actively supports military and veteran organizations, leveraging her personal experience to assist service members in their transition to civilian life.

 

At the 2023 Military Influencer Conference, Tiffany met OCCP founder Kayla Corbitt, whose mission resonated deeply. Tiffany, a mom of three, lives in the Florida panhandle with her husband, who is active in the USAF Reserves.