Honoring Service, Protecting Health: Tobacco Use in Military Communities

Professor Emerita, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco 

Dr. Ruth E. Malone is an internationally recognized tobacco control researcher and policy expert whose work examines tobacco industry strategies, tobacco control policy, and the tobacco endgame. Her NIH-funded research has included examining tobacco industry efforts targeting active-duty military members and veterans and barriers to tobacco control within the U.S. military. She has served as an expert consultant to the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Department of Justice. From 2009 through 2023, she served as Editor-in-Chief of Tobacco Control, a leading international journal focused on tobacco control policy.

Captain, U.S. Public Health Service (Ret.) 

Dr. Kimberly Elenberg is a public health leader, nurse scientist, and data strategist with more than two decades of experience in emergency response, population health and medical management. A retired Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, she has deployed more than 19 times and held senior leadership roles with the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Surgeon General’s Office and U.S. Department of Agriculture. She currently serves as Principal Project Scientist at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute Auton Lab and Director of Data and ML/AI Strategy, helping federal agencies turn data and artificial intelligence into actionable decisions. 

Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia 

Dr. Melissa A. Little is an Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Virginia, where she directs the Center for Nicotine and Tobacco Research and serves in community outreach and engagement for the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research focuses on reducing tobacco-related health disparities among underserved populations, including military communities, rural populations, and youth. She has received continuous NIH funding since 2016 and has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. 

Intern, Organization for Latino Health Advocacy (OLHA) 

Christian Lopez is a senior at California State University, Fullerton, studying political science with a minor in history. He has served in the National Guard for eight years as an infantryman and is currently transitioning into Army Aviation. In his civilian work, Christian has been actively involved in advocacy and legislative efforts as a student intern with AFT 1521, the Los Angeles College Faculty Guild, working on issues affecting students, educators and communities across California. Through his military service, advocacy work and current role with the Organization for Latino Health Advocacy, Christian brings a strong commitment to public service, community health and civic engagement. 

Veteran 

Ryan Sandoval is an enrolled member of the Navajo Tribe and a U.S. Marine Corps and Army National Guard veteran. He serves as Commander of his local community veterans' group and has professional experience in tribal law and social work. Ryan holds degrees in tribal court advocacy and social work, as well as a Master of Jurisprudence in Indian Law. His work focuses on supporting Native communities, veterans and individuals navigating legal and social service systems. 

Military Family and Public Health Advocate 

Lynn Schultz is a realtor, worship leader, and longtime military- and family-support advocate. She previously served with Family Programs for the Florida National Guard and Military OneSource before becoming the Florida State Coordinator for Building Healthy Military Communities. She later served as a Georgia State Coordinator and helped train coordinators nationwide. Through her work with Tobacco Free Florida, Lynn partnered with military and public health organizations to increase awareness of tobacco use and promote healthier outcomes for service members and their families. 

Founder and Principal, Wheeler Advisory Group 

Leanne D. Wheeler is the Founder and Principal of Wheeler Advisory Group, where she develops collaborative initiatives with the U.S. Department of Defense, defense contractors, nonprofit organizations and local governments. A U.S. Air Force veteran and decorated Operation Desert Storm veteran, she previously held leadership roles with Raytheon and worked as a defense contractor supporting classified customers. Ms. Wheeler is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and has owned her small business since 2009.