Our Team
Lt. Colonel George L. Baker National Secretary (Executive Director)
Lt. Colonel George Baker entered his appointment as National Secretary for The Salvation Army World Service Office on September 1, 2021. Since his commissioning as an officer in 1983, Lt. Colonel Baker has served as a Corps officer in six Corps in the Army’s Western Territory in Hawaii (Kahului), Arizona (Apache Junction, Prescott), Colorado (Greeley, Grand Junction) and Wyoming (Casper). Following his time as a Corps Officer, Lt. Colonel Baker began a 13-year period of service in Divisional appointments serving as Divisional Youth Secretary and Divisional Secretary for Business in the Southern California Division (Los Angeles); Divisional Secretary of the Intermountain Division (Denver); and Divisional Commander for the Alaska Division (Anchorage), Sierra Del Mar Division (San Diego), and South & Mid Wales Division (Wales, UK), prior to receiving his current appointment.
Lt. Colonel Baker is a veteran of the United States Navy and has attended The Salvation Army’s International College for Officers in London, England.
Lt. Colonel Baker, along with his wife Lt. Colonel Jeanne Baker, have four children and seven grandchildren who all live in the western part of the United States in Oregon, Colorado, and Arizona. The Bakers enjoy spending time with family, exploring the great outdoors, and traveling to new places.
Lt. Colonel Jeanne Baker Anti-Human Trafficking and Special Projects Officer
Lt. Colonel Jeanne Baker entered her appointment to SAWSO as Anti-Human Trafficking and Special Projects Officer following an appointment as Assistant National Chief Secretary. Lt. Colonel Jeanne has served in various Corps and Divisional appointments in the USA Western Territory and South and Mid Wales in the UKI Territory.
Lt. Colonel Baker is a veteran of the United States Navy and has attended The Salvation Army’s International College for Officers in London, England. She is also an alumnus of the Arrow Executive Leadership Program and holds a bachelor’s degree in Ministry Leadership and Ethics.
Lt. Colonel Jeanne Baker enjoys time with her family. She also enjoys the outdoors, photography, baking, watercolor & calligraphy, teddy-bear making, and training her golden retriever.
W. Bramwell Bailey Assistant National Secretary
Bram Bailey currently serves as the Assistant National Secretary for The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO). In this role, he directs and coordinates all program sections in the office. These include community health, education, livelihoods, disaster relief and anti-human trafficking.
Bram works with staff to provide technical support to Salvation Army programs worldwide, and to facilitate partnerships with other development agencies. His work has included programs on nearly every continent.
He has experience in relief work in Southeast Asia, Haiti, Japan and the Philippines. He has served on several boards including participating and co-chairing of The CORE Group, an association of international non-governmental organizations that work to promote and improve the health and well-being of children and families.
Bram holds a master’s degree in International Educational Development. He speaks English and Spanish.
Maria Andrawis Technical Advisor for Livelihoods
Maria has worked in the development and humanitarian aid sectors for over 10 years, supporting vulnerable populations in the livelihood and other sectors. She has led field offices and managed programs funded by USAID, WFP, and other governmental, private, and multilateral agencies.
Most recently, Maria was the Field Director for Samaritan’s Purse in Syria, leading livelihoods and other initiatives for the displaced. She has also lived and/or worked in Iraq, Greece, and Jordan, among other countries, leading programs in the fields of agriculture, apprenticeship, business creation and restart, cash-for-assets, and youth employability and entrepreneurship programs in both developmental and humanitarian settings.
Maria earned her BA in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University, and her MA in International Economics and Middle East Studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). A native of northern Virginia, Maria is actively involved in her church community in Fairfax, and otherwise spends her time with her nieces and nephews, exploring the many parks and trails in the area, and trying her hand at a new art form. She is also currently studying for her Masters in Theology.
Douglas Bell Senior Technical Advisor for Education
Doug Bell is a Senior Technical Advisor for Education for The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO). He has 28 years’ experience in education and training, with the last 16 years in international development, including for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) projects and organizations such as World Vision.
He has served in Director and Senior Education Advisor roles on several basic education projects in countries such as Indonesia, Tanzania, Guatemala, India, Laos, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Somaliland and Papua New Guinea. Among his program specializations are early grade literacy, education management, teacher professional development, ICT and education and community engagement. His focus has consistently been in local capacity development and localized sustainable solutions.
He earned a M.Ed. in Instructional Design & Technology from The University of Virginia (1991) and a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology (1987) from George Mason University.
Justin Boswell Director of Operations
As the Director of Operations, Justin monitors the implementation of SAWSO’s strategic plan, drives the established framework for organizational effectiveness, and oversees goals, principles and standards for knowledge and performance management. Additionally, he develops and maintains policies and procedures for SAWSO, monitors project agreements and contracts to ensure organizational and partner compliance and supports program and finance staff in the management of projects. Whether it’s enhancing an internal process or designing new business tools and applications, Justin focuses on improving systems and overall organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
With over twenty years of experience working in for-profit and non-profit organizations, Justin's background includes human resources and project accounting. Early in his career, Justin lived in Ecuador and taught English, partnering with organizations such as the Fulbright Commission, Map International and Yachana.
As an avid outdoorsman residing in Alexandria, Virginia, Justin enjoys hiking, cycling, fishing, running, and camping.
Mary Bryant Staff Accountant
Mary Bryant is a staff accountant at The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO). She came to SAWSO in 1987 as a secretary shortly before graduating from Jefferson Business College. Her desire to have a job at SAWSO was greatly influenced and continues to be from the Salvation Army’s reputation of serving God and helping people -- Heart to God and Hand to Man. It is most rewarding to work in a Christian family oriented environment and to know that even the simplest thing you do is helping to make somebody’s life better around the world.
Arnel Cervantes Project Accountant
Arnel spent his prime years in the armed forces of the Philippines before migrating to the US. He served as an infantry, engineer, logistics and finance officer. He started as a platoon leader operating in the farthest outpost in the southern area of the country confronting both the threats from both separatists and insurgents groups and moved up slowly to occupy operational and strategic posts in a span of 20 years. Through the years, he has seen the challenges of poverty, wars and social injustice, and how they impede the potentials of a person, community, and, to a larger extent, a nation.
His military career was cut short with his family’s immigration to the US where, by the stroke of God’s hands, found him in a new “army” – The Salvation Army. As a Project Accountant for The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO), he’s in quite a different role from the regimented life that used to belong but finds fulfillment in trying to help change the world.
Arnel is married to Belle whose passion for teaching kids with special needs is indisputable and a father to three sons who are glad to learn various sports, skills and Christian values from their father. Arnel believes that “only one’s best is good enough to accomplish a mission”.
Tina Chong Executive Secretary
Tina Chong serves as the executive secretary to The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO). She has a background working as a security professional, serving as the liaison for several government contracting companies in a career spanning over 23 years.
She is married to Jin Chong, the information technology director for The Salvation Army National Headquarters, who has served NHQ since 2006. They have two growing children currently in high school who aspire to be a photographer and a Broadway actor.
Ronald Daoang Senior Accountant
Ronald Daoang has worked for The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO) for more than ten years and currently serves as the Senior Accountant responsible for generating various financial reports for management use. He also manages SAWSO’s Accounting System as well as oversees the banking transactions including wire transfer to Salvation Army offices overseas. He is a dedicated staff member and is truly “Doing the Most Good” as a good steward of donor’s money.
Ronald has more than twenty years of experience in various business sectors earning him full understanding of the different areas and functions of financial and general accounting, auditing, budgeting, contract management, bank control and cash management. This includes full knowledge of the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). He received his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at Northwestern University-Philippines in 1992 and passed the Philippine Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure Examinations in the same year.
Ronald is an immigrant from the Philippines and has lived in Annandale, Virginia since 2009.
Nalini Dwarka Program Administration Manager
Nalini Dwarka serves as Program Administration Manager for the Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO). She is responsible for the operation of the Program Department’s activities. In this role, she manages the project pipeline and ensures that projects are processed in accordance with SAWSO procedures.
Nalini joined SAWSO in June 2022 with over 25 years of service at The Salvation Army. Starting in 1994, she volunteered for The Salvation Army for 5 years and subsequently worked for 22 years in the National Community Relations and Development Section holding progressively more senior roles in administration and data analysis.
Nalini is a graduate of George Mason University. She has a BA in History and a Master’s in Public Health in Global Health with a certificate in Nutrition. She also holds a teacher’s certificate in education from the UK.
Nalini was born in Guyana, South America and spent 27 years in the UK. While there, she worked for HM Customs and Excise as a Value Added Tax Inspector for 8 years. She moved to the USA in 1988 and resides in Burke, Virginia.
Nalini enjoys reading, watching foreign movies, practicing yoga, gardening, and walking. She volunteers as a yoga instructor.
Ellen Farnham Controller
Ellen Farnham serves as Controller for the Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO). In this role the Finance Team is responsible for the stewardship of funds received and disbursed internationally where The Salvation Army serves. In addition Ellen provides fiscal management oversight of an $18+ million budget. As Controller she is responsible for SAWSO’s financial management systems, internal controls and reports, budgeting functions and financial audits of SAWSO’s activities.
With over 25 years in the Finance and Accounting arena, Ellen has served as Controller/VP of Business Relations for the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind and Business Manager for the Washington Business Journal, managing budgets from $5 million to $16 million.
Ellen earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Southern NH University and is a certified public accountant. It is an honor and privilege to be able to continue God’s work by making a difference in the lives of those supported and served by The Salvation Army.
Patience Fielding, Ph.D. Senior Technical Advisor for Education
Dr. Patience Fielding is a senior educationist with over 20 years of experience supporting teaching, learning, and human capacity development programs around the world.
Patience holds a Ph.D. in Education with a focus on International Development from the University of California at Berkeley, a Masters degree in Educational Technology from San Jose State University, and a Bachelors degree in English and French from the University of Yaoundé in Cameroon.
She also holds teaching certifications in Instructional Technology, Adult Education, English, and French from the State of California and a certificate for teaching French to speakers of other languages from the Centre for Applied Linguistics (CLA) in Besançon, France, one of the world's leading schools for French linguistics and teaching French as a foreign language. Her credentials also include teaching certifications in secondary and high school from the Ministry of Education in Cameroon.
As an educationist, Patience has collaborated with policy makers, global donors, practitioners, program implementers, ministries of education, schools, teachers and community organizations to improve policy, design, implementation and evaluation of education programs that increase equitable access to quality learning opportunities in urban, rural, conflict, and post conflict regions.
Using her thorough knowledge of instructional design theory, research, and practice, Patience has taken a full range of learning, development, and customized training activities for instructor-led, web-based training and learning programs, including design and development of instructional plans, delivery of training, and evaluation of program for effectiveness. She has also advised on appropriate approaches to improve the impact, scale, and sustainability of education programs in rural, urban, conflict, and post-conflict settings.
Charles Kane Project Accountant
Charles Kane serves as Project Accountant with The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO). His career experience includes serving in the public and non-profit sectors. Charles is a native Washingtonian and he has had the privilege of serving and helping strengthen families in the inner city with non-profit organizations such as Edgewood Brookland Family Support Collaborative and Catholic Charities Washington, DC.
Charles is thankful for being able to help God's people internationally through the mission of The Salvation Army. He is married to Monica where they both enjoy mentoring married couples in achieving financial freedom through the application of biblical principles. Charles also enjoys creating memorable moments through the spirit of laughter.
Elijah Karnley Technical Advisor for Construction & Real Estate Development
After over 22 years’ combined experience as an architect, city planner, and project manager, in both the public and private sector, Elijah joined the Salvation Army World Service Office as Technical Advisor for Construction & Real Estate Development. Elijah ensures that The Salvation Army’s portfolios of infrastructure / building assets receive maximum guidance, evaluation, decision making, and supervision, within cross-cultural settings, for mission delivery and in support of active program management, planning, and further investments. He coordinates local partners in the project design process and supervises the bidding and implementation management of construction projects across multiple countries. Elijah earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a diploma in city planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Architecture from Kennesaw State University. He also received a Master of Project Management and a Master of Public Administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management. Elijah is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Practice Based Design & Research in Architecture at Thomas Jefferson University.
Tara MacDowell Technical Advisor for International Business and Economic Development
Tara brings over 15 years of experience at the intersection of global health, sustainability and social innovation. Most recently, she served as the Senior Manager of Impact and Sustainability at LifeStraw, where she led the company’s social and environmental responsibility initiatives, as well as their global humanitarian and disaster response efforts. Prior to LifeStraw, she worked with the Innovations team at Jhpiego, where she led efforts to integrate design thinking principles into the development of novel community health interventions.
Tara has lived and worked across Latin America and Africa, and is deeply committed to community-led design, firmly believing that the most effective and sustainable solutions come from those directly impacted. In her current role as Technical Advisor for International Business and Economic Development, she focuses on empowering financial independence and program sustainability through strategic capacity building and local development of new social enterprises and other income generation initiatives.
Tara holds a BS in Neuroscience from Davidson College, an MPH from the University of Pennsylvania, and an Executive Certificate in Innovation and Human-Centered Design from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. She lives in Baltimore City with her partner and young son, and spends her free time outdoors, practicing yoga, and listening to podcasts on long walks (and now, long commutes!).
Phil Moses Senior Technical Advisor for Health
Phil is the Senior Technical Advisor for Health at the Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO). Phil has always felt called to live out his Christian faith by working with and learning from folks who have been pushed to the margins of society. He is enthusiastic about incorporating dialogue education principles into development work.
He has dedicated over 25 years to global public health, focusing on community health and social behavior change. Phil and his wife, Elizabeth, spent five years in rural Nicaragua with the Mennonite Central Committee on a primary health care project. He led health and nutrition programs at Food for the Hungry for five years, promoting maternal and child health and mental health. Phil also worked on USAID’s SPRING nutrition project in Sierra Leone and Guinea, and integrated nutrition support for HIV patients in Côte d’Ivoire and Haiti with USAID’s FANTA project. Phil enjoys cooking (and eating!), biking, and hiking, and spending time with Elizabeth and their (allegedly) adult children. He speaks French and Spanish.
Aimal Murady Technical Advisor – Capacity Development and Project Management
Aimal Murady is an international development practitioner with expertise in program management, capacity building and stakeholder management with nonprofits, international development organizations and federal agencies. He has managed capacity building and community development programs supported by major donors, including USAID and U.S. Department of State. He formerly managed the largest Rule of Law capacity building program in Afghanistan funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
As Technical Advisor – Capacity Development and Project Management, Aimal works to build capacity across multiple aspects of organizational and development practices to strengthen resiliency and improve the effectiveness of Salvation Army country offices. He is also responsible for shepherding a portfolio of projects through the multiple stages of the project lifecycle including coordinating proposal development, project implementation, reporting and documentation, stakeholder engagement and project closing.
Aimal has lived and worked in South Asia, and speaks several South Asian languages including Dari, Pashto, Hindi, Tamil and Urdo. He has a master’s degree in Political Science with a focus on public policy and international relations from University of Pune in India.
Aimal enjoys cooking, music, hiking, cycling, and spending time with family!
Guisela Rojas-Rolon Project Accountant
Guisela Rojas-Rolon has been employed by The Salvation Army for twenty-five years, working at National Headquarters, Alexandria, Virginia; the Puerto Rico Division, Eastern Territory; and her current position as Project Accountant for The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO).
She also worked at the Panamerican Development Foundation, a non-profit organization that assists vulnerable and excluded communities in the Americas for four years. As the Project Officer for the Tools and Training Program, she assisted with in-kind donations of tools, medical and dental equipment that benefit health facilities and vocational training schools in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Guisela began her employment at National Headquarters in Alexandria, VA first in the Resource Center and then in the Finance Department. In the Finance Department, she was promoted several times from Financial Assistant to Payroll/Accounts Receivable accountant, and finally Chief Accountant. She moved to Puerto Rico to work at The Salvation Army Puerto Rico Division. In the nine years that she worked at the Puerto Rico Divisional Headquarters, Guisela held the position of Divisional Accountant for three years before being promoted to Assistant to the Finance Director. She believes that the international nature of The Salvation Army provides opportunities for service and helping people everywhere, irrespective of the location where one is employed. In June 2014 Guisela moved back to Virginia and joined the SAWSO Team.
Guisela is from Nicaragua. She obtained a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Universidad Centroamericana in Managua, Nicaragua. She has also earned a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. She is fully Bi-lingual (English and Spanish). She currently resides in Alexandria, VA with her family and dogs.
Alexandra Samaniego Technical Advisor for International Business and Economic Development
Alexandra is an economic development professional with over 14 years of experience driving economic growth, fostering community engagement, and empowering entrepreneurial initiatives globally. As the Technical Advisor for International Business and Economic Development at Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO), Alexandra combines a deep understanding of community empowerment with a strong entrepreneurial mindset to advance the mission of The Salvation Army (TSA).
In this pivotal role, Alexandra works to develop and implement social enterprises that generate local income to support TSA’s community missions. She is responsible for coaching global TSA partners in creating and executing innovative business models, from ideation and business planning to market research, and stakeholder engagement. By leveraging a full spectrum of small business development strategies, Alexandra ensures the sustainable social impact of projects, focusing on diverse areas including social enterprises, property redevelopment, agriculture, and impact investing.
Prior to joining SAWSO, Alexandra served as the Senior Small Business Development Manager at the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), where she led several impactful projects that benefited over 5,000 low-income and minority-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in the DMV area.
With experience as a Branch Director at the National Bank of Ecuador and as the founder of Artesenías Macabeita, (craft stores-3) dedicated to promoting indigenous artisans, Alexandra has shown a profound commitment to community empowerment and economic development. Her work has successfully advanced the cause of indigenous female entrepreneurs and fostered sustainable business practices.
Alexandra holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Commerce and Trade (ESPOCH- Ecuador), and certifications in Nonprofit Management (Georgetown University) and Project Management (University of Maryland). She is fluent in English and Spanish.
Tammy Williams Senior Technical Advisor for Anti-Human Trafficking
Tammy Williams is the Senior Technical Advisor for Anti-Human Trafficking for the Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO). She has a passion for social justice and holistic wellbeing which led to studies in Law, Masters in Arts (Clinical Psychology), and a current pursuit of a Master’s in Public Health.
She worked with patients with psychiatric disorders and learnt about various ways that trauma can express itself. She then worked in the field of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) with victims of trafficking in India, before moving to Cambodia and working with a UN agency working to serve vulnerable migrants, primarily asylum seekers, refugees and victims of trafficking. These roles have included a range of mental health and psychosocial support technical expertise, project development and management, research initiatives, monitoring and evaluation, and capacity building projects with a wide range of stakeholders.
Tammy is also current resident of Washington DC; a wife and mother; an enthusiastic but not very competent language learner; a coffee addict; and a 'Kiwi' (the New Zealand citizen - not the fruit, nor the bird).
Damon Winters Director for International Business and Economic Development
Damon Winters serves as the Director for International Business and Economic Development with the Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO). Working closely with regional and country-level Salvation Army commands around the world, he’s responsible for empowering their financial independence and the sustainability of programs through strategic capacity building and new income generation. This work focuses on iterative innovation, discovery and leveraging of competitive advantages, and growth through collaborative systems.
Damon has personal and professional overseas experience including 18 months in Haiti assisting with recovery and redevelopment after the 2010 earthquake. His career includes working in microfinance and small business development with marginalized communities throughout Chicago, all levels of fundraising and resource development, relationship management, and teaching entrepreneurship at Wheaton College.
He holds an MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago and speaks English and Spanish. He spends any spare time reading, growing food, sailing, or watching Chicago sports.