About Us
We are a group of volunteers dedicated to Afghan families as they resettle in the United States. With many veterans on our team, we deployed to Afghanistan in the past, we helped these families escape, and we are committed to helping them start again. OEF Resettlement Project exists to add community support to Afghan refugee families' short, medium, and long-term needs.
This group identifies the needs of specific Afghan families based on previous relationships and ongoing communications, educates ourselves on the various government programs, and mobilizes to supplement their short, medium, and long-term integration efforts.
Meet the Team
Chris LiggetT
Chris is a founding member of the OEF Resettlement Project. He served in Afghanistan as an infantry platoon leader in 2014, and he is an active-duty Major in Special Operations Civil Affairs with counterterrorism experience in Northwest Africa.
Chris earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from West Point in 2012. He will serve as an instructor at the military academy after completing a Master of Arts Degree in English Literature at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Heather McDowell
Heather is a founding member of the OEF Resettlement Project. She is an Afghanistan War Veteran, serving with Special Operations Forces supporting Village Stability Operations. Heather was in the Army Reserves for 10 years, five of which were on active duty. She worked as a General's Aide and has completed internships with Senator John McCain and Spirit of America.
Prior to joining the Army, Heather was a firefighter/paramedic in Central Arizona. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate at the Institute of World Politics in Washington D.C. She earned a Master of Science in International Security from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Global Security and Intelligence Studies from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.
Paige Ryan
Growing up in rural America, patriotism runs deep in Paige's blood. From traveling the nation representing the sport of rodeo to raising livestock, Paige knows firsthand what hard work and dedication can bring.
Currently, she is relaunching her family's livestock breeding operation, the Double Lazy A, while also volunteering her time supporting youth in rodeo. Before returning to the ranch, Paige worked for organizations such as Merck Animal Health and Stanford University. Paige holds a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Communications and Journalism from Kansas State University, where she was a member of the 2011 Reserve National Champion NCAA Division 1 Equestrian Team.
Our larger team consists of individuals from various military and civilian backgrounds centered in our primary refugee relocation cities.