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OUR TEAM
The Black Feather Foundation is led by a mission-first team of operators, advocates, and professionals who bring real-world experience to complex humanitarian challenges. From military service and nonprofit leadership to diplomacy, finance, behavioral science, and program execution, our team has worked in high-pressure environments where trust, precision, and follow-through matter. We are united by a shared commitment to service, accountability, and action, and we lead with the belief that disciplined, values-driven people can move fast, adapt, and make a measurable difference when it matters most.
Joseph E. Robert III
Founder & Chairman of the Board
Joseph is a former Reconnaissance Marine and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran. Expanding on his service overseas, he earned a bachelor’s in International Studies from American University’s School of International Service in Washington, D.C.
Joseph’s international acumen and relationships were the lynchpin of the Afghanistan evacuation effort through the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), in August 2021, colloquially called Task Force 6:8 (TF 6:8). TF 6:8 was a group of military veterans that came together to evacuate approximately 12,000 refugees from Afghanistan in the final weeks of U.S. military withdrawal. Following the U.S. withdrawal, and recognizing the continued need, Joseph, along with several other members of TF 6:8, founded The Black Feather Foundation. He was an integral member of the continued rescue operations and the resettlement of more than 15,000 Afghan refugees to countries around the world. Joseph previously served as a Board Member of the Youth Leadership Foundation from 2007 to 2011 and is currently a Board Member of Fight for Children, Inc. since 2009.
Patti Katter
President & Chief Executive Officer
Patti brings over 30 years of comprehensive experience in the nonprofit sector to her role, with significant contributions both in the United States and internationally. Her diverse efforts have assisted numerous nonprofits and encompassed a wide array of philanthropic opportunities.
Over the past 17 years, she has deliberately focused on advocating for and assisting U.S. military veterans, their families and caregivers. Patti's broad experience in the nonprofit sector and her personal dedication to caring for military families, continues to shape her unique and impactful approach to leadership.
Iqbal Najimi
Regional Outreach | Program Director
Iqbal holds a bachelor's degree in Political Sciences and Public Administration from The American University of Afghanistan, and a master's degree in International Relations from Kardan University in Afghanistan.
Iqbal is a former Afghan diplomat at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., with nearly a decade of experience in the following sectors: diplomacy, strategic research and analysis, policy formulation, team management and briefing high-level clients. In Abu Dhabi, Iqbal assisted The Black Feather Foundation and provided consular services through the embassy to all Afghan guests in the Emirates Humanitarian City.
Dr. Omri Geva
BFK9 Program Coordinator | Chief Operations Officer
Dr. Omri Geva holds a PhD in Animal Behavior and brings more than 15 years of professional experience in advanced animal training and behavior management. His background includes training marine mammals at SeaWorld and receiving commendations from the U.S. Military Working Dog Program.
Dr. Geva has developed service and protection dogs for a wide range of clients, including military and law enforcement personnel, private security professionals, executives, and international clients. His work focuses on performance reliability in high-stress and operational environments. As Chief Operations Officer, he leads the BFK9 program, overseeing the training and placement of service dogs for military veterans and first responders, as well as protection dogs for survivors of abuse, through The Black Feather Foundation’s internal referral process.
Marc Loi
Volunteer Coordinator
Marc is a strategic communications advisor at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and spent nearly 20 years in the Army, including time supporting the Afghan Evacuation Mission at Middle Eastern refugee camps.
He came to America as a young child and sees in refugee children versions of his younger self. He remembers the challenges he faced as a child - and he people who mentored and loved him - and wants to ensure the children the Black Feather Foundation serves get the same opportunities to grow up healthy, happy, and confident like he did.
Kristen Rice
Chief Financial Officer
Kristen brings over 11 years of accounting experience to her role, including serving The Black Feather Foundation's (TBFF) accounting and bookkeeping needs since February 2023.
With a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from University of California San Diego, her academic achievements are complemented by her entrepreneurial background. She previously owned a sports-related medical staffing business that served local non-profit organizations for more than seven years. As a devoted military spouse, Kristen's service experiences embody TBFF's mission to uplift communities and support those in need.
