About Us
Your Next Mission® VCS — A Veterans Community Support Program is made up of Veterans, Military Spouses, and professionals dedicated to supporting Veterans and their Families during and after their transition from military service, helping them navigate and thrive in civilian life and the broader community.
Our Leadership
12th SMA (R) Jack L. Tilley
Ted Hacker
COL (R) Caroline KM Smith
Jack L. Tilley
Jack L. Tilley served as the 12th Sergeant Major of the Army from June 2000 – January 2004. A Vietnam War Veteran, SMA Tilley has held a variety of important leadership positions throughout his 36-year career. Now retired, SMA Tilley continues to serve as advisor, leader, and supporter of all Servicemembers, Veterans and their Families as co-founder of the American Freedom Foundation. As the host of the Your Next Mission® video podcast, he continues to impart his experience and advice to those transitioning from military to civilian life.
Ted Hacker
Co-Founder and President
American Freedom Foundation
Ted Hacker began his career in artist management in the country music business as Founder and President of International Artist Management (IAM). More than 30 years later, he traveled to Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and Uzbekistan with the 12th Sergeant Major of the Army, Jack L. Tilley, to perform for our troops – an experience Hacker says, “Changed My Life!” After SMA Tilley’s retirement in 2004, the two co-founded the American Freedom Foundation (AFF) with a distinct mission of doing whatever they could to help Veterans and their Families.
Over the next 22 years, AFF has helped thousands of Veterans, Transitioning Military Servicemembers and Military Families through its Your Next Mission® program initiative providing jobs, resources, one-on-one support and more than $1.5 million to Veteran charities across the country.
Caroline (Carrie) Smith
Caroline (Carrie) Smith served over 23 years in the U.S.Army as a Military Police officer from 1997- 2021. An Iraq and Afghanistan War Veteran, COL(R) Carrie Smith served in a variety of leadership positions culminating as a Brigade Commander and the Commandant of the United States Disciplinary Barracks. In military retirement, Carrie continues to serve her fellow Veterans and Service Members as the Your Next Mission®- Veteran Community Support (VCS) Program Manager.
Carrie stood up the Your Next Mission®- VCS program in 2024 and has assisted over 1,000 Veterans obtain the assistance they require for their unique needs and circumstances.
In her free time, she enjoys working out, gardening, reading, playing with her dog, deep sea fishing, and big game hunting.
More about our Organization
American Freedom Foundation (AFF) honors, serves and supports Veterans, Military Servicemembers, and their Families by creating awareness and building support of their service, sacrifice and needs through partnerships with military focused organizations.
Your Next Mission® is a program of the American Freedom Foundation co-founded by the 12th SMA (R) Jack L. Tilley and Ted Hacker.