Rebekah Williams Lovorn

Rebekah Williams Lovorn


Executive Director

Prior to joining NGS in 2010, Rebekah served in the Department of Homeland Security. In 2006, she accepted an assignment with the Department of State Global Outreach team in Iraq. While there she coordinated multinational press corps events throughout Iraq, and worked directly with Ambassadors, military commanders, Iraqi Ministers, and local Iraqi leaders on communication outreach strategies. Rebekah began her career at The White House Office of Communications.  

A native of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Rebekah received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration – Marketing from Mississippi State University. She lives with her husband and children in Northern Virginia. 

Kanon Carlson

Kanon Carlson


Director of Foundation Operations

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2011, Kanon was an International Operations Manager for Security Enhancement Program at L-3 Communications. Her previous experience was at the Department of Homeland Security as the Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Acting Deputy Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Congressional Affairs. In support of the White House, Kanon traveled to military bases both domestic and international, including travel throughout the Middle East. She has worked extensively with the Department of Defense, Department of State; including Ambassadors, government leaders, and foreign leaders; and has experience coordinating both international press and the White House Press Corps.  

Kanon is from Houston, Texas, and received a bachelor’s degree in biology and minor in chemistry from Baylor University. Her husband, Mark, is a former officer in the United States Marine Corps. Kanon and Mark live with their children in Texas.

Boston Gilbert

Boston Gilbert


Associate Director

Prior to joining NGS in 2022, Boston owned and operated his own protein supplement company, Honeybeard, which benefits veteran mental health organizations. Boston also has experience as a speaker and ambassador for other organizations that benefit Gold Star children. A former NGS Recipient, Boston received funding from NGS to attend Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. Boston's father, Major Troy Gilbert, was killed in action near Taji, Iraq in 2006 while providing close air support to Delta Force operators on the ground.

Boston graduated from SMU with a B.S. in Applied Physiology and Sport Management and a minor in Sport Performance Leadership where he was a member of the SMU Men's Soccer team. After graduating from SMU, Boston earned a M.A. in Leadership from Dallas Baptist University and was team captain of the DBU Men's Soccer team.
Sherry Koch

Sherry Koch

Program Manager

Prior to joining No Greater Sacrifice, Sherry was employed as Scholarship Program Manager at ThanksUSA for over a decade. She oversaw the applications, selections and distributions of thousands of scholarships awarded to the children and spouses of military Service members. Celebrating the academic achievements of scholars has been the highlight of her non-profit career. As the parent of a college student, Sherry adds personal experience to navigating financial aid and military benefits.

Married to her active-duty husband for 29 years, Sherry has experienced life in a dozen military duty stations in six states and currently calls Northern Virginia home.

Amy Ryder

Amy Ryder


Program Coordinator

Amy joined NGS in 2024 after three decades in the DOD intelligence community.  She initially served as an Air Force intelligence Officer at the Pentagon and in bases in Korea, Germany, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Bosnia.  As a contractor for PatchPlus Consulting, she managed collaborative teams and led some of their most complex contracts.

Amy grew up in southwest Pennsylvania, earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State then a M.S. in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University.  She and her husband Pat met while both stationed in Turkey.  Ten years into a friendship with Troy and Ginger Gilbert, Troy was killed in action in Iraq and Amy witnessed military families sacrifice and organizations like NGS supporting them.  Amy and Pat live in northern Virginia, and you can catch their sons Austin and Christian in music scenes in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.