Our Story

Meet K9s on The
Front Line

Our story began several years ago when a few driven and caring professionals coalesced around a common theme, moved to the core by an up close and personal encounter with what became our cause and mission.

K9s on The Front Line was founded in 2016 by Hagen Blaszyk and Linda Murray after realizing the need for a dedicated organization to provide Service Dogs to combat Veterans. The inspiration came from their experience training their own dogs at a facility where Law Enforcement K9 handlers were preparing dogs for Veterans in North Carolina. Recognizing the significant need among military Veterans, Blaszyk and Murray assembled a team of compassionate patriots to establish the organization. Since then, K9s on The Front Line has grown through partnerships with local and national organizations and the support of Veterans and their families, who continue to spread the word about its impact. In 2024, the incredible founders, Hagen and Linda, decided to pass the torch to Jason and Lynn Howe. Jason and his beloved service dog, Sobee, went through the program together in Maine. After graduating top of their class, they began the chapter of K9s On the Front Line in Missouri in 2018 and it immediately took off. Jason and Lynn have been a huge asset to the community, along with the lives they have changed and saved between Veterans/First Responders and dogs.

Providing Purpose
& Hope

PTSD develops as a normal reaction to a highly abnormal, traumatic situation. The after-effects of combat have lingered with our Veterans/First Responders for far too long, exacting a brutal toll on their lives. Every single day, 22 families in the US lose a military veteran and First Responder which numbers are even higher to suicide linked directly to PTSD. It can take years after exiting the service for post-traumatic stress to be identified, with symptoms often presenting themselves like a moving target. At the same time, more than a million shelter dogs are euthanized annually. K9s on The Front Line’s program saves such dogs, and they in turn save their Veteran/First Responders recipients; both having their second chance at life with more meaning, hope, purpose and partnership than ever.

Who We Are
Jason Howe

President and CEO

Jason Howe

President and CEO

Jason Howe brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his role as Executive Director. A Navy Veteran who served as a Master At Arms from 2002-2007 with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Jason has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment throughout his distinguished career. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business, which complements his practical experience and enhances his ability to lead effectively. As a published author and speaker along with being Master Dog Trainer and a client of this amazing program himself, he has transformed countless lives through his work. Now leading the organization as Executive Director, Jason continues to make a profound impact. His unique blend of military discipline, advanced dog training expertise, business acumen, and personal experience with service dogs positions him as an exceptional leader and advocate in his field.

Lynn Howe

Vice President/Director of Operations

Lynn Howe

Vice President/Director of Operations

Lynn Howe serves as Vice President and Director of Operations for K9s on the Front Line, collaborating closely with her husband, Jason, to drive mission-focused daily operations. Formerly a Registered Nurse, Lynn transitioned to the role of Assistant to the Midwest Coordinator for K9s on the Front Line Missouri in 2022. She is also a certified Personal Finance Coach, passionate about mentoring families. Lynn’s extensive leadership experience and dedication to mental health advocacy empower both veterans and their families within and beyond the K9sOTFL program.

Travis Reynders

Board Member

Travis Reynders

Board Member

Travis was born in Albany, NY and raised in St. Louis, MO. Travis enlisted in the Marine Corps in November 2010. Travis served as an Infantry Assaultman based out of Camp Pendleton, CA until March 2015. Then moved to Jefferson City, MO, where his wife, Lyndsey, was born and raised. Travis returned to college after leaving active duty and finished in 2016 and then earned a Masters of Business Administration in 2018 both from Columbia College. Lyndsey and Travis have two children: Watson (8) & Gwendolyn (5). Travis is currently the R.I.S.E. Outreach Manager for the Gary SInise Foundation, and have been with the Gary Sinise Foundation since March 2018. 

Heather Brown

Board Member

Heather Brown

Board Member

Heather Brown has worked at Truman VA Hospital for over sixteen years in various roles, including Health Benefits Advisor, Communications Specialist, and Strategic Partnership Officer. She currently serves as a Health Systems Specialist in the Health Informatics Service Line. An Army combat veteran, Heather is passionate about helping fellow Veterans access healthcare and benefits. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Missouri, with published work in an anthology. Recognized as one of Columbia’s 20 Under 40 in 2020, she serves on the Southern Boone School Board and lives in Ashland with her husband Ryan and their son Collin.

Adam Gresham

Board Member

Adam Gresham

Board Member

Adam Gresham, a Jefferson City native and All-State athlete at Jefferson City High School, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1997 with a BS in Political Science. He served seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Infantry and Intelligence Officer, holding roles such as Scout Sniper Platoon Commander and Marine Officer Instructor.

After leaving the Marine Corps in 2004, Adam worked in the private sector before joining Governor Matt Blunt’s administration as Senior Policy Advisor on Veterans and public safety. He later served as Policy Director for the Missouri Senate’s Majority Caucus and spent eight years as Chief of Staff for Senator Mike Kehoe. He continues to serve as Chief of Staff to Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, focusing on improving services for Missouri Veterans.

Adam lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Ashley, and their three sons, Cole, Myles, and Grey. He is an active member of Concord Baptist Church and enjoys outdoor activities like hunting and fishing.

Erica Griffin

Treasurer

Erica Griffin

Treasurer

Erica Griffin, CPA, is the Controller at Central Sign & Lighting, LLC, a family business owned
and operated by her husband. Prior to that she spent nine years as the Controller for Missouri
Development Finance Board and eleven years with Bert Doerhoff CPA, P.C. where she worked
her way from college to obtaining her CPA license. Erica has spent many years working with
small business owners and enjoys being able to provide one on one assistance on issues
unique to small organizations.

Greg Bier

Board Member

Greg Bier

Board Member

Greg is the Executive Director of Entrepreneurship Programs at the University of Missouri. In that role he serves as the Director of the University of Missouri Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities. Dr. Bier is a U.S. Army veteran and completed his military service that began in 1985 with an assignment as an Operations Officer for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 2004. He was the founding Director of the United States Humanitarian Demining Training Center and the United States Army Engineer School’s Countermine Training Center. He is the owner of the Eagle Cliff Company, LLC and co-owner of Raymond-Bier Holdings, LLC and Influence and Company, LLC.  

Elise Brion

Secretary

Elise Brion

Secretary

Elise R Brion is a certified Holistic Nutrition/Health-Wellness Consultant and Manager at the Pompa Program, specializing in cellular detoxification. She has over 10 years of experience in home-birth midwifery, 7 years in Orthopedic Medicine at the Missouri Orthopedic Institute, and 13 years as a social media advocate for holistic healing. As a published author and speaker, she has addressed mental health issues in rehab and eating disorder units. Elise supports dog rescue organizations like Columbia Second Chance and, along with her fiancé Chris Dunn, cares for five rescue dogs. They work together to support Veterans and rescue dogs through K9s on the Frontline.

Tommy Hutchinson

Head Trainer/Veteran Liaison

Tommy Hutchinson

Head Trainer/Veteran Liaison

Thomas Hutchinson proudly served in the United States Army from 1998-2015. During his service, he served as a combat Veteran in the Iraq war, working as an Combat Engineer.   Upon his retirement in 2015, the purpose he had felt from his military career began to slip away. His anxiety, PTSD and effects of a TBI following the war became overwhelming. His life changed, and his purpose was restored in a new way when he found the K9s on the Front Line organization and got matched with this battle buddy and service dog, Witten. Witten instantly began healing the emotional wounds from the war.

Hagen Blaszyk, MD

Co-Founder

Hagen Blaszyk, MD

Co-Founder

Dr. Hagen Blaszyk has a keen interest in helping military Veterans with PTSD regain their lives. He spent many years living oppressed in a dictatorship behind the Iron Curtain and knows firsthand that freedom is not free. He strives to connect people and organizations in order to change the trajectory of our Veterans in need, and he provides medical insight, application and intake processes, aftercare and outcome measures to the team.

Linda Murray

Co-Founder

Linda Murray

Co-Founder

As a founding partner of K9s on The Front Line, Linda has tremendous experience in organizational team building and motivating others. Her own personal experiences and firm grasp on the emotional depth of our joint cause are key in representing the organization. 

We Proudly Partner With:

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Service Dog Program

This is an advanced program for Veterans who need a fully trained and certified Service Dog that allows access to all public places as defined by ADA federal law.

Learn More
Companion Dog Program

This is a more basic program for Veterans who don’t need a fully trained PTSD Service Dog, but would benefit from a well-trained, four-legged companion.

Learn More
Financial Disclosures

As a nonprofit that provides our services to Veterans completely free-of-charge, financial transparency is important to us.

News & Resources

August 10, 2020

To Crate Or Not To…

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August 17, 2020

Dogs and Water

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March 12, 2020

Brown Dog Carriers & Logistics…

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Check out our blog for upcoming news, events, helpful resources, and more.

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