About Grunt Works

Learn about our mission, leadership team, and how we're serving the veteran community through elite training, community support, and unwavering dedication to those who serve and have served.

Our Mission

The Grunt Works Association (GWA) is a veteran-led nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of United States military service members, veterans, their families, and civilian patriots alike through elite fitness and human performance programs, professional combat arts training, tactical consulting, outdoor recreational initiatives, unhoused-veteran vocational rehabilitation programs, and unwavering community support. We exist to empower those who serve and have served by fostering strength, resilience, community, and purpose—on and off the battlefield.

Our Vision

We envision a bold, purpose-driven community where every individual, especially our nation’s service members and veterans, have access to elite-level training, transformative vocational rehabilitation, and meaningful recreation that strengthens the value of brotherhood/sisterhood, strengthens the body, sharpens the mind, and restores the soul.

Our vision is to become a national leader in fitness and human performance, combat arts education, and veteran vocational rehabilitation by offering:

  • World-class programs in physical training, martial arts, and firearms safety that empower individuals with confidence, discipline, and self-mastery.
  • Recreational experiences and facilities that foster health, brotherhood/sisterhood, and family-friendly engagement across generations.
  • Long-term housing and vocational rehabilitation for unhoused military veterans, guiding them through a structured, 12–18-month journey to recovery, stability, and workforce readiness.
  • A membership-based environment where civilian patriots and veterans alike can train, grow, and connect through shared values of resilience, honor, and service.

We aim to build and sustain state-of-the-art, bicoastal headquarters campuses complete with fitness centers, firearm ranges, community event centers, motorsport tracks, trails, retail outlets, golf driving ranges, member lounges, and temporary residential facilities for unhoused veterans within our vocational rehabilitation program—serving as a model for similar centers nationwide.

By combining community, capability, and cause, we will inspire thousands to rise above mediocrity, embrace responsibility, and become the warriors, leaders, and protectors their families and communities need. We are committed to being STRONGER, SMARTER, and DILIGENT. 

We do the Grunt Work!

Organization Values

Community

We foster a deep sense of brotherhood, sisterhood, family, and camaraderie that transcends military service and creates lifelong bonds.

Integrity

We operate with honesty, transparency, and a commitment to doing what's right for our members and our community.

Excellence

We maintain the highest standards in all of our training programs and initiatives, never compromising on quality or safety.

Selfless Service

We continue to serve our community, country, and our fellow veterans through programs, initiatives, resources, and support.

Organizational Structure

  • Governance

    Board of Directors

    Advisory Board

    Executive Committees

    Audit Committee

  • Operations

    Training Programs

    Recreational Initiatives

    Member Services

    Event Management

  • Support

    Volunteer Coordination

    Fundraising

    Communications

    Technology

Board of Directors

Our board consists of distinguished United States military veterans and community leaders who bring decades of combined experience in military service, business leadership, health & wellness professionalism, and non-profit management.

Javon Burke Sr.

President & Executive Director

Javon Burke Sr. is an 11-year U.S. Army/ Washington National Guard veteran, husband, father of 9, certified personal trainer, entrepreneur, published author, and motivational speaker. Before being medically-retired as a Sergeant (E5), he served honorably in the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade and the 81st Stryker Brigade with two deployments, first as a 91B Heavy Diesel Mechanic then as an 11B Infantryman. Since retirement in 2023, he has also acquired his Real Estate Management Certificate and Business Management Degree. Leading The Grunt Works Association alongside its directors, advisors, staff, volunteers, and members in the GWA mission is one of his top priorities.

Anthony Taylor

Vice President

Anthony Taylor is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, a two-time national motorcycle road-racing champion, a skilled HVAC professional and small business owner. From 2010 to 2016, Anthony served honorably in the Marines as a Sergeant (E5) with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines (Lima Company), leading squad and platoon-level infantry operations. He deployed to Afghanistan and took part in multilateral training exercises across Australia, Tonga, and Hawaii before being medically retired. Leading this organization in it's mission is of great and personal importance to him.

Katie Burke

Secretary

Katie Burke is a wife, mother, certified nursing assistant, nationally certified medical assistant, entrepreneur, and continues to pursue nursing. She has been in the medical field for over 12 years and continues to work with the public because of the empathy and sympathy she possesses. Katie comes from a family with multiple relatives who served in the military. Her grandfather served as a diver for the navy for 21 years, contributing his experience as a captain for the ferry boats of Seattle, WA. Her father served 20 years in the army, and Katie has worked side by side with veterans during her time at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Tacoma, WA. She remains passionate about working with service members and furthering that passion through The Grunt Works Association. 

Ture "Ricky" Olson

Treasurer

Ture is a 22-Year U.S. Army/ Washington National Guard veteran. He served honorably (2001-2023) as a 91B-Mechanic/11B Infantryman with multiple deployments. He was medically retired as a Staff Sergeant (E6) after his last deployment to Poland as an Infantry Stryker Squad Leader. He's worked as an 01 Commercial Electrician until 2008, then became a Federal Technician Heavy Diesel Mechanic, and eventually hired into a lead position in the calibration lab. His incredible understanding and experience with numbers and doing uncertainty analysis with electrical tolerances has lead him into a career with Boeing. His passions are his family, soldiers, wellness, and hobbies such as motorcycle riding, working out, and shooting to name a few. Ricky strives to have a great impact on the veteran and service member community with the work he does with this organization.  

Maritza Porter

Program Director

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Kenneth "Ken" Langston

Director of Communications

Ken Langston is a 10-year Washington Army National Guard veteran. Most of his career was spent as a 91B Heavy Diesel Mechanic and performing duties of an aviation door gunner for UH-60 Blackhawks. While serving, he attended college full-time, worked three-quarter time, helped other veteran organizations, and worked on providing a happy home.  After graduating with his degree in Communication Studies from the University of Washington, Seattle, he’s still assisting with helping veterans in his community.

Today, he is working in a maintenance role and still working on education. He spends time with his girlfriend, Tonya, Warren, and his two dogs, Juno and Bader. He is very enthusiastic and willing to help at any cost to assist in the veteran community today and for the future.

Jeff Weimer

Director of Combat Arts

Jeffrey Weimer is a 5-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran, certified marksmanship coach, and dedicated combat arts instructor with a proven track record in leadership, technical precision, and performance under pressure. From 2010 to 2015, he served honorably as an E-4 with MALS-24, specializing in aircraft electronics and earning recognition as a marksmanship coach, where he trained and mentored Marines in weapons handling and firearms proficiency. Following his military service, Jeff continued to build on his technical expertise as an instrumentation and electronics technician in the power industry. He also earned his USCCA marksmanship coaching certification, further sharpening his instructional skills and commitment to developing others.

Outside of his professional life, Jeffrey is a competitive motorcycle racer, actively participating in national-level road racing and endurance off-road events. His competitive background fuels his approach to combat training—focused, disciplined, and performance-driven. Whether on the track or on the mat, he brings intensity, purpose, and a deep passion for helping others unlock their potential, especially within the veteran community.

“Know yourself and you will win all battles."

— Sun Tzu