Joint Task Force K9s is a faith-based nonprofit enriching the lives of Active-Duty Military, Combat Veterans, and Law Enforcement with disabilities through K9 Therapy classes and the placement of specially trained Service Dogs. Our goal is to prevent Veteran and Law Enforcement suicide and help our nation’s Heroes with their integration back into the community by providing gains of mobility, independence, and peace of mind for Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injuries.
Keith Holland enlisted into the NC Army National Guard as a Military Police in April 1998. In 2001, he enlisted again into the Army on Active Duty and was assigned to the 988th MP Company, at Fort Benning, GA. While assigned to the 988th MP Company, he served at the Pentagon in support of Operation Noble Eagle in 2001 and 2002. In May 2003, he attended the Special Forces Qualification Course and earned the coveted Green Beret in 2005. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rdSpecial Forces Group (Airborne) as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant. Since 2005, Keith has deployed on seven tours. He has two tours to Afghanistan as part of an ODA and three tours to Iraqi as part of the Combatant Commanders In-extremis Force Company. Keith then served as an Instructor at the Special Forces Qualification Course. Following his SWC tour, he reclassified to a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) deploying on two CNT's (Counter Narcotics Trafficking) tours to Tajikistan. After having issues battling PTSD and TBI’s he was assigned to Advance Skills Company, where he started the medical retirement process. Keith medically retired from the army with 18 1/2 years of service to his country.
After struggling with PTSD/TBI Keith received his Service Dog Quill in October of 2018 which changed his life. His new mission in life is to help keep Veterans and Law Enforcement from going through what he endured. On 22nd July 2022 he Founded Joint Task Force K9s with his wife Lori to combat Veteran and Law Enforcement suicide. Keith is a fourth generation Veteran and lives in Myrtle Beach, SC with his wife Lori Holland and has two children Christian and Abigail.
Lori Holland is the Cofounder/COO of Joint Task Force K9s. She is the wife of Army Special Forces Veteran Keith Holland and the daughter of a 3rd generation Army Veteran. Lori was born in Seoul, Korea and had the opportunity to live the military life of moving around the world as a dependent. Her family settled in the Fort Bragg, NC area where she attended Fayetteville Technical Community College and started a career in the food industry. She had an extensive career working at Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Fayetteville, NC for over 12 years. Lori meet Keith during his medical retirement process at Fort Bragg. She was an integral part of Keith’s recovery process. In January of 2017 Lori and Keith relocated and settled in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Once in SC Lori started a new career in the health care field where she found her passion in helping others. She has volunteered her time to her community through Hurricane relief efforts, SARs, and other nonprofit charities. Lori attended Strand College of Hair Design and graduated March of 2021. Lori obtained her esthetician licenses in South Carolina. She plans on using here licenses supporting the spouses of the Veterans and Law Enforcement of Joint Task Force K9s, by offering free sessions of skin care. She will also be handling Service Dog Eve during demos and events. Lori is currently working as the surgery coordinator for South Carolina Retina Institute.
David Eckerson enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 30 January 1984, he attended Recruit Training on 05 March 1984, and graduated 25 May 1984. He went on to Serve in all three Active Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF’s I, II, and III) in five Continents. He Served on Active Duty for twenty three Years.
David retired from Active Duty on 30 June, 2007. Upon Retirement, he continued to serve in a contracting capacity from 2008 to 2010, in Africa and the Middle East. David continued to serve in three Other Government Agencies (OGA’s) and finally retired in June of 2019. During his thirty five years of service, David was Deployed to Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Operation Restore Hope, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
David's goals and objectives for the future are to help and support fellow Veterans, through leading, helping, and volunteering with Joint Task Force K9s (JTF K9s) and other Veterans Non-profit Organizations as time permits. David is a fourth generation Veteran and married to Lisa Eckerson. They have four children; Nickolaus, Lauren E, Lauren C, and Joe. Dave received his service dog Kane June 19th 2022.
Robert Cutright enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 1 December 1971 and did his basic training at Parris Island. Upon completion of basic training, He went through MOS training as a Metal Worker/Welder at Camp Lejeune in 1972 and graduated first in his class and was awarded a Meritorious promotion from PFC to Lance Corporal. After completing combat training at Camp Pendleton, he was assigned to the Third Marine Division in South Asia, from 1972-1973. After his overseas tour, he was stationed at Camp Geiger, in Jacksonville, NC with an Engineering Company. Due to the lack of need for his MOS, Robert was temporally assigned to the Military Police at Camp Lejeune for approximately a year and then reassigned to the rifle team to train and compete in the Eastern Division Shooting Matches, representing the Marine Corps in 1974. Robert discharged from the Marines in 1976 as a Sergeant at New River Air Station.
After the military he attended Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, SC and received his Doctorate of Chiropractic Degree in September 1981 and set up a practice in Fayetteville, PA in 1982. In 1985 he then relocated in Chambersburg, PA to a larger building. In 1989 He took monthly seminars over a four-year period to specialize as a Chiropractic Orthopedist and completed his 300 plus hours in 1993, making him Board Qualified. Roberts practice was considered to be within the top ten (10) percentile of practices within the US, he was forced to sell his practice and semi retire in 1995, from health issues related to his military service injuries. In 1999, Robert had his first of sixteen surgeries, which forced him to completely retire in 2000. Robert is a multiple generation Veteran and married to Marcie Cutright. Robert has three children and four grandchildren, who reside in either PA and Illinois.
Robert has been associated with the Big Brothers Program, Fellowship with Christian Athletes, Child Evangelist Fellowship, Pregnancy Ministries, Street Reach Ministry and supported organizations such as CUFI, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, SOWW and many other Charitable Organizations. He was the President of a PA based Christian organization called RACE, served on the board of the Pregnancy Ministry in Chambersburg, PA, a Deacon at the Open Door Church in Chambersburg, PA and presently the Director of the Emergency Management Team at Grand Strand Baptist Church and oversee the Safety, Armed Safety, Medical and Ushers personal.
After struggling with PTSD/TBI Keith received his Service Dog Quill in October of 2018 which changed his life. His new mission in life is to help keep Veterans and Law Enforcement from going through what he endured. On 22nd July 2022 he Founded Joint Task Force K9s with his wife Lori to combat Veteran and Law Enforcement suicide. Keith is a fourth generation Veteran and lives in Myrtle Beach, SC with his wife Lori Holland and has two children Christian and Abigail.
Chuck Ondo enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1984. He served his country as an Ammunition Specialist with the Third Marine Expeditionary Force. During which time he deployed to Nicaragua during the Cold War. Upon finishing his enlistment in 1989, Ondo started a career working for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a State Police Trooper. He spent an additional eleven years serving as a Trooper, Undercover Detective, and a Sniper on the PA STATE Police S.E.R.T Team. Currently Ondo owns a Barbershop PA named Valor Men's Grooming with a wall dedicated to his family and friends that have served. He’s also a founding member of Revival Today Church VETERANS BRIGADE. Their mission is right in line with our mission at JOINT TASK FORCE K9s. His personal goals are to help our Veterans that have found themselves on the verge of suicide, homelessness, or have addiction issues.
Ondo’s Father, Albert Ondo was a WW2 Navy Seabee that enlisted at the age of 17 years old, just a few weeks after his brother was KIA on D-Day +1. His Uncle Frank was 19 years old when his Glider was shot down over Normandy. He has had over 60 immediate family members that have served our Country from WW2 to present day. Ondo is a recipient of a Service Dog that he has named Faith. She will be instrumental in helping him with his physical and mental disabilities that are associated to his service. Faith will accompany him every day at his shop and on all of the outreach projects that he participates in. Ondo is a Patriotic and God loving man that is dedicated to being a father to his children Nick and Meredith and a loving husband to his wife Laura.
Lisa Eckerson is wife of a career Marine Corps Veteran and Daughter of a Vietnam Marine Corps Veteran. Lisa is a CSL "Customer Success Leader" in tech industry, where she manages multiple projects at a time. Her current position includes managing budgets, overseeing teams for each project, assisting recruiters with hiring for the various teams, escalating time sensitive projects to ensure on time delivery, managing others schedules and complex problem solving. Lisa has an extensive financial background which includes working on research, quality, and processing teams. Lisa's experience includes being employed by Fortune 100, Fortune 500 and locally chartered financial institutions. Lisa is passionate about helping Veterans and their families.
Reggie Currie is a U.S. Army Veteran who proudly served seven years of active duty with the elite 101st Airborne Division during Operation Desert Storm and the Liberation of Kuwait. Raised in a household of faith, love, and discipline alongside eight siblings, Reggie was taught early on to treat everyone with respect, humility, and grace—values that continue to guide his work and relationships to this day.
Reggie has combined his military-honed leadership, unwavering commitment to service, and passion for performance into a career that bridges veteran advocacy, customer service, and entertainment. With over two decades as a professional mascot and hip-hop dancer, he has performed with elite sports organizations including the Oakland A’s, Golden State Warriors, San Jose Giants, Harlem Globetrotters, and now proudly represents the Las Vegas Aces as part of the High Rollers 50+ dance team.
