Channapha Khamvongsa
Acting President of the Board
In 1979 at the age of six, Channapha and her family fled from their native country of Laos to the safety of a Thai refugee camp. They later immigrated to the United States. In 2004, Ms. Khamvongsa cofounded Legacies of War, whose mission is to educate and advocate for the removal of unexploded bombs in Laos, to provide space for healing wounds of war, and to cultivate peace. Ms. Khamvongsa currently advises philanthropic institutions on strategic planning at Public Interest Projects, a New York-based nonprofit. Previously, Ms. Khamvongsa was a Program Associate with the Ford Foundation's Peace and Social Justice Program. She worked on funding portfolios related to U.S. political participation and representation, and on strengthening global civil society. Channapha has worked with immigrant and refugee communities on topics ranging from education to health care access. She studied at George Mason University and Oxford University, and earned a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University.
Lou McGrath, OBE
Chief Executive Officer, MAG
Mr. McGrath played an integral role in the early establishment and development of MAG. He was later invited in 1996 to become the organization's Executive Director. As a member of the British Army, Lou spent the majority of his military career in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s. Mr. McGrath's firsthand observation as a young soldier of The Troubles in Northern Ireland helped hone his political awareness. Lou's military service--combined with an interest in the subject of conflict causation and impact--made the field of humanitarian mine action and conflict recovery the perfect challenge for Lou to undertake. In 2008, Lou received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, for his services in international mine clearance. This prestigious award recognizes distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public service, and work with charitable and welfare organizations of all kinds.
Donald F. "Pat" Patierno
Former Director, Humanitarian Demining Program, U.S. Department of State
Mr. Patierno joined MAG America's board in 2005. Pat has a diverse and expansive background that spans nearly 38 years of military and civilian service with the US Federal government. He spent 20 years at the State Department alone, serving in such diverse and prominent positions as Executive Director of the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Director of the Office of Humanitarian Demining, and Executive Director of the Bureau of Public Affairs. As Director of the Office of Humanitarian Demining, Pat managed $60 million worth of funding that enabled humanitarian mine action assistance to over 40 countries. Mr. Patierno currently serves as the U.S. advocate for the Slovenian-based International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance.
Virgil Wiebe
Director of Clinical Education, University of St. Thomas
Mr. Wiebe has served on MAG America's board since 2001, and actively participates in efforts to curb the use of landmines and cluster bombs in armed conflicts. As a consultant to the Mennonite Central Committee, he has attended United Nations conferences on landmines and conventional weapons, and has addressed diplomats on international humanitarian law matters. Virgil has a strong background in refugee advocacy, including four years as Director of Immigration Services and Supervising Attorney for Interfaith Community Services in New York City.