Learn about SAFE Project’s start, and how we turn hope into action.
SAFE Project was founded in November 2017 by Admiral James and Mary Winnefeld, following the loss of their 19-year old son Jonathan to an accidental opioid overdose.
The Winnefelds immediately channeled their grief into action, hoping to save more families from the pain of loss. Whether it was seeking treatment, getting answers, or understanding the nature of the disease – they knew there needed to be a different solution to help other families facing the same journey with substance use disorder.
They swiftly built our SAFE Project team of experts who strive for meaningful action through our programs, and lead efforts that are unifying, non-partisan and evidence-based. SAFE seeks meaningful metrics that strengthen our interdependent six lines of operation, and ultimately aim to achieve SAFE Communities, SAFE Campuses, SAFE Workplaces and SAFE Veterans across the nation.
Our Mission
To contribute solutions toward overcoming mental health challenges, substance misuse, and the addiction epidemic in the United States.
Our Vision
A nation where substance use and mental health challenges are met with care and resources, rather than shame and stigma.
How We Do It
To save lives impacted by substance use and mental health challenges through prevention, overdose response, education, stigma reduction, access to treatment, and the development of recovery programs.
Our Founders
Admiral James A. “Sandy” Winnefeld graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and served for 37 years in the United States Navy. He instructed at the Navy Fighter Weapons School, also known as Top Gun, and served as senior aide-de-camp to General Colin L. Powell. He commanded a fighter squadron, the amphibious ship USS CLEVELAND, and the aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE. As a flag officer, he commanded a carrier strike group, two NATO commands, the United States SIXTH Fleet, United States NORTHERN Command, and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD. He retired in 2015 after serving as the ninth Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the United States’ number two ranking military officer.
Admiral Winnefeld is a frequently published author and a director or advisory board member for companies operating in a broad spectrum of business sectors. In 2020, Admiral Winnefeld was appointed to serve as a member of the U.S. Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking, a congressionally mandated bipartisan Commission charged with examining aspects of the synthetic drug threat to the United States. He was also appointed as Chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board in May 2022. The Advisory Board is meant to assist the President by providing an independent source of advice on the effectiveness with which the Intelligence Community is meeting the nation’s intelligence needs. Admiral Winnefeld currently serves as Distinguished Professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech, where he is also a member of the Engineering Hall of Fame. He is a senior non-resident fellow at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and is Chairman of the Georgia Tech Advisory Board.
Mary A. Winnefeld is the co-founder and co-chairman of SAFE (Stop the Addiction Fatality Epidemic) Project, a non-profit organization working through a disciplined, collaborative, multi-pronged and non-partisan approach to end our country’s catastrophic opioid epidemic. Mary and her husband, retired Navy admiral and former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, James “Sandy” Winnefeld, established the organization in November 2017 following the loss of their 19-year old son Jonathan to an accidental opioid overdose.
Through her personal experience as a military spouse and mother, Ms. Winnefeld has been actively involved in the health and welfare of military and veteran families, as well as the policies that affect their lives. She has a keen awareness of the hardships that impact military families ─ especially the stress involved with casualty, illness, multiple deployments and numerous moves ─ and has been a dedicated advocate to them for more than thirty years.
In 2021, President Joe Biden appointed Winnefeld to the board of governors of United Service Organizations (USO) Inc. In addition, Ms. Winnefeld currently serves on the board of directors for the Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), RAND’s CRAFT Adaptation Advisory Council, Elizabeth Dole Foundation and as an Ambassador for the Tragedy Assistance for Survivors (TAPS). She previously served as an advisory board member for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS), the USO Metropolitan Washington, Walmart’s Opioid/Substance Use Advisory Board, and the grant committee for Newman’s Own Foundation.
Prior to dedicating her life to the SAFE mission and the welfare of military and veteran families, Ms. Winnefeld was employed by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) for close to 20 years, serving as a program manager for NATO as well as a member of SAIC’s Ethics Board.
Ms. Winnefeld is the recipient of both the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy Meritorious Public Service Award. Ms. Winnefeld holds a BA from the University of San Diego and a MA from San Diego State University.
Board of Directors
SAFE Project’s Board of Directors share their time and expertise to help end the addiction epidemic.
Our Staff
Jeff Horwitz
Chief Executive Officer
jeff@safeproject.us
In his role as CEO, Jeff oversees the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of SAFE Project, as well as the financial management of the organization. In addition to these functions, he is responsible for working with outside nonprofit and for profit partners to infuse collaboration into SAFE Project’s overall mission.
Prior to arriving at SAFE Project, Jeff served 28 years in the United States Navy. He retired as a Captain in 2014. In addition to his final assignment as the General Counsel of the White House Military Office, Jeff served in multiple assignments including Command Judge Advocate on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Staff Judge Advocate, COMNAVAIRFOR, Counsel for the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in Northern Europe and the United Kingdom and as the Director of Navy’s Legislative Program for nearly nine years.
In his free time, Jeff serves on the Board of St. Joseph’s University’s Center for Addiction and Recovery Education (CARE) and Heartshine, a resilience and trauma support community program in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Jeff earned a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Science in Homeland Security from American Military University, and a Bachelor of Science in International Affairs from Seton Hall University.
Dylan Dunn
Chief Program Officer
dylan.dunn@safeproject.us
In his role as Chief Program Officer, Dylan guides SAFE Project’s Communities, Workplaces, Veterans, and Campuses portfolios and programs. This includes assisting in program development, aligning approaches, and ensuring our work is meeting the needs of the audiences we serve.
Dylan began his professional career as the first Coordinator of the Collegiate Recovery Community at University of Denver – the program founded in memory of Jonathan Winnefeld less than a year after his passing. Within one year, the recovery community, stigma reduction initiative, and naloxone availability program had been established on campus – earning the 2019 NASPA NOW award for innovations within higher education.
In 2019, Dylan left University of Denver to join SAFE Project, and has since spearheaded efforts that have trained more than 40,000 individuals in overdose prevention and response; facilitated the distribution of over 20,000 doses of naloxone; and designed state-wide recovery allyship and fentanyl safety initiatives.
Dylan has dedicated his career to transforming cultures, systems, and programs to empower individuals in recovery and those impacted by addiction and overdose. As a proud son of a father in recovery, and through growing up intimately aware of the illicit drug trade in rural Ohio, Dylan is passionate about pragmatic and empathetic approaches to SAFE Project’s mission.
In his free time, he can be found spending time with his fiance Ellie, their three dogs (Banjo, Pepper, and Riggins), or at the boxing gym with friends. Dylan holds a Master of Science in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University, and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, and Criminology/Criminal Justice from The Ohio State University.
Adams, Samantha
Director, Finance and Systems
samantha@safeproject.us
Benigno, Nicole (she/her)
Assistant Director of SAFE Campuses, Professional Development Programs
nicole@safeproject.us
Bertocci, Avery (she/her)
Assistant Director, SAFE Communities
avery@safeproject.us
Beyer, Cal
Senior Director, SAFE Workplaces
cal@safeproject.us
Bowling, Rachel (she/they)
Director, SAFE Communities
rachel@safeproject.us
Cheifetz, Sydney (she/her)
Director of Recovery
sydney@safeproject.us
Hales, Peter
Marketing Manager
peter@safeproject.us
Kin, Lisette (she/her)
Chief of Staff
lisette@safeproject.us
LaBrie, Mike (he/him)
Director of Communications and Marketing
mike@safeproject.us
Menz, Victoria (she/her)
Assistant Director of SAFE Campuses, Student Development Programs
victoria@safeproject.us
Reeder, Rebecca (she/her)
Director of Public Awareness & Advocacy
rebecca@safeproject.us
Swift, Adam (he/him)
SAFE Veterans Senior Program Manager
adam@safeproject.us
Willis, Ebony (she/her)
Communications Manager
ebony@safeproject.us
Wuest, Juliet (she/her)
Communications Manager
juliet@safeproject.us
Yablonski, Ronna (she/her)
Senior Director of Prevention
ronna@safeproject.us