Veterans Care Today: Lt Gen Martin R Steele On How The US Has Improved Its Care For Veterans Over The Past Five Years
An Interview With Eric Pines
Teamwork is a requirement for survival
The daily headlines remind us of how countries around the world care or do not care for their military service members. How does the United States hold up with regard to how it cares for its veterans? We know in the past questions have been raised about the VA system, but it seems that a corner has been turned and veterans’ care has improved. How exactly has the VA system been improved? How does the US care for veterans compared to other comparable countries? What exciting new technological or methodological innovations are being used to improve veterans’ health outcomes? To address these questions, we are talking to successful physicians, healthcare workers, veterans, or other VA employees and officials who can share stories and insights from their experience about the state of veterans’ care today and how the US has improved its care for veterans over the last five years.
As a part of this series, I had the pleasure to interview Lieutenant General Martin R. Steele, USMC, Ret. and co-founder and CEO of Reason for Hope and founder and President of the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and raised in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Lieutenant General Martin R. Steele enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 1965. He rose from private to three-star general, serving three tours of duty on two continents, with a tenure as the longest serving Chief Operating Officer in the history of the Marine Corps. He culminated his military career as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, Policies, and Operations at Headquarters, US Marine Corps, in Washington, DC in August of 1999.
A decorated combat veteran with more than 34 years of service, he is a recognized expert in the integration of all elements of national power, including diplomatic, economic, informational and military with strategic military war plans and has served as an executive strategic planner and policy director in multiple theaters across Asia and his extraordinary career was chronicled as one of three principles in the award winning military biography Boys of ’67.
Upon his retirement from active duty in 1999, he served as president & CEO of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, the largest naval museum in the world. Under his leadership, they adopted the mission statement of “Honor our heroes, educate the public, and inspire our youth about the price of freedom”. This creative branding strategy resonated with all audiences and was the early catalyst for the transformation of the Intrepid from just another New York City destination location to the near icon status it enjoys today among educators, historians, international visitors, and military veterans. Shortly after the attacks on September 11, 2001, General Steele invited the FBI to use the Intrepid to conduct their investigations. Within 48 hours, Intrepid was once again in service as the temporary headquarters for over 750 FBI agents. Currently General Steele is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Steele Partners, Inc., a strategic advisory and leadership consulting company. This company’s mission is to develop uncommon leaders, in Fortune 500 companies, who understand how to translate strength of character and high ethical behavior into bottom line success. General Steele has led a philanthropic transition program to assist existing Marines into private sector jobs throughout the county. The program was offered at no cost to the Marine participants, the Marine Corps or to the companies that provide employment opportunities for Marines completing the program. The results included overwhelming positive feedback from the participants who stated the program had a “life changing” impact on their lives.
Today, General Steele is continuing to change the lives of Veterans as a leader of Reason for Hope, one of the most impactful advocacy organizations pushing for increased funding for psychedelic research and accessible treatment options that you’ve never heard of. Since 2021, Reason for Hope has successfully lobbied state governments in Arizona, Kentucky, Connecticut, Illinois and Michigan to allocate more than $12 million dollars towards advancing psychedelic therapies to treat a multitude of mental health disorders including substance use disorder, PTSD and suicidality. The organization is focused on breaking the status quo mental health treatment cycle that for more than three decades has solely centered on managing symptoms of serious mental health disorders and fails to address the root causes of trauma or addiction.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into our interview, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about your backstory and a bit about what brought you to this specific career path?
I was born in Philadelphia, PA and raised in Fayetteville, AR. I am a retired Lieutenant General in the U.S. Marine Corps, who had the privilege of wearing the uniform of a U.S. Marine for nearly 35 years, rising from private in 1965 to three-star general. I retired in 1999 as Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, Policies and Operations, which is the civilian equivalent of Chief Operating Officer of the Marine Corps.
Following my active-duty service, I served as President and CEO of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City, including during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when we housed more than 750 FBI agents investigating the attack on America. Afterwards, I served as Associate Vice President for Veterans Research and the Executive Director of Military Partnerships at the University of South Florida in Tampa, working with scientists exploring the co-morbidities between traumatic brain injury (TBI), PTSD, and military sexual trauma.
My work resulted in Leader McConnell (R-KY) appointing me to the Commission on Care, which was established during the Obama Administration to make recommendations about the future of VA healthcare. We submitted recommendations to then President Obama, through the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Congress, in accordance with the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA), several of which were adopted.
Over the last two years, I’ve had the privilege of leading Reason for Hope and the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition. These organizations are dedicated to policy and grassroots patient advocacy aimed at providing safe access to psychedelic therapies to combat the PTSD, suicide and opioid crises. Our coalition’s founding members include several researchers and mental health providers within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system with expertise in psychedelic medicine, and we are doing some really great work in DC and several states throughout the county.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
While I have had so many incredible and interesting experiences throughout my career, I firmly believe one of the most interesting and important things is the work that I am doing now. Leading Reason for Hope and the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition, helping to increase research and safely expand access to psychedelic therapies to Veterans and others struggling to find healing from traditionally available interventions. These therapies encompass substances like MDMA, psilocybin, DMT, ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT, amongst others.
I’ve been fortunate to work alongside many veterans, including many Navy SEALs and other special operators, who have accessed these treatments abroad. For these veterans, it was never their initial choice, it was their last line of defense after exhausting available treatments at home. However, an astonishing number of these recipients attribute psychedelic therapy not only to saving their lives, but also to instilling a renewed sense of purpose, meaning, and connection to themselves, their families and their communities. This has been not only interesting, but incredibly rewarding work. I am humbled and honored to work alongside these selfless warriors who have given so much to our country and the preservation of our way of life to help elevate their stories with lawmakers in DC and around the country.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
Semper Fidelis, which is Latin for “Always Faithful” and is the motto of the United States Marine Corps. The motto reminds every Marine who is privileged to wear our uniform of the eternal and collective commitment we make to our nation, to our collective success in peace and war, and most importantly, to steadfast loyalty to our fellow Marines for life. Though I am retired from active duty, this is still the foundation of my life and work, as I strive to support Marines and all service members in their fight to find effective mental healthcare and find healing, renewed meaning, and purpose in life.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
Indeed, I am. With dozens of veterans succumbing to suicide daily, I firmly believe it is morally unacceptable that so many have been compelled to leave our country, the greatest nation on earth, the nation they have selflessly served to find life-saving therapies abroad. Let me bring this to life for you a bit…
One of our coalition advisors, formerly of the West Los Angeles VA, testified recently before the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission that the clinic where he now works in Mexico, The Mission Within, has treated over 1,000 United States military veterans in the past six years. Let that sink in.
Today, American veterans are traveling to other countries to receive better care than what’s available in the United States — the very nation they risked their lives to defend. Frankly, this is unconscionable and unacceptable. Some of these veterans have traveled abroad to access treatments designated as Breakthrough Therapies by the FDA, indicating they are sufficiently safe and potentially much more effective than existing treatments. The FDA has awarded this designation to MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder. Veterans with co-morbid PTSD and major depressive disorder face a significantly increased risk of suicide, making accelerated access to these Breakthrough Therapies imperative.
Given the number of people suffering and dying every day as a result of the opioid and mental health crises, you would think the government would be pouring money into researching these Breakthrough Therapies that veterans around the country swear have been lifesaving for them. Indeed, with the size of our NIMH budget, dedicating at least a billion dollars to thoroughly researching the safety and efficacy of every naturally occurring psychedelic compound through government-funded clinical trials seems more than justified. They could all be brought to market as generics if the data supports it. Yet, not only have we not seen this sort of funding, but the continuing Schedule I status of these compounds slows down research due to burdensome regulatory hurdles and bureaucratic delays. Schedule I also blocks patient access under the Right to Try Act. This is completely illogical, particularly for the Breakthrough Therapies, as this designation is meant to speed up the time to market for patients to access potentially lifesaving treatments for serious conditions.
That is why we have been working so hard to drive federal government action. At a minimum, Congress should pass the Breakthrough Therapies Act (H.R.1393/S.689), a common-sense bill that we have been working on to resolve some of these obvious regulatory flaws — without any financial cost or change to criminal penalties for misuse or diversion. Specifically, the bill would automatically reschedule any Schedule I drug to Schedule II on an expedited timeline if it is an active ingredient of a drug that receives FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation or Expanded Access approval. This would reduce barriers to research and enable compassionate medical use under Right to Try.
Additionally, we must proactively work with community care providers and the VA to safely and effectively deliver Breakthrough Therapies like MDMA and psilocybin. We must fund research programs that better reflect real-world settings and invest in educating and training providers in this innovative form of care delivery. That’s why the work that we are doing at Reason for Hope and the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition is so important. We are fully committed to providing safe access to psychedelic therapies to combat the PTSD, suicide and opioid crises that saves lives.
How would you define an “excellent healthcare provider”?
I would define it as a healthcare system that does not leave the men and women who served this great country behind. Today, we have a long way to go before we meet that standard.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the main focus of our interview. Based on your experience can you please share three recent improvements to veterans care that you are really pleased about?
There is no question that the VA has been making ongoing efforts to improve its healthcare system to better serve the needs of veterans, but more work needs to be done. On the positive side though, the MISSION Act was signed into law in 2018, which expanded the VA’s Community Care Program, making it easier for veterans to access care in their communities when VA services are not readily available. This has increased options for veterans to receive timely care. That was good for veterans and their families.
The VA has been working to reduce wait times and improve veterans’ access to care, including expanding telehealth services, same-day services for urgent care needs and streamlining the scheduling process. Another area that the VA has been focusing on is preventive care and health education for veterans. These initiatives promote healthy living, early detection and preventive measures to improve overall well-being. Lastly, the VA has tried to recognize the importance of mental health care for veterans, enhancing its mental health services such as increasing the availability of mental health professionals and expanding access to mental health treatment through telehealth, but we need to do more.
We hosted a state-of-the-art (SOTA) conference for the VA on psychedelic-assisted therapies. We brought together a multidisciplinary group of VA and non-VA experts to: help synthesize what we know and what we need to know about topics critical to the health and well-being of veterans; promote implementation of findings that improve quality of care; and contribute to more effective management and more relevant research. This was a huge step forward in terms of the VA’s engagement in the alternative therapies space. We also brainstormed the best path forward for the VA and psychedelic assisted therapies, which was hugely productive.
In contrast, can you highlight three areas of veterans care that still need improvement? What would you suggest needs to be done to address those challenges?
Absolutely. Our veterans often bear the invisible wounds of war and trauma. Improving veterans’ mental health is a critical concern for me, Reason for Hope and the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition. There are a few areas like hiring and training more mental health professionals, including psychiatrists and psychologists that would reduce wait times and provide timely access to care, implementing comprehensive suicide prevention programs like outreach, awareness campaigns and 24/7 crisis support and increasing the use of peer support programs, where veterans who have experienced mental health challenges can provide support and guidance to peers.
I think one of the biggest areas that we could make progress though is by passing the Breakthrough Therapies Act, which would remove regulatory hurdles that inhibit research and compassionate use access to potentially lifesaving treatments that are heavily restricted by Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. The Breakthrough Therapies Act would remove these blockades, expediting the transfer of substances that receive “breakthrough therapy” designation from Schedule I to Schedule II, which — with DEA oversight — will enable Veterans to access these treatments and reduce the burden on further clinical investigation. In an era of rapid scientific and medical innovation, the Breakthrough Therapies Act is a beacon of hope that promises to accelerate the development and accessibility of groundbreaking treatments for our Veterans and patients in dire need.
This bill also places an emphasis on collaboration between the FDA, DEA, pharmaceutical companies and research institutions, representing a bold step toward streamlining the drug development process and fostering innovation across sectors. By bringing these stakeholders together, the act promotes transparency, the sharing of valuable information and the opportunity to pool resources to tackle the most challenging diseases. This is the kind of collaborative approach that will open up important, new frontiers in medicine and an acknowledgment of the need for a paradigm shift in the way we approach treatments for life-threatening diseases.
From your perspective how does the US care for veterans compared to other comparable countries?
The United States provides extensive support to veterans, particularly in terms of healthcare, financial benefits and educational opportunities. However, this comprehensive system also faces challenges in terms of accessibility and bureaucracy. While the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia offer various forms of support, they may not match the breadth and generosity of benefits available to American veterans. Additionally, Australia became the world’s first country to allow the drugs psilocybin and MDMA to be prescribed by doctors to treat psychiatric conditions including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. These countries tend to have more integrated healthcare systems, but access and quality can still be issues. The comparison underscores that each country has unique strengths and weaknesses in its approach to veteran care and improvement is an ongoing concern for all.
What exciting new technological or methodological innovations are being used to improve veterans’ health outcomes?
Ibogaine, a natural psychoactive substance derived from the Tabernanthe iboga plant, has been the subject of increasing interest and research in recent years. Traditionally used in spiritual and healing rituals by indigenous communities in Central Africa, Ibogaine is now being recognized for its potential to treat a wide range of physical and mental health conditions, including addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain. For our disabled veterans, who often grapple with these debilitating conditions, Ibogaine therapy presents a novel and holistic approach to healing.
Additionally, MDMA and psilocybin have shown exceptional promise in treating an array of mental health conditions, including major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, substance use disorders and suicidality. The initial research has been so promising that the FDA has designated MDMA- and psilocybin-assisted therapies as “breakthrough therapies,” meaning that they demonstrate substantial improvement over any currently available treatments. However, due to the Schedule I status of MDMA and psilocybin, unnecessary red tape hinders critical research and access to treatment even for patients with terminal or life-threatening conditions. The Breakthrough Therapies Act would resolve these problems by expediting the transfer of substances that receive breakthrough therapy designation from Schedule I to Schedule II, which — with DEA oversight — will enable patient access and reduce the burden on further clinical investigation.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Started My Career”?
I am deeply grateful and humble to have been the beneficiary of mentorship throughout my life and career, without whose guidance I would not be here today. The individuals that shaped my life from an early and formidable age didn’t just impart knowledge; they shaped my worldview and profoundly impacted my career.
Here are the five critical insights that life revealed to me, each a story in itself
- Foundations in resilience are nurtured by diversity and strength in community: I grew up in Fayetteville, AR in the first desegregated school system south of the Mason-Dixon Line after the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision. I was fortunate to be raised by two loving parents: my mother, who was a nurse, and my step-father, who was a POW from WWII. Their inspiration, tolerance, and selfless love, within a community of dynamic religious leaders, businessmen and women, coaches, and countless mentors, allowed me to listen, learn, and make mistakes. In a sea of racism, hatred, and bigotry, my community instilled in me the values that have carried me through the various roles and responsibilities I have relished and accepted in my life.
- Teamwork is a requirement for survival: As an athlete playing baseball, football, and track, from Little League through High School, my teammates and I were exposed to intolerance, envy, and hatred, that were it not for our parents and coaches, would have driven us apart. Instead, we developed deep bonds of brotherhood. They taught us how to listen and learn from one another and the meaning of courage under extreme adversity. With their guidance, we learned the importance of humility, personal responsibility, and accountability to one another for our actions. We grew to value the lifelong practice of knowing oneself and seeking constant improvement in everything we do. In short, we learned the meaning of teamwork. For us, though, teamwork wasn’t a cliché but a requirement for survival. The conditions we were exposed to mandated it, and shaped all of us.
- Courage is refined when standing with others: President Kennedy was assassinated my senior year in high school and the civil division in our country at that time could not be ignored. As the Captain of my football team, I was hung in effigy from a tree in the parking lot of our biggest rival who did not allow people of color in their town after sundown. The sign around the neck of the dummy with my number on it and a derogatory racial term, was torched as we pulled into their parking lot.
- Later, during our track season, myself and three of my teammates of color sat down at a restaurant in our state capital. A pistol was put to my head by the manager of the establishment, threatening my life if I did not vacate the premises immediately. We had no coaches with us, but we were state track champions and we demonstrated character in that moment. Two of us are still alive today and we remember the incident as if it occurred yesterday, not in 1964.
- Although this was a challenging time for myself and our country, it was these very moments of shared vulnerability and unity that honed my understanding of courage and what it means to stand with others, tenants that would later become cornerstones of my Marine Corps values.
4. Leadership is forged through discipline, selfless service, and sacrifice: I enlisted in the Marine Corps in January, 1965 after one semester of college. My recruit training experience was a continuation of character development provided by my Drill Instructors who were Korean War Veterans and were preparing us to go into harm’s way in Vietnam. They were tough, disciplined, uncompromising, and models to emulate. They prepared us for the next chapter we would experience, one of life and death on a much larger scale. They instilled in us our core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment: the value of a life and death profession. They prepared us to give our lives to our fellow Marines and trusting they would do the same. I was 19 when I first stepped foot on the battlefield and developed a Philosophy of Life that has remained with me to this day: Seize the Day, bloom where you are planted, subordinate yourself to the task at hand, and build off one another’s strengths rather than attack each other’s weaknesses.
5. When in doubt, do Your duty: I returned in the summer of 1966 and was stationed in Quantico, VA. I turned down an appointment to the United States Naval Academy to marry my high school sweetheart, now my wife of over 56 years, and met the most influential mentor of my life. His name was Staff Sergeant Karl G. Taylor. Like me, he had one tour of duty in Vietnam. He displayed patience, persistence, judgment, knowledge, decisiveness, integrity, enthusiasm, and endurance. He was a truly remarkable husband, father, and Marine and he became my model to emulate. We spent hours together. He convinced me to take the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test, which I passed, entering Officer Candidates School and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. I was 20 years old and the youngest Officer in the Corps. On the day of my commissioning, I asked Staff Sergeant Taylor if he had any last minute instructions. He simply looked at me and said, “Lieutenant, Do Your Duty!” That was the last time I saw him. My Hero died on 8 December 1968. His posthumous Medal of Honor citation is provided below. To this day, he is the first conscious thought I have every morning and the last one every night. My work with Reason for Hope and the Veterans Mental Health Leadership Coalition is inspired by his eternal presence in my life as I continue to attempt to “Do my duty.”
These five insights were not merely lessons wished to be told; they were lived, felt, and forged into the essence of my being long before I bore the title of Lieutenant General. They continue to guide me as I honor the legacy of those who shaped me, as I endeavor each day to “Do my duty,” and as I work to instill hope and healing within the Veteran community.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
If I could inspire a movement, it would be one where every person understands the need to love themself so they are able to love one another. Imagine if every person took it upon themselves to uphold the well-being of their neighbor — not out of obligation, but out of genuine recognition of our interdependence to one another. The ripple effects of such a movement could transform societies, heal divides, and build bridges of peace.
What does loving one another mean in practice? It’s been said that love, to a hungry person, looks like a loaf of bread. There are millions of Americans suffering at the hands of an unfettered mental health crisis. To them, love looks like compassionate access to effective medicine. Lets work towards destigmatizing mental health struggles, promoting access to innovative treatments like psychedelic-assisted therapies, and ensuring that those who serve — our veterans — receive the care and support they deserve when they return home. The ethos would be rooted in a simple yet profound principle: ‘Leave no one behind,’ extending beyond the battlefield into every aspect of society.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Readers can follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/reason-for-hope/; on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/reasonforhopeorg/; and they can email us at info@reason-for-hope.org.
Thank you so much for these insights! This was very inspirational and we wish you continued success in your great work.
About the Interviewer: Eric L. Pines is a nationally recognized federal employment lawyer, mediator, and attorney business coach. He represents federal employees and acts as in-house counsel for over fifty thousand federal employees through his work as a federal employee labor union representative. A formal federal employee himself, Mr. Pines began his federal employment law career as in-house counsel for AFGE Local 1923 which is in Social Security Administration’s headquarters and is the largest federal union local in the world. He presently serves as AFGE 1923’s Chief Counsel as well as in-house counsel for all FEMA bargaining unit employees and numerous Department of Defense and Veteran Affairs unions.
While he and his firm specialize in representing federal employees from all federal agencies and in reference to virtually all federal employee matters, his firm has placed special attention on representing Veteran Affairs doctors and nurses hired under the authority of Title. He and his firm have a particular passion in representing disabled federal employees with their requests for medical and religious reasonable accommodations when those accommodations are warranted under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (ADA). He also represents them with their requests for Federal Employee Disability Retirement (OPM) when an accommodation would not be possible.
Mr. Pines has also served as a mediator for numerous federal agencies including serving a year as the Library of Congress’ in-house EEO Mediator. He has also served as an expert witness in federal court for federal employee matters. He has also worked as an EEO technical writer drafting hundreds of Final Agency Decisions for the federal sector.
Mr. Pines’ firm is headquartered in Houston, Texas and has offices in Baltimore, Maryland and Atlanta, Georgia. His first passion is his wife and five children. He plays classical and rock guitar and enjoys playing ice hockey, running, and biking. Please visit his websites at www.pinesfederal.com and www.toughinjurylawyers.com. He can also be reached at eric@pinesfederal.com.
Veterans Care Today: Lt Gen Martin R Steele On How The US Has Improved Its Care For Veterans Over… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.