Introducing Team USO Running the 130th Boston Marathon®

For the second year in a row, Team USO will be comprised of 12 runners at the 130th Boston Marathon® presented by Bank of America. Their collective goal is to raise $120,000, which will help the USO fulfill its mission to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America’s military and their families. Let’s meet this year’s runners!

Alexandra Curtis, Army Veteran and current National Guard service member, is proudly running the 130th Boston Marathon as part of Team USO, fulfilling a lifelong dream while supporting a cause deeply personal to her. Having experienced the USO’s mission firsthand, Alexandra knows the powerful difference its programs make in uplifting and connecting service members and their families around the world. Her dedication to both her military service and her community shines through in every step she takes. By joining Team USO, Alexandra continues her commitment to service, only this time on the marathon course. She will be raising awareness and funds to help the USO provide comfort, connection, and critical resources to those who defend our freedom.

Brian Kropf, an Army Veteran, is proudly running the 130th Boston Marathon as a member of Team USO, honoring both the legacy of service in his family and the organization that supported him throughout his military journey. During his 15-month combat deployment to Iraq from 2006 to 2008 with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, Brian witnessed firsthand the powerful impact of the USO — from morale-boosting visits by entertainers like John Cena, Robin Williams, and Lance Armstrong, to the comfort of USO Airport Centers that provided a warm welcome and a touch of home during long travels. The USO’s reach, from his grandfather’s generation in the Korean War to his own, has inspired Brian to give back to an organization that has always stood by America’s service members. Running this marathon is especially meaningful for him, as he dedicates it to his late grandfather, Allen Creten, a proud Korean War veteran, and to Sergeant First Class Keith A. Callahan, a Boston-area native from Woburn and fellow member of A Co, 2-325 AIR, 82nd Airborne Division, who was killed in action in 2007 during their deployment to Iraq. With every stride through the streets of Boston, Brian runs in their memory and in support of the USO.

Brianna Fast is a proud Navy Military Spouse ready to channel her boundless energy and love of community into the 130th Boston Marathon as a member of Team USO. A New England native and mom of two boys, Brianna has always admired the Boston Marathon for its spirit of resilience, unity, and patriotism. Having seen firsthand the difference the USO makes for service members and their families, she’s honored to run in support of the organization that has supported her own military community through every move and transition. Running has been a constant source of strength and connection for Brianna, from joining Stroller Warriors, a running club for military families, to completing her first half and full marathons while balancing motherhood and military life. As she takes on Boston, Brianna runs for all who serve and for the families who stand behind them.

Brennan Neseralla, Active-Duty U.S. Army Infantry Officer, is proudly running the 130th Boston Marathon as part of Team USO, combining his passion for endurance and service in support of an organization that has stood beside him throughout his military career. Currently stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, Brennan hails from Connecticut and is a proud graduate of the United States Military Academy, Class of 2018. He has served in both the 10th Mountain Division and the 101st Airborne Division, with deployments to Afghanistan and Eastern Europe, where he experienced firsthand the profound impact of USO programs on service members and their families. From providing a welcoming refuge during difficult deployments — like the USO center in Kuwait that helped his Soldiers decompress after the 2021 Kabul Airport mission — to delivering comfort, entertainment, and essentials during long rotations in Estonia, the USO has consistently strengthened his units’ morale and connection to home. Living in Columbus, Georgia, with his wife and training partner Ansley, Brennan is now preparing for his first marathon, running not just for himself but for all who serve.

Cheyenne Shelnutt, proud Army Military Spouse, is bringing her strength, determination, and heart to the 130th Boston Marathon as part of Team USO. A lifelong runner and mom of two, Cheyenne sees running as both an outlet and a powerful way to show her daughters the value of perseverance and purpose. The USO has played a meaningful role in her life since her husband joined the Army, providing comfort, connection, and community to her family through the many challenges of military life. Now, Cheyenne is running 26.2 miles to give back to the organization that gives so much to those who serve. Her journey to Boston — filled with early mornings, long runs, and unwavering resolve — reflects the resilience of military families everywhere. With every mile she runs, Cheyenne honors service members, spouses, and families who adapt, sacrifice, and stand strong together, embodying the true spirit of the USO.

Charlotte Hanson, Boston College Senior and Military Supporter, is running the 130th Boston Marathon as part of Team USO, honoring her brother and all those who serve. Her older brother, Marshall, is a recent U.S. Naval Academy graduate commissioned into the Navy Special Warfare Officer pipeline, and his dedication has inspired Charlotte both personally and as a runner. Last year, they shared a running milestone at the Newport Marathon, and now Charlotte is taking on Boston to support him from afar while raising funds for the USO. Running this iconic race fulfills a longtime dream and gives her the opportunity to give back to both her brother and the countless men and women serving in the military. With each mile, Charlotte celebrates resilience, perseverance, and the vital role of the USO in supporting those who protect our freedoms.

Christopher Stock is an Army Veteran proudly representing Team USO in the 130th Boston Marathon. A resident of Brookline, New Hampshire, Chris served three years in the U.S. Army as a 13M Multiple Launch Rocket Systems Crew Chief, spending his active-duty time in South Korea. Today, he brings that same dedication and discipline to his role as Director of Safety for Transmission Capital Projects at Eversource Energy, overseeing operations across New England. A devoted husband to Ashleigh for 16 years and father to three energetic boys, Chris balances family life in a lively, sports-loving household. Running his fourth marathon, Chris is honored to take on Boston in support of the USO’s mission. With his family cheering him on through training and race day, Chris embodies the USO spirit of service, perseverance, and community.

Demetrius Freeman is currently an Active-Duty U.S. Army Captain, bringing his dedication, resilience, and leadership to the 130th Boston Marathon as part of Team USO. A proud member of the Medical Service Corps, CPT Freeman has served in a range of vital leadership roles—including as Surgical Team Executive Officer at the Army Trauma Training Center, Battalion Medical Officer with the 1-505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and now as aCompany Commander in the 44th Medical Brigade. His commitment to excellence extends beyond the military: he has competed on American Ninja Warrior, completed four full marathons, and uses his personal story to inspire others to overcome challenges—all while being a devoted father to his 8-year-old daughter, Leila. Passionate about giving back, Demetrius is proud to run for the USO.

Jacklyn Kokomoor, U.S. Coast Guard Officer, is running the 130th Boston Marathon as a proud member of Team USO. A native of Noank, Connecticut, Jacklyn graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2018 and has served aboard CGC WAESCHE (WMSL 751) as a Student Engineer and Damage Control Assistant, and as Executive Officer on two cutters in Manama, Bahrain. She most recently served as Commanding Officer of CGC WILLIAM SPARLING (WPC 1154) in Boston, MA. Jacklyn remains in Boston on active-duty orders while pursuing a Master’s in Civil Engineering at Northeastern University. Over her seven years of active-duty service, Jacklyn has experienced firsthand the critical role of the USO, which provided resources and boosted morale during restricted port calls across the Middle East, from Kuwait to Djibouti. Running the Boston Marathon allows her to give back to the organization that has been a source of support throughout her career while raising awareness and funds to help service members feel connected and valued at home and abroad.

Jamie Elles, Air Force Reservist and U.S. Space Force Support Member, is running the 130th Boston Marathon as part of Team USO, honoring service members and their families while raising funds for the organization’s critical mission. A ten-year veteran of the United States Air Force, Jamie continues to serve as an Air Force Reservist Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) supporting the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command. She carries on a proud family legacy of military service, with grandfathers who served in the Navy and Army during WWI, WWII, and the Korean War, and two aunts who served in the Navy and Air Force. Originally from Medina, Ohio, Jamie was a national-level competitive gymnast, cultivating the determination and perseverance that now fuel her Boston Marathon training. Outside of uniform and athletics, she is a devoted mother to two school-aged daughters and enjoys time with her family and their dog, Biscuit. Running Boston with Team USO allows Jamie to combine her passion for service, family, and fitness—honoring the sacrifices of military members while tackling one of the world’s most iconic races, mile by mile.

Joseph Alford is a devoted father, husband, and proud supporter of the military. He is running his first marathon with Team USO to honor the strength and sacrifice of service members and their families at the 2026 Boston Marathon. With deep ties to the military through family and friends, Joseph feels a profound responsibility to give back. He considers it a privilege to raise funds for those who choose discomfort and to endure challenges so that others may live in comfort and freedom. As an adoptive father of twins, this experience holds an even greater meaning. Each mile is a lesson for his children. It is a living example of mental fortitude, unwavering commitment, and the power of serving something greater than oneself. For Joseph, the marathon isn’t just 26.2 miles of pavement; it’s a tribute to resilience, to gratitude, and to the men and women who give their all every day.

Nathan De Jong, civilian and former military child, is a proud Air Force brat running the Boston Marathon as part of Team USO. His mother served over 28 years in the Air Force, shaping Nathan’s values of integrity, service, and excellence. It also inspired his dedication to supporting the military community through his professional work as a software engineer at USAA. Since taking up running in 2020, Nathan has completed more than 55 races, including nine marathons, and is aiming to finish his Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Journey in Boston. Outside of running, he enjoys traveling the world with his wife, Amy, and their goldendoodle, Noodle. Nathan is honored to run with Team USO to give back to the military community and pay tribute to his mother’s remarkable service.

Join Team USO in achieving their fundraising goal by visiting the USO’s 2026 Boston Marathon page!