Clifford Krapf (He/Him), USA, USMC

Clifford Krapf was born in Southern California in 1962, and moved with his family to Pennsylvania at age 11. Raised with a strong sense of patriotism and service, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps through the Delayed Entry Program while still in high school. After receiving admission to Pennsylvania State University, he was honorably discharged to pursue his education before later joining the United States Army.

Following Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Cliff completed specialized training at Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Sill, where he graduated with honors as a Field Artillery Fire Direction Control Systems Repair Technician. During four years of Army service, including a tour in South Korea, he earned recognition for improving operations in his unit’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical defense program.

Like many LGBTQ+ service members of his era, Clifford served at a time when acknowledging one’s identity could result in discharge, loss of security clearance, or the end of a military career. After relocating to San Diego in 1988, he channeled those experiences into advocacy. He joined the San Diego Veterans Association, eventually serving as its president, and helped elevate national awareness of the military’s ban on openly LGBTQ+ service members while supporting veterans experiencing homelessness and those seeking discharge upgrades. The SDVA helped revive San Diego’s first Veterans Day Parades since the Vietnam War.

Clifford was a founding member of the Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Veterans of America, serving first as Communications Officer and later as its first national Vice President. Through press releases, interviews, newsletters, marches, candlelight vigils, fundraisers, and international advocacy—including an appearance at EuroPride ’93—he worked tirelessly for equality and justice.

Today, Clifford continues serving his community through volunteer work, music, and a steadfast commitment to truth, compassion, and service to others.

 

Dr. Laura D. Castro (She/They), USN, Ret.

Dr. Laura D. Castro (she/they) joined the United States Navy in 1997 under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, when LGBTQ+ service members were prohibited from serving openly. During a distinguished 21-year career, Laura served across the United States, Europe, and Japan, including three tours in San Diego, and became a plankowner of USS America (LHA 6) before retiring as a Senior Chief Petty Officer in 2018.

Following the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Laura trained senior leaders throughout the Pacific Northwest on repeal implementation. Her career-long work advancing equal opportunity led the Office of the Secretary of the Navy to select her for the USNS Harvey Milk naming ceremony and rendering reveal. She was also the 2014 Department of the Navy Russell Egnor Leadership Excellence Award recipient, selected solely through recommendation letters from leaders, peers, and Sailors she mentored throughout her career.

While serving, Laura earned a master’s degree in strategic communication. After retirement, inspired by friends lost to suicide during the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell era, she pursued a master’s degree in marital and family therapy and later earned a doctorate in psychology from Alliant International University.

In response to the 2025 trans military ban, Laura expanded her advocacy and clinical work, providing pro bono mental health care to trans and nonbinary service members facing separation, while building a nationwide network of affirming therapists offering no- and low-fee care, and developed Onward Ops training for LGBTQIA+ veteran mentors supporting affected service members.

Today, she maintains a private practice in San Diego specializing in LGBTQIA+ mental health and relationships, serves as an adjunct professor at Alliant, and develops and facilitates affirming clinician training.

 

Rodney Newnam (He/Him), USN

Rodney (Rod) Newnam (he/him) was born in Kalispell, Montana, and grew up in Salem, Oregon. Influenced by an uncle’s military service and motivated by a desire to find his place in the world, Rod enlisted in the United States Navy in 1977. His first four years were spent aboard the USS Midway while forward deployed to Japan, where he traveled extensively before the age of 21 and developed a lifelong appreciation for service.

During a distinguished 23-year career in Naval Aviation, Rod rose through the ranks to become a Flight Deck Coordinator and later Aircraft Maintenance Control Chief. His dedication and leadership earned numerous honors, including two Navy Commendation Medals, five Navy Achievement Medals, multiple unit commendations, eight Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, and designation as an Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist.

Like many LGBTQ+ service members of his generation, Rod served during a time when being openly gay could end a military career. Long before Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the expectation was simple: do not get caught. As his responsibilities increased, Rod felt compelled to hide a core part of himself in order to continue serving. Following his retirement from the Navy in 2000, he joined the United States Postal Service and, for the first time, was able to live openly as a gay man. He retired from the USPS in 2021 after 20 years of service, much of it spent serving residents along his beloved North Park mail route.

Retirement opened the door to a new form of service. Rod volunteers at The San Diego LGBT Community Center, welcoming visitors and connecting community members with services and support. He is also a dedicated volunteer with Volunteer With Cheli and Gay for Good, participating in neighborhood cleanups, community events, and beautification projects throughout San Diego County. His efforts have earned recognition from Councilmember Stephen Whitburn and numerous community organizations. Today, Rod views volunteerism as his new career and continues building bridges, strengthening communities, and serving others with the same commitment that defined his military and civilian careers.

 

Sam Rodriguez (They/Them), USN

Sam Rodriguez (they/them) was born in Houston, Texas. After watching the towers fall on September 11, 2001, Sam wanted to serve, but Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell kept them out of uniform. In November 2015, right before turning 29 and already holding two bachelor’s degrees, Sam enlisted in the United States Navy, serving as a Seabee and a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocate. Sam lived in San Diego at both the beginning and end of their service.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam earned a Master of Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University and deployed twice in support of military operations. In April 2025, Sam was commissioned as a Medical Service Corps Officer.  Throughout nearly 11 years in uniform, Sam served openly as a queer person and, for the final eight years, as an openly trans masculine nonbinary service member. While they endured the 2019 transgender military ban, Sam’s military career ultimately ended following the implementation of the 2025 ban, and they separated from service in 2026.

Today, Sam is a social worker, advocate, partner, and a parent of two. They moved to Baltimore to be closer to D.C. and keep fighting on Capitol Hill, and work there as a social worker in addiction treatment.

Since 2022, Sam’s advocacy on Capitol Hill has centered on writing into law open service for all qualified people instead of leaving it to executive orders, alongside NDAA-related issues, policy riders, abortion access, and other medically necessary care. As a Policy Fellow with Minority Veterans of America, a board member of Volunteer With Cheli, and a former leader within SPARTA Pride, Sam remains deeply committed to ensuring future generations can serve openly and authentically. In 2024, the San Diego Business Journal recognized Sam as one of its LGBTQ+ Leaders of Influence. Sam continues to fight for every qualified person to serve openly.