A woman sitting on the ground at an indoor event, surrounded by service dogs wearing harnesses, with a backdrop featuring the Team Foster logo.
A woman sitting on the ground at an indoor event, surrounded by service dogs wearing harnesses, with a backdrop featuring the Team Foster logo.

Veterans. Service Dogs. Community.

Team Foster unites our community to honor the legacy of Captain Erick Foster and save Veteran lives through the power of accredited, life-saving service dogs.

This mission is supported by four critical pillars:

  1. Funding

    highly trained and accredited service dogs for injured and disabled Veterans at no cost to the Veteran and provides lifetime support to its Veteran–service dog teams. We help bring civilians, Veterans and service dogs together to provide the resources that our government does not.

  2. Advocating

    for Veterans and their service dogs in the community, workplace, and the legislature. Team Foster works to achieve the best possible training for service dogs and fair treatment of Veterans.

  3. Educating

    and raising awareness across the nation about the challenges our Veterans face, the power of service dogs, and the life-saving resource that these properly trained and accredited animals can provide.

  4. Creating Community

    with Veterans and non-Veterans to rebuild lives, foster a sense of belonging, support, shared identity and purpose.

Man in U.S. Army camouflage uniform with name tag 'Foster', wearing a headlamp, standing in a dark area.

Honoring Erick Foster

“He was one of the finest Armor officers the U.S. Army has produced, as evident by his being one of the first Armor officers to be stationed at Fort Bragg.
”
— Army Captain John Hartsock

Erick was a born leader who pushed himself relentlessly and cared deeply for his soldiers. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 2000 after graduating from Duquesne University, he first deployed to Iraq in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He later earned his Ranger Tab and served with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, where he commanded A Troop, 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment. On August 28, 2007, while leading a patrol in Muqdadiya, Iraq, Erick was wounded in an ambush and passed away the following day. A respected combat leader, he was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Parachutist Badge, and Ranger Tab.

Meet Team Foster

  • A man smiling and holding a yawning golden retriever puppy outdoors in an urban setting.

    Nick Liermann

    Founder; Chief Executive Officer

    Nick founded Team Foster in 2014 and began serving as the Chief Executive Officer in July 2020.

  • Woman kneeling on the ground holding a black puppy with a red bandana. The woman is smiling and wearing a baseball cap and a T-shirt. The background shows a sports field with a red and green surface and a cityscape mural.

    Jess Wisniewski-Hagen

    Chief of Operations

    Jess served as a mechanical engineer in the U.S. Navy. Following her military service, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University and later completed a Master’s in Legal Studies at Drexel University.

  • A smiling man in sunglasses and a black jacket, wearing a military hat, is sitting in the back of a truck with a service dog. The dog is a large, light-colored Labrador wearing a service vest, and it is facing the camera with a calm expression. The background shows a city street with tall buildings and traffic lights.

    Kevin Kegney

    Community Engagement Manager

    Kevin is an Air Force veteran with 14 years of military service. When he is not attending Team Foster events or advocating for veterans in the community, he enjoys volunteering at a local animal rescue and spending time with his family. Kevin is currently finishing his undergraduate degree in Christian Studies and Philosophy and enjoys living a holistic lifestyle and seeing people succeed.

Meet the Full Team

Join the Mission. Pet Dogs Too.

Let’s start saving lives together.