John Krenson
CEO
John Krenson is Chief Executive Officer of Operation Stand Down Tennessee. He served 30 years in the Tennessee Army National Guard completing his career as a Colonel and Brigade Commander. John has an extensive civilian professional career as well.
Colonel Krenson commanded the 2nd Squadron, 278th ACR during the unit’s deployment to Iraq in 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and in support of response operations in Louisiana following Hurricane Gustav in 2008. He also served in Afghanistan in 2003 -2004 and in Mississippi in support of response operations following Hurricane Katrina. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal with Star, Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters among other Federal and State awards. John is a graduate of the US Army War College class of 2012. His final military assignment was as Brigade Commander of the 30th Troop Command Tennessee Army National Guard.
John’s leadership experience in the private sector includes his position as partner and executive vice president at Nashville’s Besway Systems, Inc., which manufactures industrial solvents and cleaners. He also launched his own independent consulting practice in 2004. John has served as board member of the Tennessee Housing Development Agency; on the TN Governor’s Council for Armed Forces, Veterans and Their Families; the Metropolitan Nashville Homelessness Commission; the Tennessee Veteran Suicide Prevention Task Force; and is a member of the Nashville Downtown Rotary Club.
Eden Murrie
COO
Eden Murrie is the Chief Operating Officer for Operation Stand Down Tennessee (OSDTN), a veterans’ resource non-profit.
Prior to assuming this position, Eden was a Director at the Partnership for Public Service, a Washington DC non-profit. Previous to this role, Brigadier General Murrie culminated a 29-year Air Force career as the Director of Air Force Services in Washington DC. She has senior executive experience including working on the National Security Staff for the White House, serving on the staff of a Member of Congress, developing and executing a $2 billion portfolio of worldwide programs and leading multinational organizations. Additionally, a master navigator with over 2400 flying hours, her flying career included serving as an instructor in 3 different aircraft.
Beyond business endeavors, Eden is a board member for The Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, Tennessee State Veterans’ Homes, Centerstone Military Services and the Davidson County Veterans Court Foundation. Additionally, she is an adviser for the Nashville YWCA Dress for Success program.
Eden is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and has MAs in Political Science and National Security Strategy and an MBA from Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Management. Married to Jon Murrie for 30-plus years, they have one daughter.
Penny Anderson
CDO
Penny Anderson is the Chief Development and External Affairs Officer for Operation Stand Down Tennessee. Penny brings 18 years of fundraising, marketing, and communications expertise to her role. Prior to joining the Veteran-serving community, Penny served at Chief Development Officer at St. Luke’s Community House, a Nashville-based nonprofit meeting the needs of children, families, and seniors. During her tenure, fundraising grew significantly, resulting in the agency being awarded the 2019 Memorial Foundation Turnaround Award. In addition, Penny spent 10 years working in Atlanta, GA as a National Account Director for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a Major Gift Officer with the American Red Cross of Georgia, and the Director of Corporate & Foundation Giving for Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. During her career, Penny has been responsible for raising over $13 million for mission delivery, capital projects, and capacity campaigns.
Penny is proud to be a civilian supporter of the Veteran community and has multiple family members and friends who served their country honorably. A Nashville native, she graduated from Harpeth Hall before earning her Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Philosophy from Oglethorpe University where she was a member of Chi Omega, Oglethorpe Student Association, and an OU Ambassador. She has served as a local Girl Scout Leader and was on the board of a grassroots nonprofit in Atlanta serving survivors of sexual assault. She and her husband live in Nolensville with their wonderful infant daughter and two unemployed dogs.
Rose Russo
CFO
Rose Russo serves as Chief Financial Officer for Operation Stand Down. A daughter of an Army Veteran and two WWII Navy Veterans, she brings years of nonprofit experience to Operation Stand Down. Rose has a passion for nonprofit work, believing that our careers should not only take care of our households, but should lift-up and empower our fellow man.
Rose served as the first Chief Financial Officer for Remote Area Medical, obtaining their group exemption ruling and helping them to expand nationally. Her work included putting a sound accounting system in place that assured both GAAP and IFRS compliance. She raised the funds to build an IT structure that served as a springboard for growth. Rose also served in other CFO capacities over the years, including as CFO for Catholic Charities of East Tennessee.
Rose has an undergraduate degree in accounting from East Tennessee State University. She also did some post-graduate study in astrophysics.
Rose has a large extended family that brightens her life and she can be found most weekends cooking for them. Her passions include reading, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. She has one grown son. Being active in fostering animals, an ever-changing menagerie resides with her.