Who We Are

Why we do what we do

“We saw dramatic changes in a matter of days in a number of people with spinal cord injuries why went scuba diving,” Becker says. “This is just a pilot study, but to see such a restoration of neurological function and significant improvement in PTSD symptoms over such a short period of time was unprecedented… But the most striking psychological impact was seen in PTSD symptoms, which decreased, on average by eighty percent in those veterans who went diving.” Read more

“Treatment had always been someone telling me I was dysfunctional, and giving me a bunch of pills. I became more withdrawn to the point where I was considering ending it all,” said Mr. Hillard, a former United States Army Sergeant. He repeatedly dropped out of care, and found nothing that really helped until he tried scuba diving. “As soon as I was underwater, everything went quiet. Seeing the fish, hearing the ocean – there is a complete innocence about it. There are no bad memories in the water. Everything just wants to live, and it made me want to live again.” Read more

Sharon Patterson - President

sharon@warhorsescuba.com

Sharon has been diving since 2000 and is in love with the underwater world! Ever since her first breath underwater, SCUBA diving is her passion and her world! In 2016 she reached the PADI Master Instructor rating which is a great accomplishment in her professional SCUBA career!

As a co-founder of Warhorse SCUBA, Sharon is honored to share her love for a sport that has brought so much joy and excitement into her life, and hopes to see you all underwater soon!

Lorie Guzman - Vice President

lorie@warhorsescuba.com

Lorie has been deeply immersed in the military life for the past 23 year. She has a passion for helping service members, veterans and their families. As a military spouse of 23 years and Mother to an active duty airman , she has played many roles while actively engaged in the military community. These include working as a civilian on the battlefield training deploying soldiers and airman, working at on-post housing for Joint Base McGuire – Dix – Lakehurst. She has had the experience of multiple spousal deployments.
Lorie is a PADI Assistant Instructor and is excited to be able to introduce our combat veterans to the amazing underwater world that SCUBA provides.

Kayla Schleich - Secretary

kayla@warhorsescuba.com

Kayla served in the New Jersey Army National Guard for nine years and she has been diving since she was sixteen years old! Ever since her first breath underwater she has been mesmerized by the beauty of the ocean. She is an advocate for the humane treatment of our oceans and our friends in it! Especially sharks! She has been a PADI SCUBA instructor since 2018.

Al Siracusa - Aquatics Director

Al@warhorsescuba.com

Al has been diving since 2018. Starting with his first underwater experience, he developed a love for SCUBA that continues to grow through diving locally in New Jersey, taking advanced PADI classes and SCUBA diving around the world with friends and family. Al began volunteering with Warhorse SCUBA in 2022 and accepted the role on the Executive Board in 2023. He is grateful for the opportunity to work with Veterans to introduce them to the thrill and beauty of underwater exploration.

Al is a PADI Professional who works for Diver’s Two in Avon, NJ, as an Assistant Instructor.

Julia Rice - Social Outreach Director

Julia@warhorsescuba.com

Julia’s first experience with SCUBA which was when she fell in love with the sport, was when her dad held a pony bottle in the shallow end of her pool and let her breathe underwater when she was just five years old. Now Julia has been certified since 2020, and has reached her PADI Divemaster certification!

Julia has a passion for helping to encourage others to dive, and loves to see how Warhorse SCUBA can help the veterans and first responders that are involved!

Michael J Drybread - Veteran Outreach

Drybread@live.com

Michael began his passion for scuba as a Warhorse SCUBA recipient and is excited in sharing the therapeutic benefits of scuba with other fellow combat veterans. Michael is also an avid triathlete and enjoys swimming, running marathons and mountain biking. In 2021, he completed his first Ironman (140.6) in Lake Placid, NY.

Michael joined the Army in 1999 and was stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany for three (3) years as a combat engineer. Michael then enlisted in the National Guard as a Military Police Officer where he was deployed to Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom in detainee operations, transporting detainees throughout the country.

Michael is currently employed for the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) as a Correctional Police Officer and is an Academy Instructor at the Correctional Staff Training Academy located in Sea Girt, NJ. As a Master Resiliency Officer for NJDOC, he is passionate in helping fellow law enforcement officers balance the stress of work and home.