William Markham

Project OVAT is a charitable organization focusing on the legal and medical support of referred Veterans who are attempting to navigate the Department of Veterans Affairs disability programs. Veterans who are assisted by Project OVAT will not have the burden of bills, costs or fees commonly associated with their fight for what they have earned and deserve. Our organization proactively covers these costs entirely through charitable funds. Once these matters are complete, each beneficiary Veteran joins an Advisory Board and assists Project OVAT in selecting the next Veteran to support. POVAT understands the frustrations that can arise when transitioning out of the military and/or filing a disability claim with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The claims process can be confusing and one that service members and veterans shouldn’t try to navigate alone. POVAT was established to help veterans and service members who are filing for disability compensation and benefits.POVAT consists of a nationwide network of representatives who are experts in dealing with the VA and are the key to your success. Our professional advocates help veterans cut through red tape. Project One Vet @ A Time (POVAT) was established in 2019 by retired Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant William Markham, Jeffrey O'Hara, Esq., and Mark McLaughlin, MD. Looking closely at the POVAT logo, the three stars on the "A" represent these three founding members. Project OVAT was borne from Will Markham's own struggle for appropriate Veterans Affairs (VA) disability ratings. Understanding what he endured throughout his 30-year military career, only to have to justify his injuries to the VA after it downgraded his disability rating, allows people to understand why this mission is so important and personal to him. The personal and professional relationships he developed during his challenging VA adversity remain today and enable him to meaningfully connect with the veterans his nonprofit serves.