--- title: Vote for the 2013 Military Fatherhood Award Winner! description: Now's the time to vote for the 2013 Military Fatherhood Award winner! image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/file-29578513-png/images/mfa13-linville-headshot.png --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/fathertopics/bid/177151/fathertopics-vote-for-the-2013-military-fatherhood-award-winner#main) - [![NFI mark](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI%20mark.svg)FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://www.fatherhood.org/) - [STORE.FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://store.fatherhood.org/) [![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=149&height=82&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=65&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=66&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=89&height=49&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ](https://www.fatherhood.org) - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Get Informed Get Informed - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - [Father Stats & Infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) - Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Find Your Stage of Father Inclusion](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-inclusion) - [How Father Friendly Is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Fatherhood Data & Statistics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - [How Father Friendly is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Other Free Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/nfi-free-resources) - [Talk With us to Get Started](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) National Fatherhood Initiative Blog / [Latest Articles](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood) [Success Stories](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/success-stories) # Vote for the 2013 Military Fatherhood Award Winner! 2 min read ![Melissa Byers](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/melissa_circle_icon.png?width=100&height=100&name=melissa_circle_icon.png) [** Melissa Byers ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/melissa-byers) Melissa is the Chief Marketing Officer at National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI). Melissa oversees the organization's marketing, communications, graphic design, and product fulfillment functions. Every year, National Fatherhood Initiative celebrates military fathers and families through our [Military Fatherhood Award](https://www.fatherhood.org/mfa)™.  We get hundreds of nominations and after narrowing down to four finalists, we turn to the American people to help us select an Awardee by [voting on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/nationalfatherhoodinitiative).  Our finalists are going above and beyond in staying involved in their children's lives, despite the challenges of military life, and they are an inspiration to us.  We hope they'll inspire and encourage you too! **![Ssgt Charlie Linville, 2013 Military Fatherhood Award Finalist](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/file-29578513-png/images/mfa13-linville-headshot.png?width=60&height=98&name=mfa13-linville-headshot.png)Ssgt Charlie Linville, U.S. Marine Corps** - a combat veteran and Wounded Warrior, Ssgt Linville insisted on attending his daughter's first karate competition the day after having his leg amputated and continues to plan activites with his daughters, despite daily pain. **![CPO Patrick Mondragon, 2013 Military Fatherhood Award finalist](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/file-28602136-png/images/mfa13-mondragon-headshot.png?width=60&height=84&name=mfa13-mondragon-headshot.png)CPO Patrick Mondragon, U.S. Navy** - CPO Mondragon was effectively a solo parent while caring for his wife and kids - and continuing to fulfill his military duties - during a life-threatening health complication his wife experienced.    **![Ssgt Jorge Roman, 2013 Military Fatherhood Award finalist](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/file-28602087-png/images/mfa13-roman-headshot.png?width=59&height=79&name=mfa13-roman-headshot.png)Ssgt Jorge Roman, U.S. Army** - a first-generation American, Ssgt Roman is fulfilling the American dream for his children, teaches them art and fitness, and has continued to parent his daughters during overseas deployments.   **![Maj. Kevin Billups, 2013 Military Fatherhood Award finalist](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/file-28602124-png/images/mfa13-billups-headshot.png?width=60&height=84&name=mfa13-billups-headshot.png)Maj. Kevin Billups, U.S. Air Force** - leaving for his eighth deployment in a few weeks, Maj. Billups is not only an involved father to his three children, he teaches other new military dads how to prepare for fatherhood and care for their little ones.   You can [watch the videos their families created and vote for your favorite finalist on NFI's Facebook page](http://www.facebook.com/nationalfatherhoodinitiative).  **Voting opens on Monday April 15 and closes on Sunday May 15.  You can vote once every 24 hours.** We're excited to introduce these wonderful dads as outstanding examples of fatherhood and to honor them for their service to the country. **Share this blog with other collegues and associates working in the fatherhood field!** Date Published: 04/15/2013 Last Updated: 06/11/2018 ## Learn How to Build a Fatherhood Program That Works Download this free guide for a proven 7-step roadmap—from making the case and securing funding for your program, to launching and measuring real results! [Get The Guide Now!](https://www.fatherhood.org/starting-a-fatherhood-program) ![7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png?width=700&height=700&name=7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png) [ Previous ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/bid/177012/new-movie-home-run-opens-in-theaters-april-19th) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/bid/177649/on-safety-and-similarities-with-our-kids) ## Related Articles ### [24:7 Dad® + Case Management = A Winning Combo A few months ago, I spoke with two researchers who recently completed an evaluation of a fatherhood program that uses 24:7 Dad® as its foundation. They were planning to submit a ... 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