Robert Tucker

Executive Vice President COO, Canine Companions USA
President and Master Trainer K9 Connection

Over 30 years of experience training and handling dogs. Certified Trial and Training Decoy

Robert is experienced in all phases and disciplines of bite work, personal protection, security, law enforcement, full service dogs, S.A.R and is an expert animal behaviorist. His business, K-9 Connection, is a professional, complete dog training service operated by a master trainer with over 30 years experience

Robert got his start with dogs at the age of 15 with Keiran Kornell, a Palm Beach County Sherrif Deputy. He soon become Kornell’s group obedience instructor at the YMCA. He’s been quoted as saying,

“I’ve been addicted to training dogs ever since.”

Since then, he has had many years of training with professional trainers, law enforcement agencies, the private sector, and ring sports.

His certifications include Cert Trial and Training Decoy for 23 years. It was through this business in Martin County, FL that Robert met his current partner in CCUSA, John Bowman. John came aboard as a client for K9 Connection and then decided to become an Instructor/Decoy. Robert was currently donating the training of 3 service dogs a year to local veterans. His affinity for his brothers and sisters in uniform is why he began voluteering to help veterans. In the early 1990’s Robert enlisted in the Army for Operation Desert Storm. He was a US Army Veteran who never saw a theater of war and was diagnosed by the C.W.O with an existing injury that had become exacerbated by heavy training.

Fresh out of basic and stateside at Ft Sill Oklahoma, he could only watch as his brothers and sisters who went off to the many Middle Eastern Conflicts over the coming years. It was then he decided to use his training with dogs to help out his returning veterans with service dogs. Needless to say, the calls started coming in. In 2013 what is now Canine Companions USA was formed as a not-for-profit charity. The organization works with multiple agencies including PVA and the VA. CCUSA now provides a service dog to anyone in need, regardless of ability to pay. First priority is given to veterans and children.

John Bowman

President and Co-founder, Canine Companions USA

John Bowman, M.B.A., is the President and co-founder of CCUSA. He brings to the organization over 10 years of credentialed dog training experience. In addition, Mr. Bowman has over 25 years experience in team building, sales force training, market planning and development, branding and business program development, including industry-specific research and product and service introduction. Mr. Bowman works for a major university system in Florida, counseling and motivating students to choose the proper education and career paths.

He also comes from a military family, much of his upbringing being influenced by his grandmother’s loss of three brothers in World War II. He has two sons, one in the Army Reserves and the other in the Navy Reserves. He also has a service dog who has gone through the CCUSA training program.

CPL. Corie A. Braun

CFO & Treasurer, Canine Companions USA
Military Liaison, Journalist, Director of Fund Raising

Prior to joining the Canine Companions USA team, Corie was a Military Police woman for the United States Marine Corps for 5 years. From her service she has become an assertive, diligent leader with experience in safety and security. She worked closely with both military and civilian personnel. Her primary focus was management; report writing, criminal proceedings, evidence gathering/recording, and leadership of both military and civilian members, as well as members of foreign nations. With the multitudes of religions and cultures that she was exposed to, her experience has aided her in many types of situations.

Corie was referred to Canine Companions USA through a mutual friend while she was looking for a service dog trainer for her 10 month old German shepherd, Zorro. She was first a client. When she began to see first-hand how they operated, she became interested in getting involved. When Mr. Tucker brought up the question of her coming on board, she didn’t hesitate. Corie saw their dedication to help out not just veterans or children, but anyone with a disability that requires a service animal. They have opened their doors to people who thought it impossible to have a better life and these people have poured their heart and souls into this organization. CCUSA will dedicate all of the time and recourses that they can in order to help those that are truly in need so those individuals may have the ability to have a better quality of life.