Empowering veterans to transition from military service to community leadership through sports officiating excellence
Founded in 2018 by former NFL referee Mike Pereira, Battlefields to Ballfields was born from a simple yet powerful observation: veterans possess the exact qualities that make exceptional sports officials.
After witnessing the challenges many veterans face transitioning to civilian life, Mike recognized that sports officiating could provide a meaningful bridge. The discipline, quick decision-making, leadership under pressure, and unwavering integrity that define military service are the same qualities that create outstanding referees and umpires.
What started as a small pilot program in California has grown into a national movement, transforming the lives of over 2,500 veterans across 45 states. Our mission remains unchanged: to honor military service by creating new opportunities for veterans to serve their communities.
Founded
Guided by principles of service, excellence, and community impact
To empower military veterans by providing comprehensive mentorship, and resources
necessary to excel in sports officiating, while fostering community engagement and creating
meaningful career opportunities that honor their service and utilize their leadership skills.
Bill Krueper & Jeb McNally
Michael Kennedy
Jimmy DeBell
Meet the dedicated leaders driving our mission forward
Mike Pereira began officiating football in 1971 with Pop Warner games and advanced through 14 years in college conferences, including the Big West and Western Athletic. He joined the NFL in 1996 as a side judge before rising to leadership roles, serving as Supervisor of Officiating from 1998, Director in 2001, and Vice President from 2004 until his retirement in 2009. Since 2010, he has been a rules analyst for Fox Sports NFL and college football telecasts. Currently, he heads officiating for the United Football League (UFL). A Santa Clara University finance graduate and two-time cancer survivor, Pereira supports Battlefields to Ballfields in aiding veterans as sports officials and has consulted for organizations like the Pac-10 and Alliance of American Football.
Michael Belote has over 43 years of experience in representing a variety of clients before the Legislature and state regulators. Mike’s activities in the legislative process have spanned a broad array of issues, including financial services, real estate, health care, the judiciary, and transportation. Capitol Weekly has named him one of the Top 100 in California politics. In 2021, Mike was named as Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year by an association of philanthropic fundraisers in the Sacramento Capital Region. Mike is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and the McGeorge School of Law. He is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts in California.
Jimmy DeBell is a veteran college and NFL official who now specializes in officiating training. As a college field, side and back judge since 1996, DeBell worked in the ECAC Patriot League, Atlantic 10, Big East and Conference USA until 2009. He then became a side judge in the National Football League from 2009 to 2014. DeBell’s prior professional experience included two Arena Football League seasons and one year in NFL Europe. Currently, he works for Conference USA in two capacities, as a downfield position trainer and film evaluator for officials coming into C-USA. He also earned a postseason assignment in each of his six NFL seasons.
Greg has lived in Sacramento since the early 60’s, and was born in Dallas, Texas and had a successful career in the floor covering business. Married Linda in 1984, and they have 3 sons in their middle thirties, Tyler, Marshal and Bryson, and belong to Touchstone Christian church. Greg is an avid bicyclist and a philanthropist in the Sacramento Region.
Bill Krueper is a retired Navy pilot living in Indianapolis, Indiana. After 20 years of military service and extensive experience in various training roles, he established a consulting company. Bill, his sister Liz Krueper, and friend Jeb McNally founded the non-profit Vets2Refs, which then merged into Battlefields2Ballfields in the fall of 2025. Bill walked on the football team at Ball State University where he lettered as a fullback and on special teams. He has been an assistant high school football coach, is an aspiring football official and his studying to earn his master’s degree in sports management at Butler University. Bill wants to improve training for officials and keep sports impactful for all.
Dana began her professional career in July 1997 with the New Mexico Activities Association as the administrative assistant for boys’ sports and officials. After seven years as administrative assistant at the NMAA, Dana was promoted to the position of Commissioner of Officials in 2004 and proudly served in that capacity until July 31, 2021, making her one of the longest tenured Commissioners of Officials in the country. She was promoted to the position of Deputy Director of the NMAA in 2012.
On August 1, 2021, Dana assumed the newly created role of Director of Officiating Services for the NFHS in Indianapolis. She describes this position as her “dream job,” where she is able to advocate for officials nationwide. In addition to her role with the NFHS, she was named Chairperson of the Board of Directors for NASO for the 2022-2023 school year and was inducted into the New Mexico Officials Association Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022.
Rodger Ruth is a Vietnam veteran who served on active duty from 1967 to 1969, followed by four years in the Army Reserves at the Presidio of San Francisco. A distinguished member of the Scabbard and Blade Honor Society, he earned his degree from the University of Oregon before building a 40-year career in the insurance industry, specializing in commercial property and casualty lines. As Treasurer of Battlefields to Ballfields, Ruth leverages his financial expertise to support scholarships for veterans transitioning to sports officiating roles, drawing from his own experiences of reintegration and love for community sports. A lifelong Oregon resident, he enjoys fly fishing, golf, and mentoring young leaders through local veteran networks.
A comprehensive pathway from application to professional officiating
A person applying for a scholarship must be: at least 18 years old currently serving or have served in the United States military first year official (not officiated before)
Please register with your local sports officiating association before or at time of applying for scholarship. Keep your receipts as we will reimburse you for your dues.
We use id.me to verify military status. Please click on id.me to verify your military status after successful completion you will then be able to start the B2B application process.
Every applicant receives a confirmation screen that follows if all fields are filled correctly and after hitting “Submit”
PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE YOUR UNIFORMS. We provide a Uniform Starter Kit for the sport you receive scholarship for from our authorized supplier. If uniforms were purchased prior or during the application process, you can elect to have a reimbursement (we will need an itemized receipt) for the items you purchased in our starter kit at what we pay our supplier or receive the full starter kit. Any extra items are purchased at your own expense.
Many veterans face an uphill battle when they return as they figure out how they will integrate back into society. B2B provides scholarships to veterans who return from defending our country with an opportunity to get integrated back into their community through officiating. Those who have been involved in officiating already have felt the joy of stepping out onto the field or a court. With it, comes a great sense of value that leaves one with a feeling of accomplishment.
In serving in the military, and in officiating, there’s the common bond of being a member of a team and creating order out of chaos. Battlefields to Ballfields is providing veterans with an opportunity to hone their newfound officiating skills and participate in something that will give them a new sense of self-worth along with the ability to make some extra income. While the ultimate goal will be to get some of our returning veterans into the upper levels of officiating, including the professional ranks, they will start out at the local level working high school and youth level games. Local associations are actively recruiting because there aren’t enough officials signing up.
The image of officials on all levels and in all sports has suffered greatly in the past decade or so. Local associations are actively recruiting officials because there are not enough signing up to officiate. Youth sports deserve competent officiating and full officiating crews at all levels. Battlefields to Ballfields is helping address this issue. We have put more officials and judges into the system and will greatly enhance the image of those entering the officiating ranks.
“Officials have been judged since the beginning of time on the calls they make. Starting Battlefields to Ballfields is definitely the best call I’ve ever made. — Mike Pereira, Founder & former VP of NFL officiating
President Calvin Coolidge once said “a nation that forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.’’
We have not — and will not forget. Battlefields to Ballfields will help ensure that.
B2B provides scholarships across the United States with a board of directors comprised of people who are experienced in business, military service, and officiating.
For more information on Eligibility Requirements & Scholarship Details
Whether you’re a veteran ready to start your officiating career or someone who wants
to support our cause, there’s a place for you in our community.
