Julie Naasko Deutscher

Julie is the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, U.S. Army Sgt. Ronald Naasko, who in March 1968 stepped on a landmine in Quảng Tri Province and lost his legs. He lived 42 years with his injuries and became a model of resilience and an advocate for peace, a mission Julie is honored to continue. In January 2023, at the invitation of PeaceTrees’ cofounder Jerilyn Brusseau, she traveled to Vietnam and held a remembrance ceremony where her dad was wounded. Julie also witnessed the extraordinary work of PeaceTrees’ deminers, visited schools, and met with landmine survivors. Julie’s daughter, Sara, was a 2023 participant in the University of Washington’s study abroad program in Vietnam, which included supporting PeaceTrees’ work.

Julie’s family helped sponsor a kindergarten in Quảng Tri, and she joined the board in 2024. She has degrees in politics and journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder and has worked in both fields.