President & Founder
U.S. Army, 2000-2004
Shawn Paul Cosner served in the United States Army from 2000 to 2004. After his service, he earned a Juris Doctor from the Appalachian School of Law. He is a licensed West Virginia contractor with deep roots in the construction industry alongside his family, who collectively represent over 300 years of military service across multiple generations and branches.
Shawn founded The Eight Fifty Committee in December 2022 after recognizing a critical gap in veteran services across North Central West Virginia. The organization’s name comes from the only 850 Revolutionary War veterans who ever received the pensions promised to the more than 230,000 who served.
As President, Shawn oversees all programs and operations, leads the organization’s strategic direction, and serves as the primary advocate for the 21,000+ veterans in the service area. He is currently pursuing VA-Accredited Claims Agent certification through the VA Office of General Counsel to directly assist veterans with benefits claims.
Shawn also leads the Vetworks home repair program, bringing his professional construction experience directly to veterans in need.
