IAVA increases awareness in the media, among the American public, and in Washington to ensure that the voices of our newest generation of veterans are heard and listened to.
About
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America fights on behalf of the post-9/11 generation of veterans.
Our Mission
Our Ethos
We are here to serve and empower our post9/11 veterans community. We believe these dynamic men and women represent America’s future — our next greatest generation. They are our true north, and everything we do is designed to focus on them and the positive future they bring to the world.
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of efficiency, effectiveness, honesty, and transparency. We fight hard and take tough stands. That’s not always easy, but it’s who we are and what our mission requires.
The veterans movement is for every veteran. Our diversity is our strength. We are a community that welcomes everyone, of every background, time period, and discharge status. The veterans movement is not for veterans alone. Our success is America’s success. We believe everyone can do something to help.
Many have come before us. From The Revolutionary War to the present day, every generation of veterans and allies before us have served, sacrificed, and paved the way. Many had it much tougher than we have it now. They broke down barriers so we could succeed. We learn from and respect the history of our elders. We never forget those who came before us, those who were lost, and those who will follow us.
Our work is not about us as individuals. Success is a team game. We eat last, raise our hand first, and are always here to serve and lead. We will always put our community and our mission before ourselves. Everyone is a leader: a servant leader. We believe true leadership requires following and supporting others.
We can’t do everything. Staying focused and achieving greatness requires tremendous discipline. It also often means saying no to many things, so we can say yes to a few — and do them well. If we take something on, we make sure it’s worth it. Once we do, we give it our all and crush it.
Every day is a chance to make a difference. For every one of us. What we do changes lives and changes history. We are committed to rising to that challenge, to accepting the responsibility of leadership and to making a difference. Pressure is a privilege, and we respect and appreciate that privilege always. We’re not passive. We get after it! We don’t wait for the change we seek, we make it happen.
The work we do is hard. Sometimes incredibly hard. It takes tremendous effort, energy and heart. So we make fun a priority. We don’t take ourselves too seriously and we always think of others. Nobody wants to work with a jerk. So we keep it cool. Music, food and sports are connective tissue for our movement. We share our passions and successes, and we remember morale is everyone’s responsibility. We always keep in mind a member or colleague could be having an incredibly tough day, that we can make better. We find ways to keep it fun and we and our movement are stronger for it.

Meet our team
Ann Gaudard Weeby
Board Member
Barry L. Bloom
Board Member
Bruce E. Mosler
Board Member
Dan Streetman
Board Member
General (Ret) David H. Petraeus
Board Member
Honorable David J. Shulkin, MD
Board Member
Gina Ortiz Jones
Board Member
Jeremy Butler
Board Member
Jeff Marshall
Board Member
Michael Hoffman
Board Member
Myles B. Caggins III
Board Member
Kyleanne Hunter
Chief Executive Officer
Dane Rivas-Koehl
Research Fellow
Jacob Mireles
Senior Manager, Development & Partnerships
Jeff Sigler
Director, Business Operations
Jerritt Lynn
Director, Membership
Jess Finucan
Director, Policy & Advocacy
Kameron Smith
Social Media Manager
Lou Elliott- Cysewski
VP of External Affairs
We're fighting for:
Veterans’ Health Care
While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) delivers care that often meets or exceeds private-sector standards, veterans continue to face systemic barriers including fragmented care under expanded community care programs, inconsistent access to mental health services, persistent suicide risk, especially among younger and women veterans, disability claims backlogs and outdated IT systems, and uneven implementation of toxic exposure benefits under the PACT Act.
Economic Stability for Veterans and Their Families
Veterans demonstrate strong employment and homeownership rates overall, yet significant disparities persist—particularly for women veterans, veterans of color, disabled veterans, and single-parent households.
AFghan Allies and National Security
Supporting Afghan allies is both a moral obligation and a national security imperative. The unfinished evacuation and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) backlog have left tens of thousands in limbo, while veterans report deep moral injury tied to perceived abandonment of wartime partners.
Equity for women veterans
Women are the fastest-growing segment of the veteran population, yet persistent inequities remain in health care access, claims processing, and research inclusion. Ongoing gaps include inconsistent access to reproductive health services, high denial rates for Military Sexual Trauma (MST) claims, infrastructure deficiencies at VA facilities, a lack of menopause and aging research, and geographic and racial disparities in care.
Strengthening and Protecting Civic Engagement
Veterans consistently express concern about democratic institutions, voting access, misinformation, and preservation of civil rights. For veterans, democracy is not abstract—it is tied directly to the oath they swore to defend the Constitution.
Ready to support our veterans?
Support our veterans today
Veterans aren’t a charity. They’re an investment. Donate to help empower IAVA veterans and ensure their voices are heard.
Donate to IAVA