FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2025

CONTACT: press@iava.org

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Announces New CEO Marine Corps Veteran Kyleanne Hunter

Washington, D.C. — Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the premier advocacy organization for post-9/11 veterans, is proud to announce the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer, a public policy and national security expert, Marine Corps veteran helicopter pilot Kyleanne Hunter.

“I’m honored to introduce myself as the new CEO of IAVA,” said Kyleanne Hunter, who steps into the role with a deep commitment to leadership, service, and the evolving needs of today’s veteran community. “Our stories as veterans are not monolithic,” said Hunter. “We come from different backgrounds, joined for different reasons, and bring with us a diverse range of experiences and talents. That diversity is our strength.”

Amid a national climate marked by division and distrust, Hunter believes veterans have a unique role to play. “Veterans remain among the most trusted individuals in American life,” Hunter said. “That trust comes with a responsibility—not only to advocate for our community, but to lead on the broader issues facing our country. My vision for IAVA is one where we don’t just respond to the moment—we help shape the future.”

IAVA Board Chair Wayne Smith added, “Ky understands the power of continued service — and how powerful veterans can be in restoring trust and renewing faith in democracy. She is the leader we need for these times, both to advocate on behalf of her fellow veterans as she’s always done, and to help make sure veterans’ voices are front and center in the most important debates of today.”

Prior to coming to IAVA, Hunter was the lead of the Women, Peace, and Security Initiative, part of the RAND National Security Research Division and a senior political scientist at RAND. She also holds faculty affiliations as a professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy and an affiliated professor of political science at Oregon State University. She is a non-resident fellow at the Center for a New American Security. Prior to RAND, Hunter was at the United States Air Force Academy where she was director of the Strategy and Warfare Center, associate director of the Institute for Future Conflict, and a professor of military and strategic studies. She was the cochair of the Culture and Climate Line of Effort for the Independent Review Commission on Military Sexual Assault, and chair of the Employment and Integration Subcommittee for the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services.

Her other previous positions have included vice president of Programs at Brady: United Against Gun Violence, and researcher in residence at the Kroc School of Peace and Justice at University of San Diego. She is a Marine Corps combat veteran with several deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as an AH-1W Super Cobra attack pilot, and worked in the Office of Legislative Affairs.

She holds a Bachelors of Science in Foreign Service from the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, a Masters in International Security Studies from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at University of Denver, and a PhD in Political Science and International Relations from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at University of Denver. She has testified before Congress multiple times on topics related to bettering the lives of military service members and veterans, regularly appears in the press, and has numerous peer reviewed scholarly publications. She is co-author of Invisible Veterans: What Happens when Military Women Become Civilians Again with Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas.

For more information, please contact:
press@iava.org
(212) 982-9699

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is the leading voice of the Post-9/11 generation of American veterans. We represent over 425,000 members, and our best-in-class, non-partisan advocacy on behalf of the post-9/11 generation of veterans has chalked up big wins for our community – and America – for 20 years and counting.

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