Jonathan Tennis

Name: Jonathan Tennis
City/State: Reston, VA
Branch of Service: Army
Dates of Service: 08/20/1998-11/20/2003
Last Rank Held: E6
Military Occupation: 98C (now 35N)
Current Occupation: Consultant
X: @jonathanhtennis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.h.tennis/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.tennis.9/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanhtennis/
TikTok: NA

Jonathan outside of the military:

Outside of work, I continue my service by investing my time, talent, and treasure in causes that matter to me — including food insecurity, literacy, and diversity in my community.

Jonathan on joining the IAVA Cavalry:

I’m joining the IAVA Cavalry because I believe veterans deserve strong, credible, and values-driven leadership.

Throughout my career, I’ve focused on building community, advocating for belonging, and ensuring that service members and veterans feel seen and supported beyond the uniform.

IAVA has consistently been a powerful voice for post-9/11 veterans. I want to contribute my experience in leadership, community engagement, and strategic thinking to help strengthen that voice and expand its impact.

For me, this isn’t just about affiliation—it’s about service continuing in a new form.

How the military experience affected Jonathan’s personal growth:

I often say that I needed the Army far more than the Army needed me. It gave me structure, purpose, and a place to grow — a steady foundation at a formative time in my life. It also allowed me to carry forward my family’s multi-generational legacy of service. I truly believe I would not be the person I am today without that experience and the opportunity to serve our nation.

IAVA’s policy priorities that are the most pressing:

Two of IAVA’s policy priorities stand out to me: protecting our democracy and expanding access to alternative therapies for veterans.

On democracy, this feels deeply personal. Many of us volunteered to serve because we believed in the principles this country represents. Safeguarding democratic institutions and ensuring veterans have a voice in civic life isn’t political — it’s foundational. Veterans defended democracy abroad; we should be equally committed to strengthening it at home.

At the same time, expanding access to alternative therapies is critical. Too many post-9/11 veterans live with PTSD, TBI, chronic pain, and depression, and traditional treatments don’t work for everyone. Continued research and responsible integration of options like cannabis and psychedelic-assisted therapies through the VA could be life-changing. Veterans deserve evidence-based choices that reflect the complexity of their experiences.

Both priorities ultimately honor service: protecting the country we fought for and ensuring those who served receive the care they need.

IAVA’s policy priorities with the strongest personal connection for Jonathan:

IAVA’s focus on protecting democracy is the policy priority I feel most personally connected to. I volunteered to serve because I believed in the principles this country stands for — representative government, rule of law, and the right of citizens to have a voice. Safeguarding those foundations isn’t partisan; it’s a continuation of service. For me, strengthening democracy at home honors the commitment we made in uniform and ensures the country we defended remains worthy of that sacrifice.