Kay Kensington

Name:  Kay Kensington
Hometown: Rancho Cordova, CA
Branch: United States Air Force
Years Served: May 2002 – Oct 2006
Rank: Senior Airman
Military Occupation: Air Transport Specialist
X (Twitter) Handle: @ KayKensington

Tell us a little about you outside of the military: 

I’m a first-generation immigrant from Greece and 9/11 happened on my first day of college; I was in a recruiter’s office on 9/12 asking to enlist. America had done so much for my family, that I wanted to repay that kindness and serve in our nation’s defense. After a career-ending injury in Baghdad in the summer of 2006, I went back to school and have been working in public service for my entire career. I love camping, hiking, traveling, and cooking!

What do you hope to gain from the fellowship? 

I was so incredibly honored and privileged to be asked to be a 2024 IAVA Leadership Fellow, and wish to be of service to IAVA in any capacity that I can for years to come. IAVA taught me how to advocate for the Post-9/11 Generation of Veterans, and I’m so excited to be able to take the skills that I was taught and to hopefully show others. IAVA does important work, and I’m very excited to be a part of it!

What does advocacy mean to you?

Advocacy means that not only my voice, but the voice of those who are no longer with us can be heard in the halls of Congress. So many of our fellow Veterans no longer have the ability to speak up for themselves, and I take this responsibility as a solemn privilege.

How did your military experience shape you to be the person you are today? 

The military gave me everything I have and helped me be everything that I’ve become! I was taught the importance of integrity, hard work, perseverance, and resolve. I’ve taken these lessons into my professional work, where I advocate for my fellow Veterans with regard to their injuries sustained in the service of our nation. It fills me with pride to be able to continue serving, and I’ll carry this heart for service throughout my entire life.

Which one of IAVA’s policy priorities do you believe is the most pressing? Why?

Alternative Therapies – I’m convinced that the friends that I’ve lost to the battle with PTSD would still be here if they had access to more modalities of treatment.

Which one of IAVA’s policy priorities do you have the strongest personal connection to? Why?

Preventing Suicide – my dear friend Luis lost the battle to PTSD in the winter of 2016, and he’s the reason for everything I do, from volunteering with different Veteran Service Organizations to advocating for my fellow Veterans to working in public service