Kevin Sullivan

Name: Kevin Sullivan
City/State: Cincinnati, OH
Branch of Service: Army
Years of Service: 17
Last Rank Held: O4
Military Occupation: 13A
Current Occupation: 14A
X: @KSullyPhilly
Instagram: TBD
Facebook: TBD

Kevin outside of the military:

I am a husband to my incredible wife, Laura, and father to two amazing children (ages 6 and 3). Laura and I are also fortunate to have two bonus kids as part of our family (ages 20 and 19). I am currently in my second of year of law school at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. I like to stay pretty active – going on hikes and exploring new places with my family and doing my best to keep up with our older kids and their friends on the basketball court. When I am not studying or running around with my family, I am an avid fan of Philly sports (Go Birds!).

Kevin on joining the IAVA Cavalry:

I am joining the IAVA Cavalry because I believe the fight for veterans’ rights and interests requires dedicated, informed advocates. Joining the Cavalry allows me to continue serving, but now as an advocate who brings firsthand experience from the military, a legal education in progress, and a passion for upholding democratic institutions. IAVA’s mission resonates with my own: we must ensure that veterans have a voice—not only in how we are treated but in how our country is governed and protected.

How the military experience affected Kevin’s personal growth:

My military experience shaped me into someone who leads with purpose, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to doing what’s right—even when it’s difficult. Wearing the uniform gave me a firsthand understanding of what it means to serve a mission greater than myself. That sense of duty doesn’t stop between drill weekends—I try to carry it forward in my daily life. I channel that same commitment into leading my family and in pursuing my legal studies with focus and intention.

The Army instilled in me a deep respect for structure, integrity, and responsibility. It gave me the tools to make decisions under pressure, to lead with moral clarity, and to stand firm in moments that matter. These are the values that continue to guide me—not just in uniform, but in every space I enter. Whether I’m tackling a legal challenge, advocating for a policy, or showing up for those who depend on me, I do so with the mindset of a servant-leader who has seen what it means to protect something bigger than oneself.

My experience didn’t just prepare me for fatherhood or to pursue a legal career—it shaped the core of who I am.

IAVA’s policy priorities that are the most pressing:

The most pressing of IAVA’s policy priorities, in my view, is protecting our democracy. Recent events in the past few months have deepened my concern that our democracy is being tested in ways that threaten to erode constitutional norms, undermine public trust in institutions, and weaken the guardrails that have long preserved the rule of law.

These developments aren’t just political—they’re personal for veterans. Many of us served in regions where democracy was absent or in crisis, and we understand what’s at stake when institutions fail or become tools of division. Watching similar patterns emerge here at home is both alarming and motivating. Veterans bring a unique and necessary voice to the conversation about what democratic accountability, civic responsibility, and national unity should look like. We’ve seen what happens when those values collapse, and we know how essential they are to the freedoms we fought to protect.

That’s why protecting our democracy is not just timely—it’s essential. Veterans must be at the forefront of this effort, pushing for transparency, constitutional fidelity, and leadership that honors the oaths we’ve all taken.

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

Again, I am most personally connected to the defense of democracy. Serving as a battery commander during the 2016 Republican National Convention, I led Soldiers tasked with maintaining public safety while protecting citizens’ First Amendment rights. That experience gave me a clear view of the delicate, but critical, balance between security and liberty. It taught me that leadership is not about control, but about ensuring that the rights of others are protected—even in potential moments of uncertainty or unrest.

Our democracy is at a critical moment of uncertainty and experiencing unrest. If we don’t act, the institutional foundations that allow us to balance security and liberty will continue to decay. Veterans know what it means to serve something greater than ourselves, and we understand the weight of our oaths. That’s why our voices are needed in this fight—not later, but now. If we lose faith in democracy, every other veteran issue becomes harder to fix.