Sara Skinner

Name: Sara Skinner
City/State: Athens, GA
Branch of Service: Army
Dates of Service: 10/1995-06/2007
Last Rank Held: O3
Military Occupation: Military Police
Current Occupation: Social Work Professor/ Mushroom Farmer
X: NA
Instagram: NA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skinner.sara

Sara outside of the military:

After separating from the Army, I pursued social work focused on helping vulnerable populations. I earned my MSW from the University of South Carolina in 2012 and my PhD in Social Work from UGA in 2018. My clinical practice centered on forensic interviews with child victims and witnesses of violent crimes, plus individual, family, and group therapy. My dissertation examined child sexual abuse cases within military communities.

I teach part-time at UGA and have been married for 23 years to Bruce Skinner, my former classmate, best friend, and fellow Iraq veteran. Our two sons, Timothy and Franklin, attend the University of North Georgia.

In 2021, I pivoted from teaching to establish a mushroom farm, connecting me to the vibrant farming community around Athens, Georgia. As a member of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, I’m particularly interested in addressing mental health and wellness challenges facing rural farmers, especially veteran farmers transitioning to civilian life and agricultural work.
This journey from military service to social work to farming reflects my ongoing commitment to serving others and building stronger communities.

Sara on joining the IAVA Cavalry:

I’ve been an IAVA member since 2008, participating in multiple advocacy events because veterans issues are deeply personal to me—as a veteran, wife of a veteran, and child of a veteran. I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges of military-to-civilian transition in my own life, family, and among fellow soldiers.

IAVA’s powerful advocacy has transformed veterans’ care and services. We’re in a much better place today than when I served in Iraq 20 years ago, thanks to IAVA’s successful legislative efforts. I particularly value IAVA’s commitment to building coalitions among veterans groups and maintaining non-partisan action.

As the Iraq and Afghanistan wars fade into history books, our country shows increasing fatigue toward veterans issues. IAVA’s continued dedication ensures our veterans aren’t forgotten or left behind. Joining the Cavalry allows me to contribute more meaningfully to this vital mission of sustained advocacy and support.

How the military experience affected Sara’s personal growth:

My husband and I married after graduating West Point in 2002 and we were deployed to Iraq by 2003. One night, sitting atop the Al Rasheed Hotel during a rare moment together, we watched green and orange tracer rounds streak across the sky while listening to distant small arms fire. He said, “No matter what happens from here on out, no one’s going to be shooting at us.”

This became our family motto. Through illness, financial stress, parenting challenges, or mental health struggles, one of us reminds the other: “At least no one is shooting at us.” It means we’re teammates who’ve survived hard times together.

My military experience provides perspective and confidence. I know I’ve been tested under the most challenging circumstances and can adapt and overcome almost anything life presents. That shared resilience and trust, forged in combat, continues to shape how I approach every challenge today.

IAVA’s policy priorities that are the most pressing:

Based on IAVA’s priorities, I believe supporting our Afghan allies and ensuring women veterans have access to reproductive care post-Dobbs are the most pressing and time-sensitive issues.

Afghan Allies: Every day we delay action puts our Afghan partners at greater risk. As time passes, this critical issue fades from public consciousness, making future advocacy more difficult. Supporting those who served alongside us isn’t just policy—it’s about honor and keeping our promises. We asked them to risk their lives for our shared mission, and abandoning them now would be a profound moral failure that undermines America’s credibility with future allies.

Women Veterans’ Reproductive Care: This issue demands immediate attention because servicewomen don’t choose their duty stations. Many are stationed in states with restrictive abortion laws that can literally endanger their lives. When women volunteer to serve our country, they shouldn’t sacrifice their fundamental healthcare rights based on geography. The military asks them to put their lives on the line; the least we can do is ensure they have access to comprehensive healthcare, including reproductive services.

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

I feel most connected to requiring women to register for Selective Service. We’re in a troubling time where women servicemembers are dismissed as “DEI hires,” despite women serving honorably in every war America has fought. Many were killed and wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Restricting Selective Service to men perpetuates the myth that women’s service is “less than” and unnecessary for national defense—that’s bullshit. This feeds resentment and undermines recognition of women’s contributions.

I take this personally. People have seen my Purple Heart license plate and asked about my husband’s service. When they learned it was mine, I heard comments like “You didn’t go to the war part of Iraq, right?” or “You worked behind a desk, right?”

Equal registration for men and women would affirm that national defense is everyone’s responsibility. Fitness determinations—physical, mental health, parenthood—can be made if needed, but the obligation to serve should be shared equally. This would help to cement in the public mind that everyone’s service is valuable and necessary for the strength of the nation.