--- title: "Kerry Irvin is the tip of the spear for special operations families" date: "2026-09-01" modified: "2026-09-01" authors: - name: "Jessica Manfre" job_title: "Coast Guard Spouse, Contributor" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/jessicamanfre/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty25/kerry-irvin-is-the-tip-of-the-spear-for-special-operations-families/" categories: - "Mighty 25" tags: - "Mighty 25: 2026" --- # Kerry Irvin is the tip of the spear for special operations families ![kerry irvin speech]() *(Courtesy of Kerry Irvin)* From the outside looking in, Kerry Irvin is a polished leader with her red-bottom heels and classy business dresses. But she’s also a Krav Maga instructor who will quickly drive that red-bottom heel into an attacker’s foot and have them begging for mercy. Her life has been nothing short of extraordinary, and so is the work she’s devoted her life to. Because for Irvin, service was never a job description or a line on a resume. It’s the foundation of everything. She grew up around the world, a proud Army brat. “My grandfather was an aviator. He was in the U.S. Army Air Corps before it became the Air Force, and then Dad was an aviator. Ended up marrying an aviator. Something I swore I would never do because growing up I thought aviators were super cocky,” she laughed. “From my grandfather and my father, I learned what it meant to serve something greater than yourself, to truly, truly be able to say, ‘I would lay down my life for the concept that is the United States of America.’” Irvin attended the College of William and Mary. It wasn’t long before she received what she referred to as the “shoulder tap” and entered into government service. “It was a very easy yes for me when they asked me if I wanted to serve my nation,” she added. Before that moment, Irvin had grand plans to become a journalist. As she began her work in national security, Irvin met her husband. They raised a family, balancing it with being an Army spouse and serving in her own time. Their kids went into the family business, too. ![Kerry Irvin husband]() *(Courtesy of Kerry Irvin)* “We have two sons who are currently serving in the military. We're very proud of our two Army infantrymen, and I have a daughter who works at the VA hospital in Denver, serving those service members and veterans who have been catastrophically injured or severely ill,” she shared. After her time in national security ended, Irvin taught leadership and consulted with the Army. She also lent her skills by working with various nonprofits serving the military community. When she and her husband settled in Tampa, Irvin happily dug in roots and wanted to find a way to give back to the SOF community. “One of the reasons I'm drawn to that is a very selfish reason. My husband just retired after 32 years as a U.S. Army aviator,” she explained. “He spent a good portion of that as an aviator in our nation's most elite aviation force, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, also known as the Night Stalkers. So I have a very personal connection to this community. It's my tribe.” In 2022, she joined Operation Healing Forces as its director of development before becoming the CEO. The nonprofit is devoted to the wellness of the SOF community, and what started as a retreat has evolved into critical support. ![kerry irvin operation healing forces]() *(Courtesy of Kerry Irvin)* “SOF is a very small section of our nation's armed forces, but statistically, they do have some of the per capita highest rates of suicide, divorce, substance abuse, domestic abuse, chronic pain, traumatic brain injuries, mental health needs,” Irvin shared. “We have built such a measure of trust within the community that we work directly with U.S. Special Operations Forces Command's headquarters with their Warrior Care program.” In December 2025, she was appointed State Commissioner on the Florida Commission on the Status of Women by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. “Because of my connection to the military, I've been kind of the person on the commission that's really been able to tap into what's going on with our women veterans, our women service members, our women's military spouses and what's going on with military families across the entire state,” Irvin said. After a life of service, there isn’t an end in sight. For Irvin, she’s fueled by purpose. “It's been a true privilege and honor to find that the work that I've been doing genuinely changes the trajectory of people's lives. Whether I was in national security or now leading Operation Healing Forces, I've really been fortunate to be a part of missions that matter,” Irvin said. “What makes this mission and this chapter especially meaningful is that I get to see the impact firsthand.” In her free time, she teaches young women how to defend themselves. “People see me wearing my red-bottom shoes and my cute little dresses and would never have thought that. But I will ground a red bottom heel into the insole of somebody's foot in no time at all,” she laughed. ![kerry irvin rifle]() *(Courtesy of Kerry Irvin)* All (not) kidding about maiming attackers aside, Irvin is a powerhouse. Her devotion to this nation, its warriors, and the families serving on the home front is nothing short of remarkable. When you ask her about legacy, though, she doesn’t focus on her resume but rather the people. “I look back, and I realize I've never really changed career trajectory. I've simply found new ways to serve,” Irvin said. “Every meaningful accomplishment in my life truly has been the result of extraordinary people trusting me enough to let me serve alongside them and believing in a shared vision.” You can learn more about the work Irvin is doing by visiting [OperationHealingForces.org](). **Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty** **• [No one showed up for rural military towns like hers. Michelle Lang did.]()** **• [Richard Brookshire sued the VA for its own data. It proved Black veterans right.]()** **• [Kenneth Fisher’s relentless commitment to America’s military families]()** ## Author Jessica is a clinical social worker, writer, and military advocate whose work for We Are The Mighty focuses on the lived realities of military service, especially the moments that come after the uniform comes off. Her writing centers on veterans, military spouses, and families navigating transition, identity, resilience, and healing, often blending clinical insight with deeply human storytelling. She covers leadership, service, community impact, and the cultural shifts shaping today’s military-connected population, frequently drawing from interviews with senior military leaders, influencers, and grassroots voices across the space. Beyond writing, Jessica serves as Director of MilSpouseFest and works as a Military Events Manager, leading national campaigns and large-scale events that bring military communities together. She is the author of Never Alone (Moody Publishers) and is currently developing her next book, After the Battle. When she’s not writing or advocating, Jessica can usually be found with a good cup of coffee in hand, tackling her ever-growing TBR, hiking with her dog, or spending quality time with her family. She is a proud military spouse of an active-duty U.S. Coast Guard member and draws inspiration from the resilience, humor, and heart of military life every day. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]()