Jennifer Marino

A Colorado native, Jennifer Marino attended the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned a Marine Second Lieutenant in May 1998. Jenn served as a CH-46E helicopter pilot, deploying twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She has served as an instructor for junior pilots, flown and conducted ground support for presidential helicopter missions worldwide, and served as Aide de Camp to the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Jenn holds masters degrees from the Marine Corps University Command and Staff College and the University of Pennsylvania. She retired from active duty in August 2013, eager to continue her service in the military and veteran space. From August – October 2013, Jenn completed a 2,590-mile cross-country bike ride to connect with Gold Star families, learn their stories and share them with others.

Jenn served as the Executive Director of Boulder Crest Retreat for Military and Veteran Wellness from October 2013 through May 2015. In this role, she developed multi-day retreat programs for combat veterans and family members to assist them with recovery and provide opportunities for growth. From September through December 2015, Jenn led a multi-national team in the African Odyssey project, a collaborative effort between multiple nonprofit organizations to train African youth in teamwork, leadership and mentorship. After her work in South Africa, Kenya and Uganda, Jenn assumed a part-time role as an independent consultant for the Institute for Defense Analyses. She is currently assisting with a pilot project to enhance resilience in Marines through stress education and positive stress mitigation practices.