Kimberly Hazelgrove advocates for military casualty assistance reform

Kimberly Hazelgrove, a veteran and former intelligence officer, is working to reform the military’s Casualty Assistance Program following the death of her husband, Army helicopter pilot Brian Hazelgrove, in Iraq in 2004.

Hazelgrove described her initial experience with the military's casualty process as “antiquated” and noted that surviving spouses were often pressured to leave military bases immediately without adequate support or guidance. After transitioning to the private sector at Lockheed Martin, she dedicated her career to improving support systems for grieving military families.

Her work with various Veterans Affairs advisory committees contributed to the creation of the Office of Survivors Assistance, aimed at providing better resources and continuity for families facing loss due to military service.