Kirsten Laha-Walsh is a former Navy hospital corpsman and third-generation sailor. Following her military service, Kirsten began pursuing her Ph.D. in social work research at the University of Alabama with a focus on military and veteran issues, including opioid use. She is an Elizabeth Dole Caregiver Fellow for Alabama, a HillVets and Wounded Warrior Project Fellow alumnus, and an advocate for veterans, particularly women and LGBTQ+ veterans. She lives with her spouse, a Purple Heart combat Marine veteran undergoing gender transition, and their three dogs.