GOLD STAR SPOUSES OF AMERICA INC. |
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NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
President - Tamra Sipes
Vice President - Kimberly Hazelgrove, OEF Veteran, US Army (E7)
Secretary - Shayron Chambers
Treasurer - Julie Hammond, CAPT, SC, US Navy Reserve (Retired)
Director - Misty J. Brammer
Director - Kathleen Cardona
Director - Kristy DiDomenico
Director - David Escobar, LTC, US Army (Retired)
Director - Kathy Prout
Tamra Sipes
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Tamra Sipes is the surviving spouse of Navy Search and Rescue Corpsman, HM1 Robert E. Sipes. He was 34 years old when he was killed while attempting to rescue children in a house fire, on October 8, 1995. While stationed at El Toro Marine Corps Base he flew over 55 rescue missions receiving the highest medal during a non-war time period, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for Heroism. The US National Association of EMT’s recognized him with an EMT of the year award and while stationed at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base, he was meritoriously promoted in rank, an honor distinguished to one service member on the base annually. Robert was the father of three children ages 10, 2 and 6 months at the time of his death. Tamra has worked in the hospitality and event industry for over 35 years. She met her fallen hero, when working for Disneyland in California.
Tamra currently resides on Whidbey Island in Washington State and has been involved with community volunteerism for over 25 years. She has volunteered and served on boards with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County, Economic Development Council of Island County and Soroptimist International of the Americas.
She has testified before congress about benefits of surviving spouses, is a graduate of Skagit Valley Community College and holds professional designations in her industry. She owns a travel and event planning business, providing services for clients coordinating individual travel to large scale production and multi-day events.
Kimberly Hazelgrove, OEF Veteran, USA (E7)
NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT
Kimberly Hazelgrove grew up in Ashtabula, Ohio and graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with a degree in Business Administration. She served on active duty in the U.S. Army as an intelligence analyst from 1995-2004, including a tour with JTF-170 supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Kimberly transitioned out of the military after the death of her husband CW2 Brian D Hazelgrove, killed in Iraq in January 2004, to care for her young children.
After her service, Kimberly worked for Lockheed Martin to train Army analysts around the world as a contractor for Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM). In addition, she used her own military and surviving family experiences to inform Army Casualty Assistance processes and training and worked with military and veteran organizations through all levels of government to ensure equity in benefit delivery and improved quality of life. She has served on the Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committees on OIF/OEF Veterans and Families and on the Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans, participated in round-table discussions for the U.S. Army and Joint Services, and has testified before Congress. Kimberly is a life member of VFW Post 1662 and is currently the Honorary Co-Chair of the Lorain County Gold Star Families Memorial Monument Board working with the Woody Williams Foundation.
Kimberly is the Advocacy Coordinator for Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio, working to address food insecurity and the root causes of hunger. She is the proud mother of a blended family of 5 children and 2 grandchildren.
Shayron Chambers
NATIONAL SECRETARY
Shayron (Shay) Chambers has been a proud resident of Minnesota since 1985 and currently calls Maple Grove home where she has raised three wonderful children. With an illustrious career spanning over 35 years at a Fortune 500 medical device company and several other industries, Shay has held multiple administrative roles, excelling in event and meeting management, diversity and inclusion, and process management. Her tenure equipped her with a wealth of skills in corporate management.
Shay holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Metro State University, specializing in Business Communications, Business Management, and Hospitality Management. Additionally, she is certified in Accounting and International Business, showcasing her commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
For years, Shay has been a pillar in her community, actively participating in and chairing various youth-oriented boards and panels. She has mentored countless young adults, guiding them on their paths to higher education. After the tragic loss of her husband, James, to Agent Orange complications in 2007, Shay began volunteering at the Minneapolis VA hospital, offering her support and compassion to veterans.
Shay is also the former President of the Minneapolis Chapter of GSW and has served on the Government Relations Committee. Her dedication to volunteerism is unwavering, as she continues to engage with community organizations. Shay's exceptional skills in communication and relationship-building have been instrumental in increasing membership and fostering partnerships within these organizations. Shay Chambers exemplifies a life dedicated to service, leadership, and community, leaving a lasting impact on everyone she encounters.
Julie Hammond, CAPT, SC, USNR (Ret)
NATIONAL TREASURER
Julie Hammond grew up in Macedonia, Ohio and graduated from Kent State with a BS in Fashion Merchandise and Florida Institute of Technology with a MS in Management/Contract Management. Julie became a widow in June 1986 when her husband LT Alan Hammond, USN a Navy Test Pilot was killed in a helicopter accident off Mayport Naval Station.
After her husband's death, she used her 10-point veteran's preference to obtain a job with the federal government. Julie retired as a GS-15 in 2017 from the Department of Defense with over 30 years as Supervisory Contracting Officer/Procurement Analyst. She worked at five different agencies in the DC area, both DoD and civilian, in many leadership/supervisory positions in operational contracting and writing regulations for both the DFAR and FAR, receiving numerous awards in her career.
Two years after her husband's death, Julie commissioned through the DCO program in the Navy Reserves. She retired as a Captain in 2017 with over 28 years as a Supply Corps Officer completing three deployments supporting Desert Storm as OIC of Navy Det that carry out the functions of Casualty Personnel allowing expedient return of personal effects to family members, Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) as Sector Chief rebuilding infrastructure and Operation Enduring Freedom (Djibouti) as head of contracting for CJTF-HOA. She received numerous awards during her career.
Julie retired to Atlantic Beach, FL in 2017, where she stays active in community service as a member of Beaches Veterans Memorial Park (Secretary), American Legion, VFW, ROA, AUSN, and MOAA.
Misty J. Brammer
NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Misty J Brammer grew up in Alaska in a military family. Her father served in the United States Air Force. After graduating with a degree in Social Work from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks she worked for several nonprofit organizations and for the State of Alaska. Her husband, SSG Kerry J Brammer, a US Army Medic, died in the line of duty in 2005, leaving her and 2 children, now grown with children of their own. One son has continued their family’s commitment to service as a Tsgt in the United States Air Force.
After Kerry’s death, Misty relocated to Colorado to be closer to family and raise her children. She went on to work for a local county and returned to school, earning her master’s in social work utilizing military survivor education benefits, with a focus on program development and public policy. Using her experience as a surviving spouse, Misty volunteered in the Family Readiness Center at Buckley Air Force Base to offer her unique perspective.
Misty currently works across the country for a National Foundation focusing on systems change, public policy and community engagement work. She holds certifications in leadership and coaching and has developed, implemented and evaluated national projects and publications. She continues to volunteer on survivor committees, has led several legislative advocacy events and is focused on eliminating the remarriage penalty that inevitably harms military surviving spouses.
Her family has grown to include a beautiful daughter and together with extended family, she enjoys traveling, family gatherings, hiking, museums and local events.
Kathleen Cardona
NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Kathleen met her late husband Ronald William Cardona in 9th grade when she accompanied her best friend to Camp Clear in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Ronald had just moved to Gardner, Mass from California and visited the same Church camp. The two continued to see each other at Church concerts where the Camp Clear Glee Club sang. When Ron presented the fact that he was off to Boot Camp in 1967, they ran away to New Hampshire to be married. Ron left for Vietnam in December of that year and was killed in action on July 6 in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. Kat, as he called her, turned 18 that day as well.
In his honor, as was his request, she went on to continue her schooling. She became a Certified Dental Assistant, received her Associates Degree in Nursing, and Gerontology, Bachelor’s Degree in Holistic Healthcare and Doctorate in Religious Humanities.
Kathleen is a Certified Veterans Service Officer, Senior Healthcare Advisor, Recreational Director, Readmissions Prevention Specialist, Certified Dementia Care Specialist, and a Reiki Master/Teacher.
Kristy DiDomenico
NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Kristy DiDomenico was born in Baltimore, MD. It was during her childhood that she met her late spouse, SFC Jason P. DiDomenico US Army. Having lost touch when their families moved away, they reconnected on social media in 2009 and had two daughters together. As a result of a sudden illness, Jason passed away in 2018.
Following the death of her husband, she became involved in legislative work, advocating for the repeal of the SBP-DIC offset, which was successfully achieved. Kristy is now a full-time student dedicated to her studies and advocacy work. It is important for her to maintain a balance between her academic endeavors and her role as a mother, making sure her daughters are loved and supported in every way possible. A passion of Kristy's is to provide support to surviving military families.
Kristy holds an associate's degree and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science at Towson University.
Dave Escobar, LTC, US Army (Ret)
NATIONAL DIRECTOR
David Escobar is from Coral Springs, Florida and received a BS in Operations Research with a minor in Systems Engineering from the US Military Academy at West Point, where he met his late wife, Jackie of 18 years, LTC Jacqueline Lawson Escobar. Prior to returning to West Point to teach, he earned an MA in English Literature from Hofstra University with a focus on Renaissance drama & rhetoric.
David retired in April 2022, less than a year after Jackie was killed from her almost two-year fight with burn-pit related brain cancer. Dave served 22 years in the US Army, finishing with command of Hunter Army Airfield garrison in Savannah, GA. He served in various positions across the US, South Korea, Iraq, & Afghanistan. David served as a Pentagon policy writer, as the embedded liaison operations chief to two South Korean field armies, and a literature instructor at West Point. He spent his time in Afghanistan as a battalion operations officer for a country-wide air assault quick reaction force and motorized infantry battalion. In northern Iraq, he worked amid remote combat outposts as a reconnaissance troop commander and in Baghdad as a recon troop executive officer. While teaching at the United States Military Academy at West Point, David taught freshman composition, comparative literature, and honor/ethics. His awards include three Bronze Star Medals, five Meritorious Service Medals, a Valorous Unit Award, and two Meritorious Unit Awards. He is airborne qualified, holds the Combat Action Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
Dave has since remarried and retired to Washington, DC, where he helps people in his church, community, and veteran organizations.
Kathy Prout
NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Kathy is the surviving spouse of RADM James G Prout III, USN, Active-Duty Deceased, and a military survivor and family advocate. After her husband died on active duty in a Navy F/18 jet crash, she learned about military survivor benefits and all the inequities for the first time when the casualty assistance officer explained her benefits. SBP, the survivor benefit plan was reduced by the VA’s Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, leaving her with about 78% less income to finish raising their 3 children. Kathy began advocating to improve survivor benefits for military surviving spouses and educating them about their benefits to right an egregious wrong. She continues to advocate for surviving spouses, children and families.
She is a semi-retired Realtor, and a former educator of gifted and learning-disabled children. Kathy is the recipient of MOAA’s 2021 Distinguished Service Award for her many years of advocacy to change the law to repeal the SBP-DIC Offset. She serves the Surviving Spouse Liaison on the CA Council of MOAA board of directors, and the SSL for the Coronado Silver Strand Chapter of MOAA and is the Jr Vice President of the VFW Auxiliary Post 2422.
Kathy served as the Chair of MOAA’s Surviving Spouse Advisory Committee, on the board of directors of the Coronado Schools Foundation and is a graduate of Salve Regina University. She is currently the Jr VP of her local VFW Auxiliary.
Kathy is the founder and administrator of Gold Star Spouses of America Facebook group, the law changing Military Widows: SBP-DIC Offset Facebook group, the DIC Surviving Spouses/ DIC Increase Advocacy, MOAA Surviving Spouses and Friends Facebook group, and other Facebook groups.
Kathy has 3 children, 5 grandchildren and lives in Coronado, California.