Blue Star Families (BSF), the nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated to providing support to military and Veteran families, announces Jennifer Akin’s return from sabbatical as she steps into a new role as Vice President of Strategic Alliances and the White Oak Collaborative. In this capacity, she will develop and execute strategies that maximize the collective impact of powerful coalitions, ensuring we have a strong and resilient national network of support for military- and Veteran-connected families. Prior to this role, Akin served as Blue Star Families’ first chief of staff and was a trusted advisor and brainstorming partner to the CEO and executive team as they led Blue Star Families through a critical high-growth period. As chief of staff, she piloted an in-house incubator and accelerator capability, resulting in Blue Star Families’ Do Your Part initiative and the 4+1 Commitment: A Formula for Military Spouse Success.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jenny Akin back to the BSF team, now in her new role as Vice President of Strategic Alliances and the White Oak Collaborative. In her prior roles at Blue Star Families, Jenny demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic insight, and an unwavering commitment to our mission. We are excited to see the impact she will make in this new capacity,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, Blue Star Families CEO.
Prior to joining Blue Star Families in 2018, Akin spent a decade in the private sector and academia, supporting national security-related programs at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, serving as a military policy fellow for the University of North Carolina system, and working in business development for a small defense contractor.
Akin has a Bachelor of Arts in Peace, War, and Defense (and History) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from North Carolina State University. She is the surviving spouse of Army Special Forces Veteran, Cooper Akin, who died in 2023 of cancer likely caused by environmental toxins he was exposed to during his military service.
“When my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and after I lost him, my kids and I experienced firsthand the tremendous power of a strong and diverse community of support at both the local and national levels. I’m excited to bring this new-found appreciation to bear, building powerful coalitions that can truly change the way America supports its military,” said Jenny Akin.
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About Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families (BSF) is the nation’s largest Chapter-based military and Veteran family support organization. Its research-driven approach builds strong communities with a focus on human-centered design and innovative solutions. Since its founding in 2009, BSF has delivered more than $200 million in benefits and impacts more than 1.5 million people annually. For more information, click here.
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