Olivia Burley, Washington State’s Military Spouse Liaison at the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, has been named the 2025 SHRM Foundation Military Community Ambassador of the Year for her work connecting military spouses with employment opportunities across the state.
Burley, who is also a military spouse and member of the SHRM Snohomish County Human Resources Association, reached more than 700 individuals in 2025 through employer education, statewide advocacy and cross-sector collaboration. The award was presented by Wendi Safstrom, president of SHRM Foundation, at SHRM’s Regional Council Business Meeting in Portland, Ore.
What Burley’s work involved
In her role as the state’s military spouse liaison — described by Washington Department of Veterans Affairs Director David Puente Jr. as the first such position in the country — Burley used SHRM programs and resources to train employers in military spouse cultural competency. She also contributed to the Washington State Military Spouse Employment Study and supported policy development that resulted in the passage of the Washington State Military Spouse Employment Act.
Puente said Burley’s work spanned multiple sectors. “She broke new ground in reducing employment barriers, improving childcare opportunities and built bridges between Department of Defense, State Agencies, employers, policymakers, and military families,” he said.
About the ambassador program
The Military Community Ambassador Program is supported by USAA and run through the SHRM Foundation. It places volunteer leaders in communities to educate HR professionals and employers on removing hiring barriers for military-connected workers. The program focuses on employer readiness and building sustainable practices for recruiting and retaining military-connected talent.
Tami Cabaniss, chief human resources officer at USAA and a SHRM Foundation board member, said Burley’s approach reflected the goals of the program. “Advancing military spouse employment requires both grassroots advocacy and systemic change, and Olivia Burley has excelled at both,” she said.
Burley said the recognition reflects a broader effort. “Advancing opportunities for military spouses is only possible through the power of cross-sector collaboration — when government, employers, and community partners come together, we create meaningful pathways for military-connected talent to thrive,” she said.
