Kerry Irvin is CEO of Operation Healing Forces, a Tampa-based nonprofit serving Special Operations veterans, their caregivers, and the families of the fallen. A former national security intelligence officer, military spouse, and mother of two Army sons, Kerry brings a rare combination of professional expertise and lived experience to an organization built to close the gaps government support cannot reach.
In this conversation, Kerry sits down with The Bay Builds Podcast host Tracie Domino to talk about scaling a mission without losing its heart, the design behind the Bonds That Cure retreat program, and why Tampa has quietly become the nerve center of America’s special operations community. She speaks openly about the realities of veteran suicide, the invisible injuries of the special operations lifestyle, and what it takes to earn the trust of families who have already given everything. What you’ll hear in this episode:
- How Kerry’s family history shaped her mission before she ever had a job title
- Why the Bonds That Cure retreat model works better in homes than clinics
- The story of Travis Dunn and why one Tampa family holds a piece of Kerry’s heart
- What the “death gap” is and why the first 12 months after military transition are so dangerous
- How Operation Healing Forces measures real impact through rehabilitation, resilience, and reintegration
- What it means for Tampa to be home to USSOCOM and roughly 80,000 special operations personnel
Click below to watch:
