Carolyn is from California and received her BA in International Relations from San Francisco State University. She worked for US Senator Barbara Boxer before she went to Boston University to receive her MA in International Relations, emphasis in National Security and Religious Conflict. After graduation she volunteered with the OSCE in Kosovo and enlisted in the Army National Guard as an Interrogator and Russian linguist. She was deployed to Bayji, Iraq from 2005 to 2006 and took part in approximately 200 combat patrols. After her deployment she moved to Washington, DC. She has become a volunteer veteran spokesperson for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and other veteran organizations, primarily focusing on women in combat. She has participated in multiple media appearances and interviews. She has lobbied, and testified before, Congress on behalf of veteran’s issues. Carolyn currently lives in Washington, DC, is working on a book about her experiences in Iraq and works as a government consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton on security issues in Africa.