Jennifer R. Ballou brings more than three decades of leadership experience to her work as a non-profit leader and advocate for resilience, growth, and purposeful living. Originally from Mentor, Ohio, Jennifer began her journey of service when she enlisted in the U.S. Army just weeks after her high school graduation. Over the course of nearly 21 years in uniform, she rose through the ranks to serve in key leadership roles with broad influence across the Army, including Senior Enlisted Advisor to the U.S. Army Resilience Directorate at the Pentagon and First Sergeant of the 257th Dental Company—the first Army dental company to deploy to Afghanistan.
It was during that deployment that Jennifer’s life changed forever—her husband, SSG Edwardo Loredo, was killed in action. In the aftermath of this profound loss, she continued to serve with strength and purpose. She was soon handpicked to serve on the Chief of Staff of the Army’s Survivor Advisory Working Group, where she helped shape policy across the Army. Her efforts led to greater stability options for uniformed surviving spouses, providing more choice and support during an incredibly difficult time. Jennifer ultimately retired from the Army in 2015, closing a distinguished chapter of service marked by resilience, leadership, and deep personal sacrifice.
After retiring from the Army, Jennifer pursued work that blends leadership with meaningful support for others through leadership, lifestyle and wellness coaching. She holds a Master of Science in Yoga Therapy and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. A Certified Professional Life Coach and 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher, she focuses on trauma-sensitive, therapeutic, and adaptive yoga practices.
She has held key roles in nonprofit and veteran leadership, including serving as the first Gold Star Fellow for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation and as Deputy Chief of Staff at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. In 2022, she was selected as a Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program scholar at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. She also serves on USAA’s Advisory Panel, helping shape initiatives that support the military community, and as a faculty member for Warrior’s at Ease, empowering the military community with the tools and knowledge to harness the transformative power of yoga and meditation
Jennifer is the proud wife of retired Army Command Sergeant Major Omari Ballou and the mother of three incredible children—Alexis, Eddie, and Sophia. Her life and work reflect an unwavering belief in the power of healing, purpose, and post-traumatic growth.