Executive Staff

Chief Executive Officer

Austin has been an Active Duty Army spouse for 20 years. She is the parent of three children all of whom are registered in EFMP. Austin's advocacy work includes military issues surrounding Tricare and EFMP as well as civilian issues such as Medicaid and SNAP. In 2020 Austin Founded Exceptional Families of the Military (EFM) after testifying before the House Armed Service Committee in an effort to unite the voices of military families like hers and raise their voices collectively.  In 2019 Austin was named a board member of Ketotic Hypoglycemia International, subsequently, transitioning to staff and publishing Towards enhanced understanding of idiopathic ketotic hypoglycemia: a literature review and introduction of the patient organization, Ketotic Hypoglycemia International in Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases and Ketotic hypoglycemia in patients with Down syndrome in JIMD Reports. Austin was the Vice President and a founding board member of Little Lobbyists, an organization whose vision is to ensure that all children with complex medical needs have access to the health care, education, and community inclusion they need to thrive. 

Twitter: @AustinCarrigg

Executive Director

and

Lead Researcher

Co-Director of the Autism Advocacy Committee

Jennifer is an Active Duty Army spouse for eleven years.  She has three children, two of which have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Language Receptive Disorder.  Prior to joining EFM, Jennifer’s advocacy work focused on assisting Autism families with another organization for two years until she decided to dedicate her time advocating for military families.  Before she was introduced to advocacy work, Jennifer was a previously practicing therapist with a specialty in child and adolescent counseling and she now works part time teaching psychology at the community college level.  Jennifer hopes that her personal, work, and educational experiences will assist military families in areas of their lives where they need it the most. 

Chief Operations Officer  

 Ryane has been an Active Duty Coast Guard Spouse for 20+ years. She has 2 children who are both registered in the Coast Guard’s Special Needs Program (SNP). It was through the many hospitalizations, doctor appointments, and therapy appointments that she saw firsthand the need for help within our SNP and EFMP programs. Ryane has been an advocate for families with special needs for a long time and loves helping those navigate the program as well as IEP and education needs. Ryane has served in many positions over the years including President of the Spouses Club and most recently is currently the Ombudsman for the Baltimore Region.  Ryane has a passion for helping families and meeting them where they are.

Executive Assistant

Legislative Affairs Lead

Holly has been an Active Duty Air Force Spouse for 13 years.  She is also a parent of 2 children on the autism spectrum.  While navigating difficulties with TRICARE and EFMP herself is where she gained her passion to help other military families.  She has spoken to legislators and also had an article written about the Autism Care Demonstration changes.  Through her advocacy efforts she strives to ensure military families get the services they need for their loved ones. 

EFMP Grant Administrator

Anna has been an active-duty spouse for 19 years. Her husband currently serves in the Space Force but was also active-duty Air Force before transferring. Anna has served in different volunteer positions over the years, including in a Key Spouse role and has always had a passion for helping other families. Over the course of her husband’s career, Anna saw firsthand the difficulties of different EFMP families through her own experiences navigating accessing resources for her children, but also through helping other families navigate the system. Anna has several children who have different diagnoses, including Autism, and mental health disorders. Navigating the difficult autism and mental health resource landscape for her children and dealing with the headache that is the Exceptional Family Member Program has led her to decide that the best course of action was to join in advocating for our military families. So much is expected of our families with moves and deployments, and the military spouse bears a particular burden to keep the family unit thriving and our families deserve better care and a better system. Anna is currently finishing her Bachelor’s in English with an Emphasis in Professional Writing at Grand Canyon University. Anna believes in the power of military spouses and families banding together to bring about positive change and will work hard to support EFMP families in her role at EFM.  

 Non-Profit Administrator of Internal Operations 

Cara-Lee is an active duty military wife of 20 years (Air Force and Space Force) and mother of three. After years of advocating for her children, she decided she wanted to be the support for others that she wished she had in those situations. She went back to school to earn a Graduate Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorder to learn how to better advocate for, and support her children and others.  She also graduated from the Military Spouse Leadership Development Program for the same reason. After her OpEd “ABA a Military Mother’s Lifeline” was published she found her way to EFM, where she not only found answers she needed, but a place she could help make a difference for other military families. 

Peer-to-Peer Support Director

Ashley is an Active Duty Air Force wife of 20+ years and the parent of 3 children. It was during her child’s rare disease diagnosis and journey, including navigating EFMP enrollment, Tricare and the EFMP assignment system that she realized our military families lacked support and information on a peer to peer level, and thus her passion for peer mentoring and support was born.  Her specialty is supporting and sharing knowledge and experience with families who are brand new to the EFMP community.    She holds a Bachelor of Science in human development and family studies with minors in social welfare and child development.