Tammy Barlet is Vice President of Government Affairs for Student Veterans of America (SVA), where she leads policy efforts to ensure that veterans, military-connected students, and their families receive the benefits, support, and opportunities they’ve earned through their service. She works closely with lawmakers and federal agencies to advocate for robust and comprehensive education policies, and workforce transition support.

Tammy served eight years in the United States Coast Guard as an Operation Specialist Third Class Petty Officer. In 1998, she patrolled the Persian Gulf aboard USCGC Chase (WHEC-718) in support of Military Interdiction Operations (MIO). During that deployment, the ship diverted four vessels in violation of United Nations Sanctions against Iraq, interdicted over 1.5 million gallons of fuel oil, and conducted 86 gunnery exercises. Her final duty station was the Vessel Traffic Service Houston/Galveston, where she was awarded the Coast Guard Achievement Medal for de-escalating an incident that could have posed a significant homeland security threat.

After returning to Pennsylvania, Tammy worked for ten years as a certified sterile compounding pharmacy technician before pursuing her higher education journey. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from George Washington University and a Bachelor’s in Public Health from Temple University. Her academic and policy training includes a State Policy Internship at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and a fellowship at SVA, where she contributed to advancing student veteran policies.

Tammy’s passion for advocacy began with her own transition from military service to higher education. As a first-generation college graduate, she understands the challenges service members face when returning to civilian life and navigating complex education and career pathways. At SVA, she champions policies to modernize the GI Bill, ensure access to mental health and reproductive care, and strengthen resources for student veterans pursuing academic and career success. Her efforts directly support SVA’s mission to empower veterans through higher education and drive systemic change in areas like Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) reform, VA work-study modernization, and Guard/Reserve education parity.

She was a 2019 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellow, where her research on oral health as preventive care for veterans was included in testimony before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. In 2021, she was recognized with Temple University’s Public Health Alumni Award for her advocacy work, and in 2023, she was named one of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Women Veterans “Women Veteran Trailblazers.”

Tammy has testified before both the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees on issues ranging from mental health and reproductive care to higher education and women veterans’ needs. She remains a committed advocate for smoother transitions out of the military, expanded education benefits, and greater investments in the long-term well-being of all veterans.

Tammy resides in Maryland and enjoys quilting, kayaking, hiking, biking, and geocaching.