Deanna Love

I began my journey in the veterans’ space as an active-duty Army officer. I joined the Army in 2008 after college and was commissioned in 2009 as a Quartermaster Lieutenant. Over my 12+ years of active-duty service, I advanced to the rank of Major as a logistics officer and retired in my hometown of Chicago in 2021. In October of 2021, I was given the opportunity to continue serving the military and veteran community as the Director of Veterans Affairs for Cook County, IL. In this position, I utilized my strategic thinking, planning, and experience to design and implement the County’s first veterans’ grant program and restructure the department to enhance both direct and indirect support for the military and veteran communities of Cook County.

My inspiration to join the RLD Foundation came from reading its mission and the goals for its Veterans Program. I was fortunate to develop close relationships with nonprofits, municipalities, businesses, and wellness providers here in Cook County. Through this work, I gained an in-depth understanding of the services these entities provide, as well as their emerging needs for support. Joining the RLD Foundation allows me to expand the support and services available to these organizations that sustain the veteran community here. At the RLD Foundation, I know I can make a meaningful impact with a team dedicated to making the world a better place.

At a surface level, the most direct answer is creating a grant program to meet the needs of the military and veteran community. However, when you dig deeper, the role encompasses much more. It involves identifying and defining the needs of veterans as individuals and as a community, strategizing ways to address those needs, building systems with community partners, and creating sustainable, replicable change that advances our veteran communities.

Love and service. As a service member, I truly understood the impact of my work when I traveled home for R&R from Afghanistan. For the first time in nine months, I had no weapon to defend myself and was in an uncontrolled environment. Despite my initial unease, I noticed that everyone around me was carefree, living their lives without fear. At that moment, I realized the significance of my service and that of other veterans and service members—we provide peace of mind to the American people. Although I can no longer serve in uniform, I can still support and serve in other capacities, and I deeply love that I have this opportunity.

The primary goals include supporting the successful reintegration of service members into the community, advancing the health and well-being of military personnel and veterans, and creating workforce opportunities, including entrepreneurship. As we refine and expand these goals, we will better understand how to address community needs on a broader scale.

In addition to offering direct support through grant funding, the Foundation is committed to developing and empowering key leaders within the military and veteran community. While grants and funding are essential, creating sustainability requires empowering communities to take ownership and pride in their respective areas. Leadership development will be a central element of the Foundation’s support strategy.

Challenges include limited availability and accessibility of senior veteran services, inadequate transportation options for veterans in areas not served by public transit, and a significant lack of information sharing and understanding among organizations and service providers within the veterans’ network.

During this initial phase, the Foundation is focused on understanding the root causes of systemic social issues and inequalities within the ecosystem. By identifying these core challenges, we aim to create strategic support and funding solutions that provide immediate assistance while fostering long-term systemic change.

Stabilization and sustainment. The veteran community is inherently strong but often faces systemic shortcomings. As the needs of service members and veterans have evolved over time, so too have the gaps in support, benefits, and services. The Foundation aims to address these shortcomings by tackling the root causes of systemic issues and leveraging insights from community voices, the VA, and other critical sources to drive meaningful, measurable change.

Data forms the foundation for investigation and understanding. I’m passionate about data because, through analysis, investigation, and critical thinking, it provides insights into ecosystems and reveals the “why” behind surface-level issues. Without data, it’s easy to misinterpret problems. To achieve real, sustainable change, we must move beyond addressing symptoms and focus on identifying root causes through rigorous data analysis.

Spending time with my son brings me the greatest joy. Whether we’re traveling to new countries, hiking through rainforests, scuba diving, or I’m cheering him on as the loudest mom in the stands, I cherish every moment we share. I’m focused on creating memories and enjoying these years together.