Kristina Keenan is the director of the National Legislative Service of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. It is her responsibility to plan, coordinate, and implement the VFW’s national legislative agenda by working with members of Congress, congressional staffers and committees, departments and agencies, and fellow veteran-serving organizations on Capitol Hill. Her mission is to protect all programs and services provided by the federal government for veterans, service members, and their families, and to help defeat proposals that are not beneficial.

Kristina grew up in Northfield, Minnesota, and joined the Minnesota Army National Guard in 1999 as a counterintelligence agent. She deployed in 2003 with the 34th Infantry Division to Tuzla, Bosnia, as part of the Stabilization Force (SFOR), a NATO peacekeeping operation. Immediately following her deployment, Kristina volunteered for a second deployment to Bosnia, working in both Sarajevo and Mostar as a tactical human intelligence team leader with an allied military intelligence battalion. She finished her military service in 2005 with the rank of sergeant.

Following her discharge, Kristina completed a bachelor’s degree in political science at the American University of Paris in France, and a master’s degree in human rights and humanitarian action from the Institut d'études politiques de Paris (Paris Institute of Political Studies, commonly known as Sciences Po). She worked at the American University of Paris in alumni affairs, communications, and fundraising from 2009 to 2018. During her time in Paris, Kristina discovered an active American veteran community and joined VFW Post 605 –– the oldest Post in Europe –– where she served two years as the Post Commander.

Kristina has been advocating for the VFW’s legislative priorities since 2016. She played an integral part in the passage of the Honoring our PACT Act, which was a major legislative victory on behalf of our nation’s veterans. Her advocacy work has earned her a place as one of the country’s top lobbyists, recognized by the Washington, D.C.,publication The Hill in 2022, 2023, and 2024.