Kristyn Briez Reed

Director of the Mt. Vernon Veterans Services Agency, Kristyn Briez Reed comes from a family with generations of proud military service, including her father, sisters, grandfathers, uncles, and cousins. A lifelong Mt. Vernon resident, she enlisted in the United States Air Force (USAF) as a Communication Navigation Mission Systems Specialist after graduating from Mt. Vernon High School.

While stationed at Hurlburt Field Air Force Base, Ms. Reed was responsible for troubleshooting and repair of RADAR, sensor, radio, navigation equipment, and other general aircraft maintenance tasks aboard AC130-U gunships. She deployed to Balad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and earned numerous awards, letters of appreciation, a Commendation Medal, a NYS Medal for Merit, and NYS Conspicuous Service Star. Upon separation from the Air Force, Ms. Reed earned degrees in Avionics Systems Technology, Industrial Management, Criminal Justice and Social Work, and an M.A. in Business and Workplace Education from New York University.

After working as a career counselor, veteran service representative, and grants manager for five years, Ms. Reed returned to her hometown of Mt. Vernon, where she was appointed the first female director of the veterans service agency in the city’s history. During her tenure with the City of Mt. Vernon, she has refocused the Agency’s priorities, reestablished its accreditation, modernized operations, regained compliance with state and federal laws, and applied for and recouped the largest grant awards in the Agency’s history.

Director Reed enjoys assisting veterans to obtain the benefits that their service to this country has earned. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Barbara Giordano Foundation, Inc. for women veterans, an operating foundation that offers no-cost healing and wellness programs to women veterans.

Director Reed resides in Mt. Vernon with her husband, fellow USAF veteran, Larry, and their two children, Ev Loren and Lenox.