Lioness The Origin Story Ep. 11

In this episode, we visit with two very special guests: retired Army Colonel Kate Guttormsen and Army Colonel Anastasia Breslow-Kynaston. The highest ranking women in the original Team Lioness group (Ramadi 2003-4), both were captains at the time making them the perfect guests for a look back at the Lioness experience. We discuss what it was like to adapt and train-in-theater for the unexpected Lioness missions, the lessons they learned along the way, how they helped train future Lioness soldiers, and managing their careers as spouses in dual-military couples.

Along with Lioness vet Shannon Morgan, they recall their surprise when two filmmakers from New York approached them to make a documentary, why they decided to participate in Lioness (2008) and what it has meant to know their stories contributed to critical legislation (Women Veterans Healthcare Act, 2010) that improved VA services for women veterans and spurred the DoD’s 2013 dropping of the Combat Exclusion Policy for Women.

A graduate of West Point, Kate retired in 2020 after 24 years of service. She works as a Public Relations Specialist at Authentically American, a Veteran owned, American made, premium apparel brand that supports American heroes. (www.authenticallyamerican.us/) She is also a substitute teacher in her local school district and volunteers in her community.

Colonel Anastasia Breslow-Kynaston is the FORSCOM G6 Communications Operations Division Chief at Fort Liberty, North Carolina where her husband, Lt. Colonel Merlin Kynaston, commands the 50th Expeditionary Signal Battalion-Enhanced, 35th Signal Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps.

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