Kathy Turner retired as a colonel from the Army in 2024 after more than 29 years of service, specializing in strategic communications, leading high-impact teams, advising senior leaders, and managing organizational reputation. She has vast expertise in crisis communication, media relations, and executive-level operations, serving in several key positions at the Division, Corps, and Enterprise levels across the United States, Europe, and the Pacific. She also has deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Her last position was as the Public Affairs Director for Forces Command (FORSCOM) in Fort Bragg, NC.
After retirement, Kathy was the Assistant Director of Communications at the National Park Service, where she managed the national communications program, from public affairs to the digital experience, leading the teams that provide policy and guidance for communicators across the National Park Service.
Kathy has a BA in Business Administration from Western New England University, an MA in Public Administration from Central Michigan University, and an MA in Military Arts from the School of Advanced Military Studies. She was also an Army War College Fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace and a Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Seminar XXI program.
Kathy is married to LTC (Ret.) Frank Turner and they have three children, Grace, Abigail, and Logan.
