Kimberly O'Brien

About Kimberly O'Brien

Kim is an Air Force veteran and military spouse of 21 years. She contributes articles to HigherEd Military and covers features and resources for Military.com. Her background spans 15 years in higher education, leading faculty and teams in assessments, project management, and continuous improvement processes.

Expertise

2025-Current: Academic and Career Advisor at St. Petersburg College and Military.com Writer
2025: Higher Education Military Fellowship
2015-2025: Senior Manager of Evaluation Operations at Western Governors University
2011-2023: Associate Instructor at University of Arizona Global Campus
2013-2014: Hospital Project Coordinator
2007-2011: U.S. Southern Command Administrative Coordinator
2000-2005: U.S. Air Force Information Management

Education

M.Ed. Learning and Technology – Western Governors University
M.A. Global History – American Military University
B.A. Communication Studies – University of Maryland University College
A.S. Information Management – Community College of the Air Force

Achievements

2020: Learning Leadership Award
2017: Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Award and “Inspire & Develop” Leadership Award
2010: South Florida Employee of the Year and Joint Service Civilian Commendation Medal
2002: Technician of the Year

Publications

Featured in HigherEd Military
Featured in Association for Distance Education and Independent Learning
Featured in International Institute for Asian Studies

Connect with Kim O’Brien

Email: Kimberly.o@military.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-obrien-2021/

Latest Articles

Alexia Foster Fort Hood Child and Youth Services Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, or STEM, program homeschool student, learns airway management, from Cpt. Deborah Kappel, student registered nurse anesthesia, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center during a hospital tour March 20. (Photo by Rodney Jackson, DVIDS)

Military Families Are Homeschooling at Twice the Rate—Why?

Military families are homeschooling at twice the civilian rate. New data, policy shifts, and Pentagon review raise questions...

In association with the National Training & Simulation Association (NTSA), the U.S. Department of the Air Force served as lead service for the Interservice/Industry, Training, Simulation and Education Conference, better known as I/ITSEC 2025, Orlando, Fla., Dec. 1-4, 2025. More than 18,000 people from government, industry, and academia from approximately 55 countries gathered for the conference, which has run annually since 1966. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jim Varhegyi, DVIDS)

Military Education and Training Conferences: Professional Development Insights

Whether you're building programs for military-connected students or exploring professional development opportunities, 2026...

Space Force Lt. Col. Kaoru Elliott, second from left, U.S. Space Forces-Japan deputy commander, and Nikki Palmer, Space Systems Command chief engineer, watch model rocket launches with Yokota West Elementary School students during a STEM outreach event at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2025. (Photo by Airman 1st Class David S. Calcot, DoW)

Department of Education’s End is Signaling Closer

The oversight of education is being returned from federal control to the states as the Department of Education continues to...

Veteran-Led Bank is Made for the Military

Struggling with financial readiness, many service members are turning to digital tools. ROGER Bank CEO Jill Castilla explains...

Robbie Robertson, Sedaro CEO and co-founder, presents a live demo to USSF leadership Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, at Spacepower Conference in Orlando, FL. (Photo courtesy of SFA)

National Spacepower Center: Advancing US and Allied Spacepower

The Space Force Association launched the National Space Center in Dec. 2025 to connect government, academia and industry and...

Photo courtesy of Teri Caserta, The Brandon Caserta Foundation.

Update on The Brandon Act: Expanding Awareness and Accountability

Many service members say they’ve never heard of the Brandon Act, as uneven implementation across installations and branches...

Photo courtesy of PODS Moving & Storage and Operation Healing Forces.

New Partnership Between PODS and Operation Healing Forces

A new partnership between PODS based in Clearwater, FL and Tampa Bay nonprofit Operation Healing Forces launched this year...

Michael Abrams, CEO and Founder, FourBlock, at a NYC Cohort graduation. Photo courtesy of FourBlock.

Redefining Purpose Beyond the Uniform with FourBlock

Transitioning from the military can feel overwhelming or leave you unsure of what’s next. FourBlock is helping veterans...

A defender and a military working dog from the 460th Security Forces Squadron lead a ruck march for K-9 Veterans Day at Buckley Space Force Base, Colo., March 13, 2025. This day commemorates the service and sacrifice of working dogs that have served in the military, law enforcement, and search and rescue. (U.S. Space Force photo by Staff Sgt. Danielle McBride, DVIDS)

Honoring National K-9 Veterans Day

National K-9 Veterans Day occurs March 13th each year honoring the service and sacrifices of military dogs.

Personnel from the 86th Force Support Squadron, Family Child Care coordinators and children under the care of Maria Hamilton, center, an 86th FSS FCC provider, and Hamilton’s family, gather for a photo prior to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Vogelweh Military Complex, Germany, Feb. 4, 2026. The ceremony celebrated the opening of a new FCC home, increasing access to safe, flexible child care for military families while supporting mission readiness and quality of life. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Olivia Sampson, DVIDS)

The Free Training Hub for Professionals Serving Military Families: Inside OneOp

Service providers supporting military families can turn to OneOp for free professional development. Military.com spoke with...

Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) interact with representatives from Community Colleges in San Diego at an education fair, Feb. 6, 2026. With a crew of over 1,200 Sailors and capable of deploying over 1,600 Marines, the America delivers a self-contained, mobile crisis response force, ranging from combat operations to humanitarian aid and disaster response. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sam McNeely, DVIDS)

Military Learning for Credit Act to Address Big Educational Gap

The Military Learning for Credit Act of 2025 helps vets turn military training into degree credit, expanding GI Bill use for...

Airmen assigned to the 2nd Munitions Squadron, show trainer munitions to U.S. Air Force Junior ROTC cadets from a local high school, during a career fair at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Feb. 6, 2026. JROTC cadets asked Airmen questions about their role in the mission during the career fair. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Fallon Mitchell, DVIDS)

JROTC’s Impact: Exposure, Retention and Readiness Gains

JROTC doesn’t guarantee top performers, but it boosts readiness, leadership skills and first-term retention for those...

A member of the United States Air Force prepares a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker for takeoff to refuel a CF-188 Hornet assigned to Air Task Force (ATF) at Pituffik Space Base, Greenland, on January 26, 2026, in support of Operation NOBLE DEFENDER, an air defence mission conducted under the direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The operation is designed to validate NORAD’s ability to defend Canada and the United States against threats from all avenues of approach through sustained, dispersed operations across the Alaska, Canada, and Continental United States NORAD regions. (Photo: Master Corporal Bélynda Casse, Imaging Services, 3 Wing Bagotville, DVIDS)

Military Officer Leadership Program through GE Aerospace

If you are looking to continue your career in defense and systems, engineering, supply chain, operations, and technology, GE...

U.S. Marines assigned to the 81st Training Group analyze weather patterns and cloud movements on Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Jan. - 27, 2026. The course, hosted by the 81st Training Wing, has recently undergone transformation to better prepare Airmen, Sailors, and Marines for their operational duties through hands-on learning practices. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Kaleb Tewes, DVIDS)

Learning and Development for New Military Generations

Legacy systems and “one-size-fits-all” learning models are shifting alongside military leadership culture. As more digital...

Heather Presnar conducts case processing using an Acrobat Arm to scan mail with a UPS Trackpad handheld. Presnar is among personnel supporting the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) in Boyers, Pa., via an AbilityOne contract to accomplish a vital mission despite their various disabilities. (Photo by Christopher Gillis, DVIDS)

AbilityOne Program: Employment with Purpose for Disabled Veterans and Wounded Warriors

Americans who are blind or have significant disabilities, including wounded warriors and veterans, can benefit from the...

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