Arkansas Honors Its First Women Veteran of the Year: Master Sergeant (Ret.) Elesha D. Granniss

Master Sergeant (Ret.) Elesha D. Granniss made history this year when the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs named her the state’s first Women Veteran of the Year, an honor awarded at the 2025 Women Veteran Summit. Selected by a board of ADVA Women Veteran Program Leaders, Granniss was chosen for her outstanding professional and personal achievements, exceptional community engagement, leadership, and lasting impact on women veterans across Arkansas.

This inaugural award recognizes not only her distinguished 17-year Air Force career but also her dedication to service long after the uniform came off.

A Distinguished Military Career Rooted in Purpose

Granniss enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1997, motivated by both personal loss and a determination to serve. Over nearly two decades, she built a career in Healthcare Management, rotating through key hospital administration departments and developing skills that continue to shape her public service today.

Her 2006 deployment to Sather Air Base in Iraq stands as a defining chapter of her military story. As the mother of two young sons, she faced the emotional weight of deployment with courage and resilience. “Nothing truly prepares you for leaving your children behind,” she said — a testament to the strength required of military parents.

Throughout her journey from Active duty to After, Granniss credits her husband, Phil — also a former Air Force service member — for being her steadfast support system. Married for 25 years, he’s been her partner in every sense, assisting with events, managing the Military Service Sisters website, and cheering her on behind the scenes.

Continuing Service Beyond the Uniform

After retiring in 2014, Granniss transitioned her military-honed skills into her civilian work as the Military Community Liaison at Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral Healthcare. Today, she supports military-connected youth and families, ensuring they receive the care and resources they need.

She also serves on the steering committee for Together With Veterans, a rural suicide-prevention initiative. Her eight years of leadership have contributed to life-changing progress in Baxter County, which reported zero veteran suicides in 2025 — a milestone she credits to connection and community efforts.

Building Military Service Sisters: A Statewide Movement

One of Granniss’s most significant accomplishments is her founding of Military Service Sisters, a grassroots network created to unite and uplift women veterans across Arkansas.

What began as a simple lunch invitation has grown into seven chapters statewide, providing hundreds of women veterans with a place to belong, be recognized, and build friendships.

Marine Corps veteran Lauri Rottmayer, who nominated Granniss for the award, vividly remembers the impact of that first meeting:

“From that first lunch, I knew she was the real deal. She has the biggest heart, and she’s genuine with every sister veteran she meets. She didn’t wait for someone else to fix the problem — she built the solution.”

Through Military Service Sisters, Granniss has changed the landscape for women veterans in Arkansas, creating space where they feel seen, valued, and supported.

A Historic and Well-Deserved Honor

Being named Arkansas’s first Women Veteran of the Year reflects the profound and lasting imprint Granniss has left on her state. Her advocacy has transformed countless lives, expanded resources for women veterans, and built a powerful, statewide sisterhood.

For Rottmayer, watching her friend receive the award was emotional:

“When I found out she won, I felt like I won too. She deserves this. Her work has changed lives.”

From her 17 years of military excellence to her unwavering community leadership, Master Sergeant (Ret.) Elesha D. Granniss has embodied service in every chapter of her life.

Her honor as the 2025 Arkansas Women Veteran of the Year is more than a recognition — it is a celebration of a trailblazer who turned compassion into action, and action into lasting change.

2026 Women Veteran of the Year Nominations will open in April 2026.  For the details regarding nomination guidelines and criteria, please CLICK HERE. Questions about the nomination process and all submissions should be directed to Hollie.Scoma@arkansas.gov .