Military Spouse Who Helped Raise Over $15M for Green Berets to Earn Special Award

Published Jul 21, 2026, 5:01 AM EDT

Jodi Burns heads Special Forces Trust, a nonprofit organization that supports Green Berets and their families in myriad ways.

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Published Jul 21, 2026, 5:01 AM EDT

Jodi Burns has never worn a military uniform though she's acutely aware of the struggles. Burn is the wife of a special operations Navy SEAL who has spent more than 30 years in military service, deployed to war and other combat zones. She is also the CEO of Special Forces Trust, a nonprofit organization that supports Green Berets and their families with tragedy assistance, scholarships and a life-saving suicide prevention program called 'Beyond the Battlefield." "I know the life," Burns, also a mother of two, told Military.com. "Being a single parent without being single is how I describe being a special operations spouse." For all her efforts, Burns next month will receive a 2026 Patriot Award from U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). "The award is for me, but it's really for the organization. I'm just the face," she said. "The team is really the force behind our organization. Without them, we couldn't pull off these programs. We couldn't provide the support that we're able to give."