{"id":266,"date":"2025-08-05T15:49:20","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T15:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/riseofmilitarywomen.vt.domains\/?page_id=266"},"modified":"2025-12-29T00:21:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T00:21:23","slug":"anne-barlieb","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/riseofmilitarywomen.vt.domains\/index.php\/anne-barlieb\/","title":{"rendered":"Anne Barlieb, MAJ (Ret.)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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US Army 2005-2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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OH-58D Pilot, PSYOP Officer, Strategist<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Go to full interview<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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BIOgraphy<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Born in 1981 in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and adopted by her parents, Mary and John Barlieb, Anne grew up in Tobyhanna, PA.  Active in sports, arts, music, and the community,  Anne was a member of the Coolbaugh Township Volunteer Fire Company and a parishioner at St. Ann’s Catholic Church where she played the flute regularly for services and special occasions.  While in college at Marywood University, Anne worked at Tobyhanna Army Depot as an office clerk for the Directorates of Avionics and Satellite Communications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Anne also participated in ROTC at the University of Scranton and completed Airborne School in 2001.  Graduated in 2005 with a BA in Criminal Justice and MA in Public Administration, Anne commissioned into the Army and attended flight school where she learned to fly the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, the Army’s scout\/attack platform.  In 2007-2008, during an 18 month deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 4-6 Air Cavalry Squadron (ACS), Anne served as a platoon leader and air mission commander flying close air support missions and providing convoy security in Northern Iraq, Mosul and Talafar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2009, she transferred to Psychological Operations (PSYOPS) with her then husband and fellow Army Officer. Married for five years while on opposite deployment cycles, they rarely saw each other.  Shortly after their branch transfer and co-location at Ft. Bragg (now Ft. Liberty), the marriage dissolved. Anne then deployed to Qatar in support of Operation New Dawn for eight months and upon her return began experiencing health issues.  After an arduous, year-long diagnostic process, a golf-ball sized pituitary tumor required an emergency surgery in 2011. Three years later, Anne graduated from the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) in Ft. Leavenworth, KS.  While there, her health deteriorated again. In January 2015, after a very violent suicide attempt, Anne was MEDEVACd to Walter Reed where doctors diagnosed 13 medical conditions, including nerve damage and regrowth of the pituitary tumor, making her unfit for continued military service. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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After a grueling three-year medical board process, Anne retired in 2018 with 14 years of honorable service. Through a cascade of miraculous synchronicities that same year, she was reunited with three biological sisters and found herself on a most unexpected, deeply personal path of healing and self-discovery. Since then, Anne dedicates much of her time to mentoring service members, veterans, and family members with her experience-based approach to complex medical issues, PTSD, family dynamics, suicide, and non-combat related trauma. When she is not at Walter Reed at appointments or mentoring, she can be found writing in one of many community writing groups during the week; taking a daily walk, nap, and bath; reclined in her heated massage chair watching the bird feeder on her balcony and feeling very grateful to be living her best life. In 14 years of service, Anne received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Parachutist Badge, Aviator Badge, and Combat Action Badge. 

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Career and Family Transitions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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