TAMRA SIPES

Tamra Sipes has been a Gold Star Wife since 1995, widowed at the age of twenty-eight with three small children when her husband, Petty Officer First Class, Robert E. Sipes was killed in a house fire. Robert served ten years in the Navy as a Search and Rescue Corpsman with over fifty-five missions completed. Among his commendations he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for Heroism while risking his life for a civilian in the line of duty.

After losing her husband, Tamra continued working in the hospitality industry and stayed involved in non-profit organizations as a volunteer. She is a member of Soroptimist International of the America’s and has served as President of her local club, then went onto serve as a member of the Federation Board elected onto the Fundraising Council and further elected amongst her peers as Chair of the Fundraising Council. She also served over ten years on the board of Island County Big Brothers, Big Sisters and was President of the board on several different occasions. In 2017, Tamra started working and volunteering her time with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). She has since engaged as a contractor to oversee all TAPS survivor seminar events.

Since 2015, Tamra has been an active member of Gold Star Wives. As National President some of her responsibilities will include communication with the membership and outreach to all newly bereaved military spouses. She will give testimony to congress and represent Gold Star Spouses in public events, memorial ceremonies and will advocate on behalf of Gold Star Spouses membership and for the generation of spouses to come.