Emily Spann
Development Associate
Big Sky Bravery is proud to welcome Emily Spann as our new Development Associate, where she will work closely with our Development Team and cherished donors to help advance our mission.
Emily’s connection to the military community runs deep. She is the daughter of Mike Spann, the first American killed in combat during the United States invasion of Afghanistan in 2001—a loss that has become a well-known chapter in U.S. military history. Growing up with an intimate understanding of the tremendous cost of battle, Emily embodies a lifelong commitment to patriotism, service, and giving back to those who sacrifice everything.
Emily graduated from Auburn University—her father’s alma mater—in 2021 with a B.A. in Communications and a minor in Leadership. She began her career in corporate communications at Berkshire Hathaway Energy in Des Moines, but soon realized she longed for work with deeper purpose and passion. This led her to the nonprofit sector, where she joined the USO in Virginia Beach, supporting active-duty service members and their families. There, she discovered how much she loved working directly with the military community while beginning to align her career with her passions for wellness and adventure.
In 2024, Emily began pursuing her M.S. in Holistic Nutrition and Integrative Health, driven by her belief in the power of nutrition, lifestyle changes, and high-adrenaline activities as alternatives to pharmaceuticals for restoring health, wellness, and quality of life. She is particularly passionate about serving active-duty members and Gold Star families through this approach—an ethos that naturally ties into Big Sky Bravery’s model of restoration and resilience.
Most recently based in Virginia Beach, Emily felt called to make a change—one that would allow her to serve the Special Operations Forces community she knows so well. An avid hiker, adventurer, and skydiver, she was also drawn to Montana’s unmatched landscapes, making it the perfect place for both a new chapter and a renewed sense of purpose.
In her role at Big Sky Bravery, Emily will help steward the relationships and resources that make our impact possible—bringing not only her professional expertise but also a deeply personal understanding of the mission at the heart of our work.