Laila Ireland Speaking Fee: $10,000 and Below

Laila Ireland is a retired United States Army veteran, nationally recognized advocate, writer, and speaker whose work centers on equity, inclusion, and authentic leadership within military and civilian communities. With two combat tours in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, she brings firsthand experience of service, sacrifice, and resilience to every space she enters. Laila enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2003 as a Human Intelligence Collector and later reclassified as a Combat Medic following her first deployment from 2005 to 2006. She was honorably discharged and medically retired in December 2015. Her military service continues to shape her lifelong commitment to leadership, accountability, and community-centered advocacy. Following her transition from active duty, Laila remained dedicated to public service as a civilian professional within the Military Healthcare System, specializing in training, workflow coordination, and systems improvement. Known for her strategic mindset and collaborative leadership, she has contributed to meaningful organizational improvements, strengthened systems and directly impact the workforce and communities she serves. Laila’s advocacy began in 2012 with OutServe-SLDN Trans and expanded in 2013 when she joined and helped build SPART*A, where she served as Membership Director until 2021, supporting and managing more than 1,100 members worldwide. Through her leadership, she has elevated conversations around the intersections of being transgender, female, a person of color, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Latina, a veteran, and a military spouse. On June 4, 2015, Laila and her then-fiancé, MSgt Logan Ireland, courageously shared their story as transgender service members in the Emmy®-nominated New York Times short film Transgender, at War and in Love. Their story became one of the most viewed short films in the publication’s history and contributed to national conversations that helped reshape military policy. They were invited to the White House Pride Reception to meet President Barack Obama, and the film received multiple honors, including a GLAAD nomination and an Emmy® nomination. Their journey was later featured in the SXSW Audience Award–winning documentary TransMilitary. As a speaker, Laila is known for blending lived experience with powerful storytelling. She speaks candidly about identity, belonging, leadership, moral courage, and the often-unseen emotional labor carried by military families and advocates. Her presentations challenge audiences to lead with empathy, think critically, and take meaningful action in support of underrepresented communities. Laila is also an accomplished writer and creative, using personal narrative and reflection as tools for healing, empowerment, and social change. Her work has appeared in national media outlets, documentaries, and public forums addressing military service, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and veterans’ issues. Through her advocacy and storytelling, she has helped shape conversations around fairness, dignity, and recognition for all who serve. Her contributions have been recognized through numerous honors, including the 2016 Military Spouse Leadership Award, the 2017 and 2019 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year Awards, the 2018 LGBT Bar Association of Oregon Innovator Award, and the 2018 American Veterans for Equal Rights LGBT Veterans Champion Award. Deeply rooted in family and community, Laila centers her work on connection and collective resilience. Whether engaging policymakers, service members, healthcare leaders, students, or community organizations, she brings authenticity, warmth, and unwavering integrity to every engagement. Laila Ireland continues to inspire audiences by reminding them that courage is not only found on the battlefield, but in everyday acts of truth-telling, compassion, and principled leadership.