OSA Staff Biographies
Kelly B. Hruska
Executive Director
Office of Survivors Assistance
Kelly Hruska was appointed Executive Director of the Office of Survivor Assistance at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) when she took the oath of office on July 21, 2025. In this role, she serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary on all policies, programs, legislative matters, and initiatives affecting the surviving family members of deceased Service members and Veterans. She also plays a key role in the development, adoption, and implementation of Department-wide programs and policies related to survivor assistance—ensuring survivors are honored, supported, and empowered through timely access to resources and benefits.
A recognized expert in policies affecting surviving families, and broader military family issues, Ms. Hruska has testified before both the Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committees, offering expert insight on legislation impacting military families. She served as Co-Chair of the Survivor Benefits Committee of The Military Coalition (TMC), where she led advocacy efforts to improve survivor benefits.
Prior to her appointment, Ms. Hruska led a dedicated team advocating for quality-of-life improvements for the families of all eight uniformed services at both the federal and state levels, advancing policies that strengthened military readiness and family resilience.
Ms. Hruska holds a Master of Public Administration from Shippensburg University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from La Salle University. She resides in Virginia with her husband, Jim, and daughter, Emily.
Kristen Palmer
Kristen Palmer is a dedicated and passionate Veteran who brings extensive experience in leadership, strategic planning, and program management within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Currently, Kristen serves as a Supervisory Management & Program Analyst with the Office of Survivors Assistance. In her role, she actively aligns team objectives with organizational priorities, mentors and manages a dynamic team, oversees recruitment, and passionately engages with communities at various outreach events to support survivors and streamline claims processes.
Kristen holds a Master of Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She continues to grow professionally and personally through doctoral studies in Business Psychology. Additionally, she holds certifications as a Birkman Administrator and Project Management professional.
Throughout her career, Kristen has led several initiatives that have significantly improved team effectiveness and community engagement. Notably, she developed a digital survey that received an exceptional 80% response rate, offering valuable insights into process improvements. She also introduced a comprehensive performance dashboard using Power BI, boosting her team's productivity by 50%. In her previous role as Supervisory Executive Assistant for Pension and Fiduciary Service, she provided strategic guidance to executive leaders, facilitated critical legislative preparations, and efficiently managed operations for over 125 personnel.
Kristen is known for her approachable leadership style, strong interpersonal skills, and her genuine commitment to enhancing organizational effectiveness and promoting positive change. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two children and traveling the world.
Deon Boyce
Mr. Boyce serves as Department of Veteran Affairs, Office of Survivors Assistance, Management and Program Analyst. His duties include providing survivor benefit information to Veterans, surviving family members, and vested stakeholders serving the military community. Mr. Boyce also collects and provides analyst on survivor benefits usage and customer experience to effect better business operations and Congressional legislation. He previously served as the United States Marine Corps Credentialing Program Manager where he collaborated with the Department of Defense and dedicated headquarters staff responsible for shaping the Marine Corps SkillBridge and Credentialing Opportunities On-line (COOL) policy. Mr. Boyce is a retired Master Sergeant with 20 years of active service as a Motor Transport Maintenance Marine. Master Sergeant Boyce trained senior enlisted Marines while serving as Staff Noncommissioned Officer (SNCOIC) in Charge, Marine Corps Staff NCO Academy, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Mr. Boyce has Human Resources Master’s Degree from Webster University and Bachelor’s in Management Degree from the University of Phoenix. Military awards include Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Recruiting Duty Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon. Civil service awards received include two Commander’s Awards for Civilian Service, and Letter of Appreciation from US Army Installation Management Command, Director.
Karen Cox
Karen serves as a Staff Assistant with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Survivors Assistance, where organization, attention to detail, and dedication to mission are vital. In this role, she supports senior leaders and contributes directly to the VA’s ongoing commitment: “To Care for those who have borne the battle”. From managing team workload to ensuring that critical projects move forward smoothly, Karen plays a behind-the-scenes yet essential part in supporting Veterans across our nation.
Karen was born in St. Paul Minnesota and grew up with values rooted in service, integrity, and resilience. Influenced by her father, grandfather and uncle who had military and community ties, Karen learned early on the importance of giving back and supporting our Veterans. These values carried through school where Karen excelled in science and chemistry, building her a foundation and career in public service. With a degree from the University of Minnesota Karen began her career journey working with government contractors in Wisconsin that took her all over the world training our service members.
Outside the office, Karen is committed to community involvement volunteering with the VFW and co-chairing their non-profit organization aiding local Veterans. Karen is married to a Retired US Navy SCPO, has 5 children and 6 grandchildren. Family and close friends are essential in her world, offering both support and inspiration for the demanding work.
Scott Bell
Scott Bell is an experienced analyst and subject matter expert on VA benefits and services for surviving family members. Skilled in policy development, strategic planning, and human services, Scott has worked in multiple roles across VA for the past 20 years, including VHA, VBA, and VA Central Office. A social worker at heart, Scott approaches challenges from a biopsychosocial perspective, considering the totality of human needs when providing analysis and making policy recommendations. Scott maintains his clinical social work license and holds a Master of Social Work degree with a specialization in Mental Health from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, and a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT. He is married to his college sweetheart, and they have two teenage sons. Scott and his family live in Portland, OR.
