Heather Marie Salazar

Heather Marie Salazar
Legislative Analyst
Washington Office

Education

ABD in U.S. History, Military, and Caribbean History, Ohio University; M.A. in military history, Norwich University; B.S. in secondary education, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania; B.A. in history, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Overview

Heather Salazar is the legislative and government affairs analyst at the RAND Corporation for veterans policy and the RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute. Prior to joining RAND, she worked for the Congressional Research Service, within the Library of Congress, as a veterans policy analyst.

Salazar is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Ohio University focusing on post-World War II U.S. military history, modern Latin American, and Caribbean history. She is writing her dissertation to complete her degree. She also has an M.A. from Norwich University and a B.A. in history and a B.S. in secondary education, both from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.

Research Focus

Commentary

  • Two hands shake, one wearing a military uniform, the other in a white cuff, superimposed over a military discharge form, photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ter Haar/U.S. National Guard
    Military Personnel Retention

    The Precarious Transition of Unvaccinated Service Members

    U.S. service members separated from the military for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine were largely separated with a general discharge under honorable conditions. While they may be eligible for health care and disability compensation from the VA, they are not eligible for G.I. Bill benefits. How have they fared as they entered civilian society unvaccinated and with limited benefits?

    Dec 19, 2022

    The RAND Blog