While Veterans Day falls on November 11th, UC Davis and the Workplace Violence Prevention team honor our veteran workforce and patients’ year-round. In Human Resources, we have the privilege of being led by an extraordinary Army veteran, Chief Human Resources Officer Tammy Kenber, whom I recently had the honor of interviewing about her service, her leadership philosophy, and how her military background supports the mission of the Workplace Violence Prevention Department.

The first thing you notice about Tammy is not only her strength, but her humility, warmth, and openness. Despite her modesty, she carries a grounded presence, one that makes others feel safe, seen, and heard. Perhaps that comes from her military experience, where she learned, “none of us is as smart as all of us—that understanding of teamwork and knowing we get better outcomes when we work together.” That perspective has served her well, and it continues to shape the people and teams she leads.

Tammy joined the Army straight out of high school to take advantage of the GI Bill. She completed basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where summers were, in her words, “rough.” From there, she moved to another hot, humid location, Fort Gordon, Georgia, where she trained as a satellite systems operator, keying coordinates for missiles. In true Tammy fashion, she humbly notes that the job “was not as technical as it sounds,” she says with a laugh, “since it was the 80s!” After training, she received orders to Wiley Barracks in Neu-Ulm, Germany, a Pershing Nuclear Missile base that has since closed. One of her fondest memories from her service is earning a medal for hitting 40 out of 40 targets with an M-16 assault rifle.

After leaving the military, Tammy continued to lead, in civilian life, and attributes much of her leadership style to her time in uniform. Military service emphasizes readiness, communication under pressure, and situational awareness, skills she relies on daily as Chief Human Resources Officer and works to cultivate in her leadership teams as well.

As acting CHRO, Tammy frequently navigates high-stress situations requiring thoughtful, high-impact decision-making. Reflecting on her service, she shared that her “time serving established a firm foundation, which she platformed and used as a base to continue to grow and develop her career.” She also formed lifelong friendships in the Army, connections that shaped both her personal and leadership journey.

One of the departments Tammy oversees is the Workplace Violence Prevention team, which focuses on prevention, reporting, and Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) verbal de-escalation training. Her military training, grounded in structure and readiness, gives her a deep appreciation for the department’s importance and the vital role it plays in supporting staff and patient safety.

Situational awareness is a core focus of the Workplace Violence Prevention program. When asked how her military background influenced her ability to recognize early warning signs of escalation, Tammy shared, “I think once you’ve been trained in this area; it becomes part of your DNA and you carry the skill into all aspects of your life, whether you’re at work, your kid’s soccer game or a large concert venue.”

CPI’s emphasis on staying calm, trauma-informed, and person-centered during moments of distress is something Tammy strongly believes in. “I think anytime you can take a person-centered approach that’s trauma informed (understand how the human brain reacts to trauma), it makes our workplace healthier and more harmonious.” She continued, “Whether you’re having to tell someone bad/sad news or you’re helping a team move forward after an act of violence, applying these skills helps all involved.”

Tammy also extends deep appreciation to the UC Davis Veterans Employee Resource Group (VEA) and all our veteran employees. Each year, she reaches out to her own circle of veteran friends and participates in something meaningful to honor veterans. This year, while attending the annual American Research Universities (ARU) HR Conference, she had the rare opportunity to visit Arlington, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In closing, her message to veterans is heartfelt and simple:
“Thank you sincerely for your service!”
“Please know this is a place where you are admired, respected, and valued.”
“Please also know that your fellow vets, like me, are around and rooting for you every day!”

If you have any questions or are interested in joining the Veterans Employee Resource Group, please visit their website: Veterans Employee Association | UC Davis Health.

From the Workplace Violence Prevention team: thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your continued dedication. You are deeply appreciated.