Refuge for Nations

Katie Bigelow is excited to work with Refuge for Nations where she will learn how nonprofits operate in hopes of eventually starting a nonprofit in honor of her late son, Bret. Katie is currently the president of Mettle Ops which she started in 2013 to make an impact for the warfighter. A former U.S. Army aviator with experience in leadership and wartime operations, she completed four overseas tours including Korea, Bosnia, and two year-long tours in Iraq. Katie started her army career as an enlisted, Arabic linguist but spent the bulk of her time as a warrant officer and most notably a medical evacuation pilot. Fun fact: The Bigelow family motto is “Never Give Up.” Katie and her husband, Mark, raise their own army of eight children in Sterling Heights, Michigan.