MarieAnn Raguso: From Combat to Community

MarieAnn Raguso’s story spans service, survival, and the transformative power of purpose. A U.S. Air Force veteran turned behavioral scientist, she has faced both the brutality of war and the complexity of healing. Today, she channels those experiences into a nonprofit dedicated to helping others—turning personal trauma into collective strength.

Born in New York but raised in Central Florida, MarieAnn joined the military after returning to New York as a young adult. She served as a Security Forces Journeyman which is an enlisted security forces member for base defense, also known as “Reapers.” After being injured, she returned to the U.S. and began a long academic journey, eventually earning a PhD in criminal justice and behavioral science. Part of what motivated her to pursue her degrees was losing her partner, who was killed in action; he had been studying criminal justice. “He probably would have gone after his PhD,” she said. “Part of the reason I did was because of him.”

She still wears bracelets engraved with the names of four men she lost—her partner and others in her unit. They serve as a daily reminder of the people who shaped her and the reason she continues this work.

Her turning point came after a suicide attempt that followed a series of devastating losses: three friends killed in action, and a roommate who died by suicide. She tried to resuscitate him, but could not save his life. That experience left her searching for meaning. “I had to do more with my life,” she said. It was shows about exploration and stories of resilience that reminded her what was possible. She leaned into service. She volunteered, pursued education, and began using creative expression as a healing outlet, not just for herself, but for others.

While recovering at Walter Reed, she started to imagine a new model of support. “I was inspired. Why don't I use the creative arts pathway that worked for me and see if it helps other people.” She envisioned a community where art, connection, and nature could offer healing. In 2023, she founded CCLT4Vets, a nonprofit offering Creative Arts Therapy, outdoor excursions, and resource networks to veterans, first responders, and their families. The organization operates with a “good faith clause”—if they do not offer a service directly, they will connect people to trusted partners who do. It is about making sure no one is left behind.

That belief is not just philosophical, it is practical. This year alone, MarieAnn has personally intervened in five critical cases: talking four people out of suicide and helping another unhoused veteran find shelter. In one case, her community even stepped up to fund someone’s rehab. “If we had more money, we would absolutely invest more into those things,” she said.

What drives her is more than recovery, it is connection. Whether helping a veteran through rehab or simply introducing someone to a community, she sees kindness as a form of responsibility. “Investing in kindness is taking something of value and elevating it,” she said. “It is like having a tool in your toolbox.”

She shared a story about her partner, who joined a team carrying a 99-year-old WWII veteran on a chariot through a charity Spartan Race. Another veteran, in his 80s, crawled through barbed wire and completed 90% of the course with his help. “The human bond,” she said, “you cannot replace it.”

MarieAnn believes in a distinction between being human and being a human being. “Anybody can be a human,” she said. “But being a human being means actually taking the time to invest in humanity.” That belief runs through all of her work. From the battlefield to the university, and now through her nonprofit, she is driven to lift others up.

“Experiencing what we can experience and what we're capable of, and going that extra mile—those are things that make us a human being.”

MarieAnn Raguso is a veteran, nonprofit founder, and behavioral scientist who turns hardship into healing by investing in people. Keep an eye out for more interviews.