Salute to Sisters in Service, an event celebrating Women Veterans Day and the leadership and service of women veterans, was organized by the Tampa Chapter of the Florida Association of Veteran-Owned Businesses (FAVOB). Our thanks to Shirley Baez, C.S.M, APRM, RBLP-T, the FAVOB team, and Holley Harris on Women in Defense Tampa Chapter for creating space to elevate stories of service that continue well beyond military careers.
Sara Hand of Spark Growth was proud to attend and support her friend Leslie Babich, as well as their shared commitment to honoring service, leadership, and the continued role women veterans play across defense, innovation, and industry.
Leslie Babich, Colonel, USAF (Ret.), is a 26-year Air Force veteran whose career exemplifies sustained, high-performance leadership. Leslie retired in 2018 after serving in senior roles at U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), where she helped guide the development of a five-year, $60B programming and resource allocation plan supporting global Special Operations Forces.
Today, Leslie continues her service as Director of SOFWERX, a nonprofit innovation platform that connects government, industry, academia, and national laboratories to solve the complex challenges facing Special Operations Forces.
At Spark Growth, we believe strong ecosystems are built by leaders who carry service forward. Salute to Sisters in Service was a powerful reminder that the impact of military service extends well beyond uniformed careers, shaping innovation, collaboration, and community leadership.
Women Veterans Day commemorates the 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, landmark legislation signed into law by President Harry S. Truman that allowed women to serve as permanent, regular members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Prior to 1948, women’s military service was largely temporary or limited to wartime roles. The Act formally recognized women as essential, long-term contributors to national defense—paving the way for expanded leadership, command roles, and lasting careers across every branch of the military.
Today, Women Veterans Day honors the service, sacrifice, and continued leadership of women veterans whose impact extends far beyond uniformed service into business, innovation, and community leadership.
