Justine Fraley, a Leadership Development Consultant who lives in Coronado, was recently nominated for the San Diego Business Journal Leaders of Influence list, a recognition that reflects years of service to organizations, to veterans, and to her own military-connected community.
Fraley first found herself in Coronado in 2007, when she returned from her first deployment and the USS Stennis docked at Naval Air Station North Island. “My first experience with Coronado wasn’t even beyond getting off base,” she recalled. Over time, as an Aviation Structural Mechanic on F/A-18s, “my trips to Coronado to board the ship became more common.” After her enlistment ended in 2011, she and her husband moved from Lemoore, California, to Fallon, Nevada, before eventually receiving orders to North Island. “Getting North Island orders was a refreshing change,” Fraley told me.
Today, Fraley describes herself as a Leadership Development Consultant who has worked for the Simon Leadership Alliance for eight years. “My work centers on developing leaders who communicate with clarity, build trust, make aligned commitments, and create the conditions for others to thrive,” she explained.
Her professional path was shaped by her military service and her education. After leaving active duty, she used both the GI Bill and a program for Disabled Veterans called Vocational Rehab to earn her degree.
Family life is an integral part of Fraley’s story. “I have been married to my husband for 14 years and am a proud mom of two girls, Reese (12) and Bella (8),” she said. Both daughters are active in a variety of sports and clubs, from swim to strength training and jump rope club. Personally, Fraley said, “I love long walks on the Strand and living a life of outdoor recreation.” She also gives back locally through youth leadership. “I also co-lead Reese’s Girl Scout troop 6532, which is a new parent-led troop that is all Military Children in Coronado (look out for us for cookie season).”
Beyond her formal leadership work, Fraley dedicates much of her time to supporting veterans. “I spend much of my remaining time helping fellow veterans navigate the VA disability process,” she said. She clarified that she is not a Veteran Service Officer (VSO), but has noticed a persistent gap between the Transition Assistance Program and a veteran’s first meeting with a VSO. “Many service members complete the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and then go straight to a VSO organization, like the DAV, with a copy of their medical records and no real strategy for how to present their case. I help veterans in the space between those steps.”
Her approach is hands-on and focused on empowerment. “My role is to help them take ownership of the process: organize their records, identify what evidence supports their symptoms, and prepare a clear, well-documented package so that when they meet with their VSO and submit their claim, they’re set up for a stronger outcome,” she explained. “When veterans meet with me, it’s less of a ‘service’ and more of a workshop (plus accountability) to help them prepare effectively for their VSO appointment.”
Fraley’s commitment to veterans is deeply personal. In 2009, she developed a head injury from a bad reaction to the anthrax vaccine, and has suffered with severe symptoms ever since. At that time, she noted, “TBI research was barely emerging, and I was denied TBI Assessments and help from VA Healthcare and VA Disability for my symptoms.” Everything changed in 2022 when she attended a fully covered program at the Marcus Institute for Brain Health in Denver, CO, funded by the Gary Sinise Foundation. “[That program] helped me get the evidence that I needed to support my VA Claim and start receiving important therapies to help me.”
The experience was eye-opening for Fraley and deeply impacted her path going forward. “What was so eye-opening about this experience was understanding how I actually had way more symptoms that were directly related to my head injury that I had never made the connection with before.” In addition to her head injury, Fraley was exposed to radiation during the 2011 tsunami in Japan and developed a thyroid problem that was also chronically denied by the VA for disability.
“I began seeing my fellow veterans struggle over many issues related to this incident as well… That journey is what drew me to working with veterans,” she explained. “I know many have real, valid health concerns, and I’m passionate about helping them present their stories and documentation in a way that the VA can understand and act on.”
For Fraley, this work feels especially significant in a place like Coronado. “In Coronado, military service is part of the fabric of the community. That means we have an opportunity (and I’d argue a responsibility) to make sure veterans and military families have accessible, local support that helps them advocate for themselves, get the care they need, and build a healthy, purpose-driven life after service.”
To that end, she is looking for ways to formalize her support locally. She currently has proposals at the Coronado Library to use the conference room to offer monthly workshops for transitioning service members, veterans, and anyone curious or interested in learning more.
Recently, Fraley’s blend of professional leadership work and community advocacy was recognized when she was nominated for the San Diego Business Journal Leaders of Influence. She connects the honor directly with persistence. The nomination, she said, “represents how diligence pays off. Trying to balance my own health issues, manage a career, manage a family with one parent who’s a service member that’s constantly deploying and helping other veterans is a lot, but it has all given me a new purpose as a civilian.”
The news of her nomination was a deeply meaningful surprise for Fraley, and something she doesn’t take lightly. “I was so honored and humbled,” she said of the nomination. “It was a pleasure to attend the San Diego Business Journal Event and meet with the other honorees. In many ways, it helped reinvigorate my inspiration and helped assure me that I’m on the right path.”
Looking ahead, Fraley remains focused on continuing to build a career in leadership development and service. “Our society needs strong leaders, and I love contributing to this development in every area of my life, whether I’m leading our Girl Scout Troop, speaking with young service members, or in the boardroom of a company. Leadership Development is a life-long pursuit of growth.”
Her future plans also include deepening her work with veterans and military families, continuing to advocate for and support transitioning service members and veterans, and finding a space to offer monthly workshops for veterans and military spouses to help continue building a strong homefront.
As we concluded, Fraley offered a clear message to those leaving military service. “My final message is to veterans transitioning service members, and my message for them is that now is your time to take your health seriously. Start taking better care of your health, pay close attention to your body, verbalize your issues, and ensure they are documented correctly. If you feel dismissed, find different solutions so that you can begin to get help and healing. You know your body best. Thank you for your service, and Go Navy.”
VOL. 116, NO. 2 – Jan. 14, 2026