Judy Skilling stumbled upon her destiny on a seemingly ordinary day in her high school classroom. A random assignment to a workforce preparation class—and an unplanned encounter with a Navy recruiter—would set in motion a remarkable journey from teenage dreamer to healthcare leader.
“I knew I wanted to have a job in the medical field, and one of my teachers encouraged me to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) [a test measuring a person’s aptitude for military careers],” she says.
At just 17, while her classmates were planning college moves and summer adventures, Skilling was lacing up military boots. Within days of receiving her high school diploma, she found herself navigating the rigorous demands of Navy boot camp. Her determination had already shown through in the recruitment process—when initially told she didn't qualify for her desired role as a corpsman, she negotiated her way forward, displaying the tenacity that would become her trademark.
The Navy took her from the shores of Puerto Rico to the Middle East in the aftermath of 9/11. As part of a surgical team conducting military exercises, she witnessed firsthand the delicate dance between military precision and medical compassion.
A Higher Calling
Seven years of military service confirmed what that high school senior had suspected: healthcare was her true north. But Skilling's vision extended beyond the traditional path of patient care. After earning her bachelor's degree and working as a bedside nurse, she discovered her natural affinity for leadership.
“When I stepped into a management role, it felt right for me,” she says. “I’m treating the same kind of patients from when I was a bedside nurse, but now I think, ‘How can I influence change? How can I empower people?’”
These questions would become the cornerstone of her leadership philosophy at the Golden VA Clinic in Colorado.
Breaking New Ground
Today, Skilling stands at the intersection of military experience and healthcare innovation. As a nurse manager at the Golden VA Clinic, she's pursuing an ambitious academic journey through the University of Colorado College of Nursing's BS to DNP program, specializing in Veteran and Military Health Care.
“This program is perfect for me,” she says. “I’m a veteran, I work at the VA, I work in leadership and I’m interested in staying in leadership. This program is groundbreaking and will open doors to a plethora of opportunities. I believe that working within the VA system and having this degree will not only support my knowledge of treating veterans but also my knowledge of the VA system. I feel like I can open a lot of doors that aren’t yet open.”
Building a Legacy of Empowerment
Skilling's leadership style reflects her military training and nursing experience—disciplined yet deeply collaborative. She's training nurses to understand the unique needs of veteran patients. Her approach transforms standard medical care into something more profound: a healing experience that honors veterans' service.
“It’s my job and my responsibility to share the knowledge I have,” she says. “Even though I’m not in direct patient care, I think about how can I lead these nurses and share what I know. My role allows me to create more of a collaborative leadership style because I want to empower nurses so they can be the best version of nurses they can be to provide critical care to veterans.”
In the end, Skilling's story isn't just about one veteran's journey from military service to healthcare leadership.
“Nursing is an ongoing journey and I want to make sure I get better as a leader. When we empower nurses, we transform veteran care.”
