Meet Coast Guard Spouse Kiara Ford, Future Attorney

Often, the first thought that comes to mind when considering the concept of military spouses is their spouse’s service in one of the six military branches. But what if we took a closer look and recognized the resourcefulness, resilience, determination, and sheer will it takes to keep a family together while in pursuit their own goals while their husband or wife serves their country? 

The service required from a military spouse demands so much from one person; children’s homework, order in the home (several lists unto themselves), knowing all family birthdays, doctor’s appointments, allergies, favorite colors, and current clothing and shoe sizes, just to name a few of the many items they keep track of in their day-to-day lives. It’s a huge undertaking. 

For many Coast Guard families, one source of income is simply not doable in today’s economy. So spouses pursue their own career paths and continue their juggling act. For many spouses, this means pursuing higher education and professional training.  

Kiara Ford is a returning Coast Guard Foundation grant recipient, using her grant money to alleviate costs as she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees. She said they made a significant difference in reducing financial stress throughout the years she spent working through her degree programs from 2022 to 2026.   

"This funding made it possible for me to purchase essential books and supplies that our tight family budget simply could not accommodate," she shared. "The Coast Guard Foundation scholarship has supported my family by providing peace of mind, enabling me to pursue my education without compromising our household needs, and reinforcing my ability to contribute positively to our family's future."

She and her husband, Petty Officer First Class Leodis Ford, are currently stationed in Eureka, California, at Sector Humboldt Bay. Leodis is a Boatswain's Mate assigned to Coast Guard Cutter Barracuda.  

Kiara has been married to Leodis since 2018, supporting his career and their family while in the middle of her own professional pursuits. She currently works at an elections office in Eureka while she studies the LSAT with plans to attend law school once her husband retires. 

Kiara has wanted to be a lawyer for most of her life and speaks fondly of how she was encouraged by her father as a child. “I knew that I wanted to become an attorney since I was in fourth grade,” she recalls. “It's never changed. I never budged, and it was always funny because my dad would call me ‘counselor.’ He said I was very argumentative and I always had to prove my point. I had always known from a young age that I wanted to go to law school.” 

By the time she was in middle school, Kiara was shadowing an attorney to learn more about the day-to-day in her chosen career path. Sometime after high school, she started working as a paralegal for a law firm in Michigan so that she could gain more experience in the field.  

Kiara graduated with a master’s degree in criminal justice and public service management in 2025 and is working on her next steps to attend law school. Right now, she’s studying for her LSAT and researching universities to find the right fit for herself and her family. 

In the middle of career pursuits and caring for a family, it’s important to take time for self-reflection and self-fulfillment. Kiara is no stranger to surmounting challenges of increasing difficulty. With her family stationed in a rural area of California, outdoor fitness has become the next mountain for her to climb, and one of her favorite side quests. 

Keeping up on juggling multiple roles comes with a very special reason. Kiara’s daughter is 11 years old and watching her parents as they navigate the world around them, keeping their family at the top of the priority list. Her daughter is learning every day about life and building her own future, and Kiara is committed to making sure she knows that anything is possible. 

“I know that I have to get it done for myself, and I also have a daughter that's looking up to me. If I tell her, ‘you have to get an education, you have to do well in school’, what example would I be showing her if I didn't push myself? She can learn from that. There's not many women lawyers and not many Black female attorneys. We're setting a precedent here that you can do it. You just have to start somewhere.” 

Kiara is proving every day that Coast Guard spouses inspire the next generation with their resilience, resourcefulness, and a “just do it” attitude.  

Striving to be the best version of yourself is a powerful and worthwhile undertaking, and the beautiful part is that it looks different for everyone. Kiara has found value in gracefully accepting a lack of control in time’s passage, while taking control of how that time is spent. 

She was asked what advice she would have for someone who was considering their next steps for personal growth and fulfillment, and offered inspiring advice.

Title Image: Coast Guard Foundation grant recipient, Kiara Ford, poses for a photo as an aspiring attorney.