Soledad Kennedy retired as a United States Marine Corps First Sergeant/E-8 in December 2016. She joined the Marine Corps and was on active from August 1977 to December 1988. During that time she served in the Military Police and as Administration Chief. In January 1989 she transferred to the Marine Corps Reserves and served to December 2016, as Admin Chief, Company Gunny, MP and Brig First Sergeant. Soledad was activated and mobilized from August 1990 to February 1991 for Desert Shield /Desert Storm and again, in February 2002 to May 2004 for Enduring Freedom, Iraqi II and Operation Noble Eagle.

Soledad’s career with the Bureau of Prisons commenced in April 1989, where she served as a Correctional Officer and took on additional duties as Honor Guard, Disturbance Control Team and Union Chief Steward. She retired December 2013. Since 2010 she has served as the Marine Corps League 1340 Toys for Tots Coordinator for Santa Barbara County. Soledad is also a Veteran’s Treatment Court “VTC” Mentor Coordinator for Santa Maria and Lompoc, a position she has held since 2013. Since 2015 she has held the position of Area Director for Women Marines Association for California, Asia and Pacific islands. She “Adopted a Highway” for the Chapter CA-11 in 2016. As an American Legion Post 211 member for 26 years, she served as the Adjutant in 2017 and is a League motorcycle rider and Ladies Auxiliary member. Since 2018, Soledad has also served her community as a Court Appointed Special Advocate “CASA” for children.