Terri Tanielian is a nationally recognized expert in veteran policy as well as mental health policy. As Special Assistant to the President, she is responsible for advancing the President’s priorities related to supporting veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, as well as to tackling the mental health crisis and opioid epidemic. Prior to joining the Administration, she served as a Senior Behavioral Scientist at the RAND Corporation where she led studies examining the needs of military service members, veterans, their families, and their caregivers. She conducted several landmark studies assessing policy options for improving the systems of care that support these populations. She has specific expertise in suicide prevention, sexual assault prevention and response, and improving the quality of behavioral health care. In 2019, she served as a RAND Congressional Fellow with the House Committee on Veterans Affairs where she informed evidence-based policy making designed to reduce veteran suicide. She has also served on several national advisory committees related to improving support for veterans and improving mental health care. She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications on topics ranging from improving access to and quality of mental health and substance use treatment, improving public health emergency preparedness and response, and improving support systems for veterans, military families, and caregivers. Born in upstate New York, the proud daughter of a US Navy veteran, Tanielian graduated from Boston University and received her Master of Arts degree from The American University. Tanielian and her husband live in Washington DC.