Kristia was born in New York City and, with her younger brother, Jon, grew up in New York’s Hudson River Valley. 

They listened to their maternal grandparents’ stories of their horror living under Communism in Ukraine from the 1920’s through 1930’s, and then totalitarianism in Germany during the late 1930’s and 1940’s. Their family instilled a love of history, reading, and learning in both siblings. In order to teach them history in a creative and memorable way, their mother dressed up Kristia and Jon in historical period costumes, and had them act out the historical events as she narrated the tale.

Kristia graduated from Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland in the spring of 2002 with a B.S. degree in biology and a minor in chemistry, and with the honor of being senior class president. Jon also attended Washington Adventist University, and graduated in December 2004 with a B.A. in psychology and a double minor in history and forensic psychology.

After his college graduation, Jon proudly enlisted in the United States Army and became a medic in the 10th Mountain Division. Kristia supported and was grateful for his service. The worst nightmare came true for Kristia and her family on the evening of February 27, 2007, when they were informed that Jon had been killed earlier that day in Baghdad, Iraq when the armored Humvee he was a passenger in was struck by a roadside bomb. Kristia is committed to serving and protecting her country in every way she can, thus ensuring her brother’s memory is honored and remembered.

After college, Kristia worked as a Senior Financial Analyst for the largest healthcare corporation in Maryland for five years until September 2007, when she began graduate school full-time. 

In May 2009, Kristia received a Masters in Science degree in “Defense and Strategic Studies” from Missouri State University, which is located in Fairfax, Virginia right outside our nation’s Capitol.  She graduated summa cum laude and with a 4.0 grade point average.  This is the oldest and most prestigious masters program of its kind in the country and focuses on the three areas used to defend ourselves as a nation:  the military, economics, and diplomacy.  During her last year in school Kristia was a Management Analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon.  To obtain this position, she was awarded a “Secret” Security Clearance from the federal government. 

Kristia’s favorite hobbies are horseback riding, tae kwon do, sailing, painting, and traveling throughout America.