From 9/11 to Congress: Army Veteran Cait Conley's Next Mission to Serve America

Summary:

What makes a 16-year-old decide, within 24 hours of 9/11, to dedicate her life to serving her country? In this powerful Season 7 episode of Dog Tag Diaries, Cait Conley shares her journey from a working-class childhood in New York’s Hudson Valley to West Point, six combat deployments, and senior national security roles at the White House and Department of Homeland Security. Cait opens up about leading counterterrorism missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen, supporting soldiers through the mental toll of war, and protecting U.S. elections and critical infrastructure. Now running for Congress in New York’s 17th District, she explains why this is her second call to serve. This conversation is about grit, leadership, love of country, and choosing service again and again.

In this episode, we cover:

1. Cait’s childhood in the Hudson Valley and early lessons in leadership
2. The impact of 9/11 and her decision to attend West Point
3. Serving 16 years in uniform with six deployments
4. Leading counterterrorism and protecting civilians in combat zones
5. Her role at the White House and in national security
6. Why is she running for Congress in 2026
7. The launch of the “Hellcats,” four women veterans running for office
8. Advice for women considering military service today

Notable Quotes & Moments:

1. “This was my second call to serve.” – On deciding to run for Congress [00:24:43]
2. “You don’t serve a person or a party. You serve the Constitution.” [00:34:08]
3. “Less excuses, more results.” – On leadership in Washington [00:29:59]
4. "Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t belong or that you aren’t tough enough. You are. Where there’s a will, there’s a way." – Her advice for women thinking about joining the military [00:33:21]

Timestamps:

1. 00:01:06 – 9/11 and her decision to serve
2. 00:08:12 – Life as a military police officer and first responder
3. 00:14:38 – Combat deployments and counterterrorism missions
4. 00:21:03 – White House and national security leadership
5. 00:23:21 – Why she’s running for Congress
6. 00:25:02 – The Hellcats and women veterans running in 2026
7. 00:33:36 – Advice for the next generation of women in uniform

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