Rachel Ploeger brings more than 25 years of experience working with the U.S. military, spanning military service and defense contracting.
MSCPVA Board Treasurer
Bingo Committee
Rachel served in the U.S. Air Force from 1997 to 2001, supporting helicopter operations at Royal Air Force Mildenhall in England. Upon transitioning to the civilian defense sector, she worked for Booz Allen Hamilton, COLSA and Odyssey Systems, where she served as a principal government adviser embedded with Space Systems Command, leading international acquisition strategy, global defense partnerships and U.S. Space Force program integration. Throughout her career, Rachel managed multibillion-dollar defense programs and helped drive significant cost savings and risk mitigation for the U.S. government.
In 2016, soon after an MS diagnosis within her family, Rachel joined the Paralyzed Veterans of America Mountain States Chapter, motivated by a strong commitment to supporting fellow veterans. She became a board member in 2023 and is focused on advancing the PVA mission of advocacy, independence, and access for veterans with disabilities. Her work emphasizes policy change and closing legislative gaps affecting healthcare, accessible transportation, accessible housing, and opportunities to participate in sports, recreation, and community life.
In addition to her defense career, Rachel leads her family business, Ploeger Grain, where she has expanded operations and built a culture centered on accountability and collaboration. She brings this same leadership philosophy to her board service, combining strategic expertise with a deep personal commitment to supporting paralyzed veterans and their families.