Jen Goodale separated from the Marine Corps in 2009 after seven years of active duty service. Upon graduation from the University of North Carolina in 2002, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant. After completing Basic Communications Officers Course, she was assigned to 9th Communication Battalion in Camp Pendleton, Calif. As a platoon commander, Goodale deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In her final assignment, she served at Marine Barracks Washington as a member of the 8th & I parade staff and a project manager at the Marine Corps Institute.   

In 2013, Goodale joined the Member Products and Services team at MOAA. In this role, she focused on engagement with the currently serving community and fundraising to support MOAA initiatives and programs. In 2016, she began supporting The MOAA Foundation as an independent contractor. Since that time, she has become passionate about improving military spouse employment opportunities through her work with the “Keeping a Career on the Move” Military Spouse Symposia series. In 2021, Goodale was selected to serve on the advisory board for the Military Family Advisory Network.     

Goodale is a North Carolina native and has a bachelor of arts degree in interpersonal and organizational communication studies from UNC-Chapel Hill and a bachelor of science degree in nutrition from Arizona State University. She is married to an active duty Marine, and they have two daughters and two dogs.