Hillary Ruff

Retired Gunner’s Mate Petty Officer 1st Class Hillary Louise Ruff joined the U.S. Navy in 2012 because she wanted to be part of something bigger than herself. While she was active, she earned her bachelor’s degree in public safety and emergency management as a single mom and is working toward her master’s degree in emergency management. For years, she was active in military and veteran volunteerism and knew about Navy Wounded Warrior through a common non-medical support network. In 2023, when she had a cardiac event that led to a host of physical and mental health complications, she knew where to go when it was her turn to need help. Ruff’s care team signed her up for adaptive sports because it was clear that rejoining a team would fill her cup. She gravitated toward cycling. It challenged her like none of the other events, but it also filled her with the same joy she had as a little girl on her bike. Even as part of Team Navy, Ruff never gave up that sense of working on behalf of others. During the 2025 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., she was named Heart of the Team. As she trains for the 2026 Games, her teammates are still a major source of inspiration and motivation to keep active, even after transition.