Responsibility sits at the center of how DeAnn Hazey leads. It is a perspective shaped early through military service and carried forward into her civilian career, where she now serves as Executive Director of Government and Community Affairs at Nicklaus Children’s Health System, South Florida’s only specialty licensed healthcare system dedicated exclusively to children.
Before stepping into the complex world of healthcare policy and community engagement, Hazey served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, working as a linguist in Military Intelligence. The experience permanently reshaped how she thinks about leadership.
“The Army taught me that leadership isn’t about authority—it’s about responsibility and service to others,” Hazey explains. “Rank never mattered as much as accountability. If something goes wrong, I own it. If something goes right, the credit goes to my team.”
That philosophy continues to guide her work today. Rather than focusing on hierarchy, Hazey prioritizes equipping her team with the tools and clarity they need to succeed. “I focus on making sure my team has what they need to succeed and never ask someone to do something I wouldn’t do myself,” she says.
The transition from military service to civilian leadership did not require abandoning that mindset. Instead, it expanded the mission. At Nicklaus Children’s Health System, Hazey’s work centers on strengthening partnerships between healthcare providers, government leaders, and community organizations to improve access to care for children across South Florida.
Service, she believes, does not end when a veteran removes the uniform. It evolves.
“In Broward right now, one of the most important ways veterans can continue serving is by stepping into civic leadership roles and volunteering,” she says. Veterans understand structure, crisis management, and teamwork in ways that naturally strengthen community institutions.
She points to Mission United through the United Way of Broward County as a powerful example of how that service continues at home. The initiative connects veterans and their families with employment assistance, housing support, legal aid, and health resources, while also creating leadership and advisory roles for veterans themselves.
“It’s not just about services,” Hazey says. “It’s about giving veterans the opportunity to help shape and strengthen those systems.”
That sense of responsibility also informs how she approaches personal resilience. For Hazey, wellness is a daily practice rooted in faith, family, and intentional moments of quiet. “Wellness, for me, is staying grounded in what matters most—my faith, my family, and self-care,” she explains. “It isn’t a luxury. It’s crucial to lead well and show up fully for others.”
Her mornings begin before the day’s demands take over. “I start my day early in quiet—prayer, reflection, and reviewing priorities before the noise begins,” she says. “It helps me lead calmly even when the day fills with competing priorities.”
Evenings close with a small ritual that reinforces connection at home. Each night, she and her husband share what they call a “fruit date,” a simple pause to decompress and put the day behind them.
Hazey is candid about what she wishes the broader community understood about military service. The sense of responsibility carried by veterans does not disappear with time. “Our service doesn’t switch off,” she says. “Even years later, we still carry a deep sense of honor, respect, and responsibility—to country, to family, and to our community.”
Experiences from service, particularly combat exposure, can leave lasting mental health impacts for many veterans. Addressing those realities, she believes, requires openness and support rather than stigma.
“As a community, we have to acknowledge this openly and make sure active-duty soldiers, reservists, and veterans have access to the support and resources they need,” she says.
For young people considering military service, Hazey views the experience as a foundation rather than a single chapter. “It will shape you in ways you may not fully see yet,” she says. “It builds character, discipline, resilience, and opens doors that carry into every stage of life.”
For veterans transitioning into civilian careers, the core lesson is simple. “Your values don’t expire when you leave active duty,” Hazey says. “Leadership, discipline, integrity, courage, and accountability translate into any career path.”
