Leela Grey | Florida’s 13th Congressional District

Leela is a retired Army brigadier general, attorney, and third-generation military veteran who has spent more than three decades serving her country and the Tampa Bay community.

After graduating from the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Elon University, Leela began her 30-year career in the United States Army. She served as a commander in Alabama, Indiana, New York, and Wisconsin. Leela entered the Army reserve, but after the attacks of September 11, 2001, she deployed to combat missions in Iraq. Ultimately, she served in both peacetime and combat missions, rising to the rank of Brigadier General. 

After serving in the Army, Grey continued her career of public service in the State Department, where she served as a strategic advisor to the United States Army Cyber Command. She collaborated with others to create new initiatives to take down terrorists’ narratives – propaganda that could be used to radicalize and recruit others to attack the United States. She then transitioned out of the State Department into veteran advocacy, creating a local Tampa Bay TV show called Veteran Strong to showcase the value that veterans bring to the business community.

Leela holds degrees from Elon University, Ball State University, the United States Army War College, and Stetson University College of Law. She and her husband, Tony, have raised their daughter in the Tampa Bay area, where they have lived for over 20 years. Leela is running because Pinellas families deserve a representative who doesn’t just serve themselves, but the community around them.