Bethany Wagner

About Bethany Wagner

Most strategies look great on paper. My work has usually been making sure they work in the real world. Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked at the intersection of people, operations, and leadership, helping organizations improve how they run by refining processes, advising senior leaders, and turning HR strategies into something teams can actually implement.I’ve worked across small teams and organizations with more than employees, often in complex, regulated healthcare environments. A big part of my role is helping leaders move from ideas to execution. That often means stepping into situations where something isn’t working as intended, whether it’s a process slowing people down, a people strategy that needs structure and resources to succeed, or a leadership challenge that needs to be reframed so the path forward becomes clearer.The harder part, and where I’ve spent much of my time, is making sure those ideas are resourced and operationalized so they don’t just live in a slide deck.I also spend a fair amount of time advising individuals on career decisions and helping leaders work through difficult people issues in ways that are practical, fair, and aligned with the mission. Much of that work is simply helping people break down complex problems into pieces that can be easily solved.My CliftonStrengths (Relator, Strategic, Restorative, Responsibility, Analytical) show up in pretty practical ways: I build trust quickly, look for patterns in messy situations, and focus on fixing what’s broken while keeping people aligned around the mission.I currently hold an active TS/SCI clearance and am comfortable working in high-consequence environments where discretion, sound judgment, and accountability are essential.Outside of work, fitness and mental health are important to how I stay grounded and effective. I’m also a proud member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, reflecting my commitment to leadership, service, and civic engagement.Focus Areas• Executive Advisory | Strategic HR Integration | HR Operations Leadership• Process Improvement | HR Analytics | HRIS Fluency • Leadership & Staff Development | Team Effectiveness | Healthcare HR• Priority Planning | Executive Communication | Data-Informed Decision-Making

Experience

1. Senior HR Business Advisor

   United States Army Human Resources Command

   May 2025 — Present · Fort Knox, KY, US

   Senior HR advisor to multiple executive leadership teams, providing guidance on organizational design, workforce planning, policy interpretation, and change management. Known for helping leaders navigate complex decisions by balancing risk, historical context, and long-term organizational impact. Contributed foundational structure work for a major talent management redesign that was later adopted as an enterprise baseline.

Education

• Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University

  Masters in Human Resource Management

• Washington State University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)