After surviving a life-threatening car accident at just 19 years old, Mandy realized that her life was destined for a greater purpose. She had already completed the U.S. Marine Corps Junior ROTC program in high school and was familiar with military values, having been raised with them by her father, a U.S. Air Force veteran. He encouraged Mandy to enlist, and she decided to follow in his footsteps to defend and serve her country.
Mandy started as an apprentice at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, and went on to serve as an U.S. Air Force Medical Technician at multiple locations, including: Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. She also served in Joint Base, San Antonio, as a Technical School Instructor. By the end of her 20 years of service, she had risen to the rank of Superintendent in the 78th Healthcare Operations Squadron.
In all of her roles, Mandy always maintained an outward focus. "I had the opportunity to help others, to lead, and to shape others' lives," she says, modeling a dedication to service that continued to drive her in her retirement. After returning home, she knew she wanted to give back to veterans in her community, and saw firsthand how difficult it was for her fellow female veterans to find mental health support, jobs, and housing. Once again, she felt was being called upon to act.
She discovered Genesis Joy House, an organization on a mission to improve the quality of life for homeless female veterans. Through support programs, housing assistance, and more, the shelter helps women develop the skills they need to transform their futures. Mandy felt an instant connection with the foundation, and leapt at the chance to become a board member. In addition to serving on the board, she also volunteers her time to assist with public relations, marketing, and videography.
Since 2011, Genesis Joy House has helped over 2,000 women in the state of Georgia; but Mandy believes they're just getting started. "I take pride in going above and beyond for those who serve," she says, "especially because I can relate to their unique challenges." Her next goal is to build a curriculum to support other community members who feel left out or left behind. For Mandy, there is no task too small or too large if it means helping someone else.
Learn more about Genesis Joy House and their mission to aid female veterans at https://genesisjoyhouse.com.