Darlene was recently inducted into the Arizona Veteran’s Hall of Fame for 2020 for her service to our military personnel following her military career. Which was not limited to just Arizona but throughout the United States. During Hurricane Harvey 2017, she joined four other veterans from the Phoenix area, providing their own vehicles and provision in order to come to the aide of Texas. Why, because they cared enough to lend a hand up. She has traveled thousands of miles in service to the nation’s veteran community. Her presences bring to light the continuing service of women in uniform after they have officially “hung up” their previous uniform and have taken on new roles and uniforms. Along with the battles they continue to conquer.

Military, Professional & Employment History

During her 26 years in the United States Air Force, she has served in five Combat Tours, both a Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom Veteran, numerous Temporary Duty Assignments along with  : and the mother of three veterans herself. Darlene is an accomplished professional with over 44 years of progressive experience serving veterans in both the Air Force and Corporate Arena. After retiring from the Air Force she went to work for Channel 12 News sharing with Arizona and then the VA Medical Center for 6 years at a Veterans Center serving local veterans with Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder (PTSD), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), Individual and group counseling for Veterans and their families, Family counseling for military related issues, Veterans Benefits Advisor (VBA), assisting, explaining and referring Veterans requiring benefits, Screening & referring for medical issues including PTSD, Traumatic Brain Issues (TBI), depression, etc. She is a 100% Disabled Vet and is now fully retired and dedicates all her time in a volunteer status helping other veterans and community anyway necessary.

2005 – Current – Retired Military Veteran (100% disabled)

Volunteering to help those who are unable to help themselves. As recently as the current crisis, Darlene was distributing food boxes and working at Banner Hospitals making and repairing masks for staff and patients. To date she has made over 10000 mask and donated them to worthy causes.

2007- 2014 –Veteran Center, VAMC – Mesa, AZ

Office Manager/Program Support Specialist

*        Develop and implement administrative plans, policies, and procedures

*        Coordinate administrative matters and direct administrative support staff and services

*        Manage postal operations

*        Develop and monitor programs for safeguarding classified materials

*        Establish records and forms management programs

*        Prepare responses to special correspondence

*        Determine needs for supplies and equipment

*        Manage the maintenance and use of facilities

*        Plan outreach activities to familiarize qualified veterans of our services

*        Direct and maintain personnel recordkeeping operations

*        Establish standards to determine the number of people to assign to activities

*        Plan for hiring, training, and assigning volunteer personnel for the future

*        Develop programs to prevent and resolve equal opportunity problems

*        Assist counselors in planning and psychological programs and activities

*        Assist counselors in conducting psychological services

*        Prepare psychological, educational, and outreach materials

*        Organize charitable and public service volunteer programs

*        Maintain relations with military communities and public service organizations

*        Perform administrative duties for as required

2005 - 2007 KPNX - Channel 12, Phoenix, AZ

Executive Assistant, News Director for #14 ranking News station in US

 *        Coordinating, scheduling, organizing and attend to the Directors, anchors, reporters, producers, editors and others within the media center on a day to day basis.

*        Research, justify, budget, order, and account for product and supplies needed to run the media center

*        Formulate administrative support of the entire media center programs and activities

Summary of Military Service

2001 – 2005 Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

Superintendent, Personnel & Evaluations

·         Zaku, Iraq (Iraq War) Security Forces Augmentee

1999 - 2001    Air Armament Center    Eglin Air Force Base, FL

Executive Assistant to Senior Advisor

1996 - 1999    355th Wing    Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ

·         Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (Operation Sea Signal) Security Forces Augmentee

1993 - 1996    355th Wing    Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ

Financial Manager

1991 - 1993    7217th Air Base Group    Ankara Air Station, Turkey

·         Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudia Arabia (Gulf War), Security Forces Augmentee

1988 - 1991    3380th Air Base Group    Keesler Air Force Base, MS

Manager, Administration and Special Programs

         1985 – 1988   88th Air Base Wing   Kadena Air Base, Japan

Financial Manager/ Bookkeeper

1980 - 1985   463 Air Expeditionary Force   Dyess Air Force Base, Texas

Aircraft Electrician

Summary of Civic Volunteer Activities

During the recent COVID-19 crisis, Darlene again took up the standard and lead the way. She packed and handed out food boxes, sewed over 5000 face masks, and works as a volunteer at Banner Health inspecting N95 face masks and shields. All while being one of the many that are categorized as “High Risk”.

Served as the President Elect for the Tempe Exchange Club, using her time and talents to benefit the local communities and serve the country as a whole.  She supports activities that benefit youth, promote pride in our country, and honor military and public service providers. To name a few she has been a key committee member on the Wreaths Across America in which she continues to bring awareness to the community to remember our fallen U.S. veterans, honor those who serve and teach the next generation the value of freedom. 9/11 Healing field is another project she is deeply committed to along with the Tempe Exchange Club which they have Host each year for the past 18 years now.  She has been actively involved with this project for 10 years now to ensure ‘we remember”.

In 2017 she risked her life in support of others, as she and four other veterans traveled to Houston Texas in support of rescue relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey. Within 48 hours she loaded up her truck and heading out hoping she could help make a difference in the lives of others. This wasn’t anything unusual for her to do, helping others is just something she did everyday of her life. In Texas she worked hard evacuating high-rise hotels, protecting neighborhoods from looters, rescuing elderly, families and pets from their homes, providing food to those in need and just doing whatever felt right to help out those in need. All this because she cares for others.

She assisted with the organization of a 1K/5K run for the MANA House designated for financial and monetary assisted for the female areas in 2013 which would be able to support up to 10 female veterans. In order to assist these women in making the right steps forward to an independent, goal focused life. She is always trying to lend a hand up not a handout.

In 2013 she stepped in and literally moved into the home of a Vietnam Vet who was recently paralyzed from the chest down in a motorcycle accident when requested from day one and was available as his personal caregiver for 60+ days on a 24/7 basis, putting her own life on hold. She continues to live by the Air Force Core Values, even after 35 years, “Integrity First, Service before Self, and Excellence in All We Do!”  When asked why she continues to do this, she will tell you, “the more you give back to others, the more you receive in return” and this continues to be her purpose in life.

Veteran’s Advocacy Activities

Darlene has held numerous positions in the posts in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and to include the following Arizona Department Aide-de-Camp; Arizona District 10 Senior Vice Commander, Junior Vice Commander, Post Surgeon, Judge Advocate, Surgeon; Arizona Post 7968 Senior Vice Commander, Junior Vice Commander, Judge Advocate, Trustee, Arizona Post 9399 Senior Vice Commander, Post Judge Advocate and Post 9399 Honor Guard. She also served as the Senior Vice Commander of the POW/MIA/KIA Honor Guard and the Gilbert Veteran’s Day committee.

Along with holding key roles on the for mentioned positions she is a member of the following organizations; Air Force Association, Air Force Sergeants Association, Chapter 751, Lifetime Trustee, American Legionnaire, Post 27, Member, Arizona VFW Riders, Picacho Peak Chapter, Supporter, Council of Administration Grand Military Order of Cootie, AZ, VFW, Disabled American Veteran, Chapter 8, Lifetime Member, National Aide-de-Camp, VFW, National She Serves Advisory Committee, VFW, Native American Indian Veterans Honor Guard, Lifetime Member, Patriot Guard Riders of Arizona, Women's Veterans Representative, Post 9399, VFW, The Retired Enlisted Association, Chapter 34, Lifetime Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ladies Auxiliary, Lifetime Member, VFW National Home for Children, Lifetime Member -- She is a Vet Helping Vets.

 Within her roles in the VFW she heads into the classrooms and teaches our children about Americanism, Patriotism, Voice of Democracy, and Leadership. While also educating them on the meaning of the flag and teaching them a little American history. She is often asked to come into the classroom during career week, because of her interaction as a female service member. Pride of Country and mankind are definitely words which describe her. 

Rain or shine, the Honor Guard has participated in annual events such as the Veterans Day Parade, Fiesta Bowl, Tostitos Parade, parades in Cities of Glendale Surprise, Scottsdale and others where the group has taken top honors.  The Honor Guard has also participated in the Vietnam Remembrance Commemoration, as well as the Commemoration held every year at Wesley Bolin Plaza.  She leads the group's participation at many memorials and dedications of various established functions of veteran events such as Memorial Day at National Cemetery Program, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Stand-down for Homeless Veterans, Iwo Jima Commemoration, Memorial for the Fallen evening and sunrise functions and at many others. For over 10 years, this Honor Guard continues to provide military honors. She has coordinated or assisted in the coordination of many events which have included the annual Beirut Remembrance, USS Arizona/Missouri Gun Barrel Ceremony, Fighting Fourth of WWII Commemoration, Missing in America and has welcomed home military units and their service dogs. 

 Darlene is one of the original steering committee members on the VFW ‘She Served’ Project which is a campaign and storytelling platform aimed at changing the way people “see” women veterans in American society.  She along with 11 other female veterans were called to Missouri in 2009 to form a committee to do the research. To date several avenues have been used but the research is not yet over. Gameplay reveals countless obstacles; though women and men veterans have experiences in common, the game quickly reveals that the deck is indeed stacked against women and gives the players a glimpse into what they might experience. Because of her experience and knowledge, she continues to be key in this area.

She is an active member of both the Women’s Army Corps Veterans’ Association (WACVA) and Military Women Across the Nation (MWAN) Women Veterans helping Veterans. In this capacity she assists with the Arizona Stand-down, Military Women's Section, Family Support Group packages sent overseas to the Armed Forces, Care Packages for Female Veterans delivering babies in the VAMC and various other causes.

For the last five plus years Darlene served as the Program Manager and personal care giver to Jack Holder, Pearl Harbor Survivor, coordinating his day-to-day activities and managing his weekly schedules of presentations for his book signings and presentations throughout the United States. Jack passed in early 2023. His legacy lives on in all of us.

During the holidays you can often find Darlene helping out with St Mary’s Food Bank, Toys for Tots Annual Toy Drive, packing food boxes, Fill the Sleigh, Boots in the House, Adopt A Family, Visiting Veterans in Hospitals, Sending care packages and letters. Or just lending a helping hand to someone in need throughout the year.