Where did you serve and what did you do?
I served in the U.S. Navy from 1994 to 2009. Served as a Navy Seabee with service in Iraq in 2007.
How are you #StillServing?
I am a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist for the Department of Veterans Affairs, at the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks in Fayetteville, Arkansas. As this health crisis grows, our office has been instrumental in the training of proper wear of PPE for the front-line staff. We have been working early mornings and late evenings to make sure all PPE is in working order, the staff has the equipment they need to perform their duties. With the hospital making plans for a possible surge in patients, everyone has stepped up to take extra duties to include patient screenings at doors and driveways on campus. Everyone is going above and beyond right now, so if an influx of patients starts, every employee will be equipped to provide top of the line care. Our goal is to make sure our providers have equipment and PPE they need readily available so they can provide the best care to our Veterans.
Why do you do it?
I do my job, knowing it has real-world end goals. Keeping people safe, so they can continue providing service to our veterans. My goal is to eliminate every hazard I can, so those taking care of our veterans can do so in a safe manner. If an employee is injured while working, that becomes an asset that can no longer be used to serve our Veterans. I take pride in my work knowing what I do really matters and making sure those who serve our Veterans are taken care of to continue our mission.