Lets Talk About Lisa

Lisa is originally from Jackson, Mississippi. Lisa was among the top ten seniors,
graduating with Honors from Lanier High School in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1981. She obtained a
Bachelor of General Studies, with a concentration in Social and Health Services, from Roger
Williams University in 2010 and a Master of Science in Health Care Administration from Trident
International University in 2015. Lisa began her adventurous military career at the age of 18.
She has served in the United States Army for 33 years; 29 on active duty in the Army, two in the
Army Reserves, and two in the Army National Guard. Lisa has served in various locations within
the United States and abroad. She has distinguished herself as an outstanding leader. Lisa’s
service to our nation includes dynamic leadership positions that have increased in depth,
complexity, and breadth of influence.
Immediately after joining the Army Reserves in 1982, Lisa served as a Medical
Laboratory Specialist for the 305th Field Hospital, Army Reserve Unit in Jackson, Mississippi.
Following that assignment, she transitioned to active duty and relocated to Fort Eustis, Virginia,
as a Motor Transport Operator. Soon after, she relocated again to Goppingen, Germany, where
she served as a training non-commissioned officer in charge. Lisa was then reassigned to Fort
Leonard Wood, Missouri, as an Instructor/Writer and a Basic Training Drill Sergeant. Here, she
trained men and women to defend our country. She was named “Drill Sergeant Smoke” for her
enthusiastic motivation techniques. After two years, she was reassigned to the 2nd
Transportation Company in Fort Hood, Texas, as a Platoon Sergeant, where she facilitated
training for heavy equipment vehicles.
Lisa took a break from service from November 1995 to November 2001. She rejoined
the Mississippi Army National Guard and was assigned to Headquarters STARC as a Medical
Logistics non-commissioned officer in charge. Here, she made a tremendous impact
maintaining the units’ pharmaceutical inventory. After a few months, she attended the
Recruiting and Retention School in Little Rock, Arkansas where she graduated at the top of her
class and was assigned to the Mississippi Army National Guard Recruiting Battalion. She was
dedicated to getting civilians prepared for training and enlisted into service. In 2006, Lisa
volunteered to deploy to Baghdad, Iraq, with the 230th Finance Detachment. She served as the
Disbursing Officer and Detachment Sergeant, facilitating the disbursement of funds throughout
the area of operations. After returning from Iraq, Lisa served as the Operations Officer at the
Military Entrance Processing Station in Jackson, Mississippi. She ensured applicants were sworn
in and medically qualified to serve.
In 2009, Lisa realized she missed serving her country full-time and returned to active
duty. She was assigned to Camp Casey, Korea, where she served as Detachment Sergeant of
Delta, 176th Financial Management Company. Lisa led this detachment to make distinguished
improvements in less than six months. She was then reassigned to Headquarters Battalion,
USARPAC, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, where she served as a Budget Manager. In 2013, Lisa was
selected for a special assignment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. She was assigned to the Security
Assistance Training Management Organization as a Budget Manager. She served as the key
leader for soldiers and civilians in that unit.

In 2016, Lisa was assigned to 106th Financial Management, Alpha Company,
Grafenwoehr, Germany, where she was the installation Finance Manager, facilitating timely and
accurate financial transactions. She was also designated a Contract Officer Representative in
Poland in 2017, responsible for a contract worth over three million dollars. In 2018, Lisa was
diagnosed with breast cancer and then a brain aneurysm in 2019. Her culminating assignment
was the Warrior Transition Battalion, Company C, Fort Benning, Georgia. She demonstrated
what it meant to “fight like a girl,” reigning victorious over breast cancer and the aneurysm.
Lisa’s military education includes numerous leadership and technical training courses.
Her awards and decorations are numerous and impressive, including a Bronze Star for her
exceptional valor in combat. Lisa says the most rewarding part of being an Army Leader is being
a part of something bigger than herself. She always strives to be a role model for others. Her
motto is “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and ensuring
that impact lasts in your absence.” A fun fact about Lisa is that she is a “pool shark,” golfer,
basketball player, and roller skater. She is a daredevil and loves the water! If Lisa is ever
missing, check the nearest thrift store first!