Lt Col Tammy McElhaney, U.S. Air Force

My name is Tammy Mcelhaney. I grew up in Lakeland, FL and have been in the USAF for almost 19 years. I have a seven year old daughter, Lilly, and my parents have lived with us the last two assignments. I enjoy working out, remodeling my house, and doing fun activities with the kiddo. I wanted to do more than just work for the almighty dollar. I was in Jr ROTC and Sr ROTC USAF before I went active duty.

I am a sole parent to my daughter. Her father passed away three years ago while I was in command of a rather large unit. I learned that the word “family” applies to more than just blood relations. My relatives, friends, peers, and the people in my unit provided a great deal of support to me and my daughter during this period of time. Resilience and flexibility are lessons I learned in the military.

I was in DC on Sep 11th 2001, witnessing first hand our Nation being attacked instilled an even stronger sense of patriotism and dedication to defending our country.

My legacy is to leave every assignment knowing I contributed and made a difference. I live by Something Each and Every Day (SEED) to achieve this goal. And I wan to be remembered as a good leader who was fair, hardworking, and took care of her people.

Serving in the armed forces involves dedication, team work, and sacrifice. To serve is a privilege as less than 1% will/can serve in the US military. We need to set the example by being true leaders who take care of their people while ensuring the mission gets done. I serve for God, Family, County. It is not just a saying but a true reason for many of us that serve. Sometimes we have to sacrifice time with the family to serve our country and that is where faith helps carry us through the hard times.