Theresa Carpenter is an active-duty Navy commander with 25 years of service, including 10 years as an enlisted aviation electrician on the S-3B Viking aircraft. Upon her commissioning in 2006, she became a surface warfare officer and was subsequently accepted into the public affairs community in 2008. She’s deployed three times to combat zones. Her programs across numerous commands have resulted in 18 Navy awards for public affairs excellence. She is a joint qualified officer and holds two master’s degrees, one from San Diego State University in mass communications and media studies, and the other in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College. In her off time, she is a blogger and host of the Stories of Service podcast (SOS), which highlights ordinary people from all walks of life who show up in service to their communities. Find her work here.