By Miriam Rodriguez

WSMR Public Affairs

Donna Strickland is the new Equal Employment Opportunity Officer at White Sands Missile Range.

Donna Strickland on Why She Serves

Donna Strickland is the new Equal Employment Opportunity Officer at White Sands Missile Range.

She comes to WSMR from U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany and is originally from Bovina, a small town in the Texas panhandle.

When asked why she serves she said her family has served this country as members of the Armed Forces for generations.

“I was unable to join the military as I was a young single parent. I married an Air Force member who was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, had the opportunity to take the Civil Service Exam, and joined Civil Service as a GS03 Clerk/Typist with the Navy here at WSMR in 1987.”

“I am passionate about the fact that all people deserve to work in an environment free of discrimination and harassment. We serve the American Warfighters and cannot provide the best for them if our own working environment is not good. I hope to be able to help provide a worthy place for my children and grandchildren to live and work. Changing social norms is hard work that we can never shirk. Always strive to DO better, to BE better.”

In her spare time Strickland said she enjoys spending time with her family.

“I am lucky in that I am within hours of my loved ones for the first time in a long, long while. One daughter, granddaughter and two grandsons live in Amarillo while my other daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter live in Tucson. When not enjoying time with them, I can be found reading, crafting, or binge-watching Netflix.”

A fun fact about Strickland is that she was selected to be a contestant in the annual “Sweetheart” contest at WSMR in 1989.