Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Air Force Veteran Amerophan Callahan, who served for 24 years and now works at the National Cemetery Administration.
Amerophan “Ame” Callahan was 14 years old and living in Thailand when an Air Force Veteran adopted her. Six years later, Callahan enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. She chose the Air Force because it was the branch that her adoptive family had experience with. She also felt the need to give back to her new country.
Callahan enlisted in the Air Force as an avionics instrument specialist for C-130 aircraft. A Desert Storm veteran, while she was stationed in Arizona, she deployed to Bahrain to support the joint service Operation Rugged Nautilus. As a first sergeant, she was responsible for the health, morale, and welfare of over 650 active duty personnel and their dependents.
Callahan’s career in the Air Force allowed her to serve all over the world, including in Guam, Iceland, Australia, England, the Middle East, Japan and Korea.
Callahan retired from the Air Force after 24 years of service with the rank of chief master sergeant. She earned numerous awards and decorations including a Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and Air Force Achievement Medal.
Callahan currently serves as the executive director for field programs for the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). In her role, she provides unified leadership of two major customer facing business lines for the NCA, Memorial Products Service and the National Cemetery Scheduling Office covering first notice of death, eligibility determinations, burial scheduling, headstones, markers and medallions; the Presidential Memorial Certificates program; two primary call centers and all related processes. Leading a team of almost 200 dedicated employees, Callahan helps ensure that “No Veteran Ever Dies.”
Thank you for your service!
Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay
Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.
It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.
Veterans History Project
This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.
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Thank you, Chief Callahan. Your VOTD caught my eye as I served with a MSgt. Norman “Pete” Callahan at McGuire AFB in the 1980s (family?). Then I saw you’re still serving our nation through your work with the NCA. As a Patriot Guard Rider, I’ve attended many services at our local NC (Dallas-Fort Worth) and that experience has convinced my wife (another PGR Ride Captain) and myself that DFWNC is where we will be interred. Great people and a great organization. I thank you and all your colleagues.
I just want to congratulate Seargent Callahan on her distinguished career. I too served 4 years in the USAF from 1966-1970. I felt a connection with Seargent Callahan since I worked as a C-130 maintainer and crew cheif. The fact that she wanted to honor her adapted parents and country by entering the Air Force is commendable and her service is appreciated. Her continuous service in the NCA speaks volumes about her commitment to others. Thank You Seargent Callahan for your service.