Cara Cooke

I joined the Air Force 16 years ago, initially to pay off my student loans - I thought I'd only serve 6 years because the commitment was paying off my entire student loan debt. But it's probably been one of the most meaningful positions that I've had. I've been all over the world and have amazing connections and family now that I would have never had had I not done it. I started enlisted as a communications troop and then commissioned to become an officer in 2013. Now I serve as the chief administrator at the 143rd Medical Group hospital out of Rhode Island, doing medical service operations, which is basically executive management of the hospital, just ensuring the hospital's run and everything's moving along based on the different departments. I lead a team of seven, and I'm actually a guardsman, so that's part-time - once a month, two weeks a year. The hospital's primary function is basically to make sure that we're medically ready at all times to deploy, and I couldn't do it without the team. My leadership philosophy is just being a great team player and being part of a team - you have to humbly lead by example, but also rely on your left and your right. My full-time job is at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in Washington, D.C., where I'm a director of events. I've been there for 12 years, and I love it. What that organization does is support military with pathways into employment once they transition, using the chamber and our following of all Fortune 100 companies all over the world. We put on events at installations, and we help service members and military spouses gain employment. It parallels my military background, and I'll stay there as long as they'll have me.