Janeice PatrickHarris
Janeice PatrickHarris is a dedicated military service member and public sector professional whose journey reflects resilience, growth, and a deep commitment to service. Now in her eighth year of military service, she began her career in field artillery with the US Army National Guard as a fire control specialist. Through hard work and leadership, she earned the rank of sergeant and advanced to the role of fire control operator. Her early military experience built a strong foundation in precision, accountability, and teamwork—skills that continue to guide her career today.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Janeice served more than two years on active duty missions, contributing to critical public health and emergency response efforts. She helped establish testing and vaccination sites, supported medical examiner and emergency management offices, and provided hands-on assistance in nursing homes across Buffalo and Rochester. Working closely with elderly veterans was especially meaningful to her, offering both a sense of purpose and a deeper appreciation for service. In a significant career transition, she recently joined the Air Force to pursue her original goal of becoming an HVAC specialist, demonstrating her commitment to continuous growth and aligning her path with long-term aspirations.
Beyond her military service, Janeice works on the civilian side with the Department of the Navy while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. As a single mother and caregiver to her mother, who is living with dementia following a stroke, she balances multiple responsibilities with determination and strength. Her story is one of perseverance and purpose, driven by a belief that with dedication and resilience, it is possible to overcome challenges and build a meaningful future for both herself and her family.
• Southern New Hampshire University - B.S. in Cybersecurity
• COVID-19 relief missions including testing and vaccine sites
• Nursing home support for elderly veterans
• Planning community food and produce distribution events
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to pushing through challenges and never giving up, even when things are hard. As a single mom with no siblings nearby to help, I take on caring for my mom who has dementia and a stroke, raising my kids, serving in the military, and working for the Department of the Navy all by myself. In my head, I tell myself I'm going to prove that I can do this, while also showing my kids that their mom can do anything. I try to find balance by using calendars and looking at my kids and all that I have accomplished. Everything is hard, but as long as you push through, you can accomplish anything. I look back at what I wanted to achieve and realize that even though I had fears and procrastination issues when I was younger, I've proven to myself that I can face challenges head on and accomplish whatever I put my mind to.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I always tell people to make sure they do their research before joining the military, because females have this stigma in the military that we're not strong enough, we're not smart enough, we're not brave enough to carry out a lot of the tasks. Black females like myself also have a stigma that we're rude, ghetto, and carry attitudes. So make sure this is something that you want to do, and make sure you're willing to carry out your tasks while carrying out those core values that you are instilled. The military gives you a certain discipline, and you have to be ready and willing to take criticism and correction. You have to want to do these things. When I went into training, I had female drill sergeants who had so much care for the females and instilled so much positivity, showing us that we can strive just like the men. I remember one drill sergeant who made us wear our hair a certain way, and if even one strand was out of place, we'd collectively all do it again. We did it so many times that after a while, we got it, and we started helping each other. I want to help uplift and bring people in, but I also want them to have the willingness to want to do it and achieve anything. Us women in the military, we're strong. We're just as strong as the men, and I've witnessed a lot of women that are even stronger than the men. But we're all one team, and we do it together. We're brothers and sisters, and we help each other. Even the ones who think they're gonna fail, nobody's gonna let you fail. We're gonna help you, lift you up, and make sure you reach those goals that you want to make.
Locations
Air Force
Melville, NY 11747