2022 Tillman Scholar
Andrea grew up sixth of seven children in a military family. Inspired by the service of her dad, two brothers-in-law and an older sister, she attended West Point. She served as a platoon leader, battalion adjutant, and company commander in the Army Signal Corps from 1984-1991. While raising her two children, she pursued her interest in writing and served as a school administrator in Idaho.
In 2006, Andrea answered a long-felt call to ministry after her family relocated to California. She was ordained in 2010 and served as an Episcopal priest in Honduras and California. During seminary, she learned the Army needed chaplains and she was commissioned a chaplain in the Army Reserve in 2011, fulfilling another long-felt call after a 20-year break in service.
Serving service members and their families fills Andrea’s soul. She volunteered for a deployment to Afghanistan with 1-52 Aviation Battalion in 2014 and mobilized in 2017 to stand up the chaplain section for Special Operations Command Africa. She joined the Army Active Guard Reserve program in 2018 and has served in chaplain recruiting operations at Ft. Knox, Kentucky since 2019. She returned to the operational world and direct religious support in July 2022 as deputy command chaplain, 9th Mission Support Command at Ft. Shafter, Hawaii. Andrea is also pursuing a doctor of ministry degree focused on the integration of chaplaincy and mental health. She is passionate about supporting soldiers, veterans, and their families in living spiritually and emotionally grounded lives of meaning, hope, and purpose.