Join the Galveston Pachyderms for our November 2nd Meeting:
Guest Speaker: John "Spike" Garcia, Operation Red Wings Foundation
Honoring Veterans Month!
John “Spike” Garcia retired at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant after 26 years of honorable service with the Texas Air National Guard. Spike was awarded the 332nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron Commander’s Award in 2007. After retiring from the military, he was a Project Manager in the oil and gas services for five years. He managed subsea Installation and Completions projects in the Gulf Coast region.
He has been an advocate for military, veterans and their families for over twenty years and has served on several veteran service organizations boards. John served as an honorary staff member for a US Congressman for Ted Poe for eight years, meeting with TX-02 veteran constituents and attending events on his behalf. The Congressman appointed him to serve on his US Military Service Academy Nomination Board. He served on the board for ten years. John was awarded numerous awards over his career, including the Meritorious Service medal with an oak leaf cluster, Operation IRAQI Freedom medal with a campaign star, the Global War on Terrorism Service medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal and the Lone Star Distinguished Service medal. He was the Honor Guard and received the John L. Levitow at the NCO Academy. He was selected as the Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year for the State of Texas in 2000. He also served on the Senior Enlisted Advisory Council for the Texas Air National Guard. John has served on numerous Veteran Service Organizations as a member or on the Board of Directors. The detailed list of community involvement is listed on the resume.
John is the Director of Donor Relations with Operation Red Wings Foundation. Operation Red Wings Foundation’s mission is to provide veterans and their families with a path to healing from their invisible wounds. The Foundation provides relief, direction and hope to military families with a progression of a six day, in-person Post-traumatic Growth Program Sessions that take place in a relaxing, military-friendly environment. We use therapeutic tools focused on relief from the symptoms of PTSD, mTBI (Mild traumatic brain injury) and chronic pain.
