Col. Nancy Sumner named Veteran of the Year

A retired California Air National Guard colonel whose career spans from serving military operations in the Middle East to aiding veterans back home was named Veteran of the Year on Wednesday.

Col. Nancy Sumner was singled out by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) to receive the honor for the 43rd District.

She joined the National Guard in 1981 and has served in operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield as well as missions in Afghanistan, Belize, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia and Ukraine.

During Desert Storm, she participated in more than 35 aero-medical evacuations. She retired from active duty in 2012 and has gone on to aid veterans back home in getting access to education and other services through the Glendale Veterans Coalition.

“Nancy is the type of leader we all hope to have living in our community,” Gatto said in a statement. “She embodies the values of selflessness and service that are hallmarks of a United States military veteran and hero.”

She also works as a nurse in the emergency room at the Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center and was recently appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to serve on the California Community College Board of Governors, a 17-member group that is responsible for 112 community colleges throughout the state.
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Follow Arin Mikailian on Twitter: @ArinMikailian.

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