The annual Military Spouse Awards celebrated its 5th year with a luncheon to honor every nominee ~ Crystal Cavalier was named the 2012 Hero at Home at the event. She also happens to be the 2011 Army Spouse of the Year!!
Crystal graduated from UNC-Greensboro with a BA in Political Science in 2001 and earned an MPA in Public Administration with a concentration in Emergency Services from UNC-Pembroke in May 2011. After graduation Crystal worked at Fort Bragg, NC with Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) as a program assistant until December 2011 where she was hired by General Services Administration (GSA) as the Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff. As a Special Assistant, she is charged with performing a variety of duties with tact and diplomacy that support GSA’s programs and missions.
On a personal campaign to empower and give back to her community, in 2010 Crystal founded a non-profit organization called Support Our Arthritic Kids, Inc. where she focuses on helping spread awareness about juvenile arthritis. In December 2011 Crystal founded M.O.M.S (Mentoring Other Military Spouses), which works with military spouses to focus on their goals whether it is career or educational. She serves as a military and veterans consultant to assist in transforming this way of thinking and to advocate for the military, particularly spouses dealing with employment, education and PTSD. As if those two organizations did not keep her occupied, she was selected to chair Congressman Kissell's 8th Congressional Military Families Caucus in NC. Crystal current volunteer efforts are with Army's Army, Support Our Arthritic Kids Inc. and as the Regional Manager for Military Families United.
Crystal states that “Anything is possible, there are great unlimited trainings you can take with a federal agency and your growth potential is possible! Many organizations have an online training system similar to GSA Online University that will help you develop skills you wish to acquire.” Crystal indicates that GSA is a great fit for her due the agency being mobile, dependable, and modern; she looks forward to a long, successful career with GSA. As a bit of advice to job seekers, she affirms that you should take the opportunity to develop or work on making yourself more marketable. Taking into account that there are many ways to accomplish your career goals and objectives, your path will be different from that of another individual. Essentially, what worked for someone else may not work for you and vice-versa. Accordingly, don’t get discouraged if your path is not straight or as you envisioned, life throws curveballs……….