ARLINGTON, VA., March 22, 2023 – Military Times and the Military Times Foundation have announced that U.S. Space Force Captain Victoria Garcia has received the 2023 “Guardian of the Year” award. Founded in 2001, the Military Times’ Service Member of the Year program honors outstanding military members from each branch of service who have demonstrated exemplary military service going beyond the call of duty. A formal award ceremony will take place on July 18, 2023, in Washington, D.C.
Captain Victoria Garcia led the U.S. Space Command’s first-ever Space Electromagnetic Warfare (SEW) expeditionary flight, a mission tasked by the president for a high-threat crisis in U.S. European Command.
Capt. Garcia mobilized 54 Guardians from 11 squadrons and 15 career fields and deployed within 36 days. In the first 30 hours in-country, her team transformed two Soviet-era aircraft shelters into the command’s first SEW combat stronghold, and her site setup methodology has become the benchmark for Space Operations Command. Capt. Garcia also led an 18-member team to meet convoy and security requirements, as well as commanding two weapon systems delivering 3,000 hours of operations and cataloging more than 84,000 network events. She also directed 14 operators during a three-day overwatch for the Secretary of Defense.
Due to the success of the mission and her leading role in it, Capt. Garcia was awarded the first-ever Space Force Polaris Award for Courage in November 2022. Her logistics template has since become the benchmark for Space Operations Command and 5 Total Force units.
Capt. Garcia joined the Air Force in 2003. In 2015 she commissioned as a Space Operations Officer and transferred to the Space Force in 2020. She currently serves as Chief of the Mission Planning Cell for Space Delta 3 at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado.
“Captain Victoria Garcia’s exceptional leadership and dedication to duty have earned her the ‘Guardian of the Year’ award,” said Michael Reinstein, Chairman of Military Times Foundation. “Her remarkable accomplishments in leading the first-ever Space Electromagnetic Warfare expeditionary flight and her role in ensuring mission success are a testament to her unwavering commitment to the U.S. Space Force. She is a true inspiration to us all.”
The Military Times Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) established to recognize, salute and highlight the exemplary service of active duty personnel serving in each branch of the U.S. Armed Services.
The annual Military Times Service Members of the Year Award has grown into a much-anticipated event. The awards ceremony has become one of Washington D.C.’s A-list events attended by congressional, military and community leaders. Since 2019 Military Times and the Military Times Foundation have donated over $15 million in cash and media value to support over 150 military and veteran service organizations, such as Fisher House, Children of Fallen Patriots, TAPS, Objective Zero and others.
The full story about Captain Victoria Garcia can be found on AirForceTimes.com
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