• Airman Leadership School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL (1999)
• Information Management Journeyman, Keesler Air Force Base. MS (1996)
• Basic Military Trining, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX (1996)
• 2021 – Present Valor Program Manager, Chapters Health Foundation, Tampa, FL
• 2018 – 2021 Founder, Courage and Grace Foundation Inc., Tampa, FL

Professional or Employment History:

Professional History

• 2016 – 2017 Financial Management Officer, Headquarters 1st Armor Division, Fort Bliss, TX
• 2014 – 2016 Recruiting Company Commander, Army Recruiting Command, Orlando, FL
• 2013 – 2014 Budget Officer, Headquarters Training Support Battalion, Fort Jackson, SC
• 2012 – 2013 Instructor / Writer, Headquarters Training Support Battalion, Fort Jackson, SC
• 2010 – 2012 Company Commander, B Company, Training Support Battalion, Fort Jackson, SC
• 2008 – 2010 Disbursing Officer, Finance Detachment, 82D Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC
• 2007 – 2008 Executive Officer, Finance Detachment, 82D Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC
• 2001 – 2007 Information Manger, Homestead Air Force Reserve Base, Homestead, FL
• 1996 – 2001 Information Manager, McClellan Air Force Base, Sacramento, CA

Professional Awards

• The Defense Meritorious Service Medal
• The Meritorious Service Medal (2)
• Army Commendation Medal (2)
• Air Force Commendation Medal
• Joint Service Achievement Medal
• Air Force Achievement Medal
• Humanitarian Service Medal (2)
• NCO of the Year, 10th Air Force
• Airman of the Year, 10th Air Force
• Army Physical Fitness Badge

Advocacy on Behalf of Veterans:

• Volunteered to lead the Florida Association of Veteran-Owned Businesses (FAVOB) as Vice-Chair, Tampa. Duties include operational leadership, supervision over chapter activities, recruiting new members, and developing & encouraging the contributions of board members, chapter members, business members, and trustees.
• Volunteered to sing the national anthem at over 50 events since retirement from the Army, supporting the military community including the Orlando Magic’s Military Appreciation night, Medal of Honor Recipients Dinner in Tampa Bay, Orange County Mayor’s Veterans Day celebration, Port of Tampa Bay’s Military Appreciation Month, City of Miramar, FL cultural event, American Legion (various posts), multiple conferences, retirement ceremonies, promotion ceremonies, and other opening ceremonies.
• Conducted over 15 events in 2021-2022 honoring over 450 veterans, first responders and veteran caregivers, with pinning ceremonies, story telling cafes in hospice homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals and public spaces.
• Sponsored and supported two Operation Stand Down events in Polk County and Pasco County providing resources and assisting over 600 veterans across Central Florida.
• Supported the efforts of the Polk County Flight to Honor flight in providing buses to transport 160 veterans and their chaperones upon arrival in Washington D.C. (2022)
• Key sponsor in the Buffalo Soldier monument at the veterans park in Polk County (2022)
• Served as a panelist on veterans mental health with Veterans Counseling Veterans Inc.; promoted the event. (2021)
• James A Haley Veteran Hospital Community Partner by becoming a subject matter expert and providing benefits information to patients and family members of veterans. (2022 – Present)
• Tampa Bay U.S. Army Recruiting Community Partner, advocate for Army Recruiting and helping to educate the public about Army opportunities to help with recruiting efforts. (2019-Present)
• Supported the Tampa Bay Defense Alliance as Event Planner and Social Media Manager, ensuring community leaders and partners are engaged with the military community and an online presence exists with community updates to hundreds of followers (2021 -Present).
• Supported American Legion Post 111, Tampa, FL with their annual veteran’s Day programing providing motivation to military spouses (2021 – 2022).
• Supported military spouses by providing key information on deployed military members and providing resiliency training as the “Key Spouse Mentor” for the CCJ1, United States Army Central Command. (2019-2021)
• Founded Courage & Grace Foundation Inc.; supports women veterans by providing a platform Group Leader, Radiant Church, Tampa, FL – Mentoring young adults, teaching life skills, coping with stress mechanisms, and healthy relationships dating techniques (2022 – Present)
• Assisted with the fundraising efforts and served as a mentor and conference moderator, Jamaican Women of Florida, Miami, FL – The Jamaican Women of Florida is a Not-For-Profit designed to empower the female Jamaican diaspora through networking, mentoring and personal development (2019 – 2022).
• Youth Mentor, Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, Youth & Information, Jamaica, W.I. – Empowering underprivileged youth to attain their personal and professional goals (2020 – 2022). for them to share their military stories and begin the healing and transformation process through new career search, Art and mentoring teen girls (2018 – Present).

Civic Activities and Contributions: Fraternal Affiliations and Contributions

• Workshop facilitator for military spouses, and ambassador for Military Marriage Day for over 400 attendees. (2020-Present)
• Ambassador for Action Zone; a military entrepreneur organization that helps members of the veteran community create businesses and careers after serving in the military. (2019-Present)
• Military Families Magazine, Military Spouse Magazine writer and vlogger on strengthening military families reaching over 500,000 active-duty, spouses and veterans. (2017-Present)
• Arts Legacy Council Member, Straz Performing Arts Center, Tampa, FL – Planned and executed the Arts Legacy multi-cultural events on the Tampa Bay River Walk; recruited veterans and other talents from various cultural backgrounds to display their artistic expressions; contributed by performing at these events. (2019-Present)
• Planned and executed two women veteran conferences on igniting confidence after service during the pandemic with 150 attendees. (2021)
• Moderated virtual military families town hall addressing challenges within the military community with nearly 1,000 attendees and continues to be an SME on military and veteran families issues. (2020-2021)
• Recruitment Specialist, AUSA Sunshine Chapter, Orlando, FL – Recruited over 50 quality military members to represent Orlando’s military population (2014 – 2020).
• Volunteered with The Mission Continues to feed veterans and others in need in the community during the peek of the pandemic feeding over 1000 people. (2020)
• Interviewed veterans and shared their stories about their military service and life after the military on a platform of more than 100,000 followers. (2020)
• Hosted Macy’s fashion event by showcasing veterans in their post military style assisted by the Macy’s stylist. (2019)
• Teen Mentor, Blake High School, Tampa, FL – (2019-2020)

Awards or Honors:

• Teri Maude – Debra Strickland Spouse Medal, Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association (2021)
• Salute for Service Hometown Hero, Orlando Magic (2021)
• Top 17 Military Influencer, Military Influencer Magazine (2020)
• Certificate of Appreciation for volunteer work, Orange County Mayor (2020)
• Captain Maxine D. Reyes Day for leadership & volunteerism, City of Orlando Proclamation (2016)
• Certificate of Appreciation, Vietnam Veterans of America, Orlando (2015)
• Hometown Hero, Miami Heat, National Basketball Association (2013)
• Military Person of the Year, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (2004)
• Certificate of Appreciation, City of Miami Beach (2004)

Written Narrative:

Maxine Reyes is a well-rounded and dynamic leader. Proud mother, military wife, U.S. Army Captain (retired) Afghanistan veteran, Air Force veteran, humanitarian, speaker, moderator, certified coach, youth and women veteran mentor and doctoral student.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, she grew up in South Manchester with her guardian great- grandmother. Her great-grandmother, Erselyn Allen, took ill and passed away when Maxine was 12 years old. Before Mrs. Allen passed, she displayed acts of service through kindness and providing food for neighbors who worked on the farm in the community. Kindness and selfless service are two characteristics that Maxine has observed and inherited from her family, which has played a big role in how she lives her life. She moved in with her mother and stepfather, who nurtured her through the trauma of losing the guardian who has cared for her for all of her childhood. She briefly attended Holmwood Technical High School, where she participated in track & field, and played netball. After her first year at Holmwood, Maxine migrated to Pembroke Pines, Florida as a teenager. She attended Cooper City High School and later Miramar High where she graduated as most talented of her senior class. She did some modeling after high school, then joined the Air Force shortly after in 1996.

After attending Air Force Basic Training, She met her husband in technical school at Keesler Air Force Base (AFB) and married him a year later. She served 11 years in the Air Force making it to the rank of Technical Sergeant. Maxine attended college after work and earned her undergraduate degree in Management. She made the decision along with her husband to become officers and take on more responsibility in their military roles. The Air Force was downsizing at that time so the duo transferred to the Army and Maxine became a financial management officer. She deployed to Haiti in 2010 in support of Operation Unified Response and Afghanistan and Qatar in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for 2013-2014 for 12 months. She has had a fulfilling military career in various roles as a two-time company commander, basic officer leader course instructor, budget and finance officer, with several additional duties under her belt like casualty officer, investigating officer and more. She obtained a master’s degree in management and leadership, a bachelor’s degree in management, associate degree in information management and various self-development certifications.

Maxine’s awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the NATO Medal, and two Humanitarian Service Medals.

After a culmination of 22 years in the Army and Air Force, Maxine retired from the Army with an honorable discharge and is now advocating for women veterans, dual military families, and under-privileged youth. She loves to sing and share stories. Currently, she is the founder and president of Courage & Grace Foundation, a 501(c) 3 non-profit that supports women veterans, girl’s confidence and youth education with emphasis on using the Arts for coping as she has over her years of service. Her company has taken on the responsibility to recognize women veteran trailblazers of Florida with an award. Her Facebook group for veterans has more than 700 Florida women veterans, some of them she mentors. Maxine makes time to address their concerns and offer suggestions to representatives who help make changes that benefit veteran members. She recently accepted the newly created Valor Service Program Manager position with Chapters Health System, which honors military veterans and first responders with a high quality of life until their last breath.

This servant leader has encouraged and entertained a wide range of audiences by singing songs of inspiration and speaking on topics that empower and inspire others. This includes a President of the United States, the dignitaries of Qatar, coalition troops in Afghanistan, collegiate students, and Wounded Warriors of the Armed Forces. Her music can be simplified as love and inspirational and can be found on most streaming platforms. Maxine’s passions, talents, and skills to build and nurture a community are undeniable.

Maxine has a long history of advocating, moderating, and speaking on panels that affect women veterans. Additionally, Maxine is a much-sought expert in women’s empowerment, marital and pre-material relationship counseling, and youth mentorship. Maxine has served schools in America and abroad. Additionally, Maxine has collaborated with businesses that focus on improving the situation of underprivileged youths, at-risk women veterans, and the military community. Maxine is passionate about mental and physical wellness, the Arts, mentorship and self-development. She is member of the Straz Performing Arts Center’s Arts Legacy Council, a board member of the Tampa Bay Defense Alliance, a lifetime member of the Association of the United States Army and a member of the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. She is also an active member of the Jamaican Women of Florida and Women on the Rise Global.

As a philanthropic leader, Maxine has mentored hundreds of individuals while gaining notoriety for her exceptional leadership style and her outstanding community service. Maxine founded the “Doctor Bird Scholarship Award” with her husband, to recognize educational excellence at her primary school in her native town of Marlie Hill, Jamaica. The award is 20 years old and has been highlighted in the Jamaica Observer and Gleaner, the top two of the island nations print media. Maxine’s philanthropic and leadership excellence was also recognized by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, where she was honored with their “Military Person of the Year” award. Maxine’s incredible level of community involvement while serving in Orlando, earned her the proclamation that July 14, 2016, is forever known as “Captain Maxine Reyes Day.”

Maxine has paved the way for the women she has influenced and inspired over the years. She believes in speaking up for the rights of the youth and women everywhere, while removing all societal limitations. Maxine encourages others to live their lives to the fullest and leave a vast legacy in their wake. “I am a proud veteran and find it an honor to be a voice for women who served, dual military couples, combat veterans, and children of service members because I too have served in those capacities in not only the Army, but the Air Force.” Her active military years may be over, but her email and phone stays active with requests for assistance from past colleagues, parents of future service members or women and men who are actively serving or have transitioned from the military. “Educating the youth and taking on the responsibility of being a positive role model for them will always be near and dear to my heart,” she said.

To this end, Maxine is especially drawn to causes that supports women who served, strong military families, and underprivileged children. Lastly, Maxine’s mantra is that in all things, do so with love, courage, grace and gratitude.

Captain (Retired) Reyes has dedicated her life to serving the nation and is now serving the veterans of the great state of Florida. The totality of her career is clearly worthy of recognition from the Florida’s Veterans Hall of Fame.