Elise Wheeler
Board Member

 

Elise M. Wheeler, Lt Col, USAF Ret
Director, Veterans Outreach Center
University of New Mexico   

Elise Wheeler was selected as the Director of the University of New Mexico’s Veterans Outreach Center in February, 2009. 

Ms. Wheeler herself is a Veteran of over 20 years in the Air Force and is passionate about taking care of her fellow veterans.  As the daughter of a career Naval Officer she had the opportunity to live in Japan and all over the United States and knows first hand the issues and concerns which family members feel during transitions.  Early on she knew the Air Force was her path and utilizing an ROTC Scholarship, graduated from the University of Alabama with a BS in Mechanical Engineering.  She was commissioned in May 1986 and embarked on an exciting career.  While in the Air Force, she obtained her masters in Aviation Management from the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. 

 

 

Her background working in a wide variety of positions within the military, to include across services, makes her uniquely qualified to lead the Veterans Outreach Center.  As an Officer in Aircraft Maintenance and Logistics, it was always about the Mission and the People, and if both were not carefully nurtured, both would fail.   She has mentored men and women through many aspects of their lives and lived the same issues of upheaval, loss, and continual transition.  Ms. Wheeler retired from the Air Force in 2007 and worked for Eclipse Aviation, which exposed her to a new way of getting things done.  She is an advocate of higher education, community services and networking because combined, these pieces offer a way ahead for a better life. 

Ms. Wheeler’s experience has been honed by serving in most of the Major Commands that the Air Force offered all around the world; Europe, Asia, and throughout the US.  In these organizations, she had the opportunity to work with men and women who make the missions happen on the F-16s, F-15s, A-10s, MH-53s, UH-1s, MH-60s, C-130s, T-38s, T-6s and T-1s.  While serving in these units, she participated in many joint service operations in locations all over the world.  She has also served in the U.S. Embassies in Romania and Greece.  In Romania, she was key in aiding the Romanian Military’s transition to a volunteer peacetime organization from the previous Soviet Regime.  While in Greece, she worked with issues such as Trafficking in Persons, Education, and arms negotiation.  During this time, she received numerous awards and medals:  Meritorious Service Medals; Commendations Medal, Joint and Air Force; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals; Global War on Terrorism Medal; Outstanding Unit Awards; Organizational Excellence Awards.

Throughout this and her time in Eclipse Aviation, she has mastered the art of networking and collaboration.  She knows how to work through regulatory requirements and is not afraid to action them if a change is needed, regardless of the level of origin.  Ms. Wheeler is adaptable and relishes organizational process development to meet a goal or objective.