Beyond the Uniform: LTC (R) Elko on Leadership, Service, and Legacy

What this episode covers

A little about LTC (R) Elko: I am proud to be the first woman in my family to have ever served in the Military, and I am second generation to serve in the Army. As an Army brat I was mostly raised near my extended family in El Paso, TX. I earned my bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and my commission from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2002. I served honorably in the Army Medical Department from May 2003 through retirement in May 2023. I specialized in Medical Operations and Healthcare Administration. In that time I also earned my Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Baylor University in 2015. The first 10 years of my career was spent overseas (Korea, Germany, Iraq, and Hawaii). I deployed and served 24 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2005-2006; 2008-2009). In that time there were moments of excitement, fear, anxiety, disbelief, chaos, but above all commraderie. I am proud of my time in Service. I met and (later married) an Army AG officer through a Unit Movement Officer course in Germany, and have two wonderful children as a result, Sophia (9) and Ethan (7). After retirement, I began volunteering with the Military Women’s Memorial, the South County Little League (specifically softball), and Girl Scouts of America, Troop 52119.. After retirement, I spent about a year working as a contractor data analyst consultant for Seneca Holdings. During that time my focus was process improvement within A.T. Augusta Medical Center’s Resource Management department at Fort Belvoir. In Fall of 2025, I opted for a complete life/skill/ career change, and left Seneca to enroll at George Mason University as an Art History undergrad, with a minor in Studio Art. As a full time student, I DJ for the campus radio station, and am pursuing photography in my spare time. To date my work has been displayed in two separate galleries in Northern Virginia. I appreciate those I served with, and am grateful to the women who helped paved the way for me to have a 20 year career with a family, and equal opportunities. Soldier, Mom, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Friend, Volunteer, Veteran, Mentor, Transitioning Veteran Coach, Student, DJ, Photographer.. f you wish to contact her, please check out her LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloria-elko?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios