Ep: 17 Chris Skibbie

Chris Skibbie, affectionately known as just “Skibbie”, was born in Japan as an Army brat and later moved to Germany for her teenage years following her Dad's military assignment. She grew up understanding discipline and structure from a father who started first in the US Army and later joined the Civil Service training troops in NATO on engineering equipment. Skibbie tells how you motivate your team as a female, even with they are all men, “you just listen to their suggestions, deliver when you can; you actually care”. She shares her story meeting General Colin Powell and him distinguishing Skibbie above the men. We discuss the importance of “Taps” as the surreal song played at Military funerals, at the lowering of the flag and at sunset on military bases.  She discusses the importance of working with kids and her love for special education children. She served twenty-three years in the US Army and earned both a law degree and teaching degree. Early in life, she was one of two females from each state that were selected and presented a scholarship to represent the state of Michigan in the College Junior Program, before ROTC. She turned them down and later received a call from the Michigan National Guard asking her to reconsider on their scholarship offer. She convinced the National Guard to grant her the status of “Female Engineer Officer”, the very first in the United States Army National Guard.  Her twenty-three years in the National Guard, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, included eight years of active duty while working the remaining years with civilian companies around the country. Her tours of duties included Japan, Korea, Germany finally ending up providing disaster relief operations as the Army’s first responders under the Corp of Engineers helping build back decimated areas. Hosted by Scotti Madisonscottimadison.com