WVSA HISTORY
The Women Veterans of San Antonio (WVSA) was founded in 2013 by a female soldier still serving on Active Duty stationed out of Fort Sam Houston. Her goal was to connect with the women Veterans in the community in preparation for her upcoming retirement after serving 20 years in the U.S. Army.
By 2016, WVSA had such amazing growth and a positive reputation that the group became a federally recognized nonprofit organization: a 501(c)(19) Veterans Organization
WVSA MISSION & VISION
We serve, honor, & empower women Veterans from all eras and branches of service. We provide our women Veterans opportunities to network, socialize, volunteer, and give back to the Veteran community while bringing public awareness to the specific issues of women Veterans.
Leadership Team
PRESIDENT
Military: Joy Gibson is a 24-year veteran of the US Army. She began her service as a
Civil Affairs Soldier. After receiving her Commission, she served as an Ordnance
Ammunition Officer and then a Multi-functional Logistics Officer. She was stationed in Alabama (three times), Texas, Minnesota, North Carolina, and New Jersey. She is a
combat veteran who deployed to Iraq for 12 months in support of Operation Iraqi
Freedom.
Education: Master’s in Emergency and Disaster Management
Accomplishments: Life Member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).
Joy is an artist, an animal lover in general and dogs in particular, an adventurer, a
reader, a lover of kayaking, nature, architecture, old Forts, books stores, side roads,
and curiosity shops. Not necessarily in that order.
SECRETARY
Military-Catherine Porter served in the US Air Force on active duty from 1978-1986, and one year in the US Air Force Reserve in a medivac unit. She was one of the first women instructors in her career field, Avionics Navigation Systems Specialist at Keesler Air Force Base, MIssissippi. She earned her Master Instructor badge and contributed to her career field’s course validation by writing test questions for each block of instruction. She was stationed at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas at the Field Training Detachment where she specialised in instruction for the Forward Looking Radar on F4 Reconnaissance aircraft. While assigned to the FTD, Catherine graduated with top honors from the Air Force Leadership Academy. After active duty, Catherine enlisted in the air evac unit at Kelly AFB, TX as a medic. She attended Medical Technician Training at Sheppard AFB with follow-on clinical training at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland AFB, TX.
Education-Associate of Science in Nursing from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing, suma cum laude, from University of Texas Heath Science Center.
Accomplishments-Retired registered nurse, loves to travel, reads voraciously, and dances to old time rock and roll. She has a soft spot for animals, particularly cats and German Shepards.
TREASURER
Military: Patricia Niemann is a 20-year Veteran of the U.S. Army. She served as an
Information Technology specialist, and was stationed at Yongsan, Korea, Fort Sill,
Fort, Mannheim, Germany, Ft. Hood, Ft. Carson, Izmir, Turkey, Mons, Belgium. Trish is a
Combat Veteran who deployed for 6 months to United Arab Emirates, 2003 in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom, Joint Special Operations Task Forces attached to Special
Operations Central Command. 12 months to OIF I through II timeline continuation, Baghdad,
Iraq, Camp Liberty 2009-2010. Turkey 2014, North Atlantic Treaty Organization 2015-2017.
Education: Master’s in business administration 2020.
Accomplishments: Life Member of the
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter #14. Member of the Non-Commissioned Officers
Association.
EVENTS COORDINATOR
Denise Desuacido is a 24-year Veteran of the U.S Air Force. She served as a Health Services Manager stationed in Germany, Florida, Massachusetts, Korea, Japan, Turkey, Italy and California. Denise is also a Combat Veteran who deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. Denise continues to serve as a civilian Health Systems Specialist working for the Defense Health Agency for the last 12 years.
Education: Associate of Applied Science in Healthcare Administration, Bachelor of Science in Sociology, Masters in Business Administration and Masters in Health Information Management
Accomplishments: Served as Vice President of Women Veterans of San Antonio from 2014 through 2017 and Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Military: Deb Parsons is a 25 year Veteran of the U.S. Air Force. She served in the Services career field performing duties in food service, lodging, recreation, fitness, honor guard and mortuary affairs. She also served as a technical training instructor, First Sergeant, and squadron superintendent. She was stationed in South Korea, Guam, Italy, Texas, Portugal, Ohio, and Florida. She deployed to Korea, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Qatar and Jordan.
Education: Masters and BA in Organizational Management from Ashford University.
Accomplishments: Serves on the firing party and as the publicity chair for the Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment. The team provides military honors to eligible veterans and service retirees at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. She is also a volunteer narrator/producer for a local bi-weekly radio broadcast for Owl Radio in support of those with visual impairments. Deb is a member of the VFW and American Legion, and a lifetime member of DAV Chapter 5.