Pacific Region


Barb Brannon
Barb Brannon

Regional Director
Portland, OR
Pacificdirector@safn.org

Members of the newly established SAFN Pacific chapter at Misawa AB Japan! Welcome everyone!!

Misawa Japan Chapter

Greetings Pacific Region!

I have just returned from the 19th Biennial SAFN Convention in Albuquerque where I was installed as your new Pacific Regional Director. WOW, do I have big shoes to try to fill! Cathy Pluta has done a fantastic job for many years and my learning curve for Regional Director will be a bit steep. Luckily, Cathy has promised she will be available for consultation as I navigate this new territory. I am excited to take on this new challenge and look forward to serving and getting to know all of you.

Now, just a bit about me. I served on active duty for almost 31 years and had opportunities and experiences I never could have imagined. When I signed on for a two-year commitment, I definitely did not foresee an Air Force career. However, the Air Force kept offering tempting assignments with opportunities to learn and grow professionally. The years passed quickly. I loved the variety of assignments and working with others to make a positive impact and fulfill the mission. What could be more rewarding? When I was selected Nurse Corps Chief, no one was a surprised as I. The challenge seemed daunting but, once again, I was blessed with talented, amazing people on every team. And, teamwork truly is dream work- we accomplished so much and we had fun along the way. It was a tremendous honor and privilege to serve.

I moved to Portland Oregon three years ago, mid-pandemic, with my husband Stan and our Pomeranians. I had retired just the day before from my second career (14 years!) as CEO of Falcons Landing, a military retirement community in Potomac Falls VA. That second career was truly as wonderful as the first. Great people, great challenges and we had fun working together.  

After living for 21 years in Northern Virginia, people invariably ask “why Portland?”. Short answer: to go back to our roots and be closer to family. Stan and I grew up in Northern California and met at San Francisco State College a very long time ago. When it came time to choose our “forever home”, we wanted to be on the West Coast, but not necessarily California. We discovered Portland a few years earlier when we attended a SAFN Convention. We thought the area was beautiful and the people remarkably friendly. So, thanks indirectly to SAFN, here we are! Our son Alex, daughter Christy, and our 10-year-old grandchildren (triplets!) Hunter, Lucas and Isabella just relocated to Tucson where Alex and Christy serve at Davis Monthan.

We are an Air Force family! So, we will be spending a lot of time in Arizona. Especially in the winter!

We are starting to plan a Pacific Region meeting for next year and I certainly hope many of you will be able to join. Right now we are exploring the possibility of holding it in the Anchorage area, but it is early days and we will see if we can make it work. Stay tuned for more information on that and other Pacific Region news.  

I look forward to getting to know all of you! That will take some time since it is a pretty big region and I will give it my best. After all, SAFN is all about Caring and Sharing…continuing friendships and making new ones. I look forward to making many more in the Pacific Region. Do keep me posted on news and activities to share for our regional newsletter. And remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, and we all love pictures!

Cheers!

Barb Brannon
(Novice) Pacific Region Director


 
12/04/2021 Sacramento and Travis Chapters enjoying lunch at Buds Pub, Dixon, CA. First time together in two years.
 
 
TSgt Teara Ware, Nancy Slidell, Major Jeanette Sanders, Sherry Hoyt-Cline
 
 
Nurse/Tech Week Celebration at Nellis AFB. Cinnamon roll delivery!
 
 
Regional meeting Spokane Washington 2019
 
 
Travis and Sacramento chapters
 
 
Phyllis Craig holding a copy Remembering WWII Women
 
 
Kathy Reynolds
 
 
Sacramento Chapter: Breakfast in the Park
 
 
Vietnam Commemoration at Sea/Tac chapter meeting
 
 
Vietnam commemoration at Regional meeting Solvang California 2017

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