DIRECTORS

Katherine Quinones Army career began while she was still a junior in high school. In 1984 she attended Basic Combat Training and Advance Individual Training, her skills included working in Human Resource, Automated Logistics Specialist. In 1996, she was offered a position with the New York Counterdrug Task Force, as a drug prevention specialist and Regiment Administrator for the Corps of Cadets. When the terrorist attack of 9/11/01 occurred she immediately reported to the New York/Canadian Border with the Counterdrug Task for 30-day duty. She was deployed with her son both times to Afghanistan in 2007-2008 and Kuwait 2012.

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Katherine had a wonderful career of 32 years 10 months with the New York Army National Guard, 20 of them as active duty for New York Counter Drug Task Force. She earned numerous awards including, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (5th award), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award), and NATO Medal.

 

Upon retirement she earned her associate in liberal arts from Monroe Community College and learned American Sign Language while attending college.

 

Katherine spends time with fellow veterans at various organizations including the Blue Star Mother’s Veteran Women Coffee House, Compeer Corps of Monroe County where she was honored as their first Female Veteran of the year in 2018, Team RWB, Service Officer for Disable American Veterans, , Latino Military Coalition, and Veterans of Foreign War Chili Memorial Post 412.

 

After retirement Katherine wanted to continue giving back to her community and found many ways to do so. Her passion is being the Regiment Administrator for the 209th Regiment of Cadets since 1996. This program gives her the opportunity to mentor the youth to give back to the community through community service, leadership opportunities, and encouragement to live a positive lifestyle. She is a Family Readiness Group volunteer providing support for current or deployed soldiers and their families. Blue Star Mother’s Roc NY 8 volunteers at various events in the community, Websters Wreaths Across America helping lay wreaths on the graves of servicemembers and. She devotes community service hours thru her VFW giving back to veterans in need and their families. One of her recently projects is as a founding member of a coalition that provides support and resources to all Latino veterans and families. And in the ultimate act of selfless giving, Katherine donated a kidney to an anonymous recipient during the global pandemic in 2021.

 

Katherine is the first female Commander in the history of VFW 412 Chili Memorial Post and reelected for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and voted as the VFW District 8 Senior Vice Commander.

 

In her free time, she is training in powerwalk, pickleball, boccia, and 400M run for Veterans Administration Golden Age Games. She loves to spend time with her grandkids, reading and hiking.

 

She has been married to her veteran husband Pedro for 40 years and has five children (2 currently deployed) 7 grandchildren and one on the way.