One in a series honoring the Exchange’s 131 years of family serving family
Who she is: Mary Campbell, Fort Campbell Nashville retail store manager
Years at the Exchange: 18
What brought her to the Exchange: Born in Pittsburgh and raised in New Orleans, Campbell found her way to the Exchange after reconnecting with her high school boyfriend, a drill sergeant at Fort Sill, while she was living in Beaufort, South Carolina.
In 2007, she relocated to Oklahoma with her daughter and began searching for local job opportunities. At her boyfriend’s suggestion, she applied to the Fort Sill Exchange.
“I applied for a bunch of jobs with AAFES,” Campbell said. “I interviewed for four positions and received offers for all four.”
Given the choice between stockroom foreman, laborer, cashier and loss prevention, she began her Exchange career in loss prevention, where she served for seven years. She later transitioned to shift manager at the Sheridan Road Express for three years, followed by roles as assistant manager at Fort Sill and Military Clothing store manager. She now serves as facility manager at the Fort Campbell Nashville retail store.
Though Campbell stepped away from the Exchange at times for personal reasons, she credits mentors Angela McCracken, Sheridan Road Express manager, and Mary Wilson, who retired in 2021 as the Sheridan Road Express manager, for believing in her and supporting her along the way.
Currently, she is the sole associate at her location, which is nearly an hour and a half from Fort Campbell. Managing multiple responsibilities including laborer, inventory control associate, stocker, facility manager and customer service associate, Mary serves families and members of the Tennessee National Guard.
Although the store is closed on Sundays and Mondays and opens at 10 a.m., Campbell consistently goes above and beyond for Exchange shoppers—sometimes opening early or on closed days, even when she lived two hours from the store.
During her interview for this story, she paused to greet and assist customers, demonstrating her commitment to serving those who serve. She said the Exchange mission and its customers make her feel part of something bigger than herself.
Military connections: Campbell comes from a strong military family. Her uncle served 27 years in the Marine Corps as a lieutenant colonel and Huey pilot. Both her grandfathers served in the military, one as a staff sergeant during the Korean War and the other as an Army chaplain. Her half-brother currently serves in the Navy Reserves, and a cousin retired as a Navy chief petty officer after 24 years.
Although she once considered joining the Navy, Campbell chose a different path—ultimately serving the nation through the Exchange.
Deployment: In 2009, despite a fear of flying and uncertainty about Iraq’s climate, Campbell deployed in support of the Exchange mission.
“I felt like I wanted to give back to the Soldiers as much as I could,” she said.
She served at Qayyarah West, Camp Speicher and Kirkuk until 2011.
“It was the most challenging, yet rewarding experience,” Campbell said. “I never would have thought in a million years that I would go to Iraq. I’d do it all over again.”
During her deployment, she met then-General Manager Marla Randolph, whom she describes as having a great sense of humor. One of Campbell’s favorite memories is falling asleep to “SpongeBob SquarePants” episodes in their 18-person tent—a detail Randolph, now Exchange president and chief operating officer, still remembers.
“To this day, she remembers me,” Campbell said. “I reconnected with her at a seminar, and even though we had only met briefly, she remembered who I was. That meant a lot.”
When asked if she would deploy again, Campbell said yes—adding that she would like to serve in Jordan after hearing from Soldiers about the country’s beauty.
Family serving family: “Family doesn’t have to be blood; my customers are my family,” Campbell said. “They come in, talk with me and treat me like I’m part of their family—like a sister.”
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