For Chief Master Sgt. Angela Holden, serving military communities has been a way of life for more than two decades. Now, she’s bringing that passion to the Exchange as its senior enlisted advisor.
As senior enlisted advisor, Holden serves as a key advocate for service members, military families, retirees and Veterans while helping the Exchange deliver on its We Go Where You Go promise. She joins the organization with a career that includes 14 assignments in 10 countries, ranging from stateside and overseas posts to combat, remote and embassy tours.
In this Q&A, Chief Holden shares what drew her to the senior enlisted advisor position, what has stood out so far and how the Exchange has shaped her military experience.
What inspired you to consider the Exchange as your next chapter?
I started my military journey in 2003 after an Air Force recruiter visited my high school in 2002 and talked about opportunities to travel and earn an education. I joined two months after graduating, came in as an Airman Basic and worked my way up to this opportunity over 23 years. It has been quite a journey.
I have learned a lot as a leader and as a human being. When the opportunity to serve in this role and continue advocating for our community became available, I knew it would be a natural fit.
What experiences have prepared you for this role?
The locations where I’ve served and the things I’ve seen help me understand and assess the needs of our Soldiers, Airmen and Guardians, and advocate for them and their families.
What stood out to you about the opportunity?
The opportunity to enhance Quality of Life across the Army, Air Force and Space Force is extremely important to me. Resiliency, developing the force and taking care of the team have been big parts of what I’ve done. This role allows me to visit installations, see what’s happening and bring that experience to advocating for our Warfighters in a different capacity.
What has impressed you most since arriving at the Exchange?
The passion associates have for serving the world’s best customers is second to none. When I talk with associates and ask how they got their start, I find that many have a connection to the military, whether they served themselves or had a family member who served. When I hear their stories and their passion for taking care of our customers, it makes me want to work even harder to advocate for the team.
Associates have done a magnificent job onboarding me, educating me and sharing information. They’ve made the transition very easy, which makes me want to come to work and give 10,000% every day.
How has the Exchange been part of your military journey?
My first Exchange memory was at my first duty location, Scott Air Force Base. As a young Airman living in the dorms, I remember walking into the Exchange, seeing the food court and the store, and thinking, ‘They have everything we need on the installation.’
When I was stationed in Korea, the Exchange became a place for camaraderie. After work or an exercise, my friends and I would go to the food court, eat and spend time together. Those experiences created memories that stayed with me throughout my career.
More recently, during my deployment to Al Dhafra Air Base, the Exchange opened a Domino’s. At a deployed location, there might not be many food options, so having that taste of home was amazing.
What are your top priorities as you begin your tenure?
My top priority is listening and learning from the associates who bring the Exchange benefit to life. I want to learn as much as I can from them so that when I visit installations and talk with command teams, I can advocate for and educate our communities about everything the Exchange does.
Every installation is different. An Army installation, Air Force installation and Space Force installation may have different needs. I want to bring those needs back to the team, assess the resources available and help us execute efficiently and effectively.
What does “Family Serving Family” mean to you?
We can’t do it without each other. The Exchange takes care of the military community. We’re all part of each other’s family, and it’s a continuous cycle of serving one another.
It also means reaching military members in austere, remote and deployed locations. It’s making sure we take care of our family wherever they serve and helping their dollars work for them by supporting the Quality-of-Life programs that serve their communities.
What message would you like to share with Exchange associates and the military community?
Thank you for trusting me with the opportunity to serve in this role. I also want to thank our associates, service members, Veterans and families for their service to our country.
I can’t wait to get out there, meet associates and leadership teams, and hear what’s on their minds. I want to understand the challenges that may exist and see how we can make things better.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I’m a certified dance fitness instructor and have been teaching classes since 2014. Fitness and community engagement are an extension of my commitment to serving others.
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