Desiree Huven

By William Cobabe

“I took an oath to defend and protect my Country and the Constitution. This oath is as binding on me now as when I first took it in 1978, regardless of my enlistment status.” -Desiree Huven

After having interviewed Chief Master Sergeant Nathan Huven in January, I eagerly looked forward to the opportunity to talk with Master Sergeant Desiree Huven, the other half of this incredible couple.

Desiree was born in Germany but immigrated to the United States when she was very young. Desiree speaks of the trials her mother went through in the closing chapters of WWII, having spent several years in a refugee camp and finally making her way to western Germany. Her mother eventually met her stepfather who was serving in the US Air Force. Her stepfather, a born Tennessean, brought the family over to the US.

This family legacy of service continues to this day, with her son finishing up a term of service with the Air Force as well, having graduated from the Air Force Academy, serving as a developmental mechanical engineer, and reaching the grade of Captain.

“Being a military family comes with a unique set of challenges and opportunities,” she said. “There is more understanding, patience and sacrifice, and a better perspective on life, one built on a lifetime of friendships.”

What captured my attention most was the positive attitude and strength which Desiree has shown through the challenges and opposition she’s faced in her 25-year Air Force career. As a woman enlisted in the armed forces, she faced a significant amount of resistance, from mild dismissal at being in a male-dominated institution, to actual resentment over her achievements. Desiree worked as a Personalist, an area that allowed her to grow personally, and then as a Professional Military Education Instructor where she trained others in leadership and management skills—areas of her life where she shined and excelled. Throughout her career, Desiree demonstrated exceptional professionalism, pride in her accomplishments, and a desire to prove to herself that she could, and would, succeed.

“It is possible to still be feminine and to lead,” she commented. “You don’t have to adopt manly attributes. Just go and give it your all, 120% effort all the time, and you will succeed regardless of your sex. Don’t do anything in half measures, but give everything you have to the work you’re in.”

In thinking about the current state of our country, Desiree says, “People may think we spend too much money on the military, but all of us are safer and freer because of the sacrifices of selfless individuals. In an election year, the right to vote and participate in our democracy should not be taken lightly!”

Desiree spoke of faith guiding her life and her perception of the world has been influenced by her service. She has confidence that God is in control of things and that we can rely on that, despite unrest and difficulties in the world. “I took an oath to defend and protect my country and the Constitution,” she reminded me. “This oath is as binding on me now as when I first took it in 1978, regardless of my enlistment status.” She noted that she was not even a citizen of the United States at that time, finally becoming a naturalized citizen after 15 years. She is grateful for her the US and wanted to give something back and not take for granted the life and Country she has come to love.

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