LCDR Stacy L Kehoe was flown to San Diego, Ca. to attend the National Board of Directors meeting for the United States Naval SeaCadet Corps on June 9. Rear Admiral Andrew Lennon, USN (RET) awarded LCDR Kehoe the "Regional Director of the Year" award for the 2023 year. She was joined by other national winners.
LCDR Kehoe joined the local United States Naval SeaCadet program in 2008 with her then-12 year old daughter. They became a part of the Chattanooga Division (now renamed the LS2 Randall Smith Division). Several years later, with the assistance of other adults on Signal Mountain, they together started the Signal Mountain Division. Two years later, she also started another SeaCadet division called the "Hurricane Division," out of East Hamilton Middle/High School. Eventually, both the Signal Mountain and Hurricane Divisions were merged with the Chattanooga Division to save on resources and volunteers.
In 2015, along with Pat Wagner and many other emergency personnel on Signal Mountain and throughout the nation, they started the Special Operations SETROPES training on Signal Mountain every June for approximately two weeks. With this specialized training, SeaCadets from throughout the nation travel to Chattanooga to take this training.
In 2022, LCDR Kehoe was approached by their Area Commander Captain James Jones, USN (RET) to oversee the State of Tennessee and a part of Alabama as the temporary regional director for that time. As the responsibilities grew over the course of the year, she has remained as the regional director.
In 2023, LCDR Kehoe, along with adult volunteers in the SeaCadet program, started two new units in Southside, Al.
and Elberta, Al. These two new formations, along with overseeing and assisting the current units in Chattanooga, Nashville and Knoxville, took a lot of time and effort on everyone's efforts to properly maintain constant communication and assistance when called upon.
Also in 2023, LCDR Kehoe, along with 15 other community activists, were presented with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. This is an award by the president of the United States to recognize Americans who have contributed an extensive amount of community service hours.
While LCDR Kehoe has volunteered in the United States Naval SeaCadet Corps since 2008, she also volunteers in many other organizations as well.
The Greater Chattanooga Navy League is a civilian organization that supports active duty and reservists in the Maritime services. This means that local Navy, Marines and Coast Guards are supported. She was awarded the Associate of the Year award also in 2024 for her continued service in the community by the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council.
LCDR Kehoe was recognized for earning the outstanding civilian award for her impactful contributions to veterans and the local community for the 2023 year.
She is a 13-year member of the Greater Chattanooga Navy League Council.
LCDR Kehoe also served on the Armed Forces Parade Committee for over 10 years, the Homeless Coalition for Veterans, currently serves on the Wreaths Across Chattanooga committee, and has served five years with the Quilts of Valor Foundation, honoring active, reservists, and veterans with a quilt of comfort.
Lastly, she is the current admissions director for the Warrior Freedom Service Dogs in Flintstone, Ga. They are committed to helping veterans with service-induced brain injuries, such as Post Traumatic Stress or TBI, reconnecting through the unconditional love of a service dog, free of charge.
LCDR Kehoe also holds a part time job at Mission BBQ in Chattanooga. She has been their community ambassador for the past one and one half years, while also working in their catering department for the past two years.
LCDR Kehoe said, "What I do as the community ambassador is an extension of what I have always done for our community and country ,.. serve."