Veteran Story: Avia Woulard

Avia Woulard leads an environmental education group.

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Avia Woulard is from New Smyrna Beach, Florida. She served twenty years in the United States Navy. After coming from a family that demonstrated hard work, discipline, and love every day she knew she was ready to face the challenges that she would face in the military. The military gave her a great opportunity to explore the world and serve the country at the same time. It gave her the opportunity to work as part of a team to reach organizational goals, national goals and personal aspirations.

One memorable experience while in the military she shared was while serving as a boat swain's mate. "We had a visiting admiral coming aboard and they did not have anybody in uniform ready to pipe him on, so they had me lay down on the quarter deck, take the mic, and I had to pipe while laying on the ground. As the admiral walked by another mate in uniform pretended to blow the pipe while the sound actually came from a microphone that I was using. One other time when an admiral was so surprised to see a female welcoming him aboard that he stopped and watched me play. As I ran out of breath, he finally walked by to allow me to finish. He was really surprised and proud to see a female performing duties traditionally performed by men."

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Avia's first job in the National Park Service was as a visitor use assistant. In this position you may be the face of the park and sometimes the only national park employee that visitors interact with while visiting the park. Currently she serves as an interpretive park ranger at Canaveral National Seashore. She was able to find her happy place in the NPS because she has the opportunity to research and tell the parks story to the public allowing them to make their own personal connection.


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