Last month, we welcomed Navy Veteran Dawn Huffman into our downtown Jacksonville headquarters for our very first interview in our new studio. The experience left an indelible mark on everyone behind the scenes. This month’s “Message from Headquarters” focuses on the impact a single Veteran’s story can have on those who hear it.
Read below to hear reflections from our interviewer and two videographers. Listening to Dawn’s experiences left an immediate impression on these three young women and demonstrated the power that comes when a Veteran shares her story.
Scott Mythen
Chief Executive Officer
As a new staff member for the Veterans Museum, I feel incredibly grateful that my first experience as an interviewer was with Dawn. Not only was she kind and funny, she had an inspiring story to tell. Dawn was one of the first women on the USS Frank Cable in the 1980s. She worked hard, earned the respect of others, and stood her ground when she felt she was being treated unfairly for being a woman in a male-dominated space.
That in and of itself was intriguing, but what stuck out to me most was the way Dawn has been a mentor of sorts throughout her career. She explained that because she enlisted at 28 years old, she was often someone that the younger women looked to for guidance, especially during training. To this day, she volunteers for the American Legion, supporting other female veterans. We only spent about an hour and a half talking, but it was clear to me why others would look to Dawn for guidance and support.
I am currently the same age that Dawn was when she enlisted in the US Navy. While a military career isn’t in my future, there were so many elements of Dawn’s story I could connect to as a woman in her late twenties. As I head into my thirties, I know I’ll be reflecting on the way she navigated a world that wasn’t always made for her—with humor, resilience, and an instinct to lift others up along the way.
Dana Congelosi, Interviewer and Junior Development Officer
As someone who has worked on countless interviews over the last two years, Dawn Huffman’s was incredibly special to me. The circumstances of the interview alone were incredible–being an all-female group conducting the interview for a female Veteran I think created a deeper connection with all of us and the Vet, especially considering how beautifully feminist and inspiring Dawn’s story was. It is because of Dawn and other female sailors like Dawn that I could enlist today and only worry about getting a job based on actual ability rather than picking from a small pool of jobs “fit for a woman.”
Similarly to her impact as a female sailor, I think she also is a big stand out due to her openness to talk about her experience being gay in the Navy. We hear incredible stories from female trailblazers in the military, but it is very rare to hear stories about the gay military experience, especially coming from a time knowing that she couldn’t come out until after she got out of the Navy. Dawn definitely told a story worth hearing, no matter who you are, and I deeply respect her for her accomplishments as a gay servicewoman in the 80s and 90s, as well as her continued service to the Veteran community to this day. Seeing how much love and charity she gives fellow Veterans is really a testament to the wonderful woman that is Dawn Huffman.
Jordan Fletcher, Videographer and Post Production
I have only been a part of the Veterans Museum for a short while now, but the importance of what we do here is not hard to see. Dawn was not only the very first interview at the new in-house studio, but my first interview at the Vets Museum as a camera operator. She was a fantastic way to break in the studio and begin a new chapter for the team. You could immediately see that she had a steady confidence about her, and from her interview we learned that this was a lifelong trait.
Throughout her interview it was apparent that her toughness, no-nonsense attitude, and hard work earned her respect in a place where women were not seen as belonging. I had an instant affinity for Dawn. She reminded me that many generations of women before me were tough and demanded respect. While doing so, she also became a mentor figure to her fellow service men and women. This kind of tough love attitude reminded me of the mentors I have so greatly valued in my life. I found myself intently listening to her recount her service days, trying to imagine myself in her place. She had such grit and determination to stand up for herself and what was right.
Towards the end of the interview, she talked about her wife and the fears of living openly at that time. We were already speaking to a woman Veteran, but I then realized we were talking to an even smaller percentage of history. The Veterans Museum was giving this woman the opportunity to represent the experiences of many types of Veterans, especially those we rarely hear from. This interview stuck out to me because it was my first time laughing with, listening to, and sitting face to face with a part of history.
Bela Sparks, Videographer
The Veterans Museum recently attended the Military Influencer Conference (MIC) 2026 in Tampa, FL. From September 23–26, we joined hundreds of veterans, active-duty service members, military spouses, creators, and leaders across the military-connected community for four days of networking, collaboration, and growth.
Our team showcased two of our touchscreen kiosks and participated in various educational sessions and networking events. Some of our featured interviewees were in attendance, including Medal of Honor recipient Major James Capers Jr., Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs Head James Hartsell, Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, and Wounded Warrior Project speaker Dr. Tyshawn Jenkins.
Check out these pictures from MIC 2026:
October 13 – United States Navy’s 251st Birthday
October 21-23 – Veterans Museum will be conducting in-person interviews at Florida A&M University Tallahassee during Homecoming Week.
Display our interactive flat-screen kiosk in your museum, school district, city library, state building, or public space! Please contact us to discuss cost, delivery, and the seamless remote updates associated with our kiosk at info@vetsmuseum.org. Let’s bring these stories to more communities. Learn more here about our kiosks.
Your story matters. Whether you served at home or abroad, during times of peace or conflict, your experience is a vital part of America’s history. When you share your story, you preserve your legacy – not just for your family and community, but for future generations who need to understand the real meaning of service.
