Holly Shaffner, a decorated United States Coast Guard Veteran, was selected in a diverse Military and Veterans Advisory Committee by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, tasked to aid with developing policy.
In her service from 1987 to 2011, Shaffner received the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal and several Coast Guard achievement medals. Last year, she was recognized by Us4Warriors as San Diego County Veteran of the Year.
Shaffner was born and raised in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. In her senior year of high school, she moved to Annapolis, Maryland where she graduated and joined the US. Coast Guard. She served as a fire control technician for approximately 10 years before she served in Operational and Staff assignments in the Coast guard and attended Officer Candidate School. She participated in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
She was a part of the Haitian repatriation in 1994, and trained over 200 Coast Guard Reservists after 9/11. Shaffner served second-in-command of a 74-person anti-terrorism team that was among the first responders after Hurricane Katrina that aided in the rescue efforts.
“My favorite tour was teaching federal boarding officers because I just love the physical aspect of it. It was so demanding and challenging. I taught them how to defend themselves with kicks, punches, stuns, take downs, deadly force and that was really the best job of my career,” Shaffner said.
“But my favorite location was Seattle,” Shaffner said.“The comradery you have on these ships is something unheard of. You really become close with the rest of the crew. That was really enriching as well.”
Serving on Coast Guard ships in the Bering Sea for approximately eight years, Shaffner later worked to intercept drug traffickers and illegal migrants throughout the Caribbean. At the end of her career, Holly ran a 24/7 emergency operations center where she launched rescue helicopters and boats.
Upon retirement, She enrolled at San Diego State University and pursued a degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations. ​​As a volunteer for several nonprofit organizations county wide, she assists with Public Relations and Project Management and is currently on the Board of Directors for several organizations. She is very active in San Diego’s military community, serving on several boards and advisory committees.
As a volunteer Director of Public Relations with Honor Flight San Diego, Shaffner works with the non-profit organization grants World War II, Korea and Vietnam veterans county-wide the opportunity to visit Washington DC on a three day trip to visit memorial sites dedicated to their service. “My heart and my passion is all about the veterans,” Shaffner said.
“It is so spectacular to take these men and women that are in their 80’s and 90’s on a trip they have never been on before and just see the memorials built for their service and sacrifice so that is my favorite volunteer role,” Shaffner said. “I adore them. I do more than just take them on the trip. I spend time with them and take them to events. I talk to a WW2 and Korea veteran a couple times a week just to stay in contact with the ones I've made connections with.
She is also involved with “Operation Dress Code”, an organization dedicated to empowering women veterans by assisting them in transitioning from active duty into civilian life and workforce. Last weekend, Shaffner assisted in the annual Military Women’s Luncheon.
“Those are all the eras that came before me, I truly think it’s our duty to recognize them, honor them and thank them for their service. For the younger generation, I think it’s important to pave the way so their transition is easier than what my age group veterans went through,” Shaffner said.
