“I knew early on that I wanted to join the Navy and become a physician and biomedical engineer,” Erica recalls. “I knew it would be hard to fulfill all these goals, but I was determined. It wasn’t easy, but I had vision, ambition, and a supportive family.”
Erica Schwartz has dedicated her entire career to serving her country in one way or another – first in the Navy and then in the U.S. Public Health Service and Coast Guard. If you ask Erica where it all began, she’ll tell you without hesitation – “All of my stories start with my father.”
Erica’s father joined the Navy at 17 and was a career military man. He instilled in all his children the importance and honor of serving their country. Erica took that lesson to heart and knew from a young age that she wanted to join the military to carry on her father’s legacy of service.
Erica fulfilled her childhood dreams, becoming a doctor and spending eight years in the Navy before joining the U.S. Public Health Service and transferring to the Coast Guard. She then spent 24 years in uniformed service, making her way through the ranks to Rear Admiral before serving as the US Deputy Surgeon General. For all the incredible goals she achieved, Erica is proudest of the legacy of service that she is a part of.
“Joining the military was all about honoring my dad’s legacy,” Erica recalls. “But I realized that I was part of an even bigger legacy. During my time in the service, I never went to war, but I cared for men and women who did. I was connected to and supporting those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. It has been my honor to serve those who served.”
As a veteran, Erica remains dedicated to that tradition of service and sacrifice that she learned first from her father and then from her fellow service members. She continues to give back to her community, honor her country, and make her dad proud. “The military taught me what it means to be part of something bigger than myself and to focus on others,” Erica shares “That’s exactly what I want to continue as a veteran.”
This Veterans Day, we honor Erica and all the other former service members in the Aveanna family who have given so much for our freedom. We hope you join us in celebrating all our veterans, the sacrifices they have made, and the incredible legacy they are a part of.