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Deployed Mom commissions daughter on Mother’s Day

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher Stoltz
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
Mother’s Day just became a bit more special for Lt. Col. Katherina Donovan, 386th Expeditionary Mission Support Group deputy commander.

At approximately 3:00 a.m. on May 13 at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, the 23-year veteran opened up a laptop, connected with her 22-year-old daughter, and read to her the United States Uniformed Services Oath of Office.

Before it was time for the commissioning ceremony to begin, Donovan and her daughter, 2nd Lt. Kelsey Donovan, used video chat to live stream the event. The nearly 7,000-mile distance between mother and daughter vanished as they appeared on each other’s screens.

“I am just glad I was able to be a part of the ceremony,” said Donovan. “With my deployment, I knew I would not have the opportunity to be there in person, but actually having the chance to swear my daughter in – well that’s the next best thing.”

Donovan expressed her concern having her daughter join the military during a time of increased global activity, saying she is proud of her, but has some reservations.

“Our mission and operational tempo has increased to meet the demands of our regional threats,” said Donovan. “Being deployed, I see first-hand what Kelsey can and will be facing as she progresses through her career. As a mother, it concerns me. As a fellow officer, I know she will be in great hands.”

Second Lieutenant Kelsey Donovan, who participated in her graduation from the University of Mississippi immediately following the ceremony, spent the last three years as an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps cadet at AFROTC Detachment 425. She is slated to become an intelligence officer later this year and will be heading to Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas.

She was fortunate enough to have her father, Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew P. Donovan, her brother, her best friend, and her boyfriend, a current pilot trainee, present at the ceremony.

The new lieutenant said she wouldn’t be where she is if not for the support of her parents – and is honored to follow in their footsteps.

“My mom has always been the one to push me out of my comfort zone, which ultimately helped me grow as a person,” Kelsey said. “I hope to emulate her and while she is proud of me, I want to let her know how proud I am of her. I know she is doing amazing things overseas and I understand how much she sacrifices for our country.”

With her Air Force career just beginning, and a mother who already has more than two decades of service, 2nd Lt. Donovan said she cherishes any words of wisdom her mother provides.

“Don’t shy away from taking advice from mentors and senior officers,” said Lt. Col. Donovan, about advice she would give to Kelsey. “However, at the end of the day, trust your gut. As an officer, you have to make tough decisions at times – and you need to be able to make the decision you feel is most right.”

From administering the oath of office, to seeing her daughter pinned with the very same golden bars she wore as a second lieutenant, the event was emotional for Lt. Col. Donovan.

“Life seems to come full-circle sometimes,” she said. “I gave birth to Kelsey on 14 May, and almost to the day 22 years later, I am here swearing her into the Air Force as a commissioned officer. I could not be prouder of her.”