Shelter to Soldier Success Story Highlights Accomplished Female Veteran Purple Heart Recipient By Eva Stimson
Kristine M. Wunder, Major, US Army, (MS, CHST, LEED BD + C, CESSWI, QSP, STSC) dedicated 21 years to the US Army, beginning in 1985 as an E1 (Military Police) stationed in Honduras and served as a combat MP specializing in Processing Prisoners. Kristine transitioned her Military Occupational Specialty to become a Helicopter Mechanic/Repairer, crew chief and door gunner. Kristine was then promoted to the rank of E-6 Staff Sergeant. During her enlisted career, Kristine obtained an AA degree from Golden West College and a BS from California State University Long Beach in Engineering. Upon completion of her BS, Kristine was accepted in the Officer Candidate School (OCS) program and graduated in the top of her OCS class. Kristine was in the Aviation branch and attended flight training at Ft. Rucker in Alabama. She was rated to fly aircraft in the UH-1, OH-58, TH-67 and in UH-60, then in 2003 Kristine was deployed to Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as a UH-60 Pilot and Battalion Staff Officer. Kristine served four tours in support of OIF at FOB (Forward Operating Base) Speicher, Iraq, where she 22
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was awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Air Medal. While there, she was promoted to the rank of Major (O4) and served as the Battalion S4, XO and CO. Kristine retired in 2007 as a Major in Army Aviation (UH-60 Pilot). During her tenure in the US Army, Kristine experienced extreme trauma that detrimentally affected her work capabilities while transitioning into civilian life after retirement from the military. She reached out to Shelter to Soldier (STS) who was able to pair her with a dual psychiatric and mobility service dog (Dutch Shepherd mix) named Scout, and they graduated together through the STS program in May of 2021. Scout was fully trained by STS to accompany Kristine in the field on the construction site at the San Diego International Airport Terminal One (T1) project where Kristine currently serves as the Environmental Health and Safety Manager, Arrive Alliance (Turner-Flatiron Joint Venture). “Scout has been fully trained by STS to go out in the field [with me] on the construction site at the airport T1 project. [He] is my lifesaver and enhances my life and career. Scout has enabled me to travel to other destinations such as Alaska, Oklahoma, San Francisco and Arizona, as well as enjoy Disneyland.”
