Deanna was born and raised in Orlando, Florida and married Shane Cole in 1988, becoming an Active Duty Navy Spouse. Mrs. Cole volunteered in Navy Family support groups as well as installation activities during a handful of Navy deployments. The Coles were stationed in Orlando, FL, Norfolk, VA, and Corpus Christi NAS, TX and after ten years of Navy life, Deanna’s husband joined Pennsylvania’s Army National Guard. Deanna and her husband will be celebrating their 20th anniversary this year with their four children; three teenage daughters and an eight year son.

She has been actively involved in volunteering with National Guard Family Programs on the state and National level. Deanna has served as a Family Readiness Group leader for two National Guard Units through two deployments.

Currently, she is an active volunteer with National Military Family Association (NMFA) as a Representative. Deanna volunteered as the interviewer for; NMFA’s Cycle of Deployment Survey, 2005. She has also volunteered for the last four years at the week long NMFA Operation Purple Camps, located in Pennsylvania. Deanna believes in the camping experience, where children come together and have a chance to bond with other kids dealing with military life.

Deanna has attended numerous trainings; some of these include Army Family Team Building (AFTB); AFTB Master Trainer, AFTB Program Manager, and AFTB Army Volunteer Corp Coordinator. She believes in education and believes that to improve her military quality of life; she must reach out and learn more about it and by doing so makes friends along the way.

Currently, Deanna is working towards her degree; BA Organizational Management.

Deanna states, “After all these years of volunteering and working with Family Programs, I now have the wisdom to know that it’s all up to me to make my life better. It is very exciting and I look forward to this new journey to make the difference in our lives and share that with others.”