Patricia Hopson, Oktibbeha County’s incoming veterans’ services officer, is bringing a background of previous work experience to her new post that few can claim: she once worked with an organization whose missions and efforts are literally out of this world.
Hopson, who held budgetary and safety analyst and communications positions with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for more than two decades, will assume her new role next month after supervisors approved her hire with a 4-1 vote Monday.
Supervisors did not set the hourly rate for her part-time position, but the former county liaison, Ammiana Kenard, earned $15 per hour.
A Mississippi native, Hopson completed a bachelor’s degree in business at the University of Houston. Although she has not served in the military, Hopson said service is important to her because members of her family, friends and acquaintances have made sacrifices through various branches of the military.
“I’m a big advocate for veterans and have always been passionate about their cause,” she said. “I’m going to do everything I can to help out. I was so excited about getting hired, I cried after I found out. It has made my Christmas.”
At NASA, Hopson assisted with Occupational Safety and Health Agency audits at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. She also assisted with a variety of auditing and budgetary reports. Following the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2013, Hopson was part of a NASA outreach effort in which phone lines were kept open for days and received reports of debris throughout Texas and Louisiana.
Oktibbeha County’s veterans’ services officer assists local military and their families with acquiring benefits specifically available to servicemen and servicewomen, including health care, transitional services and food programs.
In her upcoming capacity, Hopson said her mission is to “do as much for as many as possible.”
“I want to make sure everyone knows the benefits they can get and to make sure they’re properly being served,” she said. “I’m used to working with the public, answering questions, keeping up with records and following through. No matter who calls, when I see a need, I want to make sure they can get support. I could sit and listen to (veterans’) stories all day. They deserve it.”
District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer said he’s hopeful Hopson “hits the ground running” in her new role. Although he was the lone vote against her hire, Trainer said he picked Hopson as one of the three finalists for the final round of interviews.
“She has had a very involved career, and I think she’ll do a good job for Oktibbeha County’s veterans,” he said.
Approximately 13 people applied for the vacant position, County Administrator Emily Garrard confirmed last month, but many were lacking the proper qualifications for the job.
The county’s Veterans’ Services Office is located on the second floor of the chancery courthouse.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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