Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Vargas.
Hi Daniel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I entered active duty service in the United States Air Force in 1986. Upon graduating from basic training, I spent twenty years with the United States Air Force where I held many leadership positions including Chief Executive Support, Air Force Recruiting Service, Randolph AFB, Texas; Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Protocol, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri; Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Information Management, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri; Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Commanders Support Staff, 9th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Hood AIN, Texas; Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Information Management, 3rd Air Support Operations Group, Fort Hood AIN, Texas; Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, Wing Command Section, 36th Air Base Wing, Anderson AFB, Guam; Assistant NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER IN CHARGE, LOGISTICS INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, 542nd Logistics Support Squadron, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico; NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER IN CHARGE, ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNICATIONS, 1550th Combat Crew Training Wing, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico; AIR FORCE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT DIVISION RESERVE AFFAIRS COORDINATOR, Air Force Contract Management Division, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. I deployed in December 1990 in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, and PROVIDE COMFORT.
Upon retiring in 2007, I was hired by the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes where he held the title DIRECTOR, FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK. I Provided a wide array of activities and aid to wounded service members and their families during and after their recovery. I developed and managed the Homes for Heroes Program, Tour the Town Program, Family Hosting Program, Hero Counseling Program, and Kids Camp.
I was Responsible for an annual budget of 1.5 million dollars. I was a key member in planning and executing Annual Road to Recovery Conference with an annual budget of 2.5 million dollars. I also managed relationships with the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs Administration, sports and entertainment industry, and key military installations. Assisted in raising over 11 million dollars in donations that have aided over 11 thousand service members and their families.
In 2009 an opportunity presented itself for me to join the Bay Area Builders Association Support Our Troops where I held the title of Executive Director. I directed the day-to-day operation of this non-partisan/non-profit 501(3©) organization. I was instrumental in developing and transitioning the organization into “Operation FINALLY HOME” to provide custom-made homes for wounded and disabled veterans and the widows of the fallen across the nation to get their lives back on track and become productive members of their communities.
I developed partnerships with corporate sponsors, individual contributors, and volunteers to help severely wounded heroes and their families transition from the battlefront to the home front. I provided a wide array of activities and aid to wounded service members and their families during and after their recovery. I was Responsible for an annual budget of 2 million dollars. I provided key leadership and direction in the building of every home from the start to finish. I managed relationships with the Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs Administration, sports and entertainment industry, and key military installations.
In 2019, I left Operation FINALLY HOME due to disagreements on the growth and leadership of the organization. At that time I started and grew Operation TRIAGE. Operation TRIAGE is a non-partisan/non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial support to service members, veterans, first responders, and their families.
Our amazing team of regulars and volunteers (we have no paid employees) are committed to helping others. We take our convictions and turn them into action.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Anything worth doing is never easy! We had to deal with COVID and the economy the past couple of years which has made it difficult in getting donors and sponsors, but we are managing and are able to help those in need.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am very blessed to be the president/founder of Operation TRIAGE! I truly believe this is what I am meant to do with my life and am very blessed to help those disabled veterans, first responders, and their families in need.
Operation TRIAGE’s mission is to provide emergency financial relief, mortgage-free homes, and home remodeling to disabled veterans, first responders, and active duty service members in an effort to get their lives back on track and become productive members of their communities.
Operation TRIAGE partners with corporate sponsors, builder associations, builders, developers, individual contributors, and volunteers to help these heroes and their families succeed in their challenging new world so they may ultimately enjoy a productive and rewarding life.
Is something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Most don’t know that I am a 100% disabled veteran myself and have been through 18 surgeries and that I am facing more surgeries in the near future.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://operationtriage.org/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/operation_triage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OperationTRIAGE2016/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/OperationTriage
Image Credits
Operation TRIAGE
