Working for Alaska's Future

My name is Kathleen Kennedy, but I am known as Kit. I first came to Alaska in March, 1998. It was the best year for the aurora in 25 years and Ice Alaska and the North American Mushing Relays were all happening that week. The incredible hospitality of the Alaskans I met felt like I had returned home. From that moment, I knew Alaska would be home one day. It took 14 years, but in the interim, I was lucky enough to travel to Alaska annually to install hardware and software and train system administrators at JBER, Ft. Wainwright and Eielson AFB. Each time I came back, I spent a few extra days exploring more of Alaska - hiking, touring Denali, halibut fishing in Homer, salmon fishing in Resurrection Bay, and soaking in Chena Hot Springs. In 2012 I finally was hired as a contractor at JBER and here I am!

I worked as a pharmacy technician for the Veterans Administration and in several private hospitals. I was a technician member of the California Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists (CSHP) and other professional pharmacy organizations. CSHP technicians gave testimony before the State Board of Pharmacy and worked with the legislature to mandate certification for pharmacy technicians in California and nationally. I was also elected as a delegate and chair of the Technician Division, and in 1997, I was selected as Pharmacy Technician of the Year.

In 1995, I was recruited by a high tech research and development company to test the software used in military hospitals and clinics, and eventually installed hardware and software, wrote technical documentation, and provided systems administration support and training at military hospitals, spending four years at Aviano Air Force Base in Italy. While there, I experienced some health issues, and spent 44 days in an Italian hospital, where I saw how national healthcare works.

In addition to pharmacy organizations, I have served on the boards of several organizations, among them are the San Diego Crime Victims Fund, the Outdoor Heritage Foundation, the Italian English Speaking Intergroup, MatSu United for Progress and Big Cabbage Radio.