Every year, I get the privilege of nominating a constituent to receive the Senate’s Woman of Distinction Award – an individual who has made exceptional contributions to our community. This week, I was honored to celebrate Colonel Christina Fanitzi as this year’s Orange County nominee.
Native to the Hudson Valley, Christina graduated from George Washington University in 2004 and immediately entered active duty as a US Marine Corps officer. In her over 21 years of service, she has led soldiers in Asia, Europe, and the US, including combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. She also recently served as a Battalion Commander where she led intelligence analysis in the Pacific and currently serves as a West Point Regimental Tactical Officer, leading over 1100 cadets.
Christina has worked as a White House Fellow in the National Economic Council, serving as a Senior Policy Advisor to Director Lawrence Kudlow. She went on to serve as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Army.
Her service has merited her many awards, including the Bronze Star, for heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone; the two highest national Alpha Delta Pi awards for overall and philanthropic excellence, the Julia Stell Award and Dux Femina Facti Award; and for her work for as an instructor of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at West Point, the BSL Teaching-in-Excellence Award, as well as recognition as a Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence finalist – an honor given to the Academy’s top three instructors.
Christina’s life was changed when 16 weeks into her pregnancy, she found out her son would be born with Spina Bifida. His infancy was filled with hospital visits and surgeries, devastating for her family. Turning adversity into action, Christina brought together eight previously unconnected Hudson Valley families, who joined with the Spina Bifida Association of New York to build a Regional Advisory Council and create the Inaugural Mid-Hudson Walk-n-Roll. This was the first local presence of the SBA’s national fundraiser and has raised over $75,000. Christina was recently named New York State Mother of the Year, a well-deserved recognition.
I am deeply grateful to Christina for her service, sacrifice, and all of the work she’s done for our community.
