LINTHICUM, MD, August 3, 2020— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Colonel Kevin Sellers, USAF, Retired, as the NFM Salute for August 2020.
COL Sellers served in the Air Force from 1995 to 2020. His distinguished military career began after he graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. The early years of his profession had him stationed at Elgin and Tinker Air Force Base, where he made lifelong connections with his fellow Airmen. He was stationed to Karshi-Khanabad Air Force Base in Uzbekistan in 2003 to assist with Operation ENDURING FREEDOM as an Executive Officer.
From 2011 to 2012, COL Sellers acted as DCMA-Iraq Deputy Group Commander and assisted with the peaceful transition of power to Iraqi locals. He played an integral role in safely withdrawing troops and contractors from Iraq during Operation NEW DAWN. He achieved the rank of Colonel in 2016.
His most recent position was Chief, C-5M Super Galaxy Division, Mobility and Training Aircraft Directorate, at Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Robins Air Force Base, GA. In this role, COL Sellers provided integrated logistical support for the 52 C-5M aircraft and oversaw 220 personnel. As the manager of the Division’s $3.1B annual budget, he helped formulate strategies for the modernization and modification of the C-5 aircraft.
Ever since he was at the Air Force Academy, COL Sellers sought to challenge himself. His professional achievements have shown he stayed true to his personal goal, and it also extended into the classroom. Even with a full-time career in the military, COL Sellers continued to advance his education and earned his MBA in 2000 and Juris Doctor in 2005 from Oklahoma City University.
COL Sellers retired from the Air Force in May 2020 after 25 years of service. As someone who has committed himself to the military, COL Sellers has advice for anyone interested in pursuing the same career.
“I would tell them to enjoy their service and continue to seek opportunities,” he says. “There are so many opportunities for personal and professional improvement. There are opportunities to do great in your career field, and then at certain points in your career, to branch out and do different things. So it’s important to really understand the mechanics of those opportunities and the processes for taking advantage of all that the military has to offer.”
During his career, COL Sellers has been awarded 10 awards and distinctions, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Iraq Campaign Medal with service star, and the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal.
COL Sellers resides in Grapevine, TX with his wife, Angela. He is the proud father of Tyler, Brookelyn, Kylee, and Adilyn, and grandfather of Lilith. Tyler is following in his father’s military footsteps by serving as an Army Staff Sergeant, currently on his second deployment. Now that he is retired, COL Sellers looks forward to reconnecting with friends and family and getting to enjoy “lake life”.
NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” will be featured on the website with a biography and information about his or her service, and NFM Lending will donate to a military or Veteran non-profit in the Salute’s name.
NFM Lending is proud to donate $2,500 to Gary Sinise Foundation on behalf of COL Sellers. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 41 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. NFM Lending and its family of companies includes Main Street Home Loans, BluPrint Home Loans, and Freedmont Mortgage Group. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as “America’s Common Sense Residential Mortgage Lender.™” For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.
LINTHICUM, MD, January 2, 2020— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Sergeant Danny Austin as the NFM Salute for January 2020.
Danny served in the U.S. Air Force from 1969 to 1981. He served three tours in Vietnam, treating wounded soldiers as a Rescue Medic. For his own peace of mind and to avoid his parents worrying about him, Danny kept his location a secret by having friends mail letters home from other places. He didn’t come clean until 15 years later when he could no longer suppress the memories and emotions.
Vietnam took a toll on Danny both physically and mentally. He not only suffers from tremors, but also severe PTSD. Explaining how it impacts his daily life, Danny says:
“Sporadic stress; little things can set you off. I still cringe every time I hear a helicopter going over and I still cringe every time I hear a siren coming. Fireworks used to be such a pleasure when I was a child, but I don’t enjoy them anymore because it has that percussion sound that I don’t think ever leaves your ears.”
However, thanks to Sophie’s Companions for Veterans, his life has recently changed. Danny received Duke; a rescue dog that will be trained for service to assist with his disabilities. The bond between them was instantaneous. For the last five years, Danny has been unable to have a good night’s sleep but slept completely uninterrupted the first night with Duke. Danny’s wife, Judy, has also benefited from Duke. She suffers from anxiety after recently recovering from a long battle with cancer. She feels much calmer now. Danny says their future is bright with Duke there to help them heal.
To any soldiers who might be suffering from depression or PTSD, Danny would like to send the following message:
“What you go through is a balancing act. I was pretty good for a lot of years of just pushing it all back and not letting it affect me, but it somehow manifested itself back up to the surface. Getting into the American Legion and helping other veterans, seeing their difficulties and seeing so many suicides, it made me open up and seek help. I wish more veterans would do that. For any veteran –no matter what state, county, or wherever you live– there’s a place to reach out called Veterans’ Services. These people are sent from God because they bend over backwards to let you know what’s available to you. They’ll let you know what compensations are available to you. They fight for you.”
NFM Salute is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” will be featured on the website with a biography and information about his or her service, and NFM Lending will make a donation to a military or Veteran non-profit in the Salute’s name.
NFM Lending is proud to donate $2,000 to Sophie’s Companions for Veterans on Danny’s behalf. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 39 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as “America’s Common Sense Residential Mortgage Lender.™” For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram.
LINTHICUM, MD, June 1, 2017— NFM Lending is pleased to honor Raymond Stralka as the NFM Salute for June 2017.
Stralka began his career with the United States Air Force in 1952, when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant through ROTC at Penn State. Upon completing his active duty service, he worked as a state forester with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, and joined the National Weather Service in 1958. In 1960, Stralka joined the 104th Weather Flight in the Maryland Air National Guard as their Chief Meteorological Forecaster. He received many honors throughout his career, including NOAA Distinguished Service, National Defense Service Medal, and USAF Meritorious Service Medal. Stralka passed away in January, 2017, survived by his wife of 64 years, Wanda Stralka, and his five children.
To hear more about Stralka’s story in his own words, click here.
NFM Salutes is an initiative in which one military member or Veteran is chosen each month to be honored as the “Salute of the Month.” Salutes are chosen from nominations on the NFM Salute website, www.nfmsalute.com. The “Salute of the Month” will be featured on the website with a brief biography and information about his or her service, and NFM Lending will make a $2,500 donation to a military or Veteran non-profit in the Salute’s name. NFM Lending will donate to Platoon 22 in Stralka’s memory.
Selected NFM Salutes may choose from one of the following three non-profits: Platoon 22, AnySoldier, and the Gary Sinise Foundation. NFM looks forward to the opportunity to continue to honor military and Veterans through the NFM Salute initiative.
About NFM Lending
NFM Lending is a mortgage lending company currently licensed in 29 states in the U.S. The company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. They attribute their success in the mortgage industry to their steadfast commitment to customers and the community. NFM Lending has firmly planted itself in the home loan marketplace as “America’s Common Sense Residential Mortgage Lender.™” For more information about NFM Lending, visit www.nfmlending.com, like our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter.