By Olga Peña
Killeen Daily Herald

Following years of service to the military community, a Harker Heights civilian businesswoman is now assuming the role of a local link between Central Texas and national Army leaders.

Jean Shine was sworn in Tuesday as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for the Fort Hood area.

The investiture ceremony for the position was held at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

Shine told the Herald she will represent Central Texas, being responsible for making sure those living in the communities surrounding Fort Hood are well informed on the Army's mission as it relates to them.

She will serve as a bridge, Shine said, between these military and civilian communities.

"My passion for all of my adult life has been service to our great soldiers and their families. This appointment will allow me to continue and expand that service," Shine said. "Central Texans, both military and civilian, will have an advocate working closely with the Secretary of the Army to insure that Fort Hood remains 'the Great Place.'"

Former state Rep. Dianne White Delisi of Temple also was selected to serve as a CASA. They join four other CASAs in Texas.

"We (Shine and Delisi) will have the same duties in different geographical areas. We will be working in concert on common interests," Shine said.

Shine and Delisi replace the late Tommy Joe Mills, who was appointed in 1986 as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for North Texas. Later, he was appointed as civilian aide at-large and also served as civilian aide emeritus.

"It is my honor to follow in the footsteps of two previous civilian aides, Roy J. Smith and T.J. Mills. I hope to continue to build on their many accomplishments," Shine said.

In a document from Army Secretary Pete Geren, Shine received an outline of the duties and responsibilities of a CASA.

Shine was charged to provide representation for the Army throughout the country, help generate community support for the soldiers and their families, and explain Army policies as they impact Texas and the Fort Hood region.

Department of the Army regulations state that civilian aides are "special government employees who agree to serve as a representative the secretary of the Army without salary, wages or related benefits."

The secretary of the Army appoints at least one CASA to each state, but can appoint others to be designated to specific geographic regions, as in the case of Shine and Delisi.

Shine is the president of Shine Team Incorporated in Central Texas, and a member of the Association of the United States Army, and both the Killeen and Harker Heights Chambers of Commerce.

Shine, who is actively involved in a long list of civic, philanthropic groups, will continue working from her Harker Heights office but said there will be some travel to Washington, D.C. and military installations throughout the country for briefings and conferences.

As a military dependent, Shine attended three high schools and the University of Arkansas.

Not only was Shine a military child, but she went on to marry into the Army, serving as an military spouse during Vietnam.

Shine has won numerous humanitarian awards for her volunteer work and philanthropic efforts. She founded or was involved in the launching of such programs as the Military Child Education Coalition, Friends of the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery and Trees for Troops, among many others.

Shine also served on the Killeen Independent School District Board of Trustees for nine years as president, was a founding board member of the KISD Education Foundation and is part of many other organizations.

Shine and her husband, Bill, have two sons, Steven and Scott and two grandchildren.

Bill also served as a CASA from 1991 to 2005.

CASAs are appointed for two-year terms, with the possibility of serving other terms at the discretion of the secretary of the Army.

Contact Olga Peña at openakdhnews.com or (254) 501-7555.