The Hatchery

Be Unbreakable!!

Mother. Marine. Philanthropist. Entrepreneur. Reality Star. Those are just a few words to describe this decorated Gunnery Sergeant of Marines, Tee Marie Hanible. Tee recently retired from the Marine Corps after 19 years. Her first assignment after retirement was becoming the only female military expert on the new Fox Network, reality-based competition show, American Grit. Her military expertise, fitness background and philanthropic mindset has brought viewers excitement and joy every week as they tuned into this new ground-breaking television show hosted by WWE Superstar John Cena.

Tee Hanible was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois by her adoptive parents Minnie and William C. Hudson. She deployed to Iraq for the initial invasion in 2003 and was the only female to go out with her unit. Her organisation, Operation Heroes Connect, connects at-risk youth with service members and veterans as full-time mentors, a mission that given her humble beginnings, is near and dear to her heart. Her organisation not only partners service members and veterans as mentors for at-risk youth but also provides community outreach services in the DC, MD and VA areas as well as an annual youth summer camp program facilitated by veterans.

Tee’s recognition and awards include: The 2013 recipient of the Marine Corps Maj McClung Leadership Award for the Marine Corps, the 2013 C. Haskell Small Award for Volunteer Service presented by the USO. Tee is also the recipient of the 2014 Washingtonian Award (To date Tee is the only service member to have been awarded this coveted title), the 2015 Dunkin Donuts Community Hero Award for her outstanding work in the Northern Virginia and D.C. area, the 2016 Courageous Generational Women’s Leadership award by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Tee Hanible is also the recipient of the “She Means Business” and “Social Butterfly” awards presented by the Ms. Veteran America organisation.

Tee’s most recent accomplishments include her work as the National Veterans’ Chair for Women’s March as well as a board member for Women’s March D.C. chapter.

Retired Air Vice Marshal Tracy Lee Smart, AO is a Professor of Military and Aerospace Medicine and Public Health Lead of the COVID Response Office at the Australian National University. She is a physician, aerospace medicine specialist, health leader, and retired Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) senior officer. She was the third woman to reach the rank of air vice marshal in the RAAF.

Professor Smart’s ANU roles include provision of public health guidance on COVID-19 and contributing to the development of its Space Medicine program as an InSpace Mission Specialist. She is also President of the Australasian College of Aerospace Medicine, a Fellow of the Aerospace Medicine Association (US), an Academician of the International Academy of Air and Space Medicine, and a member of the Australian Space Agency’s Technical Advisory Group on Space Medicine and Life Sciences.

During 35 years of service, Professor Smart served in tactical, operational and strategic roles, deployed on operations overseas, was twice Commanding Officer of the RAAF Institute of Aviation Medicine, and was Surgeon General of the ADF from 2015 to 2019. She transferred to the RAAF Reserve in 2020. She has many real life experiences of leadership and resilience in the field and with remote medicine, having deployed numerous times, including as part of the UN Mission to Rwanda.

Tracy developed a love of space when she was just five years old and she created a scrapbook of the Apollo 11 Mission, which captured her imagination. One of her favourite memories is meeting Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon.

She has authored 14 published articles, a book chapter and have presented and participated in over 400 papers, keynote presentations and panel appearances at conferences and scientific meetings in Australia and internationally. She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours List and an Officer of the Order of Australian in 2019.

Major General Wilkie has had an outstanding career within the Australian Defence Force over a number of years and is also an AFL Commissioner. In 1993, Major General Wilkie deployed to Cambodia as the Adjutant of the Force Communications Unit in the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation. This was followed by further operational service as Assistant Chief of Staff on the Headquarters Multi-National Force Iraq (MNF-I) in 2007 and as the Assistant Commander, Joint Task Force 633 in Afghanistan during 2011/12.

Major General Wilkie has also fulfilled the roles of Director General Training Forces Command; Chief of Staff, Army Headquarters; and after promotion to Major General, Commander Australian Defence College.

Following the release of the First Principles Review of Defence by Government, Major General Wilkie was appointed to the newly established position of Head Joint Enablers. In this role, she is responsible for the delivery of joint enabling support to the Australian Defence Force. Major General Wilkie also retained the role of Commander Australian Defence College.

Major General Wilkie has a Bachelor of Social Science (Human Resource Management), a Graduate Diploma in Telecommunications Systems Management, a Graduate Diploma of Strategic Studies, and a Masters of Defence Studies. She is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. Her personal awards include Officer of the Order of Australia, Commendation for Distinguished Service, and the United States Bronze Star.

Major General Wilkie is an avid sports follower. She is the Patron of the Australian Defence Force Women’s Australian Rules Football Association; Patron of the Australian Defence Force Hockey Association and Chair of the Australian Defence Force Sports Council. In 2015, she was appointed as a Commissioner of the Australian Football League – the governing body of the AFL.

When Louise desJardins joined the Royal Australian Air Force at age 17, the Hobart native had no idea she would still be serving almost 30 years later. Her career has taken her to many places within our great Nation, as well as opportunities overseas on exercise, deployment and posting. A wife, mother of two, and committed runner, she can be found most weekends with her head in a book. Louise is currently serving as the Australian Defence Attache to Tel Aviv.