First Lt. Shanice Laurent was commissioned at the Leonard B. Francis Armory on Aug. 21, becoming the first female Air National Guard officer based on St. Thomas.
Laurent brings more than eight years of nursing experience to her new role as a clinical nurse. Her appointment connects frontline health expertise with the Guard’s territorial and national missions.
Guard leaders described the commissioning as both an operational gain and a visible milestone for Virgin Islanders considering careers in military leadership, healthcare and public service.
ORIGINAL SOURCESt. Thomas Source / Virgin Islands National Guard
Source published August 26, 2026. Read the original reporting or release for the complete record.
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