Life at Mount Nittany Health
Veteran Spotlight Amanda Fink
November 9, 2026
3 min read
Years before Amanda Fink, Transfer Center Coordinator, became part of the Mount Nittany Health team, she served her country as a Personnel Specialist in the U.S. Air Force.
“Not a lot of my colleagues know I was in the military,” says Amanda. “But when they find out, they always thank me for my service, which I appreciate.”
Amanda joined the Air Force in 1988, straight out of high school. She was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, for three years before moving to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, where she served until her military career ended in 1997.
Memorable moments from service
During her time in the Air Force, Amanda worked as a Personnel Specialist, handling separations, reenlistments, relocations and discharges. She recalls that transitioning from military to civilian life could be challenging for many service members. Amanda took pride in creating a base-wide briefing system to ensure all separating or discharging service members had access to the critical information they needed in one place.
Reflecting on her military career, Amanda highlighted several unique opportunities she experienced. She was hand-selected to serve as an Air Force liaison for the Army National Guard during the Croatia Conflict in the 1990s and was recognized as “Airman of the Quarter” during her time at Whiteman Air Force Base. This recognition gave her the opportunity to attend an Air Force missile competition in California, a memory she continues to cherish.
Amanda also had the chance to tour the underground offices at Whiteman Air Force Base when missiles were still housed there, and she was honored to witness the christening of the B2 Stealth Bomber. “It still gives me chills to see them fly,” she says.
Lessons learned in the Air Force
Her time in the Air Force taught Amanda valuable lessons in resilience, adaptability and teamwork. She credits her ability to embrace change and connect with others to her military service.
“In the military, you can’t call off. You show up for your people — always,” says Amanda. “You adapt and learn to accept change.”
One of her most challenging yet rewarding experiences was serving in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. This time gave Amanda a deep appreciation for the comforts often taken for granted in the U.S. and strengthened her gratitude for home. While in Saudi Arabia, she had the opportunity to experience the flight line and see an F-117A Nighthawk in person (and have her photo taken in it!).
Transitioning to civilian life
Like many service members, Amanda found the transition out of the military to be a significant adjustment. “I was ready to leave, but it was a hard transition,” she reflected. “The Air Force taught me so many values, but I was ready for my next job.”
For Amanda, serving in the Air Force was an invaluable experience — one she encourages others to consider. Beyond the education benefits and guaranteed job placement, she emphasizes the camaraderie and values gained from military service.
Today, Amanda applies the skills and values she developed in the Air Force to her role at Mount Nittany Health. As a Transfer Center Coordinator, she has been part of the Mount Nittany Health team for nearly five years, previously serving in the Patient Access team. Her dedication to teamwork, customer service and patient care reflects the principles she embraced during her military career.
