Serving Those Who Served

My name is Maria, and my journey began when I made the decision to join the military at just 17 years old. I had not enrolled in college, and at the time, joining the military seemed like a good opportunity. What I didn’t know was that this decision would completely change the course of my life. I left home and headed to basic training, where I turned 18 and completed my training as an Automated Logistical Specialist. Then I received orders to my first duty station in Korea. Going to a different country at such a young age was intimidating. I knew no one, and everything around me was unfamiliar. But it didn’t take long before the soldiers in my unit became more than just people I worked with—they became my family. The winters in Korea were especially challenging. Training in the brutal cold tested my strength, determination, and ability to push through difficult situations. Looking back, however, those challenges became some of my most meaningful memories. The experience taught me how to adapt, persevere, and appreciate the people beside me. Eventually, I received orders to Texas. Once again, I found myself in a new place, surrounded by people I didn’t know. And once again, the military gave me a second family. Everywhere I went, I learned that the bonds formed through shared experiences, challenges, and sacrifice can last a lifetime.

I currently work for Facility Services Management, Inc. (FSI) as a Contract Maintenance Manager supporting facility operations and maintenance at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center on Fort Hood, Texas. In this role, I oversee a diverse maintenance workforce and help ensure critical hospital systems and facilities remain safe, reliable, and compliant with contract and regulatory requirements. My responsibilities include coordinating preventive and corrective maintenance, managing subcontractors, working closely with government representatives and hospital leadership, and supporting the day-to-day operation of a complex healthcare facility.

I joined the Army in 2010 as a husband and father of three, determined to build a stable future for my family while serving my country. As a wheeled vehicle mechanic, my first duty station took us to Wheeler Army Airfield in Hawaii. Even with the long hours, it was a place filled with purpose. In 2012, during a deployment to Afghanistan, I was injured — an event that reshaped my life long after returning home. When I later PCS’d to Fort Hood, the impact of those injuries caught up with me and ultimately led to the Medical Evaluation Board process. It was a turning point. My military chapter was changing, and I had to figure out what came next.

FSI is strengthened by veterans whose experience aligns naturally with mission-critical facility operations. Team members like Daran Deyoe Balboa, a retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer bring decades of leadership, technical expertise, and operational discipline to our work supporting federal and military facilities. Their background in high-accountability environments reinforces FSI’s commitment to reliability, safety, and operational excellence across all sites we serve.