Veteran of The Week - Tanya Stamos

MONTGOMERY, TX -- This week’s Veteran is Tanya Stamos, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1998-2001. Tanya was a Boatswain Mate 3rd class (Fuels), which is an important job, in keeping the planes, or birds, fueled and ready to go in minutes. Before the end of 18-hour combat zone shifts Tanya would be covered in fuel, including her face and hair. She served on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, a.k.a. ‘The Big Stick,’ from 1999-2001, where she wore Purple Shirts as a fueler, which were called ‘Grapes,’ by the other crew members. The carrier supported the Kosovo ‘Operation Allied Force,’ sending out the birds to support Allied military operations on the ground. Stamos was later assigned to the USS Eisenhower, and afterwards she separated from service, following the birth of her son. The fuel position was very dangerous and she experienced symptoms while still in service suffering mainly from headaches. Following service she experienced asthma and other symptoms, but with medication it is controllable. She attended school for a certified nursing assistant certificate, and has since switched to the mental health field, with a Bachelor's Degree in Health Care Administration as well as Masters in Business Administration. She is currently the Quality Compliance and Risk Director at Great Oaks Recovery Center, which also helps Veterans with substance abuse and PTSD issues. Stamos started Operation R.J.S, (operationRJS.org) a 501c3 Veterans non-profit. It was founded in July 2025, and named in honor of her father Richard James Stamos, who served with the Infantry during the Vietnam War in 1969, with several additional tours in West Germany, and he also served as VFW 9489 Post Commander near Sacramento, California. The purpose of Operation RJS is to provide free TeleHealth counseling to all Veterans, and to provide critical home repair, food assistance, holiday meals packages, and provide awareness at Veterans events. Good Luck Tanya, and Congratulations on being ‘Veteran of the Week’.