U.S. Army military veteran Angelita Fanas comes highly recommended by Chris Johnson, senior central sales director at Sharp who himself is a recipient of The Cannata Report’s Outstanding Veterans Award. “I have collaborated with Angelita over five years now. She is an integral part of our military team, and she put together an amazing VA mental healthcare presentation for Sharp last year,” said Johnson, who also is a member of our Veterans Award Selection Committee. “She is currently active in veterans’ organizations as well as being engaged in speaking engagements. She is active in forwarding veterans’ issues within the NJ community.”
Some additional background: Fanas joined the United States Army in 1995 while still in high school. She served for 12.5 years and her unit, the 65th Ordinance Brigade, activated for one year after 9/11. Angelita began as an E4 63G (fuel and electrical systems repairer) and reports that she served under the 80th Division and was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Fanas deployed with B Company’s 601st Aviation Support Battalion during “Operation Joint Guard” in Bosnia, where she led the Fuel and Electrical section. By the end of her enlistment, she was a 63H (track vehicle mechanic).
Her performance earned a Soldier of the Year award for her battalion and Soldier of the Year for her brigade. That is significant recognition and gained her more responsibility. Fanas continued with her education in her chosen field of electronics and was and made a senior instructor for MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) and earned an electronics degree while on active duty.
When Sharp employed her, they made Angelita a senior technician, and she later became an instructor due to her teaching experience. When reactivated to duty, she was given the responsibility of instructing soldiers being deployed to Iraq. After her separation from active duty, she worked to further her education, earned a bachelor’s degree in networking, and continued to apply her expertise in her professional career.
In terms of helping her fellow veterans, she collaborated with various organizations such as New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group, the Latino Veterans of NJ, and Veterans Chamber of Commerce for which she spoke at its 2024 Summit. She helped raise funds to send care packages to deployed soldiers during the holidays. Angelita is an amazing person who served her country well and has not stopped helping other veterans, which truly makes her special. She has also become incredibly involved in the most genuine issue facing veterans, which is the high degree of suicide.
She spoke about participating in initiatives focused on mental health awareness as well as suicide prevention. This is all about helping veterans cope with trauma, anxiety, and the challenges of transitioning to civilian life.
Fanas’s 65th Ordinance Brigade Unit was activated after 9/11. She later deployed with B Co.’s
601st Aviation Support Battalion during “Operation Joint Guard” in Bosnia, where she led the Fuel and Electrical Section.
FC: Angelita, what values do you believe all veterans can bring to our industry?
AF: Veterans bring so much value, including leadership, reliability, the ability to work under stress, and being resourceful and on time. Veterans do not have to be handheld. All you must do is just tell us what to do and we will do it. We get the job done and get it done right.
FC: How did you come to reach out to Sharp as your civilian employer?
AF: I went to electronics school, and they sent my resume to Sharp, who reached out to me. That was in 2001. I’m happy to say I’m approaching 25 years. They have told me they hired me because of my military experience. Sharp also was extremely helpful and, here in the corporate office, they want to hire more veterans.
FC: What advice would you give to veterans who are having a tough time finding a job?
AF: Sadly, that is true. However, there are programs in place that are much better than in the past. Here in New Jersey, they have different programs to help veterans find jobs. Veterans are encouraged to go to local VA [Veterans Administration] offices, and they will help them search for jobs.
FC: What can you share with us about your personal life?
AF: Not married and no kids. My life is about helping my family. As you can see, I want to help veterans. We are making every effort to get them to learn the best way to pursue jobs – I am just trying to do my part.
Fanas with her proud sister upon graduation from Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course.
