Bridget is a Journeyman Steamfitter and worked in the field from 1996 to 2011. When she was accepted into the United Association (UA) as an Apprentice in Wisconsin's Local 601, she was one of only 5 women in a Union of about 2500. This however, was not the first time Bridget had been in the first group of women so she began seeing was starting to become a trend in her life. Bridget was the first female to box as an amateur in Wisconsin and the first woman to win a Golden Gloves Championship. She was very used to doing physical activities and enduring some discomfort as well.
After her apprenticeship, she moved to New Jersey and worked in the Building Trades as a Steamfitter until the recession became so severe there was little to no heavy construction going on. Bridget specialized in pipe welding and rigging, although she was qualified in most aspects of the piping trades. When the recession became extremely challenging, she decided to go to college and utilizing college credits from her apprenticeship, Bridget received her BA in Labor Safety and Health from the National Labor College in 2011. This is the year she also joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary after meeting a group of members at the Greenwood Lake Air Show the previous summer. At this point in her life, she had never been on a boat or in a small plane.
Her first two years in the Auxiliary, Bridget worked on the basic qualifications and "Air Observer". Simultaneously, Bridget was also working full time and starting a Masters Degree in Safety, Security, and Emergency Management from Eastern Kentucky University. Upon completion of her Masters Degree in 2013, she decided to venture out in her Auxiliary training. The Auxiliary offered so many areas and varieties in their missions, it was, at first, difficult to choose. She became qualified as a "Vessel Examiner" and "Program Visitor" and met some wonderful people in the surface operations program and decided to try "Boat Crew". Boat Crew was exciting and Bridget crewed on surface facilities and particularly on the Lady B, a retired Point Brown Cutter that was owned by an Auxiliarist in New York. Her new found Crew knowledge was very helpful during Fleet Week because she was now familiar with boats but had also progressed further in the aviation department and become "Aircrew". This allowed her to assist with tours on the flight deck of the Spencer in 2015.
Bridget met a very helpful Auxiliarist at the 2014 Fleetweek named John McCleod. He suggested she look into Marine Safety (MS) which was very in line with her schooling and interests. After several disappointments in trying to start her qualifications, Auxiliarist and Director of Prevention John McCleod helped her over several months and she completed her first oral boards. Since then, Bridget completed four MS qualifications and received her M-Pro - Trident Device. While working on some of her MS qualifications, it became clear that Public Affairs (PA) training would really help with her MS training. She attended C-School and completed the PQS for PA Specialist. PA Specialist has helped her not just in the Auxiliary but in her outside job duties as well. Feeling sincerely that she should "pay it forward" Bridget presently conducts Auxiliary Prevention Outreach Specialist (MEES) Training online for interested Auxiliarists. S have conducted three series of this training so far and participated in oral boards aiding fellow Auxiliarists in attaining this qualification.
As can be observed by her background, one can come to understand how to promote Diversity on all levels, especially Diversity of Mission! The Directorate, recently, has officially been renamed "Diversity and Inclusion" (D&I). In 2017 the National D&I Team asked Bridget to take on the Branch Chief position for the North East. This was also the year she married her amazing husband and the love of her life Patrick Reilley, USCG CPO (Ret). Currently, Bridget is the D&I Division Chief for the Atlantic East and gets to email and call Auxiliarists from Maine to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands helping to spread the Diversity message and encourage Flotilla, Division and District unit participation in the NACO # Star Award Program.
Bridget loves to learn and experience new and Diverse missions. At present, she is working towards her "Private Pilot's License". With this license, she can better assist with Auxiliary Aviation missions. HAving a love of and for music, she has also started playing the trumpet and is presently taking lessons and working on the Basic Music PQS. This is relatively new to the Auxiliary but quite a challenge to her. Bridget has a passion to to train physically and challenge herself. She has completed the Marine Corp Marathon, the New York City Marathon and the Dublin Marathon and has recently run in the Elizabeth City, Coast Guard Half Marathon, her first Virtual run ever.