By Informer Staff

A spouse of an Air Force staff sergeant has been named the 2012 Joan Orr Air Force Spouse of the Year for her significant contributions to the military and civilian communities.

Amanda Chastain, a nationally recognized Girl Scout leader and wife of Purple Heart recipient, Staff Sgt. Beau Chastain, 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician, won the Air Mobility Command-level nomination for the award in December. She then competed against other command nominees in the Air Force-wide competition.

Chastain will be formally recognized in September at the Air Force Association Convention, Washington D.C.

The family will be recognized during the McConnell Salute at Riverfest Waterwalk Pavilion at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 8.

According to her nomination, Chastain supported 57 families of deployed members by making weekly phone calls, emails and personal visits during 2011. 

Her leadership of her daughter’s Derby-area Girl Scout troop also prompted a national program of providing birthday party kits to local food banks, which eventually involved 550 military members spanning all 50 states and three countries. She was awarded the top honor by the Girl Scouts of the Kansas Heartland recently, in recognition of that effort.

Chastain also served as vice president of the Wing Spouses’ Club, leading over 70 members and helping make it the third largest Enlisted Spouse club in the Air Force.

This award, sponsored by the Air Force Association, honors the late Joan Orr, wife of former Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr. The award recognizes spouses of military members for their significant contributions to the Air Force.