Some speakers leave you with a list of accomplishments. Others leave you with a new way of looking at the world. At the Greater Palm Bay Chamber July 2026 luncheon, Chief Warrant Officer Five Phyllis Wilson, President of the Military Women’s Memorial, did both.
On paper, her career is extraordinary. She served 37 years in the United States Army as an intelligence officer, deployed multiple times to Iraq, became the first woman and fifth person to serve as the Army Reserve’s Command Chief Warrant Officer, earned multiple degrees, learned foreign languages, jumped from military aircraft, and now leads the Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
Yet, it wasn’t her impressive résumé that left the biggest impression.
Itwas a story about a parking space.
When One Moment Changes Everything
After retiring from the Army, Wilson parked in a designated veteran parking spot outside the Pentagon. As she stepped out of her car, another veteran questioned whether she belonged there and asked if her husband was with her. Even after explaining that she had served for 37 years, he struggled to believe her.
Rather than becoming discouraged, Wilson reflected on what that moment represented. If a woman with nearly four decades of military service could still have her service questioned, how many other women had stories that had gone unseen or unheard?
That encounter ultimately led her to apply for the role of President of the Military Women’s Memorial, a position she says she may never have pursued otherwise.
Sometimes the moments that frustrate us most become the ones that redirect our purpose.
Opportunity Doesn’t Always Arrive Looking Like Opportunity
One of the recurring themes throughout Wilson’s presentation was that life-changing moments often don’t announce themselves.
She joined the Army looking for help paying for college and the chance to travel. She stayed because she found purpose, leadership, and a community that challenged her to become more than she imagined possible.
The opportunity that eventually led her to the Military Women’s Memorial didn’t come through careful career planning. It came through an uncomfortable conversation that challenged her to ask a bigger question:
How many more women have to serve before their service is simply expected rather than questioned?
Sometimes our greatest opportunities begin as our greatest frustrations.
Stay Ready for Your Moment
Wilson shared another story that perfectly illustrated this idea: the journey of Wally Funk.
As one of the women known as the Mercury 13, Wally Funk completed astronaut testing in the 1960s but never had the opportunity to fly because women weren’t yet accepted into NASA’s astronaut program.
Decades later, at 82 years old, she finally traveled to space aboard Blue Origin’s first human flight in 2021.
Wilson’s point wasn’t simply about history.
It was about preparation.
You may not control when your opportunity comes, but you can control whether you’re ready when it does.
For business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals, that lesson is just as relevant. Continue learning. Build relationships. Develop your skills. The opportunity you’ve been waiting for may arrive years from now, but when it does, you’ll be prepared.
Leadership Means Helping Others See Their Value
Another message that stood out was Wilson’s description of the people who pushed her beyond what she believed she could accomplish.
She spoke about military leaders who saw potential in her before she recognized it herself.
That’s one of the greatest responsibilities of leadership.
Whether you’re leading a company, managing a team, volunteering with a nonprofit, or mentoring someone just starting their career, your influence often comes from helping others recognize strengths they don’t yet see in themselves.
Great leaders don’t simply build organizations.
They build people.
Every Story Matters
While Wilson shared many lessons on leadership and resilience, the heart of her presentation centered on the mission of the Military Women’s Memorial.
She explained that the Memorial is far more than a monument at Arlington National Cemetery. It is a living memorial dedicated to honoring the more than three million women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Through its Make HERstory registry, women veterans can preserve their military service, photographs, and personal stories as part of our nation’s permanent historical record.
Wilson encouraged every woman who has served to register her story. She also emphasized that family members, friends, and caregivers can help preserve the legacy of a servicewoman who has passed away, is unable to register herself, or simply hasn’t had the opportunity to do so.
Her message was clear: every person who has raised their right hand and sworn to serve our country has a story worth preserving.
If you know a woman who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces—or if you are one yourself—you can learn more about the Military Women’s Memorial and register a servicewoman’s story through the Make HERstory registry at womensmemorial.org/make-herstory.
So… What’s Your Next Leap?
Wilson closed with one final challenge.
Drawing from her experience as an Army parachutist, she compared life’s biggest opportunities to standing in the doorway of an airplane.
Sometimes you simply have to take the leap before you know exactly where you’ll land.
It’s advice that resonates just as strongly in business as it does in military service.
The future belongs to those willing to prepare, trust themselves, and step forward—even when the destination isn’t entirely clear.
Thank you to the Greater Palm Bay Chamber for bringing such an inspiring speaker to our community. Events like these remind us that leadership isn’t defined by titles or accolades. It’s defined by the choices we make, the people we encourage, and the courage to take the next step when opportunity appears.
If you missed the Greater Palm Bay Chamber July 2026 Luncheon you can find more information on attending next months luncheon on their events page.
Read more of my blogs about Brevard County below:
- Beauty (1)
- Boutiques (7)
- Brevard County Schools (2)
- Health & Wellness (1)
- Home (5)
- Non-Profits (4)
- Other (2)