In 38 years of Navy life together, the Grady family has set up home in many different places. Each time she moves, Christine is actively involved in spouse and local community groups. As an advisor to several spouse groups, she hopes to bring awareness of the strength and need for military spouse volunteers. As a mom of a Wounded Warrior, Christine advocates for, and strongly supports, the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation. Additionally, she served as the military family liaison for Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS), the Navy League of Hampton Roads, and the Armed Services YMCA. Christine has worked with New Flag and Senior Spouse Executive Training Symposium (NFLEX) for effective, compassionate leadership to strengthen and advocate for all military families.
Christine currently serves on the USO Service Council, as an Ambassador for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (T.A.P.S.) and Easterseals, is a Fisher House Service Award Committee Member, and serves on United Through Reading’s ‘Reading Ready Circle.’ She is also on the advisory boards for Partners in Promise, the Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN), the Naval Services FamilyLine’s (NSFL) Family Advisory Council and serves on the Board of Directors for Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN), to help the groups to become more interconnected, mission driven by data research, and provide educational, leadership, and professional mentoring opportunities. Christine hopes these efforts will help strengthen the bonds between, to meet the needs of all modern military families, support organizations, and community partners.
A strong advocate for military families at all levels, Christine believes in shining a light on the challenges families face in medical care, education, Exceptional Family Member (EFM) programs, service member benefits, spouse employment, and the sustainability of vital charitable community organizations including base thrift and spouse-run shops.
An accomplished artist, illustrator, and a former creative director, her artistic and graphic design talents are currently used for command coins, logos, invitations, promotional materials, menus, and marketing information. Her commissioned art is held in several private collections. Collaborating with Joint Culinary Specialists, she has combined her cuisine creativity and professional artistic skills to unfold new trends to further her belief in entertaining as a mission. She is currently working as a design consultant for a tech start-up. In her spare time, Christine loves to paint, read, ride her Peloton, spend time with her family and pets, and play serious board games. Christine is the recipient of the Department of the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award.
“Family first always,” is a Grady family motto. Christine and her husband Chris have three grown children, a lovely daughter-in-law, a grandson, two kittens, and one rescue pup whom she hopes to train as a therapy service animal.
