Melanie Haynes

Cryptological Technician Collection First Class Melanie Haynes joined the Navy in 2004 because she wanted to create a stable environment for her kids, see new places, and learn viable skills. When she returned from Iraq in 2009, she was presented with a Hometown Hero community award from the Oklahoma Governor during an Oklahoma City Thunder basketball game. As her Navy Wounded Warrior care team was helping her navigate her Medical Evaluation Board, someone suggested she try adaptive sports. She wasn’t able to attend a camp right away in 2024, so she took leave to volunteer at the DoD Warrior Games in Orlando, Fla. She saw the community that adaptive sports fosters and was eager to be part of it. She attended her first camp the following year. There, she found that she loved adaptive field. “Navy Wounded Warrior has provided me with a much-needed support system and community that understands my physical and mental challenges without judgement. They have introduced and provided me with many resources to help my recovery and healing journey.” In her free time, Haynes enjoys going to movies, traveling, visiting amusement parks, and spending quality time with her family.