This article features Troy Harden

Troy Harden mostly grew up in or near Melbourne Florida. Not long after graduating high school in Mongomery Alabama he enlisted in the United States Navy eventually becoming an Aviation Machinist Mate. He worked as an aircraft mechanic on the P-3 Orion, C-2 Greyhound, and C-131 Convair aircraft, but considers his crowning achievement in military when challenged the Oil Analysis classification program. Working independently with no formal training in the Oil Analysis field of his rating he obtained coveted qualification of an Oil Analysis Technician. He retired from the Navy under Temporary Early Retirement Program as an E-5.

Upon the closing of that chapter in his life he surrendered his life to full time service to the Lord, he and his family moved Omaha Nebraska, where over the next seven years he attended Grace University studying to become a pastor. During those years he volunteered in various capacities of church work, learning from experienced clergy the ins and outs working in a ministry environment. To support his family, he worked his way up from custodial worker to the Director of the Adult Degree Completion Program at Grace University.

A short time after completing my master’s degree in Bible at Grace University, the opportunity presented itself for to take Senior Pastor position at Faith Baptist Church in Pawnee City Nebraska. The Lord gave me an opportunity to minister in a small church of 65 people for a course of three years. He was honored to serve in that capacity, but with a series of events out of his control the Lord moved us back to the east coast to Maryland in June 2007.

Upon getting re-established, he was hired as a contractor at Joint Personal Effects Depot (JPED) in Aberdeen Marland. His plan was to work at this position for a year and go back into a ministry position. Just like many plans that are made, those plans did not come to fruition. It has been almost 17 years since he first walked into JPED. The mission of JPED is to take care of fallen soldiers, sailors, airman and marines’ personal effects.

Over time he realized that these people that care for the fallen need people to care for them just like a pastor would to his congregation. Service to others has been a driving force for many of the decisions that he made. For him, it has been an honor to serve this important mission of caring for the fallen.

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