This week, we are featuring Rebecca Carlson.

Rebecca has been on the MACV team for 13 years and has grown alongside the organization. When she started, she was looking to get out of the private security and emergency services fields she was in and “the opportunity to be part of the MACV team was too good to pass up.” Now, she is the Senior Finance Coordinator based out of our headquarters office.

A little known fact about Rebecca is at 25, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy with plans to become a helicopter pilot in the aviation field. While waiting for training dates to align, she spent nearly a year preparing physically and academically. When the time came, she left her job, gave up her townhouse and car, and committed to an eight-year enlistment. Two weeks into basic training, she was medically discharged due to a prior back surgery—despite a full recovery and strong performance—after being deemed too high of a risk. Unable to appeal the decision, she moved forward into new work. A few years later, her path led her to MACV.

“Veteran homelessness affects everyone. It can also be silent. You may think your friends or even a family member are doing fine but you might have no idea they are living out of their car or in shelters. ” -Rebecca Carlson

Rebecca has a brother who is a Marine and several other family members who have served, so MACV’s mission has always been personal. She’s proud to be part of the MACV team and one of many people who support the work. What matters most to her is that the organization has never lost focus on Veterans. Every decision made by leadership, every shift to meet changing needs, and every period of growth has stayed grounded in what Veterans need. MACV has never lost its roots—and that means a lot to her.

Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys staying connected to the military community and spending time outdoors. She volunteered for many years with the Armed Forces Service Center at MSP Airport, supporting service members traveling for leave, returning home, or deploying, and later served during the Twin Cities Medal of Honor Convention—experiences that led her to her current role on the board of the Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial, which established the memorial at the State Capitol. Rebecca grew up riding horses and once drove horse-drawn carriages in downtown Saint Paul and Nicollet Island. She is married to her husband Brent, a firefighter of more than 35 years, and enjoys spending time with him, her stepson, and her daughter-in-law. They also love traveling, including their first trip to Europe in 2024. In recent years, gardening has become her favorite way to unwind, and as a bonus, the entire metro office benefits from Rebecca being a wonderful baker.

Rebecca, we thank you for your service to our community!