125 Years of Family Serving Family – Gary Rose, HQ

One in a series of honoring the Exchange’s 125 years of family serving family

When Gary Rose started with the Exchange in 1984, he was the first outside hire for the organization’s new Burger King program. It was a family connection that brought him to the Exchange—his sister, Carole, worked for Human Resources and gave him a brochure about the organization—and the Exchange brought him other family connections, as well.

Gary Rose met his wife Karen while he was taking a course at Eglin Air Force Base and she managed the food court at Tyndall Air Force Base. They have been married for 15 years.

Among those in Rose’s family who have served the best customers in the world are his wife, Karen Haddox, an Air Force brat who retired in 2016 after 34 years with the Exchange; his mother-in-law Susan Hook, who retired from the Tyndall Air Force Base main Exchange after 20 years; and his son, Scott Rose, who has been with the Exchange for 12 years and currently works at headquarters as a contracting category manager.

“The Exchange is the most unique organization I’ve ever been associated with,” Rose said. “It’s not a job, it’s a way of life.”

Currently the Eastern Region Food Program specialist, Rose has spent 37 years bringing a taste of home to Soldiers and Airmen overseas, a mission he “100% believes in.” Rose also developed the local national orientation and training for Iraqi workers, for which he and Karen deployed to implement, one of their numerous deployments.

Though the uniqueness of the Exchange mission presents its own challenges, Rose appreciates what motivates Exchange associates.

“We do it out of loyalty to the communities we live and serve in,” he said. “We’re serving those who serve.”