Catherine LaPorte

Catherine R. Laporte (Kaplansky), is the newly appointed, North-East Region Chairwoman of the National Association of Black Military Women (NABMW) and also serves on the NABMW National Executive Board. A member of the New York City Chapter, Laporte is also a former Chief of Staff and Deputy Commissioner of Operations and Special Projects for the City of New York, Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs (MOVA). Ms. Laporte also serves as the Retiree Appreciation Day (RAD) Chairwoman of the United States Army Garrison Fort Hamilton Military Retiree Council where she has served for over 10 years in the positions of Chairman, First Vice Chairman, and Second Vice Chairman – serving the New York City Retiree Community and the over 225, 000 Veterans and their families in her prior roles. She is a trusted advisor to local military leadership on Veterans, and Community issues of importance to the regional area, authorized under AR600. Catherine brings her wealth of experience in day-to-day operations, human resources, training, development, marketing, Veteran’s Services, and Community Outreach development to NABMW. Ms. Laporte is also a contributor to the international bi-coastal niche PR Firm, CB Communications. Catherine describes herself as an enabled, disabled veteran – Soldier For Life. A United States Army retiree, due to injuries incurred while on active duty; Ms. Laporte hails from a military family. Laporte’s father, served in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force, as an EOD expert in Korea and Vietnam, retiring after 25 years of service. Catherine also has been a military Naval spouse; it is this upbringing living abroad and throughout the United States that she credits for establishing a foundation for her outlook, compassion, pension for diversity, and empathy as she dedicates herself to her community. Catherine holds a Bachelor of Arts and Professional Studies degree from Five Towns College where she graduated as a Salutatorian. She attended SUNY Oswego and is certified in Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Sustainability in Business from NYU Stern. She went on to serve as a music recording artist manager for Grammy-nominated artist and jazz great, David “Panama” Francis (Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Lucky Millinder Band) and others jn pop and dance music and is a published BMI Billboard charted songwriter. Laporte has received citations from the City of New York, and has worked on the public organizing and outreach campaigns of President Barack Obama, Michael Bloomberg, and more recently New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Recognized in the United States of America Congressional Record for her commitment to community service, and creating public-private partnerships for benefit of the community at large, Catherine is a proud member of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Society For Human Resources Management (SHRM) and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) to name a few. Retired from the United States Army as a Specialist with her final duty station at Fort Hood, Texas working in FORSCOM-FC, III Corps, HHC Headquarters Command, G3 Admin, Catherine has received many awards and accommodations while serving. Laporte states, “I am so fortunate to have had the kind of living environment that being a military kid afforded me, and I strive to continue to serve others – especially Veterans. Service is my passion and my life’s calling. – Once a Soldier – Always a Soldier – A Soldier For Life. In addition to documenting past women of history, I am looking forward to meeting other military women in the North East Region, as we document their living “HERSTORY” while supporting our MilSisters by connecting them to needed resources – using our “IT” for good.”