Mimi Wang

Mimi Wang emigrated from Taiwan in 1969 to attend college at Maryland University. After completing her Bachelor’s degree, Ms. Wang completed her Master of Arts, Food and Nutrition degree at New York University.

With an advanced degree, Ms. Wang began her military career in 1981 as a Dietitian in the United States Army Reserve at the rank of Captain. She served as Dining Facility Officer in the 1208th U.S. Army Hospital Unit in Fort Hamilton, New York. From 1981 to 1991, Ms. Wang conducted her Reserve Training at various military hospitals including Fort Meade, West Point, Fort Monmouth, and Fort Dix. As a Registered Dietitian, she gave diet consultations to outpatient and inpatient soldiers, and also served as the Dining Facility Officer.

In 1991, during the Persian Gulf War, the 1208th Army Hospital Unit was mobilized to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland to relieve the medical staff that was deployed to Kuwait. At Walter Reed, Ms. Wang oversaw the daily meal service for over 500 staff members. While on active duty for six months, Ms. Wang had to personally sacrifice time away from her husband and her daughter, who was then seven years old.

In 2001, Ms. Wang transferred to the 348th Army Field Hospital in Albany, New York as Field Hospital Dining Facility Officer, where she led the Food Service Unit to win first place in the 2002 Northeast Region Army Field Feeding Connelly Competition. Ms. Wang continued her studies and graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College course.

In 2004, after 22 years of service in the Army Reserve, Ms. Wang retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After retiring from the military, she continued her service to the community by joining the American Legion Lt. B.R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291 in New York, where she became the first female Post Commander, a position she held from 2011 to 2013. She continues to serve as an officer of the Kimlau Post and to devote her personal time to assisting veterans to obtain Veteran Administration benefits, including medical services, housing, and nursing home care. 

In her civilian career, Ms. Wang is a healthcare food service industry executive. Currently, she is the Chief of Nutrition and Food Services at the New York Harbor Veterans Administration Healthcare System.