Kimberly Byrd-Hodge attended Dwight D. Eisenhower High School coached by Cathy Fragoso, Barbara Jordan High School for Careers and began playing basketball during her junior year for Kashmere H.S. She eventually transferred to Kashmere H.S. where she graduated in 1995. Basketball was her first love beginning at the age of 11 and still loves it til this day. She also ran track, coached by basketball Coaches Oscar O’Gilvie, Harris and Donovan. Upon graduation, she joined the US Navy and reported to Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois on 02 January 1996. Her initial assignment was FCTCLANT Dam Neck, VA where she became a Storekeeper SN and later transferred to USS ASHLAND (LSD-48) in April 1998. She laterally converted to Intelligence Specialist Second Class following deployment in 2001. Her enlisted Intelligence Specialist community assignments include USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69), COMSUBLANT, APSLANT, NAVELSG, and ESG 2. During her enlisted tenure, she also embarked on the following ships: USS TRUMAN (CVN-75), USS WASP (LHD-1), and USS IWO-JIMA (LHD 7). In September 2014, she was commissioned under the Chief Warrant Officer program and is currently serving as a CWO3 Intelligence Technician. Hodge’s military decorations include Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (1), Joint Service Achievement Medal (1), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and various service and campaign awards. She has earned the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist, Enlisted Expeditionary Warfare and Information Warfare Officer Pins.
Her most gratifying basketball moment was being offered an opportunity to attend Langston University upon graduation but decided to join the military. Her aspiration was to attend a major University on an athletic scholarship but decided she needed to help her mom out and pay her own way through life. Her interest in sports has never faded, and she has considered becoming a coach upon retirement from her military career. She continues to mentor and helps young girls develop their basketball skills as her love for the sport continues.
Kimberly Byrd-Hodge Biography
Kashmere Sr. High School c/o 1995
McDonald’s All American
Most Athletic Female Kashmere Senior Class 1995
Post Education and Affiliations:
Received Associates Degree from Saint Leo University
Received Bachelor’s Degree from American Military University
Active member of Kappa Epsilon Psi Military Sorority, Inc.
One son Jordan-12 and daughter Nevaeh-8
Current hobby is spending time with her family and friends, and community service