Kathy Carson White joined the US Air Force in 1977 and completed basic training at Lackland AFB TX. Upon graduation, she attended technical school at Shepard AFB, Texas as a Medical Technician.
Her first assignment was at Offutt AFB, NE where she worked in OB/GYN, Labor and Delivery, and Newborn Nursery.
On 14 Oct 1978, Kathy married Ronald White at Scott AFB, IL. She was transferred there in January of 1979, and assigned to the hospital.
In 1981 she sought further training in the social actions career field as a substance abuse counselor.
In December of 1983, Kathy and Ron were transferred to 44 Air Base Group, Ellsworth AFB where they remained until April 1986 when they were transferred to Bitburg AB Germany. In 1990 they received orders to Edwards AFB in California and remained there until Kathy retired as a Master Sergeant in Feb 1995.
Following her husband’s retirement in 1997, they moved to Sturgis SD.
Kathy’s civilian career found her with Youth and Family Services in Rapid City. This tenure was followed by a position as a substance abuse counselor at Northern Hills Alcohol and Drug. There, she worked her way up from addiction counselor, counselor trainer/supervisor to clinical director.
In 2012 Kathy began working for the Department of Veteran Affairs as an Addiction Therapist in Hot Springs, SD. In August of 2014 she transferred to the Community Based Outpatient Treatment Clinic in Rapid City where she continues to work as the Lead Addiction Therapist.
Kathy is a licensed Addiction Counselor, as well as an international certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor.
Kathy was appointed by Governor Rounds to the Board of Addiction and Prevention Professionals in 2004 and was reappointed for two additional terms by Governor Daugaard. Kathy remained on the Board of Directors until October 31, 2015 when her final term expired.
Kathy is a member of the South Dakota Association of Addiction and Prevention Professionals, as well as The National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC).
Kathy and her family sponsored four foreign exchange students; two from Germany and two from Spain and received the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2012.
Kathy and Ron are members of St. Francis Catholic Church in Sturgis and Kathy volunteered with the catechism (CCD) program for nearly seven years.
Kathy is a member of the Sault Ste Marie Tribe Of Chippewa Indians, (pronounced "Soo Saint”) Sault Ste Marie Michigan.
Kathy enjoys fishing, camping hiking and rock hunting. She is also likes ceramics, gardening, craft painting, genealogy, cooking and spending time with her family.
