MADISON – Just returning from an overseas vacation, Paula Cushman said her thoughts for “Why I Love This Town” are very timely.

“Everyone in the group, without exception, bragged on home,” she said. “We all cared about our hometown’s success. It almost became a game of one-upmanship telling stories.” She bragged about Madison’s friendliness, convenience, intelligence and energy.

“It’s just home … that comfort level of knowing where I am and seeing familiar persons and places,” Paula said. She appreciates Madison’s clean landscapes with little vandalism. Paula likes hearing the police or fire chief speak to Rotary Club of Madison and then meet a first-responder “in a store in our just-right-size community.”

An Oklahoma native, Paula and her family then moved to El Paso, Texas. She attended New Mexico State University and finished bachelor’s and master’s degrees with University of Texas – El Paso. With a Taft Fellowship from UT – Austin, she pursued graduate work at UTEP.

The Cushmans thought they would move to Huntsville, Texas for Steve’s final PCS but orders switched to Redstone Arsenal. “What a fortuitous and wonderful change!” Paula said.

“My husband, Steve, retired from the Army, then from NASA and had fun until July 2016,” Paula said. “We had no children, though I was blessed with a stepson Chris and his family who live in Cincinnati.” The grandsons are “Max, the brainy beanpole and Ben, the shy tank.”

For 15-plus years, Paula has supported Rotary Club of Madison. Currently, Paula serves as board secretary for The Salvation Army, along with Madison Disability Advocacy Board and its new EPIC board. She chaired the 16th annual Women Honoring Women gala for Women’s Economic Development Council Foundation. She holds membership with WEDC, Catalyst board and Madison Hospital’s Women’s Advisory Council.

She volunteers with Madison Animal Rescue Foundation, Family of the Year committee and helped Jane Dow in building Kids Kingdom.

She retired as president of Aviation and Missile Solutions LLC, a joint venture of Camber Corporation and Dynetics Inc. that provided engineering services to AMCOM. After retiring, she has served on corporate boards of directors.

Paula owns Dixie, “my precious four-legged family member, a golden retriever.”

Her favorite restaurants are Cricket’s and Edo’s.