Elizabeth G. (Allen) Peterson was born on Sept 6, 1962 to Robert W and Gloria G. (Hunter) Allen of Flemington. Thirty-nine years later, in September 2011, her military assignment was at the Pentagon.
She went to Lock Haven High School where she played softball and basketball during her freshman year. She was also involved in the Future Business Leaders of America and worked part time through a school work program.
Peterson entered the U.S. Navy in October 1980. She attended boot camp in Orlando, Fla. at the Naval Training Center Orlando. There, she was selected to join the ladies drill team and performed in a couple of graduation ceremonies.
After graduating in late November 1980 as a Seaman Recruit (SR), Peterson was assigned to "A" school in Meridian, MS where she was trained as a Yeoman (YN).
After completing her training, she was designated as a Yeoman Seaman (YNSN) and was then stationed in San Diego, Calif. at the Navy Legal Service Office, 32nd Street, Naval Station. After a year as YNSN, she was promoted to Yeoman Third Class (YN3). She excelled in her administrative duties and was then assigned to the Commander Naval Base in downtown San Diego.
It was there, in 1982, that she met her husband, Billy Peterson, who was also stationed in San Diego aboard a guided missile destroyer, the USS Waddell (DDG 24). Her daughter, Stephanie, was born in January 1983 while her husband was on a six-month western Pacific tour of duty doing routine operations off the coast of Australia.
After completing four years of duty, she was honorably discharged in September 1984 as a Yeoman Second Class (YN2). Her husband was transferred to the Personnel Support Detachment (PSD), Crystal City, Va. Peterson entered the civil service as a secretary and was assigned to the Strategic Systems Program Office (SSPO).
After a few years assigned within the administrative field, she transferred to the Pentagon as an IT Specialist for the Department of the Army Inspector General's office (DAIG) in 1987. She entered the computer field and supported various sections of the DAIG and also instructed new system administrators on how to utilize the IGNET systems.
In 1992, Peterson competed for a promotion and was assigned to the Army's Information Management Support Center (IMCEN).
She was supporting the Army's senior offices in the Pentagon during the September 2001 attacks. Many of her co-workers and friends were lost in the attacks.
Today she continues to support the Army's customer base with the Information Technology Agency Data Center within the Pentagon.
Peterson said she thinks the Hometown Heroes Program is a great idea, as it lets people who have served their country know that we are proud of their military efforts.
