AUBURN — Tim Gallant, Maine staff assistant for Congressman Bruce Poliquin, will be the speaker at the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Lunch Club noon meeting on Thursday, Feb. 8, at the Village Inn, 165 High St.

When he is not representing Poliquin at events or working on local veterans’ benefits and claims, Gallant volunteers at his church, Pathway Vineyard, and serves the community through organizations such as the Lewiston Elks Lodge.

Gallant served in the Navy for 19 years, from 1975 through 1994. He attended boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois, and Navy Aviation Electrician School in Millington, Tennessee. He served with the Blue Angels in Pensacola, Florida, and Patrol Squadron 23 in Brunswick, where he was one of the first to earn the Air Warfare Designation in the Navy (AW).

He also served with the Naval Recruiting District New Jersey in Iselin, New Jersey, Naval Air Facilities AIMD in Lajos, Azores, Portugal, on the USS Destroy Peterson (DD 969), Norfolk, Virginia, while attached to Helicopter Squadron 34, and as the senior instructor at the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Upon retirement from the Navy, Gallant used his GI Bill to attend Concordia University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business management. He returned to Maine in 2001, and accepted a position as building grounds and transportation director at SAD 43 in Western Maine. He then became the parks superintendent for Rumford.

Gallant retired in 2009 and returned to school to earn a second degree in applied science as a drug and alcohol counselor. During this time and as a disabled veteran himself, he was also helping veterans receive benefits through his local VFW and American Legion post.

Since 2016, he has worked as a staff assistant to Poliquin out of his Lewiston office. While he focuses primarily on helping veterans with their benefits, the Lewiston office also helps constituents in dealing with the federal government and all federal agencies.

Reservations are not required at the luncheon. For more information on future Rotary speakers, contact President and Program Chairwoman Monica Millhime, 207-713-7045 or email millhime@myfairpoint.net. Events and other club information are posted at www.lewistonauburnrotary.org and www.facebook.com/lewistonmainerotary/.

Tim Gallant

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