Uma Lama was born in Nepal and has been a resident of New York City since 2013. In 2018, she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in Counseling from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
In 2019, Uma enlisted in the United States Army as a Water Treatment Specialist. While serving with the 602nd Aviation Support Battalion at Camp Humphrys, South Korea, she earned the Army Achievement Medal after being named Battalion Soldier of the Month in 2020, and the Army Commendation Medal for exceptional technical and leadership performance. She demonstrated initiative by organizing and leading classes and hands-on training during the 2nd Infantry Division training exercise and played a vital role in troubleshooting the Light Water Purification System, showcasing both expertise and problem-solving ability.
From 2020 to 2024, Uma was assigned to the 277th Aviation Support Battalion, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York. As the Battalion Hazardous Material Non-Commissioned Officer, she earned another Army Achievement Medal for ensuring safe and efficient movement of more than 50 hazardous shipments in preparation for a training rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center and a deployment to Iraq. She also excelled as a Company Retention Non-Commissioned Officer, earning the Army Commendation Medal for surpassing reenlistment mission goals in both 2023 and 2024. Additionally, she managed responsibilities as her unit’s Training Room Non-Commissioned Officer, demonstrating outstanding organizational and leadership skills.
One of Uma’s proudest accomplishments was her selection to the highly competitive U.S. Army Green to Gold Active-Duty Option Program commissioning program. As part of this selection, Uma is currently enrolled in Syracuse University’s Army ROTC program and pursuing a master’s degree in social work. Upon graduating from Syracuse University in May 2026, Uma will commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army and continue her service to our nation.
