PeggyLee Wright

TESTIMONIAL

PeggyLee Wright

Founder
The Company You Keep

PeggyLee Wright is a U.S. Army veteran who relocated to the Huntsville area with her husband, T.J. During her time in the service, she flew UH-60 Blackhawks with the 82nd Airborne Division, executed missions in Honduras and Central America, and built a foundation of grit, resilience, and operational excellence during her command at Fort Lee, Virginia.

PeggyLee now operates her own company and also serves as Executive Director of the Foundation for the Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering (ASCTE).

She and her husband TJ live in the Huntsville area and have two sons and two daughters.

Q: Where do you live?

Fayetteville, TN

Q: Where are you from and how did you get to the Redstone region?
Before moving to this region, my family and I lived in the Washington, D.C. area for five years, so I truly understand the fear of culture shock. When you are coming from a major metro area, especially one tied so closely to national security, defense, government, and mission-driven work. It is natural to worry.

Fifteen years later, I can honestly say this region is home.

One of the things I want Space Command families to understand is that working in Huntsville does not mean you have to live in Huntsville proper. Huntsville is an incredible center of gravity for space, defense, technology, innovation, and national security, but the Redstone Region gives families choices. You can work in one of the most important mission-focused communities in the country and still choose a lifestyle that fits your family… whether that is city living, a neighborhood in Madison, a quieter community in North Alabama, or small-town life in Southern Tennessee like we have in Fayetteville.

For us, Fayetteville gave us space, community, a slower pace, and a true sense of belonging, while still keeping us connected to the work, people, and purpose of the Redstone region. That balance has been such a gift.

I know people may wonder if they are giving something up. But what we found here was not less… it was different in the best possible way. We found room to breathe, opportunities to serve, a place to raise our children, meaningful work, deep friendships, and a community that shows up.

We came here for opportunity. We stayed because it became home.

Q: If you raised/are raising kids in the Redstone region, please share about their education experience.

We have raised our children in this region, and their education experiences have been extraordinary, and I do not say that lightly, as both my husband & I have military and educational backgrounds.

As a family, we have experienced education here in several different ways. We homeschooled. We chose private education. We have also been part of the state’s public education. And honestly, we cannot say enough great things about any of those options.

That is one of the things I love most about the Redstone Region: education is not confined to one zip code, one path, or one definition of success. Families have choices. There are strong homeschool communities, excellent private schools, dedicated public schools, specialized programs, career tech pathways, dual enrollment opportunities, and unique schools like the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering.

For our children, those different educational seasons gave them exactly what they needed at different stages of life. They had access to rigorous academics, leadership opportunities, athletics, service, faith-based communities, mentors, internships, and real-world exposure that many students do not get until college or beyond.

Our kids have been challenged, supported, loved, and given opportunities to lead. They have benefited from educators, coaches, business leaders, military leaders, and community volunteers who genuinely care about helping young people become the best version of themselves.

For families moving here, especially families wondering whether their children will be okay in a new place, I would say this: your children will have options here. They can be known here. They can grow here. They can lead here. And they can absolutely thrive here.

 

Q: What is an ideal weekend for you?

My idea of an ideal weekend has definitely changed over the years. We just finished our first year as empty nesters, so after years of ballgames, school events, practices, dorm drop-offs, leadership commitments, and trying to keep four very busy children fed, alive, and pointed in the right direction, we are learning what weekends look like in this new season.

And I have to say…  it is not terrible.

One of the beautiful things about this region is that there is something for every season of life. When you are raising children, there are incredible schools, sports, activities, churches, mentors, and community programs. When your house gets quieter, there are just as many ways to stay connected, purposeful, and busy.

The nonprofit community here is one of my favorite parts of living in the Redstone Region. If you want to serve, this place will absolutely fill your dance card… and not just on the weekends. You can be engaged every day of the week supporting veterans, students, families, healthcare access, the arts, education, workforce development, animals, food insecurity, youth leadership, and so many other causes that matter. This region gives people a chance to plug in quickly and make a real difference.

For a fun weekend, I love having the option to enjoy both a slower pace and a full calendar. We can head to Smith Lake (Cullman County), which is only about an hour to an hour and a half away depending on what part of the lake you are visiting. It is close enough for a quick getaway but far enough that you feel like you have stepped out of the week and into a deep breath.

I also love antiquing. There is something about wandering through antique stores, small towns, and little hidden gems across North Alabama and Southern Tennessee. You never know what you will find… for me, it is usually something I absolutely do not need but suddenly cannot live without.

That is what I love about living here. You can work in a region that is doing nationally significant, mission-critical work, and then spend your weekend on the lake, serving a nonprofit, exploring a small town, shopping for antiques, eating somewhere local, or sitting on your porch remembering what quiet sounds like.

The Redstone Region gives you purpose, pace, and possibility… and in this empty-nester season, we are learning to enjoy all three.

Q: What is one thing you would like Space Command personnel to know about the region?

This region is brilliant, yes. It is innovative, yes. It is growing, absolutely. But what makes it special is the heart of the people who live here. People care on purpose. They support the mission, but they also support each other.

So if you are wondering whether your family can thrive here, I would say yes. Not because it is exactly like where you came from, but because it may become something you did not even know you needed.

Huntsville will impress you with its innovation. The Redstone Region will win you over with its heart.