Galvin, Simonson to be inducted into Abby Hall of Fame
Chris Galvin and Jordan Simonson will be inducted into Abbotsford’s Wall of Fame as Outstanding Alumni during a halftime ceremony at the Sept. 12 Homecoming football game versus Pacelli.
Chris Galvin was a 1988 graduate of Abbotsford High School, where he excelled both academically and athletically. He was a fouryear participant and multiple letter winner in football, basketball, and track and field. Along the way, he was the recipient of multiple awards and honors in each of the sports he participated in.
After graduating from Abbotsford, Galvin attended UW-La Crosse, earning a bachelor's degree in finance. He continued his education at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, graduating with a master of business administration degree in finance and strategic management.
Galvin began his professional career at the Fortis Financial Group and Associated Bank as a financial planner prior to transitioning into consumer banking, where he bolstered the bank’s brokerage department, growing it across 11 branches.
Beginning in 1994, Galvin spent eight years at the Target Corporation in multiple roles, including logistics, corporate finance, investments and financial planning during a period of large-scale growth of over 75 new stores. He was also part of the management team of the company’s $5 billion investment portfolio in support of the company’s benefit programs.
In 2002, Galvin joined the Anderson Corporation and is currently serving as chairman and chief executive officer, leading a group of 14,000 team members across 27 manufacturing and logistics operations and over 100 retail locations throughout North America.
Throughout his career at the Anderson Corporation, Galvin has had the opportunity to support the growth of the company and its team members through roles across finance, manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics.
Galvin has been involved in multiple boards and community non-profits. The Minnesota Business Partnership, St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation Board, Celebrating the Sistas Advisory Council, Minnesota Stroke Association, Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance, Habitat for Humanity, and Big Brothers, Big Sisters are just a few of the affiliations Galvin is associated with.
Galvin is the proud father of three adult children. Marquesa is a University of Iowa graduate and currently working in the admissions office for Hamline University. Lauren graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a focus in criminal psychology where she was a four-year captain for the volleyball team. Aidan is a senior at East Ridge High School and is a talented basketball and golfer.
Jordan Simonson graduated valedictorian of the Abbotsford High School class of 2004. He continued his education at UW-Madison, earning his bachelor of arts degree in psychology and sociology. He furthered his education, earning both his master’s degree and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Wash.
Lt. Col. Simonson earned his commission in 2012 and entered the Air Force via direct accession through the Commissioned Officer Training program, where he was a distinguished graduate. He completed his psychology training at Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Lt. Col. Simonson is a licensed clinical psychologist, master resilience trainer, and certified Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) psychologist.
Lt. Col. Simonson is presently serving as the mental health flight commander and squadron deputy, 18th Operational Medical Readiness squadron, at Kadena Air Force Base in Japan. He is the installation director of Psychological Health and leads the Mental Health, Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment, and Family Advocacy programs in the comprehensive health and readiness needs of the more than 15,000 Team Kadena beneficiaries.
In addition, Lt. Col. Simonson serves on the executive staff as the Biomedical Sciences Corps Executive (SGB) for the 18th Medical Group.
Prior to his current assignment, Lt. Col. Simonson served as mental health flight commander, 92nd Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, FairchildAFB, Washington. In this position, he directed mental health operations for more than 4,000 active duty members, while also serving as the installation’s lead psychology consultant.
Throughout his career, Lt. Col. Simonson has earned multiple major awards and decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air and Space Commendation Medal, Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster and combat device, Army Achievement Medal, Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters and the Air and Space Ribbon. In addition, he has several Field Grade Officer of the Year and Team Innovation of the Year commendations and earned the Pentagon’s General Robert J. Dixon Legacy Award in 2021.
Lt. Col. Simonson is the son of Eric and former Abbotsford School Board President, Toni Simonson. Lt. Col. Simonson is joined in Japan by his husband Gordon Way.
