Shannon is a U.S. Navy Veteran. She graduated basic training in September 2006, and attended Accession training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Her subsequent assignment at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, placed her at the heart of midshipman development. While stationed at Naval Station Annapolis, she played a vital role in the daily operations, maintenance, and security of the Yard Patrol Craft (YP), small training vessels crucial for cultivating the navigational, seamanship, and damage control skills of future naval officers. Charged with ensuring the operational safety and security of these training missions, Shannon and her fellow service members were instrumental in the hands-on training and qualification of midshipmen, directly contributing to their attainment of Coxswain certificates through the utilization of the YP fleet.