JOHNSON CITY, Tenn., Feb. 16, 2026 — Mullican Flooring, one of the nation’s top hardwood flooring manufacturers, provided flooring for a new specially adapted smart home for a severely wounded military veteran through the Gary Sinise Foundation’s custom homebuilding program. 

The Gary Sinise Foundation serves U.S. defenders, veterans, first responders and their families through a variety of programs. The homebuilding program provides specially adapted, mortgage-free smart homes for the nation’s most severely wounded heroes, as well as home modifications, mobility devices and adapted vehicles for injured, wounded, ill and/or aging heroes.

A fully wheelchair accessible home was recently completed and gifted to retired U.S. Navy Commander Robert Ballard and his family in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Commander Ballard retired from a 20-year military career in naval aviation, including multiple deployments to the Middle East. He was working as a professional flight instructor when he was permanently injured in a terrible crash in 2021.

“We are greatly honored to contribute beautiful, high-quality wood flooring to Commander Ballard’s home, and partner with the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) in support of the Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E Program,” says Pat Oakley, president of Mullican Flooring. 

“In addition to serving his country both here and abroad, he saved the life of the student who was with him when their plane crashed, despite his own severe injuries — including paralysis. We hope that this new home will make daily life easier for him, and that he and his family will receive a great deal of enjoyment from it for many years to come.”

This was the 97th home built and dedicated by the Gary Sinise Foundation and the 82nd home for which the NWFA has provided flooring in support of the foundation. 

For more information about Mullican Flooring, visit www.mullicanflooring.com.