I was fortunate to have been able to serve our great nation in the Air Force for 30 years. I entered into the Air Force on Dec. 1, 1988, and retired Dec. 1, 2018, as a chief master sergeant (E-9). I traveled the U.S. as well as the world.

I experienced different positions in the Air Force, from supply, recruiter, instructor, aircrew flight equipment, group chief, and some time as an interim command chief. I had 10 different assignments, including Wyoming, North Carolina, Illinois, Mississippi, Texas, North Dakota, Arkansas, South Dakota, Korea, and Japan, and numerous temporary assignments in locations ranging from the U.S. to the Middle East, and Puerto Rico.

The experiences that I gained in the Air Force more than prepared me for my current career at Highmark Federal Credit Union. While in the Air Force I attended numerous leadership and management training courses as well as courses at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School for strategic planning and Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee for process improvement.

Having the privilege to supervise, mentor, and lead in the Air Force made it much easier to do so in my current role. Supervising, leading, and mentoring anywhere from five to over 900 people provided pretty much every situation you can image. Having these experiences prepared me to take on positions in the human resources arena.

Being exposed to and experiencing different cultures in the U.S. and overseas was a huge benefit to me that I use daily. Volunteering in local communities across the U.S. and overseas has been a great experience to utilize in the credit union. Experiencing high stressed environments while in the Air Force prepared me for any situation I may come across in the credit union. The structure, discipline, dedication, and leadership opportunities were all invaluable for me to utilize in the credit union.

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