22 Year Journey Ends

A Brief Foreward:  In the past three weeks I've worked with our local VA hospital to surprise our Hometown Hero, who will fly with the USAF Thunderbirds at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's upcoming Air Show.  Attended my last Military Affairs Committee event, which highlighted the Navy and Marine Corps facility located on DM.  Lined up a final Airman for an on-court 'Hero of the Game' recognition at the University of Arizona Basketball game.  Did three read aheads for Wing leadership, who were attending off-base community events.  And conducted my final civic leader tour, which was for military leadership and community leaders from Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska.

As all of this has been happening, I've been doing a lot of reflecting because yesterday was my final out at DM.  Actually, my final out working for the Department of Defense.  I'm just one month shy of 22 years.  Next Monday I'll in-process my new job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In this time of change and transition, I've been noting special connections.  As an Air Force brat, it was really nice ending my time as a DoD civilian at an Air Force Base.  And hosting the visitors from Omaha was also meaningful because I was living in Omaha when I got accepted into the Army's intern program for Public Affairs back in 2001.  It felt like some nice full circle moments.

A friend encouraged me to take some time to reflect on my nearly 22 years with DoD.  Over the past few weeks I wrote this blog and collected some photos.  I hope you'll take a few minutes to join me in this retrospective journey.  

With gratitude, Nicole

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This past summer my mantra became - 'Remote. Remote. Remote.'  Just days after returning to Arizona, after five years living overseas, we learned that the house we were expecting in July 2023 was coming a whole year early.  

The same day we got that news,  I wrote this in my journal: "So instead of having a year to prep and save -- we are going to be right in the mix of setting the house and settling in.  It makes me want a remote job even more so.  I really would love to find a remote writing job."  That was on 7 June 2022.  

Well, in September, I applied for a writer / editor position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  It was a remote job and the posting would close after 50 applications were received.  Fortunately I saw the advertisement that first day because it did close in 24 hours.  I learned in November, when I was contacted about doing an interview, that in that 24 hour time period they received more than 130 applications.  It took a while for Human Resources to go through all the applications but fortunately mine made it through.  By mid December I had received a tentative job offer. 

Fast forward a few months and next week I start my new job with the USDA.  I'll still be a federal employee, still gaining time towards retirement, but my nearly 22 year career (just one month shy) with the Department of Defense has come to an end.

Baghdad, Iraq - 2008

When I told one of my girlfriends about my new job, she told me that 22 years is comparable to a military member's career.  She encouraged me to take some time to reflect on my career and find a way to honor my civilian service to the Defense Department.  I thought that was really good advice and this blog post is my way of trying to do that. 

My career with DoD began with two summer internships during college working for the U.S. Air Force in Washington DC.  A year after graduating with my bachelors, I entered the Public Affairs career field through the Army's 18-month-long intern program.  I arrived at Fort Leonard Wood just weeks before the September 11th terrorist attacks.  

My career included working in the Pentagon for both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army.  Working at a combatant command (U.S. Africa Command) and at a component command (U.S. Army Africa).  Nearly 6 years at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base - one of Air Combat Command's busiest installations and home of the A-10 and Combat Search and Rescue assets. 

My five years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers included two voluntary deployments to Iraq.  And nine of those 22 years were spent living and serving overseas.   

I've had jobs where I did nothing but media relations.  Jobs were I focused on community engagement.  And then I've had assignments where I've done a little bit of everything. 

So in no particular order I thought I'd share some career highlights and memorable experiences.  Although this one does have to be first....

* Meeting my husband Tom at Fort Leonard Wood.  When we met in Mike Warren's office in August 2001, we could never have guessed what awaited us.  But a first date and first kiss in October sealed our fates.  We've been together ever since and will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary later this year.  Tom told me early on, after he was off active duty, that my career would take priority and that he would support me and move with me.  He certainly has -- quitting really good jobs twice in order to follow me.  Albeit to some pretty great places -- Germany and Italy!   

25 October 2003

* Working the night shift in the Emergency Operations Center at Fort Leonard Wood in the weeks following the September 11th attacks.  Tom loves to tell everyone how I asked him why everyone called him 'Chief.'  Coming from an Air Force family I was familiar with Chief Master Sergeants but I was unfamiliar with Chief Warrant Officers, which is Tom's rank.  He also will never let me forget the lime green and fuchsia pant suits I wore in those early years.     

 * Getting to fire the 50-cal machine gun during a night training exercise when I was escorting Pete Souza, a Chicago Tribune photographer.  This is my closest Presidential connection.  Pete would later become President Obama's chief photographer for all eight years of his presidency.  

Found my copy of the photo story when I was unpacking boxes from storage.

* Being at the Pentagon working in the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs for the Department of Army when the Iraq war started in early 2003.

* In the years following September 11th, the Army Corps of Engineers deployed thousands of civilians to Iraq and Afghanistan.  A primarily civilian organization, the Corps relied on civilian volunteers to work reconstruction efforts in both countries.  I volunteered twice.  Going to Mosul first and then four years later going to Baghdad.  These deployments are significant milestones in my career and also my life. 

Erbil, Capital of Iraqi Kurdistan

* Getting to make several trips aboard the Motor Vessel Mississippi during the Mississippi River Commission's annual inspection tour, traveling portions of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.

M/V Mississippi

* Supporting bicentennial events for the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

* Being part of a prayer group with co-workers from the St. Louis District.

* Deploying to Florida in the days following Hurricane Charley to help with emergency response efforts.

Florida - 2004

* Earning my master's degree and writing my master's thesis drawing from my first Iraq deployment.

 * Having Speaker Nancy Pelosi as my commencement speaker when I got my master's degree and then meeting her more than ten years later in Vicenza, Italy when she came through with a Congressional Delegation. 

* Being the lone public affairs officer in St. Louis after Hurricane Katrina because my two colleagues deployed to New Orleans.  I ran the office and handled all the queries we were receiving about the closure of navigation and commerce on the Mississippi River.

* Getting to travel to Washington DC with my District leadership for one of their biannual trips to visit U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives for the States of Missouri and Illinois. 

* Working at U.S. Africa Command in the early years of the command, living in Germany for three years (which was a lifelong dream of mine) and getting to travel to nine African nations.

First Trip to Africa - Democratic Republic of the Congo - 2010

Cameroon - 2011

Craftsmen in Liberia

* Supporting the communication of airlift operations during evacuations in Libya following the death of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

* Transitioning from mentee to mentor.  When I first arrived at Davis-Monthan AFB in 2012 I came from assignments where their had been many other public affairs civilians.  I was now the ONLY civilian in an office of 15 people.  I was also the oldest person in the office - a rather odd situation in my mid-30s.  

* Taking civic leaders on air-to-air refueling flights. 

* Watching daytime and nighttime A-10 flying operations at the Barry M Goldwater Range in southern Arizona.    

* Working at U.S. Army Africa for five years as a speechwriter, one of my favorite jobs, and living in Italy and visiting Africa three more times, going to two new countries.    

Supported ALFS in Nigeria, Botswana, Ethiopia and Fort Benning, Georgia

* Winning two speechwriter awards in 2022. 

* Working up to the 4-star command level.

* Transitioning from throwing up before my first deployment to ordering whole fish off menus in Africa.  My first deployment to Iraq brought an end to my nervous stomach! 

Nigeria - 2011

* Writing stories that highlighted the missions of the organization I worked for, and even, occasionally, taking some good photos.  I remember one was even hung in the U.S. Africa Command headquarters building and I was pretty proud.    

My photo taken in the DRC that hung in the AFRICOM headquarters for a while.

* I've seen the Eternal Flame in Kirkuk.  Visited a wildlife park in Botswana.  Visited all three provinces of Kurdistan.  Seen the Pink Lake in Senegal.  Rode in a motorized canoe on the Congo River near the area where they filmed the African Queen (Tom wasn't very happy about that one!)  I have more flying hours in helicopters than Tom.  And I got to be part of what I think might be the only St. Patrick's Day parade held in the Green Zone in Baghdad.       

* All my bosses (Tom finds it so annoying that I've had good bosses my ENTIRE care), co-workers, and friends who have been part of this journey.  

I truly believe that this new job is what God has for me now.  Although I hope it's not one of those 'be careful what you wish for' situations.  My parents worry that remote work may not offer enough social interaction and camaraderie with my co-workers.  And might be too isolating.   

I'm actually very comfortable with my own company and I think as long as I establish a good routine, I'll be okay.  I really liked something my mom shared that my grandma said when everyone was worried about her.  She said, "I may be alone but I'm not lonely."  I frankly will NEVER be alone or probably lonely.  I'll have three Blue Heeler co-workers monitoring me every day!  I will also make an effort to find ways to interact with people, whether through volunteering or classes (continuing education or exercise).

I am looking forward to starting a brand new phase of my career and life.  Tom wants me living in our new house when I start my new job so we're in the final push right now to get me and the fuzzy kids settled.  We've actually spent the past three nights in the our new home. 

I know I will always look back on this career with pride and gratitude.  I'm grateful to everyone who has been a part of it.  As a gift, if you worked with me or knew me during these 22 years, I hope you'll share your favorite work / co-worker memory or story with me.  I'd love to save and capture those into a memory book.  I always have people telling me - 'Remember this?  Remember that?' - and I so often don't.  I've shared some favorite memories.  I'd love it if you'd share one of yours. 

Thank you for reading and allowing me to share these reflection on what has been a wonderful and rewarding career.  

Here are a few more photos from the journey.

Dredge Potter

The Eternal Flame - 2005

Pink Lake in Senegal

Our boat on the Congo River

St Patty's Day in the Green Zone

Honorary Commander Change of Command 2022

More helo time than Tom

21 Feb 2023 - Last day at DM

And a final treat.  A video made by my AFRICOM co-worker and travel buddy Amanda McCarty to memorialize our trip down the Congo.