Her Story
About Vickie
I worked 37 years with the Department of Defense and 32 years in uniform with the United States Air Force. My position was to design weapons systems to replace the aging weapon systems and keep the United States of America in the lead on weaponry. I started back in 1984 working at Kelly Air Force Base, an engine repair and overhaul depot. Then I moved on to work on some major weapon systems that we developed. One was the C-17, the new aircraft cargo carrier that's going to replace the C-5. Then I was program manager for the F-22, which is a fighter jet, Air Force only, and it's been deployed. I also worked on the F-35 in my last position, and we sold that system to several other countries in a partnership. I retired from the Pentagon. During that time, I spent 24 months in Afghanistan supporting the war, working contracts for the U.S. and responsible for the contractors throughout Afghanistan. I dealt with defense contractors including Pratt & Whitney, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Standard Arrow, and Hamilton Standard. I was the program manager for military sales for Israel, and I sold Israel the F-35s that they are using today. From 2006 to 2009, I took a position at Randolph Air Force Base in the Personnel Center where I hired 359 college grads into the acquisition program for the United States of America, putting children to work and bringing people in that could fill the shoes as the seniors retired. I hired those children all across the United States from colleges from California to East Coast, to Boston University, from New Orleans through Ohio State University, and all the colleges in between. After I did that, I went back to the Pentagon. I retired from the United States Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant, which is the highest rank that you can achieve. Upon graduating from college, I was selected off the stage to go to Michigan and work for General Motors. I started out as a college grad in training and went on to my supervisory position there. I worked there 4 or 5 years until the American automobile industry took a low turn when we allowed foreign cars to be imported into our country. I was subsequently laid off and then went on to pursue my Air Force career. Now I'm retired, and I work for Castle Rock, a new home builder, as an independent contractor.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Vickie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I had a strong background rearing from my mother. When I look back on 70 years, I always took the challenge. I never took the easy road. And I think that has got me where I am today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
As you go down your career, or go up your career, take every challenge that you can. Don't ever be comfortable with what you're doing. Because once you become complacent, growth will stop. And what you want to do is grow. You want to be able to cast a wide net, you want to grow in your career field. So, don't ever become complacent, because growth will stop.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One opportunity is for young people that come out of college, of course with a respectable GPA, to apply for the Palace Acquire intern training program that the United States Air Force has to offer. That program brings them in as a GS7. They get promoted all the way up to a GS12. That's about $75,000 a year, each year. And it trains them to do acquisition, to keep all our weaponry at the highest grade, at the highest level. We don't ask the contractor how much is it gonna cost, because as the government, we don't, we're gonna only pay what we have, but we want the best you can give us. Because it's for the country. So it's not how much you charge me. No, we're only gonna pay this much, but we want the best. And our money's guaranteed.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Number one, I'm a Christian, and I love the Lord. And so that's one of my top values, because I feel strongly about my faith. Other values I have is being committed to what you're doing. No matter what it is, be committed. And give all you can. Another value of mine is just simple, have integrity. Be honest. Don't do the least you can do, do the most you can do. And always try to do it with a cheer and a smile. Anytime you have problems or situations, that's what we're here for, is resolution. As long as you work as a team, you'll get there. Teamwork makes the dream work.
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