Team McConnell member retires after 40 years

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Toasts were made and glasses were 'clinked' in celebration of a Team McConnell member's 40-year-long career during a retirement event July 30.

Krista Jackson, 22nd Force Support Squadron human resource manager, was greeted by family, friends, co-workers and base leadership to wish her well as she moves on to the next chapter of her life.

"She is a phenomenal lady who has always taken care of her people," said Mary Reece, Airman and Family Readiness Center director. "There is so much experience that she has accumulated over the years and, unfortunately, we won't be able to save it into a continuity book, so we're going to lose a lot. Her shoes are going to be hard to fill."

Most of Jackson's career was spent at the AFRC, where she managed civilian resources, but it's not where she started out.

Her first 10 years involved contracting, civil engineering, medical and secretarial work. Eventually, she crossed paths with a civil engineer who mentored her and pushed her career to a new level.

"He would always say, 'kiddo, you're too smart to be a secretary, you gotta go where there's a potential to be promoted,'" said Jackson.

Jackson took his advice and found her passion at the AFRC, where she helped provide continuity support for more than 500 civilian personnel.

She worked her way up from a General Schedule 2 pay-grade position to a General Schedule 12 throughout her career, which is comparable to a junior enlisted Airman becoming a field-grade officer.

During her later years, Jackson said she enjoyed paying forward some of the advice and work ethic she learned from her mentors.

"I always recommend others to go the extra mile when you can, give a bit more and the customer always comes first," she said.

Although Jackson is leaving Team McConnell, she still has plans to help train the civilian personnel officer replacing her, and said she will be keeping in touch with her co-workers and friends she has made while here.

"She has done a great service to her country and it's been a pleasure working with her," said Col. Mark Larson, 931st Air Refueling Group commander. "Forty years as a civil servant, that's something to be proud of. She's always a happy and upbeat person and she's going to be missed."