MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- As a spotlight performer, individuals are chosen by leadership for demonstrating the Air Force's Core Values: Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.
Nettie Webb, 22nd Force Support Squadron civilian personnel officer, received the spotlight performer for the week of Jan. 30 – Feb. 3.
Webb manages the wing civilian personnel office. She advises commanders, key managers and supervisors on the full range of civilian human resource management, which includes requirements, accessions, development, sustainment, retirements and separations.
“Nettie has one of the most challenging, dynamic and important positions on this installation,” said Capt. Adam Staricha, 22nd FSS manpower and personnel flight commander. “She manages 582 civilian positions with her staff and was in the process of recruiting and filling 65 civilian vacancies when word of the civilian hiring freeze came down. Throughout this ever-changing process, she has kept wing leadership informed regarding updates from Air Force Personnel Center while providing commanders with the information to make the best decisions possible. Nettie is an indispensable asset to the wing, and her professionalism and dedication is unmatched.”
Webb, an Enid, Oklahoma, native, started working with the Air Force in October 2002 and started working at McConnell in August 2014. She has a husband and two daughters. Her hobbies include running, crafts and traveling the world with her family.
Who is the most positive influence in your life and why?
The most positive influence in my career would be my mentor, who was a previous supervisor of mine in two different positions I’ve held. She shared her story with me and she started her career where I started my career as a human resources assistant. She has always encouraged me to learn as much as I can about my career field and it will take me where I want to go. I still keep in touch with her and share my career updates with her.
If you could give advice to a new Airman, what would it be and why?
I would encourage all Airman, to include civilians, to set personal goals and don’t leave your career decision in someone else’s possession or you will never get where you want to be. At the end of the day, it’s your decision to decide your career path and goals. Of course the road to success might be a little rocky at times, but you have to push through that and continue to work toward those goals. Once you’ve meet those goals, set new goals.
What is one goal that you have already accomplished, or would like to accomplish, during your Air Force career?
As a prior military spouse of 22 and a half years, I continued to work toward my goal of getting my degree no matter where we lived in the world and even having to move duty stations in the middle of trying to finish it. With a lot of dedication and hard work, I have made it to my first accomplishment in career by holding the current position I’m in. The next goal in life is to get my second-level degree and advance in my career to the major-command level or higher.
Where is the most interesting place you have traveled and why do you feel that way?
The most interesting place I’ve traveled to would be Clark Air Force Base, Philippines, and the town surrounding it. I grew up lower-middle class and didn’t have everything I wanted, but learned a lot of life lessons along the way and it help build me into the person I am today. It was very eye opening for me to see the way that some of the people were living in that community. The poverty of some families were heart breaking to me. As a kid, I had what I needed: such as a house to live in, clothes, shoes and an education. There, so many kids were running around in the middle of the day trying to work to support their family and not in school getting an education. This just blew me away. If I could make a change in the world it would be to make sure all children get an education to better themselves as they become adults.
If you had the opportunity to meet anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
I would want to meet Iron Man. When I step back and look at him and then look at myself, I see myself like the part of him that tries to solve and fix all the problems, but sometimes we can’t fix everything, and we need assistance too. I would have to ask: how does he manage everything he does?