OC-ALC chief of Staff retires after 32-year career

Published April 27, 2012
By Brandice J. O'Brien
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Seven words changed the course of Laura Culberson's budding career. After having said, "Might as well see what's out there" to her father's suggestion, the college student pursued a federal service job, which led to a successful 32-year career. On April 30, the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center chief of Staff will retire.

As Ms. Culberson reminisced about her career and the memories that gave her character, she said it is the people who shaped her day-to-day and the sense of belonging that she will miss the most.

"I've worked out here almost my whole life and made many very good friends, and I'm going to miss the day-to-day interaction," she said. "The other thing I'm going to miss, as strange as it sounds, is driving to work and through the gate. It's just one of those feelings that as you're driving to work you take for granted; but, it's a sense of belonging. It's when you come through the gate and realize, 'I have a place to go every day.'"

As a young Oklahoma City Community College student, Ms. Culberson worked accounting in a downtown box factory. She had thought about pursuing a better job when her father, an electrician in Tinker's Distribution Directorate, suggested she apply for a secretarial position.

Hired into the Financial Management Section, she began as a General Schedule-3 civilian answering phones, taking messages and learning as much as she could. The young federal employee soon met and was in awe of two GS-9 civilians, who have since retired at the GS-15 rank and will attend her retirement ceremony.

"I thought, 'Man, if I get to be a GS-9 like they are, I'll have it made!'" Ms. Culberson said. "That was back when I didn't know the difference between the grades and needed the money."

Ms. Culberson graduated with an Associate of Science degree in Mathematics in 1984 and began climbing her way up the career ladder. She worked in supply and product support acquisition and sustainment management, logistics, supply transformation and staff positions. She also spent two years in the late 1990s at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in program management. Additionally, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree.

In 2007, she landed at the then-327th Aircraft Sustainment Group as deputy director and was responsible for the acquisition, modification and logistics support of the B-52 Stratofortress fleet. For two years it was a job she thoroughly enjoyed and had no intention of leaving. Until, one day she, now a GS-15, received a phone call notifying her she was being considered for the OC-ALC chief of Staff position.

"They called me and said, 'You're on the short list for the position,' and I said, 'Thank you, but I don't think I'm interested,'" Ms. Culberson said. "They said, 'No, you don't understand, you're on the short list for this position, and we're going to interview people and we want you to come down and talk to us.'"

Ms. Culberson soon found herself in an interview with John Over, former OC-ALC executive director, and retired Maj. Gen. David Gillett, OC-ALC commander.

"I told them I didn't think I was the right person and I appreciated their interest in me, but I didn't want it. I proceeded to answer every question just like you wouldn't in an interview," Ms. Culberson said. "I never even dreamed they would make me come down here, at least that's the way I looked at it at the time."

But, she did and Ms. Culberson said she is glad as she enjoyed working with General Gillett and Maj. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, current OC-ALC commander.

"Laura has a career full of major accomplishments. Her work ethic and dedication to the mission underscore every job and task she has undertaken from her starting position as a GS-3 to the culmination of a highly successful career as OC-ALC chief of Staff," said General Litchfield. "Tinker and our Air Force are more capable because of her
unwavering leadership. On behalf of all of Team Tinker, we are grateful for her service and the opportunity to work with a true professional."

Ross Marshall, current OC-ALC executive director, agreed.

"There is probably no one on this base who better understands what it takes to be successful at meeting warfighter needs," said Mr. Marshall. "Laura Culberson understands the entire operation. She's a model leader and a superb people person. She knows what it means to focus on continually improving. This Center is a better place because of her impact. She'll be missed."

In her two-and-a-half-year tenure, she also gained several fans.

"Laura has displayed the unique ability to grasp and communicate the big picture up and down the chain of command, provide senior leaders quality advice, and manage an incredible number of details which ultimately facilitated a cohesive, productive team, and that team includes the 72nd Air Base Wing," said Col. Steven Bleymaier, 72nd ABW and Tinker installation commander. "We recognize the value Laura brought to everything she influenced; the ABW will sincerely miss her."

Col. Robert Helgeson, 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group commander, agreed.
"Laura Culberson is an exceptional civilian leader and chief of Staff to the OC-ALC commander. She has done great things to support this center and take great care of all the supporting organizations to include our 76th Maintenance Wing and 76th PMXG," he said. "We will miss her and wish her the very best of luck in retirement."

Ms. Culberson said she's learned many valuable lessons throughout her fruitful career and enjoyed the various jobs she's worked, but the one lesson that has had the most impact on her she had to gain the hard way. These days, she passes on the advice to others.

"Look out for your own career and have a deliberate plan on where you want to go," Ms. Culberson said. "That will help you choose the right opportunities to build a meaningful career."

Maybe her career would have taken a different turn or maybe she wouldn't have had to learn the lesson through trial and error, but Ms. Culberson said it has been worth it.
"Tinker's a great place and I feel very fortunate that I stumbled onto a job out here," she said.