38th EIG member retires after 41 years Published Jan. 22, 2009 By Amy Byers 38th Engineering Installation Group TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- Karen F. Nobles, chief of Contracting at 38th Engineering Installation Group, retired Jan. 3 after more than 41 years of service. Ms. Nobles began her federal service career in October 1967 as a GS-3 clerk typist at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Ms. Nobles accepted a GS-7 position at Tinker in September 1982. She subsequently accepted the position as deputy director of Contracting at the Communications Systems Center, now the 38th EIG, at Tinker in November 1988 and became the chief of Contracting in 1993. She converted all local telephone service for the Air Force from a highly regulated utility to a competitive environment saving more than $50 million for the Air Force. She implemented a training program that has seen many people move from entry GS-3 and 4 positions to GS 12/13/14 positions. She changed the operation and maintenance of Air Force base-telephone switches from large businesses to small businesses including many service disabled veteran owned small businesses. The retirement ceremony for Ms. Nobles will be held Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. in the 38th EIG "Hill" Theater.