BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, CALIF. –
Air Force Reserve Command Command's 940th Air Refueling Wing recently announced its 2008 Senior Non-commissioned Officer of the Year.
Acting Chief for the 940th ARW Public Affairs Office, as a civilian, Master Sgt. Ellen Hatfield won the wing's prestigious award. She was the NCO in charge of Public Affairs through 2008, and now her current military duty is Superintendent of PA for the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis AFB.
Sergeant Hatfield declared she was overwhelmed when her name was announced at the wing's commander's call.
"I'm still trying to absorb it, but I don't stop to think about it because there is so much to do every day," Sergeant Hatfield said. "I like to think that I won because I'm a bit of a driven perfectionist and because I'm passionate about people and public affairs!"
The Senior NCO of the year graduated from Air Force basic training February 1981 and served on active duty for a little over 3 years. Sergeant Hatfield took an 11 year break from the Air Force and joined the Reserve in July, 1995. She has served in a variety of public affairs positions throughout her Air Force reserve career.
"I joined federal civil service at the same time I came into the Reserve," Sergeant Hatfield said. "I was an Air Force Reserve Technician for 17 months at the 928th Airlift Wing at O'Hare International Airport Air Reserve Station and then transferred to 22nd Air Force Headquarters at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. where I was the deputy chief for almost 11 years."
According to Sergeant Hatfield, public affairs is the best job in the Air Force because each day brings on a different challenge.
"Our job is so diverse and full of surprises. We love those calls like 'Hey, we have a great photo op for PA,' and we grab the camera and go," Sergeant Hatfield said. "We believe everyone in the Reserve has a unique story to tell, and we're always out trying to find those stories."
Consequently, her most rewarding experience with the wing was the KC-135 departure ceremony in May, 2008.
"The event touched everyone in the Wing in a special way. It was a class act, and it will be tough to top that one; the tankers were amazing aircraft," Sergeant Hatfield said.
In her leisure time, she enjoys walking her Great Dane, Dinah and traveling to various Northern California wineries with her husband, David Wilhite, recently retired from the 940th.
Sergeant Hatfield said her award is the culmination of great mentors and public affairs leadership she has had throughout her entire Air Force Reserve career.
"I am a merely a reflection of the great people who work with me every day in the Air Force Reserve, and I'm a product of some great mentors," Sergeant Hatfield said.