JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – It’s Mission Monday. Meet Bernard Lawson Jr., Continuity of Operations and Crisis Action Team program manager for the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center enterprise.
He works with representatives from across AFIMSC to ensure the organization is ready to respond to various scenarios during emergencies impacting the center as well as installations across the Department of the Air Force. For example, the CAT mobilized recently to coordinate AFIMSC's response when Typhoon Mawar impacted Andersen AFB on Guam.
Lawson, a U.S. Army retiree born and raised in Akron, Ohio, is also the emergency management and antiterrorism representative for headquarters AFIMSC on JBSA.
We asked him to tell us a little more about himself and the work he does for the Department of the Air Force.
What do you love about your job?
Having the opportunity to serving in the U.S. Air Force and making a difference where I can for Airmen and leadership in the AFIMSC enterprise around the world.
When it comes to your job, what keeps you motivated?
Adversity could strike at any time that may impact normal daily operations. I am motivated in efforts to ensure mission essential functions continue to be performed throughout the AFIMSC enterprise during a wide range of emergencies, including acts of nature, accidents and technological or attack-related emergencies.
Why are you and your team important to the Air Force/Space Force enterprise and your customers?
My team plays a crucial role ensuring the AFIMSC enterprise can continue its mission under all circumstances by ensuring readiness, training and exercising continuity plans and communication capabilities.
Describe a project or event you and your team worked on recently that gave you a great sense of accomplishment:
Our team hosted a two-day workshop where we brought together AFIMSC’s Taskforce Agile Mission Support subject matter experts from various AFIMSC directorates and primary subordinate units to train, plan and discuss Installation and mission support execution during contingencies. The workshop enabled us to stay proactive and in a high state of readiness should we be needed during a crisis.
How does what you do support AFIMSC’s strategic priorities?
Our mission is to ensure a high state of readiness by training, developing plans and exercising plans across the enterprise.