#IAMIMSC: Master Sgt. Robert Garcia
Duty title and unit: 766th Specialized Contracting Squadron Strategic Acquisition Flight section chief, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
Primary duty responsibilities: My primary duties include managing and providing career development, mentorship and training for eight military and civilian personnel to ensure they are afforded all tools needed to support our mission partners in accomplishing their mission. I also supervise, review and approve contract requirements for 28 units that directly support U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Pacific Air Forces headquarters, the 15th Wing and the 647th Air Base Group.
What’s the best part of your job?
Interacting with people and learning about their personal interests outside of work.
What’s a recent project that gave you a great sense of accomplishment?
Keeping the mission going during the current COVID-19 situation has been rewarding. With many of our workforce currently teleworking, a few of us have been coming to the worksite to ensure the mission continues. This has proved vital as many people here, and throughout the Air Force, have had constant issues with the virtual private network and other network capabilities.
By coming into the office and assisting my flight, I am able to send much-needed documents to have our contract administrators continue their workload. These are the people in the trenches each and every day, getting the mission done not only for our flight but for our mission partners throughout USINDOPACOM. To be able to maintain and meet the demands of our mission partners during this situation brings me a sense of pride and accomplishment because I know my teammates within the flight are giving their all to ensure we, as a unit, do not fail.
Any claims to fame?
The only military or civilian notoriety I cherish are those of the people I lead being recognized for the great work they put in each and every day.
Do you follow any mantra?
Follow the words of the great Winston Churchill: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Anything else you’d like to add?
(On earning a quarterly award) I want to say thank you to all my teammates … It is the people I work for who made this happen through all their hard work, dedication, passion and drive for ensuring our mission partners received the support they needed. Without my teammates, I wouldn’t have won anything. This award is theirs as much as it is mine.