#IAMIMSC: Bernard Lawson
Duty title and unit: AFIMSC Emergency Manager, AFIMSC Special Staff, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
Primary duty responsibilities: I manage a diverse emergency management program and serve as the AFIMSC and Air Force Security Forces Center’s emergency manager, coordinating, planning, directing, controlling and administering the EM program. I also provide advisory EM services to commanders, supervisors and functional managers. This role allows me to support the commander and all AFIMSC Airmen.
What’s the best part of your job?
Assisting and working with the different functional areas within AFIMSC directorates and primary subordinate units, headquarters staff and mission partners.
Why are you and your job important to the Air Force and AFMC?
I, and the entire headquarters AFIMSC EM team, protect AFIMSC by coordinating and integrating all activities necessary to build, sustain and improve the capability to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to and recover from threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters to ensure AFIMSC can continue its mission.
What’s a recent project that gave you a great sense of accomplishment?
The AFIMSC director of staff recently tasked the EM team to review the continuity plan for efficiency and effectiveness. I assembled a tiger team of subject matter experts from all directorates and local PSUs, conducted training sessions, assessed the continuity of operations plan, or COOP, and identified and mitigated the shortfalls and capability gaps. The result was a successful redesign and rewrite of the entire COOP. I am very proud of the tiger team; the success of the project gave me a great sense of accomplishment.
Which AFIMSC priority do you most identify with – or see yourself and your job fitting into – and why?
I would have to say a combination of LOE 1: Increase Lethality & Readiness and LOE 2: Strengthen Airmen and Families because our team enables a safe place to work and provides training to ensure readiness.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
I am a professional firearms instructor certified by the Texas Department of Public Safety and a certified instructor with the United States Concealed Carry Association. I also serve as an expert witness in the use of force in the State of Texas. During my off time, I enjoy teaching new and advanced shooters and providing Texas license-to-carry certifications to our military, civilians and contractors.
I also have an upcoming non-profit organization called the National Gun Association of Minority Americans. My team will provide the funding and resources needed for groups that fall under the poverty guidelines to receive firearms training and certifications. We will also promote armature shooting sports competitions across the U.S. by introducing new shooters to the sport at little to no cost.