JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO–LACKLAND, Texas – Vouionette Burns-Harris assumed the role of acting director of manpower and personnel at the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center in July, bringing with her more than 16 years of Air Force experience and a career spanning private industry, federal service and overseas assignments.
We asked the Arkansas native about her journey, leadership style, and what excites her most about her new role in the AFIMSC team.
Tell us a little about your career.
My career has been focused on human resources, starting in private industry in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1998, where I helped open one of the largest hotels on the Las Vegas Strip: the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. I entered federal service with the Non-Appropriated Funds Human Resources Office in Okinawa, Japan, as a temporary human resources assistant and later moved into a regional human resources role with the United Services Organization. After completing my master’s degree, I reentered federal service with the Department of Defense Education Activity in Okinawa as an administrative support specialist from 2009 to 2011.
From 2011 to 2013, I served as the lead human resources specialist for performance management at Air Force Personnel Center headquarters, JBSA-Randolph. I then worked in employee relations at the 802nd Force Support Squadron, JBSA-Lackland, followed by an overseas assignment in labor and employee relations with the Commander Navy Region Human Resources Office in Yokosuka, Japan. I continued in employee and labor relations roles at Camp S.D. Butler in Okinawa and the 18th Force Support Squadron at Kadena AB before returning to JBSA-Randolph.
In 2018, I transitioned to a program and management analyst role at AFIMSC, JBSA-Lackland, where I served until 2022. From 2022 to 2024, I was the civilian personnel flight chief and civilian personnel officer for the 66th Force Support Squadron at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, supporting organizations across New England and New York. I returned to JBSA-Lackland as executive officer to the AFIMSC executive director before assuming my current role as director of manpower and personnel this summer.
What do you like most about serving in the Air Force?
As a strategic human resources leader, I value the ability to make a tangible impact on the lives and careers of our Airmen and civilian personnel. In my current role, I advise senior leadership and help shape policies and programs that support approximately 4,000 individuals stationed worldwide. It’s incredibly rewarding to lead human resources initiatives that contribute directly to mission readiness and the well-being of our workforce. I thrive on solving complex issues and am passionate about finding innovative solutions to improve employee effectiveness, engagement and satisfaction. Overseeing a wide range of human resources functions, from manpower planning to strategic development, allows me to apply my expertise in meaningful ways and build high-performing, resilient teams across the organization.
What excites you most about your new role?
I’m most excited about the opportunity to leverage my diverse HR experience to strategically impact the lives of our civilian and military personnel on a global scale. Having served in various HR positions, both stateside and overseas, I understand the unique challenges and opportunities our workforce faces. I’m eager to develop and implement innovative programs that foster a supportive and effective environment for our 4,000 personnel across 77 locations. Collaborating with senior leadership to drive strategic planning, HR process improvements, and manpower initiatives is a tremendous honor, and I’m ready to embrace the challenge.
How would you describe your leadership approach?
My leadership approach is rooted in transparency, trust, and teamwork. I believe in fostering open communication and sharing information to ensure everyone is aligned and informed. I strive to create an environment where individuals feel empowered to share ideas and concerns without hesitation. I build trust by being reliable, consistent, and demonstrating integrity in all my actions. I believe the best outcomes come from collaboration, drawing on the diverse skills and perspectives of each team member. My experience in key HR roles—at both intermediate headquarters and installation levels, including overseas assignments—has shaped a leadership style that prioritizes empathy and understanding. Whether providing strategic HR guidance at Hanscom AFB or leading initiatives at AFIMSC, I always emphasize creating a culture built on transparency, trust, and teamwork.
What do you want the AFIMSC team to know about you?
Team AFIMSC, as I step into this role, I want you to know a little more about who I am beyond my professional experience. My connection to the military runs deep. I’ve been a dependent ID cardholder since birth and am the proud spouse of an Air Force retiree. Family is everything to me. I’m a mom of three wonderful children, two sons and a daughter, and blessed with five handsome grandsons who bring so much joy to my life.
Outside of work, you’ll find me training for my next marathon. I’m incredibly excited to be running my first Abbott Major this October! I’m passionate about cooking, experimenting with new recipes, and sharing them with family and friends. Giving back to the community is also important to me. I’m an avid volunteer and a CASA (court appointed special advocate), working to support children in need.
Most importantly, I’m deeply committed to mentoring others and helping them achieve their goals. I believe in fostering a supportive and collaborative environment where everyone can thrive. Your success is my success. I’m excited to work alongside each of you, guided by our values of transparency, trust, and teamwork, as we continue to support the Air Force mission and empower our personnel to reach their full potential.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
People might be surprised to learn that behind the director’s desk and HR strategies, I’m a marathon runner! I’m chasing a personal goal to run either a half or full marathon in all 50 states. So far, I’ve completed six. It’s a challenging journey, both physically and mentally, but it’s a fantastic way to explore our beautiful country and push myself beyond my comfort zone. It’s a reminder that dedication, perseverance, and strategic planning are key to success in both my personal life and professional career.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is simple yet profound: “Choose your hard.”
Life is filled with challenges, but we often have the power to choose which ones we face. As your career becomes more senior, this means choosing between the hard of discipline versus the hard of regret, or the hard of a difficult conversation versus the hard of living with the consequences of avoiding it. This advice resonates with me because hard times will always exist, but each experience, both professionally and personally, gives me the tools and resilience to navigate them.
I compare this to marathon training: the run will always be hard, and there will always be moments of doubt and fatigue, but each training run and race builds endurance and mental toughness. It’s not about avoiding the hard, it’s about choosing the hard that leads to growth, fulfillment and accomplishment.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
I’m a leader who is deeply invested in the well-being and success of the formation. Your success is my success, and together we will continue to achieve great things for AFIMSC and the Air Force.
To learn more about Burns-Harris, read her official bio at www.afimsc.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/4274182/vouionette-d-burns-harris.