Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, Texas – Meet Maj. Dana Sanelli, the Program Integration Division deputy at AFIMSC Detachment 1, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. Sanelli and her team help bridge the gap between the Department of the Air Force, Headquarters Space Force and installations by supporting facility funding, operations, strategic basing actions, environmental requirements, leasing support and airfield waivers.
Q: Describe what your job is here at Detachment 1.
A: We work on current-year facility sustainment, restoration and modernization funding and execution. We also support facility operations funding, strategic basing actions, environmental actions, leasing support, airfield waivers and financial improvement and audit remediation efforts related to real property records.
Q: Why did you join the Air Force?
A: I joke that it seemed like a good idea at the time. I was 18, got accepted to the Air Force Academy, and every adult in my life said it was a good deal — free college and a guaranteed job. I stayed because I liked being part of a team pulling toward a common goal.
Q: What do you look forward to when you come to work?
A: It’s an adventure every day, but I really enjoy executing the centralized FSRM program on behalf of Headquarters Space Force. The program is small and flexible, but the projects tend to have a really big mission impact. It is especially rewarding at the end of the fiscal year when we can deliver a lot of value in a short period of time.
Q: What is unique about your job?
A: Space Force has a large number of geographically separated units, and support for those units is often not straightforward. It is always a learning experience to find the right path forward, but it is very rewarding when we identify the right people and processes to make something successful.
Q: Why is your team important to the Department of the Air Force and Space Force enterprise?
A: We are crucial at Detachment 1 because we bridge the gap between the Department of the Air Force at large and the Space Force under that umbrella. We have to understand the unique nuances of the Space Force and help ensure they get the support they need, even when they do not fit the traditional mold of Air Force bases. In many ways, we serve as a translator between the two.
Q: Describe a recent project that gave you a sense of accomplishment.
A: One of our most rewarding efforts involved real property audit readiness. Because the Space Force has so many geographically separated units and the real property accountability system rolled out later to Space Force bases, we were behind the rest of the Department of the Air Force. Detachment 1 helped secure Space Force-specific contract support, worked with installations, and helped the enterprise make significant progress. Over time, we became a center of excellence for real property audit efforts within the Space Force.
Q: Complete this sentence: I support our Airmen, Guardians and their families by…
A: Helping get crucial infrastructure projects across the finish line.
Q: What is your life like outside of work?
A: I enjoy the typical Colorado outdoor activities — skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing and paddle boarding. I also like to read, especially outside on the patio. Basically, anything I can do outside with my husband is always a good time.
Q: Is there anything else you would like people to know about the importance of your work?
A: Space is unique. It is new, exciting and challenging. Because of that unique structure, Detachment 1 helps bridge a crucial gap between AFIMSC, AFMC as the servicing major command, Headquarters Space Force and our installations.