BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.--
For many Airmen, a career in the United States Air Force is considered complete after serving 20 or more years in uniform. Others
may seek out and find opportunities to continue serving those in and out of uniform through employment as a Department of Defense civilian.
This dedication to service is what led Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center’s Felicia Foster to her current role as the DoD civilian sustainment chief for
Directorate of Total Force Services.
“I started as an officer in the Active Duty Air Force in 1994 and was stationed at ARPC twice, once in 2009, and then again in 2014 before I retired,” said Foster.
“In 2016, I came back to ARPC as a civilian to serve as the chief of the sustainment division for the DPTS directorate. I loved the people and the mission of ARPC so much I knew I had to come back!”
Foster said her primary reason for initially joining the Air Force was the opportunity it presented her to be able to help others. The desire to serve others never left Foster and led to her returning to ARPC.
“I decided to come back to ARPC as a DoD civilian after I retired because I felt as if there was still more for me to do,” said Foster. “I wanted to give back to
the center by sharing what I have learned over the years with others in the center. I wanted to give them the tools and wisdom they need to succeed in their jobs.”
As the sustainment chief for the DPT directorate, Foster oversees six branches within the directorate that report to her: recognitions, outbound, service verification,
points management, careering, and evaluations.
“This position has really opened my eyes because every phone call or ticket impacts someone’s life,” said Foster. “We have the capability to do so much good for
people through this directorate, and my goal is to make sure my team has all the resources they need to get their jobs done.”
Foster also feels it is crucial in her position to remain flexible and sees every customer interaction as an opportunity to make a positive impact.
“Everything in life isn’t in an AFI or DODI,” said Foster. “Sometimes, you have to think and do what is best for the Air Force and the clients.”
Foster credits her service and experience for shaping her and her relationship with others.
“My service has impacted me personally by revealing the value of each individual person,” said Foster. “Everyone comes from different walks of life and brings something
different to the table. It’s this attribute that has enabled me to realize that the true mission is the people. You cannot accomplish the Air Force mission without the people.”
According to Foster, one piece of advice that has stayed with her through her career is the importance of being kind to one another.
“It is imperative to follow the golden rule of treating people the way you want to be treated,” said Foster. “You never know what someone else is going through, and that mentality will take you far in life.”