ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Tiffany Gibbs, a service contract monitor assigned to the 97th Medical Support Squadron, is the recipient of the David O. Cooke Excellence in Public Administration Award for Air Education and Training Command.
David O. Cooke was a civilian administrator for the Secretary of Defense for 45 years. Cooke died in 2002 and three years later, the David O. Cooke Excellence in Public Administration Award was created. This award is given to an employee with three to 10 years of federal service who shows potential with a future as a federal employee.
“It’s honestly a really big honor to win,” said Gibbs. “I can’t thank anyone more than my leadership. I did the work and they were able to put me up and get that recognition.”
Gibbs works as a service contract monitor now, but previously worked in the medical clinic in a different role.
“A little over a year ago I was working as a radiology technician in the clinic,” said Gibbs. “I promoted and was able to get this new position. I like new challenges and get bored if I’m doing the same thing for too long so I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
The new position gave Gibbs a new outlook on the mission of the medical clinic.
“Here we buy the supplies and get everything for the clinic,” said Gibbs. “We are the backbone of the medical group. If we can’t get the materials for the clinic, they can’t help the patients. Before I was on the operational side, now I’m doing support.”
Gibbs set herself apart by going above and beyond her current duties.
“When I moved over to this job, the civilian in radiology was gone and the active duty member was on emergency leave,” said Gibbs. “They needed someone in the slot so I stepped up and covered that spot for a week. That week I was working both jobs. It was nice to do both sides of the mission at the same time, and I like helping the patients. It may have been a little hectic at times, but it was worth it.”
While Gibbs is one of the newer civilian employees on Altus AFB, she has been welcomed as a member of the base and wants to stay as long as she can.
“I want to work here until I retire,” said Gibbs. “The medical group is a family. If I’m having a bad day, I know I can talk to anyone and get help or just vent.”
Gibbs is thankful for the award, but she sees it as a side effect of her work.
“It feels wonderful,” said Gibbs. “I’m dumbfounded that I won the AETC award. It’s crazy that I’ll be competing at the Air Force level and it’s possible that I go up to the DoD level. I don’t go to work with the intent to win awards, I just care about the patients so I work hard. With great leadership, everything else falls into place.”
Gibbs is an example of the hard work that the Airmen of the 97th Air Mobility Wing do every day. The work Gibbs does is not only award-winning, but is also reflective of how Airmen of the 97 AMW are committed to forging mobility forces and deploying Airmen warriors.