Photo By Cameron Parks | Continuing her family's proud military legacy, South Dakota native and U.S. Air Force...... read more read more
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Women have a rich history in the U.S. military since before the nation's founding. During Women's History Month, we are highlighting women across the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) and the contributions they make each day to the Army's medical development and sustainment missions.
It’s a long way from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota to western Maryland, where a small Army post called Fort Detrick nestles in the foothills of the Blue Ridge and Catoctin Mountain ranges. But to U.S. Air Force veteran Michelle Mason, a logistics management specialist at the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity, working for the Army feels a bit like coming home.
“When I retired from the Air Force, I wanted to continue to serve, and my position at USAMMDA enables me to do that,” Mason said. “I am proud to work alongside many other devoted individuals, and to be involved in initiatives that prioritize the health and well-being of our Warfighters.”
After enlisting in the Air Force right out of high school as a supply technician, Mason eventually retrained to become a Medic/Aerospace Medical Technician. She also took advantage of the military’s educational benefits, earning an associate degree in allied health sciences from the Community College of the Air Force and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management from Ashford University.
In 2023, she completed her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus while working full time in USAMMDA’s Warfighter Protection and Acute Care Project Management Office. She is currently responsible for developing and executing life cycle sustainment plans for several WPAC development programs—including infectious disease medical countermeasures, battlefield pain management, battlefield wound infection, and blood products for Warfighters and military working dogs.
As a WPAC team member, Mason says she is part of a supportive and nurturing environment where everyone feels empowered to voice their ideas, contribute their unique perspectives, and grow both personally and professionally.
“WPAC’s leadership team is comprised of exceptional women leaders, and I strive to emulate the qualities I have witnessed in them—resilience, determination, and the ability to overcome obstacles,” Mason said. “Women leaders bring unique perspectives and experiences to the table through different backgrounds, skills, and approaches to problem solving, which broadens the range of ideas and enhances decision making.”
Their example has taught Mason the value of leading with empathy, inclusivity, and a genuine desire to uplift others. And by emulating that approach, Mason also hopes to continue to inspire her two daughters. The youngest is a high school student, while the eldest, following in her mom’s footsteps, is currently serving as a logistics planner stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom—the largest U.S. Air Force-operated base in England.
Her family’s USAF roots run deep, according to Mason—her father served for 28 years, and her two younger brothers also enlisted. It’s a foundation built on military service that has helped, in part, to shape Mason’s approach to her duties as a female leader, which is based on the belief that valuing everyone's unique traits and experiences is essential for a successful team.
“I strongly believe in empowering individuals to embrace their strengths and contribute their perspectives to achieve the organization’s shared goals,” Mason said. “We accomplish much more through teamwork—and by empowering each other, we can tap into a wider range of skills, knowledge, and creativity, leading to more innovative solutions.”
Those solutions include the adenovirus vaccine, which is administered to all military recruits during initial training to protect them from acute respiratory disease while in close quarters. Mason is especially proud of her role at USAMMDA in managing the procurement and distribution of the vaccine.
“This program holds a special place in my heart because it directly impacts the health and well-being of our military personnel,” she said. “It also gives me immense pride to know that my own daughter and son-in-law, who are active-duty Air Force members, have received the vaccine. Being able to contribute to their protection, and that of countless other service members, brings me great satisfaction.”
| Date Taken: | 03.29.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 03.29.2024 12:03 |
| Story ID: | 467281 |
| Location: | FORT DETRICK, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 50 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Women’s History Month: Air Force Veteran continues lifetime of service, supports Warfighter health and readiness, by Caree Vander Linden, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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