Photo By Airman 1st Class Braxton Grant-Stokes | U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Isabella Wax, 628th Logistics Readiness Squadron assistant...... read more read more
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For three straight weeks, the Joint Base Charleston Lindsey Graham Passenger Terminal operated around the clock. More than 400 servicemembers from across the nation deployed out of the base in short notice, requiring the team’s maximum effort.
For one lieutenant, the task was no match for her or her team’s resilience.
“The mission will always get done,” said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Isabella Wax, who served as the 437th Aerial Port Squadron flight commander at the time. “But people will work themselves to death to get there if you let them.”
The entire team worked 12-16 hour shifts to facilitate the mission, Wax explained. “It’s super easy for work to consume your life at thatpoint.”
Family and fitness have long been parts of Wax’s life. Now serving as the 628th Logistics Readiness Squadron assistant installation deployment officer, the discipline, empathy, and standards that were honed in her early life shape how she approaches her career every day.
Wax credits her brother, friends and close-knit circle of other officers for keeping her grounded and inspired when she feels stretched thin.
“If I’m having a rough day, I’m absolutely getting a lift in, calling my family or even reading a book,” she said. “I love getting different perspectives on things, and allowing my mind to be separated from work for a moment to let new ideas in really helps me.”
Her approach to resilience also translates into interpersonal relationships within her team.
If a team member is struggling, she’s more than ready to take them for a quick coffee run, a walk around the office or even just sit down with them for a quick chat.
During calm periods, these efforts help establish a meaningful connection and instill healthy habits, so when the operational tempo picks up, Wax has no issue trusting her team to take care of both the mission and themselves.
“I’ve had to develop a lot of interpersonal skills really quickly, and it’s so important to be able to sit somebody down and really get to the root of a problem, or even just chat and get to know them. It does so much for the unit,” she explained. “It can be challenging to be both a leader whose boundaries cannot be crossed, as well as a human being who people know they’re able to trust.”
Now settling into her role at the 628th LRS, Wax said she doesn’t know everything yet and is still learning, and she’s okay with that. The new experiences are what drive her. If it ever becomes too much, she knows there’s a strong team behind her and a bright future ahead, no matter what challenges she may encounter.
She believes work environments mold to their leadership, and fostering a culture of trust, resilience and connection is paramount to the success of every unit in the Air Force.
“Everything’s going to be okay, the mission will always get done. It’s so important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself in the process.”
| Date Taken: | 09.02.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.02.2026 15:09 |
| Story ID: | 573813 |
| Location: | SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 19 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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