TEC says goodbye to longtime staff member

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mavi Smith
  • The I.G. Brown Air National Guard Training and Education Center
McGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. --  Staff, friends and family of The I.G. Brown Air National Guard Training and Education Center here gathered at a local restaurant, Nov. 23, to honor and bid farewell to a longtime staff member upon her retirement.

"It's hard to believe it's my last day," said Edna C. Davis, a secretary at the Training and Education Center. "It has been a joy to be here at the TEC and to be a part of instructing the leaders of the Air National Guard."

Davis began working at the Training and Education Center on Feb. 9, 1992. She will be best remembered for her 17 years of service as the secretary for the Academy of Military Science (AMS), the Air National Guard's officer commissioning program, which relocated to Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in July.

Numerous past and present staff members of the Training and Education Center came to honor Davis with presentations and gifts. Many shared stories of her accomplishments, experience, and impact on the center.

"You knew the day was starting off on the right foot when you heard Miss Edna laughing and starting the day out right with good words to say about everybody," said Senior Master Sgt. Timothy Kumes, the director of education for the enlisted professional military education branch.

"Yellow roses signify friendship,"" said Kumes as he presented a bouquet to Davis. "You have been a true friend of this center. We're going to miss seeing your happy face and your bright, sunny personality."

During her years at the Training and Education Center, Davis served under five commanders and seven AMS commandants, she worked with 92 AMS staff members, and contributed to the commissioning of more than 7,300 second lieutenants in the Air National Guard.

Davis was recognized for outstanding performance many times during her career here. She won the center's quarterly award four times and received the Civilian of the Year, Category 1 award for both the Training and Education Center and the Air National Guard Readiness Center in 2002.

Davis' government service began with marriage to retired Air Force Master Sgt. Jim Davis, a former ground radio maintenance operator. His 25 year career took the family around the world to assignments in Scotland, the Netherlands, Turkey and various locations in the United States.

Since 1977, Mrs. Davis has held administrative positions at some of these locations. Her first position was in the housing office at Joint Force Command Brunsum, the Netherlands. She then worked with Morale, Welfare & Recreation and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service at now closed Air Force bases Blytheville in Arkansas and Loring in Maine. She also worked in the budget office and later in the chief's office for Morale, Welfare and Recreation at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Her final position before coming to the Training and Education Center was as the chief's secretary at the Propulsion Laboratory Budget Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

"The TEC has been a joy to work for," said Davis. "I've loved this job. It's been a treat to be here."