Unsung Hero: Gary Williams

Published Nov. 4, 2015
By Senior Airman Ty-Rico Lea
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- -- No matter who you meet, someone always has a story to tell. Meet Gary Williams, the 325th Force Support Squadron outdoor recreation manager and native of Panama City, Fla..

Williams is a prior-service member who comes from a family of Air Force service members. His father and his two eldest brothers joined before him. Williams joined the Air Force in 1981 serving a total of 22 years.

While attending Jinks Junior Highschool, Williams participated in extracurricular activities like football, basketball and track and field and was voted "most athletic" in his class yearbook. He joined the Air Force right after graduation.

"One task that comes easiest to me is working with and satisfying customers," Williams said. "I find that taking requests from people that know exactly what they want makes my job all the more enjoyable. This is a skill I picked up while serving."

Although he was stationed at Tyndall the majority of his career, Williams served at other bases such as Eglin AFB, Cannon AFB, Nellis AFB and received Airman of the Quarter numerous times. He has won Civilian of the Quarter twice since becoming the outdoor recreation manager.

While stationed at Tyndall, Williams was selected to be a part of the F-15 Eagle Aerial Demonstration Team visiting places like Canada and other Navy and Air Force Bases all around country, along with the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels as a special duty position.

During his first 15 years of service, Williams was tasked as an aircraft avionics specialist working on aircrafts like the F-15 Eagles, F-111 Aardvarks and F-16 Fighting Falcons. The remainder was spent performing duties as a Logistics Planner. Williams retired from active duty as a master sergeant in 2002.

When not busy providing recreational materials to service members, dependents and DoD employees, Williams utilizes his free time by remodeling and restoring houses. These skills are also used whenever he volunteers for Habitat for Humanity assisting in developing homes for low-income families.

"I find the most pleasure in volunteering for this program not only because this sort of thing is my hobby, but also because I know it's for a good cause," Williams said. "Before a person can receive a house through Habitat for Humanity, they must first volunteer a certain number of hours assisting in other house projects."

Even though his active-duty enlistment has come to a close, Williams still presses on with his work in conjunction with volunteering, exercising a lucrative hobby and being a grandfather to his five grandchildren.

"My advice to new and seasoned Airmen is to emulate a wingman that they feel can help guide them to a full career in the world's greatest Air Force," Williams said. "But as you grow and become a supervisor, always look back and do the same for others behind you."