Meet Colonel Auteri Published Jan. 19, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Elsea 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Born into a large Italian family in Radford, Penn., Col. Gino Auteri, 325th Medical Group Commander, learned at a young age the importance of working hard. His father worked for several decades in a factory and his mother was a nurse's aide. "My father immigrated here from Italy," said Colonel Auteri. "He was very loyal to the company that hired him. Even though they did not pay the best, they paid for him to take English classes and helped him adjust to his new home." His mother was a second-generation Italian. "My mother's belief was that if we spoke Italian in the house it would slow us down in school," said Colonel Auteri. "I think we missed a huge opportunity (to become bilingual)." During his high school years, Colonel Auteri participated for a short period in wrestling, basketball, and football, but it was short-lived due to going to school full time and working. Following graduation, he immediately started work in the factories, but jobs were scarce and he was often times laid off. The instability had him worried. "I joined the Army National Guard and became an 'eleven hotel', tank killer," said Colonel Auteri. "However, when I returned from training, I went back to working in the factory and I was still having trouble keeping the job." He knew what he had to do. "I liked the Army, but one weekend a month was enough for me," said Colonel Auteri. "I enlisted in the Air Force as an active-duty lab technician." During his six-and-a-half years active duty, he took full advantage of his education opportunities. "When I came into the Air Force, I came with a very specific goal, and that was to get a degree," said Colonel Auteri. "I started out with no college and ended up with a master's in Healthcare Administration." After his contract was up, he left himself two options. "I knew I was either going to take my degree into the civilian world or I was going to commission," said Colonel Auteri. "I directly commissioned into the medical field." But, he is grateful for the time he served as an enlisted troop. "You can have good commanders with any background because it is a matter of how you interact and treat people," said Colonel Auteri. "But, I think for me, the enlisted background gives me credibility from the standpoint of, I have been there, done that." Colonel Auteri has been serving for almost 28 years. "As long as there are opportunities I will stay in," said Colonel Auteri. "I am in now until at least 2012 and I am due to PCS this summer." With a little less than a dozen bases under his belt, Colonel Auteri has found Tyndall to be the most rewarding. "Tyndall is my favorite station thus far because of what the position comes with," said Colonel Auteri. "One, it is a great location; two, there is an amazing amount of camaraderie between the commanders. But, the people at the medical group, more than anything, make this a wonderful assignment." His wife, Jodie, who he has been married to for 14 years, hopes to eventually be stationed overseas. "I met my wife home on leave between being stationed at Clark Air Base, Philippines and Kunsan AB, Korea," said Colonel Auteri. "She is stays at home with our two beautiful daughters; Gina, who is 13 and Erin, who is 11." The girls are both into drama and plays. In his spare time, Colonel Auteri enjoys spending time with his family. He also enjoys golf, bowling and racquetball, which he has been playing for 27 years. Upon retirement, Colonel Auteri hopes to be his own boss. "Ideally, I would like to go into work for myself," said Colonel Auteri. "I hope to be running small businesses and maybe get into real estate." The family would also like to move back to Maryland, where they own a home, until their daughters finish school. Then, Colonel Auteri hopes to plant his final roots back home in Pennsylvania. But for now, his focus is on the 325th Medical Group. "With the 2011 spring health service inspection, the group has their marching orders: zero open items and zero discrepancies," said Colonel Auteri. "This requires that every party in the facility be focused on what they do every day, which includes knowing instructions and processes." Outside the intensity of inspection season, Colonel Auteri likes to teach his staff to have goals and follow through with them. He feels honored to be in the position he is in. "It is never going to get any better than this," said Colonel Auteri. "This is a great job and it's the whole package; you get to work with and lead a group of extraordinary people." Being able to directly influence the service has its perks. "The health care aspect, it goes without saying, is the most rewarding," said Colonel Auteri. "When a patient comes directly to me to tell me how great the clinic is; it does not get any better than that." However he is most thankful to the Air Force for all it has done for his life. "Coming into the military and gaining discipline and structure has given me a jump start and a path to achieving goals that I did not otherwise have," said Colonel Auteri. "I kind of wonder if I would still be doing unskilled labor, had I not made the decision to join. The Air Force taken care of me and my family; I have no regrets." For a closer look at the 325th Medical Group click here.