MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE – Staff Sgt. Valesia Williams said the Air Force is more than a career, it’s a mission to make a difference in the lives of others. As chief of the 42nd Air Base Wing’s Equal Opportunity Office, Williams is on the front lines of ensuring fairness and respect within the military.
During his two and a half years at Maxwell, Williams has been called upon to take on responsibilities above and beyond his assigned duties and grades, demonstrating exceptional leadership and commitment to the mission.
Left, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff. Kayla Norris is receiving instruction from Staff Sgt. Valesia Williams, Equal Opportunity NCOIC, 42nd Air Base Wing Equal Opportunity Office, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., Dec. 5, 2024.
“She has grown tremendously in maturity and knowledge from the moment she got here,” said Master Sgt. Latoya Hamiliton, EO director. Having accepted that even as a non-commissioned officer, the responsibilities are enormous, this is something not many people can do.
Hamilton was deployed for a year, and Williams had to fill the dual roles of NCOIC and supervisor.
“We support this mission by ensuring that individuals inside and outside the organization are free to work in a healthy, cohesive environment and that they are educated about equal opportunity laws and policies in the Air Force and in the civilian world,” Williams said. .
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U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff. Valesia Williams, 42nd Air Base Wing equal opportunity NCOIC, poses for a photo Dec. 5, 2024, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. , without discrimination.
Williams originally entered the Air Force as an aerospace ground equipment specialist and later received equal opportunity retraining after a transformative experience at a wing staff meeting. She recited Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hill We Climb,” which inspired her to pursue a career path that helps and inspires others.
“A lot of people were inspired and moved by me reciting this poem and the way I recited it, and I felt like I was getting closer to what I really want to do in life, which is to help people, to be able to inspire people, to be able to connect with people,” Williams said.
While Williams is grateful for her time at AGE, she also feels a deeper calling to help others, leading her to explore ways to achieve equal opportunity through cross-training.
Williams used the knowledge she gained working with colleagues at AGE and used her people skills to start a new career under an equal opportunity opportunity. While on duty at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan, Williams received special training that helped her grow and become a staff sergeant.
“I was working as a maintainer at the time, and before this I really had no idea how my career field would fit into the Air Force mission,” Williams said. “But there’s somebody out there saying ‘Hey, we need you here now to get this power vehicle going so we can get this plane down.'” So, we can go rescue people, pick people up or put the gunship out come out. It completely changed my perspective.
This is a moment of clarification that reminds Williams of the importance of his mission.
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U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff. Valesia Williams, a member of the 42nd Air Base Wing Equal Opportunity NCOIC, poses for a photo Dec. 5, 2024, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
“I kind of realized, wow, they need me. Like, this mission can’t be done without me. There’s no one else that can do this. This is who I am,” Williams said.
Things can be very demanding in Williams’ line of work, and it’s not uncommon to hear about people getting into trouble, being discriminated against, or being harassed. Williams prides himself on his ability to have fun and distract people.
“When I realized how much I could impact other people when I got into EO, it was really something I really enjoyed, being able to talk to people every day,” Williams said. “I felt committed to serving and honored to be able to serve, I’m happy to be able to provide for my children. I have a two-year-old daughter who I love very much.
U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff. Valesia Williams, 42nd Air Base Wing equal opportunity NCOIC, mentors her colleagues Dec. 5, 2024, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Treat fairly and without discrimination.
This article originally appeared in the Montgomery Advertiser: Empowering Others: A Journey to Leadership and Equal Opportunity
