Tinker Reservist receives Air Force Reserve Command's Outstanding Safety Civilian of the Year award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Mark Hybers
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Master Sergeant Regina Rector received the 2013 Air Force Reserve Command's Outstanding Safety Civilian of the Year award here Dec. 7, 2013.

The recognition was presented for outstanding achievement in ground safety from Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept. 30, 2013. During this time Rector served as the 507th Air Refueling Wing's Ground Safety Manager.

This marks the second time Rector has received this honor and says it takes a supportive chain to receive such an award.

"I'm humbled to receive this award for the second time," she said. "It takes the support of my supervisor, the wing and the functional at Air Force Reserve Command to make this possible."

During the past year, Rector was directly responsible for 80 percent improvement to the wing's fall protection program, including new rescue plans, equipment, and inspection regimens. Moreover, her initiative to blend associate wing safety inspection programs reduced duplication of effort by 73 percent.

According to the citation received for the award, Rector provided training to 34 unit safety representatives and 200 wing supervisors, creating an exceptional safety culture foundation for the wing.

Safety is more than a cultural foundation for Rector, however, it's personal.

"I'm not just a safety professional, I'm a warrior too, I want the Air Force to have the superior advantage in war and humanitarian missions," she said. "Superiority does not always mean a quantity advantage it also means a quality advantage. A great safety culture prepares a unit to have both a quantity and a quality advantage."

Rector has been a ground safety manager for five-and-a-half years, starting her career with the 931st Air Refueling Group, McConnell AFB, Kan. Her military career started while serving as an active duty Army medic.

Sergeant Rector says her future and her goals are simple; self-improvement professionally on a daily basis and assisting the unit where possible. She said those simple goals have a ripple effect.

"It's my greatest desire to see the unit successful in their mission and safety every day and I believe my simple goals will provide an opportunity for that success."