Airman of the Month: striving for excellence

by Airman 1st Class Ashlin Federick
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

7/31/2013 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del.  -- A young Airman from Henderson, N.C., wants to one day be a politician, but in the meantime is being recognized by her peers as a hard working professional here.

Airman 1st Class Tatjuna Talisa Johnson, 436th Contracting Squadron contracting specialist, is being recognized as Team Dover's Airman of the Month.

Master Sgt. Anita Walls, 436th Contracting Squadron NCO in charge of base operations flight and Johnson's supervisor, said her Airman will do anything you ask her to do and is eager to do it. She gets the job done fast and that allows them to do more. Walls also said Johnson's personality sets her apart from her peers.

"Johnson has displayed exemplary service on and off duty," said Walls. "She has administered several large dollar contracts on Dover AFB totaling $ 1.5 million. She also stays involved with our squadron activities as well as the local community. Johnson has been with us a year and continues to deliver timely customer support."

Johnson joined the Air Force in November 2011 and has been stationed at Dover AFB since May of 2012.

Johnson said she joined the military to experience something different from her friends back at home. The opportunity to travel influenced her the most. Her father is a retired colonel in the Air Force and that played a part in her joining the Air Force as well.

"I have been thinking about the military since I was in high school," said Johnson. "I have a friend who graduated from college and now works for a call center. That is definitely not something I envisioned for my life."

Before joining the military Johnson went to college and majored in Political Science.

"After the military I want to go to graduate school and get my masters in international affairs," said Johnson. "I want to work in Washington, D.C."

In Johnson's spare time she enjoys reading and learning new things.

"I read a lot," said Johnson. "I really want to get my brain working because sometimes if you are stationary you feel like you are losing some of what you have learned in the past. I like to read a lot of political and self-help books."

Johnson said the person that inspires her most is Beyonce Knowles, a popular female musician, because she is fearless, consistently excellent in her work and has amazing drive and resilience.

"She is a really hard worker and goes after what she wants," said Johnson. "I really respect that and I try to be more like that. She has a strong work ethic and doesn't let negativity get her down. She is just an all-around alpha female."

Johnson said she has definitely taken advantage of the base activities and community service that Dover AFB has to offer. She has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and the Special Olympic Cycling and said she plans to do it again this year.

"The community service has impacted me," said Johnson. "I am definitely more likely to help out my fellow peers than I was before. I want a more public type career in the future due to the community service I have done."

Senior Master Sgt. Nicola Natale, 436th Contracting Squadron superintendent, has recognized Johnson's hard work and dedication.

"She gives back to the local community through volunteer opportunities, strives to excel academically and has a positive attitude toward her work," said Senior Master Sgt. Nicola Natale, 436th Contracting Squadron superintendent.