Director named best in Air Force

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Like many women in the early 1980's, Jiri Crowder entered Civil Service as a clerk-typist in order to get into the system. 

During the last two decades, through hard work and education, Ms. Crowder rose through the ranks doing what she loves best, being an integral part of the helping agencies here. Now, the Air Force has recognized her dedication by singling out the flight chief at the Airman and Family Readiness Center as the Airman and Family Readiness Flight Individual of the Year. 

Ms. Crowder was no stranger to Eglin when she was named the A&FRC chief in 2005. She was part of the staff for seven years from 1995 to 2002. She also knew the challenges the center faced. 

"This is the busiest A&FRC in (Air Force Materiel) command and possibly in the continental United States," Ms. Crowder said. "It's the size, the deployment rates, the 'purpleness' of the base and the uniqueness of the mission. It's a challenge servicing the diverse population." 

Col. Rick LoCastro, 96th Air Base Wing vice commander agrees. 

"Jiri Crowder has led amazing efforts in our Airman and Family Readiness Center...but she'd be the first to say this award also represents the collective efforts of a center that is leading the charge across this big base in so many areas," he said. "However, it's Jiri who has led from the front to ensure no stone goes unturned to maximize Eglin Airman and family programs for our base personnel." 

Ms. Crowder relies on the contributions of her staff to continue to push new initiatives for the center. One is an automated morale call system which uses personal identification numbers and eliminates the need to contact an operator to make the call.
Another is using My Space to reach spouses. 

"That's one of the huge things we do here; we target issues and think outside the box like we did to reach Generation X and Y spouses," Ms. Crowder said. "Now we have more than 200 spouses in the group, it was the way to go."
 
Ms. Crowder said the center transformed approximately four years ago to get away from a "stovepipe" focus on individual programs. Now, each of the staff is a consultant, an expert in all the areas the center touches, like relocation, transition and finance. 

"That was a huge challenge for our people, we had to reach outside our traditional services and sell to our value to commanders," Ms. Crowder said. "I believe so wholeheartedly in the value in what we do and the value of our services." 

Colonel LoCastro said that belief has ensured that Eglin's A&FRC has led the way "whether it's Team Eglin's Hearts Apart programs for deployed families, or the new Military Spouse Career Advancement Initiative that offers tuition for spouses...or everything in between... Jiri ensured Eglin led the way with a "high speed, low drag" 
A&FRC. 

And while it's a big deal to be recognized as the best in the Air Force, Ms. Crowder admits that "it's taken a long time not to be seen as 'just the cookie people.'"
"We can make cookies and have open houses all you want but the bottom line is we're about the warfighter and their families." 

Ms. Crowder knows there are many challenges ahead and her personal goal is to have the A&FRC also be named the best in the Air Force. But in the meantime, she'll continue to contribute her high energy to the men and women who need the center's services. 

"You never know what's coming," she said with a grin. "It makes my heart smile when, at the end of the day, I know we've helped so many people in so many ways."