More than just numbers

  • Published
  • By David R. Hopper
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  In 1974, a gallon of gas was only 55 cents, inflation reached a staggering 11 percent and President Richard Nixon resigned in order to avoid impeachment.

It was also the year when Rose Woerner embarked on a journey that would impact future leaders and change her life forever. After more than 37 years this journey came to an end as she retired from the 55th Comptroller Squadron on June 30.

"Rose Woerner is a great civilian Airman, a great finance leader and not only for the 55th Wing but U.S. Strategic Command and multiple assignments before," said Brig. Gen. Donald J. Bacon, 55th Wing commander. "She worked her way from a cashier and secretary at Grissom AFB, Ind., to where she will retire today as the deputy comptroller of the largest wing in Air Combat Command and second largest wing in the Air Force."

Woerner spent 26 of her 37 years at Offutt, with seven at USSTRATCOM and 19 at the 55th Wing.

"There have been so many changes over the past 30 years," said Woerner, "from mimeograph machines to copiers, from 12-column paper ledgers to Excel, from 12-inch floppy drives to external hard drives. That's just a few examples."

The legacy Woerner leaves behind can be defined by numbers, from the $16.5 billion she has overseen in her career to three "Best in Air Combat Command" financial analysis office awards and two "Best in Air Force" squadron awards. She was also the 2010 recipient of the ACC Robert E. Stuart Lifetime Achievement Award for financial excellence.

The awards she has received over the years show her professional side but there is more to her legacy as a leader than just words to paper or in her case numbers to a ledger. It's the lives she has touched and future leaders she has molded.

"She was the one of the best supervisors I have ever had," said Lisa Dahmen, 55th Comptroller Squadron budget analyst. "Rose took a chance on me and mentored me and wouldn't let me fail - she would let me struggle but never fail."

"In my 12 years, I have never met a budget officer quite like her," said Staff Sgt. Terry Rivers, 55th CPTS budget analyst. "She was always there to make sure the job wasn't too overwhelming. At the same time, she made sure I pushed myself."

"I worked for Rose for my first two years in the Air Force, and it was a great learning experience. She was a strong leader and mentor," said 1st Lt. Alec Sankey, 55th CPTS Financial Management Flight commander. "She taught me a great deal while I worked for her and then I went to work in a sister flight which competed for resources, manpower, dollars and more. At that point, I found out she still had a few tricks up her sleeve and continued to learn from her throughout our time working side by side."

During the retirement ceremony, Woerner was presented with the Outstanding Civilian Service Career Medal for her distinguished performance in the Air Force. She also received a flag that was flown over Iraq in one of the 55th Wing's RJ-135 Rivet Joint aircraft to honor her son, U.S. Army 1st Sgt. William Woerner who is currently serving in Southwest Asia.

"It is with sadness that I depart but it is time to move on and do all of those things I promised myself that I would 'get to' one day," said Woerner. "It's with a happy heart and a peaceful mind that I say my final farewells to my Air Force family."

Woerner's success spans over three decades as she served as financial advisor to five wing commanders and 10 comptroller commanders. As she departed Offutt, she had a few words of guidance for her colleagues and future leaders.

"Dream big," she said. "Make this experience even better than you can imagine. Embrace change and make it a part of your everyday life. Drive the change and don't let it drive you. Be all you can be in a world that is constantly changing. Be the difference you want to see and don't wait for it to happen. Leave your organization a better place than you found it. Most importantly be true to yourself and uphold the Air Force core values. Always do what's right even in a world where it may not be popular - even when nobody's looking. You are in charge of your future, travel where there is no road and be a path finder."