Student assignments chief retires Published Nov. 30, 2010 By 81st Force Support Squadron KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Jamey Simmons, 81st Force Support Squadron, is retiring this month with more than 37 years of federal service at Keesler. Mrs. Simmons, chief of student assignments in the military personnel section, manages permanent change of station assignment processing for more than 6,000 nonprior service students annually. A Biloxi native, Mrs. Simmons was hired into civil service after her graduation in 1973 from Sacred Heart Girls High School in Biloxi. Her first position was a clerk-typist at the School of Applied Aerospace Sciences. Later that same year, Mrs. Simmons moved to the consolidated base personnel office within the 3380th Air Base Group as a suspense control technician. In 1974, Mrs. Simmons moved to manning control, and in1980 transferred to CBPO administration. Ten years later, Mrs. Simmons said she found her calling by moving to permanent party. In 1995, she was promoted and became the assignment lead, trainer and passport agent. She assumed her current position in 1998. "I've seen our unit's designation change five times -- from 3380th Air Base Group to 3380th Mission Support Squadron to 393rd Mission Support Squadron to 81st Mission Support Squadron and finally to the current 81st Force Support Squadron," she said. During her career, she earned two quality step increases and won numerous quarterly and annual awards, including the 81st Training Wing's outstanding civilian of the year for 1999 and 2008. Mrs. Simmons and her husband, Henry, have been married since 1973 and have three children and five grandchildren. She's a lifetime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in d'Iberville where she serves as scripture reader, commentator, eucharist minister and a member of the parish's school advisory committee. She's involved in the Hearts from Home campaign, Airman's Attic and area shelters and youth programs.