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Keesler GS-14 retires, leaves legacy of professionalism

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Duncan McElroy
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Not many Airmen work their way up from airman basic to master sergeant, then transition over to officer and become a colonel. Fewer transfer over to the civilian side as a General Schedule-14, the civilian equivalent of a lieutenant colonel. For James Hollingsworth, his nearly 46-year Air Force career has been as varied as it's been long.

Hollingsworth, the Technical Training Operations Center director at 2nd Air Force headquarters here, is scheduled to officially retire Aug. 29.

He is responsible for the daily supervision of the four active training wings and groups in Mississippi, Texas, and California; provides oversight and analysis of Air Force enlisted accessions, basic military training, and technical training pipelines, and advises the commander on all technical training matters.

Born in Manhattan, Hollingsworth later moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he joined the service in 1968.

"In the days of the draft, I got my selective service notification," he said. "I went to the recruiting office, and all the branches were there. Army gave me their speech, Navy and Air Force gave me theirs. I ended up going with the Air Force because I liked their blue."

"Shows what you get with 19-year-old thinking, right?" Hollingsworth remarked.

His decision to pick Air Force blue led to a career full of unusual assignments and opportunities to showcase his leadership skills.

"If you told me in 1968 when I joined that I'd be a master sergeant then a colonel, I'd say 'wow,'" said Hollingsworth. "But that goes to show you that the Air Force is full of opportunities it will provide for you if you work hard. Spend time and effort, and you'll be rewarded."

With a career spanning eight different Air Force Specialty Codes, 13 years as enlisted, 25 years as an officer, and seven years as a GS, Hollingsworth has an incredibly diverse background he can draw from to help him in his role at 2nd Air Force.

"I've been a command post controller, scrambling F-16s for drug interdiction," he said. "I worked with the Secret Service and FBI when Manuel Noriega was ousted and brought to Homestead [Air Reserve Base]. I've sat with the keys of the largest strategic weapon in the world as an ICBM launch operator, and been on Air Force 2."

Despite his varied careers and exotic stations, his favorite mission has been his current one at Keesler.

"I have loved all my jobs, but the one I've come closest to is this one--training Airmen," he said. "You get to see the product change from when they come in the front door from BMT through tech training; it shows off the diversity of our mission."

As a former enlisted member, including a four-year stint as a first sergeant, Hollingsworth takes a special interest in making sure the needs of his people and the Airmen under 2nd Air Force are met.

"If you've walked the walk, you can talk the talk," said Jerome Bartosik, TTOC Operations Division chief and close friend of Hollingsworth's since 1996. "He knows what an enlisted man has to go through on a daily basis, and since the majority of the force is enlisted, he has a greater appreciation for them."

Hollingsworth's military career started with his tech training here at Keesler, and will end in the same place. As he reflects on how it's come full-circle, he remarks on what current and future Airmen who pass through Keesler should take away from it:

"They need to stay with and really understand not just what they've learned in tech training, but in their core values," he said. "If they hold onto the core values, they'll do well within the Air Force. You can't stray, can't have others take you a different way. There's so much pressure on young people. Learn your specialty, be sure to keep your core values, promote them, and be a good wingman."

In addition to staying involved with the Airmen on base through his job, Hollingsworth and his wife stay active with volunteer efforts. He volunteers as the chairman of the board of directors for the Keesler Federal Credit Union, while she spent time as the first vice president and parliamentarian of the Keesler Spouses Club.

Once he retires, Hollingsworth plans on staying in the Biloxi area and joining his wife in fishing, boating and relaxing.

"He served his country well for 46 years; he gave 100 percent every day," said Bartosik. "He will be dearly missed, and we will take the lessons we learned from him with us."
As he leaves, Hollingsworth gives a last challenge to young Airmen.

"Set goals, be visionary," he said. "Where do you want to be in five, 10 years? Plot your way ahead, be hungry, and be driven. The Air Force pays dividends when you invest in yourself."
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