Supply training manager ends federal career Published Jan. 13, 2009 By Susan Griggs Keesler News staff KEESLER AFB, MISS -- Paulette Powell, 81st Logistics Readiness Squadron, retires Jan. 31 with more than 39 years of federal service. A Detroit native, Mrs. Powell began her federal career in 1968 as a data keypunch operator with the Internal Revenue Service. She moved to the Veterans Administration regional center as a clerical typist and later transferred to the Army Corps of Engineers as a clerk typist. In 1979, she moved to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., with her husband, an active-duty recruiter, and rejoined federal service in 1980 as a clerk typist with an investigation team regarding an aircraft crash which she witnessed. Later that year, she became a supply technician in the research section and records maintenance. Mrs. Powell went to work in the mailroom when the family moved to McClellan AFB, Calif., in 1981, and became the secretary to the commander of the data processing section. When the Powells were transferred to Keesler in 1982, Mrs. Powell initially went to work in the 81st Services Squadron before returning to the supply career field where she worked in customer service, reached section and expedite section. She was promoted in 1986 to work in equipment management, followed by another promotion in 1996 to work leader in stock control. In 1998, she was promoted into an upward mobility program as supply training manager. Mrs. Powell earned an associate's degree from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and a bachelor's degree from William Carey University. She was Keesler's Woman of the Year and Civilian of the Year in 2000. She's received numerous outstanding superior performance awards, sustained superior performance awards, a suggestion award and letters of appreciation throughout her career. Mrs. Powell served as Keesler's special emphasis program manager and headed the African-American Heritage Committee for 12 years. She and her husband, Joseph, a retired master sergeant who works in the 81st Contracting Squadron, have five children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.