Civil servant coordinates resiliency programs

  • Published
  • By Susan Griggs
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Liz Waters has "been around" ... and that's a definite plus for Keesler's resilience programs.

Waters, who has nearly 30 years of civil service experience, returned to Keesler Sept. 23 as the 81st Training Wing Community Service Coordinator, a new position at installations, major commands and Air Force headquarters.

"This position was created to be the focal point for all of the installation's individual resiliency programs," said Waters. "It's my job to help Airmen and their families withstand, recover and grow in the face of stressors and changing demands."

She'll emphasize resilience through the four pillars of comprehensive Airman fitness -- physical, mental, social and spiritual strength.

"The CSC provides commanders with a multi-discipline capability that coordinates and integrates efforts of individual prevention and response programs," she continued. "The CSC serves as a lead for installation the Leadership Pathways educational initiatives and ensures resilience education and awareness is provided at the installation through use of master resilience trainers.

Waters is now the executive director of the Community Action Information Board and chair of the Keesler Integrated Resource team. She'll also serve as the lead for Keesler's Wingman Program and coordinate the base's involvement in the annual Caring for People forum.

Her multifaceted professional background with experience at Air Force, Army and Navy installations gives a unique perspective on military life.

"My parents are retired Department of Defense Dependent Schools teachers and my husband is an Air Force retiree, so I've been stationed at different locations especially overseas," she explained. "I started my career as a clerk for the Army at Zweibrucken, Germany. I worked as the management support center for the Defense Commissary Agency and school liaison officer, both at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and family support center relocation specialist and school liaison officer at Lajes Field in the Azores.

At Keesler, she was the family support center's relocation manager, spouse employment manager and volunteer manager. She moved to the Naval Construction and Battalion Center in Gulfport as deputy director of the fleet and family support center. She returned to Keesler as sexual assault prevention and response program manager before she moved to her most recent position as director of the airman and family readiness center at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

Waters is delighted to be back at Keesler.

"The mission, people and atmosphere are what keep bringing me back -- you always feel a sense of community and pride here," she remarked. "Another part of moving back is to be close to my adult children -- I guess you could say I came back home."

Waters sees the biggest challenge of her job is "defining the 'big rocks' versus the 'little rocks.'"

"There are a lot of great and unique programs already happening here at Keesler," she pointed out. "By working together as a team, we'll deliver value-added programs that will improve the resiliency of our Airmen and their families."

Waters' office is in Room 109, wing headquarters, and her phone number is 228-377-9021.