Civilians offer long-term stability, contributions to base

Published July 30, 2007

PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- There are about 2,900 civilian employees at Peterson AFB, making up about one third of the work force here. Those civilians harbor hundreds of years of institutional knowledge for Peterson and the Air Force. Here is how one of them makes a difference.

Name: Margaret Leibfried
Organization: 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
Duty description: Administrative support assistant and office manager. She is responsible for correspondence, reports, biographies, messages, reviews all incoming correspondence, performs internal routing, and keeps suspense files. She assists in developing and preparing reports that rely on suspense, plus contacts with office personnel and other staff agencies. She is responsible for the office file plan and files, administrative orders, correspondence preparation, performance reports, and forms management, in addition to being the resource advisor.
Number years civil service: 26
Number years at Peterson: 23 (all 26 years have been with the wing, including three years at a GSU)
Changes during your tenure here: There's been so much growth, including Buildings 1, 2 and 3, and the new commissary and BX, but the biggest thing I think was when the 21st Space Wing was formed in 1992.
Fondest memories during career: Watching the young officers climb the ranks and then return to command a squadron, group, or become the vice commander or commander. Seeing the young enlisted members climb the ranks to first sergeants.
What accomplishment are they most proud of: Being able to serve others: whether it's helping someone over the phone, locating a lost family member, responding to requests via the web page or calls from around the world, or answering the phones for the command section while they have an official function.

From her supervisor
Why this person is such a benefit to the DoD? She has served with 11 different Public Affairs officers, providing vital continuity from one PAO to the next. Margaret has proved her mettle and was awarded the Civilian of the Quarter Award nine times in 1986, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2004 and 2005. She also received the Air Force Space Command Outstanding Contribution to a Public Affairs program in 2004 and 2005, and the Air Force Civilian Achievement Award in 2004.
What difference has this person made? Margaret is well-known throughout the 21st Space Wing staff for her friendly smile and refreshing ability to get things done, as well as encouraging others to do the same. She is affectionately known as "Grandma" and has exemplified the "Team 21," "Team Pete" and "Take Care of our Own" slogans throughout her career.
Highlights from their working career that they would like to share? Margaret chose to join the 21st Space Wing Public Affairs Office because she felt it would be a challenge and that she could always count on helping somebody else.
Many enlisted and officer Airmen have come and gone and come and gone again during Margaret's tenure and collectively shared the common sentiment that "she was the glue that held the office together" or "the one who kept us out of trouble."
Over the years, Margaret has received literally thousands of compliments from multiple wing, group and squadron commanders across the wing. Always reliable and fiercely dedicated to doing her duty and doing it to the best of her ability, Margaret has served the Air Force and our nation well. She retires Aug. 3 and will be sorely missed.

(This is the first in a quarterly series to recognize the contributions by Peterson's civilian workforce.)

Civilian contributions