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Staff Sgt. Lisa Niel, 86th Material Maintenance Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of fleet management and analysis, is responsible for managing one of the largest vehicle fleets in the U.S. Air Force.
Niel was awarded Airlifter of the Week in recognition of her managing movements and maintenance of vehicles in several locations across the European theater, which can be shipped to other countries in Europe and Africa, at Ramtein Air Base, June 24.
“We currently have 1,600 vehicles we are in charge of,” Niel said. “I’m the only FMA in the squadron and I’m constantly on the move so I can keep the vehicles ready to go if the mission calls for it. It’s a lot of work, but it gives me a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.”
Niel’s responsibilities keep her busy throughout the duty day and sometimes longer than that.
“As the MMS’s only FMA I have a lot tasks I have to keep on top of,” Niel said. “I have to ensure all the paperwork is correct for the vehicles, which includes maintenance reports, storage requirements and I have to make sure if someone calls and needs vehicles we can get them where they need to go. I get it done no matter how long it takes.”
Due to the unique nature of Niel’s position she has to get creative in order to meet mission requirements.
“She is really good at thinking outside the box,” said Master Sgt. Mallory Dixon, 86 MMS FMA section chief. “We have a limited amount of staffing here so we have to work smarter not harder. Niel is a great example of this. She made a separate system to ensure our counterparts on base can be included in the vehicle maintenance process. Because of this we have been able to become a more efficient unit for ourselves and other units on base.”
The U.S. Air Force has standards to ensure the mission gets done, but there are those who exceed those stands and perform at a higher level. Niel tries to ensure she exceeds expectations and thrives in her surroundings.
“I always try to go above what is asked of me,” Niel said. “If I finish a task early I try to get other things done or do something without being asked to. I also try to look for what we can do better and find ways to fix problems so I can be more efficient for my office.”
Niel’s position keeps her busy, but just like most people she takes time to unwind.
“I really like hiking and photography,” Niel said. “I love getting out into nature. I like to go to a place that’s quiet so I can just relax. I also like the idea of using my camera to capture nature and all the beauty it has to offer. I can look back on those pictures and think of all the memories and the people I shared them with.”
She says she just lets her work speak for itself and owes it all to her coworkers.
“I’m not the kind of person who likes to be in the spotlight,” Niel said. “I enjoy what I do and I just try to do a good job. My team are the ones who should be highlighted. They are the reason I try my hardest.”
