Photo By Master Sgt. Joseph Harwood | Tech. Sgt. Sadana Cornell, Financial Management Quality Assurance manager, of the...... read more read more
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MANSFIELD, Ohio – March is observed nationally as Women’s History Month. One way to highlight the history of women in the Air National Guard is to observe them making history today in the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio.
Women at the 179th AW are outnumbered by male Airmen, currently the unit is under 25% female, and that statistic is not unusual for any military installation. The goal is to raise that number to 30% by 2026. As the unit approaches its 70th anniversary it strives to reach further milestones of empowering female Airmen.
Recently, the unit has made history appointing Col. Allison C. Miller as the first female wing commander in the Ohio Air National Guard. Last year, Col. Patricia L. Barr became the Mission Support Group Commander and a female from the unit Chief Master Sgt. Heidi A. Bunker, was selected to be the Command Chief for the 178th Wing. The 179th AW currently has two female Chief Master Sergeants, Chief Dana M. Togliatti and Chief April R. Gunnoe.
Leadership roles are an important step to acknowledging that although they are still outnumbered, they are valued for the diversity they bring to the unit and equal in their ability to get the mission accomplished.
For some of the youngest Airmen, these changes are happening while they are still trying to figure out their roles and career ambitions. Some of the women have been around long enough to personally feel the climate change and can remember a time when they personally felt limited by traditional gender roles.
Tech. Sgt. Sadana Cornell first joined the Air National Guard 18 years ago as part of the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio. Cornell was going to college in Columbus and sought a way to pay for school.
“When I first joined, it was significantly different. Leadership positions were for the men, they always had been.” said Cornell. “Females were traditionally in administrative roles, so I navigated through many different administrative roles in my career.”
During Cornell’s career, she sought change and growth in a variety of different career fields and sections helped broaden her perspective of the wing and how it accomplishes the mission. Cornell said she notices a significant growth in the number of females since she joined.
“I’ve worked in Finance, Personnel, Customer Service, Command Support Staff, Security Forces, Logistics and Plans…I’ve seen this organization grow and change not only in the buildings and the people in them but in how it operates and chooses to get the mission accomplished.”
Even today, working in an administrative role, Cornell said that her experience has made her very good at what she does and she feels it’s where she belongs.
“I’m a highly organized person and I’m good with numbers. This is what I do well. I think it’s important to acknowledge that we all have strengths and weaknesses and bring something unique to the table at any section that we are a part of, not everyone should be in finance or maintenance and it has nothing to do with their gender, rather their characteristics.”
Cornell said that seeing females in a wider variety of sections that were predominately male in the past is an encouraging sign of change.
“Now I see women in all sections like Air Crew flight equipment, Loadmasters, Maintenance, etc. You can really see the diversity growing in our unit."
Cornell attributes her time as a female in the military for giving her leadership qualities that have helped her in her personal life. As an active member of the parent teacher organization at Mifflin Elementary and said she has helped raise over 20 thousand dollars for the student and staff needs. As a coach for the young girls in softball and competitive dance, she feels it’s important to inspire girls at a young age to build confidence and empower them.
Cornell said, “Seeing everything develop over 18 years, I really feel empowered seeing this rise of really strong women in this organization to positions of influence. They are making bold changes in our unit and our culture.”
| Date Taken: | 03.06.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2018 16:01 |
| Story ID: | 268325 |
| Location: | MANSFIELD, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 1,050 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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