Hill senior airman, Sacramento native, manages knowledge operations for deployed air refueling squadron

Photo By Capt. Daniel Delgado | Senior Airman Katherine Little is a knowledge operations journeyman with the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. Here she is pictured, April 21. She is deployed from the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and her hometown is Sacramento, Calif.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

04.28.2010

Story by Senior Airman Jenifer Calhoun 

380th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Senior Airman Katherine "Kat" Little does not have little role in her deployed unit's mission success. As a matter of fact, as the knowledge operations journeyman, she completes a large role in supporting every Airman in her squadron.

Little manages knowledge operations for the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. Deployed from the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Little manages administrative management support for decorations, records, computer and network operations and more.

"As an example of what I do, having computer and networking knowledge is essential to the day-to-day operations of the 908 EARS," Little said. "From assisting individuals with simple e-mail problems to providing input to wing- and major command-level combat chat networks, I've realized how important my piece of the puzzle is. Plus, on a more basic level and less to do with my specific Air Force specialty, I know the crews are very busy flying their missions so I am also here to help with any squadron or wing tasking that comes along."

According to her official Air Force job description, knowledge operations journeymen like Little manage the process of planning, coordinating, managing, sharing and controlling an organization's data assets. She also updates or uses data vocabularies and metadata catalog, enabling data to be accessed, tagged and searched regardless of physical location, media, source, owner or other defining characteristics. Additionally, she structures data and information for a specific purpose in a specific context for collaborative groups of users who must exchange information in pursuit of their shared goals, interests, missions or business processes.

Furthermore, on the information management side of her skills, Little is trained to conduct information analyses to determine proper flow and life-cycle management of information, regardless of medium. She also operates information systems to create, collect, process, disseminate, use, store, protect and dispose of information. In addition, she develops, provides and educates users on workflow capabilities and tools to comply with structured electronic processes and flexibility to create and develop ad hoc courses of actions.

Whether it's managing $130,000 worth of unit automated data processing equipment or helping organize a unit morale function, Little works with her team of Airmen to complete the mission tasks at hand.

"I love to help out anywhere I can," said Little, whose hometown is Sacramento, Calif. "There are always things to do here. I like how my job is so diverse. 3D0X1's can work at any location -- who doesn't need an admin troop?

"It's also fun to get to know new career fields," Little said. "I work at a fighter wing with F-16s back at Hill, but here I work for a tanker squadron with KC-10s. It is a very different atmosphere. My last deployment to Balad Air Base, Iraq, I worked in force protection and I was outside all the time so this is much better. I have been here for six months now, and it has been an experience I will never forget."

No matter where she's been deployed to, Little said she's proud to serve in the military. She said it follows a military tradition in her family.

"The reason I serve in the military is because it is a family tradition," Little said. "My parents served and retired in the Air Force after 22 years. I also have two sisters who are enlisted, and also pursing their commission. Also, my oldest sister's husband is in the Air Force. We all love it! We all enjoy talking about how we can relate to experiences past, present and future. I want to be a part of serving in this crucial time. Also, as a woman, I think it is my duty to serve as one of the few who step up."

The 908 EARS is a sub-unit of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The wing is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

• Date Taken: 04.28.2010
• Date Posted: 04.28.2010 02:54
• Story ID: 48799
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)