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Shaw civilian awarded for 40 years of service

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Phelps
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  On August 11, 2010, Ernestine Primus, 20th Communications Squadron telecommunications management, a Sumter, S.C. native, was awarded a certificate for 40 years of federal service here.

She started out working in the base hospital, then worked as a clerical typist, and finally cross trained into the telecommunications career field through the upward mobility program in 1983.

"Working here has been a blessing," she said. "This is the best place to work for."

She has enjoyed her job and loves the work environment, she said. At times it has been hectic, but she has always had good supervisors and staff.

"You couldn't pick a better person to work for you," said Leroy Howard, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron and senior civilian on base. "I was very impressed with her when she first got here. She never quits until the job gets done."

Before working for the base, she was attending Sumter Area Tech College to become a typist, when a man came from Langley Air Force Base, Va. to assist in finding promising individuals as part of an Air Force effort to employ minorities.

"I was in the right place at the right time," said Primus.

Since she began her work here March 31, 1970 she has seen many changes take place here as the base has changed from the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, to the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing to the return of the 20th Fighter Wing, and the planes changed from the McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II to the Lockheed-Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.

"The first building I worked in, we had to light a furnace every morning," said Primus.
Other changes she has seen during her time included transitioning from a wires and plugs telephone switchboard and the use of typewriters up to the digital age we have today.

"Back then you couldn't make mistakes, because then you would have to do (your typing) all over again," she said.

Primus has accomplished many things for the base during her 40 years here.
In 1984, she was the leased telephone communications specialist and established a lasting rapport with the local telephone company that resulted in improved telephone service, to a newly renovated mobility center in minimum time for a major wing exercise.

She also helped install new systems into the base hospital and the satellite clinic without a hitch.

The telephone services for the base used to be owned by contractors, Primus said. In 1989, the base information digital distribution system converted to government-owned telecommunications services and she oversaw the installation of 47 miles of copper and fiber optic cable, along with installation of a new base telephone switch.

One of her favorite memories from here was when Team Shaw returned home from Operation Desert Shield.

"I was on the flight line when the first aircraft landed," she said. "It was an adrenaline rush, the moment was so special."

Though Primus could have retired years ago, she actually plans to continue her work here for a couple more years.

"It's all been exciting," she concluded. "There's never been a dull moment and I feel like I'm contributing to it all."