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Squadron commander reflects on heritage

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Champagne
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  A wife and a mother of two sons, Lt. Col. Jacqueline Crum, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, says her heritage played a large role in her upbringing and the leadership characteristics she brings to her squadron. 

"The history of my heritage has taught me a lot," she said, "and I don't ever want to downplay the work of our forefathers and what they have taught me. Great men like the Tuskegee Airmen paved the way and broke down racial barriers so I could achieve success. I learned with hard work, perseverance and dedication you can achieve heights you couldn't imagine."

Reminiscing about growing up in a military family environment, Colonel Crum said her father always took care of his infantry troops. During his military career, he completed three tours of duty in Vietnam and while he was gone her mom took care of her troops, their five children. "They were a great team," said Lt. Col.Crum,  "and watching them with their troops left a huge impression on me."

Colonel Crum is one of the newest squadron commanders at Shaw and when asked about her position, she said being a squadron commander is a dream come true.

"Many friends told me this job would be the best job I would ever have, but they never told me how busy I would be. I look forward to the daily challenges, drawing on the assurance that I can make a positive difference," she said. 

"Throughout my career I have had an awesome support system which made it possible to do what I needed to do. As a mother it is always hard to decide whether you are doing the right thing by your children, but I believe my footsteps are ordered by a higher power," Colonel Crum said.

The colonel said the civil engineering community is a vast community. "The members inspire me because with every task they are given they do their best to complete it and the jobs can be thankless," she said. 

When asked about diversity Colonel Crum said, "Diversity states we all have something to add to the fight and it doesn't matter whether we are black, white, red or yellow, in the cockpit or pouring the concrete on the flightline. My role is to support my Airmen. I don't want them to see the color of my skin but rather the person I am within. We all belong to the same race: the Air Force Blue."