Emily Darnell
Satellite Beach,Florida
Summary
Operations and project delivery leader with 20 years of military experience leading cross-functional teams, managing complex service operations, contracts, budgets, resources, compliance requirements, and high-accountability stakeholder relationships. Proven record translating strategic priorities into executable plans, improving processes, allocating resources, resolving operational risks, and delivering measurable results. Experienced in continuous improvement, workforce planning, executive communication, and leading teams across regulated, mission-critical environments.
Overview
1
1
Certification
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
First Sergeant
45 Comptroller Squadron / Patrick Space Force Base
10.2024 - 10.2026
- Advise four commanders on organizational execution, workforce capacity, risk, performance, and leadership effectiveness across multiple functional teams.
- Partner with executive leadership to align people, resources, and organizational priorities for a workforce exceeding 1,000 personnel.
- Lead performance-management and accountability processes, identify organizational risks, and coordinate corrective actions in a high-accountability environment.
- Drive engagement, retention, and organizational-change initiatives that support readiness, execution, and mission continuity.
- Coach senior leaders on decision-making, accountability, talent development, and organizational effectiveness.
First Sergeant
42 Security Forces Squadron | Maxwell Air Force Base
08.2023 - 10.2024
- Supported the Installation Defense Force Commander across two installations, coordinating workforce priorities and operational issues for military, civilian, and officer personnel.
- Advised leadership supporting 320 personnel and 42 mission partners, balancing workforce requirements, organizational risks, and operational priorities.
- Coordinated assignments, promotions, performance actions, and succession activities requiring cross-functional planning and stakeholder alignment.
- Identified workforce and execution risks and partnered with leaders to implement proactive solutions improving readiness and performance.
Flight Chief | TRICARE Operations & Patient Administration
42 Medical Group | Maxwell Air Force Base
09.2020 - 08.2023
- Led cross-functional healthcare operations, contract oversight, resource management, and continuous improvement initiatives supporting a large customer base.
- Directed managed-care operations supporting 37,000 beneficiaries and coordinated oversight of 89 network specialists.
- Managed large-scale contracts, budgets, compliance requirements, and stakeholder relationships within a highly regulated operating environment.
- Led a cross-functional Continuous Process Improvement initiative that redesigned workflows and reduced processing time by 95%.
- Used operational data and root-cause analysis to improve service delivery and recapture 195 provider hours annually.
- Coordinated competing operational requirements, resources, and stakeholders to sustain service delivery and mission performance.
Flight Chief | Medical Readiness
97 Medical Group | Altus Air Force Base
09.2017 - 09.2020
- Led readiness programs and resource planning, ensuring 360 personnel met deployment and operational requirements.
- Managed training programs, workload priorities, and resource allocation to improve organizational effectiveness and mission readiness.
- Partnered with leadership to resolve workforce constraints and align available capability with operational requirements.
Air Force Patient Liaison
Tripler Army Medical Center | Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
09.2014 - 09.2017
- Coordinated complex stakeholder interactions across joint military healthcare operations throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
- Resolved service and operational issues through cross-organizational coordination, diplomacy, and executive-level communication.
- Maintained compliance with privacy, ethics, and regulatory requirements, including HIPAA.
Education
Master of Science - Organizational Psychology and Human Resources
Angelo State University
07-2026
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
American Military University
12-2022
Associate of Arts - Healthcare Management
Community College of The Air Force
05-2011
Skills
- Project & Operational Delivery
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
- Resource & Workload Planning
- Budget & Contract Oversight
- Risk Identification & Mitigation
- Process Standardization & Improvement
- KPI / Data-Informed Decision Making
- Stakeholder & Executive Communication
- Change Management
- Talent Development & Performance Management
- Compliance & Quality Oversight
- Customer / Mission Support
Certification
- Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification | Expected October 2026
- Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt | Expected September 2026
- Professional Manager Certificate
- USAF Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy
- First Sergeant Academy
- Military Sherpa Coaching Certification (GIANT Leadership Development)
- Master Resilience Trainer
- Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education
- Mental Health First Aid
- Tier 3 Security Clearance
Timeline
First Sergeant
45 Comptroller Squadron / Patrick Space Force Base
10.2024 - 10.2026
First Sergeant
42 Security Forces Squadron | Maxwell Air Force Base
08.2023 - 10.2024
Flight Chief | TRICARE Operations & Patient Administration
42 Medical Group | Maxwell Air Force Base
09.2020 - 08.2023
Flight Chief | Medical Readiness
97 Medical Group | Altus Air Force Base
09.2017 - 09.2020
Air Force Patient Liaison
Tripler Army Medical Center | Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
09.2014 - 09.2017
Master of Science - Organizational Psychology and Human Resources
Angelo State University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
American Military University
Associate of Arts - Healthcare Management
Community College of The Air Force