Kaitlin Schaeffer
Shreveport ,LA
Summary
My primary role consists of building and maintaining relationships with local and installation resources, as well as leading working groups focused on identifying trends/analysis/implementation of comprehensive integrated prevention plans based off of climate assessments and agency pulled data. Data pulled is then analyzed to assess overall unit improvement initiatives, to ensure unit’s priorities, goals, and objectives are aligned to higher headquarters mission, vision, and strategic priorities.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Resilience Integrator
USAF
01.2022 - Current
- Integral member of AFRC’s Developing Resilient Leaders (DRL) team. Serves as the focal point between HQ AFRC and the reserve unit regarding all resiliency matters, with direct access to the Wing/Independent Group Commander and Command Chief.
- Partners with AFRC’s First Sergeant Functional Account Manager and the DRL team to ensure understanding of the latest AFRC resiliency initiatives, programs, processes, and requirements.
- Proactively works with all helping agencies on and off the installation; collaborates and integrates with agencies to advocate for the needs of Citizen Airmen.
- Is familiar with DRL’s strategic guidance for the Connect the Network (CTN) initiative, to include the CTN Background Paper and the CTN Guide. Is also familiar with the latest version of AFI 90-5001, Integrated Resilience.
- Serves as the OPR for resilience programs and activities to include providing guidance/recommendations to leadership and Community Action Team (CAT) / Community Action Board (CAB) members while facilitating multi-agency collaboration.
- Ensures compliance with Department of Defense and Air Force regulations, standards, policies, guidance, and communication on resilience.
- Promotes multi-agency collaboration between CAT/CAB meetings.
- Ensures continuous focus remains on building and sustaining resilience and preventing interpersonal and self-directed violence
- Supports agencies in overseeing the development and execution of the Community Action Plan (CAP) by ensuring effective communication, information sharing, and education utilizing existing tools and resources.
- Coordinates and collaborates with functional agencies to improve and integrate resilience programs and activities and quality of life concerns. This includes ensuring effective communication, information sharing, and education and outreach activities across the installation by developing and/or harnessing existing tools and resources.
- Consults with appropriate functional agencies to develop recommended solutions to individual, family, and community resilience, readiness, and other related issues.
- Ensures resilience programs and activities on Joint Base/Tenant environments are conducted in coordination with Supporting Component/Host. Supports/updates the Host Tenant Support Agreement, as necessary.
- Engages military, government, industry, academia, and other stakeholders that may be directly or indirectly involved in resilience activities for the Total Force. This includes participating (where available and appropriate) in community meetings, conferences, council meetings, other venues and forums, and through appropriate data collection.
- Reviews aggregate local data (non-personally identified, non-protected health, or other non-confidential information) to identify resilience and quality of life issues to help determine which programs and activities best meet the needs of Citizen Airmen.
- Represents and advocates for the interests of Citizen Airmen and their families.
- Familiar with Air Force Continuous Improvement and Innovation (CI2) and Air Force Lessons Learned (AFLL) programs, currently training to be the lead change agent and technical authority responsible for the overall unit improvement initiatives.
- Ability to maximize organizational performance and accelerate the rate of change and replication to enhance the unit’s mission readiness.
- Advises commanders and their staffs in implementing continuous improvement approach to solve problems that contribute to the effectiveness, efficiency, enterprise replication, cost savings/avoidance, and other improvement of operations related to the unit’s Air Force mission. Ensures unit’s priorities, goals, and objectives are aligned to higher headquarters mission, vision, and strategic priorities. Assists in developing mission priorities, aligning processes to DAF guidance, and prioritizing improvement, innovation, and lessons learned efforts.
- Reviews organizational key performance indicators, identifies potential process improvement opportunities
- Prepares and delivers written and oral presentations such as briefings, consultations, and strategy sessions with other staff functions, leadership, and unit members to secure cooperation, address controversial matters, convey information, provide status updates, and manage changes.
- Maintains awareness of changes in mission requirements and external factors that impact the unit.
- Reviews trends of unit performance and deficiencies and coordinates with functional counterparts to improve results. Negotiates effectively with management to champion improvement efforts and implement recommendations that may require substantial organizational resources. Guides development of measures of effect and performance, collection, tracking and reporting processes for each unit.
- Assists with developing policies related to specific readiness and compliance area(s) and implements directives throughout the organization. Supports accelerating change and replication of leading practices throughout the unit and higher headquarters.
- Plans, organizes, and directs team studies to facilitate process improvement and problem solving activities
- Assists the Commander in fostering a culture of innovation in the unit by leveraging innovation methodology to support Airmen in accelerating actionable opportunities to enhance implementation and rapid replication of novel ideas and best practices. Guides/coaches innovators through the ideation process, and unit leadership through the evaluation/implementation process. Interacts with submitter, functional SMEs and senior leadership at the unit, NAF, and MAJCOM level as appropriate to present, track, and replicate proven innovative improvements across the command and the Air Force where possible.
- Coaches Airmen to develop a comprehensive business case and connects the innovators to functional SMEs to pitch the innovative ideas to the appropriate decision makers for assessment and approval, and if warranted, to explore potential funding sources. Collaborates with NAF and MAJCOMs or functional communities to promote ideas that could potentially impact other organizations
- Familiar with Lessons Learned (LL) program, After Action Reports (AAR's), Green Belt training, Lean Six Sigma, and value stream mapping.
- Knowledge of component/command or equivalent organizational structure and its supporting/supported elements and programs, mission, policies, goals, and philosophies.
- Demonstrates experience in developing innovative and feasible solutions to complex issues in which the boundaries are broad and difficult to determine in advance
- Ability to integrate and coordinate multiple and related missions, functions, subjects, issues, and situations across echelons (or equivalent) to present and recommend solutions in a logical, cohesive format.
- Knowledge of effective training principles, techniques, and tools required to design, develop, instruct, evaluate, improve and conduct training/course content.
- Ability to research, interpret, develop and advocate component/command or equivalent organization laws, regulations, policies, and programs.
- Knows how to effectively negotiate with stakeholders and management to gain acceptance for the implementation of recommended solutions
First Sergeant (Wing Level)
USAF
10.2020 - Current
- Maintained health, welfare and combat readiness of personnel within platoon.
- Trained, supervised and organized over 1.5K soldiers and personnel.
- Enforced technical and tactical training standards to accomplish unit mission objectives.
- Conducted personal and professional counseling, routine inspections and physical fitness tests.
- Served as principal advisor to First Sergeant Council and Commander/Command Chief.
- Helps personnel adapt to the military environment and adjust to the organization and duty assignments.
- Remains vigilant for and moves to resolve issues that, if left unchecked, would adversely impact readiness
- Monitors unit sponsorship programs and conducts in-briefing for newly assigned personnel.
- assists the commander in preparing and presenting unit training and information programs
- Performs quality force reviews and ensures timely processing of performance reports, awards, decorations, promotions, classification actions, quality control and disciplinary actions.
- Attends staff meetings and represents the commander at Wing meetings. Develops and executes specific goals, plans, and objectives to address issues related to officer and enlisted members
Production Superintendent
USAF
06.2018 - 10.2020
- Provides both present and projected status information to prescribed managerial personnel. Maintains liaison with the Maintenance Coordinating Function (MCF) of the Command Post.
- Notes projected completion date, studies actual aircraft status and informs higher levels within chain of command when aircraft is to be mission ready.
- Through use of radio, telephone, intercom, e-mail, personal contact with production supervisors, technicians, review of work documents and statistical listings, determines status of aircraft. As daily events occur, maintains MIS data integrity regarding maintenance flying schedule requirements.
- Accomplishes aircraft debriefing to ensure malfunctions identified by aircrews are properly reported and documented.
- Works to achieve and support quality improvements in assigned areas of responsibility. Conducts training and skill level progression of Air Force Reservists.
Aircraft Electrician
USAF
01.2009 - 06.2018
- Performed scheduled and unscheduled inspections to check flight readiness of aircraft.
- Tested electrical aircraft systems, components and equipment for compliance with standards and to uncover any malfunctions.
- Repaired and installed wiring, connectors, control boxes antennas and other pieces.
- Performed thorough visual and physical inspections of all electrical parts.
- Utilized testing equipment such as oscilloscopes, ammeters and ohmmeters.
- Diagnosed faults and developed resolution plans.
- Completed quality assurance checks for service work and completed documentation outlining updates.
- Completed preventive and reparative maintenance on aircraft electronics and computer systems.
- Performed duties in accordance with applicable standards, policies and regulatory guidelines to promote safe working environment.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
American Military University
12.2024
Associate of Applied Science - Aviation Technology
Community College of The Air Force
Montgomery, AL10.2020
Skills
- Peer Mentoring
- Organization and Time Management
- Professional Relationships
- Team Management
- Project Management
- Business Analysis
- Change Management
- Process Improvement
Additional Information
Enrolled in USAF/Opusworks GreenBelt certification course: expected completion March 2024
Timeline
Resilience Integrator
USAF
01.2022 - Current
First Sergeant (Wing Level)
USAF
10.2020 - Current
Production Superintendent
USAF
06.2018 - 10.2020
Aircraft Electrician
USAF
01.2009 - 06.2018
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
American Military University
Associate of Applied Science - Aviation Technology
Community College of The Air Force