Communications manager reflects on life, career Published Aug. 14, 2012 By Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Clint Whitehead retired as a chief master sgt. in 1991, after a 26 year long career. That would have been satisfying for most people, but for Whitehead, he came to Dobbins Air Reserve Base and saw a need. The base was in a state of transition as contractors were hired and replaced for the big job of handling communications throughout the base. Whitehead came on the scene, with vast communications experience, was quickly able to create a viable vision and a team to begin work toward that vision. His team melded together contractors, federal civilian employees and Airmen into one cohesive unit. "Everybody on base would always confuse us," said Mike Cantrell, 94th Communications Squadron information technology plans and programs chief, a federal employee position. "People would ask me if I was the contractor. People would ask if he was the federal service employee. When you have a team that functions so well together, no one knows the difference between a contractor and not, that's pretty good." When hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, Dobbins aircraft and other assets were used to evacuate personnel from affected areas. Naturally, there were communications the wing needed quickly, according to Cantrell. Whitehead was seen out around the base pulling cable and accomplishing the mission alongside his team members, not bound by the 40-hour work week. This type of dedication is not expected by a usual contractor. However, this is just an example of how Clint Whitehead, Dobbins Air Reserve Base communications manager - who is also a retired chief master sgt. - was not just an average contractor. He is a constant example of the popular military slogan, "Mission first, people always." Deliberately or not, it is his way of life. During his tenure at Dobbins Air Reserve Base he has created a positive and productive environment by making his people his constant priority, rather than just when it was convenient. Everybody has their own story about Whitehead. Cantrell, also a retired chief master sgt., has known Whitehead since he initially arrived at Dobbins ARB in 1991. "Clint has all these two or three sentence sayings he throws out," said Cantrell. "He said this recently. 'Leaders manage people. Managers manage things.' Leader, manager, follower, and mentor - Clint can serve in any of these positions and make it all happen." Whitehead worked with the back shop of the 94th Communications Squadron, where he coordinated and facilitated communication capabilities for the base. He acted as the bridge between the customer side of things and the technical side of things, and according to his colleagues he was very good at his job. Whitehead is scheduled to depart Dobbins ARB Aug 9 when he will leave civil service. He and his family look forward to this new chapter, where children and grandchildren will be the main focus for Whitehead. Lt. Col. Chip Whitehead, 94th Mission Support Group deputy commander, takes comfort in having been close enough to be able to see his father whenever the impulse struck him. While that will still be an option, he looks forward to seeing him outside of the duty day - to fish on the family farm for instance. Chip Whitehead recalls life as a kid when having his father around was sometimes not an option. "When the Air Force adopted the current corps values - that was an easy transition, because that was already my dad," said Chip Whitehead. "He already did those things." When the nation called, his service before self couldn't be faulted as he deployed on not one, but two remote tours to Turkey, according to Chip Whitehead. Clint Whitehead served as an example to his, then three-year old son, who in turn grew up to have to repeat history with his own son. Having a chief for a father, Chip Whitehead, an officer, also grew up with an innate respect for noncommissioned officers - a strategy that has served him well, both on active and reserve duty. "I knew that if I found that chief, or senior NCO, like my dad, that they wouldn't let me fail," said Chip Whitehead. "That's exactly where I went for guidance." Similarly, Capt. Jamison De Le Pena, 94th Communication Squadron commander, has been able to use both Clint Whitehead's technical and senior noncommissioned officer background. "Clint is a man of few words, but when he does speak, he comes with something so thought-provoking, it makes you think about your way of life, on or off duty, professionally and personally," said De La Pena. During a ceremony held in honor of the transition to retired life, several people, including Col. Steven Clayton, 94th Operations Group commander, shared their feelings on Whitehead's time at Dobbins ARB. Clayton also presented Clint Whitehead with a 94th Operations Group commander's coin on behalf of the aviators on base in honor of all the support through the years. "I'd, personally, like to thank you for the computers, email, my Blackberr...wait a minute," joked Clayton. "Give me that coin back!" Clayton also acknowledge, with whole-hearted thanks, Clint Whitehead's hard work and dedication in supporting Dobbins ARB in implementing the communications capabilities throughout the base. He took special care in noting Whitehead's participation with the new air traffic control tower and the 94th Airlift Wing's aircraft. Whitehead had been directly involved in communications around the Air Force for the better part of the last 47 years and now Dobbins ARB is saying farewell to a leader, manager, follower, mentor, chief and wingman. To cap off the afternoon, Whitehead, offered this key take-away on how he knows it is his time for retirement: "You know what you know, when you know it."
