Keesler AFB instructor overcomes challenges to become educator of the year

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFNS) -- Sometimes it is the most challenging times in our lives that can lead us a in a completely different direction. It is when we are at our darkest hour and the path forward is unclear, all we can do is keep putting one foot forward and hope things get better.

Air Force award winner. Teacher. Missile operator. Cancer survivor.

Although her professional life looks much different now, there was a time when Capt. Maggie Mason had to face and fight through professional and personal setbacks.

Serving as a missile operator in 2012, Mason’s career was off to a good start. Selected to participate in a test launch of an unarmed Intercontinental Ballistic Missile off the coast of California at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Mason was at the verge of fulfilling a goal since becoming a missile operator.

“This was an awesome opportunity and something that only a select few missile operators ever get to be a part of,” Mason said. “I was honored to be selected to participate.”

The launch assignment required a three-month temporary assignment. During that time, Mason went to the doctor over some health concerns. After several visits, ultrasounds, a biopsy and resulting tests, Mason learned she had thyroid cancer.

Her doctor wanted to schedule an immediate surgery to remove her thyroid. In a state of denial, Mason told her doctor she could not have surgery because of her upcoming 24-hour alert shift for the test launch. Instead of participating in the launch trial, Mason was pulled from the program and sent back to her duty location for cancer treatment.

“At this point I was in a state of shock that at the age of 25 I had cancer,” she said “It wasn’t until I had to call my husband, who was in Antarctica working on a government contract, and actually say the word ‘cancer’ aloud to him, that I accepted what was happening. Looking back on everything now I always chuckle to myself that I even thought that it was an option to postpone cancer treatment just so I could continue to be part of the test launch.”

Upon returning to her home station, Mason received more bad news. Instead of being assigned as an instructor, an exciting opportunity for her, she was assigned to work at the base Health and Wellness Center.

“When I returned I was informed that I was not going to be allowed to instruct; I was extremely disappointed,” Mason said “I felt angry that cancer had now taken two opportunities from me, and it was affecting me not only physically, but also professionally. To say it was a hard time in life is an understatement.”

Undergoing cancer treatment and unable to work directly in her career field, Mason was not able to stay current on upgrade and advancement opportunities; she was no longer competitive amongst her peers. The professional setbacks were difficult to absorb but her teammates at the HAWC provided a much-needed positive, supportive environment.

“There was an entire staff of awesome folks that were very much aware of what I was going through and were extremely accommodating and encouraging,” Mason said. “The staff at the HAWC were all about helping people, and I absolutely loved the environment that created and loved all the interaction with people. When the opportunity to cross-train became available I selected financial management as my number one choice. I really wanted to be in a career field that allowed me interact with people on a daily basis as well as help people.”

Using her degree in business management and passion for teaching, Mason has been able to transform what could have been the end of her professional career into a success story. Currently, Mason works as the 335th Training Squadron instructor supervisor and deputy flight commander. She was also just nominated and selected as the 2018 Air Force Educator of the Year. Supervising six instructors across the enlisted and officer financial management course, Mason is responsible for a variety of administrative and classroom duties, but for her, being the face of the career field is one of the most important roles she plays. She acknowledges that a teacher’s attitude and character can influence a student’s perception of the class and career field.

“I love that my fellow instructors and I are the first faces that our students will associate with our career field and therefore we have a huge opportunity to impact how our students feel about it,” she explained. “We are creating our future generation in tech school and if we invest into them and empower them they will be awesome representatives of our career field. I love interacting with the students; witnessing the transition that students experience from day one of the course to graduation day.”

Mason’s passion and dedication to her students is one of the key reasons leadership nominated her for the Air Force award.

“The characteristics that make Capt. Mason stand out would be her selflessness, passion and caring nature,” said Maj. Rey Heron, 335 TRS comptroller training flight commander. “Capt. Mason genuinely cares about her students, their education and her job as their instructor. I have thanked her many times for these traits, primarily because I believe they are the qualities that make any teacher exceptional.”

“Not only has she done phenomenally from an individual standpoint, she has also been an outstanding deputy flight commander and an awesome supervisor,” Heron added.

Although her time as a missile operator did not go as expected, Mason said she learned so much from the experience, both by serving in the operational Air Force and dealing with personal life challenges. Ultimately, she said both experiences put her on the path toward her passion.

“Though I once felt that cancer had robbed me, that experience and that time in my life taught many valuable life lessons,” she said. “I got to experience leaders who truly cared about people, what that looked like and learned how to be like them.”

“I also learned how to choose joy through a difficult time,” Mason said.” I could have focused on all the things that cancer took from me, and how much life sucked, but I tried to always seek what God was teaching me through this experience. Although, having cancer did detour me professionally, I learned what I wanted my motivation for my career to be during that detour. Truly caring about the people we are surrounded by and taking care of them is paramount. People will work hard and go above and beyond if they know they are appreciated and a valued part of the team.”