Fairchild’s Finest: Staff Sgt. Justin Hayes

Published Oct. 22, 2012
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --

Name: Staff Sgt. Justin Hayes

Unit: 92nd Contracting Squadron

Duty Title: Contract Specialist

What is your background like and why did you join the Air Force? I grew up in Barstow, Calif., where I lived for 21 years working various jobs as a lifeguard and a personal trainer and completed a year in community college. I then moved to Anaheim for a couple years where I eventually joined the Air Force. The reason I joined was to do bigger and better things for myself, continue my education and follow in the footsteps of several family members before me who have served in all branches.

How long have you been in the Air Force? I have been in the Air Force for almost eight years. This is my second career field in the Air Force after retraining from Security Forces.

How did you end up in your current job? Over the years I was constantly hearing about the great opportunities that contracting has to offer as a career in both the military and civilian sectors. After spending five years as a security forces member, I decided I wanted a new skill set that would challenge me and put me on that career oriented path, so I retrained into contracting.

What is the most unique aspect of your job? The most unique part of contracting is that not most people know what we do, but through the contracting process and the way procurements work; we learn a lot about everyone else and their requirements. It's definitely a career field that allows a person to acquire a lot of knowledge about other career fields and see the big picture.

What has been the most exciting and/or unique experience you have had in the Air Force? Being deployed stateside as a security forces member on a humanitarian mission to provide security after hurricane Katrina hit in New Orleans. Myself and several other members provided security for Air Force One when former President Bush came to speak.

What is something interesting about you or something you've accomplished that most people may not know about you? I am a certified personal trainer.

What is the scariest thing you've experienced in the Air Force? Surviving an improvised explosive device attack on our patrol squad while outside the wire at Camp Bucca, Iraq. It's a scary experience when you see comrades wounded. Luckily nobody was killed. It just goes to show how important training is and how it pays off in real life situations to make those critical life saving decisions.

How do you feel you personally impact the Air Force mission? Each and every day I come to work knowing I'm doing my best to save taxpayer dollars for each acquisition I accomplish.

What is your proudest Air Force moment? My proudest moment was simply coming into the Air Force and completing basic training. It was and still is a great feeling being part of a greater cause.