Team Redstone executive assistants meet and greet

By Jason B. Cutshaw, USASMDC/ARSTRAT Public AffairsSeptember 23, 2015

Team Redstone executive assistants meet and greet
Team Redstone Executive Assistants, from left, Sandy Humphreys, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command; Mary Anne Sutherland, Missile Defense Agency; Pam Lang, Army Materiel Command; Latishia Session, AMC; Sylvia Martin, U.S. Army Space and Missile De... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Alabama -- Senior-level executive assistants from Team Redstone came together to learn how each supports command leadership.

Executive assistants ensure leaders are informed on matters relating to the execution of assigned duties, supervise the command group's calendar, collect pre-meeting materials, draft agendas for leadership meetings, and perform a variety of administrative tasks that are auxiliary to the work of their command group and special staff members.

Team Redstone executive assistants from U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, Missile Defense Agency, Army Materiel Command, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command and Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space met Sept. 17 at the USASMDC/ARSTRAT headquarters to put a face with a name and learn what other tenants on Redstone Arsenal are doing.

"Back in May, I thought about trying to get all the senior executive assistants together," said Elaine Waldrep, executive assistant to the SMDC commanding general. "We interact with each other, and I wanted to get together for a meet and greet to put a face with a name. I have always been interested in what the other tenants on Redstone do each day, I decided it was past time to act on that interest. I checked with our commanding general on his thoughts and he supported the idea 100 percent."

During the meeting, Waldrep said they talked about their careers and how they ended up where they are today. She said the meeting went well and they discussed future meetings.

"The meeting was more than I had hoped for," Waldrep said. "It was definitely a good thing to do, and three command videos were shared. Most of the EAs shared information on what their command and agency does on a daily basis and how it supports the Warfighter and the protection of our nation."

One executive assistant spoke of the importance for them to get to know each other and to network.

"We each had an opportunity to talk about our organization's mission, our professional experience and brainstorm about shared challenges," said Pam Lang, executive assistant at Army Materiel Command. "We are from diverse backgrounds with very different paths to our current positions, and we all make important contributions to our organizations' missions. I feel very privileged to be a member of General Via's team, and to support the AMC mission."

Another EA spoke of the meeting's importance and about the opportunity to meet and actually know who you are talking to if you have to call their organization to request any information or to schedule a meeting.

"Knowing who you are dealing with makes a big difference instead of calling an organization and dealing with someone you have never met," said Sandy Humphreys, executive assistant at U.S. Army Security Assistance Command. "It also gives each of us a chance to learn from some of the senior EAs who can provide valuable instruction and information.

"I very much enjoyed today's meeting," she added. "It was wonderful of SMDC to host this meeting. I hope this is something that can be done periodically."

Humphreys gave some advice to those who may want to be an executive assistant in the future.

"Each job, each boss is going to be different," Humphreys said. "Be prepared to be flexible and learn new things. I've been doing this type of work for 31 years, and I am still learning new things every day. You are there to help make your boss' job easier. They are in high stress positions and we are here to support them. Ultimately, we are all here to support the Warfighter.

"Today's meeting was very informative for me," she added. "I have worked for several organizations on Redstone Arsenal over the years, but today presented me the opportunity to learn about organizations that I have never dealt with."

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