The Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) shines its third "Surface Warrior Spotlight" all the way to Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii to highlight a records manager from SDDC's 599th Transportation Brigade.

Ruby Ragragola is considered by many to be the most efficient and effective Surface Warrior at the 599th Transportation Brigade where she has served for 10 years. During their most recent command inspection, Ragragola received the only two "best practices" designations in the brigade -- one for time card auditing and one for records management. Ruby's ratings were made even more impressive because they came in two separate inspection areas.

To find out more about Ragragola, we asked her 10 questions that ranged from professional expertise to personal experiences. Her responses follow:

Q: Where are you from, and how long have you lived in Hawaii?

A: I am from Paia, Maui. I moved away from Maui about 40 years ago, and have lived on Oahu on and off ever since then.

Q: Do you have a nickname, and if so, what's the story behind it?

A: Sometimes my mother, family, and even co-workers call me Rubina. It's a Latin way of saying my name.

Q: What is something interesting about your family and your heritage?

A: My grandparents came here in 1900. They were some of the first Puerto Ricans to come from Puerto Rico to Hawaii to work on the sugar cane and pineapple plantations on Maui. My grandfather and grandmother lived in a Spanish camp and they met there.

Q: If you could switch jobs with anyone else within the 599th, whose job would you want?

A: Just for interest, I'd switch with one of the people in cargo booking. I don't really understand that job but it sounds so interesting. I already have worked budget, supply, and personnel, so I'd like to try something new.

Q: If you could be anyone from any time period, who would it be, and why?

A: I would want to be Lucille Ball. She's a natural and so funny. Love the clothes, love the hair, and she could dance Latin.

Q: If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would they cast as you, and why?

A: I would want them to cast Jennifer Lopez. It's natural to have a Latina. Look at all the nice leading men she stars with. She can also dance Latin-style and comes from Puerto Rico.

Q: If you had to eat one meal, every day, for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: It would be tuna. You can make it all kinds of ways.

Q: What kind of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?

I like to do seasonal crafts, and I make wedding favors and centerpieces.

Q: Were you in the military? If so, how long?

A: Altogether, I was in for 30 years. I was in the Army for 22 years - four years active duty and 18 years in the Army Reserve. I was the first to join the long tour management program in 1978 as soon as it opened. I was also in the Air Force for eight years active duty and reserve. My most interesting assignment was with the 4th Air Force at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, California. The general there used to fly us to the different wings for inspections in a C-5 aircraft.

Q: If you could re-live any time of your life what would it be?

A: I'd go back to my elementary school days. Growing up with my neighborhood school friends was a lot of fun.

If you ask those who work with Ruby what kind of a person she is and how it is to work with her, they would tell you she is a knowledgeable, friendly, dedicated teammate who enjoys what she does and has a definite spice for life.

SDDC's "Surface Warrior Spotlight" program focuses on different members of the SDDC workforce every few weeks through a series of interview-style questions that focus on his or her unique background, personal stories and experiences.

The first Surface Warrior to be featured in the SDDC spotlight was Larry Leonard, a video teleconference production specialist from SDDC's G6 directorate. Jody Albers, a budget analyst from the command's G8 directorate, was most recently highlighted.

Please go to YouTube at http://youtu.be/5AD6uu2idaI to view SDDC's Surface Warrior Spotlight video featuring Ragragola.