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NEWS | Aug. 7, 2006

Sunset on a dynamic career

By Maj. Jack Miller 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

It was 30 years ago this week when an ambitious young cadet was commissioned into the Air Force to begin what turned into a dynamic and distinguished career. 

On July 28, hundreds of family, friends, fans and colleagues packed the Langley Officers' Club to say farewell and to witness the retirement of a great Air Force officer, Maj. Gen. Elizabeth Harrell, Air Combat Command director of maintenance and logistics.
The retirement, like most, included musical honors, the singing of the national anthem, an invocation, award presentation and the playing of the Air Force song, but something about this retirement was special. No matter the rank, Air Force Specialty Code or background, the consensus was a sincere level of respect and admiration for General Harrell. 

The retirement marked the end of continued Air Force service by General Harrell's immediate family dating back to her parents serving in the Army Air Corps, Army Air Forces and the Air Force as well as her two siblings serving in the Air Force. The ceremony was dedicated in memory to her father, Maj. Gen. William Harrell, who served 32 years in the Air Force and passed away this spring. 

General Harrell's retirement also marks a new beginning on Labor Day weekend. She will be marrying her fiancé, Army Maj. Gen. William Grisoli, who is currently the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commander and North Atlantic division engineer. 

Like all distinguished careers, General Harrell has had successes, challenges and influences that impacted her journey through the ranks. As a squadron commander at Kunsan AB, South Korea, she encountered one of her most memorable moments. It was still the Cold War, and the squadron had recently failed a Nuclear Surity Inspection.
"We were a team working together to fix a problem," said General Harrell. "I loved working with everyone together to build a better process as a team, and we accomplished it." 

Some of the best advice General Harrell received in her career was from a first lieutenant when she was a second lieutenant. The advice was simple, "Pay attention to the whole environment - not just your area of expertise. As one goes up in rank, so does the area of responsibility." 

General Harrell went on to say success is realizing you have to look at the whole picture to realize it is all inter-related. Therefore, when you are in a staff meeting, pay attention and absorb it all in - not just your little piece. 

General Harrell gives a host of people credit for much of her success, including several chief master sergeants and senior noncommissioned officers who took time to explain technical issues and how to treat people with dignity. However, the impact she has had on others' careers is a long and distinguished list. 

Brig. Gen. Bill Rew, 57th Fighter Wing commander, recalls his days as a lieutenant and how, then, Captain Harrell made an early impression on him. 

"She has been my senior maintenance officer mentor for me throughout my career in different capacities as a lieutenant to a wing commander," said General Rew. "She has a great way of addressing problems and solving them." 

When it comes to a leadership philosophy for General Harrell, it's all about people.
"I enjoy working with all kinds of people, getting to know them and to seeing things how they see it," General Harrell said. "It is great to figure out who is good at what and leverage it; by doing that, we maximize individuals' strong points and work better as a team to move forward toward our goal." 

With years of Air Force experience, General Harrell has seen many changes; as a female in the Air Force, she has been very much a part of that change. 

General Harrell said, "It is not that I had barriers (as a woman in the military), but it was a question if I would be capable of doing the job. If you had not worked for a woman, what would it be like to work for a woman? 

"Today, very few people have not worked for a woman. It has changed tremendously over the years, but we still have a ways to go for women and minorities," she continued. "We just have to actively pursue it to make that change because it will not happen on its own."
Now, General Harrell passes her experience and advice to young leaders new to the Air Force. 

"This is the most rewarding and most amount of opportunity for a career you could ever find," General Harrell said. "You should take full advantage of it because you can't find it anywhere else in the first part of your adult life. Where else do we get to be part of something bigger than we are and wear the name of our country on our uniform every day?" 

General Harrell went on to say, "Retirement is a bittersweet experience, but for me I know the sweet will outweigh the bitter. As I look back, it has been an honor to have had the opportunity to serve with all the active-duty, guard and reserve in the greatest Air Force ever known. I will miss the work, but I will really miss the people."