Shaw lieutenant best in 'force'

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Daniel Phelps
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFNS) --  When 1st Lt. Renea Skelton, 20th Force Support Squadron deputy sustainment flight chief, joined the Air Force as 17-year-old Airman in 1997, she dreamed of leaving her small town of San Angelo, Texas and making something of herself.

She had no idea that 15 years later she would be walking across a stage receiving the Air Force 2011 Force Support Company Grade Officer of the Year award or heading numerous services across an installation.

Skelton started out her military career as an enlisted in information management and when she reached the rank of technical sergeant; she gave in to her husband's encouragement to become an officer.

The installation fitness centers, dining facility, Afterburner, Carolina Skies club and lodging all fall under her supervision. She commands the largest flight in the 20th FSS, with more than 80 military members plus civilians and contractors.

"I never thought I would be doing this or that it would be this fast paced," Skelton exclaimed. "But I enjoy it. I embraced the challenge."

With such a large command and multiple events occurring on base that fall under her reign, she has to be great at multi tasking.

"You can't just put it all in one box," she said. "As soon as one event is finished, another one is right there to pop up. Between the fitness centers, the dining facility and the club there are usually four to five projects going on."

Fortunately, she has help balancing it all, the mother of two said. There is an officer pool that helps out with each event and activity managers that can provide her with quick answers.

"It's like a juggling act with everything," she added. "I encourage them to make tactical recommendations and to 'feed the beast.' They ensure things keep running and then channel issues up to me when I need to make a call."

On top of her day-to-day job, Skelton is also a co-president of the Company Grade Officers Council on Shaw, involved with the women's ministry at her church and working on the upcoming Shaw Air Expo.

"She is amazing to work with," Capt. Michael Newsome, 20th Communications Squadron operations flight commander and CGOC co-president. "She's full of energy and detail oriented."

When asked how she winds down from the chaos of the day, Skelton laughed.

"That's impossible," she joked.

She gets up early in the morning and takes her 8-year-old daughter, Kelcie to school and her 4-year-old daughter, Chloe to preschool, and then mom goes to work, she said.

Later on, after work and the children are picked up, she will help them out with school work and some house work, puts them to bed and work on her homework for furthering her education. And does it all again the next day.

"I love the challenge," Skelton explained. "I say, my plate is full, but my cup runneth over. I never have too much going on that I can't give more. I believe in transformational leadership by developing those under me. That's why I became an officer."

Newsome said that is exactly what she does.

"She has a passion for supporting her people," he confirmed.

Skelton said that a lot of people have pushed her and helped her in her career.

Her husband, Tech. Sgt. John Skelton, 20th Fighter Wing wing safety, has been her biggest fan, she said. He has encouraged her and pushed her to become an officer. Skelton said her 20th FSS leaders have helped in developing her leadership by placing her into positions where she can flourish.

"Skelton is a great officer," Newsome said. "She is a quick thinker who keeps the full perspective that not everyone sees. She is the epitome of what we try to shoot for."