JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Joint Base Charleston welcomed a new inspector general to the 628th Air Base Wing, Feb. 18.
Lt. Col. Alexandria Watson, former chief of communication and opinion research for the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs at the Pentagon, replaced Lt. Col. Nelson Novo who is now retired.
Colonel Watson was born in Columbia, S.C., and grew up in different corners of the world as the daughter of an Air Force navigator.
She attended North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University in Greensboro, N.C. where she joined the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps. Colonel Watson received her commission when she graduated in 1993 with a bachelor's in industrial engineering.
In May 1999, Colonel Watson had an opportunity to become an Air Force ROTC instructor at the University of South Carolina, and decided to give it a try, she said.
"Being able to mold and shape the future leaders of the Air Force was an incredible experience," Colonel Watson said. "I had a blast being the teacher and not the student."
As the new inspector general, her initial plan is to familiarize herself with the laws of joint basing, she said.
"Since this is a joint base, the setup is different from what you would expect at a typical Air Force base," Colonel Watson said. "There are complexities, so I will make sure I'm able to provide the services needed for JB CHS. The inspector general office is here to make sure the Air Force is doing the right thing. Whether that is following processes and procedures or how we take care of our people, we are the Air Force's advocate."
The inspector general office is also here to provide a safe avenue for service members to file a complaint on mismanagement, a violation of law, an injustice, abuse of authority, inappropriate conduct and to ensure resources are used effectively, she said.
"We want people to use their chain of command first, but if that's not working or you don't feel comfortable with the issue, we are here to help," Colonel Watson said.
What is an interesting fact about yourself? Growing up as a military child I was surrounded by military aircraft because my father flew on many different planes. Yet, when I went through ROTC I could not identify any of the planes.
What is your favorite movie? Crimson Tide. I like the battle between the two lead characters. One has experience, the other, book knowledge. You have to use both to be an effective leader in the military. To me, that movie cased that perfectly.
What is your favorite television show? Crime Scene Investigation (CSI). I like the geeky science aspect of them solving the crime and how they use that evidence to find the criminal.
What is a major pet peeve of yours? Sitting in traffic on a beautiful day. You can never get that time back.
What is your favorite quote? Philippians 4:13 "I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me."
Why did you join the Air Force? Initially, I joined the Air Force ROTC because my dad made me. By the time I was commissioned I learned to appreciate what the Air Force does and I embraced the values.
Who is your role model? My parents. My father taught me to always do my best and my mother taught me to be faithful in my spiritual walk.
How would you describe your leadership style? I tend to use a team leadership approach. I want to make sure I'm using everyone's talent.