20th AF secretary has long served with Mighty Ninety

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jason Wiese
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
Shortly after graduating college, Barbara Lutz, 20th Air Force secretary, began a long career with the Air Force spanning more than 30 years, the majority of which she spent at F. E. Warren.

"I wear the protocol hat and the secretary hat [for the 20th AF]," she said. "It's very intense -- never a dull moment."

Lutz has worked at several Air Force bases throughout her career traveling with her husband, Arnold Lutz, 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, but claims Warren is her favorite.

"We're really blessed," she said. "I love history, and I love the historic part of F. E. Warren."

Throughout here time here, Lutz has worked as secretary for the 90th Maintenance Group and even groups that no longer exist, such as the 90th Logistics Group, which is a testament to the longevity of her service here.

As someone who has been here for a long time, she has made the most of her tenure at F. E. Warren. Her advice for Airmen who want to make the most of their time while stationed at Warren is to get involved in the community in any way they can, she said.

"You get involved and it makes your life happier," she said.

"We've had a good life. It fit us very well, and we're blessed. It's the people that have made it the best."

Over the years, Lutz has seen many people come to and leave F. E. Warren.

"It's so hard to see people leaving, but the good part is there are always new people to meet," she said. "Our Christmas card list is huge.

"The names all change, but one thing remains constant: the professionalism."

The biggest change she saw over the course of her time here has been the way people communicate. Electronic communication completely changed the way people send and receive messages, she said.

Lutz laughed as she recalled the days of using manual typewriters and shorthand to put ink on paper.

"We spent so much time making things perfect the first time around. Now, there might be 10 versions of something made before it is finalized."

Although electronic communication makes communication speedier, Lutz is nostalgic for a time when people took things a little slower and engaged in more face-to-face communication, she said.

"It's a challenge to our patience," she explained.

Despite having much to reflect upon from her time here at F. E. Warren, Lutz takes the time to think about where we are going as well.

During this time of a changing fiscal climate, Airmen and leaders need to be extra judicious with how they spend money, she said.

"Now things are changing with the budget cuts," she said. "We need to take care of what we have and make it last longer."

Above all, Lutz emphasized the need for all Airmen and base personnel to give everything they have for the mission.

"I think if people dedicate themselves, tries their hardest and puts themselves in other people's shoes, if it makes things better, if it's serviceable, if it's workable, you can do things outside your job description and do a service for your country," she explained. "I think we all hold a key to our country's security. It doesn't matter what our job title might be. Nobody does anything on their own. It doesn't matter what you do; we all work together."