Deployment spotlight -- Laughlin NCO provides 'hot towel treatment' at home, downrange

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Desiree Economides
  • 47th Flying Training Wing public affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Budget and finance are two words which make most people involuntarily shudder. However, this is not the case for one Non-commissioned Officer with the 47th Comptroller Squadron at Laughlin.

The number-crunching and exuberant Staff Sgt. Nicole Winn, the quality assurance manager for the 47th CPTS, is not only a key knowledge base for her squadron but also provides exceptional customer service.

"Sergeant Winn definitely goes above and beyond to provide what we refer to as the 'hot towel treatment'. She strives to conduct customer service at the highest possible level, whether she is trying to assist a commander with their budget or an Airman with their pay," said Maj. Shenen Hoefferle, 47th CPTS Commander.

The native of Covington, Wash. only worked at Laughlin for five months before she had to leave her husband, Master Sgt. Kenneth Winn of 47th Contracting Squadron, and daughter Kylie for a deployment to Camp Victory, Iraq.

"Sergeant Winn embodies our Air Force core value of 'Service before self' in all that she does," said 2nd Lt. Edward John, 47th CPTS executive officer. "This deployment is a great example of her selflessness. Even though she only reunited with her husband following his deployment months before, and she only recently moved to the base, she went and didn't complain."

Although she previously deployed to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, the deployment to Camp Victory was the first time where the sergeant worked for the Army.

"This deployment made me grow an NCO in the Air Force. It makes you proud of what it is that you are doing. It makes you humble," said Sergeant Winn.

While at Camp Victory, Sergeant Winn managed a budget totaling $62 million. She also reconciled more than 300 purchase requests and commitments and military interdepartmental purchase requests. For her work as a budget analyst, Sergeant Winn received an Air Force Top-Four Outstanding Achiever Award.

Back at Laughlin, her supervisors and peers say Sergeant Winn is a 'go-getter' who continually works to improve herself and those around her. They also noted the important role she fills in quality checking the $124 million budget.

"She fills a vital role within the squadron both in quality assurance as well as an NCO. She brings quite a few years of experience and she truly takes it upon herself to mentor other Airmen whether it is about the Air Force in general or specifics about their job," said Major Hoefferle.