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The team behind the scenes

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jacob Morgan
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
The red carpet doesn't just magically roll out when a distinguished visitor walks into the gates of Dover Air Force Base, Del., and the big official parties where important decisions are discussed don't just throw themselves.

The 436th Airlift Wing Protocol Office works directly for the wing commander and they pre-plan and set-up any event involving distinguished visitors from a colonel to the President of the United States.

"We are here to make sure every ceremony, event, or visit goes extremely well," said 2nd Lt. Jason Christie, chief of protocol. "We want Dover Air Force Base to be shown in a good light."

The Protocol Office plans visits, conferences, tours, and social functions initiated within the command. If protocol doesn't plan everything directly, they are the first telephone call for the point of contact for the event.

"We are the quality control for all events," said Lieutenant Christie. "Each point of contact may not have the experience to make everything run smoothly. We are here to help them."

The 436 AW Protocol Office is different from most protocol offices in one major way. The Army, Navy and Air Force all have a policy to have at least one general officer at each dignified transfer.

The Protocol Office is responsible for the general while they are at Dover AFB.

"This is a zero fail job," said Lieutenant Christie. "It has high visibility and a lot of pressure."

Between June 22-25, Dover AFB hosted more than 30 distinguished visitors at the 18th Air Force conference. While this was happening, there were also change of command ceremonies and dignified transfers.

All of these events where coordinated through the Protocol Office.

"Multitasking is probably one of the most important things we do," said Lieutenant Christie.

Protocol also arranges events outside of Dover AFB for the commander and vice commander, including scheduling travel, preparing trip folders, arranging billeting, and preparing itinerary.

They are the personal advisor to the command section on the organization of the Air Force, the different missions of each base, the histories of the various locations and the policies of other services, or other bases around the world.

Out of all the events, ceremonies and visits around the Air Force, the Protocol Office is one of the best. In 2007 to 2008 for Air Mobility Command, the Protocol Office had the Civilian of the Year, Lucky Dufresne, in the Office of the Year, at the Base of the Year.

"We get a great sense of accomplishment when everything goes off without a hitch," said Lieutenant Christie. "It can be something extremely small, but it means everything."